Art-loving couple’s industrial home brings art to life with yellow, red and Resene Half Black White

It would be natural to assume that white would be the best wall colour choice for a home brimming with art. A neutral backdrop to allow the works to be the hero. And that's what most of the rooms are in this unique urban apartment in the former Devonport Power Station. But owners David and Peter have also made bold colour statements that successfully stand their ground amongst their varied artworks - including a bright Resene Galliano yellow bathroom, fire-engine-red kitchen and an almost-black Resene Diesel conservatory.

"We first met this building in the 1980s," says David.

"I was new to New Zealand, and a friend introduced me to life-drawing classes held in one of the spaces. Years later, when we discovered it was for sale, we took the leap - trading plentiful grass for vertical space to house our fledging art collection.

“We thought we would never fill all the available art-hanging areas! I was intrigued by how this modern dwelling sat within a landscape of historical villas, like an intervention in a contemporary exhibition." 

Most of the changes David and Peter have made over their 16 years here have been decorative. The bathroom - originally beige and which David articulates charmingly as “like being inside an egg”- is painted in Resene Galliano - a fitting colour choice and description considering this room is nestled on a landing in the centre of the home. The honey shade of yellow blends with the woodwork and cork floor to create one streamlined room punctuated with glossy vertical pipes painted in Resene Dark Knight. "By exposing the pipework, we gained valuable floor space, and painting them a dark navy colour just felt right against the yellow,” says David.

David built the kitchen island and backsplash early on, including the detail tile stripe in brick red. Later, when it came time to upgrade the cabinetry, they chose a custom red, created for them by the Resene ColorShop, for a similar colour try Resene Daredevil. The result is powerful and exciting, especially when bookended by two large-scale glossy artworks by resident artist and friend, Rob Tucker.

"I love all colours, but not all shades. I prefer primary colours, pure and bold,” says David.

David and Peter came up with a design plan for their home; with white walls and black flooring acting as backdrop for their art collection. In the conservatory they decided to use Resene Diesel, a mysterious dark black-red, which draws in the bright light, making it a space to enjoy all year and time round. 

The apartment's primary wall colour is Resene Half Black White. In the three upstairs bedrooms, the cool tones of Resene Half Black White enable these spaces to each take on their own personality. The white backdrop also turns up the volume on the architectural shapes of the exposed rafters, which become artworks in their own right. 

"The apartment has certainly had a positive effect on our art collecting," says David. "The amount, scale and variety of walls have enabled us to collect more significant artworks. The transitional spaces - halls, stairwells and landings - are especially pleasing because you get to experience the art from different angles as you come and go between rooms. There are 42 stairs from the bottom to the top of this apartment - it never gets boring and keeps all your senses engaged and the body fit!"

On collecting art, David offers sage advice - you've got to either love or hate it. If an artwork only provides indifference, don't bother. Hate is a strong emotion, but if something challenges you, chances are that hate may one day turn to love.  

When it comes to hanging artwork and knowing what goes with what, David says don’t rush into decisions. "Our art has moved around a lot; usually, there is a shuffle each time a new piece comes home.  First, I like to leave a new work leaning, un-hung for a while until it's obvious where it should go. Most art is hung using the 'eye-cometer'. It's about the size and colour balance. If you half shut your eyes until the works are just blurry shapes, it is easier to see how the sizes and colours relate. Pick an architectural feature as a starting point - like the top of a doorway architrave - line the first piece up from that, and then away you go.” 

On which is his favourite space in the apartment. "All of it - because for me, it's about spending time with the art. But I also love the location. We're a short walk to the ferry, which transports you to the heart of the city. There's a beach at the end of the road and cafes even closer than that. And being the middle apartment, we're totally private from the street. We have lovely neighbours, but the structure of the building means we only need to engage with them when we choose to. In this home, you feel remote yet connected

images Bayleys and Places & Graces

This home is for sale and can be viewed here.

 


David and Peter made the pipework in their bathroom a feature, painting it in dark blue Resene Dark Knight to contrast with the vibrant Resene Galliano walls and ceiling. The door is Resene Black White and the cork floor is protected with Resene Qristal Clear polyurethane.


The kitchen features a custom Resene red on the cabinetry for a similar colour try Resene Daredevil. The walls and ceiling are in Resene Black White. The cork floor is coated in Resene Qristal ClearFloor. 


Resene Half Black White on the walls and ceiling complements the exposed brickwork in the industrial building and ties in with the Resene Diesel used in the conservatory. 


Resene Diesel was the perfect choice for the conservatory as the red tones in the black diffuse the light and make the space usable year-round.


White has also been used on the exterior with Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta on the weatherboards and Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta on painted brickwork. The roof is Resene Ironsand


Resene Half Black White is the perfect backdrop for the extensive art collection which extends into the bedrooms.
 


This guest bedroom features Resene Half Black White on the walls and ceiling. The painted brick on the balcony is Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta.


Even the laundry is arty, featuring a piece by Rob Tucker. Resene Half Black White is the perfect choice to showcase the colours of the artwork and complement the exposed brick.

Published: 25 Nov 2021

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Resene Half Black White

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