A spacious multi-level house house originally built in the 50s, Evan and Bridget's home interior had gone through a major renovation in the 80s but needed another "freshen up", so the couple asked architect Malcolm Taylor to update it. The resulting modern kitchen and bathroom, new carpets, American oak flooring and lively colour scheme have certainly given the home a contemporary feel. "It has always been a colourful home - we used to have electric blue carpet! - but it needed a new layer of fun and colour," explains Bridget. "The new wallpaper has injected some fun and madness into the place, and it also inspired some of our bolder paint choices, like the pink bathroom, which matches the waterlilies in the swans wallpaper." 

What did you want to achieve with the renovation? Our interior looked a bit dated and faded. We wanted to retain some of the original elements and colours (like the blue in the master bedroom) but we wanted a fresher, updated look, and more personality. We kept some of the walls white, painting them in Resene Alabaster, but the coloured walls add something special to the rooms.

Where did your inspiration come from? The industrial look, especially in the kitchen and bathrooms, and the overhead walkway. I'm a stainless steel freak! I love the aluminium tread plates, too.

Which space in the house do you get your greatest satisfaction from, and why? The kitchen. I love the new cabinetry and drawers and the latest fittings, knobs and handles! Everything is so streamlined now, and we have double the amount of storage in the same size space!

Why did you choose these colours? I just seem to resonate with blues and purples and hot pinks. I don't think any of it "goes together" in the traditional sense, but I don't care - it doesn't worry me what other people think. I love the hot pink carpet in the turquoise bedroom, but in fact I think our boldest choice was the charcoal carpet that we chose for the master bedroom.

What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look? If you are going to use pure colour or bright colours, then I think you have to be quite bold. Don't just dot it around, use a lot of it and be brave with it.

Get the look: When you’re choosing colours, it’s important to factor in the gloss level of the paint. A higher sheen finish, like Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel, will make the colour seem brighter and cleaner. A flatter finish, such as Resene SpaceCote Flat waterborne enamel, will scatter more light and will seem muddier and more muted. Gloss finishes tend to attract more attention, while flatter finishes tend to sit back and blend into their surroundings. See the gloss level boards at your local Resene ColorShop to see how different sheen levels will affect your colour choices.

A neutral palette of Resene Alabaster in the dining area emphasises the high ceilings and maximises the light.

In the kitchen and dining area, cool stainless steel benches and an overhead bridge with aluminium tread plates contrast with warm shades of brown and yellow.

In the office, the red walls may look like textured wallpaper but are in fact fabric-covered pinboards!

The deep blue walls of the master bedroom were not changed in the recent renovation, but the charcoal carpet is a new addition - and one that Bridget feels was a brave choice.

The colour of the ensuite bathroom walls was inspired by the pink waterlilies in the wallpaper.