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Kitchen and dining walls in Resene Rice Cake, ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake and painted kitchen feature in Resene Hermitage.
The kitchen space is defined by a striking painted feature in Resene Hermitage with walls in Resene Rice Cake and ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake. Libra Pendant from Desejo.
Kitchen and dining walls in Resene Rice Cake, ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake and painted kitchen feature in Resene Hermitage.
Bedroom feature wall in Resene Helix, surrounding walls in Resene Rice Cake and ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
Painted headboard in Resene Double Tea, surrounding walls in Resene Rice Cake and ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
Walls in Resene Rice Cake, ceiling, trims and front door in Resene Quarter Rice Cake. Birds of Paradise door pull from Desejo.
Calm, sculptural living in Wānaka
If you’ve been to Wānaka, you might notice how the light shifts across lake and mountains in slow, poetic rhythms throughout the day. There are many spectacular homes here that stand their ground in the area, but one home sits with particular ease and confidence in these striking southern surroundings.
Architectural and interior designer Priyanka Sareen describes the home as a balance of strength and softness. And when you see the soft Resene greens and white, and charming timber, you can see why.
The kitchen space is defined by a striking painted feature in Resene Hermitage with walls in Resene Rice Cake and ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake. Libra Pendant from Desejo.
Kitchen and dining walls in Resene Rice Cake, ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake and painted kitchen feature in Resene Hermitage.
At the centre of the home sits a beautifully resolved kitchen. The curved marble benchtop is the first thing you see, its soft shape echoing the natural curves of the lake beyond and forming a seamless visual connection to a custom-painted ceiling detail in Resene Hermitage.
The curved benchtop also meets the linear texture of a reeded timber breakfast bar, stained to sit comfortably with the home’s natural palette. Above it, the Desejo Libra Pendant becomes a quiet sculptural highlight, drawing attention without overwhelming the space.
Bar and dining walls in Resene Rice Cake, ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
A neighbouring bar space brings depth and mood. Black-veined stone, black mirrored glass and layered lighting create a more intimate tone, offering a change of pace without disrupting the home’s harmony.
Bathroom doors and ceilings in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
The bathrooms follow the same language of quiet luxury. The main family bathroom is wrapped in oceanic blue stone tiles that shift in depth depending on the time of day. Here, the ceiling painted in Resene Hermitage adds a cool, refined calm that balances the organic movement in the stone. Brushed bronze fittings introduce gentle warmth, and a fluted white vanity brings softness through texture.
In the master ensuite, the mood is more sunlit and earthy. Beige mosaics and stone-look surfaces echo the tones of Wānaka’s sandy lake edges and alpine grasses. Each vanity is bespoke. Every detail supports the same feeling of retreat and ease.
Living room walls in Resene Rice Cake and ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
Living area and kitchen walls in Resene Rice Cake, ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
To maintain harmony across spaces, Priyanka chose Resene Rice Cake and Resene Quarter Rice Cake as the main interior colours. These soft, luminous neutrals capture the changing light beautifully and pair effortlessly with both cedar and stone. The result is a home that feels bright and open, but never stark.
Bedroom feature wall in Resene Helix, surrounding walls in Resene Rice Cake and ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
Painted headboard in Resene Double Tea, surrounding walls in Resene Rice Cake and ceiling in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
In the bedrooms, subtle shifts in tone help define each space while maintaining a cohesive flow throughout the home. In one room, the bed wall painted in Resene Helix introduces a gentle sense of rest and depth, creating a cocooning atmosphere that complements the neutral palette beyond.
Resene Double Tea features in both the other rooms, used in nuanced ways to enrich the light and shape the room’s proportions. In one, this tone sits beneath the window frame, grounding the space with warmth, while in the other, a three-metre-wide band of the same hue acts as a softly defined headboard feature, pairing colour confidence with calm restraint.
These tonal gestures connect back to the surrounding landscape without ever feeling thematic or literal. They simply belong.
Walls in Resene Rice Cake, ceiling, trims and front door in Resene Quarter Rice Cake. Birds of Paradise door pull from Desejo.
Front door in Resene Quarter Rice Cake. To get this timber look, use Resene Woodsman Natural Wood Oil in shades Resene Limed Oak (light), Resene Bushtrack (dark) and Resene Pitch Black (garage door).
From the street, the lines feel bold and sculptural, yet the material palette brings warmth and familiarity. Cedar, stone and sweeping curves help the home feel grounded in the landscape.
The exterior is wrapped in vertical cedar that subtly changes tone throughout the day. Morning light draws out golden warmth and by evening the timber settles into deeper, richer hues. Large glazing frames the view like a moving artwork, inviting the outdoors inward and giving every room its own relationship to the lake and mountains. Even as daylight fades, the home keeps its sculptural presence, with soft exterior lighting revealing form and shadow rather than spotlighting detail.
A custom Birds of Paradise door pull from Desejo on the entry sets the tone for what’s inside. It feels like an invitation to pause and notice the craft behind each decision.
Nothing in this home is loud, yet everything feels intentional. It feels sculptural yet gentle, crafted yet natural. A calm sanctuary in a landscape of remarkable beauty.
design architectural and interior designer Priyanka Sareen from Home Factor
images Sampford Cathie
features Desejo
Top tip: For exterior timber cladding, use Resene Woodsman Natural Wood Oil. This an innovative new waterborne, wood stain from Resene that is ideal for cedar. It is Environmental Choice approved, and also utilises a proportion of resin sourced from renewable feedstock. It is available in a wide range of colours, including traditional wood shades and modern hues, and offers good UV protection and mould resistance. Darker shades also come in Resene CoolColour technology to protect timber over the warmer months. It is a sustainable and more durable alternative to mineral oil stains.
Published: 19 Nov 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
