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Inside an eclectic Wellington home
Erin and Brendan bought their 1920s Californian bungalow in Lyall Bay in late 2023. Already a good home, the couple saw an opportunity to make it feel even more like their own.
“The house had been renovated by the previous owners, so it already had a great layout and functionality,” says Erin. “This has allowed us to focus on injecting our personalities into the house, especially with colour.”
Aside from swapping a bench extension for a new pantry, the changes were driven mostly by paint, texture and styling. It was a fitting project for Erin, a website content designer and textile artist, alongside her husband Brendan, an accountant, Zara, 14, and Mabel the greyhound.
“This is the first house we’ve owned together,” Erin says. “When people ask us about our DIY projects, Brendan likes to say that I have first home energy and he has fifth home experience!”
Dining room mural painted in Resene Summer Rose and Savour.
Colour is a clear expression here of the couple’s style, which Erin describes as “eclectic maximalist with mid-century modern bones”. Across the house, Resene shades were used not only for individual rooms, but for how they interact with the art, textiles and collected objects that also have their home here.
“I’ve had an ongoing palette of pink and green that continues to show up in my sewing practice and my wardrobe, so there was always going to be pink and green in my house,” says Erin.
The living room may be the boldest example of this preference. Painted in deep Resene Turtle Green, using SpaceCote Low Sheen on the walls and ceiling and Lustacryl on the shelves and trims, which Erin says makes the room not only feel larger but also extra snug.
Originally a softer sage green, Erin wanted something moodier and more immersive. “I kept seeing these dark, old library-type rooms on Instagram and realised we could do something similar with our melamine shelves with the right primer,” she says, adding they used Resene Laminate and Melamine primer.
Living room walls, shelving and ceiling in Resene Turtle Green.
Living room walls and ceiling in Resene Turtle Green.
The colour shifts throughout the room depending on the light and surface, something Erin particularly loves about the shade. “We chose this shade because it worked well on the different surfaces in the room. On one wall it reads as very dark and on another it’s got more depth.”
Against the dark backdrop, bright textiles, artworks and handmade pieces proudly announce their presence.
In the kitchen and dining areas, Resene Summer Rose brings warmth and softness. The terracotta-toned pink appears on the kitchen cabinetry in a Lustacryl finish, again over Laminate and Melamine Primer, before continuing into the alcove walls and dining room mural. Surrounding walls throughout are painted in Half Black White.
Kitchen cabinetry in Resene Summer Rose, surrounding walls and ceiling in Half Black White.
Kitchen cabinetry in Resene Summer Rose.
“Looking back, it might’ve been a bit of a brave choice,” Erin says, “I was feeling drawn to kitchens with terracotta colours in them. No regrets! I wanted a pink that was more terracotta than peach. I like how the Summer Rose is warm without being too loud. It’s pink, but not too pink!”
The colour takes on a bolder role in the dining room, where Erin designed and painted a geometric mural using Summer Rose and Savour. Her choice is one that created a personal, character-filled space, and for the size of the wall it turned out to be a less expensive option than using wallpaper.
“I knew I wanted it to be a statement,” she says. “I found some designs I liked and sketched out my own version and then used a projector to transfer the design to the wall.”
The mural quickly became her favourite part of the house. “My partner and I cut in the shapes by hand, and I love how the lines are slightly imperfect.”
Entrance wall in Resene Ultramarine.
The entryway is painted in vibrant Resene Ultramarine using SpaceCote Low Sheen, chosen to be an immediate hit of colour on arrival. “I have been looking for the perfect blue for this wall forever,” Erin says.
“I feel like I manifested this colour! Resene came out with this limited-edition palette [Beyond the sea] with just the blue I was looking for. I like to have a pop of colour right when you enter the house, and that the colours change based on what we’ve hung on the hooks.”
Bedroom painted in Resene Half Black White.
Sewing room painted in Resene Slipper.
Over in the main bedroom, Resene Half Black White creates what Erin describes as “a blank slate for us to personalise with art, textiles and plants”, while the nearby sewing room is painted in Slipper, a soft pink chosen by the previous owners that Erin happily embraced. “Pink is basically a neutral for me,” she says.
Erin and Brendan put in the hard work with long winter nights spent painting the living room ceiling and transforming the garage into a makeshift spray booth for the kitchen cabinetry. Their hands-on approach is central to their home’s personality.
“In other ways, I’m just making it up as I go along,” Erin says. “I have new ideas for projects all the time and execute them when the inspiration strikes. I don’t feel like I’ll ever be done with decorating.”
colour selection Erin
kitchen and dining cabinetry Inline Design
images Ryan Shields
Resene Pro Tip:
Kitchen and bathroom cupboards are often made using Melamine or similar laminate materials. These are much harder and smoother than most painted surfaces and require a specialist adhesion primer – the eponymous Resene Laminate and Melamine Primer – to be used before applying an enamel (either waterborne or solventborne).
Published: 28 May 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Half Black White
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 Half Black White
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
