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Living room walls painted in Resene Miso with ceiling in Rice Cake. To get this look on timber, use a warm stain like Colorwood Oregon.
In the kitchen and dining space, the walls are painted in Resene Rice Cake. Use Resene Colorwood Rock Salt or Bask for a similar look on timber.
Bathroom trims are painted in Resene Miso, a yellow-toned neutral that blends with the bright tiles.
Get this golden look on cabinetry with Resene Hot Toddy, paired with a warm white like Rice Cake on walls.
Mid-century mood meets heritage charm
This house has that perfectly pleasing feel you only really get when colour, light and layout are all pulling in the same direction. An early 1900s bungalow on paper, now reads with a distinctly mid-century calm thanks to some very considered design moves and a deceptively simple Resene palette of Rice Cake and Miso.
The brief from the owners was clear right from the start. They wanted an interior remodel that respected the bones of their bungalow, while letting their fun, outgoing personalities shine through.
As James Irvine of SemiCreative puts it, “their vision was to preserve and highlight original elements while introducing pops of colour and intrigue.” The challenge, however, was fitting all of that into just 100 square metres without it feeling busy or cramped.
Living room walls painted in Resene Miso with ceiling in Rice Cake. To get this look on timber, use a warm stain like Colorwood Oregon.
Colour became the anchor, with warm whites and charming timber doing the talking. Resene Rice Cake and Miso were used as the quiet heroes, creating warmth and cohesion while letting timber, geometry and those brighter moments take centre stage. The original rimu panels, picture rails and mantels are still very much the stars, they now just sit comfortably against soft neutrals rather than competing with them.
“We carefully selected a colour scheme that complemented the original rimu timber features,” James says. “We chose a warm neutral tone of Rice Cake paired with Miso to nod to the traditional bungalow and villa palettes.” That subtle yellow undertone in Miso is key and it brings a gentle glow that works beautifully with wood and daylight, especially in spaces like the kitchen and laundry.
The kitchen is painted in Resene Rice Cake, a warm white that brightens the space.
The kitchen is a great example of how design and colour work together. Built in dining seating tucks neatly along the wall, hiding storage underneath and freeing up precious floor space.
Above it all, a large central skylight pours light into the southern side of the house, lifting the checked flooring and giving the whole space an easy, mid-century feel. Timber cabinetry, clean lines and warm tones keep everything feeling grounded and relaxed rather than retro for retro’s sake.
In the kitchen and dining space, the walls are painted in Resene Rice Cake. Use Resene Colorwood Rock Salt or Bask for a similar look on timber.
Elsewhere, the colour story gets braver. The bold bathroom could easily have tipped into clash zone but restraint elsewhere makes it sing. “A key challenge was blending the vibrant yellow bathroom with the refurbished rimu timber mouldings,” says James. “Achieving this required thoughtful colour selection and design integration.” Miso steps in here again on ceilings and trims to soften transitions and keep the palette feeling intentional rather than jarring.
Bathroom trims are painted in Resene Miso, a yellow-toned neutral that blends with the bright tiles.
The laundry continues that warmth, pairing camel and chocolate tones with the same neutral base, proof that a limited palette does not mean boring. In fact, it is what allows the geometry, lighting and material choices to shine.
Get this golden look on cabinetry with Resene Hot Toddy, paired with a warm white like Rice Cake on walls.
What makes this home work is that nothing feels accidental. It is a house that honours its past while being completely tailored to the people who live there.
design SemiCreative
images Sarah Rowlands
Top tip: To get the perfect colour on cabinetry, joinery, kitchens and doors, Resene has a range of products especially designed for these areas. Resene AquaLAQ is a professionally applied waterborne system for cabinetry and joinery, ideal for kitchen and laundry cupboards. It matches with the Resene Total Colour System so the full range of Resene colours are available – this makes it much easier to match with wall colours and other features. AquaLAQ is also an Eco Choice system, and one of the best parts is that small cans of the colour are usually left with homeowners, so any dings (for example on the top of appliances and pot drawers) can be easily touched up at home.
Published: 11 Feb 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
