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Living room ceiling in Resene Alabaster, fireplace hearth in Resene Concrete Stain Deep Grey.
Natural materials and neutral paint colours for a timeless home
Successful colour schemes aren’t always the one’s with bold hues, sometimes they’re the ones that know exactly when to take the back seat. At Falcon Ridge, a striking hillside home designed by JTB Architects, the carefully considered neutral palette allows the beauty of natural stone, timber and the surrounding landscape to shine.
With its low-slung butterfly roof, central courtyard and expansive views, this home was certainly designed to embrace its setting. And it's the thoughtful relationship between colour, texture and materials that gives it understated elegance.
Hallway walls in Resene Wan White, ceiling and trims in Alabaster.
Fireplace hearth in Resene Concrete Stain Deep Grey, ceiling in Alabaster, walls in Wan White.
Diana Shchukin, Associate Interior Designer at JTB Architects, created a home that feels deeply connected to its landscape. “Locally sourced stone, from Lee Valley, is a central design element,” she says. “It is used structurally and spatially, forming fireplaces, thresholds and landscape walls.
“The stone provides visual weight and a strong connection to the site’s geology. Its texture and tonal variation contrast with the refined architectural forms, offering a tactile counterpoint to the home’s linear geometry.”
Its varied tones and textures became the starting point for the interior colour scheme, influencing both the wall colours and the darker architectural accents.
Ceiling and trims in Resene Alabaster, walls in Wan White.
Dining walls in Resene Wan White, ceiling and trims in Alabaster, interior doors in Nocturnal.
“The interior colour palette is informed by the tones of the rock: charcoal grey, light tones, shot of caramel,” says Diana. “There is an elegant feel to the home, whilst still ensuring practical comfort for the owners.”
Resene Wan White in Zylone Sheen was chosen for the walls, creating a soft, neutral backdrop. The ceilings, doors, architraves and trims were painted in Alabaster.
While the overall scheme is light and restrained, touches of darker colour provide contrast. Interior doors, including the main ensuite door and architraves, are painted in Nocturnal using Lustacryl Semi-Gloss, while Resene Concrete Stain in Deep Grey was used to darken the concrete fireplace hearth, and complements the surrounding stonework.
Bedroom walls in Resene Wan White, ceiling in Alabaster.
Ensuite door in Resene Nocturnal, ceiling in Alabaster.
French oak flooring and New Zealand wool carpets bring further warmth and texture, with each finish chosen to sit comfortably alongside the paint colours. These design choices create a home that feels spacious and open without losing the sense of comfort that makes it inviting.
Finding the right balance, however, took careful planning. The Lee Valley stone's rich texture and subtle tonal shifts meant a large consideration was placed on how each paint colour would behave alongside the different materials and in changing natural light.
Living room ceiling in Resene Alabaster, fireplace hearth in Resene Concrete Stain Deep Grey.
A specialised ROCKCOTE system from Resene Construction Systems was used on upper walls under soffits painted in Resene Nocturnal, soffits in Quarter Truffle, roof cladding and fascia in Nocturnal.
The relationship between indoors and outdoors was equally important. Large openings frame hillside views, while neutral tones create a gentle transition between the interior spaces and the landscape beyond.
Falcon Ridge is a beautiful example of how a simple colour palette can have a significant impact. By allowing natural materials to take centre stage and using paint to quietly complement their character, JTB Architects has created a home where every element feels right at home.
lead architect Simon Hall, JTB Architects
lead interior designer Diana Shchukin, JTB Architects
build Shane McBride, M2Build
paint Shuttleworth Painters and Decorators
images Barry Tobin
System Upgrade:
Concrete Stain has been upgraded to Resene Walk-on Concrete Clear. The new range is waterborne, has a satin finish and is available in a range of 8 colours. It has a consistent finish and is easier to apply than its predecessor. It is limited to small areas – like the fireplace hearth featured – or pavers or steps and is not recommended for large concrete areas or for vehicular traffic. The new colours and system details are shown in the new Resene Underfoot range colour chart.
Published: 12 Nov 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
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the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
