Phil and Emma’s revamped home is a minimalist’s paradise, with one bold twist.

The floor-to-ceiling renovation in Emma and Phil’s late 90s home started with a simple decision to swap their curtains to blinds. Plans for a couple of easy cosmetic swaps to update their home, as is often the case with these things, grew quite quickly. “I thought, why am I going to put new blinds up when I want to change the wallpaper, then why am I going to change the wallpaper, when the floors need to be replaced,” Emma explains. Before they knew it, the family had a total renovation on their hands. It was goodbye green carpet and yellowing wallpaper, hello clean and neutral Resene colours.

Asked to describe the feel in Emma and Phil’s house now, calm would probably be the word people reach for. It’s a word not often associated with houses that are home to three children and three pets, but thanks to the generous use of soft chalky colours like Resene Black White and Emma’s self-described ‘minimalist’ tendencies, calm is the name of the game round here.

The family chose a black, white and silver theme and all their design decisions were influenced by this trio of colours.All throughout the home, silver tapware, light fixtures and benchtops sit alongside fresh white ceilings and trims in Emma’s favourite Resene colour, the soft, calcite Resene Black White. “it is clean crisp and complements most other colours,” Emma says.

Wanting a long-lasting solution to brighten up the walls in their living spaces but needing something withstand a houseful of kids, Phil and Emma chose to use Resene Home Wallpaper Collection 47203, available from Resene ColorShops, to line the halls, bedrooms and living room. The couple took it upon themselves to strip back the old wallpaper and hung the new rolls, now everyday they can enjoy the result of the hard work that went into creating their new home.

Top tip: Remember most wallpapers are only available for sale for 2-3 years, sometimes shorter, so if you are planning to use the same wallpaper in multiple places or on a big project always make sure you have enough when you start the project. It often pays to buy a couple of extra rolls in case you need a little more later or for repairs down the track.

Although they’ve opted for a fairly restrained colour palette, this beloved family home doesn’t lack in personality. Their character is evident in every room of the house, with punchier pops of colour introduced into the palette through accessories and movable pieces.

“We believe it is easier to add colour through artwork and furnishings to future proof the style of the house,” shares Emma. This savvy decision means that with a few quick swaps they can easily give their home a whole new look when inspirations strikes, or the tastes of their growing family change.

While they’ve stuck to this rule for the most part, with fresh ceilings and trims in Resene Black White balancing bright artwork, there is one space that Emma and Phil took a bold risk with colour. In the movie room and connecting dining area, Phil, who has a background in design, lobbied to paint the ceiling in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Black. 

“We wanted a room that felt cosy and had bold contrasting colours. Painting the ceiling was very challenging for the painters involved… we thought let's give it a go and if we don’t like it, we can always paint over it,” Emma explains. The risk and hard work paid off, the family love cuddling up in the cocoon of a room to watch a movie with the fire crackling in the background. Their advice for anyone contemplating giving a black ceiling a go? “Go for it!” 

The total transformation of Emma and Phil’s home is all the more impressive when you realise everything was achieved within just seven weeks. Completing all new bathrooms, stripping and applying wallpaper, installing a new kitchen, new tiles, carpet, blinds, light switches, smoke alarms, and new bifold doors within that highly ambitious timeline was always going to be testing but organised Emma was up to the challenge.

“Everyone thought I was nuts and tried telling me that renos always go over time and I thought not this time!” she laughs. She also credits her builder Matt and his crew at Your Local Builders with making sure they were on track with all areas of the reno and bringing the project in on time. Now that the building works are a thing of the past, the family are enjoying the fruits of their labour in their calm surrounds.

images: Emma and Phil 

Published: 23 Sep 2020

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#KitchenRenovation #BlackandWhiteKitchen #DIYChalkboard #OpenPlanKitchen

On the ceiling and trims of their U-shaped kitchen Phil and Emma used Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom semi-gloss, tinted to Resene Black White, which has made the whole room feel bigger and brighter. To minimise the appearance of fly spots on their pristine ceiling they used Resene SpaceCote Flat Fly Deterrent to discourage flies from congregating when the adjoining bifold doors are open. The walls are in Resene Home Wallpaper Collection 47203, available from Resene ColorShops.

Black Ceiling, Dining Area, Greyscale Room, Metallics, Monochrome House

The dining area features the simple black, white and silver colour scheme that carries through the house, with dramatic results. The striking dark ceiling, in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Black, creates instant glamour in a space perfect for formal entertaining. The glossy window trims in Resene Lusta-Glo semi-gloss in Resene Black White reflect the shimmery tiled feature wall. Get a similar look with Resene Metallic FX in Resene Catch 22 sprayed over a base of Resene Nero.

 

Monochromatic House, Black Ceiling, Metallics, Greyscale, Resene Black

The bold black ceiling in Resene SpaceCote Flat tinted to Resene Black, continues into the cosy family movie room. Phil and Emma wanted the space to have bold contrasting colours as seen in the artwork. In the evening with the fire going it has become a great place for both spending time with family.

Monochromatic Kitchen, Metallics, Black White, Greyscale, Modern Kitchen

On the ceiling and trims of their U-shaped kitchen Phil and Emma used Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom semi-gloss, tinted to Resene Black White, which has made the whole room feel bigger and brighter. To minimise the appearance of fly spots on their pristine ceiling they used Resene SpaceCote Flat Fly Deterrent to discourage flies from congregating when the adjoining bifold doors are open. The walls are in Resene Home Wallpaper Collection 47203, available from Resene ColorShops.

Black and White, Monochrome Home, Metallics, Blackboard, Chalkboard

Resene Black White were chosen for the ceiling for its clean crisp feel and its ability to complement most other colours as well. A blackboard wall in the kitchen is a fun way to display notes and reminders. Try one out in your home with Resene FX Blackboard Paint.

 

Monochrome Bathroom, Black and White, Black Tiles, Modern Bathroom, Metallics

The black, white and silver theme continues in the bathroom. The ceiling is in Resene Lustacryl Kitchen & Bathroom semi-gloss, tinted to Resene Black White. With lots of space to play with, Emma and Phil scaled up their double vanity, allowing for plenty of under sink storage.

Monochrome Bedroom, Rainbow Decor, Black and White, Metallics, Black Carpet

In the bedrooms, like the rest of the house, the walls are in Resene Home Wallpaper Collection 47203, available from Resene ColorShops. For continuity and ease of application the ceilings are in Resene Black White too. Pair with a bedhead and side tables in a colour like Resene Baltic Sea to get this monochromatic look in your bedroom.

Monochrome Bedroom, Black White, Girls Bedroom, Black Wardrobe, Black Carpet

If wallpaper isn’t your cup of tea, try painting your walls in Resene Eighth Spanish White. A smidgen of palest cream, it’s a complex shade that changes depending on the accent colours you’ve used elsewhere. This ceiling is in Resene Black White and the trims and window frame are in Resene Lusta-Glo Black White.

 

Kids Bedroom, Monochrome, Monochromatic Bedroom, Black Wardrobe

All the window and door frames in the home, such as in this bedroom, are painted in Resene Lusta-Glo Black White because Emma and Phil wanted the semi-gloss white frames to look sharp against the black doors that feature throughout their home. For glossy black doors in your home try Resene Enamacryl tinted to Resene Chimney Sweep. Resene Black White is on the ceiling and Resene Wallpaper Collection 47203, available from Resene ColorShops lines the walls.

 

Monochrome House, Kids Bedroom, Black White, Toy Storage, Striped Duvet

With three growing kids, Phil and Emma have kept their bedroom walls neutral in Resene Home Wallpaper Collection 47203, available from Resene ColorShops, and are instead encouraging the kids to express their personalities through colourful accessories which can be swapped out intermittently. For now, Sachi has chosen a boldly striped bedspread.

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