27 Mar 2025
The exterior of your home is the first thing people see, making it an important canvas to showcase style and personality. Whether you’re drawn to timeless neutrals, rich earthy tones…
18 Mar 2025
Patterns and textures have the power to transform a space, adding depth, personality and a sense of style to interiors. Whether bold or subtle, geometric or organic, patterned walls can…
12 Mar 2025
If the outside of your home is looking a little rough and in need of some love, there’s no time like the present to give it a refresh. The cooler…
20 Feb 2025
Neutrals are the ultimate foundation for a beautifully designed living room. Whether you love soft, warm tones or crisp, modern whites, Resene's range of neutrals offers endless possibilities for layering textures,…
12 Feb 2025
A well-organised home can work wonders for your mental and emotional well-being. The good news is you don’t have to sacrifice your favourite colours to maintain a peaceful and clutter-free space.…
04 Feb 2025
Sitting proudly in the hills of Melrose, Wellington, is a home that effortlessly blends heritage charm with modern-day comfort. Basking in all-day sun and overlooking breathtaking views, this 1930s beauty…
15 Jan 2025
Painting or staining your home’s exterior might seem like an enormous task but there’s nothing quite like the street appeal of a freshly painted or stained house or the sense…
08 Jan 2025
Whether you have a large back garden, a cosy courtyard or a tiny terrace you can still instil plenty of personality in your outdoor spaces while recreating the spirit of…
08 Jan 2025
Once a derelict student flat teetering on the edge of demolition, this Kingsland villa has been transformed into a luxurious family home, thanks to the vision and expertise of Jess…
17 Dec 2024
Choosing the right exterior colours for your home is more than just a design decision – it’s about creating a lasting impression that reflects your surroundings and personal style. From…
13 Nov 2024
Your home’s exterior is the first impression it makes, setting the tone for what lies within. From breezy coastal vibes to rich, earthy palettes, the right Resene paint colours and…
02 Oct 2024
When it comes to creating the perfect first impression, the exterior of your home speaks volumes. Whether you’re looking to evoke modern sophistication, vintage charm or classic appeal, the right…
03 Sep 2024
When it comes to enhancing the exterior of your home, there is an array of stunning colour options that can beautifully highlight both traditional and modern architectural features. Whether you're…
15 Aug 2024
What's guaranteed with yellow is the lengths it will go to brighten up your home. And with homes celebrating well-being and self-care like never before, yellow finds its home in…
10 Jul 2024
Warm, bold, chic or cosy – red can do it all. From glam to retro, bright to burnished, red hues bring personality and style to your interior. And while winter…
10 Jul 2024
Artist Catherine Robert’s revival of a run-down 1910’s Wellington villa was a labour of love, patience and self-expression. She was intent on injecting love and personality back into the house…
26 Jun 2024
Amidst the sleek lines of new apartments in Ōtautahi, Christchurch's rebuilt central city, a charming heritage-listed worker's home stands as a proud reminder of the city's early settlers. Thanks to…
20 Jun 2024
This architect-designed home, built in 1989 for a Russian client, is a unique treasure where modernism meets brutalism. Although tired and run down, Nadene and Sam, immediately fell in love…
18 Jun 2024
Resene Duck Egg Blue has become a beloved choice for homeowners, gracing interiors with its serene and versatile charm. This sophisticated shade blends hints of blue and green, creating a…
06 Jun 2024
With a harmonious blend of African and Japanese design elements, this home, named the Kauri House, is nestled within one of New Zealand’s lush, native forests. The renovation of this…
28 May 2024
With a growing family at hand, these homeowners desperately needed more space, as well as some colour and life injected into their villa. Alongside some structural changes, gentle blues and…
07 May 2024
Breast cancer effects one in nine New Zealand women but is most treatable when it’s found early. The Breast Cancer Foundation relies entirely on donations from the New Zealand public,…
17 Apr 2024
In a world that often feels fast-paced and chaotic, creating spaces within our homes that foster serenity and promote well-being has become increasingly important. Inspired by the concept of ‘Blue…
11 Apr 2024
Generally speaking, cool colours are blues, greens and purples, while warm colours are reds, oranges and yellows. However, it is possible to have a cool colour with a warm undertone…
11 Apr 2024
There are few moments in your life that can be described as pure, unbridled awe. For Meg, one moment was seeing the pure white and intense cerulean and deep blues…
06 Mar 2024
Once an old villa that had seen many generations of Wellingtonians, both living and flatting, this house was in much need of a spruce up. Now adorned with timeless Resene…
22 Feb 2024
Renovations are never easy, but when you have plenty of Resene shades at your fingertips, you can create a timeless look that you will cherish for years to come. This…
22 Feb 2024
If you dream of waking up to the gentle sound of waves and the soothing scent of the sea, why not bring some coastal charm into your home? Resene paints…
05 Feb 2024
When it comes to exteriors, colour scheme plays a pivotal role in defining the aesthetic appeal and overall ambiance of your home. Let’s take a look at some classic and…
31 Jan 2024
A traditional villa with a striking modern extension has found harmony through its combination of Resene greens and whites.
The owners of this serene Auckland villa are hardworking professionals with two…
17 Jan 2024
Summer is here, and there’s nothing quite like a fresh outdoor space to spend time with family and friends while we enjoy the warm weather. While you might have the…
13 Dec 2023
Embrace the spirit of the season with these delightful last-minute Christmas crafts using Resene paints, bringing festive charm to your home in a uniquely creative way. These simple, cost-effective projects,…
14 Nov 2023
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. You can help to support a good cause by Hosting a ‘Big Purple Dinner’ your way! Eat purple, dress purple, decorate with purple and…
10 Oct 2023
They say first impressions matter, and when it comes to your home, its curb appeal sets the stage for what lies beyond. The exterior of your house is the first…
04 Oct 2023
Creating the perfect ambiance in your home is a combination of personal style, well selected colour and attention to detail. Mood boards can be an invaluable tool to get you…
04 Oct 2023
The charming city of Invercargill, at the southern tip of New Zealand, boasts a rich history filled with elegant villas that have stood the test of time. One such villa…
27 Sep 2023
If you've ever wondered what it takes to turn a small three bedroom, one bathroom villa into a modernised four bedroom, three bathroom family haven, then this incredible home transformation…
27 Sep 2023
As the days grow longer and we welcome the warmer weather, it's a great time to breathe new life into your outdoor space to make it the perfect retreat for…
20 Sep 2023
The allure of the Hamptons style is ever enduring in home design, characterised by its breezy, coastal charm and timeless elegance. Achieving this look in your home doesn't have to…
14 Sep 2023
Choosing the right colour palette for your home can be similar to selecting the perfect ingredients for a culinary masterpiece. Each colour has its unique flavour, and when used thoughtfully,…
14 Sep 2023
When Charlotte Van der Wielen, Creative Director of City Style Co., and her husband purchased a home on Fendalton Road in Christchurch back in 2019, they immediately saw its potential.…
06 Sep 2023
The transformation of this mid-century Wellington home will show you the power of design to redefine spaces, inviting warmth, light and colour to coalesce in perfect harmony. This renovation project,…
08 Aug 2023
If you love a villa makeover as much as we do, this charming 1910 villa is sure to catch your eye. Painted in stunning Resene neutrals, this home is a…
19 Jul 2023
They’re one of the most overlooked parts of the home, but ceilings can be transformative. With thousands of Resene paint colours, you can treat your ceiling as the fifth, and…
13 Jun 2023
In an era of mass production and digital innovations, where technology reigns supreme, a remarkable trend has quietly emerged, breathing new life into the world of craftsmanship. Craftcore is a…
13 Jun 2023
If there was ever a home with a story to tell, it’s this one! Situated in Clarks Beach, Hayley and Chris love their 640 square metre Victorian beauty that sits…
07 Jun 2023
In the realm of interior design, feature walls have emerged as an extraordinary way to transform the look and feel of a space. These bold statements of creativity and design…
30 May 2023
Amber and John’s Christchurch home has a youthful glow. The 114-year-old double-bay villa is resplendent with thistle-detailed cornices and blooming ceiling roses, a timeless quality not lost on the couple,…
23 May 2023
You may know Shelley Ferguson for many things, including her appearance on TV shows like TV3’s The Block NZ, her skills as an award-winning stylist and even her role as…
10 May 2023
Amalia and Matt bought a barn shed in 2014 with a vision to transform it into a modern Hamptons style barn house. Using bold greys like Resene Ironsand and gentle…
19 Apr 2023
As with many older homes, especially those that haven’t been renovated in over 50 years, there are often unforeseen hurdles. Interior designer, Katie Scott, doesn’t let this stop her creating…
04 Apr 2023
Having an organised home can do wonders for your mental and emotional well-being. You can still enjoy a peaceful and harmonious home without forsaking your favourite shades. With a bit…
22 Mar 2023
Are the rooms in your home looking a little flat? Or maybe you’re tired of seeing the same old colour on each wall? A feature wall might be just what…
15 Mar 2023
This delightful Wellington villa had been through two major renovations before Russell and Anna Allen bought it. However, some years of ‘deferred maintenance’ from the previous owner meant the couple…
02 Mar 2023
When David and Kirsty Wraight built their 1910-style Marlborough villa, they wanted it to exude old-world charm with hints of modern design. Resene Kensington Grey was chosen for the exterior,…
02 Mar 2023
‘Leaf’ it to us to give you some wonderful tips and inspiration to take your garden to the next level. All you need are some Resene paints in your favourite…
22 Feb 2023
With a history of more than 100 years, this quaint villa in sunny Nelson deserved more than its once trendy ’70s’ style décor. Barbara Lawson, interior designer and owner of…
20 Dec 2022
As the year draws to a close, it’s time to revisit habitat readers’ most read stories of 2022. From villa makeovers to a whimsical gingerbread home and tips for trying…
18 Dec 2022
Happy-ever-after stories aren’t just reserved for fairy tales. These exterior home transformations show that even grand old dames can become belles of the ball with a touch of Resene colour.
Fit…
08 Dec 2022
Got friends or family visiting for the summer? With the holiday season and Christmas right around the corner Resene has some great tips for sprucing up your outdoor space and…
08 Dec 2022
In a world obsessed with bigger is better, tiny can be truly beautiful. Two women are on a mission to find a solution to the housing affordability issues and their…
23 Nov 2022
Have you ever walked into a room and it’s felt a little, well, lifeless? While the minimalist white Scandi style has been the ‘style du jour’ since the noughties, the…
23 Nov 2022
Shane and Ashley’s Leeston home is a picture of calm – however if the dreamy Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and Resene Clouded Blue walls could talk, they would tell you…
09 Nov 2022
Much has been written about the versatility of green in interior decorating and design. Its reputation for versatility is well-earned. There’s a Resene green to suit to every person, every…
02 Nov 2022
In New Zealand and Australia, no matter where you are, you’ve never very far from the beach. Many of us have grown up in or around the water, so why…
27 Oct 2022
When Kelly and Travis first put a formal offer in on a damp former rental home in Christchurch, they immediately got cold feet. Renovating the 1952 weatherboard and concrete tile…
12 Oct 2022
Nestled in a lush avocado orchard in the rural Bay of Plenty is a modern and energy efficient home with clever technology and Resene colour at its heart.
“We were…
05 Oct 2022
Dust off your DIY and maintenance skills, it’s that time of year when we all race outside to enjoy some warmer weather and realise there’s some work to do to…
15 Sep 2022
When Alex and Brendon walked into their 70s home for the first time, they immediately saw charm and potential – even though the property had some quirks. When the couple…
22 Aug 2022
Returning to the site of their first ever home renovation was both surreal and sentimental for DIY experts Alice and Caleb. “This is the first home we renovated and we…
03 Aug 2022
Nothing adds character to a room like a pattern – whether you’re a fearlessly bold decorator or relaxed minimalist, patterns are worth embracing in any home. It can feel easier…
21 Jul 2022
When Sarah moved into her Tauranga ex-rental home, it was a little on the neglected side. Despite its worn carpets and some interesting colour choices (one room a frightening deep…
06 Jul 2022
Rachel’s home is rich in history, having long peered out towards Auckland’s harbour on Buchanan Street. One of Devonport’s earliest villas, the iconic home’s interior has just received a head-to-toe…
29 Jun 2022
It can be overwhelming or even downright intimidating figuring out how to incorporate colour into your home. Perhaps there’s a space you love but you know it could do with…
29 Jun 2022
Kerikeri is a town with the best of both worlds. It may appear as a quiet country town to some, but with a rich history and welcoming community, it’s becoming…
23 Jun 2022
The winners of the Habitat by Resene Teeny House Competition show that size doesn’t matter when it comes to creativity and style. Decorators young and old entered the competition which…
23 Jun 2022
Palmerston North homeowners Bridget and William haven’t shied away from bold use of colour in their 1920s character bungalow – bright Resene turquoises, yellows and deep blues feature throughout. “We’ve…
09 Jun 2022
If peering up at the sky, out across the water or down at fallen leaves offers you a sense of calm, why not bring this feeling indoors? In an instant,…
02 Jun 2022
Sometimes small changes can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to choosing neutral paint colours. The theme of this Auckland villa’s facelift was light, bright and modern, achieved…
19 May 2022
There’s nothing that sets a mood in a room like blue does. An incredibly versatile colour, blue can be refreshing, tranquil or moody. Its numerous shades can work as a…
19 May 2022
Alice and Caleb are certainly no strangers to a challenging DIY project – sledgehammers, paint brushes and power tools have been at the ready for the last decade. The couple…
14 Apr 2022
This longweekend is the perfect time to tackle a little home improvement. Give your home a glow up with Resene paint, there’s nothing more satisfying than standing back to admire…
13 Apr 2022
When Bridget and Tom bought their grand old villa on top of a sunny hill in Whanganui it was never intended to be their forever home. Instead, they planned to…
23 Mar 2022
Jenny’s painter thought she was crazy when she told him she was painting her Auckland bungalow’s living room a steely charcoal. Thankfully, the end result in Resene Half Foundry sings…
24 Mar 2022
Whether you’ve delved into the TV genre of period dramas or not, Regency era interiors are all the rage and are here for us to take a little opulent inspiration…
17 Mar 2022
If you’re looking to add instant wow-factor to a bland room, a feature wall is calling your name. They’re relatively simple to create but can pack a punch in terms…
09 Mar 2022
Closing the deal on a derelict 100-year-old villa marked the beginning of a long and winding renovation road for New Plymouth’s Gina and Rick. When they bought the neglected villa…
02 Mar 2022
It was the elegant character of its street frontage that made Malcolm and Gay fall in love with their house in Devonport on Auckland’s North Shore back in 2015. Using…
19 Jan 2022
One of the country’s oldest homes is looking good for another century in fresh coats of Resene paint inside and out. Kohukohu Villa in historic Hokianga, Northland was built as…
12 Jan 2022
“Why are people so afraid of colour?” Fiona wonders. Fiona has no such qualms and has embraced the Resene rainbow for her dazzling home of many colours. No one needs…
23 Dec 2021
Top stories for 2021: From Resene Duck Egg blue to Peter Wolfkamp’s cottage, these are some of our most-read stories this year
As the year ends, it’s time to take stock,…
02 Dec 2021
Adding a touch of the Santorini vibe to their home was a must for this couple of Greek heritage, Nikki and Steve Koutspis. After all, the Melbourne couple eloped to…
25 Nov 2021
It’s a look that never dates – the washed blues, seafoam greens and subtle shades of white that together create the easy, breezy beach-house style.
The coastal spirit starts with paint.…
18 Nov 2021
Wahoo, summer’s nearly here! But before you sit back, relax and kick into holiday mode, it’s time to pay special attention to those areas that come into use for gatherings…
04 Nov 2021
You’ll be floored by the results when you look beyond your four walls and start treating your floor and ceiling as part of your creative canvas. Consider the ceiling and…
27 Oct 2021
It’s a big, intimidating task, but painting your home’s exterior can instantly boost its resale value and has a huge effect on the way you feel about your home. First…
21 Oct 2021
For homeowners Maria and Roger, renovating their century-old Brisbane Queenslander helped them fall in love with the features of their heritage home. With a dark, dated interior and tired yellow…
07 Oct 2021
The Block NZ’s site foreman Peter Wolfkamp traded the rule book for a paintbrush when he renovated his circa 1910 cottage. He and his wife Debbie rose to the challenge…
23 Sep 2021
While we’re obsessed with Resene’s bold range of vibrant colours and daring hues, it’s often their carefully considered range of whites and neutrals that inspire homeowners when it comes to…
23 Sep 2021
With a fresh coat of Resene Surrender and a smart trim in Resene Kashmir Blue, this Oakura Bay bach is not only a refuge for owners Doug and Jan, but…
16 Sep 2021
Welcome the early days of spring by inviting fresh colours into your home. There’s nothing better than a crisp spring day and the fragrance of blossoming flowers carried on the…
16 Sep 2021
Interior designer Litsa Jackson has a way with white. Ever since she began her interior design business, Inside Storey, she’s loved the way the perfect white can bring a space…
09 Sep 2021
Spending more time at home has allowed us to get more creative, take up new hobbies and rediscover old ones. With the changing landscape of working – and with working…
11 Aug 2021
Open up to the idea of doing more with your space. Open plan homes have become increasingly popular and with a range of Resene colours and some creative hacks, it’s…
15 Jul 2021
The renovation of Huntly House has more drama than a reality TV show. Homeowners Hayley and Chris embarked on an incredible adventure when they restored their triple storey, seven bedroom…
03 Jun 2021
Behind Ben and Helen Masters stately 1910 villa, painted in a restrained Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, lies a secret. Walking through the Resene Black front door lies a riot of…
20 May 2021
Roseberry Villa got more than a makeover when Interior Designer Abbey Lang moved in – it got a new lease on life. Old and new collided in this 110-year-old villa…
20 May 2021
Modern colour palettes aren’t just for contemporary homes. Freshen up your villa or heritage home with on-trend colour combinations that are anything but old fashioned. Resene’s extensive range of interior…
13 May 2021
Chessa Stevens realised her childhood dream when she restored this century-old villa. As a young girl, Chessa remembers driving past the dilapidated house in her hometown of Carterton and wishing…
05 May 2021
Cove Construction’s Hollie and Nick Gill started their building journey with a bare plot of land and a big dream. Nick had always wanted to build an architectural house where…
05 May 2021
When it comes to repainting your home, chances are your colour palette will include some off-whites – whether that’s just for the trims and joinery or tip to toe. But…
29 Apr 2021
Should red and green really never be seen? Will brown and blue really never do? The old colour rhyme rules have been around for years, but sometimes ‘rules’ are made…
28 Apr 2021
Artist and colour consultant Kelly Southee isn’t on the fence about using colour in her Brisbane home. Originally from Upper Hutt, Kelly’s new home on the outskirts of the Toohey…
14 Apr 2021
There’s no need to feel blue when it comes to repainting your home. Marie Antoinette didn’t when she covered her private boudoir in Versailles with the colour duck egg blue.…
08 Apr 2021
When homeowner Rachael wanted to update her 140-year-old villa in Napier’s Bluff Hill, she called in the pros. Vic Bibby and Dael Brady from Napier-based interior design firm, Bibby +…
08 Apr 2021
In Flaxmill Bay, nestled amongst three hectares of lush gardens and trees lies a cosy cottage that on first glance appears to be the quintessential bach. Except it isn’t -…
24 Mar 2021
As the natural world blazes with the rich reds and oranges of autumn, find your indoor oasis with Resene’s wide range of revitalising greens. From a small splash of paint…
11 Mar 2021
Makeup artist Amber Carroll is used to transforming her clients for weddings and photoshoots, so when it came to her own she was keen to give it a bit of…
03 Mar 2021
Balance and light were at the top of Sarah Eaton’s mind when she was decorating a new home in Governors Bay, near Lyttleton. The director of Christchurch-based interior design company,…
25 Feb 2021
All Black legend Sir John Kirwan and his wife Fiorella have a long connection with Waihi Beach so when they came to creating their dream bach they wanted to get…
27 Jan 2021
Colour is a key driver when choosing your new roof, but the profile also plays an equally important role in achieving the look and style you want.
With a wide range…
11 Feb 2021
This Christchurch home has new street appeal with a fresh coat of Resene Element and zesty Resene Hot Toddy on the garage door
7 unbelievable reader house exterior makeovers – plus…
28 Jan 2021
Add street appeal with a yellow front door. The door on this villa is painted in Resene Turbo with Resene White on the trim and weatherboards in Resene Triple Concrete.…
14 Jan 2021
Sharing space can be hard for many of us, but these clever paint ideas will make it easier to create office spaces, study zones - and keep the peace.
Left wall…
13 Jan 2021
The owners of this Banks Peninsula villa took inspiration from their natural environment when giving their home a floor-to-ceiling Resene makeover
Tucked in the Prices Valley on Canterbury’s Banks Peninsula is…
16 Dec 2020
Old world charm and colourful contemporary character meet at Rachel and Steven’s 1930s Auckland bungalow, which they share with their two children, Elias and Ivy. While open plan living may…
15 Dec 2020
When interior designer Clare Kitching set about creating a new Resene colour scheme for her mother Raewyn’s late-1800s villa, she started by reviewing her own taste.
“My mum is more of…
09 Dec 2020
Old-school character was top of the list when Libby Chambers and her husband Aaron went searching for a new home. They moved into a 120-year-old villa seven years ago just…
08 Dec 2020
As the temperature rises so too does the demand for parties and social gatherings.
By using a few fundamental design principles, you can transform your outdoor space into an area that’s…
26 Nov 2020
Is it time for a fence refresh? 6 ways that paint can elevate your home’s fencing and exterior
First impressions count. Refreshing a fence with Resene paints or wood stains gives the whole house and…
18 Nov 2020
Charm and a good location are elusive qualities in a home, curiously difficult to come by – and even more difficult to come by together. So, when Christchurch-based first-home buyers…
04 Nov 2020
A great media room is the sum of its parts, from the materials and colours it harbours to its curtains and, of course, its screen. It’s about those considerate details.…
21 Oct 2020
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” So said British poet, novelist, translator and textile doyen William Morris. It’s a…
14 Oct 2020
When Alastair and Demelza bought their 1950s home, a brick-and-tile nestled in Dunedin’s Anderson’s Bay, it was a shell of its former self. For many years, the home had lived…
26 Aug 2020
With many of our best laid plans long since out the window, we’ve hunkered down at home and rediscovered a love for making the most of what we have. From…
19 Aug 2020
Thanks to Marie Kondo’s ‘KonMari’ method, the successfully organised among us have managed to minimalise our homes to stark perfection. And while elegant neutral walls, soft curves and earthy, homespun…
12 Aug 2020
When your home sits in a lush tropical garden by the sea, great indoor-outdoor flow is the number one priority. It’s something that Jane and Steven have relished in their…
22 Jul 2020
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to finally settle on a wall colour only to be stumped on what to hang on the walls afterwards. There’s an easy solution to this,…
15 Jul 2020
For most of us, if we’re lucky enough to have one, a garage starts off as a place to park our cars, bikes and lawn mower, but generally ends up…
01 Jul 2020
Painting the house, inside or out, is something that usually sits on that endless list of home renovation or maintenance jobs earmarked for spring and summer – or worse, the…
24 Jun 2020
When Tineka and Sam first set eyes on their 1990s Helensville villa a year ago, to put it lightly, “it wasn’t in the best shape,” says Tineka. But it was…
08 Jun 2020
When Hannah and Tim first set eyes on, what was at the time, the worst house on one of Wellington’s most well-known streets, they knew they could restore it to…
08 Jun 2020
There’s something to be said for stepping inside your home and feeling relaxed and soothed from the moment you open the door. With our increasingly busy and stressful lives, more…
04 Jun 2020
Set on a large mature section nestled above Little Shoal Bay on Auckland’s North Shore is a sweet 1940s brick-fronted cottage. Now owned by Claire and Aaron, the home is…
28 May 2020
With broken weatherboards, asbestos in the kitchen linoleum and a long list of other fixes, this century old farmhouse needed major commitment from its homeowners Jane and Pim to bring…
20 May 2020
Finding the balance between beach chic and modern design can be a tricky task, but thanks to some clever designers and a carefully selected palette of Resene colours, Claire and…
13 May 2020
Paul, a Chartered Accountant who now runs his own consulting firm, 5th Green, and Sheree, a legal contractor, spent 15 years living and working in London before returning to New…
23 Apr 2020
In 2011, Kim was ready for a change and looking for a slower pace of life, so she decided to sell her beloved Auckland villa and move to a beautiful…
02 Nov 2014
With its boldly patterned walls and bright accent colours, the elegant interior of Rhys and Wanda's Devonport villa is a visual delight. It took a major renovation to get it this way, though. When the couple bought the old…
30 Jun 2011
"I had gone over to look at the home with no intention to buy at all," recalls the owner of this stunning alpine villa in the Cardrona Valley. "It was…
26 Jan 2012
George and Frances have carefully restored their 1904 villa in Kingsland, keeping its classic style and polished kauri floors, but extending it to create more living space, and adding their own personality. Influenced…
01 Mar 2012
The previous owner of Gerard and Shelley's home was a builder who, in the process of doing it up, decided to sell it. At the time, it had no kitchen, no deck and…
21 Jun 2012
Hi, welcome to the new-look Habitat of the Week. I’m Sharon Newey, the editor of this and Habitat magazine, both showcasing gorgeous Resene colour. We’ll still be bringing you superb…
13 Jul 2015
When your home is a gorgeous Edwardian villa with stunning period detailing, choosing paint colours becomes a delicate matter. If the colours are too strong, you risk overpowering the very…
06 Sep 2012
There’s one thing a villa of grand proportions can handle, and that’s colour. In fact, to go the other way and paint the walls in white or off-white would make…
26 Aug 2015
Bored of naked furniture? Does the timber look not fit your style? Just paint it. Painted furniture is the new craze and is borne of a convergence of various current trends:
1. The vintage…
01 Nov 2012
Doing anything in a residential heritage zone is tricky. It’s hard enough when you’re renovating, but becomes especially difficult when you’re building a brand new home. How do you make…
13 Aug 2015
A grand old home is the perfect canvas for strong Resene colour… but has posed a few problems for its sustainability-aware owners. How do you, after all, make a draughty, energy-sapping heritage home…
20 May 2014
Making sure a gorgeous Edwardian villa was given age-appropriate interior colours without ending up looking like a museum was a challenge taken on by homeowners Lisa and Danny… with some…
05 Sep 2014
When Talia O’Connor and husband Chris Taylor along with their family moved to New Zealand, dealing with the challenges of renovating a villa was completely foreign to them. Having lived…
06 Aug 2014
In an excerpt from our popular Habitat Plus interior colour schemes booklet, we check out how different a living area and dining room can look with different Resene colours.
See double
Nowadays,…
10 Sep 2014
Trading bright city lights for a quiet country homestead was a brave move that paid off for Kate Arbuthnot and Dave Hassan.
They made the move from central Auckland in 2008,…
08 Oct 2014
In her just-released book, Green Modern, Claire McCall visits houses built for sustainability, including this Coromandel hideaway that uses VOC-free Resene paint. We have a copy of Green Modern to give…
15 Oct 2014
A newly built home was the perfect canvas for a makeover using Resene white, black and grey.
House hunting is never an easy feat, and for most couples checking off the…
20 Nov 2014
When Trudie and Mike Nettle moved into their Hawke’s Bay home, with kids in tow, all of the walls and trims were painted in white Resene Alabaster. Trudie was keen…
19 Aug 2015
Designer Tina Stephens of Roomie Interior Design was recently given a very personal commission – to redesign both the structure and the interiors of her parents’ home, using soft beachy…
02 Jun 2015
Mixed fringe-city zoning lets the owner of this small two-storey inner-city villa work from the ground floor, and live upstairs. Interior designer James Peters helped him convert it from a…
15 Jul 2015
Blues and greens and splashes of rich yellow make up the paint palette of this transitional Edwardian villa, a 'forever' home to owner Maggie Robertson.
The house was recently updated, turning it into a tasteful meld of 19th century practicality…
01 Jan 2015
Resene paints are certainly known for their good looks and high quality. But aside from the startling array of colours and the regular fashion colours fandeck launches, Resene also has…
17 Dec 2015
Elegant, tasteful and yet still adventurous with colour. It's almost unbelievable that Maggie Robertson's renovation of her Auckland villa, which she purchased in the mid-90s, was done remotely from her…
31 Dec 2015
White airy homes are all the rage these days, and with good reason. Paint your walls the right white, and you're inviting glorious light and space to any room – it's so natural and so…
31 Dec 2015
Gary and Phil’s sensational sizzling garden
Indoor/outdoor flow – it’s the catch-cry of every real estate advert and something we’re all told we should strive for.
One Auckland architect and his partner…
23 Feb 2016
For Gareth and Jolie Hodson, happiness has been all about coming home to New Zealand, finding the right house and then turning it into their own family sanctuary.
Now finished in…
12 May 2016
Hardly a week goes by when someone doesn’t knock on the door of the McDonald home and ask what colour it’s painted. It’s Resene Half Napa, a colour that beautifully…
21 May 2016
Just one year ago, Jackie Jones and Jeremy Patston took over a dark, small timber-lined bach at Matarangi on the Coromandel. Today, it’s unrecognizable, thanks to Jackie’s skill as an…
01 Mar 2016
When Chris and Janet Gardner renovated their sumptuous looking villa, their interior design problems were solved in one fell swoop – with the discovery of Resene Thorndon Cream.
As they declare…
05 Jul 2016
It was 10 years ago when Darren invested in a 1900s weatherboard villa in Auckland’s now trendy suburb of Kingsland.
Only a short walk away from Eden Park and Kingsland’s lively…
09 Sep 2016
A house that marries yellow, turquoise and red; another that allows playful textures and architectural lines to shine; and an apartment block that turns a striking colour-blocked wall to the…
18 Sep 2016
The delicate stencilling throughout this Christchurch home is enough to make you marvel. The whole house, in fact, sings with creativity, painted using a wonderful array of Resene paint colours. It's enough to…
11 Nov 2016
When Richard purchased this run-down Ponsonby villa 14 years ago, he knew it needed some serious love (and money) to get it back to its former glory. Jo agreed when…
12 Jan 2017
David and Kirsty Wraight have the best of both worlds. Building a villa from scratch will give you that, melding old world charm with the joys of modern housing.
Set in Marlborough's…
29 Jan 2017
As a purchase, this Coromandel holiday home is what dreams are made of. Surrounded by native bush, panoramic views of Hahei Beach and Mercury Bay, and not much needed in the way of…
16 Feb 2017
Having had a been-there, done-that moment of building a "very modern" house, Glen and Sara were ready to settle into something a little more traditional for their next build. This home ticks all…
16 Mar 2017
When Ian and Sharon first saw their house, it had lumpy plaster cladding, dark rooms and multiple levels. It was retro 70s… but not in a good way. Today, it…
13 Apr 2017
When well-known garden photographer Sally Tagg was deciding on the right colour for her walled garden and home exterior, it’s no surprise that she saw it with an artist’s eye.…
04 May 2017
Earthy Resene Double Grey Olive walls, dark chocolate oak floors and ceiling roses... you'd be forgiven for thinking Julia and Alastair's home is from a much earlier decade.
When the couple sold their previous…
04 May 2017
There’s something about a dark house exterior that seems to connect with us. Maybe it looks more grounded, stronger and more distinctive, or just out-and-out eye-catching.
A dark exterior paint job…
27 Apr 2017
Sun streams into the open plan kitchen and dining room of Julia and Jordan Rogers' home, hitting the bold Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey walls and beautiful ornate trims at the top.…
08 Jun 2017
Located on a working dairy farm just outside of Cambridge, Little Villa is as country as it gets. Painted in Resene Paddock, the guesthouse blends in beautifully with its natural surrounds, an oasis…
29 Jun 2017
Alabaster, chalk, ivory, cream… which is which? There are so many wonderful Resene whites to choose from.
All whites are not created equal… and that’s particularly true with paint colour.…
20 Jul 2017
With sweeping views above the tree tops, and sitting privately between a park and the beach, there was inspiration aplenty for Kate Alexander when asked to update this character bungalow…
24 Aug 2017
When Janice and Jeffrey Clague purchased a very dated villa on the hills above Queenstown, they got stuck in immediately, setting upon a complete renovation.
Out went the passé fireplace and poorly laid…
31 Aug 2017
This year’s winners in the Resene Total Colour Awards created schemes of often multiple strong colours for their projects, pushing the boundaries of colour use both inside and out.
The winner…
14 Sep 2017
Out with the beige. This was the mantra of Jo and Jeremy when renovating their Hamilton villa, painting over the beige walls inside their home with modern, hint-of-pink Resene neutrals – from soft blush Resene Just Right…
14 Sep 2017
?Travel enriches our understanding of the world, delving into rich, new cultures and exploring landscapes that take your breath away. Stylist Amber Armitage recently set off on a world trip, and was…
05 Oct 2017
Thanks to its owners, age is just a number for this 100-year-old villa, which has been lovingly renovated with fresh Resene neutrals and a newly installed swimming pool.
When Pete and Sarah…
16 Nov 2017
When landscape designer Louise Dunning purchased this North Auckland home, the well-established yet tired garden that came with it was a welcome challenge.
Louise, who owns landscaping design business Noble Fox, put her green fingers to work, transforming…
23 Nov 2017
With original pressed ceilings, high stud height and classic villa features, this North Auckland home was already in great shape. So when Amanda Neill of Designworx was asked to design the…
11 Jan 2018
Imagine the dream Kiwi bach… chances are it would closely resemble this Coromandel Peninsula beauty.
The four-bedroom holiday home was styled by Heather Kirkwood, who went for a coastal cool look – with…
15 Mar 2018
When Graham and Jo moved into an old farm worker’s cottage in 2005, they riffed on the idea of a renovation – but realised it would be more cost effective…
12 Apr 2018
With walls swimming in vibrant Resene blues and jewel-toned greens to reflect the views of the Wellington harbour, the colour palette of this home is a world away from its…
26 Apr 2018
For anyone that thinks black and white is boring, it couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to the home of Laura and Michael of the Bay of…
24 May 2018
When Ben and Kate Campion set about building their new home, they not only based it on the look of a character Californian-style bungalow but decided to create their own…
10 May 2018
Two bathrooms, both painted in rich Resene colour and each boasting an individual style. When it came to creating these beautiful bathrooms, the designers went bold with their colour choices…
16 May 2018
Are you a minimalist? Or a maximalist? Take a look at these different versions of the same room – which one appeals to you most?
We took one room and had…
21 Jun 2018
What was once bordering on a student flat aesthetic has been transformed into an elegant home painted in coastal-inspired Resene colours thanks to its homeowners and designer Michael Mansvelt.
During the…
27 Jun 2018
At first glimpse, Corrine and Emanuel’s Wellington home, freshened up in Resene Eighth Friar Grey, looks like another neutral-infused bungalow. Take a second look and the yellow letter box and…
13 Sep 2018
Zane and Suzanne Raphael knew the renovation of their rundown villa in Auckland’s Greenhithe would be epic. What they didn’t expect is that through the 12-month project they’d catch the…
06 Sep 2018
When Stuart and Tracey were making over their transitional villa in Devonport, Auckland, they turned to layers of Resene whites and neutrals to preserve the building’s character while creating a…
30 Aug 2018
The winners of this year’s Resene Total Colour Award were announced at a gala evening last night, with some unexpectedly bold projects taking top honours.
From a full-on pink dining room,…
11 Oct 2018
When David and Cheryl Aitken bought their Stanley Pt home on Auckland’s North Shore in 1988 it was a modest home but in a stunning location. Over the next 30…
18 Oct 2018
When advertising executive Marcelle Baker came to designing the interior of her renovated, century-old villa in Onehunga, Auckland, colour was key in the form of a bold Resene palette. “I…
01 Nov 2018
The day after Lara Bui and Isaac Weston bought their 1970s home in Matua, Bay of Plenty, in 2010 they launched into a renovation with gusto. It would turn out…
20 Dec 2018
Many of us dream of living the bach holiday lifestyle all year round, but few of us have the opportunity to actually do so. Tim and Angela Kinnersley are the…
19 Feb 2019
It goes without saying that the kitchen in this renovated villa is exceptionally beautiful. The home is owned and decorated by kitchen and interior designer Sian Gillander, after all.
Overlooking…
31 Jan 2019
Two kitchens, completely different in style, but both with something in common – their stunning use of Resene greys.
The first is a stunning two-tone kitchen, inspired by black character doors…
28 Mar 2019
Before Jonathan Smith of Matter Architects came around, this home in Auckland’s posh Ponsonby neighbourhood looked like any other worker’s cottage typical of the area and era: symmetrical façade, central…
24 Apr 2019
Although the spectacular house at 38 Franklin Road in Auckland’s Freeman’s Bay neighbourhood started her life as a gracious family home for a well-to-do local councillor, she has spent the…
30 May 2019
15 years ago, when Kathy and Greg Chiles purchased their Edwardian villa in Dunedin’s Belleknowes neighbourhood, they were drawn to its character, sunny north facing position, interior layout and child-friendly…
31 Jul 2019
Debra DeLorenzo is no stranger when it comes to interior renovation and design. As an interior designer by trade, there’s nothing she loves more than to unleash her creative prowess and…
18 Jul 2019
With two children and another on the way, Emma and Henry were rapidly outgrowing their three-bedroom traditional 1930s bungalow in Auckland’s Pt. Chevalier neighbourhood. The house didn’t have a bathtub…
28 Aug 2019
When Flint and Celia Collinson built their home in Hawke's Bay, they approached the project with a unique point of view, working their design from back to front. With plans…
18 Sep 2019
Since Charlotte and Greg Quinn bought their first house in the UK in 2006, they have loved living in houses with a strong architectural style and plenty of character.
“Most houses…
07 Oct 2019
Inspired by Island Bay’s rugged southern coast, Sven and Fuailelagi Samoa Saleupolu Heger wanted their renovated home to have materials and a Resene colour palette that was earthy but crisp, and to…
06 Nov 2019
Perched on the upper slopes of Mt Pleasant Hill in Christchurch is a petite two bedroom home with sweeping views to the alps, Kaikoura mountain ranges and Pegasus Bay. As…
03 Feb 2020
Having a spacious home in stylish Devonport is an Auckland property pipe dream, but one that Michael and Sally managed to turn into a reality. But like many older homes,…
11 Feb 2020
Following the devastating Christchurch earthquakes, Stephanie Waterhouse was faced with a major decision: rebuild her beloved but damaged 110-year-old villa or pack up and move. However, her stunning St Albans…
04 Mar 2020
While it may have served previous life as a modest bungalow, Philip and Jane’s 1920s Auckland home has since seen a complete transformation into the bold and modern multi-level stand…
25 Mar 2020
When Douglas and Shelley moved to Dunedin with their two children, Oscar and Eli, an exciting opportunity presented itself. Their north facing property showed plenty of promise, but was in a poor state – leaving full renovation as their…
11 Mar 2020
Renovating a heritage bathroom is a behemoth of an undertaking. But when done right, it’s also a truly rewarding experience. It’s the kind of project which requires that perfect meeting…