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Back kitchen wall painted in Resene Blackjack, kitchen splashback in Turbo (left), kitchen table in True Blue.
Walls in Resene Silver Chalice, trims in Eighth Black White, game machine stripes in a mix of Resene testpot colours.
Bedroom walls in (left) Resene Concrete, ceiling in Double Black White. Second bedroom walls (right) in Eighth Black White, ceiling in Kinship.
Studio furniture and ceiling in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, walls in Gull Grey, floor in Resene Aquapoxy in Double Black White.
Living room walls in Resene Concrete, ceiling in Double Black White, door trims in Sail Away.
The colourful evolution of Kate’s home
For interior designer Kate Alexander, home has always been an ever-evolving experiment with colour and creativity. Plus, plenty of DIY determination.
What began 15 years ago as your classic black and white home, has gradually transformed into a living kaleidoscope of colour, with Kate and her partner Matt tackling almost every project themselves along the way.
Building bathroom vanities, experimenting with spray painting and refinishing furniture are just some of the projects they took on, and their home has become exactly what Kate describes as “a living canvas.”
Living room walls in Resene Green Meets Blue.
Hallway ceiling in Resene Pink Lace, walls in Black White, door in Turbo.
“My home is a DIY experimental project that evolved over the last 15 years, but came to fruition in the last 18 months,” says Kate. “I love where it has landed, and I'm proud of all the different ways I have used paint and colour.”
The exterior gives little away, with weatherboards painted an understated Resene Foggy Grey and trims in Rice Cake. It's intentionally calm and restrained, even the front and back doors, finished in glossy Blackjack using Resene Lustacryl, hint at restraint, rather than the colourful joy that’s waiting inside.
Weatherboards in Resene Foggy Grey, trims in Rice Cake, steps in Resene Walk-on in Gravel.
“The exterior is purposely neutral so that when you step inside the colour hits you unexpectedly.”
And it does just that. Every room has its own personality and character. The vibrant Turbo kitchen splashback and matching bathroom door. The playful kitchen island in New Day. The dreamy accents of Sail Away in the master suite. And the bold powder coated mirror in the kids' bathroom in Dream Big.
Kate’s design skills stand out here; pops of colour appear around every corner in her home, yet nothing feels chaotic or confusing.
Back kitchen wall painted in Resene Blackjack, kitchen splashback in Turbo (left), kitchen table in True Blue.
Walls in Resene Silver Chalice, trims in Eighth Black White, game machine stripes in a mix of Resene testpot colours.
“The palette has evolved, as I have evolved as a designer,” says Kate. “The home has a fresh neutral base, Eighth Black White, and tones of grey, Silver Chalice and Concrete, as a backdrop for each room to have pops of colour and personality.
“The colours are clean and bright but not garish or clashing, and they don't repeat. Each space is slightly different, yet the house feels cohesive.”
The neutrals used throughout the home are in Resene SpaceCote Flat. This soft, flat finish allows the colourful details, artwork and carefully chosen furniture to take the main stage while maintaining a sense of flow between rooms.
In many spaces, the floor is painted in Resene Aquapoxy high-performance wall and floor paint tinted to Double Black White which brightens each space and provides an easy-to-clean surface.
Bedroom walls in Resene Silver Chalice, floor in Resene Aquapoxy in Double Black White.
Bedroom walls in (left) Resene Concrete, ceiling in Double Black White. Second bedroom walls (right) in Eighth Black White, ceiling in Kinship.
Kate’s colourful selections also extend well beyond walls. An outdoor table is painted in the soft lilac of Lola, the inside table in True Blue, and both were finished in Resene Lustacryl for its durable high gloss sheen.
The kitchen island was first coated with Resene Smooth Surface Sealer before being finished in Lustacryl, allowing the existing Melteca to be completely transformed. In the studio, Resene Aquapoxy creates a tough finish over the existing concrete floor, while Resene SpaceCote Flat in Gull Grey keeps the space feeling calm.
Even the handmade plywood tables in the studio were stained in Resene Colorwood Whitewash to lighten timber yet still allowing the natural grain to show.
Outdoor table in Resene Lola, pergola in Foggy Grey.
Studio furniture and ceiling in Resene Colorwood Whitewash, walls in Gull Grey, floor in Resene Aquapoxy in Double Black White.
Kate already had a substantial knowledge of design, but working on so many elements, and in her own home, she became even more well acquainted with the different paint finishes.
“We DIYed everything, except the bathroom tiling,” she says. “We even made the bathroom vanities and experimented with using a spray booth. I learnt a lot about how different paint finishes react on the brush, i.e. Lustacryl vs SpaceCote.
“We had a limited budget and big design dreams, and Resene paint really helped me achieve the vibe I wanted. We were able to inject fun and life without major renovations.”
Resene Lustacryl became Kate’s go-to choice for surfaces needing extra durability and shine, this includes the glossy black kitchen architraves, the master ensuite ceiling, dining tables and outdoor furniture.
Master ensuite ceiling in Resene Morning Glory, door in Sail Away, mirror in Bingo.
Living room walls in Resene Concrete, ceiling in Double Black White, door trims in Sail Away.
One beautiful aspect about this project, is that while the house is bursting with colour, it's never just colour for colour's sake, and every decision reflects Kate's growing confidence as a designer and her belief that homes should make people smile.
“I believe we should have fun with how we use colour in our homes,” Kate says. “My home is a showcase for that, something I can use to demonstrate to clients that colour is to be embraced.”
Looking back, it's a far cry from the monochrome interiors the couple first painted all those years ago.
“We actually painted the entire house in Black White when we moved in 15 years ago. Back then I wanted a black and white palette, then, slowly over the years, we changed as I became more confident with colour. It started with one feature wall, then one room, and then the entire house.
“We all love our home now. And I especially love that it evokes reaction, curiosity and conversation when people visit."
design and images Kate Alexander of Places and Graces, and Matt Kardos
Resene Pro Tip:
If you’re thinking of adding some feature walls in contrasting colours, invest in some quality painters tape to get clean lines against the ceiling/architraves and surrounding walls. Once the tape is in place, cut in using the same colour as the walls first, then once dry go ahead and paint your feature wall in your chosen colour. This will stop the paint from bleeding and give you a crisp edge when the tape is removed.
Opt for Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in your chosen colour for feature walls for a durable, easy-clean, velvety finish.
Published: 15 Sep 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Green Meets Blue
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Morning Glory
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 Green Meets Blue
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Morning Glory
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
