You wouldn’t know this oasis of calm is home to a family of seven – and a French bulldog called Frank

Juggling five kids and a French bulldog called Frank while undergoing a renovation during a lockdown is no mean feat. When Rachel and Jarrad, who are parents to Milla (18), Eaddy (15), Quinn (9), Stevie (6), Beau (2), began renovating their five-bedroom home on Auckland’s North Shore, it was an exercise in logistics. Creating a calm yet contemporary home using Resene paint was the easy part. 

“The renovation took about six months, possibly a little longer than usual due to lockdown,” says Rachel. 

“We were shuffling the kids around the houses of friends and families on a daily basis to make it work.”

The house has undergone quite a transformation, the oak floors have been sanded and coated in Resene Aquaclear, new carpet has been laid, a dream kitchen installed, and all surfaces freshly painted. Rachel says the secret to navigating a renovation during lockdown with a family of five kids and a dog is “having great trades”. 

“Our painter Chris Wu is a magician. He went above and beyond to meet deadlines working as many hours as possible each week - sometimes with all the kids and dog ‘trying’ to help him! We asked to have our walls back to brand new, and that’s what he did.” 

When Rachel was feeling overwhelmed by the colour choices, Chris also advised her on colours.

“I never realised how many whites there are! Initially I went into our local Resene ColorShop for paint charts and testpots. Then I sat down with Chris and we nutted it out. We settled on Resene Black White for most interior walls and Resene Alabaster for the ceiling. Together they provide a crisp, clean backdrop that I love. 

“They work well with the exterior cladding in Resene Truffle, garage door in Resene Bright Grey and the front door in Resene Nero.” 

Rachel and Jarrad developed the interior style collaboratively. They put together mood boards with Pinterest. “I thought we had different styles,” says Rachel.

“But it turns out we’re very similar. We both work on the theory that if a style is hard to grasp for one of us, we respect that and don’t do it. And if one of us is adamant they love something, and the other isn’t fussed, then we make it work. “

The suspended open shelves above the kitchen were the biggest sticking point for the couple. Rachel was a huge fan, but Jarrad was unconvinced, fearing they would close in the space. His fears were unfounded, and the shelves turned out to be a fantastic industrial-style feature that brings the space together.

One other fun detail that Jarrad wasn’t sure about was Rachel’s last-minute decision to paint the pocket doors black. “Our walls are all white, so I thought the tongue-and-groove black doors would be a nice feature,” says Rachel. “They’re painted in Resene Nero. And although we don’t close them very often, it’s a pleasant surprise when you do.”

Even though the feature wall in Resene Gauntlet in Quinn’s bedroom and the Resene Half Truffle in Beau’s nursery are the only wall colours that are not white, the vibe of this home is far from one-dimensional. As Rachel explains: “We encourage everyone to have all their special things in their rooms and on display. With so many of us, it’s important to have your space as your own. The armchair in our bedroom is my special thing – it’s always in the sun and a lovely space to have some alone time. Sticking to simple colours means we can each add our personal touches without the house looking like a patchwork quilt.” 

Rachel’s favourite part of the home is the outdoor living area with outdoor fire – the perfect place for admiring their hard work renovating the house. “It’s our wee sanctuary,” says Rachel: “You’ll more than likely find us out there in the evening with a glass of vino in hand. And since completing the recent internal renovation, we now get to look back in and see our hard work.”

Now that Rachel has nailed her modern clean aesthetic, she has her eye on the next project - some half-wall feature walls. But that will have to wait for the next house. Rachel and the family are moving to a new home and project. One with a bright orange front door in Resene Grenadier and a giant porthole window. The future looks colourful for this family of seven.

images Barfoot and Thompson and Kate Alexander
words Kate Alexander

Rachel and Jarrad’s home is for sale here

Top tip
Give timber flooring a new lease of life using Resene Qristal ClearFloor or Resene Aquaclear. Sand the wood following the grain and vacuum and wipe clean before applying your chosen clear coat brushing in the direction of the grain. Apply three coats, allowing dry time between each coat. If your timber is looking a little faded, stain it first with Resene Colorwood, available in a range of colours, before applying your clear finish.


Indoor/outdoor flow was a top goal in the renovation. The Resene Alabaster ceilings and trims combined with Resene Black White on the walls give the area a bright and airy feeling.


The blonde oak floors were sanded back and protected with clear coats of Resene Aquaclear during the renovation. The pale flooring when paired with the Resene Black White walls and Resene Alabaster ceilings gives the home a fresh Scandi-inspired look.


The crisp white of Resene Black White on the walls complements the pale timber, shelving, sideboard, record player and the vibrant green house plants. The Resene Alabaster ceiling lifts the room.


The suspended open shelves in the kitchen were a point of contention between Rachel and Jarrad but they both appreciate the end result. The black coloured-cabinetry matches the touches of black around the house with the pocket doors painted in Resene Nero. The walls of the kitchen are Resene Black White and the ceiling and trims are Resene Alabaster.


Resene Gauntlet on the feature wall in Quinn’s room is a stony grey with touches of brown that gives both warmth and sophistication to the room. Resene Black White on the other walls and crisp Resene Alabaster on the trims and ceiling keep the room bright and light.


The sunny master bedroom has a fresh modern feeling thanks to the Resene Black White on the walls and Resene Alabaster on the trims and ceiling. The interior colours tie in with the soft brown of Resene Truffle on the balcony and complement Rachel’s favourite armchair, the soft brown curtains and carpet and rose-coloured cushions and throws. To achieve this pale pink on walls, try Resene Blossom.


The nursery features Resene Half Truffle on the walls and Resene Alabaster on the trims and ceiling, creating a soothing space which ties in with the natural materials in the room such as the rattan lampshade and sheepskin.


The architectural sloping ceilings are highlighted with bright and light Resene Alabaster, a near white with a blackened edge. The walls are Resene Black White.
 


The front door of the home is Resene Nero which matches the pocket doors around the home. The striking black gives the home a bold architectural feeling when paired with the Resene Black White walls and ceilings and trims in Resene Alabaster.


Resene Truffle is a great choice for the house exterior in the sunny suburb. The soft beige colour is easier on the eye than a bright white.


Rachel calls the outdoor living area with outdoor fireplace her sanctuary. The pergola is Resene Truffle and the fence is Resene Ironsand.

Published: 10 Jun 2021

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

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Resene Black White

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Resene Half Truffle

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