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Character is evident in Steven and Rachel’s home from the moment you enter, with the unique curved leaded glass door in the entryway being a standout feature. Walls in the living area are painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe. Ceilings, window panels and trims in Resene Villa White.
Light floods in over the built-in window seat, the perfect place to lounge with a book and a cup of tea. The walls and area below the window seat in Resene Half Perfect Taupe with trims in Resene Villa White.
The living room walls, painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe, are warm and welcoming and show off the home’s stunning architectural features. The batten ceilings and trims are in Resene Villa White.
The chic round mirrors open the space in the main living room, featuring batten walls in Resene Half Perfect Taupe with ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White.
“This room sits at the centre of our home and looks out across our yard. This is where we spend many hours of quality family time together. Here we eat, laugh, play and create,” Rachel shares of her dining room. Walls painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White.
Kitchen and informal living room walls in Resene Sour Dough and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White.
Informal living room walls in Resene Sour Dough and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White. “The colour of this room is so sublime and everyone compliments it. Resene Sour Dough truly is the most relaxing colour,” says Rachel.
Restful and relaxing, the master bedroom walls are painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe complemented with a batten ceiling, trims and door in Resene Villa White. Add furnishings and accessories in navy blue, rusty orange and powder blue such as Resene Bunting, Resene Korma and Resene Frozen for a similar look.
Ivy’s bedroom features Resene Wallpaper Collection PP35505, a vintage rose design, as a complement to her sweet personality. The trims are in Resene Villa White.
The walls in Ivy’s sunroom are painted in Resene Blanched Pink from the Karen Walker Paints collection paired with trims in Resene Villa White. Try it with closet doors in Resene Rouge to get a similar look.
In Elias’ room, mint green and grey accents play up his adorable watercolour-style cacti wallpaper, which is balanced with surrounding walls painted in Resene Rakaia and trims in Resene Villa White. This wallpaper design is from an older collection. For a current alternative, try Resene Wallpaper Collection 384605.
In his room, Elias has plenty of space to display his books and collections. The surrounding walls are painted in Resene Rakaia and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White. This wallpaper design is from an older collection. For a current alternative, try Resene Wallpaper Collection 384605.
Rachel and Steven’s character-filled 1930s bungalow
‘Old world charm meets colourful, contemporary character’ perfectly sums up Rachel and Steven’s 1930s Devonport bungalow, which they share with their two children, Elias and Ivy. With its ornate high ceilings, paneled walls and dado rails, their home is infused with stylish touches and a considered selection of Resene colours.
While open plan living has become the new norm for layouts, Rachel and Steven fell completely in love with the composition of their home and its clearly defined areas. “Each room has its own personality and style which gives the house a real sense of authenticity,” says Rachel.
With the idea of maintaining the bungalow’s layout firmly in mind, Rachel approached redecorating in a way that honours the benefits of having dedicated spaces. “We tried to encapsulate the character of each family member within their own particular space, and we believe the children’s bedrooms perfectly embody their different natures.”
To match Elias’ outgoing, bright and complex character, a watercolour-style cacti wallpaper pattern is prominently featured and balanced with the faint blue undertone of Resene Rakaia. “We believe children should have exciting and happy rooms that inspire creativity.”
For Ivy, who Rachel describes as “sweet, gentle, kind, artistic and at times a little cheeky,” a floral vintage-style wallpaper was paired with Resene Blanched Pink from the Karen Walker Paints collection on her sunroom walls. “Resene Blanched Pink is so magnificently dusty and has such an old-fashioned feel to it, which is why it compliments the wallpaper so well. Also, it’s from a brown palette so goes wonderfully with the rest of the house colours.”
Rachel and Steven wanted to strike a balance between masculine and feminine for the master bedroom, while keeping the overall tone warm and inviting. Walls in Resene Half Perfect Taupe, a beautiful beige, lend themselves well to a range of furniture and accessory colours and styles. The theme continues throughout their home, which is remarkably unique in its aversion to using white. “Steven and I are not inspired by white walls. To us, white feels bland and sterile,” says Rachel.
Resene Half Perfect Taupe proved to be the right choice, offering a romantic and relaxing glow in main living room and dining room, that beckons you to sit down and relax. “In the bright, natural light of the day, the mink undertones really shine through, radiating a warm grey. Yet, when bathed in the bright evening light of sunset, the soothing brown undertones of the taupe take over, offering a wonderful richness,” says Rachel. It helps, too, that the tone easily fits with the couple’s colourful collection of art and furniture – particularly the Gerhard Richter print hanging in the background of the dining room. It’s become Rachel’s favourite room in the house.
For the informal living room and kitchen, Resene Sour Dough injects a sense of serenity. “The colour is so soothing, and with its gorgeous beige base, it perfectly balances the bright colours of the furnishings. It also provides the most serene backdrop for my plants, really making the green foliage pop,” Rachel shares.
Deciding colours for your home can seem overwhelming. However, Rachel says it’s also an opportunity to shake things up. “Invest in Resene testpots. Many, many testpots and paint try test patches of the same colour in different areas of your house so that you can see it in varying lights. Consider the colour of your furniture and accessories too, but don’t be shy.”
While she doesn’t have a favourite colour herself, Rachel has a tried and true methodology that works for her. “Be bold, be brave and go with your gut instinct,” she says – an approach that has clearly served her well.
Like what you see? This house is on the market and you could be the new owner. See the listing here.
styling and photography Kate Alexander, Places & Graces
Published: 26 Feb 2020
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Character is evident in Steven and Rachel’s home from the moment you enter, with the unique curved leaded glass door in the entryway being a standout feature. Walls in the living area are painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe. Ceilings, window panels and trims in Resene Villa White.
Light floods in over the built-in window seat, the perfect place to lounge with a book and a cup of tea. The walls and area below the window seat in Resene Half Perfect Taupe with trims in Resene Villa White.
The living room walls, painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe, are warm and welcoming and show off the home’s stunning architectural features. The batten ceilings and trims are in Resene Villa White.
The chic round mirrors open the space in the main living room, featuring batten walls in Resene Half Perfect Taupe with ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White.
“This room sits at the centre of our home and looks out across our yard. This is where we spend many hours of quality family time together. Here we eat, laugh, play and create,” Rachel shares of her dining room. Walls painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White.
Kitchen and informal living room walls in Resene Sour Dough and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White.
Floral details pop against kitchen walls in Resene Sour Dough.
Informal living room walls in Resene Sour Dough and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White. “The colour of this room is so sublime and everyone compliments it. Resene Sour Dough truly is the most relaxing colour,” says Rachel.
Restful and relaxing, the master bedroom walls are painted in Resene Half Perfect Taupe complemented with a batten ceiling, trims and door in Resene Villa White. Add furnishings and accessories in navy blue, rusty orange and powder blue such as Resene Bunting, Resene Korma and Resene Frozen for a similar look.
Ivy’s bedroom features Resene Wallpaper Collection PP35505, a vintage rose design, as a complement to her sweet personality. The trims are in Resene Villa White.
The walls in Ivy’s sunroom are painted in Resene Blanched Pink from the Karen Walker Paints collection paired with trims in Resene Villa White. Try it with closet doors in Resene Rouge to get a similar look.
In Elias’ room, mint green and grey accents play up his adorable watercolour-style cacti wallpaper, which is balanced with surrounding walls painted in Resene Rakaia and trims in Resene Villa White. This wallpaper design is from an older collection. For a current alternative, try Resene Wallpaper Collection 384605.
In his room, Elias has plenty of space to display his books and collections. The surrounding walls are painted in Resene Rakaia and ceiling and trims in Resene Villa White. This wallpaper design is from an older collection. For a current alternative, try Resene Wallpaper Collection 384605.
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
Resene Blanched Pink
Resene Blanched Pink
Resene Triple Rakaia
Resene Triple Rakaia
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
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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.
