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The owners chose wrought iron balustrades for the ‘bridge’ to add a bit of character. The walls are Resene Double Parchment and the trims are Resene Rice Cake.
The doors were made in India and shipped over by the homeowners in a ‘leap of faith’. They keep the teak looking good with Resene Furniture and Decking Oil. The walls are Resene Double Parchment.
Resene Double Parchment was chosen for the walls and Resene Rice Cake for the ceiling and trims to echo the colours of the sand dunes that feature in the view out the windows.
Resene Periglacial Blue is used on the paneling on the lower part of the wall. The vanity is actually a repurposed sideboard while baskets hold bathroom supplies. The upper walls and ceiling are Resene Rice Cake.
The pitched ceilings in the open-plan living area are lined in tongue and groove, and painted in Resene Rice Cake. The kitchen cabinets are in Resene Half Rice Cake while the walls are Resene Double Parchment.
The bach exterior is board and batten, painted in Resene Bokara Grey. The owners used Resene CoolColour paint base to combat the effects of the strong sun.
Ian and Sharon’s sand and sea-toned escape
Faced with rebuilding a broken-down bach at Mangawhai Heads north of Auckland, Ian and Sharon took inspiration from the spectacular view of islands, sea and sand dunes for their palette of restful Resene colours. The board and batten exterior painted in Resene Bokara Grey echoes the shadowy rocks of the Hen & Chicken Islands, while inside Resene Parchment is the colour of the sand, and Resene Periglacial Blue reflects the sea.
Tell us a bit about the bach and its history.
We bought the bach about six years ago. It was in a dilapidated state and had no council sign-off. All the windows were a different coloured aluminium, there were holes in the floor, the downstairs was a rabbit warren of rooms, and there were odd features like a window between the bathroom and the living room - we assumed to get a view while you showered!
But it was the view that sold us on the property – it’s spectacular and changes all the time.
We had to virtually rebuild the house. We had seen some very cool baches designed by architect Bruce MacKenzie of MacKenzie Architecture so we had him redesign the house. We got a bit carried away with the size because we added a garage right beside the existing house and thought ‘why not just add a couple of storeys on top?” Over the summer holidays, we fill it up with family and friends.
While it’s quite big, we still wanted it to have a rustic casual beachy feel.
How did you decide on the overall look of the interiors and the colours?
We didn’t want a stark white interior. Or one that was minimalist – it’s just not our idea of a bach. So we added character with some tongue and groove paneling, pitched ceilings, Indian antique doors, wide-plank oak floors and wrought iron balustrades.
We wanted colour but not strong colour that would overwhelm the view. So we took a lead from what you see outside, and used our interpretation of a sand colour – Resene Double Parchment and Resene Parchment – as the main wall colours. The downstairs rumpus room gets less natural light than upstairs so we chose the slightly creamier Resene Wheatfield for the walls there.
The ceilings and trims are Resene Rice Cake, which has a sea-foam tinge to it, so we took that colour into the bathrooms and teamed it with a dusky sea blue for the tongue-and-groove paneling, Resene Periglacial Blue.
The exterior is board and batten so suits a dark colour. We tried a few but Resene Bokara Grey has just the right amount of warmth compared to a straight black. Resene Bokara Grey is also the colour of the Hen & Chicken Islands and the seaweed that gets washed up on the beach.
What part of the house are you most happy with?
Everyone comments on the Resene Periglacial Blue paneling in the bathroom but for us, the stand-out feature is the reproduction antique doors we had made in India. It took a bit of research and a leap of faith but when they arrived we were thrilled with how they looked. They’re teak so we keep them looking good with regular coats of Resene Furniture and Decking Oil.
What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look?
Just try to get the right balance of colour and detailing, and work with the setting, not against it. Work with the materials and not against them.
What was the biggest decorating, renovating or building challenge for this project?
The sheer size, and undertaking such a major rebuild when you’re not on site very often. The local builder Shayne Stuart was great and kept us informed every step of the way.
After six years of fun, Ian and Sharon are selling their bach. Contact Kaye McElwain, Ray White, ph 027 215 2016.
Read more: Fraser and Sandy's exotic retreat
Published: 20 Nov 2014
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
The owners chose wrought iron balustrades for the ‘bridge’ to add a bit of character. The walls are Resene Double Parchment and the trims are Resene Rice Cake.
The doors were made in India and shipped over by the homeowners in a ‘leap of faith’. They keep the teak looking good with Resene Furniture and Decking Oil. The walls are Resene Double Parchment.
The corner of the house becomes see-through as large sliding doors open up to the view. The exterior is painted in Resene Bokara Grey.
A mostly glazed atrium and ‘bridge’ separates two wings of the house. The walls are Resene Double Parchment.
Resene Double Parchment was chosen for the walls and Resene Rice Cake for the ceiling and trims to echo the colours of the sand dunes that feature in the view out the windows.
Resene Periglacial Blue is used on the paneling on the lower part of the wall. The vanity is actually a repurposed sideboard while baskets hold bathroom supplies. The upper walls and ceiling are Resene Rice Cake.
The bedrooms are painted in Resene Parchment, as opposed to Resene Double Parchment used in the main living room.
Old cane furniture and an almost redundant sign are part of the TV snug end of the living room. The walls are Resene Double Parchment.
The pitched ceilings in the open-plan living area are lined in tongue and groove, and painted in Resene Rice Cake. The kitchen cabinets are in Resene Half Rice Cake while the walls are Resene Double Parchment.
The bach exterior is board and batten, painted in Resene Bokara Grey. The owners used Resene CoolColour paint base to combat the effects of the strong sun.
The main bedroom has the same pitched ceiling as the main living area, painted in Resene Rice Cake. THe walls are Resene Double Parchment.
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Double Parchment
Resene Double Parchment
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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Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Double Parchment
Resene Double Parchment
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
