1950s ex-rental transformed into chic family home with barely there neutrals

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 purple with a silver ceiling), interior designer Sarah could see its potential. “Before my children and I moved in I stripped all the carpets out and had the floor polished. What a difference! From there I have chipped away at the house for seven years.”

The re-design of her home took plenty of patience and hard work. “Because I was on my own and only working part-time, I had to paint and wallpaper everything myself. I painted one side of the exterior every summer, so it took me four years! I painted the garage during lockdown, which was a very productive use of that time – thankfully the weather was good.”

Inside the home, the previous owner had painted the lounge and kitchen in Resene Napa. “It was warm and cosy, so I kept that colour and matched the new curtains to it,” says Sarah. “I love blue/green shades. They make me feel like I’m on a tropical island, even in the middle of winter. That sense of relaxation is important to me to have in my own home. Although I’m not a fan of taupe, Resene Napa felt modern and warm. Another sensation I like to feel!”

She had a new light shade in the kitchen painted in Resene Weathered Yellow from the Karen Walker Paints collection, to match a cute 1950s dining set she found on Trademe.

“The bathroom was in a sorry state, so I replaced everything almost immediately, including a few damaged floorboards. I broke with tradition and painted one half of the room in Resene Tarawera. I love blue/green colours and this was at the deepest end of that spectrum compared to Resene Periglacial Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection (featured on the home’s exterior).”

Sarah says she used Resene Tarawera in the bathroom both because it was a dark colour, and she wanted it to be fully waterproof. “I popped a couple of mid-century mirrors on the wall to bounce the light around the bathroom and added a fun shower curtain.”

The master bedroom was the last to be redecorated. Sarah had a custom colour created by Resene to match the tones in a wallpaper she’d had stored for years. “What a fantastic service. I love the beautiful blue/grey colour and it’s cool knowing it’s unique to this house.”

The 1950s home’s exterior received a major modern makeover. The exterior weatherboards were transformed in Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection.

“I had always loved Karen Walker Paints colours, especially Resene Periglacial Blue and now I had the opportunity to use it. I decided on a quarter strength, because of the slightly more green tone it gave and how that complemented the terracotta clay tile roof.”

For a fresh look, she chose Resene Alabaster for the window trims, soffits and the garage weatherboards. “I wanted to reflect as much light as possible to increase the longevity of the paint in intense light/heat from our laser sun. For the concrete base and trims of the garage, I used Resene Inside Back.”

Sarah decided to move on and let another family enjoy the fruits of her hard labour once the project was completed. Her current renovation project has been doing up a 1910 villa. It’s coming along slowly, she says, and she’s already eyed up Resene Geyser and Resene Seashell as options for its exterior. Watch this space!

Find Sarah at www.edin.nz

Top tip: Thinking of re-painting your bathroom? Consider using Resene Lusta-Glo semi-gloss enamel like Sarah. It’s a semi-gloss paint, and these have a slightly glossy appearance that are not as highly reflective as gloss paints. These types of finishes offer good stain resistance and are easy to clean. Paints with a semi-gloss appearance are excellent for use on many of the same areas as gloss paints. 

“The exterior originally had dark blue trims, which in our super sunny city, meant peeling, blistering and bubbling, so I repainted the exterior trims inResene Alabaster to protect them for as long as possible.” Weatherboards in Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection with window trims and soffits in Resene Alabaster.

“I painted the garage during lockdown, luckily I already had all the paint sitting in the garage ready to go. I decided it was easier to stick withResene Alabaster for the weatherboards and do the trims in Resene Inside Back, plus you couldn’t go paint shopping once the lockdown was in force,” Sarah says. Weatherboards in Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection with window trims and soffits in Resene Alabaster.

Sarah painted the lounge and kitchen in Resene Napa. “It was warm and cosy, so I kept that colour.” Ceiling and trims inResene Alabaster.

The beautiful neutral palette continues into the kitchen with walls inResene Napa and the ceiling and trims inResene Alabaster.Sarah had a lightshade painted in Resene Weathered Yellow from the Karen Walker Paints collection.

Native bird artwork pops on walls in Resene Alabaster (back wall) and Resene Napa (front wall).

 

The master bedroom was the final room in the home to be redecorated. Sarah had a custom colour created by Resene to match the tones in a wallpaper she’d had stored for years. For a similar tone, try Resene Smokescreen, Resene Halcyon or Resene Clouded Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection.

 

Sarah painted one half of the bathroom in Resene Lusta-Glo semi-gloss enamel tinted to Resene Tarawera. Opposite walls in Resene Alabaster.

Published: 21 Jul 2022

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Resene Clouded Blue

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Resene Inside Back

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Resene Periglacial Blue

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