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Resene Quarter Pavlova, a soft and creamy yellow adds warmth and flow between spaces in this home. The kitchen offers a playful burst of colour with Resene Alluring on cabinetry and Resene Abbey Road on the kitchen island. The ceiling is painted in Resene Quarter Bianca.
The ceiling is painted in Resene Quarter Bianca providing a crisp, clean backdrop throughout the home and a subtle contrast to the walls in Resene Quarter Pavlova. Window trims are painted in Resene Half Rice Cake.
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue, adorning the bedroom walls, is a smoky soft green blue creating a calm, restful retreat.
The kitchen cabinets embrace contrast with Resene Alluring painted on the top cabinets and Resene Abbey Road on the bottom cabinets. Two kitchen window arches in Resene Half Rice Cake added a subtle yet striking detail. The walls are painted in Resene Quarter Pavlova.
In the hallway, Resene Quarter Pavlova offers a neutral backdrop for personal belongings and artwork. The bathroom is warm and inviting painted in Resene Sakura.
A playful palette: 70s meets modern in this home makeover
For Christy and Simon, giving their home a refresh wasn’t just about updating the look – it was about reimagining the space entirely. With a modern 70s-inspired vision, the couple embarked on a renovation that balanced fun, bold Resene colours with clever spatial reconfiguration.
Their 50m² home was due for an update, both in terms of aesthetics and layout. Despite its compact size, Christy and Simon saw the potential to create a space that felt more open, inviting and vibrant. With Christy’s background as a professional athlete, yoga teacher and DIY enthusiast, and Simon’s expertise as a qualified builder, they had the perfect mix of skills to take on this project themselves.
Resene Quarter Pavlova, a soft and creamy yellow adds warmth and flow between spaces in this home. The kitchen offers a playful burst of colour with Resene Alluring on cabinetry and Resene Abbey Road on the kitchen island. The ceiling is painted in Resene Quarter Bianca.
The ceiling is painted in Resene Quarter Bianca providing a crisp, clean backdrop throughout the home and a subtle contrast to the walls in Resene Quarter Pavlova. Window trims are painted in Resene Half Rice Cake.
The couple took their time selecting the perfect colours, wanting to ensure the palette reflected their personality and brought joy to their everyday living. Alongside neutrals like Resene Quarter Bianca, Resene Quarter Pavlova and Resene Half Rice Cake, bursts of colour have been added to each space in vibrant shades like Resene Sakura, Resene Half Robin Egg Blue, Resene Alluring and Resene Abbey Road.
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue, adorning the bedroom walls, is a smoky soft green blue creating a calm, restful retreat.
A bold choice of Resene Sakura brings a pop of playful pink to the bathroom.
One of the biggest challenges was optimising the layout. With a small space to work with, every inch mattered. They made the second bedroom slightly smaller to free up space in the living area and incorporated curved feature walls and cabinetry for a softer, more open feel. “The tweaks we made have given us so much more usable space,” says Christy.
One of the standout successes of the project was the kitchen transformation. By removing a cupboard, rounding off the breakfast bar and giving the cabinets fresh coats of paint, they achieved the look of a high-end $40,000 kitchen for under $2,000.
The kitchen cabinets embrace contrast with Resene Alluring painted on the top cabinets and Resene Abbey Road on the bottom cabinets. Two kitchen window arches in Resene Half Rice Cake added a subtle yet striking detail. The walls are painted in Resene Quarter Pavlova.
In the hallway, Resene Quarter Pavlova offers a neutral backdrop for personal belongings and artwork. The bathroom is warm and inviting painted in Resene Sakura.
For Christy, the curves in the living room and kitchen area are a particular highlight, adding to the home’s unique character. And when it comes to favourite Resene colours, she’s particularly fond of Resene Quarter Pavlova. “A soft, creamy yellow that is just delicious!” she says.
Christy and Simon are thrilled with the result. Their home is now a true reflection of their personalities – fun, vibrant and full of character. With their modern 70s aesthetic, clever layout adjustments and a well-chosen colour palette, the duo have created a space that truly feels like home.
Top tip: When you’re decorating a smaller home, it’s best to choose finishes that are able to withstand wear and tear and can be easily cleaner. Unlike large homes where some rooms may not be used much at all, in smaller homes every room is usually used regularly. To help keep these spaces look fresh, finish walls in durable Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, which can be easily wiped cleaned. And for especially high traffic or high wear and tear areas, apply Resene SpaceCote Clear for added protection.
Published: 12 Mar 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Quarter Pavlova
Resene Quarter Pavlova
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
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 Quarter Pavlova
Resene Quarter Pavlova
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
