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The Nordic blue green of Resene Juniper on the ceiling creates a unique yet calming space in this home. Outside, Resene Red Oxide and ReseneFugitive adorn the garden wall offering a striking contrast against the greenery and bold shade of the interior ceiling.
Stepping inside, the blue tones of Resene Juniper on the ceiling offer an extension of the sky outside, creating a seamless transition between the outdoors and in. The garden wall is painted in a mix of Resene Fugitive, ReseneJaponica and ReseneWax Flower.
The calming hallway is painted in Resene Quarter Lemon Grass on one side, and Resene Double Pearl Lusta on the other. Inside this room, Resene Double Pearl Lustapainted theon walls and Resene Half Pearl Lusta on the ceiling create a soft and relaxing space.
The classic hue of Resene Double Pearl Lusta in this hallway leads the way to various pops of colour throughout the home. The subtle colour variations in the hallway also produce depth and interest as the light changes throughout the day.
A mix of vivid and soft hues extend their way inside from the garden, connecting the two spaces. Resene Soft Pink and ReseneSerenade sneak inside over the steel column and wall, blending with the warm neutral of Resene Double Pearl Lusta. The ceiling is painted in Resene Juniper.
The downstairs bathroom features boldResene Red Oxide on the ceiling, blending perfecting with the red toned tiles on the walls. The colourful garden wall is visible through the window paintedin Resene Red Oxide and Resene Fugitive.
Dramatic colour transitions feature throughout the home, like this mix of Resene Juniper on the living room ceiling next to Resene Red Oxide in the bathroom and Resene Wax Flower on the internal door.
This bedroom is colour drenched in Resene Juniper, creating a cosy, tranquil and cocooning space.
A ribbon of colour and a whole lot of joy at Kidman Lane
There’s something delightfully unexpected about stepping into a home where the ceiling might just be the sky and the hallway might remind you of a garden at dusk. At Kidman Lane, a vibrant and compact home in Sydney’s inner-city Paddington, Resene colours aren’t just on the walls – they’re woven into the experience of the house itself.
Designed by Lymesmith’s creative director Sonia van de Haar in close collaboration with the client, architect and landscape designer, this project is proof that good things really do come in small, clever packages.
The Nordic blue green of Resene Juniper on the ceiling creates a unique yet calming space in this home. Outside, Resene Red Oxide and Resene Fugitive adorn the garden wall offering a striking contrast against the greenery and bold shade of the interior ceiling.
Stepping inside, the blue tones of Resene Juniper on the ceiling offer an extension of the sky outside, creating a seamless transition between the outdoors and in. The garden wall is painted in a mix of Resene Fugitive, Resene Japonica and Resene Wax Flower.
The home’s layout is refreshingly simple – one big, flowing space on the ground floor, and four generous rooms upstairs – but the colour scheme turns it into something else entirely. A single, animated ribbon of colour travels through the space, threading the front garden to the rear, binding the indoors and out into one seamless experience. A steel column becomes a quietly confident soft pink statement. The ceiling becomes the sky in Resene Juniper. And the hallway becomes a garden path in a mix of subtle hues including Resene Quarter Lemon Grass and Resene Double Pearl Lusta. Each side of the hallway is painted in a subtly different hue – a detail that only reveals itself in certain lights and shifts depending on your vantage point.
The calming hallway is painted in Resene Quarter Lemon Grass on one side, and Resene Double Pearl Lusta on the other. Inside this room, Resene Double Pearl Lusta painted on the walls and Resene Half Pearl Lusta on the ceiling create a soft and relaxing space.
The classic hue of Resene Double Pearl Lusta in this hallway leads the way to various pops of colour throughout the home. The subtle colour variations in the hallway also produce depth and interest as the light changes throughout the day.
Much like its surrounding Paddington streets, this home is filled with surprises tucked in behind heritage façades – like a hidden store under the stairs. But it’s the colours that bring the real magic. Downstairs, walls shift from the gentle neutral of Resene Half Pearl Lusta to the playful depth of Resene Wax Flower. The powder room delivers its own punch of personality with a Resene Red Oxide ceiling, a unique and stunning choice for a smaller space.
A mix of vivid and soft hues extend their way inside from the garden, connecting the two spaces. Resene Soft Pink and Resene Serenade sneak inside over the steel column and wall, blending with the warm neutral of Resene Double Pearl Lusta. The ceiling is painted in Resene Juniper.
The downstairs bathroom features bold Resene Red Oxide on the ceiling, blending perfecting with the red toned tiles on the walls. The colourful garden wall is visible through the window paintedin Resene Red Oxide and Resene Fugitive.
Dramatic colour transitions feature throughout the home, like this mix of Resene Juniper on the living room ceiling next to Resene Red Oxide in the bathroom and Resene Wax Flower on the internal door.
Upstairs, the mood shifts with the light. Each of the rooms takes on a different personality through subtle colour shifts. A cosy, tree-shaded retreat drenched entirely in Resene Juniper feels like a hug from a storm cloud, while the brightest room, painted in Resene Double Pearl Lusta, glows gently even on overcast days. In the hallway, the mix of Resene Quarter Lemon Grass and Resene Half Pearl Lusta quietly dance with the sunlight, never quite the same from one hour to the next.
This bedroom is colour drenched in Resene Juniper, creating a cosy, tranquil and cocooning space.
What’s truly special about this home is its refusal to be boxed in. Not by space, not by convention, and certainly not by its compact footprint. It’s a home that expands as you move through it – where colour doesn’t just decorate, it defines. And in a neighbourhood where new builds often have to fight for approval, this little gem hasmanaged to win hearts and tick all the boxes – playful, joyful and perfectly at peace with its surroundings.
This house is a bit like a great piece of music – composed with intention, delivered with flair and full of quiet moments that make you pause and smile.
colour design Sonia van de Haar, Lymesmith
architect Philip Arnold, Plus Minus Design
landscape Sue Barnsley Design
paint George Anagnostou, Expressions Painting Services
images Clinton Weaver
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 cleaned. 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: 17 Apr 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
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 Lemon Grass
Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
