From tool shed to tranquil sleepout: Trudi Brewer’s latest project

16 Jul 2025

It’s amazing what a lick of paint and a whole lot of vision can do. What was once a humble tool shed has been completely reimagined into a calm, contemporary sleepout, thanks to a smart design plan, a family of tradies and a carefully curated colour palette from their local Resene ColorShop.

The goal was to create a restful space with a holiday-at-home feel, and the transformation began with the structure itself. The original roof was raised to give the compact space a sense of volume and light, and insulation was added to ensure the new space would be welcoming year-round. A small bathroom was squeezed in too, making the sleepout completely self-contained. But it’s the design details, particularly the paint choices, that really pull the space together.

The dream-like pastel blue of Resene Comfortably Numb creates a calming space in this sleepout and pairs beautifully with the crisp white of Resene Half Black White.

“I wanted a pop of colour to evoke a restful holiday vibe that would complement the bush setting of our home,” says Trudi Brewer, editor of BeautyEQ and the brain behind the makeover. That starting point led to the perfect pairing of Resene Comfortably Numb, a cool blue-grey used as a feature shade, and Resene Half Black White, a crisp and clean base colour that works in both natural and artificial light.

These hues are carried throughout the interior, including in the bathroom, where the palette was extended using sky-blue Italian tiles laid in a herringbone pattern. To tie it all together, subtle gold accents, including lighting and tapware, add warmth and elegance to the cool-toned scheme.

This stunning bathroom pairs Resene Half Black White with sky blue tiles and Resene Comfortably Numb on the vanity.

“You need to get the colour on the walls to see how it changes in different lighting,” Trudi says. “Subtle differences that may seem unimportant on colour charts are glaringly obvious once the walls are painted.

“Resene ColorShops offer brilliant service with expert advice for choosing paint shades. The more knowledge you can learn about paint shades, the more confident you can be with the colour scheme in your home.”

The sleepout is painted in Resene Half Black White for an open and bright space.

For flooring, she selected light-toned European timber with a tough surface technology, ideal for the high-traffic nature of guest accommodation, and topped it off with a pure wool rug in a soft, neutral shade. Together with the restful wall colours, the layered textures help create a space that feels both cosy and elevated.

From a tool-filled storage space to a serene sleepout that’s as inviting as any boutique guest room, this clever little build is proof that with good planning, a little elbow grease and the right Resene colours, even the smallest space can make a big impact.

For more about Trudi’s projects and beauty tips, visit BeautyEQ. 

Published: 16 Jul 2025