Bruce and Olè's dark and dreamy Victorian-style home

Filled with character and dramatic Resene colours, this Victorian-style bed and breakfast is a beautiful asset to Oamaru’s tourist accommodation – it’s hard to think that it was on its way to be demolished only a couple of years ago.

When owners Bruce and Olè Wallis first spied the property, they were only interested in it for the location. The house itself? Well, they had plans to knock it down.

After purchasing the property, they had another look inside the home… “that is the moment we cancelled the bulldozer,” says Olè.

“My partner is from a carpenter family and we felt that these magnificent Rimu panels and floors had to be preserved,” she says.

“I also fell in love with the ceiling work. So, we decided that we would scrap our original plan and resurrect this house.”

The couple decided to keep the house in the theme of Oamaru’s other beautiful buildings – Victorian heritage-style but with an upmarket, luxurious feel.

Olè tells us more.

How did you decide on the overall look of the interiors?

There’s a strong Victorian theme to homes in Oamaru. People come from all over the world to see the beautiful heritage buildings. We thought it would be great for them to experience this in their accommodation as well.

Our house has been opened for tourists for a year already, and feedback from guests regarding the design have been amazing, especially the painted ceiling in each bedroom.

What part of the house are you happiest with?

The painted ceilings and the black panels in Resene Super Gloss tinted to Resene Black in the bathrooms.

What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look?

Don’t be afraid to use bold colours or a glossy finish product, but remember to not overuse them.

What was the biggest decorating, renovating or building challenge for this project?

Removing the wallpaper! The process of taking seven layers of the old wallpapers from the many previous owners took a long time.

Do you have a favourite colour, and if so why is it your favourite?

Not one favourite colour, but I always love colours on a white background.

Is there anyone else you would like mentioned?

Thanks to the team at Central Furnishers for the best advice for all drapes and blinds to go with the look I want.

Published: 05 Apr 2018

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

ornate homes, character homes, bed and breakfast, dark interiors, black walls

The owners have kept the Victorian theme of their Oamaru home and upped the luxurious feel with dining room walls painted in Resene Foundry. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Black White.

ornate homes, character homes, bed and breakfast, dark interiors, black walls, blackboard paint

The main living areas are a nice balance of light and dark, with Resene Foundry on the walls, Resene Black White on the ceiling and a feature wall in Resene Blackboard Paint in the kitchen.

wallpaper, blue, bedroom, ceiling, blue ceiling, gold wallpaper

The bedrooms also feature dramatic colour schemes. This bedroom is finished in wallpaper from the Resene Wallpaper Collection design 16513. The ceiling is painted in Resene Cello and Resene Black White.

green, wallpaper, classic wallpaper, wallpaper feature wall, bedroom

The second bedroom has a ceiling painted in Resene Coriander and Resene Black White. The wallpaper is from an older collection and is no longer available – get the look with design WM2565 from the Resene Wallpaper Collection, from Resene ColorShops.

black ceiling, wallpaper, wallpaper feature wall, classic feature wall

The third bedroom is just as outstanding, with a ceiling painted in Resene Foundry and Resene Black White. The walls are finished in wallpaper from the Resene Wallpaper Collection design MD29433, from Resene ColorShops.

bathroom, black, glossy black, tongue and groove, black bathroom

For the bathroom, Bruce and Olè wanted something that would be easy for cleaning and maintenance. They decided on Resene Super Gloss tinted to Resene Black for the timber tongue and groove. The walls are painted in Resene Black White.

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