Building a dream home in the City of Sails
Helen and Ray recently brought their long-held dream to life when they completed their very own home in the Auckland suburb of Ōrākei. With the plan always to build new for their retirement years, the perfect opportunity arose when they made the move to the City of Sails to be closer to their two grown-up children.
The interior design was Helen’s passion project, where she used Resene paints to create a space that is both welcoming and elegant.
The journey began when Helen and Ray realised their children had made their homes in Auckland and wouldn’t be returning to Lower Hutt. Making the decision to join them, they started to look for townhouses to live in. But they quickly realised how much they still wanted to create a house of their own and started looking for a section near the sea, finally finding their perfect one in Ōrākei.
With Malcolm Taylor on board as their architect, they completed the build 14 months later. During the build, Helen says she then got to work on the interior scheme, choosing everything from the colours, the light fittings, tiles, carpets and furniture, herself.
A cedar wall, painted in Resene Black, adds character and contrast, partially separating the dining area from the lounge. It also matches the black exterior cedar walls, providing a seamless flow from inside to outside. The walls and ceiling are painted in Resene Midwinter Mist.
The kitchen flows into the open-plan living area - so if there's a social gathering going on, the cooks can still take part. Helen chose Resene Midwinter Mist, a cool pale grey, for the way it complemented the other decorative elements in the house.
“There were many visits to the Resene ColorShop for testpots and then home to paint on A3 sheets of cardboard,” says Helen. "I am very proud of the whole colour scheme." She chose every element, from tiles to wallpaper to granite benchtops, specifically for the way they complement each other.
The kitchen has white cupboards and drawers, with a black granite benchtop and yellow bar stools. The dining table has black and white chairs set on blue-grey floor tiles while the lounge has blue-grey carpet, a sky-blue lounge suite and a black flame effect heater.
White pendant lights on the high ceiling and floor to ceiling glass doors create a sense of space and allow lots of natural light. The angled ceilings and geometrical shapes provide reflection of the colours and interest - and in certain lights, Helen says the colours blend together. The walls are painted in Resene Midwinter Mist.
“I am not a natural beige or cream person,” Helen says. “I love colour. The colours I chose for the main living areas, including the kitchen, were black, white and grey with splashes of blue and yellow.
“The inspiration for the yellow came from the kitchen in the home my father built himself and I grew up in. These highlights produce a lively and tantalising contrast to the stark white cupboards, drawers and benchtops... bringing warmth to the cool modern kitchen.”
Helen used Resene Midwinter Mist on all of the rooms, including in the bedrooms, with Resene Zircon providing a paler complement on the ceiling. The bedspread and headboard bring a very Mediterranean seaside vibe.
The entrance features Resene Midwinter Mist with trims and ceiling painted in Resene Quarter Black White.
A large round marble dining table was a must have, she adds. “A round table is the best choice to encourage closeness and conversation among family and friends. Everyone can see and hear each other in this set-up and shared dishes are easy to reach.”
The patterns in the marble, along with the wallpaper and tiles, both on the floor and on the wall by the fireplace inspired Helen to choose Resene Midwinter Mist for most of the walls.
The ceiling has been painted using Resene Zircon, an iced blue white. The lightness of the kitchen and dining space is accentuated by an angled ceiling void which brings in light from above, the walls of which are painted in Resene Perano, a watery, violet blue.
“I chose Perano for the void walls, for a wow factor,” says Helen. “However, the architect thought this colour was too bright and tried to talk me out of it.”
The original design called for the black cedar wall to be the wow factor, and there was a risk the Resene Perano walls would compete with this – but Helen fought hard to win him over.
“The result is amazing and I am glad that I had the self-confidence to stick to my guns on my colour choices.”
A wood feature wall with red furnishings provides a point of difference from the rest of the house. Walls are painted in Resene Midwinter Mist with trims in Resene Quarter Black White.
The exterior of the home reflects the interior, with an earthy grey, Resene Gravel, on plastered walls, and the exterior black cedar wall matching the one inside.
"A final statement piece is the birdhouse outside – painted using two specific Resene colours – Resene Wild Thing and Resene Decadence – to tie the inside and outside together," says Helen.
The exterior features Resene Gravel, an urban saturated dark grey, with soffits in Resene Quarter Black White.
The birdhouse was made by Helen and Ray’s son when he was at school. Recently, their eight year old grandson repainted it using Resene Wild Thing, a bold and energetic yellow and Resene Decadence, a rich and indulgent blue.
Helen and Ray’s home is a result of their dedication and vision, transforming a long-held dream into a vibrant reality. Malcolm’s clever design and Helen’s meticulous attention to detail and her love for colour have resulted in an inviting and elegant interior that reflects both their personal tastes and cherished memories.
design Malcolm Taylor and Associates
build Blackbird Projects
images Zoe Everett, Blackbird Projects and Helen Vercoelen
Top tip: Do you adore a certain colour but couldn’t imagine a whole room in that shade? A feature wall allows you to be bold – in manageable doses! An intense wall colour can add the illusion of warmth while forming a dramatic backdrop for art. Try Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to bright blues like Resene Jordy Blue, outrageous oranges like Resene Daredevil, gorgeous greens like Resene Chelsea Cucumber or popping pinks like Resene Hopbush.
Published: 24 Jul 2024
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Black
Resene Midwinter Mist
Resene Midwinter Mist
Resene Zircon
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Perano
Resene Gravel
Resene Wild Thing
Resene Wild Thing
Resene Decadence
Resene Decadence
Resene Jordy Blue
Resene Jordy Blue
Resene Daredevil
Resene Daredevil
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Hopbush
Resene Hopbush
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Black
Resene Midwinter Mist
Resene Midwinter Mist
Resene Zircon
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Perano
Resene Gravel
Resene Wild Thing
Resene Wild Thing
Resene Decadence
Resene Decadence
Resene Jordy Blue
Resene Jordy Blue
Resene Daredevil
Resene Daredevil
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Chelsea Cucumber
Resene Hopbush
Resene Hopbush
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.