Corrine and Emanuel’s bungalow goes bold with colour
At first glimpse, Corrine and Emanuel’s Wellington home, freshened up in Resene Eighth Friar Grey, looks like another neutral-infused bungalow. Take a second look and the yellow letter box and front door, painted in Resene Tulip Tree, tells another story… hinting at the bright and colourful interior within.
When the couple bought the house in 2001 it was a single-storey, two-bedroom home, with scrim walls in some parts of the house, a loo located at the end of an enclosed veranda and a separate washhouse underneath the house.
They promptly engaged Guy Cleverley of CCM architects, who helped them transform the old villa into a modern family home filled with plenty of colour – from Resene Clementine Orange in the bedrooms and kitchen, to a wall of wardrobes in bright green Resene Pacifika.
The rebuild was substantial and took more than a year. Corrine and Emanuel ended up with a two-storey, three-bedroom home, with a fantastic open-plan living and kitchen area. At the same time, they landscaped the sloping section to create a flat and usable backyard.
In 2010, they completed the build by adding a separate dining area upstairs and second living area downstairs. This meant their son Jack (who was a teen by this stage) could have his bedroom and living space downstairs – perfect for the whole family.
The exterior of the new part of the house is Grey Friars.
Did you know… that Resene has versions of the ColorSteel palette available in the Resene Roof Systems colour chart which is why you will find a ReseneGrey Friars in the paint colour collections?
Corrine tells us more.
What Resene colours and products have you used and what inspired those choices?
Resene French Grey provides an elegant backdrop in most rooms in the original part of the house. In the new part, the dining and living space downstairs, we have used Resene Sea Fog with Resene Tulip Tree in the small downstairs bathroom/laundry.
The main bedroom has a feature wall painted in Resene Clementine Orange and a wall of two wardrobes in Resene Pacifika. The second bedroom is also painted in Resene French Grey and has a dark grey wardrobe in Resene Shark.
We’ve used a mix of those colours in smaller areas and accents in the home as well.
Outside, the front door is painted in Resene Tulip Tree (how’s that for a cheery hi!), with our exterior painted in Resene Eighth Friar Grey.
How did you decide on the overall look of the interiors?
Guy Cleverley of CCM architects suggested the colour palette for the house. Emanuel and I love it!
What part of the house are you happiest with?
I especially love the living area of the house. It’s an entertainer’s dream and also works fabulously day-to-day.
I also love the bold use of colour, including orange (Resene Clementine Orange) on the splashback and the wall space between the bench and cupboards, the green (Resene Pacifika) of the built-in shelving/bookshelf by the stairwell and the yellow (Resene Tulip Tree) of the north facing wall, making the space feel warm and comfortable.
What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look?
To avoid a fruit salad look, identify a colour palette that you are going to use before you start, including a neutral colour or colours you can use a canvas. Otherwise – be bold!
What was the biggest challenge for this project?
It was figuring out how to turn the sloping section into a flat area that could be enjoyed by all the family. Mission accomplished.
Do you have a favourite colour, and if so why is it your favourite?
That’s easy – orange! It’s strong and bright, but not too hot. It makes you feel warm and alive! In terms of associations there are many… including the bold use of this colour by the British fashion icon Mary Quant (in the 1960s/early 1970s) and the setting sun in the tropics.
Is there anyone else you would like mentioned?
Much of the interior painting was originally done by Emanuel, with the help of Simon Booth. More recently our son Jack has been allowed to add his own flourish.
Published: 27 Jun 2018
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Elegant Resene French Grey provides a backdrop for most of the rooms in this renovated villa, with daring Resene Clementine Orange as a feature wall in the master bedroom. The ceiling is painted in Resene Sea Fog.
The second bedroom is painted in Resene French Grey with a dark grey wardrobe in Resene Shark. The ceiling is painted in Resene Sea Fog.
The colour scheme in the kitchen and dining room is delightful in bright, happy colours, from a feature wall in Resene Tulip Tree to Resene Clementine Orange on the splashback and Resene Pacifika on the bookshelf behind the kitchen upstand.
The living room has walls painted in Resene French Grey and a bookshelf painted in Resene Pacifika beside the stairwell. The ceiling is painted in Resene Sea Fog.
A splash of sunshine Resene Tulip Tree yellow features on a wall in the downstairs living area. The other walls and ceiling are painted in Resene Sea Fog.
The bathroom is bold in yellow, painted in Resene Tulip Tree from top to toe.
As part of the villa’s renovation, the sloping section at the back of the house was landscaped to create a flat and usable backyard. The downstairs living area is painted in Resene Sea Fog. The exterior is Grey Friars.
The slash of Resene Lucky Point under the large living room window helps create a playful bridge between the original weatherboard facade of the bungalow and the Grey Friars, used in the new wing. The wardrobes in the downstairs bedroom (left) are painted in Resene Pacifika.
The home owners chose Resene Eighth Friar Grey for the front exterior to fit in with the predominantly bungalow-style of homes on their street. Even then, they couldn’t resist the selection of a bright yellow front door painted in Resene Tulip Tree, which hints at the bold use of colour inside. The fence and window surrounds are painted in Resene Friar Grey.
The back of the house has a more modern façade in Grey Friars.
Resene Clementine Orange
Resene Clementine Orange
Resene Pacifika
Resene Pacifika
Resene Shark
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene French Grey
Resene French Grey
Resene Tulip Tree
Resene Tulip Tree
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 Clementine Orange
Resene Clementine Orange
Resene Pacifika
Resene Pacifika
Resene Shark
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene French Grey
Resene French Grey
Resene Tulip Tree
Resene Tulip Tree
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.