“I love the way every room turned out,” says Scott, “but the dining room was the best transformation.” Resene Double Sea Fog on the walls, Resene Double Alabaster on the trims and Resene Ceiling Paint in white brightened up the room.

 The lounge walls are Resene Bel Air. The green grey shade works well with the heritage timber window frames and ceilings and also works with Scott and Guy’s collection of antiques and vintage furniture.

The upstairs bedroom and study are painted in Resene Tarawera. If Scott needs to relax for an hour or two, this is where Guy and Norma B their pet greyhound will find him. “It’s a space where I can lay down, read a book and feel completely detached from the world”.

Renovating the 1860s Georgian home back to its former glory had its challenges. Local heritage conservation guidelines recommend that the exterior look of the home must stay the same. To touch up heritage filigree, prep the surface then work Resene Rust-Arrest into the surfaces with a brush before topcoating with Resene Hi-Glo or Resene Enamacryl.

The walls of the hallway are Resene Double Sea Fog which complements the timber trims and stairs. “The house has conservation guidelines, and we aren’t supposed to paint any bare timber including the joinery, skirting boards and doors are cedar, so we left them as they were.”

Scott and Guy chose to use Resene Ceiling Paint in White throughout the house, with Resene Double Sea Fog on the kitchen walls. Accessories (and tins of tea) add pops of colour against the gentle palette.

The kitchen, toilet and laundry room are all painted in Resene Double Sea Fog - an easy choice for Scott. “It was a given due to our previous successes in other homes.” Keeping the styling crisp and neutral gives the room a clean, modern feel while keeping with the preserved heritage touches.

Scott with Norma B the greyhound in the lounge painted in Resene Bel Air. Norma B was less than helpful during the renovations, dipping her tail in the paint.