look book
latest
habitat tv
Say goodbye to the morning scramble for keys, coats and sunglasses and hello to this… see this and more videos
blog
Kelly 'Kell Sunshine' doesn’t just paint walls, she tells stories on them. Her lush, curvaceous… more
The colours in this home brighten even the cloudiest of days. The dining room is painted in Resene Gelato, an inviting pastel pink, and the kitchen is painted in a mix of Resene Bright Spark, Resene Kumutoto and Resene St Tropaz. The ceiling and trims are in Resene White.
The Spanish-inspired interior hues bring energy to this kitchen with walls painted in Resene Bright Spark and Resene St Tropaz and cabinetry in Resene Kumutoto. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
The colours in this home brighten even the cloudiest of days. The dining room is painted in Resene Gelato, an inviting pastel pink, and the kitchen is painted in a mix of Resene Bright Spark, Resene Kumutoto and Resene St Tropaz. The ceiling and trims are in Resene White.
In the hotel-like bathroom, moody black tiles pair with Resene The Battle Of Style Wallpaper Collection 38831-1 and the vivid green of Resene Pacifica on doors. The ceiling adds a touch of luxury in Resene FX Metallic Axis over a basecoat of Resene Nullarbor. The back door and trims are painted in Resene White.
The metallic and teal tones in Resene The Battle Of Style Wallpaper Collection 38831-1 pair well with these walls in Resene FX Metallic Axis with a basecoat of Resene Nullarbor. The trims are painted in Resene White.
In the joyful living room, the barn doors are painted in Resene Pacifica, left wall in Resene Gelato and back wall in Resene Cut Glass. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
The crisp, clear blue of Resene Cut Glass adds just enough colour to the living room while also creating a gentle backdrop for Samantha’s artwork and décor. The front door is painted in Resene Pacifica, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
In the bedroom, restful and serene Resene Norway adorns the walls. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
Home is where the colour is
There’s nothing shy about Samantha McKeown’s home, but that’s exactly how she likes it. Painted top to bottom in cheerful Resene colours, it’s a rural retreat that fully leans into colour, culture and a celebration of joyful interiors.
Samantha, owner and designer at Inside Outward Interior Design, is also the homeowner with her partner and two much-loved dogs, Bran and Willie. The house may sit quietly among the surrounding countryside, but step through the front door and you’ll find yourself immersed in warm, expressive Spanish-inspired hues, nostalgic 1950s tones and more than a few personal stories told in colour.
The Spanish-inspired interior hues bring energy to this kitchen with walls painted in Resene Bright Spark and Resene St Tropaz and cabinetry in Resene Kumutoto. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
The colours in this home brighten even the cloudiest of days. The dining room is painted in Resene Gelato, an inviting pastel pink, and the kitchen is painted in a mix of Resene Bright Spark, Resene Kumutoto and Resene St Tropaz. The ceiling and trims are in Resene White.
“We have always been drawn to and inspired by the bright colours of Spanish and South American cultures,” says Samantha. “Having spent some time in South America, we have long talked about recreating the cosy, colourful shared spaces that are central to how people live.”
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and in this case it’s bursting with bold colour and retro charm. Painted in Resene St Tropaz, a bright blue, Resene Bright Spark, a sunny yellow, and Resene Kumutoto, a turquoise with a twist, it’s a palette that nods to the fun-loving 50s while capturing the vibrant energy of places like Granada and Palma de Mallorca.
In the hotel-like bathroom, moody black tiles pair with Resene The Battle Of Style Wallpaper Collection 38831-1 and the vivid green of Resene Pacifica on doors. The ceiling adds a touch of luxury in Resene FX Metallic Axis over a basecoat of Resene Nullarbor. The back door and trims are painted in Resene White.
The metallic and teal tones in Resene The Battle Of Style Wallpaper Collection 38831-1 pair well with these walls in Resene FX Metallic Axis with a basecoat of Resene Nullarbor. The trims are painted in Resene White.
Originally unsure about the existing tiled splashback, Samantha has now grown to love how it ties the space together. With a healthy dose of indoor plants and eclectic vintage finds, this room is made for music, the best kind of mess and more than one person in the kitchen!
The bathroom is a mood all on its own. One part boutique hotel and the other part modern country escape. Copper fittings, the textured Resene Wallpaper Collection 38831-1 and stone surfaces bring a touch of luxury, while elements like Resene FX Metallic Axis, Resene Nullarbor and lush plant life blur the line between indoors and out.
In the joyful living room, the barn doors are painted in Resene Pacifica, left wall in Resene Gelato and back wall in Resene Cut Glass. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
The crisp, clear blue of Resene Cut Glass adds just enough colour to the living room while also creating a gentle backdrop for Samantha’s artwork and décor. The front door is painted in Resene Pacifica, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
“We really wanted to create a feeling of luxury, like a ‘hotel at home’ while being true to the country location and surrounds of the home,” Samantha says.
In the living room, light pours in through wide barn doors that open to a sun-drenched deck. The cheerful colour story continues with pastel touches of pink, Resene Gelato, gentle green, Resene Norway, and icy blue, Resene Cut Glass. This gorgeous pastel blue also appears on the kitchen cabinetry, and funnily enough, matches the eye colour of an important family member.
“Unintentionally, it later came to our attention that Resene Cut Glass and Resene Kumutoto, in the living room and on kitchen cabinetry, match the eye colour of the two good boys (Bran and Willie) that live in the house – their influence indirect and possibly subconscious,” says Samantha.
In winter, the barn doors close, the fire crackles and the colourful country-meets-maximalist style creates a warm, homely cocoon.
In the bedroom, restful and serene Resene Norway adorns the walls. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene White.
Echoing the rolling greenery outside, the bedroom offers a calming, natural tone with the soft pastel of Resene Norway and mid-century touches.
Samantha’s home doesn’t just use colour, it lives in it. Every room feels intentional but never over-polished, curated but not too precious. “We wanted to create a ‘lived-in’ vibe that was relaxing and homely,” she says. “Where you weren’t afraid to make a mess and go ahead and have too many cooks in the kitchen.”
It’s this mix of heart and hue that makes the house sing. And it’s a great reminder that when it comes to creating a home you love, it pays to go all in!
design Samantha McKeown, Inside Outward Interior Design
images Jason Ireland and Lucia Zanmonti (bathroom)
Top tip: With so many Resene colours to choose from, it can be tough to decide! Luckily, Resene testpots let you try out different hues in your home without commitment. Head to your local Resene ColorShop to pick up some testpots today or buy online at shop.resene.com/testpots or order A4 drawdown paint swatches –true‑to‑colour swatches screen-printed with Resene paint you can stick on your wall to check the hue in real light throughout the day.
Published: 19 Aug 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
