Pauanui surfer riding a wave of success after a bach makeover

This bach in Pauanui is definitely a surfer’s paradise. When Danny purchased the small two-bedroom cottage located near the sea and the golf course he knew it had the potential to be the ultimate seaside sanctuary. “I wanted a space that reflected how I want to live, and a place where I can return, unwind and enjoy,” he says.  To help his design ideas come to life, he enlisted the help of interior designer Kate Alexander of Places and Graces to create a coastal palette using soothing whites and blues and greys including Resene Black White, Resene Grey Chateau and Resene Weathered Blue. Danny came armed with plenty of ideas and it was up to Kate to bring his dream to life.

“Danny gave us a couple of magazine clippings that painted a clear picture of what he was after - casual and beachy, yet modern and with everything in its place. He's an engineer with imagination and he trusted us to bring his vision to life” she says.

Kate started the decorating with a bright white backdrop of Resene Eighth Black White and began layering the colour palette with coastal inspired colours.  “We added soft greys, taupe, smatterings of blue and green and a tiny pop of yellow to keep it interesting,” says Kate.

 

Kate wanted the view to be the hero which is why she chose the same wall and ceiling colour throughout the house. The cool-toned Resene Eighth Black White allows the greenery of the golf course surroundings to really pop through the expansive windows and sliding doors.

Resene Weathered Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection is used as a feature wall in the lounge reinforcing the coastal theme and creating a backdrop for his prized surfboard. 

“Danny is mad keen on surfing and when he showed us his favourite board we just knew that needed to be a feature,” says Kate. 

The bright white tongue-and-groove interior is complemented with coastal décor including a distressed ladder and pendant rope lighting. Kate also painted some of the furniture to match Resene Eighth Black White, keeping the space light and modern. 

While the interior white was an easy decision, Kate says the challenge was choosing the perfect exterior colour for the seaside space. “We wanted a colour that was not so light that it would be too bright in summer and not so dark the windows were too contrasted.” In the end they decided on Resene Grey Chateau on the weatherboards, with Resene Eighth Black White for the joinery and bench seats. Further grey tones are introduced through Resene Grey Friars on the roof and timber uprights and Resene Woodsman Riverstone on the decking.

 

“The colour of the deck stain, along with the dark timber uprights, is a winner - it makes the white bench seats float, “says Kate.

Kate’s favourite design choice of the home is the functional barn door leading outside off the back of the kitchen. “The split opening enables light and airflow from the front to the back, even on a stormy windy day,” she says.

Danny loves staying in the bach and the relaxed feeling the décor creates.

“This is the first home I have owned where the design is completely reflective of myself and my taste,” he says.

“I really do enjoy every space as they reflect how I enjoy and want to live. Places and Graces added layers and depth to the style of the home that I just did not expect. When I walked into the home after they dressed it, I was blown away.”

Now living in his ultimate beachy paradise, Danny’s number one piece of advice for home renovators is to trust yourself and if working with an interior designer put your trust in them. “I enjoyed watching the design evolve through Kate and her team’s passion and commitment. Watching them ‘own’ the project and take pride in the process and result was very rewarding.” 

Find Kate Alexander and the team at www.placesandgraces.com

Top tip: When staining a new or weathered deck opt for Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain. Simply clean the timber using Resene Timber & Deck Wash and use a PAL Deck Master deck brush to apply the stain, brushing the stain into the grain of the timber.

 

The cohesive Resene coastal colour palette of greys, white and blue creates seamless flow inside and out.  The weatherboards are painted in Resene Grey Chateau and the joinery and inside walls and ceilings are in Resene Eighth Black White. The feature wall in Resene Weathered Blue has a grey undertone that connects the space.

Danny’s favourite surfboard is the centre of attention on this feature wall painted in Resene Weathered Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection. Other walls and ceilings in Resene Eighth Black White.  

 The interior uses bright neutrals to emphasise the beauty of the natural surroundings. The feature surfboard wall is painted in Resene Weathered Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection and the remaining walls and ceiling are in Resene Eighth Black White. For natural look timber flooring, use Resene Qristal ClearFloor clear urethane.

The industrial feel of the kitchen adds a different but complementary aspect to the coastal feel of the home, co-ordinating perfectly with the cool-toned Resene Eighth Black White used on walls, ceilings, and kitchen cabinets.

The modern, light living area catches the afternoon sun, a gorgeous place to unwind after a day at the beach. Walls and ceiling painted in Resene Eighth Black White.  The same hue has been carried onto the dining room chairs. Blinds from James Dunlop create softness and add texture to the space.

The main bedroom is minimalistic but modern, dressed in linen that matches the soft colour palette and complete with one of Danny’s collection of Tony Ogle artworks. Walls and ceiling painted in Resene Eighth Black White

 

Resene Eighth Black White is also painted on the ceilings. By using the same colour on both the walls and the ceilings it creates cosy cohesion and highlights the tongue-and-groove timber.

Kate created spaces throughout the bach for relaxation and reading using soft natural furnishings such as curtains from Hemptech and rugs from The Ivy House to complement the Resene Eighth Black White painted walls.

Danny says one of the most unexpected part of working with a designer was “discovering a shared affinity for outdoor showers!” Exterior weatherboards painted in Resene Grey Chateau and joinery in Resene Eighth Black White.

The exterior colours were chosen carefully to avoid glare from the sea and sand. The deck is stained in Resene Woodsman Riverstone, the joinery and timber seats in Resene Eighth Black White, the weatherboards are in Resene Grey Chateau with details in Resene Grey Friars

Resene Grey Friars is used on the legs of the outside bench and also the roof. Resene Grey Chateau on the weatherboards is reminiscent of natural stone and has a hint of violet to it, tying in with the warm grey tones of Resene Woodsman Riverstone on the deck.

Resene Grey Chateau on the weatherboards and Resene Grey Friars on the garage door, roof and stairs create a modern coastal palette that’s not too glary. Joinery, scotia and baseboards in Resene Eighth Black White add depth to the exterior.

Published: 10 Nov 2022

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

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Resene Eighth Black White

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