Rustically rural: Inspiration for this Taupaki home’s enchanting blue and green feature walls is grown from nature

Warren and his wife Louise had always dreamed of living in the country. Inspired by the classic country lodges of yesteryear, the couple decided to create their very own and immersed themselves in the building process on their Taupaki home, right down to hand-oiling the exposed macrocarpa beams and ceiling using Resene Furniture and Decking Oil. When it came to choosing the right paint colours to suit their home, Warren and Louise called in interior designer Kate Gardham of Sticks + Stones Boutique Design and Construction to bring their vision to life together with Resene spring greens, charcoal greys and murky blues.

“Kate has a great eye for detail,” says Louise. “She was highly skilled in recognising our tastes and included the environment we are surrounded by on our lifestyle block.”

Louise and Warren didn’t just want a luxurious lodge, they wanted to design something special for their son Dion and his partner Zoe, who live in France. “Louise described Dion and Zoe’s personalities to me,” says Kate, who then created a bedroom for the couple with a tongue-and-groove feature wall in soft Resene Blue Smoke.” Louise and Warren kept the room a surprise for when Zoe and Dion came back to stay.

“Zoe squealed with delight as this was her dream bedroom. It’s my favourite room of the house too for its restful and relaxed vibe." 

Walls in Resene Quarter Merino surround the tongue-and-groove feature wall, softening Resene Blue Smoke’s dense, foggy hue. Down the rustic Resene Quarter Merino hallway lies a forest oasis in the spare bedroom. Walls in Resene Quarter Merino reflect the minty hue of the Resene Half Washed Green feature wall. “It is a generously sized house and the bedrooms needed to have some warmth and colour in them,” says Kate. “I was so lucky with these clients as they completely trusted me and the process.

Resene Half Washed Green is calming and I love that I can work so many other colours through accessories, artwork and bedding into it.”

In the master bedroom, the deep charcoal Resene Dark Side feature wall was a bold move for the couple. “Kate gave us confidence to step out of our comfort zone and try different colours and design ideas,” says Louise, who loves the striking new look. Kate paired the dark feature wall with surrounding walls, ceiling and trim in Resene Quarter Merino and carried the colour scheme through to the ensuite, where stormy tiles come alive against the crisp Resene Quarter Merino walls.

The main living, kitchen and dining areas shine with walls in Resene Quarter Merino perfectly complementing the hand-oiled macrocarpa ceiling and timber accents. “I selected a neutral base of Resene Quarter Merino to complement the ceiling, which is the hero of the main living space,” says Kate. “I always tend to layer and add textures to give a contemporary, unique feel to the home and for this project I went for a rustic country interior feel.

“Great design takes thoughtfulness and time; I love a home that organically grows and collects its treasures along the way. It tells a story of who lives there.”

See more of Kate’s work on the Sticks + Stones website.

images Emma MacDonald, Fotographicsnz  

Top tip: To bring out the depth of moody colours, consider using Resene SpaceCote Flat instead of a higher sheen finish.  The matte finish will help the colour look more muddied and earthier.  In higher wear and tear areas, like hallways, it’s best to use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, which is easier to clean than flatter finishes.


Zoe and Dion’s bedroom features a vintage tongue-and-groove feature wall in Resene Blue Smoke. The calming colour is offset by surrounding walls and trim in Resene Quarter Merino.
 


Warren and Louise’s kitchen oozes rustic charm. The walls surrounding the kitchen are in dreamy Resene Quarter Merino.


The view of the Taupaki countryside is enhanced by the interior dining room walls in Resene Quarter Merino.


The A-frame macrocarpa ceiling is the hero of the open plan kitchen, living and dining area and is perfectly complemented by surrounding walls in Resene Quarter Merino.


Louise and Warren were delighted with the master bedroom Kate created. The moody Resene Dark Side feature wall is complemented by surrounding walls in Resene Quarter Merino.


The Resene Dark Side feature wall of the master bedroom mimics the charcoal tones of the décor and surrounding landscape. The surrounding walls and trim in Resene Quarter Merino create a striking contrast.


The ensuite in the master bedroom is finished in clean Resene Quarter Merino that makes the dark tiles and bright décor pop.


Warren and Louise’s beautifully finished hallway combines clean Resene Quarter Merino walls and trim with natural elements such as the macrocarpa ceiling and cedar floor.



The spare bedroom’s forest atmosphere is enhanced by the Resene Half Washed Green feature wall and crisp Resene Quarter Merino on the ceiling, trim and surrounding walls.

Published: 26 Aug 2021

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Resene Quarter Merino

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Resene Half Washed Green

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