Shelley Ferguson tackles a tricky renovation to transform a tired bungalow into a stylish grey home with a modern Art Deco feel 

 Shelley Ferguson has seen it all as a host on the TV3 DIY show, The Block NZ, but even she was shocked by what she encountered when she began renovations on a 1920s bungalow in St Heliers, Auckland. Still, there was nothing Kiwi ingenuity, and Resene paints couldn’t resolve for the stylist and co-owner of interior design and renovation business, Rock the House.

 “This was a tricky renovation, a tight time frame and lockdown and Covid-19 thrown right in the middle, so the deadlines had to shift. Not to mention the house was covered in sand,” says Shelley.

 “Back in the day someone decided it was a good idea to add sand to the exterior paint all over the entire house,” she adds. 

 Shelley and her Rock the House business partner Nicky Richardson knew they had their work cut out for them on the wide-front bungalow and had to think on their feet to fix the sandy exterior.

 “We sanded back the sand, but the surfaces still weren’t perfect, and semi-gloss would have shown that up. Instead, we used Resene Lumbersider on the exterior frames and walls. We used Resene Black White for the exterior paint – the tint of black in the white makes coverage much easier on an older house,” says Shelley.

 Shelley chose a Modern Deco theme with a colour palette of pale grey, white, mid-grey, dusky pink with brass details. She worked with Brennan from Paint it Perfect to achieve the look.

 “The colours reminded me of classic movies such as Audrey Hepburn’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” says Shelley.

 “The previous lady owner lived in it for 45 years. I wanted the colour palette to have a feminine touch. I based the entire palette on pale grey as it’s practical for a family home, creates a light and spacious feel, is a great foundation for furniture and styling, and is a beautiful base to match other colours.”

 The interior walls were painted in Resene Zylone Low Sheen in Resene Quarter Silver Chalice for a subtle sheen look. The internal window frames, architraves and doors are Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss in Resene Black White for easy cleaning. The kitchen is painted Resene Quarter Silver Chalice with Resene SpaceCote Kitchen & Bathroom, a paint suitable for wet areas and spaces prone to mould. For a touch of fun, Shelley chose Resene Blanched Pink from the Karen Walker Paints collection for the inside and bedroom wardrobes and installed wall-hung wardrobe systems, “they’re cheaper, and you can see a pop of happy dusky pink behind,” adds Shelley.

The grey shades continued on the front door where Shelley used Resene Grey Friars, and Resene Double Silver Chalice on the front doorstep to make the entrance more of a feature. 

 When New Zealand went into lockdown in March, the building was halfway through the renovations disrupting Shelley and Nicky’s plans.

 “There were a lot of unknowns. We weren’t sure when we could get back to work, we had to redo all the schedules post lockdown, we couldn’t get building materials to meet the tradies’ schedules,” says Shelley.

 “But everyone mucked in and got it done – it was something totally unexpected, and out of our hands, so you need to make a plan – then another one, then another one – and get on with the job with a positive attitude. 

 “Renovating is full of surprises daily anyway. With so much going on in the world, I kept a good perspective on it – it’s just a house after all.”

Shelley gave the home a bright, light refresh painting the main exterior colour in Resene Black White and adding grey details with Resene Grey Friars on the front door and Resene Double Silver Chalice on the front doorstep.

 

The main exterior colour is Resene Black White teamed with the doorstep in Resene Double Silver Chalice and the front door in Resene Grey Friars. Faux stone cladding and fibrolite gables were removed and updated with painted weatherboards for a fresh, modern look.

The living room walls are painted in Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and the architraves are Resene Black White. The grey palette complements the neutral furnishings and light and breezy Envoy curtains from Curtain Studio.

Resene Quarter Silver Chalice continues into the master bedroom creating a clean and cosy feeling.



Resene Blanched Pink from the Karen Walker collection peeks through the Simplfit wardrobe organiser from Boston Wardrobe.

The walls of the kitchen are painted in Resene Quarter Silver Chalice. The strong geometric lines like the herringbone floors and the brass kitchen fittings add to the Art Deco look.

The wall colour of the home office is Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and the door and skirting are Resene Black White. The grey theme continues in the Portland carpet from Carpet Court. The black linoleum office table from Edito creates a clear office zone.

images Shelley Ferguson Rock the House Instagram@rockthehousenz 

 

Published: 25 Nov 2020

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