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The home has a stunning street presence, thanks to the beautiful landscaping and a crisp monochrome colour scheme with weatherboards in Resene Alabaster to offset the dark shingles on the bay window and gable ends. The roof is in Resene Grey Friars and the trim around the top of the patio stairs is Resene Black to complete the look. The windows are painted in Resene Half Alabaster and the shingles are original.
A hall runner rug in the McLean of Duart family tartan is perfectly framed by the wood flooring and the warm white backdrop of the walls in Resene Half Albescent White from the Karen Walker Paints collection and Resene Quarter Albescent White on the ceiling.
A feature wall in Resene Nero creates a dramatic monochrome mood in the ensuite. The adjacent walls are Resene Half Albescent White and the ceiling is Resene Quarter Albescent White.
Black and wood accents are found throughout the house which create a beautiful bold contrast with the walls in Resene Half Albescent White and ceiling in Resene Quarter Albescent White.
Original, but tired 1920s cupboards were replaced with shelves in the front lounge painted in Resene Half Albescent White. The original fireplace was also given a makeover, making this room the couple’s favourite on cosy winter nights. The ceiling is Resene Quarter Albescent White.
Malcolm built the dining table that anchors this sitting area near the kitchen and painted it in Resene Black. It was designed to work with the elegant Arts and Crafts dining chairs, and looks great contrasted against the walls in Resene Half Albescent White. The ceilings are Resene Quarter Albescent White and the window frames are Resene Half Alabaster.
The stunning modern monochrome kitchen with walls in Resene Half Albescent White is connected to the beautiful garden via large bifold windows.
Part of the exterior makeover involved removing paving from around the house and replacing it with a lush lawn. Two Adirondack chairs painted in Resene Alabaster create a lovely garden retreat from the main deck area. The outdoor bench and deck are stained in Resene Woodsman Natural. The rear exterior weatherboards are painted the same as the front in Resene Alabaster. The side fence is stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black.
The large rear deck stained in Resene Woodsman Natural adds a whole new, very modern outdoor room to this character house. The horizontal battens are also stained in Resene Woodsman Natural.
This Arts and Crafts style home masters the use of Resene whites and neutrals
It was the elegant character of its street frontage that made Malcolm and Gay fall in love with their house in Devonport on Auckland’s North Shore back in 2015. Using a palette of Resene colours and products the couple has given the house a significant makeover since then, while always working to maintain that character.
A good example of this is the front view of the house, where the couple tiled the entranceway and landscaped the front garden to build on its street presence and stateliness.
The exterior of the house has been painted with Resene Sonyx 101, a durable exterior semi-gloss paint in classic white Resene Alabaster.
A front door in Resene Black, window trims in Resene Half Alabaster and a roof painted in dark Resene Grey Friars double down on the classic monochrome exterior and dramatically emphasise the dark slate shingles.
Gay says the finished exterior is one of the couple’s favourite parts of the finished renovation because “it gives an insight to its character”.
“The exterior colours make the features of the house stand out and create a lovely street presence.”
The exterior facelift didn’t stop at the front of the property. Malcolm and Gay also removed brick paving that ran around the house and replaced it with grass. They also extended the back deck to make it more usable and added shelter, lighting and raised flower beds.
“It makes it the perfect sunny spot to relax in, as well as catch the last of the evening sun,” says Malcolm, who handled most of the home renovations - inside and out - himself, bringing in specialist contractors when required for things like tiling, plumbing and electrics.
He’s an experienced hand now; this is the seventh house he and Gay have renovated. “We have renovated all our houses since we were married. We enjoy putting our own individual stamp on.”
Inside, the couple’s goal was to create an easy flow through the house. To achieve that, and show off the character detail of the interior they opted for a fresh neutral colour palette using Resene Half Albescent White from the Karen Walker Paints collection throughout the interior.
“The house itself helped dictate the colour and furnishings,” Malcolm says. “After many Resene testpots and colours tried on various walls and lighting, we think we chose the right one for the style and mood we were after.
“We wanted the house to feel light, warm and friendly. Resene Half Albescent White gives warmth to the rooms and tones in with the blacks and browns of the furniture and flooring. We used it throughout the house to create connectivity and flow between the rooms.”
Some original parts of the interior needed a little more work than others, such as the 1920s cupboards in the front lounge which were replaced with shelving and smaller cupboards. The tired surrounds of the original fireplace were also switched for a modern replacement.
Now the front lounge with the fireplace is one of the couple’s favourite places in their home. “It’s comfortable, relaxing, and in winter, it’s cosy by the fire,” says Gay.
Coming a close second in the couple’s list of favourite spots, though, is the back courtyard, she says. “It has an easy flow from the back lounge. It feels like an extra room, to relax in and sun it up or have an evening G&T.”
One of the standout personal touches the couple added in their interior decorating are the beautiful tartan hall rugs.
“When we were choosing the hall rugs we wanted to make a statement and create a unique first impression,” Malcolm says. “The tartan is The McLean of Duart, which is my clan tartan. We imported it from Scotland, and had it cut, backed and edged here in Auckland.”
Another impressive personal touch is a large dining table which Malcolm built and painted with Resene Uracryl tinted to Resene Black to match the elegant set of Arts and Crafts-style chairs.
“Overall, the look and feel we were going for was to create a light, warm and more modern feel to an Arts and Crafts style which would typically be darker with earthy tones,” says Malcolm.
After six years living in and renovating the stunning house, the couple are off to the Bay of Plenty, so the object of all their hard work is up for sale. But it may not be their last makeover project, says Malcolm.
“I’m not sure what kind of house we’ll end up buying. I can’t rule out another renovation!”
This house is currently for sale with Bayley’s Real Estate. See the listing here: www.bayleys.co.nz/1470509
images Kate Alexander and Bayleys.
Top tip: Resene Sonyx 101 is a durable waterborne semi-gloss paint ideal for exteriors. It provides excellent durability in high UV environments on timber weatherboards, concrete substrates and primed galvanised steel.
The home has a stunning street presence, thanks to the beautiful landscaping and a crisp monochrome colour scheme with weatherboards in Resene Alabaster to offset the dark shingles on the bay window and gable ends. The roof is in Resene Grey Friars and the trim around the top of the patio stairs is Resene Black to complete the look. The windows are painted in Resene Half Alabaster and the shingles are original.
A hall runner rug in the McLean of Duart family tartan is perfectly framed by the wood flooring and the warm white backdrop of the walls in Resene Half Albescent White from the Karen Walker Paints collection and Resene Quarter Albescent White on the ceiling.
A feature wall in Resene Nero creates a dramatic monochrome mood in the ensuite. The adjacent walls are Resene Half Albescent White and the ceiling is Resene Quarter Albescent White.
Black and wood accents are found throughout the house which create a beautiful bold contrast with the walls in Resene Half Albescent White and ceiling in Resene Quarter Albescent White.
Original, but tired 1920s cupboards were replaced with shelves in the front lounge painted in Resene Half Albescent White. The original fireplace was also given a makeover, making this room the couple’s favourite on cosy winter nights. The ceiling is Resene Quarter Albescent White.
Malcolm built the dining table that anchors this sitting area near the kitchen and painted it in Resene Black. It was designed to work with the elegant Arts and Crafts dining chairs, and looks great contrasted against the walls in Resene Half Albescent White. The ceilings are Resene Quarter Albescent White and the window frames are Resene Half Alabaster.
The stunning modern monochrome kitchen with walls in Resene Half Albescent White is connected to the beautiful garden via large bifold windows.
Part of the exterior makeover involved removing paving from around the house and replacing it with a lush lawn. Two Adirondack chairs painted in Resene Alabaster create a lovely garden retreat from the main deck area. The outdoor bench and deck are stained in Resene Woodsman Natural. The rear exterior weatherboards are painted the same as the front in Resene Alabaster. The side fence is stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black.
The large rear deck stained in Resene Woodsman Natural adds a whole new, very modern outdoor room to this character house. The horizontal battens are also stained in Resene Woodsman Natural.
Published: 02 Mar 2022
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
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Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
