Andy and Julie's Victorian manor has seen some major changes in its time. Set on 14 acres of land, it was built for a wealthy merchant in 1880, then bequeathed to an order of nuns in the 1920s and used as a convent for many years.

When Andy and Julie bought it ten years ago, they were attracted by the high studs, stained glass, sweeping staircase, and the quality of the house's construction, and decided to restore it to its former glory - albeit with all the comforts of modern living. These days, the six-bedroom home features Italian chandeliers, a huge kitchen, tennis court, swimming pool, summer house and stables.

Andy and Julie have also used Resene paint to give the house a new lease of life, using many different colours throughout the house, "each chosen to reflect the use of the room and the mood we wished to create." While rich colours like Resene Red Red Red perfectly complement the native timber panelling and opulent furnishings, soft shades, like pale blue Resene Surf Crest, keep the house looking fresh and light.

How would you describe your style? Traditional with a strong sense of colour.

Where did your inspiration come from? Books and magazines. And because we both worked in the creative side of film and television, we both have a strong sense of design and colour.

What was the biggest challenge with creating your home interior look? Finding craftsmen who understood our insistence on quality detailing.

What was the greatest success? The fact that the first thing any visitor says is "Wow!"

Which space in the house do you get the greatest satisfaction from? The family living areas because they are spacious and comfortable and feel 'lived in'.

What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look? Stick to your guns on quality of detail and take your time. Concentrate on one room at a time.

What colours did you use? In the kitchen and family dining room we used Resene La Bamba, while the red in the entrance hall is Resene Red Red Red. The family living area is Resene Surf Crest. We used Resene Quarter Spanish White for the exterior of the house.

Get the dining room look:
Separate dining rooms tend to be reserved for special occasions, so they are a good opportunity to experiment with colour that you might not be brave enough to use elsewhere. Red stimulates the appetite and is a superb choice for dining rooms, with colours like Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Jalapeno and Resene Tall Poppy being popular options. Or, try midnight blue or aubergine and gold for night-time dining.

The huge kitchen has a walled potage garden nearby, for a fresh supply of vegetables and herbs.

Andy and Julie say the living areas are their favourite spaces in the house because they are "spacious and comfortable and feel 'lived in'." This one is painted in Resene Surf Crest.

One of the bedrooms, painted in Resene Link Water, has a slight nautical theme. The pale colour helps the room to look fresh and light.

One of the first things that attracted Andy and Julie to their home was the sweeping staircase in the entranceway.

Built in 1880, the manor has been restored to a classical look with Resene Quarter Spanish White.