Colour Home Awards competition

Fifth finalist 2020/21 - Becky Lee and Phil Tumataroa

Interior designer Becky Lee has transformed the former blank canvas of her 1950s Christchurch home. When she purchased the house – which she shares with partner Phil Tumataroa, a writer, and sons Nico and Beau – it was painted in variations of Resene Black White.

Fast forward five and a half years and it’s a kaleidoscope of colour, with each room featuring its own dramatic look... more

Fourth finalist 2020/21 - Amy and Mark Arnold

A vibrant swatch of bird-patterned fabric provided inspiration for a refreshed family home.

In September 2019, Amy and Mark Arnold finished a complete renovation of their home in Te Awamutu. When it came time to choose colours, Amy was thinking an all-white palette would be the best solution... more

Third finalist 2020/21 - Tessa and Tyler Simpson

When the Simpsons bought their house in Oamaru five years ago, the colour scheme was far from what they’d dreamed of. “The entire house was a sea of beige and yellow – apart from one pink bedroom,” says Tessa Simpson.

She and husband Tyler started searching for a modern colour they loved that could be used throughout the main living areas of their home. They settled on Resene Duck Egg Blue and used it to refresh the kitchen, hallway and lounge area... more

Second finalist 2020/21 - Rachel Sawyer and Shane Wright

A love of mid-century design and Mad Men inspired this Katikati new-build, which combines the style of the past with all the convenience of the modern era, a combination that was reached due to a slightly unconventional design process

“Around two years ago we sat down in a hotel room in Taupo with a glass of wine and decided to play a game called ‘sketch your dream home on the back of a napkin’,” tells Rachel Sawyer, who owns the home with her partner Shane Wright. “The two homes were almost identical. So we decided we’d better build it, just for fun.”... more

First finalist 2020/21 - Sam and Tineka Hoskin

Then Sam and Tineka Hoskin finally moved into their first home with their four children in July, after seven years living in a minor dwelling, they were over the moon about being home owners but less than enthused about the house’s quirks.

“There were strange add-ons to the house, like a door to go outside right beside the toilet and a really small room not big enough for anything at the end of the hallway,” says Tineka. “It was very dark and closed in and the ceilings were covered with ceiling tiles.”... more

Grand winner 2019 - Alison and Andrew Palairet

A sunshine-yellow front door welcomes visitors to this chromatically courageous home, winner of our 2019 Resene Colour Home Awards.

In the process of gradually restoring their beautiful mid-century modern home to its former glory (with a few contemporary updates), this couple made some bold colour choices that could have risked looking garish but instead feel vibrant and age- appropriate for their 1965 house... more

Sixth finalist 2019 - Ben and Lara Maher

Tones of Resene blue and green provided the ideal update for this mid-century Wellington home

When Ben and Lara Maher bought their 1950s house in Tawa, Wellington, six years ago, they looked past the old carpet and 1970s wallpaper and saw a timeless family home. With a love of mid-century design and muted colours, they set about renovating their new abode... more

Fifth finalist 2019 - Erina and Matthew Emery

The vibrant hues of the Mediterranean inspired this homeowner to break out the brights in her back garden.

After a year spent living in Spain, the Emery family returned to Auckland and found that their home of 10 years looked a little tired. The vibrancy of Spain’s art, design and architecture had made its mark, and interior designer Erina Emery decided to make some bold changes... more

Fourth finalist 2019 - Jade Longstaff and partner Sean Parker

This New Plymouth kitset home has been perfectly personalised with a calm, relaxing colour palette in the bedroom and bathroom.

Although they knew they didn’t want to paint it all white, it took the New Plymouth couple a while to settle on a colour. It was Sean who chose Resene ‘Rascal’ on the day of painting, much to Jade’s surprise... more

Third finalist 2018/2019 - Alison and Andrew Palairet

A little colour goes a long way, as this family found when renovating their 1960s Hawke’s Bay home.

Alison and Andrew Palairet have put a clever, colourful spin on a mid-century home in Hawke’s Bay. The couple and their two sons, Jack and Angus, “escaped” to the regions from Auckland three years ago and found that this 1965 home on three acres “ticked the boxes”... more

Second finalist 2018/2019 - Kathy Baughan

Redecorating her 1950s house in Anderson’s Bay, Dunedin, required a lot of planning for Kathy Baughan. “For years I’ve cut up design magazines and pasted pictures in a journal to create my wish list and personal style,” she says... more

First finalist 2018/2019 - Jessica Cameron

Jessica Cameron used Resene paints to add personality throughout her home, from a monochrome statement in her living room to creative themes in her kids’ bedrooms... more

Grand winner 2017/2018 - David and Kirsty Wraight

You won’t see many plain white walls in Kirsty and David Wraight’s newly built character home in Blenheim. The winners of this year’s Resene Colour Home Awards have used a number of Resene colours and wallpapers throughout their house, creating a soft, tonal effect with a lovely selection of pastel hues. It’s a real personal project: the home was built in 2017 by David, and the interior was put together by Kirsty... more

Sixth finalist - Kate and Tim Robinson

Kate and Tim Robinson wanted to create a unique look and feel for the house they purchased from Tim’s parents for their family of eight. “Not surprisingly, the master bedroom was top of the priority list,” Kate says. “We were very keen to sleep in our own room and not feel like we were using Tim’s parents’ bedroom!”... more

Fifth finalist - Simon Raine and Debbie Jones

Simon Raine and Debbie Jones of New Plymouth went all out for their 3-year-old son Elliot’s bedroom. “What started as an idea for a dark blue wall to cosy up his room snowballed into a full outer-space wall!” says Debbie... more

Fourth finalist - Haley Williams

The walls were mushroom coloured when Haley Williams moved into her 1960s weatherboard house in 2012. It didn’t take long for her to bring her signature touch to the place... more

Third finalist - David and Kirsty Wraight

David and Kirsty Wraight’s home reveals their joint endeavours as passionate home and business owners. David built the house, which merges villa and farmhouse styles, while Kirsty directed the interior decor and chose the colour scheme... The Wraight house is also a little bit French country, which prompted Kirsty to choose soft colours punctuated with the occasional surprise... more

Second finalist - Jenny Brown and Peter

A creative Whanganui couple have turned their house into a boutique bed and breakfast, where European guests are often surprised to find colours that remind them of home... more

First finalist – Joanna and Brent Eastabrook

Having a painter in the family helped to make redecorating a dated 1960s stucco house in Whanganui a breeze. Joanna and Brent Eastabrook, an emergency nurse and painter respectively, have been renovating their home one room at a time. Daughter Grace loves pink, Joanna says. “This made it easy to come up with a combination to impress her… more

Grand winner 2016/2017 – Alison and Callum Dixon

When Alison and Callum Dixon stumbled across their Castor Bay, Auckland, abode back in 2009, it ticked every box. “The main criteria for us was a decent-sized section and an older home with character that hadn’t been renovated,” says Alison. “We purchased it from the original owners and completely fell for it. Stay-at-home mum Alison says she has really enjoyed renovating the weatherboard beauty, especially rediscovering her creative side since leaving her accountancy job. “We put so much into creating what we wanted. Designing each space was a labour of love for me,” she says… more

Fifth finalist – Jane Dubbelt and Pete Walker

When you live in a heritage listed home, care and consideration must go into a new paint job. Jane Dubbelt and Pete Walker have lived in their 1930s art deco house in New Plymouth for 27 years. 20 years after their last paint job, they turned to the same line of Resene paint to refurbish the home. “We knew the product stood the test of time,” the couple said in their entry. The weatherproof Resene X-200 in ‘Half Haystack’ was used for the majority of the house, while the trim was painted… more

Fourth finalist - Alison and Callum Dixon

To allow their eclectic mix of possessions to take centre stage, Alison and Callum Dixon chose a calming colour palette for their Castor Bay, Auckland home. All-white walls in Resene Sea Fog were lifted by coloured doors. “Painting our doors was an easy way to inject colour and personality into the house,” Alison explains. Violet, 5, and Rita, 3, chose the turquoise brilliance of Resene Dali for their shared bedroom. One-year-old Fred’s door was painted in Resene Nocturnal… more

Third finalist - Keri Clarke and Wayne

Clever use of colour and skilful paintwork helped to create this soothing nursery. Keri Clarke, co-founder of the Be Your Own Heroine website, and husband Wayne, a general manager, have lived in their four-bedroom Flat Bush, Auckland home for six years. They wanted their new daughter's nursery to be stylish and not "too saccharine". Keri, a graphic designer, came up with a triangle print, which the couple painted in a soft grey, Resene ‘Pale Slate’… more

Second finalist - April Harwood-Smith and Zane Hansby

It’s all fun and games at a Coromandel first home full of creative colour and DIY décor. First home-buyers April Harwood-Smith and Zane Hansby have transformed their classic 1964 Lockwood in Coromandel into a personality-filled abode. White walls were a good starting point, but the couple were craving a bit of colour. “We wanted to keep things looking fresh and simple, but also fun and bright,” says April. Accent walls... more

First finalist – Katie Smith and James Littlewood

A love of bold colour and retro hues inspired the makeover of this Titirangi home. Katie Smith and husband James Littlewood revamped their 1940s home in Auckland, which they share with daughters Lucy and Stellar, using vibrant colours from Resene. Choosing shades came naturally to textile designer Katie. “As a family we are very fond of colour,” she explains. “I wanted the main areas upstairs to work in harmony, with a bit of a vintage flavour. I tend to gravitate towards autumnal colours… more

Grand winner 2015/2016 - Zoe Bartlett

First impressions can be deceiving. From the outside, this 1930s former state house looks like many others in the surrounding Lower Hutt streets. But pass through the mint green front door and it’s an explosion of colour. Surprisingly, it was even more colourful when owners Zoe Bartlett and Brad Hale bought it in 2006. “There was daffodil carpet, lime green walls, a pink bathroom and a red Formica kitchen benchtop,” laughs Zoe. But the couple – now parents to Josh, 5, and Lachlan, 1 – could see the potential… more

March 2016 winner - Heidi and Kris Herbert

Heidi & Kris Herbert purchased their seven-acre lifestyle block in New Plymouth in August last year, providing more space for their two children, Bren, three, and Ivy, two. The four bedroom home was in dire need of a facelift, and the first room to get the full treatment was daughter Ivy’s room. "Ivy's favourite colour is pink, so I found Resene Sakura on the Resene fashion colour inspiration tab on their website," Heidi explains. "I wanted to add something to break up the pink so I looked at different ideas on the internet and taped up the wall with masking tape"… more

February 2016 winner - Julie Attwell

Julie Attwell’s Palmerston North home isn't for the faint-hearted. Living here since 2006 with husband Anthony, son Jackson, 17, daughter Georgia, 22, mother Joan, Penny the Staffy, cats Goose, Timmy and Stella, and chickens Custard, Dora, Peg and Dave, you could say she has a rather full house! The three-bedroom, 120-square-metre art deco building has been fully redecorated by Julie, who says although her decor style is ever-evolving, her penchant for black has never wavered. For evidence, look no further than her lounge feature wall painted in Resene Nero.… more

January 2016 winner - Kirsty and David Wraight

Kirsty and David Wraight’s Blenheim new build is anything but modern. With a shared love of heritage homes, it’s no wonder David - a builder who owns a business specialising in villa-style homes - took this project on himself. Completed in May 2014, their stunning three bedroom villa has a soft and traditional colour scheme, but Kirsty wanted some colour in the bathroom, opting for Resene Hermitage. The white battened feature wall painted in Resene… more

December 2015 winner - William Boyd

William Boyd’s heritage Helensville home began life as a bank and became a residential building 20 years ago. The artist and hairdresser had always wanted to live somewhere out of the ordinary, and when he saw the 1920s art deco building on the Kaipara River up for sale last year, he pounced. William’s first project was tackling the outside, which was painted a uniform two-tone grey. William brought Old Bank, as he affectionately calls it, back to life using the Resene Heritage colour range… more

November 2015 winner - Zoe Bartlett

Lower Hutt mum Zoe Bartlett knew her dark colour scheme with hints of aqua would be a winner after seeing a Where the Wild Things Are-style kid's room in a magazine. Once she'd decided on Resene Ebony Clay for her son Lachie's feature wall, the rest of the room fell into place. Resene Barely There decorates the remaining three walls and Zoe painted Lachie's lamp, side table and cloud shelf in Resene Optimist; the deer antlers and triangle shelf are coated in Resene Aqua... more

Grand winner 2014/15 - Gemma Burrows

Wellingtonian Gemma Burrows has used a kaleidoscope of colour in small doses throughout her once all-white home. The previously white-on-white colour scheme of Gemma's Wellington home was never going to last long with a self-confessed colour-lover living there. She bought the home in July last year, sold on its modern, open-plan design but the decor was impersonal and bland. She set about painting the house little by little, adding geometric and colour-blocking detail to all areas of the house... more

April 2015 winner

This homeowner transformed what was once the garage of his two-storey house into a funky family space for his family. Upstairs is rented out while downstairs there isn’t the slightest indication that cars were once parked here not so long ago. As a huge fan of art deco, the homeowner consulted with Kelly Gammie from Eucalyptus Design to help him refine his colour choice and to reflect this era… more

March 2015 winner – Melanie Wilson

Melanie Wilson was tired of looking at beige interiors after a bout of house hunting, so when she purchased this ex-state house in New Plymouth, she set about enlivening it with colour. “I love colour – both bright and bold and softer tones.” Melanie painted the geometric design above the kitchen splashback by randomly placing painter’s tape until she was happy with the design and filling in the sections with Resene… more

February 2015 winner - Robert and Diane Sutton

Robert Sutton didn’t tell his wife Diane that he was entering their Renwick, Marlborough home into the Resene Colour Home Awards, stating in his entry: “I am sending this in to surprise my wife Diane who I think has done an amazing job of transforming our B&B with two new coats of Resene paint.” Diane was understandably “very excited and proud” to discover she was a finalist. Diane painted the 1929 bungalow herself, using Resene Trojan from the Resene CoolColour™ range, which reflects heat and remains cooler in summer conditions… more

January 2015 winner - Gemma Burrows

Gemma Burrows couldn’t wait to transform the plain, impersonal white walls of her Wellington home. “I like bright colours,” says Gemma, “which you can tell by looking at my clothes and lipstick on any given day!” After scanning Pinterest for inspiration, she decided on a geometric theme that would inject colour and complement her extensive art collection and furniture. The fireplace was reinvented with a square of Resene Bright Spark and a thin line of Resene Bombshell to “give it some edge”… more

December 2014 winner – Renee and Bryan Lawrence

Rennee Lawrence and her husband Bryan renovated their kitchen in Pukerua Bay, north of Wellington, on a tight budget and are thrilled with the results. They chose dark shades to contrast with crisp white and bright red accents, with Resene Blackjack on the dining room wall and Resene Blackboard Paint in the kitchen. The floors, walls and kitchen table were treated to coats of Resene Black White. The pièce de résistance is the set of 1940s cabinets… more

November 2014 winner - Marlene Handl

With an overseas student coming to stay, Marlene Handl wanted to create a relaxing and restful guest bedroom in her Mission Bay, Auckland home. The formerly black walls made for a dark and gloomy space, so Marlene and her husband repainted the entire room in Resene Karen Walker Foggy Grey and Resene Alabaster for a fresh palette that beautifully reflects natural light. Marlene also looked to nature for inspiration… more

Grand winner 2013/14 – Debra Yearsley

When Debra Yearsley and her husband Adam bought their 1988 “Miami Vice-style” home in July 2012 it was crying out for colour. The art deco house in Auckland’s St Heliers features an eight metre-high atrium, with dramatic curved walls and split levels, which Debra saw as unpainted surfaces ripe for a colourful makeover. She chose an eclectic range of Resene paints to decorate her home, teamed with mid-century furniture. “Colour is a must,” she says… more

March 2014 winner – Pippa Jinks

It’s hard not to smile when you spot the rainbow stairs in Pippa Jinks’ Birkenhead, Auckland home. “People are always positive about them,” says Pippa. “The funniest comment was from a six-year-old friend of my children (Luka, 10, and Pearl, 7), whose face was a picture of happiness when he saw the stairs, but then he looked serious and told me earnestly that I had done it wrong, because rainbows don’t have pink in them… more

February 2014 winner - Noelene Rachinger and Alan Blackman

Noelene Rachinger and Alan Blackman recently set about painting their entire St Heliers, Auckland home in a range of Resene colours. They drew inspiration from their bold furnishings and artwork, repeating splashes of red, in the bar stools and bedlinen, throughout the house. They kept the look classic in the downstairs living room and kitchen, painted in Resene Rakaia, echoed by the exterior of the home in Resene Chicago and Resene Half Alabaster, creating seamless flow from inside to out… more

January 2014 winner - Michelle Burns

The aptly named Resene Tweet on the cabinetry of this Christchurch home caused “much twittering at the factory when it was applied”, says homeowner Michelle Burns. Her bold colour scheme was chosen to complement the mid-century feel of the 1968 home. “We achieved this by incorporating rimu into the island cabinetry and bringing the gorgeous Resene Grasscloth wallpaper into the scheme”… more

December 2013 winner - Kim Quartermain

Kim Quartermain says it’s been an “exciting journey” deciding on a colour scheme for her art deco home in Karori, Wellington. It began in February 2011 with a visit to Napier’s Art Deco Weekend for inspiration. After much deliberation she settled on Resene Buttery White for the exterior walls and Resene Deco for the trim. “I made sure to complement the surrounding houses while keeping with the art deco heritage and status of the property”… more

November 2013 winner - Debra Yearsley

A home office doesn't have to be stuffy and boring. Take inspiration from the bold colour combo Debra Yearsley dreamed up for the work space in her Auckland home. She wanted it to be bright, vibrant and mentally stimulating. "My office was cold and uninviting. It needed hotting up with a warm colour. Resene Smitten is a gorgeous fuchsia that makes me smile every time I enter the room," she says. The starting point for Debra's colour scheme was the floral rug she bought on Trade Me... more