b'splash palaceAbove: Tonia WilliamsThe NorthcoteT he power of colour to dial up the magic is not lost on former seaside home has splashesworld champion rower Tonia Williams. The time she and her of colour including thehome of a rowing partner-cum-joiner lay on the floor in the entrance hall back wall of the living ofthisNorthcotehouse,celebratorybeersinhand,beneaththe room which is in halfrower-turned- ceiling theyd just created, counts as one of her favourite moments. strength Resene Onepoto. The back ceiling and walldesigner bathesRed, blue and green LEDs installed behind dropped polycarbonate by the stairs are Resene sheeting transported her back to the disco years. Colorwood Whitewash.in Resene coloursColour is also a decorative, whimsical way to evoke history: half The skirting and the rimustrength Resene Onepoto in the living room reminds her of those stair balustrades are that reflect thefree-spirited days on the water.protected with Resene Danska Teak Oil. surroundingNot that whimsy is all she is made of. A former elite athlete, Opposite top right: TheTonias focus is high-performancean attribute she wanted from her North Shore house is nearharbour. home.Buildingfromenergy-efficientstructuralinsulatedpanels Onepoto Domain so Tonia(SIPs)andusinganotherprovenperformer,ReseneColorwood gravitated towards halfWhitewash, to finish them was always part of the plan. When I strength Resene Onepotoreturned to New Zealand at the end of 2000 from competing in for the living room. TheEngland,itwastheheightoftheleaky-buildingcrisis.Istarted ceiling is ReseneResenelooking at different ways of building houses. Colorwood Whitewash.Black White The views from this property on top of a North Shore ridge sweep Reseneover the Waitemata Harbour to the city on one side and across to a OnepotoResene ColorwoodResene Whitewash Paua 24'