Playing with colour

Susan and Dougal bought their villa in a tired state and set about renovating it. The bedrooms were painted first. They wanted the house to reflect their personalities, complement their furniture and feel like a house should be - a place of comfort, beauty and relaxation.

Susan has always liked the colours of Freemans Bay villas but didn't want a stark white - the Resene Newmarket ColorShop staff helped find a colour to achieve this. Inside, Susan was careful to choose colours that picked up colour in the curtains, or at least match the tone and complement it. Both Susan and Dougal enjoy picture painting, playing with colour and the resultant effects. Susan had all the trim inside and out painted in a ’pure white’ as she likes the definition it gives.

Susan loves colour and always wanted the girls to have turquoise rooms; there's something about this colour that evokes relaxation but is bright at the same time. Green and pink are Susan’s favourite colours for a master bedroom; understated, soft, relaxing and romantic at the same time.

The boys of the family are very sporty and as a watersport family the French stripe curtains were a must. Resene Thorndon Cream, suggested by Michael Idiens Architects, was the perfect complement to open up a smaller bedroom with half Resene Spanish Green in a second bedroom. The colour changes with the differing light of day, which Susan finds more interesting. They've used this colour a lot over the years in various houses, in all sizes of room, it never dates and is perfect to showcase antiques.

As well as the smaller bedroom, the hallway, sitting room, and kitchen are all finished in Resene Half Thorndon Cream. The master bedroom is finished in Resene Half Lemon Grass and two other bedrooms in Resene Half Reservoir.

The family room downstairs was a mustard colour when they bought the house, which felt a little heavy but Susan liked the warmth from it and the strength of the colour in such a big room; changing to Resene Putty achieved the same effect but made it look more like a brushed gold colour and more sophisticated.

Outside the weatherboards are finished in Resene Triple Black White, with pure white trims and a Resene Red Berry front door.

Susan and Dougal love their house and the change in feel through the colours. They're not a white and black family; it's too stark and gets tiring after a while.

Boy's bedroom walls	Boy's bedroom walls	Smaller bedroom, hallway, sitting room, kitchen	Master bedroom
Resene Thorndon Cream	Resene Spanish Green (used at half)	Resene Half Thorndon Cream	Resene Half Lemon Grass
Family room	Weatherboards	Front door
Resene Putty	Resene Triple Black White	Resene Red Berry

Thanks to Susan and Dougal.

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