Freemans Bay home

Old and new have been interwoven with modern pendant lighting and furnishings which enhance the century old ceilings and traditionally decorated rooms. The owners have also been bold with exposed steel and modern timber kitchen cabinetry.

The current trends have been carefully navigated to give the home both class and character. The design and finishes have been sympathetic to the character of the original design but have been given a modern twist.

The grand parlour was designed to be a dark moody space with wallpaper, with a dark charcoal wallpaper from the local Resene ColorShop. The wallpaper was textured with an embossed flower that created a three dimensional appearance. The Resene ColorShop also had a photograph of this wallpaper with a contemporary leather couch which contrasted beautifully with the dark walls. It was decided to recreate this look, adding a painted dado, shutters and fireplace. The dado was painted in Resene Enamacryl tinted to Fuscous Grey to complement the wallpaper beautifully.

In the ground floor kitchen/living space the palette makes a real statement by mixing ultra-modern with traditional elements such as the ornate fibrous plaster ceilings. The walls of the kitchen and living rooms were painted Resene Half Copyrite, which had been used successfully in a previous property. This provided a light background to the dark kitchen which used dark colours in the cabinetry, ceilings and exposed steel elements. The modern theme was continued in the kitchen with the exposed steel portal frame being painted Resene Fuscous Grey and the ceiling battens stained using Resene Colorwood Dark Ebony natural wood with Resene Aquaclear varnish. The contrasting theme was used throughout the house, including in the formal dining room where traditional elements were retained and enhanced with modern furnishings. The dining room was painted in Resene Zylone Sheen tinted to Resene Sandspit Brown.

Both owners have a passion for quality architecture and interior design. There were many robust discussions to narrow down the right treatment for each space.

Architectural specifier: John Eaglen Design Associates
Building contractor: Raw Landscape & Build
Client: Doug and Sandra Stockwell
Painting contractor: Regency Painting Ltd
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2018