McMillan Residence

The brief was to ensure that the main living spaces felt contemporary with clean lines while in the bedrooms and second lounge it needed to bring their children’s personalities to the forefront. The client was minimalistic but recognised that bringing creativity to the children’s areas was going to ensure that the family was satisfied across the board. This fresh approach to colour and design provided the backdrop to bring creativity to the interior.

Having chosen Resene Nero black soffits for the exterior, the interior needed to use this favoured black in a successful way. Their kitchen was established as a mix of black and white cabinetry, with walls in Resene Half Foggy Grey and a feature in Resene Nero and Resene Double Alabaster.

The design team researched different Resene paint products with the aim to bring black into the architraves, doors and skirtings inside. Spending a considerable amount of time on research and planning ensuring that the scheme did not overwhelm the house. It was decided to use Resene Nero on the doors and architraves and keep the skirtings the same colour as the wall colour.

Reviewing a range of neutrals Resene Half Foggy Grey was chosen as the main wall colour through the hallways and main living area. It teamed well with the Resene Nero and provided a sophisticated backdrop to the wooden features in the living, hallway and kitchen.

The large, tall windows framed with Resene Nero architraves provide the best frame for the view while the doors throughout the home are bold and sophisticated. All ceilings were painted in Resene Double Alabaster which retains lightness in each space.

At the entranceway the Muros wall products bring texture to the space painted in Resene Nero, with this colour continued onto the storage doors. This brings a nice symmetry and impact to the entrance.

The second living space, planned as a children’s TV room, gave the opportunity to bring energy to the palette. With the clients’ love of yellow this was brought into their children’s space. The key was ensuring the yellow was complementary to the black, grey and white scheme and did not overwhelm. The main wall colour was toned down to Resene Foundry with all other walls in Resene Apache.

In their son’s room the love of his father’s business and helicopters led to bringing the sky to his room by painting the ceiling and 400mm of the wall in Resene Seachange with walls in Resene Double Alabaster. Future plans are to mount a model helicopter to this ceiling to bring the scheme to live.

In the daughter’s room they wanted a colour that reflected their child’s vibrant and sunny personality. Given the doors and trims were black they also wanted to bring femininity to the scheme and decided on Resene Dawn Chorus, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey and Resene Double Alabaster to work with the feature wallpaper.

The spare bedroom on the colder east side of the house reflects the North Otago landscape with a feature wall of Resene Smoky Green complemented by other walls in Resene Double Alabaster and a bespoke handmade leather headboard.

The master bedroom needed to reflect the rest of the home and provide a haven in their busy lives. The feature wall in Resene Foundry behind the bed with walls in Resene Foggy Grey provided that.

The bathrooms and laundry use neutral Resene Double Alabaster, a colour continued into the garage teamed with Resene Half Foggy Grey for contrast.

Paint finishes throughout were selected from the Resene Environmental Choice range, with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen on walls, Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel on trims and Resene Ceiling Paint on the ceilings.

This client gave the opportunity to work with black in ways the design team have not done before. Black frames the landscape and provides a real focus to the surrounds while still making the interior feel contemporary and fresh.

Architectural specifier: Ian Perry
Building contractor: David Reid Homes
Colour selection: Annabel Berry, Design Federation
Painting contractor: Darryn Stewart Painting and Decorating
Photographer: Rachel Wybrow Photography
Stylist: Meghan Nockels, Design Federation
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2018