Habitat by Resene
Kate goes light and bright for summer
When Kate Gardham purchased a 50-year-old home on Auckland's North Shore last year, it was in dire need of modernising. Despite a tight budget, Kate has transformed the old dame into a modern beauty, using clever thinking and a healthy dose of Resene Black White.
The renovation started with structural changes to improve the flow and functionality of the home. Storage and wardrobe systems were installed, and a recessed sliding door was made as an option to close off the main living areas from the rest of the house – great for efficiency of heating over the colder months.
Next, Kate set about selecting a colour scheme. She wanted a Scandinavian feel to the home and colours that reflected her desire for a more simplistic way of living. Resene Black White was a perfect fit.
Kate's home is close to the beach and as a nod to this she chose Resene Conch, a soft coastal blue, as a feature wall for the master bedroom.
"I find the colour soft and soothing like the ocean," she says. "And it works well with the pastel colours used in the bed linen."
Kate, who is owner and lead designer of interior design service H[O]ME & CO, tells us more about the reno:
How did you decide on the overall look of the interiors?
There are a lot of large established trees on the property, which meant the light levels were low. Any hint of cream and it made the place look dirty and dark, so I settled on a fresh white – Resene Black White. It lightens and brightens the home, and makes a nice backdrop for displaying artwork. It also helps the the natural timbers used in the furniture to stand out and be appreciated for their sculptural beauty.
I have continued the colour theme through the home to give it a nice seamless flow and a sense of connection between the rooms.
What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look?
Along with painting the walls of the house, I also painted furniture, outdoor planter boxes and deer antlers to complete the look. Adding to the colour scheme, I used raw materials such as American blonded oak, polished concrete, marble and copper, with splashes of dusty peachy pinks, blues and black.
What are you happiest about with your home?
I love coming home to a space that is fresh, easy to maintain and functional. I think paint has been the biggest transformation of the home. It creates a nice backdrop for artwork and accessories along with the pendant lights.
I also love feature walls as they can create such a different mood or feeling to the space, and I was pleased with the outcome of the Resene Conch in the master bedroom.
Any other advice for renovators?
You can still achieve a transformation and great beauty on a small budget. It makes you think more about other solutions or alternatives when you just can't go out and buy what you want.
With the natural light levels being low, Kate set out to make her home warm and bright in every way possible – from painting the shared living areas in Resene Black White to using raw materials such as American blonded oak and polished concrete.
The kitchen leads into the lounge, also brightened up by walls painted in Resene Black White. A large circle mirror reflects the oasis of greenery outdoors.
The open-plan layout brings about a spacious feel to the kitchen/lounge, painted in Resene Black White.
Resene Black White really does help to brighten up the home, even in the traditionally darker areas such as the hallway.
Kate's home is close to the beach so she chose Resene Conch as a feature wall for the master bedroom... a colour that's soft and soothing like the ocean, she says. It also works well with the pastel colours in the bed linen.
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The second bedroom has a feature wall in engineered oak while other walls are painted in Resene Black White, a nice, clean backdrop to the splashes of copper, dusty peachy pinks and lively patterns.
Click here to read this article on the Habitat by Resene website.