The architects were delighted to be given significant free rein with the colour scheme – the only stipulation from the client being that they ‘didn’t like white rooms’.

For the Chapel they researched the significance of colour in Catholic Churches and selected seven colours of relevance; red, blue, gold, green, purple, white and rose, which were all incorporated into the skylight design. A stunning purple and blue leaf patterned carpet was also chosen.

With such striking colours in the ceiling and on the floor, as well as spectacular green views across Napier, two shades of beige Resene Stonewashed (full strength and quarter strength) were used on the walls and Sacristy joinery to complement the bright colours and the warm timber of the exposed glulaminated, clear finished, structural ribs.

The dining and living rooms of the house are two back to back large spaces, both with floor-to-ceiling glass along one full wall, with the living room especially drenched in bright light from its north facing windows.

The deep, decadent Resene Cocktail (blackberry grape) was chosen for these spaces so that by day the rooms would be bright and alive with colour, and by night when the silvery, rich curtains were drawn, the rooms would be transformed into rich, luscious spaces to dine and entertain.

The secondary lounge of this home was formerly the old Chapel and is a beautiful, lofty, light space with high level windows on all four walls. Again, with so much natural light available, warm and rich Resene Artefact (grape brown) was selected to give the large space life and to complement the warm tones of the large timber joinery unit, finished in Tasmanian Oak stained with a reduced blend of Resene Colorwood tinted to Resene Red Beech (tan brown).

The client had asked that, although the home was to accommodate retired Priests, they didn’t want any of the bedrooms to be painted in what might be associated with stereotypical ‘rest home’ colours – that is, no pastel tones please. With this in mind, the colours selected for the bedrooms were Resene Seachange (soft blue) for the sunny north facing bedrooms and a vibrant, warm Resene Breakfree (bold red) for the eastern and south facing bedrooms.

Both strong colours co-exist harmoniously with the grey leaf-patterned carpets and silver curtains of the bedrooms, and the clean white and chocolate tones of the ensuite fixtures.

Environmental Choice approved Resene Zylone Sheen low sheen waterborne paint is used extensively throughout the interior, with hues of Resene Double Oilskin (moody brown) in the entry, Resene Quarter Akaroa (shingle taupe grey) in the kitchen and pantry, and Resene Gondwana (landscape green) in the laundry and toilet rounding out the colour palette.

The resulting feeling of the building is of a bright, warm and inviting home, with a dramatic point of difference in its striking forms, and its rich and bold interior colour.

Architectural Specifier: Architecture HDT HB Ltd
Building Contractor: Simkin Construction Ltd
Painting Contractor: Napier Painting Contractors
Photographer: Andrew Caldwell
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2012
From the Resene News – issue 2/2013

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