home away from home

Parents of children having treatment at Starship Children’s Hospital have one less thing to worry about thanks to the opening of Ronald McDonald House Trust’s newest family accommodation facility, Grafton Mews. Grafton Mews has 18 rooms including two transplant units, customised disabled rooms, standard rooms, laundries, living areas and a playground.

The Trust provides accommodation and support for families from all over the country, who have to travel while their children are treated at Starship Children’s Hospital. It provides comfort and a safe environment for families during what can be a highly stressful time. It enables them to be together and for families to draw strength from others who are on a similar journey.

In 2010 the Trust provided over 23,000 room nights to families. In 2011 this is expected to increase to over 24,000. It costs on average $120 per night to provide accommodation and some meals, however there is no charge for referred families to stay at any of the three facilities. Collectively the three facilities have 79 rooms available to referred families, the largest room capacity in Australasia, with a further 20 rooms planned.

For the Grafton Mews project, only Environmental Choice approved products were selected, including Resene Zylone Sheen low sheen waterborne and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen low sheen waterborne enamel on walls, Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel on trim and joinery and Resene Broadwall 3 in 1, which can be used as a surfacer, sealer and finishing coat, enabling significant time and cost savings.

The general colour palette throughout the house is neutral with Resene Quarter Tea (muted beige), Resene Quarter Napa (grey beige neutral), Resene Alabaster (blackened white), Resene White Pointer (stark off-white), Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta (classic cream) complemented by soothing greens of Resene Chill Out (pale chartreuse), Resene Sulu (summer yellow green), Resene Tint Of Aqua (green off white) and Resene Anakiwa (pale blue). The project also includes bold accent colours Resene Endeavour (clear blue), Resene Havoc (pure red), Resene Turbo (energetic yellow) and Resene Space Cadet (ultramarine blue) to add interest without being overpowering.

Worldwide there are over 300 Ronald McDonald Houses in 30 countries. Ronald McDonald Houses started in Philadelphia in 1974 with a McDonalds regional manager helping a friend whose daughter had leukaemia. Resene has been a long standing supporter of Ronald McDonald Houses providing many many litres of paint free to Ronald McDonald House projects around the country. It’s nice to think that families going through a parent’s worst nightmare and the stress of having a sick child have a supportive team, environment and home to help them through.

Architectural Specifier: Avery Architects
Building Contractor: Brookfield Multiplex
Photography: Michael Bradley; Brookfield Multiplex
Resene: Rob Mountford, Central Auckland Branch Manager
From the Resene News – issue 3/2011

Resene case studies/awards project gallery

View case studies that have used Resene products including many from our Resene Total Colour Awards. We hope these projects provide inspiration for decorating projects of your own...view projects

Total Colour Award winners: 
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | Entry info

Latest projects | Project archive | Resene news archive | Colour chart archive