Fourth finalist

From the Resene/Your Home and Garden Colour Home Awards Competition - 2015/2016 finalist

Colour story: The new black

Julie Attwell’s Palmerston North home isn’t for the faint-hearted. Living here since 2006 with husband Anthony, son Jackson, 17, daughter Georgia, 22, mother Joan, Penny the Staffy, cats Goose, Timmy and Stella, and chickens Custard, Dora, Peg and Dave, you could say she has a rather full house! The three-bedroom, 120-square-metre art deco building has been fully redecorated by Julie, who says although her decor style is ever-evolving, her penchant for black has never wavered. For evidence, look no further than her lounge feature wall painted in Resene Nero, a deep black with inky blue undertones. “I’m super confident about black,” she says. “It’s my favourite colour; I think it’s beautiful but it needs to be used wisely. If you get it wrong, you lose its beauty.”

The black wall
Lounge and detail
Black objects

Resene tips & tricks: As with any dark colour, black will make a room appear smaller and more enclosed. It’s superb for a room that’s more likely to be used in the evening, such as a media or TV room, or a bedroom. If using dark colours on your exterior, consider using a Resene CoolColour product to keep it cooler during summer.