First finalist

From the Resene/Your Home and Garden Colour Home Awards Competition - 2016/2017

A love of bold colour and retro hues inspired the makeover of this Titirangi home.

Katie Smith and husband James Littlewood revamped their 1940s home in Auckland, which they share with daughters Lucy and Stellar, using vibrant colours from Resene. Choosing shades came naturally to textile designer Katie. “As a family we are very fond of colour,” she explains. “I wanted the main areas upstairs to work in harmony, with a bit of a vintage flavour. I tend to gravitate towards autumnal colours and we have a few retro knick-knacks and furniture, so the colours on the walls needed to enhance these.” Katie opted for an earthy orange, Resene Smoke House in the kitchen, complemented by Resene Rainee in the dining, a minty aqua shade. A retro green in the bathroom, Resene Iko Iko and dusky beige in the hallway in Resene Cement completes the look.

Kitchen
Katie Smith and her husband combined an extensive renovation with a repaint, transforming their home’s small, dark rooms into light, open spaces with a vintage vibe – from the “moody, sophisticated” entrance to “the warm, happy embrace” of the kitchen.