Blue dude

From the Resene/Your Home and Garden Colour Home Awards Competition - Third finalist 2020

A palette of blues and greys has given this Oamaru homestead a super cool new look

When the Simpsons bought their house in Oamaru five years ago, the colour scheme was far from what they’d dreamed of. “The entire house was a sea of beige and yellow – apart from one pink bedroom,” says Tessa Simpson.

Boys bedroom

Pale blue lounge and kids bedroom

Moody blue boys rooms - lighter blue room: Resene Lynch, darker blue room: Resene Avalanche.

She and husband Tyler started searching for a modern colour they loved that could be used throughout the main living areas of their home. They settled on Resene Duck Egg Blue and used it to refresh the kitchen, hallway and lounge area.

“Our renovation budget didn’t quite stretch far enough to replace the existing brown cabinetry in the kitchen, so we tiled the splashback and painted the walls,” Tessa says. “Resene Duck Egg Blue allowed us to add warmth to the space, create a modern feel and also complement the existing cabinetry. We enlisted A1 Decorating for the job as the ceilings also needed painting – we went with Resene Alabaster. I painted the trims and skirting boards in Resene Half Rice Cake.”

Boys bedroom

Lounge: Resene Duck Egg Blue. Wall and cabinet: Resene Ash.

The bedrooms required something a little different, but Tessa wanted colours that would sit harmoniously alongside her other choices.

“In the master, I wanted to create a calm, relaxing space so I chose Resene Ash. Its subtle green tinge is very calming but also has enough depth to not be boring,” she says.

In sons Luca and Reeve’s rooms, moody blues were just the ticket. “Reeve’s room was Resene Blue Moon but we updated it to Resene Lynch. Then I chose Resene Avalanche for Luca. The colour is deep and warm and really allows his colourful artwork to pop!”