Into the blue

Finalist 2 – Colour Home Awards Competition

A family home creates waves with a colour palette that’s as evocative as the ocean itself.

Drawing inspiration from nature is nothing new but in Marie and Matt Weavers’ case, taking their design cues from native fauna and flora to inform their oceanic blue colour scheme proved irresistible. Their Upper Hutt 1940s build was slowly being renovated in between busy days with the family of six, and the question of colour was a major one.

An ocean inspired home interior

An ocean inspired bathroom

“Surrounded by bush, we filled the garden with flowering natives and chose a cool colour scheme to allow the colours to pop,” says Marie. Matt trialled exterior colours in digital images before the pair landed on Resene Gull Grey for the house with accents of deep Resene Grey Friars on the front door and fences. “This creates a perfect backdrop to showcase the longflowering kākābeak and kōwhai trees that embellish the front garden,” Marie says.

A dreamy, transportive mural in the backyard captures a view from a Santorini pool, painted in Resene Endeavour, Resene Havelock Blue, Resene Black White and Resene Curious Blue to recreate “the lure of warm ocean waters.” On fine days the Weaver family have been known to sit in the garden facing the picturesque scene, dreaming of the warmer weather to come.

Inside, the cool ocean colours are repeated throughout the sun-kissed retro house. Resene Frozen in the bathroom was used to create a “fresh and uplifting space”, while Resene Half Bianca adorns the main bedroom with a pretty flourish.

Marie Weavers - pool mural

An ocean inspired home exterior

Marie Weavers: Marie Weavers in front of the Santorini pool mural.

“The bold choice to lighten original floorboards with Resene Colorwood Whitewash instantly tied the scheme together,” says Marie, the colour working beautifully to complement Resene White Thunder and Resene Alabaster in the living areas. Resene Gull Grey adds a pastel grey touch to the living room’s fireplace, to round off the palette.

Meanwhile, warmer tones in Resene Half Bianca and Resene Half Pearl Lusta brighten two south-facing bedrooms with feature walls in Resene Eighth Tapa. Pops of blue reappear throughout with sprays of Resene Enamacryl, a favourite for furniture and doors of the home. Now fully renovated, the family can enjoy the “pops of colour in the view from the garden”.