b'feature houseAboveThe cheery red Resene Pohutukawa welcomes guestsat the front door. The walls areResene Eighth Lemon Grass. OppositeIn the rear addition, L iving a busy life in a busy city has advantages for executiveResene Half Robin Egg Blue hasResene Halfbeen boldly used not only on theRobin Egg Bluewalls but on the ceiling as well.Resenecouple Catherine and Jonathan and their teenage daughterBelowRed-leafed bromeliads riseDouble NapaCaitlin, but it can also get a bit too much. Their solution has been toup to assert themselves against theResene Eighth homes handsome ReseneLemon Grasscreate a home that feels like a refuge of soft, calming hues.CoolColour Double Napa stucco exterior and a fence crisply paintedReseneWhen the couple bought the one-level 1930s bungalow 12 yearsin Resene Bright Charcoal. Pohutukawaago, it had been renovated. Grand, elegant reception rooms withResenetall ceilings and lovely bowed windows were painted in an all-over,Bright Charcoaldull cream, which Catherine says made it appear dingy and certainly didnt do it justice. But the couple loved the large property that sits against a hill facing north, protected from southerly winds. Catherine and Jonathan wanted to retain the charm of the old home and to enhance the character while adding more casual living with an easy flow to the garden. Having owned several houses, they were experienced renovators so were undaunted by embarking on major alterations that included adding a large family room to the rear of the house with doors opening either side into the garden, as well as a guest suite downstairs. Later on, they also built a guest room or office in the garden, and updated the kitchen and bathrooms. While the rear addition has vaulted ceilings finished in tongue-and-groove for a traditional feel, to unite the old and the new we were looking for colours that transitioned through the house that didnt jar from one room to another, says Catherine. They didnt want just the one colour throughout the house, however. 35'