b'feature homeT heres a pocket on the eastern-most coast of Auckland where the weather is a law unto itself. Rain can be pummelling the farmland two kilometres away, while these coastal residents eye their water smooth tanks with worry, not having seen a raindrop for months. On some days in sailing winter, the skies can turn darker than Mordor, and homeowners need to batten down the hatches when 30-knot noreasterlies approach with a wind that cuts through to your bones.This petulant microclimate is easily forgiven when you glimpse the deep blues of the Hauraki Gulf from the kitchen of Michelle and Lances newly built home. The colours of sea and sky ripple around the living room with splashes of Resene Duck Egg Blue and the soft cloudy shades of Resene Quarter Ecru White and Resene Double Alabaster, all framed An experienced renovatorto perfection by the pitched ceiling. Its a sanctuary from the world, even defies the odds and bringson the stormiest of days.Before the build, Michelle and Lance used to look out the windows her beautiful home in onof their old home on the same land, a rumpty bach perched precariously on the cliffside with trepidation. When they invited guests over, Michelle time and under budget. would eye up clouds in the distance, constantly holding her hand up to the sky to feel for specks of rain.The old house was so tiny, it used to be really stressful having peoplearoundbecausewealwaysneededtositoutside,andthe weather can change so quickly, says Michelle.When weather systems come in, it can be hard to open the doors. At night, youd listen to the weather and think, Tonights the night the roofs going to blow in.These days, with the new house, we barely notice the weather until we step outside. We have the fire going only about six weeks of the year, its so warm. Michelle, Lance and their kids lived in the original split-level weatherboard bach for eight years before rebuilding. Though they had bought it intending to build a new home eventually, they fell in love with the quirky charm of the old dunga and its pokey floor plan. They contemplated a renovationResene Resene Reseneinstead of a new build. But Michelle, an experienced renovator with aQuarter Ecru Half Ecru Half Fuscousbackground in financial services, said the numbers didnt stack up, andWhite White Greythere were too many design constraints and unknowns. They enlisted Lisa Day of Donnell Day Architects to design a multi-level home with a pitched roof in the style of Kiwi boatsheds such as the iconic red Glenorchy boat shed, with a dash of Michelles favourite Cape Cod coastal style. Opposite: The living area of Michelle and Lances living room is a carefully curated balance of whites which highlight architectural details in the ceiling, soffits and beams. The ceiling is painted in flat Resene Ceiling Paint tinted to Resene Double Alabaster and the rafters and beams are painted in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss to create dimension. The ceiling is supported by a steel frame and the rafters are for aesthetic reasons only. The wall colour is Resene Quarter Ecru White, the window trims are Resene Half Ecru White and the exterior weatherboards are Resene Foundry. The design won the Resene Total Colour Neutrals Colour Maestro Award in the 2021 Resene Total Colour Awards. Above right: Darker grey in the kitchen creates moments of rest in the bright open plan space. The kitchen cabinets are in Resene Fuscous Grey, the wall colour is Resene Quarter Ecru White and the detailing in the soffit above the kitchen (and window through to the guest room and study) is in Resene Half Ecru White, painted with Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss to highlight the detailing. The flooring is oak. Use Resene Colorwood Deep Oak protected with Resene Qristal ClearFloor to darken wooden flooring.Right: The reading area is a popular spot in the home, particularly in the morning. The walls are painted in Resene Duck Egg Blue with trims in Resene Half Ecru White. Use Resene Colorwood Deep Oak protected with Resene Qristal ClearFloor for a dark natural look on timber ceilings and flooring.ReseneReseneResene Double Alabaster Duck Egg Blue FoundryResene Colorwood 22 Deep Oak 23'