Earthy colourblock living

Nomadic traveller

The dusky earth tones of this calm space, mixed with the natural fibres and wood tones make it feel as though you’ve just stepped in to an airy, cool luxury lodge after a trek through the desert or savannah. It the kind of look that keen travellers, or those who dream of travelling, can have at home as a reminder of exotic destinations. Based mostly around an African aesthetic, it can be easily adapted to echo other cultural motifs and colours.

The room is cleverly, but subtly detailed with the colour palette being used to created shapes and shadow on the walls.

The strong bold lines of the colour-blocked wall and its asymmetric patterning were by the patchwork view of farmland and fields from the sky. The rich dark brown vertical stripe, painted in Resene Route 66, gives the wall a focal point and echoes the colour of the fireplace.

The pattern is very simple to recreate by masking the lines. You just need to have a good look at the room or wall you’re painting to see how the shapes might be adjusted to your space. Look for areas you want to really stand out, and how the use of dark and light shades to create the appearance of structure.

Resene Grey Olive is used on the upper left part of the wall, with Resene Napa on the right. Resene Earthen runs across the lower part of the wall, made more striking by the vertical stripe of the wonderfully warm Resene Route 66, also used on the fireplace. The whole look is literally grounded in Resene Quarter Spanish White. The lighter floor cools off the whole space, highlighting the warmer shades and preventing them becoming oppressive.

The small dark bowl is in Resene Sambuca, the larger bowl and small round vase are in Resene New Leaf, the tall vase is in Resene Tablelands and the textured vase is Resene Barnstorm.

Adapt this colour-blocked wall with other colourways:

• Try sunset shades of dusky pink, apricot and warm yellow.

• Or try deep forest greens with an earthy light neutral for a shadowy bush vibe.

• How about blocks of primary colour, with black and white a la Mondrian artworks?

• A range of greys would look contemporary and architectural.

Paint colours: Wall in Resene Grey Olive (top left), Resene Earthen (bottom), Resene Route 66 (vertical stripe), Resene Napa (upper right). Fireplace in Route 66, floor in Quarter Spanish White. Small bowl in Resene Sambuca Larger bowl and small round vase in Resene New Leaf Rounded vase in Resene Tablelands Textured vase in Resene Barnstorm.

Extras: Larger bowl on coffee table in Resene Crowdpleaser Jug in Resene Grey Area Candlestick in Resene Dapper.

Styling by Gem Adams. Images by Wendy Fenwick. 2018