Upstairs to bed

The Kirk family arrived in Christchurch from the UK and on a weekend drive out to Akaroa they fell in love with Banks Peninsula. They noticed a house for sale en-route to Akaroa and in less than three weeks they had bought and moved into their home. As Wayne is a builder, renovation of the 1970s Summerhill stone house was soon underway.

As Brits they were used to going upstairs to bed so the first item on their agenda was to add an upper storey. Unfortunately, as Brits, they were not yet used to New Zealand's opposite seasons so on a glorious day in July they stripped off half the roof. The glorious weather was short-lived and followed by a few days of constant rain and then snow! Moving the still unpacked boxes from the wet end to the drier but very damp end of the house was hindered by them kicking themselves for not realising that July is Kiwi winter!

They endured the elements and carried out all the external and internal renovations themselves. The result is a fabulous home they love living in.

The home features a warm palette of Resene Half Joanna on lounge walls, Resene Contessa in the dining room, Resene Lemon Twist in the kitchen and ensuite, Resene Paradise in the study, Resene Ebb and Resene Moleskin in the hall and landing, Resene Half Joanna with a Resene Contessa headboard in the master bedroom, Resene Half Joanna in the second bedroom and Resene Bardot in the third bedroom.

Paint colours have also been used to link in accessories, with a bathroom mirror frame in Resene Wine Berry, a wine tray in Resene Wax Flower and an old cupboard stripped and painted in white and Resene Waxflower, with lettering in Resene Wineberry. These are joined by two geometric artworks painted in Resene Blank Canvas, Resene Bardot, Resene Bandicoot and Resene Contessa, created using masking tape to form random shapes.

Woodwork throughout the home is finished in Resene Blank Canvas.

The final touch was to update the Summerhill stone by painting it Resene Akaroa complemented by window frames painted with Resene Blank Canvas.