a labour of love

It was love at first sight for Jane and Pim when they came across a century old villa in 2015. Despite being able to see clear through the weatherboards and into the house in some spots, the couple could also see the potential that the old Waiuku farmhouse held for becoming a beautiful place to call home. The two decided to take the bull by the horns and committed to bringing it back to life through a total restoration.

While there was a considerable amount of work needed to bring the property up to snuff, the pair approached the project with the right attitude: sympathy for the home's original design and a desire to restore its charming authentic features – with the addition of a few important creature comforts, of course, such as insulation and a dishwasher.

Slowly but surely, Jane and Pim spent the better part of the last four and a half years putting in the time, patience and elbow grease needed to bring the diamond out of the rough and return the farmhouse to its full glory. Jane is a visual artist who specialises in painting insects and illustrating children's books while Pim is a draughtsman and surf instructor, which allowed both to work primarily from home and cross tasks off their lengthy to-do list bit by bit.

"We wanted to embrace the age of the house, and we had to do it on a very tight budget," says Jane. "All of the furniture is secondhand apart from the beds, and we decided to leave the rooms as separate areas when others might have converted them to an open plan."

With the intention of staying put for the long haul, the couple decided to be bold with their colour choices to put their stamp on the home and make it their own. Jane says that the annual habitat by Resene calendar definitely influenced a number of her design ideas, inspiring a diverse palette full of character. To unify their colour choices, each room is trimmed in either Resene Quarter Villa White or native wood.

"I love the character we have created in each separate space," she says. "It feels as if each room has its own personality."

"The only 'room' we wanted to keep somewhat neutral was the massive hallway so that it can also be used to exhibit paintings." It led them to choose Resene Half Wheatfield, a bleached bone white that's both warm and soft – making for the ideal backdrop. This decision also benefitted sight lines when looking in and out of rooms to and from the hallway, as the hue works well with each of their wall colour selections.

Jane says that the design for the living room was inspired by a private men's smoking lounge. It features plenty of rich textures, including a vintage velvet sofa, an ornate rug as well as an antique desk and card cabinet. Their artful antiques are complemented by Resene Cab Sav on the walls, a colour that ties exquisitely into the stunning stained glass door which Pim and Jane rescued from a rubbish heap left behind by previous tenants.

The dining room and kitchen are Jane and Pim's main socialising areas and the couple wanted them to feel cosy and relaxed while embracing the original farmhouse character.

"We must have tested out about fifty shades of green on the walls before we decided on Resene Norway for both rooms," laughs Jane.

The master bedroom has a feature wall in Resene Wallpaper Collection Z4153 (this design is from an older wallpaper collection; for a current alternative, try Resene Wallpaper Collection WM2565 or 36898-5) alongside a quarter strength of Resene Nebula, a hue which was also used in half strength in the guest bedroom, while the laundry and second bathroom have been almost entirely collaged in old newspaper articles and advertisements the pair have collected over the years. Jane's art studio is in Resene Quarter Villa White with panelling in Resene Pale Prim, creating a bright and sunny atmosphere for her to paint in.

On the outside of the house, Jane and Pim chose Resene Jet Stream for their weatherboards, which has since become their favourite colour.

"Being surrounded by broad skies up on a hill, it felt like a seamless colour to fit in with the area," Jane explains.

In keeping with the classic villa style, the cladding is complemented by the front door and accents in Resene Destiny and trims, lacework, railings and flashings in aptly named Resene Quarter Villa White.

Despite uncovering a number of surprises along their journey, Jane found being without a kitchen for several months, after the discovery of asbestos in the linoleum, was the toughest challenge they faced during their impressive renovation. But in the long run, she's glad it's been sorted. The countless hours she and Pim spent sanding to peel back the aged finishes throughout the home, while exhausting, were also worth it to get the perfect paint finish.

For Pim, the hardest part was making a start with only a little building experience under his belt and becoming aware of the increasing size of the project as new jobs piled up each time they opened a new 'Pandora's box'. Waiuku's tightly knit community were an important part of getting the job done. "We were lucky to learn many skills, such as plastering and replacing weatherboards, from local builders and handy people," he says.

For others embarking on a renovation, Jane suggests doing what you love and having fun with it. "Don't worry about what other people think," she says – and we couldn't agree more.

images: Jessica Gerna

Style tip: Many of Jane and Pim's colour choices were inspired by their beautiful surroundings. Try bringing the outside in with these earthy hues .

A velvety finish: Dark coloured walls look particularly impressive in Resene SpaceCote Flat, which reflects less light and creates a soft, velvety finish on interior walls. Remember to check your lighting as it may also need to be adjusted or redirected for your dramatic colour to work its magic. For a more cocooning effect, continue your wall colour onto your ceiling.

Alternative solution – softly does it

A nursery that grows with your child

Our key design tip to transform a spare bedroom into a timeless nursery is to retain a subtle classic influence with a pared-back colour palette as a base accented with saturated colours through easily replaced décor and accessories. Rather than creating a stereotypical 'feature wall', we have introduced a dado line and selected a youthful yet sophisticated wallpaper, Resene Wallpaper Collection SMIL69819001, combined with the subtle tone of Resene Blanched Pink and accessorised with burnt orange. Running curtain fabric from floor to ceiling is a commonly-used designer secret to visually increase window heights and create the illusion of a bigger space. By staining the floor in Resene Colorwood Touch Wood, we have created harmony between the warm oak furnishings and the cool grey tones found within the wallpaper design. To finalise the space, we have softened it by adding texture and tactility through a chunky woollen rug and a unique handmade felt pendant lamp.

Phone: 09 869 8048  Web: www.sampleworkshop.co.nz

Top tip: Remember most wallpaper designs are only available for sale for 2-3 years, sometimes shorter, so if you are planning to use the same wallpaper in multiple places or on a big project always make sure you have enough when you start the project. It often pays to buy an extra roll, in case you need a little more later.

Alternative solution – a clean slate

Dark slate blue redefines a home office space

I created this modern, mid-century style office as somewhere to reflect and let creativity flow. A full wall of shelving has been designed around the gorgeous heritage windows, which are the room's key feature. There is also a ceiling-mounted sheer curtain, which can be pulled across to soften the room and hide belongings. The deep, rich tone of Resene Dark Slate for the wall and shelving, mixed with oak timber textures in the desk and chair, gives this room a modern and sophisticated look. The walls and concrete floor, both painted in Resene Sea Fog, soften and offset the rest of the room nicely.

Phone: 027 845 3149  Web: www.thedesigneryroom.co.nz

Top tip: Different gloss levels will affect how your paint colour looks. Flat or matt finishes, like Resene SpaceCote Flat, absorb light and make the colour look darker and earthier, whereas semi-gloss or gloss finishes reflect the light and make the colour appear brighter and lighter.

Want to get your own free copy of future issues of habitat magazine?

Printed copies of habitat highlights are available from late March 2024 at Resene ColorShops and resellers, while stocks last. You can view back issues of habitat magazine online.

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