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There are experts who track and predict colour trends for fashion, products and interiors. Then there are colours that are borne out of the collective consciousness. Millennial pink was one such colour and as we become more visually sophisticated, post our lives to our Instagram accounts and seek change at a faster pace, more such colours will emerge. It’s exciting and galvanising to be part of the trends... more
Eleven designs have joined the popular Resene Curtain Collection. Having trouble finding a curtain fabric to go with your favourite Resene colour? Then the Resene Curtain Collection may be just what you need. And now, there are 11 more designs to choose from. From fashion stripes and patterns through to neutrals, the collection is designed... more
For advertising executive Marcelle Baker decorating her home was more like a passion project than a job that had to be done. “Dreaming up interiors is definitely my creative outlet,” says the Auckland mother of two. When it came to pushing the ‘go’ button on the renovation of the Onehunga villa she shares with husband Simon Baker and children Lulu and Gus, there was one thing that topped her list. It was going to feature some strong colour... more
Unexpected colour use was a highlight of this year’s Resene Total Colour Awards. From a full-on pink dining room, a bold character bathroom, a hidden bright blue exterior and a bespoke mural, many of the winners of this year’s awards used colour in very unexpected ways. Here’s a look at the residential winners from the awards, as well as the project that scooped the supreme prize... more
Colour has helped this mother and daughter team turn design ideas into a thriving business. How do you make your design business stand out? Add more colour! That’s been the experience of mother and daughter team Mary Mortland and Anna Tweedie, the talented Mt Maunganui-based duo behind Inscribe Design. Inscribe Design was born four years ago... more
Nothing else symbolises the relaxed holiday lifestyle quite like the bach. Or crib as they call it in the south, or holiday home if you live beyond our shores. Whether by the beach, lake or mountain, this modest dwelling is an iconic part of our history and culture, and sums up the meaning of escape from the city and ordinary working life. Baches became popular in the 1950s... more
Revel in Cape Cod beachy style with these stylish front entry ideas. Think handy storage, perk up your pots, create set down space and embrace a soothing colour scheme... more
Creativity and a social conscience collide every day at The Paper Rain Project, resulting in a range of stunning artworks and products, many finished in Resene paints. Founders Indigo Greenlaw and Wills Rowe both had a passion for recycling, conservation and sustainability before they met in 2013. As an art student Indigo had painted surfing longboards for friends, so she and Wills began making artwork boards from recycled wine barrels... more
Many of us dream of living the bach holiday lifestyle all year round, but few of us have the opportunity to actually do so. Tim and Angela Kinnersley are the lucky ones. They’ve managed to not only achieve the lifestyle but also recreate the spirit of a bach they once owned and loved. Armed with an array of soft Resene coastal blues, they have transformed a tired old cedar clad home into a magical seaside cottage... more
Books, toys and even odd socks. There’s a place for everything when it comes to kids’ bits and pieces. Try out these ideas for floating shelves and an odd sock keeper... more
Grey proves a winning colour in these sensational kitchens. A stunning two-tone kitchen that uses an unexpected visual ‘tide line’ is the result of one man’s passion for his villa renovation. When Cameron Nimmo of Oamaru was gathering inspiration for the project, he came across a photograph of black character doors and images of dip-painted furniture and doors. Taken with the idea... more
Small bathrooms can be a tricky design hurdle but not an uncommon or unsurmountable one, whether you’re in an old character home or a modern apartment. Colour could be the key. Resene colour expert Carolyn Atkinson says paler tints in shades of blue, aqua or some greens can work well to give the illusion of space. “These are colours that visually recede away from you so they can make spaces appear larger”... more
Look what you can do with some pebbles and timber off-cuts. Get your glow on with a glow-in-the-dark pebble garden, make your own giant backyard game or create a colourful pebble mat... more
On the face of it, these two homes only have one thing in common - they both look great. But beneath those good looks, they are also full of good health, thanks to being awarded a 10 rating under the Homestar initiative. Homestar is a comprehensive, independent national rating tool that measures the health, warmth and efficiency of houses. The rating scale from one to 10 can be used on any residential project, from standalone houses to multi-units... more
A handy and easy to make storage box for all those bits and pieces... more
So often, house exteriors are painted in a restrained palette of tonal neutrals. Simple. And maybe a little bit plain. That approach wasn’t going to cut it for Helen and Ian Ivess. Sure, they chose some smoky dark greys for their home in the seaside settlement of Oakura, south of New Plymouth. But then came a wall of soft mother-of-pearl white, and three walls of… well, red. The couple opted for exterior blocks of colour after being inspired by... more
Popular broadcaster Carly Flynn is a serial renovator who feels right at home with blue and grey... more
Habitat is printed on environmentally responsible paper using environmentally responsible ink.
From issue 8 onwards, copies flow wrapped and sent to Resene Cardholders are flow wrapped in environmentally responsible material from epi-global. This product when discarded in soil in the presence of microorganisms, moisture and oxygen will biodegrade decomposing into simple materials found in nature, as described in ASTM D6954-04.