Close to nature

With more and more homes designed to provide an easy flow between inside and out, it is probably not surprising to see interior colours also merging with the great outdoors.

This coastal Wellington property was extensively remodelled to provide a colourful, contemporary home for a young family. Architect John Mills, who is renowned for his flamboyant style, was commissioned to redesign the house to better suit the family's lifestyle. The interior also needed to have a distinctive, multi-cultural look that would capture both a Kiwi and a Pacific essence.

Mills, and senior architect James Warren, worked closely with the owners to transform the single-storey house into a two-level dwelling that made the most of the sunny, sheltered site and panoramic views of both the ocean and mountains.

Special features include extensive glazing, and a double-height ceiling in the family living area. The ceiling incorporates timber plywood panels in contrasting colours.

To provide a visual link to the natural bush surroundings, an accent wall this room is painted in Resene Wasabi from the Resene The Range fashion fandeck. The green is contrasted by another wall in off-white Resene Tana. These colours also complement the timber flooring and plywood ceiling.

Painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, the interior highlights an environmentally friendly paint option. The waterborne enamel is an Environmental Choice-approved paint. It is well suited to family living areas, as it is tough, durable and washable. In critical light areas, its reduced side sheen will minimise surface imperfections.

To help you work out the best colour selection for your own home, Resene releases a new The Range fashion fandeck each year. The latest fandeck presents more than 150 colours, and illustrates shades that work well together.

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