Elizabeth Gardens

St Heliers

“A Hamptons Home in St Heliers and of course we’d like a Kiwi twist”. These words evoke both excitement and slight fear when a client mutters these words out as their brief.

A tired 1980s built weatherboard house in original condition, complete with layered shag pile carpet and salmon coloured plastic bathroom fittings provided a challenging starting point. No interior room or surface was left untouched and the finished home displays elegant Hampshire details enhanced by a soft and subtle Kiwi colour palette.

It was important to create impact and depth by introducing a solid timber floor. Wide American Oak boards were installed and stained in Resene Colorwood Walnut which provided an appropriate ‘Hampshire-esk’ base to work up from.

New panelled walls, made to look original and painted Resene Quarter Sea Fog, were introduced in the entrance way flowing through into the powder room and bathroom areas.

A by-the-sea colourway was essential to give the home a sophisticated kiwi flavour. Shades of beautiful Resene blues – Resene Emerge, Resene Periglacial Blue and Resene Nebula are very much a feature of the home though they are discovered gradually rather than being instantly apparent. The muted blues of the morning Auckland Harbour looking out to Rangitoto was a major influence on this project’s colour palette.

Resene Triple Sea Fog adds a little formality to the walls of main living area and continues the gentle evolution of colour.

The bathrooms which have the same panelled finish as the entrance way appear fresh crisp and very ‘East Coast’. Resene SpaceCote in Resene Emerge was chosen on the walls above the panelling because it is simply gorgeous.

The two storey entrance hall to this home boasts 10 doors leading off to sleeping and living areas or cupboards. The beaded detail doors were painted a warm grey using Resene Delta to give these original features a contemporary look. Doors that lead somewhere were painted Resene Delta and those that had storage behind them were painted Resene Quarter Sea Fog the same as the panelled walls.

These walls along with the new staircase, create a fresh crispness against the Resene Dark Oak flooring.

The kitchen cabinetry is painted Resene Half Delta which not only complements the Resene Half Duck Egg Blue on the walls but also balances the Resene Delta doors throughout the rest of the house.

The master bedroom continues the subtle blues with Resene Half Periglacial Blue soft soothing and restful.

Most areas are painted with Resene Zylone Sheen or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen.

Designer Kelly Gammie found it was a lovely change to work on a project that presented no real challenges other than making an old house look fresh and contemporary, with clients who were happy to be brave with their choices.

Architectural specifier: Eucalyptus Design & Interiors
Building contractor: Your Home Construction Ltd
Client: Tim & Helen McGuire Painting contractor: Jim Nightingale
Photographer: Becky Nunes
Other key contributor: Artisan Flooring
Other key contributor: Kitchen Maker
Other key contributor: Tommy Tiler Ltd
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2016