Dare devil

From the Resene/Your Home and Garden Colour Home Awards Competition - 2013/2014 Winner

Bold colour choices, graphic wallpaper and shots of bright accessories are a winnning formula.

When Debra Yearsly and her husband Adam bought their 1988 “Miami Vice-style” home in July 2012 it was crying out for colour. The art deco house in Auckland’s St Heliers features an eight metre-high atrium, with dramatic curved walls and split levels, which Debra saw as unpainted surfaces ripe for a colourful makeover.

She chose an eclectic range of Resene paints to decorate her home, teamed with mid-century furniture. “Colour is a must,” she says. “I’m drawn to this look because I think it makes a house look more lived in and adds a personal aspect to your decor.” Debra found inspiration for her colour palette from furnishings in her collection – the blues of the dining room and the fuschia of the study came from rugs. Rooms run the colour gamut, with the TV/games room painted in dark blue Resene Nite Life while the kitchen provides a break from colour with a coat of Resene Alabaster. It’s not often that New Zealand homes are treated to an array of bold shades, and in this case it’s a winning combination.

Living room / kitchen
Left: Artwork by Yann Legendre entitled ‘Arizona’ steals the show in the TV room. Right: Colourful accessories pop in the kitchen and dining area, which is painted in Resene Alabaster. The wallpaper is Sanderson ‘Poppies’.

Design details

The living room, painted in Resene Awash, features a red chair from Debra’s business Chair Squad, which sources and re-upholsters classic pieces of furniture. Debra says each room has its own feel. “The cool blues in the lounge are welcoming and homey,” she says.

In the dining room a vintage Italian track bike bought on eBay hangs on the wall, painted in Resene Roasted Orange from the Karen Walker Paints range. “Adam has a passion for beautiful bikes and we thought it was a unique piece of sculpture for our wall.”

Bright orange Resene Daredevil features on a wall of the boys’ study nook. The rest is covered in Norwall wallpaper from Resene ColorShops. The orange in the zigzag rug is repeated in the accessories.

“Our bedroom is calming and relaxing,” says Debra. A “soothing blue” – Resene Seachange – was chosen for the walls. A bedhead designed by Debra and built by Adam anchors the space and a starburst mirror from online store Then Again hangs above.

Left: This fuchsia study painted in Resene Smitten was Debra’s original Resene entry, and the room that won the judges’ hearts.

Colour tips and tricks

Dark colours make a room feel more intimate and cosy – great for bedrooms, media rooms or large living spaces. A far wall can appear closer when painted in a dark colour, or use a dark wall colour to offset a beautiful sideboard, mantelpiece, free-standing bath or upholstered chair.

Be brave and experiment. Give yourself time to get used to new colour options – often your favourite will not be the one you liked first but the one that grows on you as you see it over the day and in different lighting.

Colours pick up on other elements in the room. If you have lots of greenery out the window, expect your walls to take on a green look. Use a strong blue rug or furniture, and your walls will pick up on that.