Auckland clients built this Queenstown house on an idyllic setting oriented towards the mountains and lake. The professional couple needed the house to be classical with sophisticated luxury yet functional for family living.

The house is layered. In the entrance a wide glassed gallery has wings leading to all areas. Feature schist walls and wide plank French Oak floor follow through to the den, kitchen, scullery and family rooms.

The environment dictated the colour scheme used. The soaring rugged mountains, tussocks, grasses and lake provided a majestic backdrop. Use of natural timber and schist brings the outdoors in. Strong excessive use of colour was unnecessary; rather a blending with nature was required. Massive glass windows throughout allow full sunlight and superb vistas.

All timber window framing was sealed to allow the natural grain to be exposed. Ceilings were finished in Resene Half Albescent White and all doors were painted in Resene Albescent White to blend.

In the gallery, Resene Half Malta was used on one wing and full Resene Malta on the other. This warm tone enhances the schist feature walls and French Oak wide planked floors. In the TV den, reflective walls using Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and a cabinetry wall of Resene Celestial Blue give a strong corporate masculine effect, loved by the owner.

Resene Eighth Arrowtown earthy walls in the kitchen and family dining area echo the hills brought in through the massive glass windows on two complete sides. The stained wood sliding doors to the formal sitting dining gives a totally different picture, a theatrical room at night with crushed satin deep cocoa curtains and Resene Half Stonewashed walls.

In the master bedroom and dressing rooms, Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown is highlighted with a dividing wall behind the bed.

Resene Quarter Lignite walls in one study gives masculine depth to a room enhanced by built-in walnut cabinetry, while in the second study Resene Emerge with Resene Albescent White cabinetry lends a feminine vibe.

Two guest bedrooms opening onto a terrace are in ethereal soft restful tones of Resene Carefree and Resene Periglacial Blue. Soft sheer curtains and toning headboards work to bring harmony with the outdoors. In the loft above the studies and bedrooms, the Resene Half Blanc walls are subtle with joinery in Resene White Pointer. Above the garage the loft is in the soft tone of Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown, which blends with the great sweeping views from the loft windows with joinery in Resene Albescent White. The loft above the garage kitchenette is Resene Quarter Grey Olive with Resene Travertine joinery.

In the basement a movie theatre with bright fire engine red reclining chairs has dark stained cedar walls on three sides and a Resene Cocktail wall on the other, for an interesting moody effect.

The three bathrooms are subtly coloured, one in Resene Wan White, one in Resene Black Haze and the third in Resene Soapstone. Doors are finished throughout in Resene Albescent White and ceilings in Resene Half Albescent White.

This was a complex project with many subtleties of colour to be considered and combined into a cohesive whole. The house is a strong architectural statement with clever thoughtful planning. It blends perfectly with the landscape providing luxury and visual delight deferring to nature for colour and sculptural interest.

Architectural specifier: Peter Sargison, Vesna Paligora
Building contractor: John Gavin Construction
Client: Peter and Susan Thodey
Interior designer: Win Rutherford
Painting contractor: Damien O’Connell Painters Queenstown
Photographer: Susan Thodey
Supplier – curtains/blinds: Leigh Jackson Auckland, Window Treatments Christchurch
Supplier – flooring: French Oak, CTC Timber Floors Auckland
Supplier – furniture: David Shaw Christchurch, EJP Auckland
Supplier – marble, granite, tiles: SCE Stone & Design, and tiles: Jacobsens
Supplier – schist: Peter Davies Stonemason
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2014

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