The colours selected connect with the ever-present harbour and its natural palette.
This new build, designed by Russell Devlin of Solarchitect and his team sits high above Lyttleton Harbour. The views from the site in all directions are spectacular and these have been cleverly captured by the buildings design.
Tailormade Space Ltd was contracted by the clients to assist with specification of material finishes and the colours for the home. The brief included that the clients were hoping to create a retreat that would serve as a sanctuary to return to. They were keen to include natural and honest materials.
Early in the project a palette of natural, watery tones was identified as the best fit for the clients and also for the home due to its uniquely beautiful location. The colours selected connect with the ever-present harbour and its natural palette.
The home has been designed with feature windows at both ends of a central spine which opens up as you move up from the entryway to a double height space where you can move into the living area or further on up to a reading area and more views. The colours used in this project have been applied to specific spaces to connect them and support the flow of movement throughout the home.
Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Half Merino was selected as the neutral wall colour to be used in areas without feature colours. It interacts well with the charcoal tile flooring and also the paler grey wool carpet. The clients were keen to avoid a stark look and Resene Half Merino achieves this, with its subtle off-whiteness sitting cleverly between warm and cool (with a green oxide base).
The client has commented on how appealing the Resene Half Merino is, due to its softness and that it is nuanced in different lights and in different areas. In the areas painted with this neutral, other finishes such as tiling, soft furnishings and even the clients' selection of log-burner pick up the muted grey blue-greens of the feature paint colours. Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Double Alabaster on the ceilings blends effortlessly with the Half Merino walls, providing a slightly lighter surface for the light to play on the skillion ceilings. Trims and joinery are in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne paint in Resene Quarter Merino.
Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Bluff has been used for several reasons. It provides a feature in the entry, which immediately introduces someone arriving to the palette of the home, then it winds its way up the external wall of the stair to the first landing, which it wraps, directing you into the living area. The feature wall climbs to double height where Resene Bluff provides a backdrop to stunning views and New Zealand designed and made pendants. This feature wall stretches the length of the open spine of the home, with more beautiful views and a reading area on the upper landing. The clients have named this area the 'sanctuary'.
In the master bedroom, Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Periglacial Blue was selected for its soft, watery beauty and its appropriateness to both the brief and the location. The view as you move from the landing down past the Resene Bluff stairwell to the Resene Periglacial Blue and the views of the harbour beyond is something special.
Architectural specifier: Russell Devlin, Solarchitect
Building and painting contractor: C2 Builders
Colour selection: Sarah Eaton, Tailormade Space Ltd
Photographer: Sarah Eaton, Tailormade Space Ltd
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2020
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