Kingsland Art Project

She was also wanted the poorly designed 70 square metre area to have a greater sense of space. Several clever design solutions were utilised to transform the cold block walled flat into a modern inner city suburban apartment.

Gutting the interior revealed an original concrete floor that has become an artistic focal point. Kelly Gammie from Eucalyptus Design & Interiors, who collaborated on the project, suggested using local street art as inspiration for the concrete floor as it was too irregular to just grind and polish.

European mural Artist Erno Hajos worked with both the owner and designer to create an unexpected floor embellishment that creeps organically across the living room floor into the kitchen and through to the bathroom entrance. The use of a smoky colour palette of Resene Armadillo, Resene Jaguar and Resene Zeus, established a soft base to embellish using shining metallic highlights of Resene Ignition and Resene Scotty Silver. It was then sealed with Resene clear sealer enabling the gorgeous artwork to be a usable floor.

The floor’s dark colours were continued as bold horizontal bands along the walls in various materials creating a second link between rooms and drawing the eye from one space to another. Wide stripes of Resene Bokara Grey finished with Resene Write-on Wall Paint and Resene Blackboard Paint become interactive surfaces that the owner says her friends like to add their own street inspired art.

Black butcher brick tiles installed in a random pattern to the kitchen splashback mirror image the dark. “Most people wrongly think that dark colours always close in a room, but on the contrary very dark tones used in the right place create a shading effect. They make areas recede, giving the illusion of space” says Kelly. Resene Black White was chosen for the walls and ceiling as it is a white that gives an immediate quality of warmth while being a modern tone. The mural also leads your eye to the internal doors that have been stained with Resene Colorwood Dark Oak timber stain for a rich warm earthy balance to the concrete floor. Charcoal floor tiles in the bathroom harmonise with the living room’s artwork and interactive panels. White mosaic tiles pop against the dark floor giving a nod to the apartments 70s origins and blend with crisp white bathroom fittings. This all enables the artwork splashed across the shower glass and windows to be a quirky feature. Sheer black organza curtains throughout the apartment finish the project and continue the feminine touch yet keep to the edgy colour palette.

The right colour choice and some creative collaboration have transformed what could have been a common little flat into a modern Auckland living space.

Colour Selection and Interior Design: Eucalyptus Design & Interiors
Painting Contractor: Erno Najos
Photographer: Becky Nunes
Other Key Contributors: Ian Cooke, Glass Art; Mico Design
Winner: Resene Residential Interior Maestro Award Winner
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2012

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