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A striking feature wall in Resene Emerge creates a calm and tranquil space in this living space. Surrounding walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog and the ceiling is painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The mix of gentle blues, greens, warm timber and soft whites create the calm, coastal feel the homeowners visualised. The walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog, feature wall in Resene Emerge and ceiling in Resene Half Alabaster.
In the kitchen, Resene Emerge makes another statement, creating a cohesive feel in the open-plan space. The walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog and ceiling in Resene Half Alabaster.
Making the most of smaller spaces, this room divider and decorative element adds to the design. The gentle sea foam hue of Resene Emerge welcomes you into the living space and sits nicely against Resene Double Sea Fog on walls and Resene Half Alabaster on the ceiling.
Stepping outside, Resene Blue Smoke makes a statement on the porch soffit. The exterior walls feature a mix of Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Titania.
The foggy grey green of Resene Blue Smoke creates a striking look on this exterior. Trims are painted in Resene Sea Fog.
The inviting hues of Resene Blue Smoke and Resene Titania mixed with timber elements and bright florals makes this home a coastal and colourful delight.
This bedroom is charming and welcoming, wrapped in the neutrals of Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Half Alabaster.
A sea breeze of colour: Where light, warmth and the coast meet at home
This petite yet personality-packed home may sit modestly on a small coastal site, but step inside and you’ll find it brimming with light, clever details – and a Resene colour palette that quietly sings of salt air and sandy strolls.
Designed by Maria Callaú, director at Sur Architecture, for a retired couple seeking a healthy, light-filled home, the brief was simple: keep it functional, bright and beautiful. What emerged was a smart, passive solar home that maximises every inch of space – and light – through clever orientation, soaring ceilings and carefully placed windows and skylights.
But it’s the colours that really help this home breathe.
“We were inspired by the sea and the beach,” says Maria, “so we chose hues that echoed that environment – soft, hazy, coastal tones that tie the indoors to the outdoors.”
A striking feature wall in Resene Emerge creates a calm and tranquil space in this living space. Surrounding walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog and the ceiling is painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The mix of gentle blues, greens, warm timber and soft whites create the calm, coastal feel the homeowners visualised. The walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog, feature wall in Resene Emerge and ceiling in Resene Half Alabaster.
Inside, the walls are washed in Resene Double Sea Fog, a versatile white with a whisper of warmth. It forms a gentle backdrop throughout the living spaces and bedrooms, keeping things calm, consistent and quietly elegant. Ceilings are finished in Resene Half Alabaster, adding to the home’s light, airy feel.
The standout moment? A feature wall in the lounge in Resene Emerge – a serene, seafoam-inspired green that offers just the right amount of colour while still playing nicely with the rest of the palette. Framed by floating shelves and a window seat made of reclaimed hardwood, the colour draws the eye without dominating the space.
In the kitchen, Resene Emerge makes another statement, creating a cohesive feel in the open-plan space. The walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog and ceiling in Resene Half Alabaster.
Making the most of smaller spaces, this room divider and decorative element adds to the design. The gentle sea foam hue of Resene Emerge welcomes you into the living space and sits nicely against Resene Double Sea Fog on walls and Resene Half Alabaster on the ceiling.
“The Resene Emerge feature really connects with the outside,” says Maria, “especially since it relates so well to Resene Blue Smoke, which we used on the exterior of the home and again on the enclosed porch soffit and ceiling.”
That continuity between inside and out is key. Step out from the living room to the porch and the colours shift just enough to signal a change in space while keeping that relaxed, coastal vibe. The exterior walls of the house are finished in Resene Blue Smoke, a misty grey-blue that plays beautifully against the warmth of natural cedar and bamboo fencing.
Stepping outside, Resene Blue Smoke makes a statement on the porch soffit. The exterior walls feature a mix of Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Titania.
The foggy grey green of Resene Blue Smoke creates a striking look on this exterior. Trims are painted in Resene Sea Fog.
The inviting hues of Resene Blue Smoke and Resene Titania mixed with timber elements and bright florals makes this home a coastal and colourful delight.
Resene Titania – a warm, sandy neutral – rounds out the exterior, used on the garage, trims, porch walls and even the blockwork, helping the home sit comfortably within its beachy neighbourhood. Even the access ways and skirtings inside tie into the scheme, painted in Resene Sea Fog and Resene Double Sea Fog to keep the flow seamless.
Despite the compact footprint, this home feels anything but cramped. Generous glazing, sloped ceilings and clever colour zoning ensure each area has its own identity without breaking the visual calm. Even the bathrooms get the Resene Double Sea Fog treatment – soft, clean and consistent.
This bedroom is charming and welcoming, wrapped in the neutrals of Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Half Alabaster.
The bright and airy bathroom is painted in Resene Double Sea Fog.
With the surrounding garden brimming with flowers and the interior humming with personality, this home is a perfect example of how colour – used thoughtfully – can enhance not only the aesthetics but the very experience of living in a space.
And when the light shifts across those subtly painted walls throughout the day, well, it’s almost as if the sea itself is waving hello.
design Maria Callaú,Sur Architecture
images Graham Warman
Top tip:For exterior painting near the beach, use durable, weather-resistant paints like Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen and Resene Sonyx 101. These paints are designed to withstand harsh coastal conditions, including strong winds, salty air, and high humidity. If you're painting your exterior in a dark colour, use the Resene CoolColour version of your chosen shade – this special paint technology reflects more of the sun's UV rays, keeping the paint and substrate cooler and reducing heat stress and potential damage.
Published: 23 Apr 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
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Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
