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Attention to detail has been exhaustive and includes the revival of a classic Kiwi element – white spouting and downpipes – from Marley’s Typhoon® and RP80® collection.
A restful scheme of all-white walls and ceilings (Resene Half Black White), and monochromatic furniture punctuated with burnt orange, makes this new home elegant and restful.
The five-metre long kitchen island is one of the owner’s favourite aspects of the house. The intriguing splashback is one of the owner’s artworks.
One room of the house where colour is celebrated – the owner’s purpose-designed art studio. See www.wendyleach.com for more about Wendy’s work.
Colin and Wendy find purity in white
When Colin and Wendy planned a house to replace their old 1950s Mangawhai Heads bach, they had a very clear vision from the outset. The new house would be pure white. Or Resene Black White, to be precise.
Crisp, elegant and beautifully detailed, the house borrowed architectural references from both the coastal homes of the Mediterranean, as well as classic New Zealand houses. With its large eaves, gabled form, verandas, and corrugated iron roof, the house sits perched in a stunning location looking out over the estuary, sand dunes and ocean.
The only colour on the exterior is a flash of lime green on the front door, in Resene Wellywood. The window joinery is white; even the spouting and downpipes are a Kiwi favourite – Marley Typhoon® spouting and Marley RP80® downpipes in white.
The couple’s love of white continues inside, the walls and ceilings painted in Resene Half Black White. Much of the furniture is black and the colour accents in the decor are lime green, orange and aqua.
How did the build go and what where the challenges?
It was quite a technical build as the house has essentially been built on a sand dune. The retaining walls and piles involved some serious engineering.
We had to consider the coastal environment too, so choosing exterior components like the white spouting which won’t corrode or degrade from the salt air, was important.
It also has a profile that’s clean-lined so suits the house. We also used Resene X-200 on the offset concrete block cladding, which is a thick paint known for its protective and weatherproofing qualities.
What part of the house are you most happy with and why?
We love the whole package but we are particularly pleased with:
- The view right through the house from the pool out to sea. Also from the front door through the house out to sea.
- The white kitchen, which has a five-metre island bench and a scullery. The splashback features Wendy’s painting ‘Kuaotunu’ printed on the back of the glass. It is dynamic and monochromatic.
- The bathrooms, and the master ensuite in particular which we designed with two quite separate vanities.
- The vaulted ceilings in the main upstairs living area, master bedroom and Wendy’s studio which also features internal and external floor-to-ceiling windows.
What is your advice for somebody trying to achieve a similar look?
Have a comprehensive vision of what you want. Don’t compromise. Collaborate with the right design and tradespeople. Understand the cost and time drivers of the project to ensure you enjoy the build and to avoid any surprises or disappointments. We worked in collaboration with architectural designer, Martin Harnish, from Warkworth, on the design elements of the structure.
Photographs courtesy of Marley.
Published: 30 Jul 2016
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
The house’s all-white scheme in Resene Black White is broken only by the vibrant lime green front door, in Resene Wellywood.
Attention to detail has been exhaustive and includes the revival of a classic Kiwi element – white spouting and downpipes – from Marley’s Typhoon® and RP80® collection.
A restful scheme of all-white walls and ceilings (Resene Half Black White), and monochromatic furniture punctuated with burnt orange, makes this new home elegant and restful.
The Resene Black White palette means that the stunning sea view can be the hero.
The five-metre long kitchen island is one of the owner’s favourite aspects of the house. The intriguing splashback is one of the owner’s artworks.
Not just twin basins, but twin vanities. Luxury.
Even the carpet, linen and furniture in the bedrooms is white, echoing the Resene Half Black White walls and ceiling.
One room of the house where colour is celebrated – the owner’s purpose-designed art studio. See www.wendyleach.com for more about Wendy’s work.
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
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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If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
