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The living room features brightly coloured art, accessories and upholstery that sing against the walls painted in Resene Half Tea. The ceiling is painted in Resene White.
The exterior is painted in warm Resene Spanish White, with bold accents of Resene Black on ceiling panels and Resene Tango on the retaining wall, door and gate.
The contrasting neutral tones of Resene Spanish White and Resene Black pair beautifully with the surrounding nature. The gate is painted in Resene Tango for a surprise pop of colour.
On the patio, Resene Spanish White and Resene Black make way for bold hues on furniture and accessories in Resene Mai Tai, Resene Laser, Resene Sakura, Resene Galliano and Resene Rapture.
Entering Alex’s home, you’re greeted with the warm, earthy hue of Resene Half Tea and richly coloured artwork and furnishings.
Alex’s hexagonal table and swivel bucket chairs from a local antique store add to the mid-century feel of her home. The walls are painted in Resene Half Tea.
In the living room, brightly coloured art, accessories and upholstery sing against the walls painted in Resene Half Tea. The ceiling is painted in Resene White.
Throughout the home, including the bedrooms, bursts of colour were added on furniture in (left to right) Resene Sakura, Resene Rapture and Resene Galliano. The walls are painted in Resene Half Tea and ceiling in Resene White.
The kitchen is bright and welcoming, painted in Resene Half Tea with ceiling in Resene White.
A dreamy escape in the bathroom with walls painted in Resene Half Tea, ceiling in Resene White and a gentle pop of Resene Sakura on the plant pot.
A mid-century home with a twist
Earlier this year, Alex moved into what she calls a “great-bones-but-recently-unloved 1970s home with understated mid-century character”. Although her aim was more of a thoughtful refresh than a full overhaul, she managed to bring her home to life and honour its original spirit by working with the existing, timeless base: Resene Half Tea on interior walls and previously painted brickwork.
The exterior was brought to life with warm Resene Spanish White and bold, contrasting Resene Black panelling. Keeping the main structure grounded in calm, neutral tones meant that future residents could bring their own story to the space.
The exterior is painted in warm Resene Spanish White, with bold accents of Resene Black on ceiling panels and Resene Tango on the retaining wall, door and gate.
The contrasting neutral tones of Resene Spanish White and Resene Black pair beautifully with the surrounding nature. The gate is painted in Resene Tango for a surprise pop of colour.
“While we love the classic 1970s palette of orange, golds, browns and tans, we felt that it would be too dark for this home,” says Alex. “Instead, we gave the aesthetic a brighter, more contemporary twist. Resene Tango, a vibrant orange, became our anchor, gracing a street-facing retaining wall, the workshop door off the carport and the pedestrian gate. The gable ends were updated in Resene Black for cohesion and contrast. The result is a street presence that feels strong yet restrained and unmistakably retro.”
On the patio, Resene Spanish White and Resene Black make way for bold hues on furniture and accessories in Resene Mai Tai, Resene Laser, Resene Sakura, Resene Galliano and Resene Rapture.
After a few colour reconsiderations, Alex also added the vibrant hues of Resene Mai Tai, Resene Laser, Resene Sakura, Resene Galliano and Resene Rapture throughout the interior and exterior for warmth and variety.
“Rather than reserving these tones for walls, we got playful, applying them to planters, lampshades, garden ornaments and furniture,” Alex says. “The palette unifies an otherwise eclectic collection of décor, much of it thrifted or ‘found’.”
Alex also painted lampshade skirts in Resene Tango, Resene Rapture and Resene Galliano and added large filament bulbs to finish the look. And a fun surprise was discovered when she took down the shades in the kitchen and dining room, which she had planned on painting to brighten the room, and unveiled the stunning original wooden pendants that had been hiding away.
Entering Alex’s home, you’re greeted with the warm, earthy hue of Resene Half Tea and richly coloured artwork and furnishings.
Alex’s hexagonal table and swivel bucket chairs from a local antique store add to the mid-century feel of her home. The walls are painted in Resene Half Tea.
In the living room, brightly coloured art, accessories and upholstery sing against the walls painted in Resene Half Tea. The ceiling is painted in Resene White.
“Key pieces include a hexagonal table and swivel bucket chairs sourced from a local antiques store and Trade Me, along with other retro treasures gathered over time. We paired these with new textiles inspired by the era, like the duvet in the master bedroom and the reupholstered entranceway telephone table, alongside genuine vintage elements like a sheet repurposed as a headboard in the spare room and a curtain reimagined as hallway art. I also like to incorporate recurring motif – in this home, it’s the bold, Marimekko Unikko stylised floral.”
Among Alex’s eclectic belongings, the home is cloaked in Resene Half Tea, a complex neutral that offers a kind backdrop while still standing its ground against the vibrant hues that surround it. The ceiling, painted in Resene White, adds height to the interior while brightening and bringing freshness to each space.
Throughout the home, including the bedrooms, bursts of colour were added on furniture in (left to right) Resene Sakura, Resene Rapture and Resene Galliano. The walls are painted in Resene Half Tea and ceiling in Resene White.
The kitchen is bright and welcoming, painted in Resene Half Tea with ceiling in Resene White.
A dreamy escape in the bathroom with walls painted in Resene Half Tea, ceiling in Resene White and a gentle pop of Resene Sakura on the plant pot.
“I like to create looks that offer juxtapositions, surprising contrasts and sometimes unusual use of objects and colour to create interesting but harmonious environments,” says Alex.
“Paint, to me, is its own kind of alchemy. It has the power to transform. One standout example was the patio. By repainting both the patio surface and privacy screening in Resene Spanish White, replacing dark colours, we amplified reflected light dramatically. With floor-to-ceiling sliders opening from both the lounge and kitchen and dining areas, the bounce of brightness was immediate – changing how those spaces are used, and more importantly, how they feel.”
Alex’s thoughtful updates, clever colour choices and playful mix of vintage finds have transformed her 1970s gem into a light-filled home that feels both retro and refreshingly her own.
images McK Photography
Top product tip: If you’re planning to use one colour in most or all of your rooms, you can use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. This product is suitable for all rooms so you won’t have to stop and get a different paint for wet areas such as your kitchen and bathroom.
Top colour tip: If you’re new to the world of colour, and considering stepping outside the neutral realm, head to your local Resene ColorShop or the online Resene ColorShop to pick up some Resene testpots of your favourite bright hues and explore these on smaller elements like pot plants, lamp shades, vases and table legs. Or if you want to start gently with bold colours, consider leaning in with a lighter more pastel shade first, like Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, Resene Ebb or Resene Breathless.
Published: 08 Jul 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Resene Spanish 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.
Resene Spanish 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.
