Amy’s family adds some edginess
With an edgy yet polished design and a palette of Resene colours and wallpaper, the Gourley house from TVNZ’s Our First Home is rich with creative touches. Al and Anne Gourley teamed up with daughter Amy and son-in-law Matt to work on the house. Amy tells us about the decorative choices she and her family made:
How did you decide on the overall look of the interiors? What was your overall philosophy?
We wanted it to appeal to the Auckland market so we wanted a modern polished look, but with some industrial, quirky and rustic elements to give the house some interest and character.
What inspired your paint colour and accessory colour choices?
We wanted something that made the house feel spacious, bright and really calming, so we kept to quite a neutral but warm base, and went for some fun splashes of accessory colours. Using colour in the accessories colours lets you be bold without causing any long-term difficulty when you want a change… so we just had a bit of fun! As we were selling the house on, we also wanted something where other people could easily visualise adding their own style.
What part of the house are you most happy with?
We love the entertaining spaces, from the big deck, flowing through to the kitchen and hub of the house.
What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look?
Have fun playing with different textures, and build from a neutral, clean base to maximise the feeling of light and spaciousness. Then have some fun adding some personal touches and unexpected colour – like the Resene wallpaper in our entranceway!
What was the biggest decorating or renovating challenge for this project?
We had to make several structural changes to make the kitchen, dining and lounge open plan – removing walls, inserting beams, and adding bifold doors. It took a lot of prep work, but definitely produced the biggest transformation.
Do you have a favourite colour, and if so why is it your favourite?
I love Resene Teal Blue. It’s rich and bold, and has beautiful depth to it. It suits every setting and can be fun and playful, or moody and dark. I guess it is one of the only colours I haven’t grown out of! It snuck into the house in a few areas, and we had fun accessorising the bathroom with it. I also have a great fondness for burnt, Moroccan-style orange shades, which Matt and I have used as an accessory colour in our bedroom at home.
After spending 10 weeks renovating the Avondale, Auckland, home for TVNZ’s Our First Home, the Wardlaws sold the property for $720,500, adding 24.87% of value. Resene paint and wallpaper was used throughout the home.
Published: 08 May 2015
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
A fun geometric wallpaper (Just Like It, code J67904, from Resene) adds unexpected colour to the entranceway.
Metallic detailing in the kitchen is elegantly rustic while the walls of the living area are Resene Half Rice Cake with ceilings in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
The dining room opens onto the deck and garden, which is bordered in a fence painted in Resene Foundry. The walls inside are Resene Half Rice Cake.
The rear garden centrepiece is a large entertaining deck, with a sleepout to one side. The house exterior is in Resene Delta and Resene Quarter Delta.
A whimsical feature wall behind the bed in the main bedroom uses the soft blue-grey metallic paint Resene Allusive from the Resene Metallics and Special Effects range, and a cluster of jar lights. The other walls are in Resene Half Rice Cake with ceilings in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.
A forest-view Komar Photomural (Vol I4 8-519) from Resene and a cute teepee create a fantasy child’s bedroom. The walls are painted in Resene Quarter Rice Cake, the bedhead and trims are in Resene Half Rice Cake, the skirting board is in Resene Double Arrowtown, and the top of the stool next to the bed is painted in Resene Sushi.
Open shelving, a freestanding bath and geometric tiles all add character to the bathroom.
Resene Delta
Resene Double Arrowtown
Resene Double Arrowtown
Resene Teal Blue
Resene Teal Blue
Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Allusive
Resene Allusive
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Sushi
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
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 Delta
Resene Double Arrowtown
Resene Double Arrowtown
Resene Teal Blue
Resene Teal Blue
Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Allusive
Resene Allusive
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Sushi
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.