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Resene Edgewater on upper kitchen cabinets offers hints of the sea in this coastal Kiwi home. Deep orange tiles in the kitchen splashback, along with natural wood finishes on additional cabinetry and the floor, combine with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on the ceiling, and Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream on walls, doors and trim for a harmonious finish.
To add colour, such as the Resene Edgewater cabinetry, but maintain balance where no one colour dominated, the designer worked with Resene colour charts and guides to find a palette that worked.
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on the ceiling and Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream on walls and trim works with subtle sea-glass greens and blues, and natural wood for a coastal inspired bathroom.
Resene Edgewater on the front door adds a touch of oceanic green and helps tie together the Resene Titania brickwork, roof, trim and cladding for an exterior that reflects the home’s beachy location.
A modern take on the Kiwi bach was what the owners of this Whakatane home, featuring timber cladding punctuated by trim in Resene Titania, were looking for.
Beauty on the inside; inspired by the outside
A simple, modern take on the traditional Kiwi bach where owners Tanja and Brett could feel like they were on holiday all the time was the brief to architect Noor Keary from Nala Studio Architects, for this appealing coastal Whakatane home.
As the property enjoys a northerly outlook over sand dunes towards the sea, the couple also wanted to carry the coastal colours and textures into their new home interior.
To emulate the oceanic blues and greens, along with sand and driftwood hues, Noor and her clients started with the soft, summery green of Resene Edgewater.
Resene Edgewater on the upper kitchen cabinets offers hints of the sea in this coastal Kiwi home. Deep orange tiles in the kitchen splashback, along with natural wood finishes on additional cabinetry and the floor, combine with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on the ceiling, and Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream on walls, doors and trim for a harmonious finish.
“It resembles the colour of the ocean, especially the section of the beach near the house, which is known for its waves and is a popular surf beach. It is often rough and wild,” Noor says.
“The kitchen is the backdrop for the open plan living and entertaining area of the home, looking out towards the sea and sun, so we chose to use Resene Edgewater for some of the kitchen cabinets.
“It is a great option for adding colour, without it overwhelming the space or dating.”
To add colour, such as the Resene Edgewater cabinetry, but maintain balance where no one colour dominated, the designer worked with Resene colour charts and guides to find a palette that worked.
Noor says the kitchen is her favourite room in the house due to the combination of Resene Edgewater with the burst of contrast from an orange tile backsplash and natural plywood finishes.
Throughout the home, walls, doors, skirting boards and architraves are painted in off-white Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, with all ceilings finished in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for a look that was in sync and still echoed the natural environment.
Each colour choice, whether it was for walls, floors, ceiling, or cabinetry, and including the notes of orange and pink tile, were carefully considered to ensure the complete palette was harmonious, with no one colour competing for attention over the others, and no one colour overshadowing the environment outside, Noor says.
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on the ceiling and Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream on walls and trim works with subtle sea-glass greens and blues, and natural wood for a coastal inspired bathroom.
“Looking at the surrounding site and its natural colours and textures, it became very clear that blue and green hues would be an obvious choice, but we also worked in brighter colours such as deep orange and light pink, by way of tiles, to offset the cool tones of the blues and greens.
“Although we used tiles to do this, we used the Resene colour guide to ensure the tile colours would complement each other and the rest of the colour palette,” she says.
“The colours throughout the house complement and enhance the colours of the whole site, imparting a calm feeling overall. Rooms, such as the kitchen, provide a strong visual backdrop that offsets the colours of the sand dunes and sea at the other end of the open-plan room.”
Resene Edgewater on the front door adds a touch of oceanic green and helps tie together the Resene Titania brickwork, roof, trim and cladding for an exterior that reflects the home’s beachy location.
That harmonious approach, designed to emphasise the natural beauty of the local environment, rather than compete with it, was even more important on the home’s exterior.
Natural timber cladding covers the exterior, complemented by sandy white Resene Titania, on exterior joinery, brickwork and roofing, punctuated by the soft green of Resene Edgewater on the front door.
A modern take on the Kiwi bach was what the owners of this Whakatane home, featuring timber cladding punctuated by trim in Resene Titania, were looking for.
Though the build hit some hurdles and needed some adjustments, thanks to Covid-related cost increases, the completed house fulfils Tanja and Brett’s desire for a low-maintenance home, perfect for retirement, that celebrates an inspiring location.
“The clients had to make some hard decisions to keep the project on budget, especially since this was their retirement home. We took them through the process carefully to ensure those decisions didn’t compromise the design and their initial brief.
Design Noor Keary, Nala Studio Architects
Images James Hunter, Hyperreal
Published: 06 Jan 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
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 Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
