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The kitchen and dining seamlessly blend together with the help of Resene Log Cabin stretching from the splashback to over the ceiling. The walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog.
In this modern, moody kitchen, Resene Log Cabin graces the splashback and ceiling, and the cabinetry is Plytech laminate matched to Resene Log Cabin, creating a harmonious space. The kitchen island features Resene Dark Knight and surrounding walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog to add some brightness to the space.
Embracing a blocking approach, blue tiles were chosen in this bathroom to match Resene Dark Knight, used on the ceiling. The result is a moody, luxurious retreat.
The second bathroom has the same design with green tiles harmonising with the ceiling in Resene Log Cabin.
The second living area features its own kitchenette with Plytech laminate cabinetry matched to Resene Black. Surrounding walls and ceiling are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog.
In this cosy living space, the earthy green of Resene Log Cabin graces the walls, pairing beautifully with the natural timber tones on the ceiling.
Heading up the stairwell, the dark slate blue of Resene Dark Knight adorns the walls, pairing well with Resene Log Cabin.
Beneath the mountain’s gaze: A home built for the view and the future
Architect Sophie Bishop has brought a dark and moody dream home to life at the foot of Maungarei, Mount Wellington, using bold Resene colours in a design that embraces its natural surroundings. When her clients first laid eyes on the property, the existing house left much to be desired – but the breathtaking view of Maungarei and the private path leading straight up the mountain captured their imagination. They saw potential not in the home itself, but in the setting, and made the decision to rebuild from scratch – creating a family home that would be durable, welcoming and perfectly in tune with its picturesque location.
The new build unfolded in two stages, with the family living in part of the structure while the rest was completed. The final result is a striking two-storey gable house with a bold and thoughtfully curated interior colour palette using, inspired by the natural landscape outside.
In this modern, moody kitchen, Resene Log Cabin graces the splashback and ceiling. The kitchen island features Resene Dark Knight and surrounding walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog to add some brightness to the space.
The kitchen and dining seamlessly blend together with the help of Resene Log Cabin stretching from the splashback to over the ceiling. The walls are painted in Resene Double Sea Fog.
Sophie collaborated with colour expert Kate Pilot of Kanat Studio to create an interior scheme that reflected the family’s appreciation of colour and connection to nature. “They didn’t want a stark white house,” Sophie says. “We drew inspiration from the mountain and the sky – deep green for the foliage, moody blue for the sky and complementary neutrals to ground it all.”
Resene Log Cabin, a rich forest green, and Resene Dark Knight, a deep inky blue, are used throughout the home alongside Resene Zeus, a robust grey, and the soft creamy tone of Resene Double Sea Fog.
The second living area features its own kitchenette with walls and ceiling painted in Resene Double Sea Fog.
But this isn’t just about colourful walls – Sophie embraced a colour-blocking approach where trims, ceilings, doors and skirtings are all painted the same hue as the surrounding surfaces. “The bathrooms are a great example,” she says. “The entire top half of the room is blue, and the bottom half is grey – or green and grey in the second bathroom. It’s immersive, almost like stepping into a painting.”
Embracing a blocking approach, blue tiles were chosen in this bathroom to match Resene Dark Knight, used on the ceiling. The result is a moody, luxurious retreat.
The second bathroom has the same design with green tiles harmonising with the ceiling in Resene Log Cabin.
While the colours evoke mood and atmosphere, practicality is at the heart of the design. With two young boys and a love of backyard BBQs, the family needed a flexible home that could adapt to their needs now and in the future.
“The brief was clear from the start,” says Sophie. “They wanted a black gable house with a large garage workshop, lots of storage and a space that could evolve with them.” The second living area with its own kitchenette offers room for an au pair, grandparent or one day a teen hangout.
In the kitchen – Sophie’s favourite room – the colour scheme continues with a matte glass splashback and ceiling painted in Resene Log Cabin. “The client loves to cook, and I really believe cooking is an act of love,” Sophie says. “So I spent a lot of time getting every detail of the kitchen right, making it beautiful, highly functional and free from visual clutter. As a parent myself, I know how calming a tidy space can be when life gets hectic.”
In this cosy living space, the earthy green of Resene Log Cabin graces the walls, pairing beautifully with the natural timber tones on the ceiling.
Heading up the stairwell, the dark slate blue of Resene Dark Knight adorns the walls, pairing well with Resene Log Cabin.
For Sophie, it’s not about having a favourite colour, but about using colour fearlessly and thoughtfully. “Any colour can work if it’s paired well,” she says. “Monochrome is safe, but colour, done right, can be so joyful.”
That joy is evident throughout the home, where moody tones wrap each room in a sense of warmth and comfort. Sophie describes her own interior style as client-led, using their routines and aspirations to guide her designs. “I ask them what a typical weekday looks like, how they want their home to feel. My aim is for them to walk in and say, ‘Wow, this is so us.’”
Sophie’s own architectural journey took her from studying and working in Germany and Switzerland to registering professionally in New Zealand. Now, alongside her designer Caragh, she runs a small practice dedicated to crafting bespoke family homes. “We only take on a few projects at a time so we can really pour ourselves into each one,” she says. “I feel so lucky to do what I do – helping people bring their dream spaces to life.”
And for this family, at the foot of Maungarei, that dream is now a vivid, colour-drenched reality.
design Sophie Bishop, Sophie Bishop Architects
colour Kate Pilot, Kanat Studio
images Sophie Heyworth Photography
build Seventh View Residential Building Specialists
Top tip: When opting for a dark shade in your home, a matte or low sheen finish like Resene SpaceCote reduces glare and gives darker hues a velvety finish.
Published: 10 Apr 2025
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
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