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Kitchen island, rangehood and cabinetry in Resene Jet Stream, tall cabinetry in Villa White and ceiling in White.
Living room walls in Resene Sea Fog, trims and ceiling in White and kitchen cabinetry and island in Jet Stream.
Kitchen island, rangehood and cabinetry in Resene Jet Stream, tall cabinetry in Villa White and ceiling in White.
Kitchen cabinetry and rangehood painted in Resene Jet Stream, tall cabinetry in Villa White and ceiling in White.
Laundry cabinets painted in Resene Stromboli with Resene Pip Studio Wallpaper Collection 341040_1 on walls and White on trims and doors.
Entryway features Resene Pip Studio Wallpaper Collection 341040_1 with Resene Stromboli on panelling and White on trims and doors.
Colour, character and country calm
Just outside Cambridge, Amy and her family – husband Vern and children Carlos, Lizzie and Will – have transformed a once-rundown villa into a warm, personality-filled home, guided largely by their love of colour and a thoughtful Resene palette.
“When we bought the villa in 2020, it was in a very run-down state,” Amy says. “The owner of the farm had decided to subdivide it off, and we saw it as a great opportunity to be on the outskirts of Cambridge with an acre of land on a very quiet country road. We were a bit unsure at first because of the amount of work it needed but then just thought, “why not?”.
As the existing lounge was very dark, they decided to extend the space to create a new kitchen and living area that now forms the centre of the home. “The kitchen and living space that we added on is our favourite,” she says. “We just live in that area and it’s awesome for entertaining. It’s so sunny, comfortable and has lots of space for us all to hang out as a family without being on top of each other.”
Living room walls in Resene Sea Fog, trims and ceiling in White and kitchen cabinetry and island in Jet Stream.
Living room painted in Resene Sea Fog with trims and ceiling in White.
A calm, cohesive palette runs throughout the house, with Resene Sea Fog used extensively on the walls. This soft neutral allows other colours and wallpapers to shine without overwhelming the spaces.
“We have used Sea Fog throughout our house as the base as it’s a lovely, soft off-white that goes with everything and is very calming. I love lots of colour, and different wallpapers, so the house has lots of personality. We have a lot of white throughout, which keeps it cohesive but then I try to make every room have its own personality and feeling.”
Bathroom painted in Resene Sea Fog with ceiling, trims and doors in Resene White.
Details are kept crisp and defined with Resene White in a semi-gloss finish on skirtings, architraves and doors. “I like the contrast against the other colours and it makes all of those details stand out,” Amy says.
In the main living spaces the ceiling is painted in Resene Zylone Sheen White. This is a great, easy-to-clean option and, for Amy, it comes in handy during the summer months when the dairy farm next door brings in a lot of flies. In wet areas, the same tones are carried through using the Resene Kitchen & Bathroom range for its durability and added anti-bacterial silver protection and MoulDefender.
Kitchen island, rangehood and cabinetry in Resene Jet Stream, tall cabinetry in Villa White and ceiling in White.
Kitchen cabinetry and rangehood painted in Resene Jet Stream, tall cabinetry in Villa White and ceiling in White.
The kitchen is a gorgeous sight, with cabinetry painted in Resene Villa White and Jet Stream, creating a soft, classic look that sits comfortably within the villa setting. The kitchen itself is a mix of clever sourcing and custom work with units bought off Facebook marketplace and repainted, and a custom rangehood, inspired by an English design, adding a sense of age and authenticity. “It really finishes off the space and suits the age of the house so well,” says Amy.
Laundry cabinets painted in Resene Stromboli with Resene Pip Studio Wallpaper Collection 341040_1 on walls and White on trims and doors.
Entryway features Resene Pip Studio Wallpaper Collection 341040_1 with Resene Stromboli on panelling and White on trims and doors.
In the laundry, Resene Stromboli brings depth to the cabinetry, paired with playful Resene wallpaper. “I painted our kit set kaboodle cabinets in Stromboli semi-gloss and wallpapered the rest of the walls in Resene Pip Studio Wallpaper Collection 341040_1. I wanted this space to be fun and cheerful as it also doubles as the back door entry into our home.” The powder room continues that sense of personality with the bold Resene Museum Wallpaper Collection E307304 where the blush pink colour pairs beautifully with the Caroma sink.
Bathroom features Resene Museum Wallpaper Collection E307304 with trims in Resene White.
Amy’s approach to interiors is instinctive, drawing on inspiration while keeping the home connected to its roots. “I read a lot of interior magazines and get ideas from Pinterest. I wanted the house to be sympathetic to the era it was built but to also feel modern and fresh.” She describes her style as eclectic, a bit vintage, timeless and a little maximalist at times. A mix that feels layered and lived in rather than overly styled.
The renovation itself came with its challenges, especially completing a large addition during Covid with three young children and a budget to uphold. Looking back, with her youngest now four, the effort was worth it. “Our house is so nice to live in and we barely remember how hard it was, a bit like childbirth.”
With more work still to come outside, the home continues to evolve, but inside it already feels complete. Soft neutrals, layered colour and carefully chosen finishes have created a house that feels calm, characterful and unmistakably their own.
colour selection and images Amy (homeowner)
build Asset Building and Renovations
design Turner Road Architecture
Top tip: If you’re wanting to create a cohesive look with paints and wallpapers, choose your wallpaper design first. There are thousands of Resene paint colours to choose from and it will be a lot easier to pick these last to match to your wallpaper design. Head to your local Resene ColorShop to pick out a wallpaper and paint pairings, or, check out Resene’s wallpaper range online and use the Resene ColourMatch Online tool to upload a picture of the wallpaper and pick colours from within it to use throughout the room.
Top tip: If you want to discourage flies and other insects from settling on your paintwork, an issue for ceilings in particular, ask for Resene Fly deterrent to be added to your paint.
Published: 05 Mar 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
