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Casey and Luke wanted a modern feel to their home, while still retaining the character of the 1930s stucco bungalow. They chose Resene Athens Grey for the main living areas, with the ceiling and trims painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
Character details such as the brick fireplace stand out against walls in Resene Athens Grey. The ceiling and trims are in Resene Half Alabaster.
The kitchen was renovated completely to make it a much more effective space for the homeowners. The walls are painted in Resene Athens Grey, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
With the help of a designer, Casey found ways to add maximum bench space and storage to the kitchen. The walls are painted in Resene Athens Grey, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The bedroom ceilings are Casey’s favourite feature of the house, with their ornate detail. The walls are painted in Resene Silver Chalice, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
Resene Silver Chalice was recommended as a warm neutral for the bedrooms to fit into Casey’s colour scheme. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The dining room boasts a beautiful outlook. The walls are painted in Resene Athens Grey, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The exterior of the bungalow was already painted when the Muraahis moved in, but you can get the look using Resene Half Orchid White for the exterior and trims in Resene Half Alabaster.
Luke and Casey's character bungalow goes grey and gorgeous
When Casey and Luke Muraahi first moved into their 1930s stucco bungalow, Casey imagined repainting the interior in lots of bright colours.
Instead, they went the opposite route, painting the walls in warm Resene greys with stark Resene Half Alabaster on the trims to bring out the character detail.
So why the change of mind? Casey tells us more.
What Resene colours and products have you used, and what inspired those choices?
Originally I thought I wanted a whole lot of bright colours, particularly for the children’s rooms. But the more I thought about this the more I thought that I should really try and retain as much of the home’s classic look as possible.
I ended up speaking with a Resene colour consultant in Newmarket, Auckland, where I showed her pictures of the house and discussed my ideas. She recommended Resene Athens Grey, which was used in the kitchen and living areas, and Resene Silver Chalice for the bedrooms. We used Resene Half Alabaster for the trimmings and Resene Alabaster for the bathroom.
These colours were recommended as warm colours, and they certainly worked to create an overall warmth to our home.
How did you decide on the overall look of the interiors?
I wanted to run with a black, grey and white theme throughout the home. I wanted it to have a modern feel however retain the classic 1930s look. This involved looking through various books, pictures, shops to find just the right pieces for the home.
Finding original rimu floorboards under the worn and tired carpet was a no brainer, and having these polished was one of the first things that was done when renovating the home. I was really pleased with how these came out.
What part of the house are you happiest with?
I was originally concerned about painting the bedroom ceilings given all of the character detail, however the painter we used ensured the ceiling retained this detail. The bedroom ceilings are my favourite feature of the house.
Being an avid entertainer it was important to me that I created a child friendly entertainment space outside. The fence and deck were built to create a low maintenance play area, while also having a great space for barbecues and entertaining.
What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar look?
I think the colours used in our home would fit well in any type of house and having a black, grey and white theme allows you to add splashes of colour with your accessories and art. There are many different types of greys available, so getting advice from a Resene colour consultant definitely helps when choosing the best shades for your home. This is a free service so it always helps to get another opinion.
What was the biggest challenge for this project?
Most definitely the kitchen. It was quite an unusual shape, but having a love for cooking and being a major foodie, it was one of the most important spaces in the house. I wanted to make the most of as much bench space and storage as possible.
A good friend from Brooks Build helped to design the kitchen to ensure it met all of my requirements. The sloped roof and the black glass splashback add to the overall effectiveness of this space.
Do you have a favourite colour, and if so why is it your favourite?
Resene Athens Grey is a great shade that makes smaller rooms look bigger. I often get comments and compliments on this colour and it fits the house well. I would definitely use this colour again in future homes.
This home is currently for sale. For open home times and more details, click here.
Published: 01 Mar 2018
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Casey and Luke wanted a modern feel to their home, while still retaining the character of the 1930s stucco bungalow. They chose Resene Athens Grey for the main living areas, with the ceiling and trims painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
Character details such as the brick fireplace stand out against walls in Resene Athens Grey. The ceiling and trims are in Resene Half Alabaster.
The kitchen was renovated completely to make it a much more effective space for the homeowners. The walls are painted in Resene Athens Grey, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
With the help of a designer, Casey found ways to add maximum bench space and storage to the kitchen. The walls are painted in Resene Athens Grey, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The bedroom ceilings are Casey’s favourite feature of the house, with their ornate detail. The walls are painted in Resene Silver Chalice, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
Resene Silver Chalice was recommended as a warm neutral for the bedrooms to fit into Casey’s colour scheme. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The tongue and groove walls in the bathroom are painted in Resene Alabaster.
The dining room boasts a beautiful outlook. The walls are painted in Resene Athens Grey, and the ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Half Alabaster.
The exterior of the bungalow was already painted when the Muraahis moved in, but you can get the look using Resene Half Orchid White for the exterior and trims in Resene Half Alabaster.
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
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Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
