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Lounge colour drenched in Resene Blue Night with custom carpet by Lucy Marcyzk Design Studio.
Bathroom upper walls in Resene Sea Nymph, vanity in Kaitoke Green, hallway in Dust Storm. Powder room (right) in Sea Nymph with skylight in Kaitoke Green.
Weatherboards in Resene Palm Green, decorative ironwork, gutters, heritage windows and trims in Midnight Moss.
Reinterpreting the past
A historic Victorian villa has been reimagined with a devoted nod to its past. Soft pinks, deep greens and inky blues sit comfortably alongside stained glass, ornate arches and original period details.
Designed by Melbourne-based Weaver+Co Architects, the significant alterations and addition transform the double-fronted villa into a light-filled family home arranged around a series of gardens.
The project has also been named the Resene Residential Interior Tone-e Winner in the Resene Total Colour Awards 2026 for its excellent design and use of colour drenching. The judges celebrated the home’s design, noting it as “a refined yet expressive interior where the juxtaposition of old and new is seamlessly integrated through a skilful and highly considered use of colour.”
Living space walls in Resene Palm Green.
“A key aim of the project became delivering an alteration and addition that truly embraced both historical and contemporary elements, providing a dynamic balance to both,” says Martyn Weaver of Weaver+Co Architects.
“Rather than a simple old vs. new narrative, the goal was to establish a rich and interconnected environment through a shared palette of form, colour and pattern.”
Throughout the home, details from the original villa have been picked up and reimagined. The proportions of its arches and decorative patterns subtly reappear in the newer spaces, while bathroom tiles reference the original tessellated veranda tiles. Freestanding arched vanities also echo the architecture of the old house and sit comfortably alongside retained cornices and window architraves.
Entry and hallway painted in Resene Dust Storm.
“The owners’ enthusiasm for colour inspired a palette drawn from original stained glass details,” says Martyn. “Highlight windows and skylights introduce coloured light, reinforcing historical connections while bringing some verve and joy!”
That joy begins at the entrance, where the warm, muted pink of Resene Dust Storm wraps the walls and ceiling. The colour provides a gentle backdrop for the intricate stained glass and original villa detailing, before giving way to richer colour deeper within the house.
Bedroom walls and cabinetry in Resene Blue Night, ceiling in Biscay, skylight in Sail.
Lounge colour drenched in Resene Blue Night with custom carpet by Lucy Marcyzk Design Studio.
Some rooms are so embraced in deeply saturated hues, they become an almost immersive experience. The main bedroom walls and cabinetry are painted in Blue Night with Biscay on the ceiling and a skylight in Sail. And the lounge is drenched in the same Blue Night, creating a cocooning space where colour and soft furnishings seem to dissolve into one another.
The main ensuite pairs Dust Storm walls with a vanity in Kaitoke Green. The bathroom features Sea Nymph across its walls and ceiling, and the powder room follows suit complemented by a skylight in Kaitoke Green.
Ensuite vanity in Resene Kaitoke Green, walls in Dust Storm.
Bathroom upper walls in Resene Sea Nymph, vanity in Kaitoke Green, hallway in Dust Storm. Powder room (right) in Sea Nymph with skylight in Kaitoke Green.
In one of the heritage bedrooms, a quieter shade, Surrender, softens the walls and showcases the original fireplace, timber floors and architectural detailing.
Within the new living spaces, Palm Green sits alongside dark finishes and rich wood tones. A pitched timber ceiling brings warmth overhead and large openings connect the inside with the out.
“A dark, recessive kitchen anchors the interior, allowing surrounding spaces to focus on light, space and connections to gardens,” says Martyn.
“The reconfiguration transformed the previously dark and disconnected building into a home that celebrates space and light. The design responds to the owners' vibrant outlook, embedding colour and materiality to create an expressive environment for family living.”
Bedroom walls in Resene Surrender.
“As the homeowners often host extended family gatherings, having a large open plan living space with clear connections to outdoor space was a priority,” says Martyn. “With storage and hard-working zones out of sight, attention is drawn to social interaction and connection to landscape.”
The villa once belonged to a prominent local blacksmith who built a workshop on the property around the turn of the 20th century. Historical photographs of that simple structure inspired the exterior weatherboards, rhythm and form of the contemporary addition.
A setback gable roof responds to both the original villa and neighbouring rooflines, while a charred timber and aluminium brise soleil at the street-facing gable filters northern sunlight. Its repeating pattern provides a contemporary nod to the decorative veranda lacework and ornate front gate.
Weatherboards in Resene Palm Green.
Palm Green carries from the interior living spaces out to the weatherboards, front door and veranda roof, strengthening the connection between the house and garden. Midnight Moss on the decorative ironwork, gutters, downpipes, heritage windows and timber trims provides a complementary dark counterpoint.
Weatherboards in Resene Palm Green, decorative ironwork, gutters, heritage windows and trims in Midnight Moss.
Martyn notes that samples of every paint finish were tested onsite before application to ensure the colours and finishes worked within the changing light, resulting in SpaceCote Low Sheen for interior walls, SpaceCote Flat for ceilings, Lumbersider Low Sheen for external weatherboards and Enamacryl Gloss for metal trims, gutters and downpipes.
“The project's design language is deeply rooted in the original home and its context,” says Martyn. “Rather than simply restoring the past, it uncovers the aspirations of its time and reinterprets them for contemporary living.
“The result is not just a restoration or an addition but a new chapter that is inherently of its place, shaped by its context, and uniquely home for its occupants.”
design Weaver+Co Architects
furniture selection and custom carpets Lucy Marczyk Design Studio
build Format Group
images Tom Ross
Resene Pro Tip:
To protect interior timber walls, panels and ceilings, use a clear coat like Resene Aquaclear. To add subtle colour, use a Resene Colour Enhance shade, this can be put directly into your clear coat, and the colour and richness can be built up by using more layers if desired. For timber flooring, use Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K or 2K.
Published: 29 Sep 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Resene Kaitoke Green
Resene Midnight Moss
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
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Resene Kaitoke Green
Resene Midnight Moss
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
