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“The design in our living room is quite simplistic, white surfaces, restored floorboards, with new downlights and custom made curtains. But it’s a winning combination, transforming this space to something special.” Resene Elderflower is painted on the walls with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling, fireplace and trims.
Light floods into the living space. Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims complements Resene Elderflower on the walls and shelving.
The dining space is soft and inviting with natural wood features. Walls are painted in Resene Elderflower with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
“It is often said, because it is very true, kitchens are the heart of the home. It seems every time we have people over, the kitchen bench is the place they sit and chat at. Kitchens are important; they sell houses and make homes.” Walls painted in Resene Elderflower with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
The chic master bedroom, featuring Resene Wallpaper Collection HAN100361121. The dainty pink Japanese-inspired print is set off beautifully with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
Duck egg blue Resene Wallpaper Collection E395844 creates a soothing space in the guest bedroom. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Quarter Alabaster.
Sweet and dainty wallpaper in Resene Wallpaper Collection 220185 in the child’s room. The ceiling and trims are in Resene Quarter Alabaster.
Soft and subtle white Resene Wallpaper Collection 721263 in the second guest bedroom makes for a lovely relaxing space. Ceiling and trim in Resene Quarter Alabaster.
Resene Elderflower on the walls in the bathroom complements their groovy pink sink. Trims painted in Resene Alabaster.
Renovation masters Alice and Caleb at it again: A stunning Orewa home makeover
Returning to the site of their first ever home renovation was both surreal and sentimental for DIY experts Alice and Caleb. “This is the first home we renovated and we were complete rookies! To sum it up, we had a youthful confidence which is probably best described as pure ignorance.”
This time round the pair came prepared, having renovated ten houses together across the country (including the winning home on The Block NZ in 2013). Hues like Resene Elderflower and multiple patterns from the Resene Wallpaper Collection have once again transformed this coastal Auckland home.
When the Pearsons first bought the house in 2010, the home featured battered wallpaper walls, a bathroom that had been removed, smoke stains caked on the ceilings and some serious wear and tear. “Before starting we created a budget of $15,000 based on no previous knowledge and hoped we could stick to it. We worked on the house every weekend and free night over the next three months with a whole lot of help from friends and family. We were determined to learn and discovered a passion that has only grown since then,” says Alice.
With the desire to fund a property for the couple’s growing family, Alice and Caleb picked up their hammers and paintbrushes once again to re-do their original renovation, over a decade later.
The pair embraced wallpaper, decorating all four bedrooms with prints from the Resene Wallpaper Collection. Alice says she also found a favourite new hue while re-decorating. “I'm all about the Resene Elderflower on the walls. For me, it's an absolute winner. It was the perfect complementary colour for our porcelain blush kitchen and added an instant warmth to the house.”
The first guest bedroom features soft and subtle Resene Wallpaper Collection 721263. The second guest bedroom is stunning and evokes French-chic in the duck egg blue of Resene Wallpaper Collection E395844. Pillowcases in soft blush linens complement the light blue hue. The child’s bedroom is cute as a button in Resene Wallpaper Collection 220185, an adorable speckled black and white print.
In the master bedroom, the couple landed on Resene Wallpaper Collection HAN100361121. The dainty pink Japanese-inspired print is set off perfectly with a large cream fan splayed above the bed. Resene Quarter Alabaster on ceilings and trims in the bedrooms was the perfect colour to complement their wallpaper choices.
“The open kitchen, dining, and lounge is our favourite spot. Opening up the space created such a significant change to how the room is lived in and it feels open, airy and peaceful,” says Alice. Resene Elderflower is a warm, inviting hue that wraps around the space. Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceilings, fireplace and trims complements the colour perfectly.
“I wanted a natural colour palette that brought in different textures and patterns. I knew I wanted to add colour to the kitchen cabinetry and different wallpaper in each bedroom, I was trying to create a house that you'd remember long after you left it.”
Resene colours gave the outside of the home a refresh too, a fence bold in Resene Sambuca. “The high of this project was the sentimental feeling of returning to the first house we ever renovated together with years of experience and four kids in tow! It gave us a lot of time to reflect back on how much has changed and how much we've grown. Physically going back to your original story is a pretty surreal experience.”
The low was an unpredictable housing market. “We started this renovation midway through 2021 with an intention to renovate it to a high standard, so we could sell it and move on to the next chapter as a family.
“What we couldn't have predicted was how much the property market would change in the time we started our renovation to when we sold it. Selling in 2022 is a lot different selling in 2021! It was certainly a low.”
Despite this, the project has been incredibly rewarding for the family, who recently sold their home in June. “It was a long and somewhat challenging process, but we finally sold the house. We’ve moved into our next renovation project, which will be our family home,” says Alice.
Although they’re keeping the location a secret, what she could say was it will be their best and biggest renovation yet. Their latest South Island project was a gorgeous Nelson villa. Clever use of Resene paints (like Resene Green Meets Blue) and wallpapers from the Resene Wallpaper Collection kept the home’s heritage style while giving it a modern edge. See the story here.
Top tip: Keen on incorporating wallpaper in your home? Get down to your Resene ColorShop and see exactly what’s available and possible. Suspend any preconceived notions you may have about wallpaper as the latest technologies in digital printing and leading-edge designs have dramatically changed the wallpaper landscape in recent years with options to suit all tastes.
Go for what you love rather than what’s in fashion. A wallpaper that looks great in someone else’s home in an interiors magazine may not suit you or your home. New wallpapers are released regularly – see the website or your Resene ColorShop for even more options. If you need help choosing the right Resene wallpapers or colours for your home, book a free virtual or instore colour consultation, or you can book a home visit in selected areas, www.resene.com/colourconsultation.
Find Alice and Caleb’s design tips and follow their journey: www.pearsonandprojects.com
images Emily, Point and Shoot: www.pointandshoot.co.nz/
“The design in our living room is quite simplistic, white surfaces, restored floorboards, with new downlights and custom made curtains. But it’s a winning combination, transforming this space to something special.”Resene Elderflower is painted on the walls with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling, fireplace and trims.
Light floods into the living space.Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims complements Resene Elderflower on the walls and shelving.
The dining space is soft and inviting with natural wood features. Walls are painted in Resene Elderflower with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
“It is often said, because it is very true, kitchens are the heart of the home. It seems every time we have people over, the kitchen bench is the place they sit and chat at. Kitchens are important; they sell houses and make homes.” Walls painted inResene Elderflower with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
The chic master bedroom, featuring Resene Wallpaper Collection HAN100361121. The dainty pink Japanese-inspired print is set off beautifully with Resene Quarter Alabaster on the ceiling and trims.
Duck egg blue Resene Wallpaper Collection E395844 creates a soothing space in the guest bedroom. The ceiling and trims are painted in Resene Quarter Alabaster.
Sweet and dainty wallpaper in Resene Wallpaper Collection 220185 in the child’s room. The ceiling and trims are in Resene Quarter Alabaster.
Soft and subtle white Resene Wallpaper Collection 721263 in the second guest bedroom makes for a lovely relaxing space. Ceiling and trim in Resene Quarter Alabaster.
Resene Elderflower on the walls in the bathroom complements their groovy pink sink. Trims painted in Resene Alabaster.
The fence has been freshened up with Resene Sambuca.
Published: 22 Aug 2022
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing editor@habitatbyresene.co.nz.
Resene Quarter Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
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colour to use or need colour
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Ask a Colour Expert service.
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Resene Quarter Alabaster
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the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
