Inside style
Make a splash
Vic Bibby and Dael Brady of Napier interior design studio Bibby + Brady explain the wonders of colour drenching.
WHAT WAS INVOLVED IN THIS FAMILY BATHROOM RENOVATION?
This bathroom has quite a small footprint but demanded a lot, with the bathroom needing a bath, shower, toilet and vanity, which would be used by the three children and any guests. Our challenge was to update the room while retaining the character of the old villa, and create a functional space that was also a treat to be in.
We chose to colour drench the room in Resene Double Duck Egg Blue. We used Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom paint on the walls, even wrapping it onto the ceiling, with Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss on the door and trims.
WHY COLOUR DRENCH?
By colour drenching the room, we blurred the lines between the walls, ceiling and 16 door, creating a seamless finish. This elongates the room, making it appear more spacious. It’s a bold statement that creates fun and a bit of drama, but the mix of muted green, grey and blue keeps the room calm and inviting.
Resene Double Duck Egg Blue was a perfect match with the vanity to continue the tonal effect, and we added hits of watermelon red and dusty pink for warmth. Choosing a mix of matt and semi-gloss paint finishes creates greater visual interest.
DO YOU USE COLOUR OFTEN?
Colour is so important to us in our design work. It has the ability to transform a space, to set the mood for a room, and depict its style and personality. Whatever mood you want to convey in a space you can do it with colour, whether that’s excitement and drama, a sense of welcome or calm... you can do all of that with paint.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE ON USING PAINT COLOURS?
Choose a colour that brings you joy and helps to set the mood you want to convey. If you’re unsure where to start, look to your wardrobe – what do you like to wear and are drawn to in a shop? Or you could pull a colour out of a piece of art or a rug that is in the room.
Look at the fixed colours in the space: flooring, curtains, furniture. If you can’t change the colour of the floor or the sofa, your walls should be harmonious with these items.
Lastly, once you’ve decided on your paint colour, or have narrowed it down to two or three, order some A4 drawdowns from your Resene shop and try them in your room. Something that looks great in your friend’s home might look completely different in yours. It all depends on the amount and the direction of natural light in the room, the height of the ceilings, and other items in the room. Look at the drawdown in the corner where there are more shadows as well as the centre of the room, and look at it at different times of the day to see how it changes with the light.
If you have a room that doesn’t get a lot of natural light, it may seem counterintuitive but painting it white can make the room look dull and flat. Our advice is to either embrace the darkness and choose a rich, deep tone like Resene Rebel, or choose a lighter shade with a hint of tone like Resene Del Rio.
WHAT’S NEW IN COLOUR TRENDS?
Although various tones of blue and green will often be staples in our designs, we’re absolutely loving warm colours right now. Soft creams and ivory, latté, warm caramels right through to deep chocolate and burgundy. You can’t help but feel cosy and cocooned.
Resene Eighth Blanc is a favourite warmwhite with a whisper of rose beige to it. Resene Bone is a soft browny pink, and Resene Avant Garde is a gorgeous deep burgundy.
Photography: Florence Charvin
