All about blue
BLUE – THE COLOUR OF SKY AND SEA – IS A NATURAL CHOICE FOR THIS KITCHEN
THE NURSERY SONG “Sing a Rainbow” has it wrong; there are far more colours to choose from than seven, which can make it a bit daunting when painting important rooms such as kitchens. The kitchen is for more than just cooking. It’s where families come together, a place for talking, laughing and sharing the day’s stories, which makes blue – the colour of calm – a welcoming choice.
SHADES OF NATURE
“The saying goes, ‘Blue and green should never be seen’,” laughs kitchen designer Hannah Hebson of Nelson’s Cooper Webley Joinery. “But that’s completely flipped on its head when you see this beautiful room,” she says.
Despite that saying, Resene Bismark and Resene Rainee work together beautifully in this Tasman kitchen.
Hannah says she chose Resene Rainee for the kitchen island to bring a freshness to the open-plan space while also complementing the home’s countryside surroundings. The walls are Resene Bianca and the ceiling is Resene Alabaster.
“The clients – a couple with boys in their early teens – wanted a country kitchen that was fun and colourful. It needed to make a statement among the white walls that were used throughout the house. But from the start, they were torn between having a blue and green kitchen.
At first, she says, she was stumped, but she knew she was onto a winner when she found the colours Resene Bismark and Resene Rainee. “The teal blue of Resene Bismark and the mint green of Resene Rainee tied together perfectly and, when teamed with the timber benchtop and patterned tile, created the exact look they were after.”
The new-build home, in Nelson’s Redwood Valley, has glorious views of forests and farmland. Hannah says that part of her brief was to allow enough space around the work zones so that her clients could ‘spread out’ when prepping, cooking and cleaning. In the original architectural plans, the hob, oven and tall storage were combined on one small wall, which wouldn’t have given them the space they required. So, she repositioned the hob under the window and specified a deep bulkhead for the ducting.
She says the selection of a white stone benchtop and a wooden countertop to ‘break’ the cool blue hues makes the room welcoming. “These materials and the two colour choices, paired with Resene Bianca walls make the space successful. The large window, which bathes the kitchen in natural light, works well with the colours.”
For more colour ideas and inspiration, visit your local Resene Colorshop, resene.co.nz/colorshops, or view the Resene decorating inspiration gallery online, resene.co.nz/inspirationgallery.