Habitat plus - variety on the menu

A great kitchen needs to fulfil a multitude of purposes.

First and foremost it’s a place to cook, but it’s also a space to gather, talk and eat – and in this case it spills over neatly into a warm and welcoming open-plan living room. This particular space is large enough to entertain a variety of colours.

Did you know: That you need special paints for use in kitchens? Resene recommends Resene Kitchen & Bathroom paints or for bolder colours use waterborne enamels, such as Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene Lustacryl. Use Resene Imperite for painted splashbacks.

1.Using a quiet tonal scheme of warm neutrals, the back wall in this scheme is the earthy, shingle tones of Resene Rakaia. On the kitchen units and cabinetry Resene Half Rakaia is comfortable alongside Resene White Pointer on the remaining walls. This neutral off-white is imbued with a hint of black and helps marry all the other colours together seamlessly. The popular Resene Half Alabaster, a very slightly blackened white, provides an understated note for this ceiling.

2.This scheme is a wonderful combo of edgy industrial good looks and fresh natural touches. It starts with Resene Aluminium from the Resene Metallics and Special Effects range on the back wall, teamed with the splendid spicy yellow green of Resene Pacifika on the kitchen cabinets and island base. Resene Merino in its incandescent glory is a wonderful choice for the ceiling in almost any local home, given the abundance of sunshine we enjoy. The remaining walls feature the quiet and genteel tones of Resene Eighth Masala.

3.We’ve got the blues here – but they’re the happy kind, as Resene Comfort Zone brings the walls in this kitchen alive with its shimmering, watery qualities. Keeping in the same colour palette, Resene Kashmir Blue neatly grounds the cabinets. In a modern take of the classic blue-and-yellow scheme, the desert ochre yellow of Resene Apache brightens the walls and the lemony hints of Resene Villa White grace the ceiling.

4.A smart and sassy scheme that uses a striking combo of black and red takes its lead from the vibrant sofas. Resene Whizz Bang, a firecracker red, on the rear wall and splashback, is tempered by the burnt deep charcoal of Resene Ebony Clay on the kitchen cabinets. Such a contrasting scheme needs little more than a cool Resene Half Sea Fog for the remaining walls and ceiling.