Designed to provide good working light from all sides, with a high ceiling and exposed beams it can take several fully extended easels. It was purpose designed to echo the Arts & Crafts period, in sympathy with the old 1918 Chapman-Taylor cottage alongside. The black and white exterior is in keeping with that period. Dark colours however can be difficult in the hot Hawkes Bay sun, thank goodness for the invention of Resene CoolColour™!

The exterior is finished in Resene Lumbersider CoolColour tinted to Resene Bokara Grey complemented by Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel and Resene Lumbersider White.

The interior colours were selected to be light, airy and reflect the golden light of Hawkes Bay, as well as to provide a neutral background for artworks and paintings. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen tinted to Resene Spanish White is used on walls and Resene Half Spanish White on ceilings, with white trim and joinery. Resene Colorwood Walnut wood stain is used on exposed beams. A half strength mix of Resene Colorwood Walnut and Resene Colorwood Teak has been used on the handpainted floor. The hand painted floor, an experiment, picks up the colour used on the exposed beams, and is proving both practical and easycare.