Retro oranges, reds and a pop of purple give this setting a cool mid-century Californian appeal. Add a plush carpet and some house plants, and you're truly in the groove. The two-tone wall is a simple yet stylish device. You can use any colours but we chose to cool down the heat of the Resene Red Berry by matching it with the aromatic taupe brown of Resene Coffee Break.

A second-hand sideboard has been given a facelift with hardwearing Resene Enamacryl, tinted to Resene Conundrum, a mysterious violet-red, while the pots are in various rich reds – Resene Red Letter, Resene Red Hot and Resene Madam M. Create fun artworks by using a 'natural' stencil, in this case a large fruit salad plant leaf. These use Resene Red Letter and Resene Madam M on a background of Resene Half Tea.

Nature's artworks

For a unique and easy artwork, simply wander around the garden, and cut a few interesting shaped leaves. These fruit salad plant leaves make a perfect stencil; just lightly fix them with sticky putty to a canvas prepared with a neutral colour (we used Resene Half Tea), then use a small roller fitted with a sponge sleeve to add the topcoat of paint (we used Resene Red Letter and Resene Madam M).

Lounge lizard: Hug chair, from Danske Mobler (www.danske.co.nz). Verona 70 100% wool carpet in Tiffany Rose, from Sallee (www.sallee.co.nz). Miami zigzag cushion, POA, from Mulberi (www.mulberi.co.nz). St Albans Tangerine wood throw, from Allium Interiors (www.alliuminteriors.co.nz).