Colour has the power to transform an interior – just think of the difference between a room painted in a dark shade versus a light colour.

For this project, Wellington architect Richard Middleton of Novak & Middleton Architects specified a dark charcoal colour – Resene Baltic Sea – for two key walls in the family living area. Middleton says the colour provides a dramatic backdrop for the owners’ artworks.

“The dark elements wrap around the room, helping to enclose the space and creating a sense of intimacy,” he says. “The colour of the walls also balances the light coming in from the fully glazed walls to the north.”

Resene Zylone Sheen was the paint type chosen for the interior. This low-odour waterborne enamel is an Environmental Choice-approved paint that provides a durable, washable finish. Its slight sheen helps minimise surface imperfections, which makes it well suited to older as well as new homes.

Resene Zylone Sheen is also available in a VOC-free version, which improves the indoor air quality and helps prevent headaches, asthma, nausea, respiratory complaints and allergic reactions.

Two walls in this house, designed by architect Richard Middleton, are painted in Resene Baltic Sea – a dark charcoal shade that was chosen to balance the extensive glazing in the living area.