The typical bathroom design brief given to an architect or designer includes a list of essential items, such as tapware, basins and lighting – and a safe colour scheme of crisp white.

But the owner of this home didn’t want the ordinary – especially not a safe, bland colour palette. When renovating her 1970s townhouse, her brief to architect Lloyd Macomber of Salmond Reed Architects included three words that were to determine the entire look of the bathrooms – Chinese lacquer box.

To enhance this look, the ceiling of the powder room is painted in Resene Red Berry, and the walls are Resene Sambuca, a deep chocolate brown. The focal point of the master bathroom is an antique French pine table, which is teamed with a ceiling and walls in Resene Triple Mondo. The tiles were chosen to match the walls.

Karen Warman, Resene marketing manager says if you’re planning a light coloured finish, the company recommends Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom, a waterborne paint formulated with anti-bacterial silver and MoulDefender.