Reading ready: RESENE

For the past two years, shapes, motifs, colours and finishes reminiscent of the Art Deco era have been all the rage. Here’s how to bring in a touch of Art Deco to your home.

This pared down space features a strong base with Resene Half Alabaster walls and Resene Rakaia floors, which are ripe for layering in character, creativity and colour, while the Pause Voile curtains in Blonde from the Resene Curtain Collection bring a touch of softness and warmth. The furniture includes a simple, classic armchair, a cream-coloured rug and an interesting yet neutral angular timber floor lamp.

From here, it’s easy to layer on any trend you desire through cushions, decorative accessories and, of course, accent paint colours.

The first Art Deco-inspired DIY project, an arched corner divider, helps to physically set this cosy reading corner apart from the greater living area and minimise visual distractions. You can build this using two sheets of 1200mm x 600mm pre-cut MDF.

Trace an identical curve onto each and cut with a jig saw. Screw the edges of the two panels together so that they stand at a right angle, fill the holes with wood filler, then sand them down and remove any roughness from the cut edges. Wipe all surfaces with a clean, dry rag to remove any dust then coat with Resene

Quick Dry primer using a small smooth surface foam roller.

Once dry, paint the entire screen in two coats of Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel tinted to Resene Half Alabaster so that it blends in with the walls. Measure and mask sixteen vertical stripes so that eight are centred on each screen. To add an extra bit of flair, don’t carry the stripes all the way to the top or bottom of the screen. Trace a large platter lightly on the bottom left and top right sections with a pencil, mask along where the curve and stripes meet, then paint the stripes in Resene Pattens Blue.

Create the second side table project using a 50cm diameter pre-cut MDF circle and six 32mm x 1.8m wood dowels cut into thirds (60cm long). Use a wide cardboard mailing tube to create the base, using strong quick dry adhesive to affix the doweling to one another around the tube and then to the base of the circle.
Wipe all surfaces with a clean, dry rag to remove any dust then coat with Resene Quick Dry primer. Apply two topcoats of Resene Lustacryl, allowing the first to dry before adding a second.

Project by Melle van Sambeek Images by Bryce Carleton

PAINT
Wall in Resene Half Alabaster. Floor in Resene Rakaia. Arch screen in Resene Half Alabaster with stripes in Resene Pattens Blue. Short side table in Resene Ship Cove. Tall side table in Resene Code Red. Vase in Resene Pale Rose.

PROPS
Runner rug from Kmart, lamps from Lighting Plus, artwork by Brenda Clews, basket, circle vase, throw and shell cushion from H&M Home, curtain from Resene Curtain Collection, shoes from Seed, candle from Flo & Frankie, sunglasses from Rubi, olive chair from Contempa, cushion from Adairs, tiny ceramic vase from Formantics, tall thin glass vase from Good Thing.

Get inspired at your local Resene ColorShop, www.resene.co.nz/colorshops.