This week we saw the fourth house reveal of the season on House Rules NZ, with four teams competing to create a luxurious family home based on the five simple rules left by the homeowners, Nikita and Sherwen.
The teams took Nikita and Sherwen's tired brick and tile home and turned it into a luxurious hotel-themed house. The brief was to style their home like a five-star hotel, and upgrade their bedroom to feel like a luxurious hotel suite. In the lounge, think family movie nights and parents only date nights, give them fifty shades of monochromatic, and let there be light in the dark and dreary spaces of their home.
Newshub spoke to the experts at Resene, Curtain Studio, and Target Furniture to find out how to bring this week's style trends into our own homes.
Use key pieces of furniture to achieve luxury living at home
When it comes to creating a luxurious living environment in your home, several key pieces of furniture should be at the top of your list.
Todd Hanlon, Product Manager at Target Furniture, says the lounge suite takes centre stage. "This is the space where relaxation and entertainment take place" he says, "underscoring the importance of investing in a premium sofa or sectional. Opt for one that not only fits the space but also one that is comfortable for both you and your guests."
Another pivotal location is the dining area. The dining table assumes the central role in hosting meals and gatherings, which is why its size and shape are paramount. "Round tables create an intimate atmosphere that fosters engaging conversations, while rectangular ones offer ample space for larger gatherings," says Hanlon. A round table was the focal point of the bonus dining room in this week’s episode, which was approved by the homeowners.
Consider padded chairs when making your seating choices, as they can provide lasting comfort well after the meal has ended. Alternatively, incorporating bench seating, as seen in previous home reveals, can accommodate more guests around the table and create a welcoming space for children to sit, ensuring everyone feels at ease during dining experiences.
Hanlon points out it's worth noting that luxury living is a personal and subjective concept. "Your unique lifestyle, preferences, and budget should guide your choices. Don't hesitate to mix and match high-end furniture with more budget-friendly options to strike the perfect balance. Ultimately, luxury living is about creating a space that mirrors your individual style while delivering exceptional comfort and enjoyment for both you and your guests."
Make sure you choose a dining table that aligns with your dining habits. If you typically host four people, opt for a table that comfortably seats six or more. This extra space not only adds an air of opulence but also accommodates unexpected guests, making your dining experiences more inviting and versatile.
You can select a dining room set that not only exudes luxury but also suits your practical needs and personal style, creating an elegant and inviting space for memorable dining moments.
Define an area with a bold wallpaper
The dining area in Nikita and Sherwen’s home was treated with a Resene geometric metallic wallpaper (Resene Wallpaper Collection SH34549) that could easily be imagined in a luxury hotel, giving strong definition to the dining nook.
Karen Warman, Resene Marketing Manager, says the first thing you need to consider is whether you are using a wallpaper to kickstart a scheme, or whether you need it to fit in with existing elements. What feel are you going for? Do you want to make the room feel expansive, do you want to add warmth, cosiness, drama or whimsy? The answers to these questions will help inform your wallpaper decisions.
A simple rule to bear in mind is that small patterns make a room look larger, while large patterns make a space feel smaller and more intimate. Soft pastel colours can bring a peaceful ambience to a space, while warm colours and busy patterns add character and vibrancy.
"If you're unsure about papering a whole wall, wallpaper is also good for smaller areas, like behind a glass splashback, on the front of a chest of drawers, at the back of shelves or on a chimney breast," Warman says.
Small rooms such as bathrooms and laundries are often too small to dress up with decorations, and a fun Resene wallpaper can be the simple answer for these. "The trick is not to go for anything too busy so as not to overwhelm the room, and to avoid darker shades that could make the space feel even smaller than it is," says Warman.
Warman recommends introducing a complementary colour with your Resene paint If you're opting for a strong impact wallpaper. In Nikita and Sherwen's home their rule of "50 shades of monochromatic" meant the dining room wallpaper and the kitchen, as well as the dining chairs, all had black.
Warman advises you to "remember the rule of three. Use the same colour in three places in the room to help it below – so if there is an accent colour in your Resene wallpaper, use it to paint a piece of furniture and add an accessory or cushion to match."
Use fabrics with soft textures for beautifully draped curtains
In Nikita and Sherwen's upscale bedroom renovation, sheer curtains allowed soft light through the windows while still providing privacy. Corinna Biddle, CurtainStudio Merchandise Manager, recommends a slight puddling for sheer fabrics for a floor finish.
"To attain a luxurious appearance, opt for a double or triple pleat or new wave style. A trick to create a more high-end feel is elevating curtain tracks to their highest point. This creates an illusion of greater height and space within the room," Biddle says. This style of finish in Martinique and Andres living room is a great example of what it can look like.
CurtainStudio has a wide variety of pleat styles so you can select the one that perfectly complements your chosen fabric. Biddle recommends considering fabrics with a soft texture that drape beautifully. "Our Haven sheer fabric serves as an excellent illustration, ideal for those in pursuit of a premium finish," she says.
In other rooms in Nikita and Sherwen's house the teams opted for a mixture of roller and roman blinds, which remain a sought-after choice, particularly for their compact appearance, making them a favored option in modern construction, especially where double glazing provides insulation benefits.
Monochromatic doesn't have to mean plain
The directive to "give us fifty shades of monochromatic" caused the teams some confusion for a while, however monochromatic doesn't have to mean plain. "You can still bring in textures and keep the palette simple," says Warman. "Look to Resene wallpaper designs like classic stripes, or subtly textured finishes."
Black and white were used throughout the main living areas of the home, with softer colours used in the children’s bedrooms in this week's home.
Wallpaper can help to overcome existing problems such as low light levels and less-than-perfect walls. The thickness of the paper and the visual effect of the pattern help cover the bad bits. In a hallway or dark room, choose a wallpaper that has a sheen or metallic aspect, so it will reflect light around the space. Steer away from heavily textured wallpapers in confined areas as these will appear darker and close the space in.
Even if you want to use the same colour everywhere, you can still add visual interest with texture and sheen. If your wallpaper has a low sheen textured finish, combine it with Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss on trims. The higher sheen paint finish will help frame your wallpaper design.
Consider introducing layers of related colours with a tone-on-tone palette, such as in baby Jayden’s room. "Start with your Resene wallpaper, then introduce lighter and darker colour variants for the floor, ceiling and furnishings," Warman says. "This will help keep your palette coordinated."
White and off white Resene wallpapers are best in low wear and tear areas. In higher wear and tear areas, such as children's rooms, opt for something with a little more colour or pattern to help hide the inevitable marks.
Your accessories matter too – think furniture, rugs, cushions, vases, frames and artwork. "If you can't find things in the right colour, you can pick a colour out of your wallpaper or choose a complementary colour and use it to paint furniture, vases and frames with Resene paints to bring them into your colour palette," says Warman.
Article created in partnership with Resene, Curtain Studio and Target Furniture
