Design News

The second Resene Small Room Awards 2023 finalist paints a mural of native flora and fauna

A Nelson nursery uses paint and native trees to welcome a new member of the family

Before the birth of her grandson, Jeana Freeman was asked by her daughter Brittany to paint “a little something to brighten up a wall” in what was to be the new baby’s bedroom. “As our family all love the native flora and fauna of Aotearoa, it was a no-brainer I would do something to represent our unique environment,” Jeana says. “They told me it was important to put nīkau trees in it. At the time it seemed odd to me that they were so insistent.”

Jeana’s granddaughter Molly and son-in-law Ash helped to prep the wall using Resene Acrylic Undercoat. Despite feeling intimidated by the large scale of the project, Jeana got to work.
“I used Resene testpots, which I found flowed and blended beautifully,” she says. Her favourite colours were Resene Saratoga, Resene Rainforest, Resene Saddle Brown, Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Kakaramea and Resene Sushi. The result was a mural that could be ripped from a page of a children’s book.

One month later, Niko was born. “Suddenly it made sense why they wanted nīkau trees in the mural,” Jeana says. “What a transformation of an otherwise very plain room.”

More Resene colours to try (from left to right): Resene Half Spanish White, Resene Good To Go, Resene Comfortably Numb

If you would like to enter your home in the 2023 Resene Small Room Awards:

Email photos and a 200-word or more description of your space to yhg@aremedia.co.nz with your last name and ‘Resene Small Room’ in the subject line. Please include your name, home address, email address, daytime phone number, the names of the Resene colours used, and details of when your space was painted and/or wallpapered. Please credit anyone who assisted you in choosing your colours.
The five finalists will each appear in Your Home and Garden. Every finalist will receive a $250 Resene voucher and a feature in the magazine, with the winner taking out the Resene Small Room Awards and $1000 cash, plus a story on the winning home will feature in the February 2024 issue.

Create the home of your dreams with Shop Your Home and Garden

SHOP NOW

FEATURED