Making a statement with interior colour

Interior designer Joanne Patterson says she felt like a kid in a lolly shop when she got to turn her hand to her own home. 

Employing design principles and techniques she had mastered in other people's spaces, she ensured her own abode provided the utmost comfort for her family without compromising on style or energy efficiency. Working with a new house interior allowed Joanne to incorporate many efficient elements that older homes could not easily accommodate.

Insulation in the walls and ceiling were essential energy-saving components, as was correct orientation of the rooms in relation to the sun.

A rainwater tank makes use of nature's gifts and correct window sizing and double glazing maintain more consistent temperatures throughout the year.

The colour scheme for the interior has been carefully selected to provide consistency throughout the home, while making the most of each individual space. Warm timber hues (in the floorboards, furniture and some cabinetry) and crisp black and white are the dominant themes.

The simplicity of the design is very much Asian-inspired in character, and Joanne has emphasised this by including some elegant shoji paper-screen sliding doors in the living area, which allow light to flood into the room.

Indeed, making the most of natural light was one of Joanne's main challenges. “We’ve included lots of windows, as well as a four-panel bi-fold door to the deck," she says. "This allows light to stream into the family, dining and kitchen areas."

The open-plan kitchen and dining area is a simple, light-filled space that cleverly combines the whites, neutrals and timber tones that can be found throughout the house.

"The main wall of the kitchen joinery is all white, to reflect the light coming in through the bi-fold doors, while the serving bench joinery is in a warm mushroom with a chocolate-black feature drawer stack," explains Joanne.

Even the laundry room ties in with the home's themes of earthy colours and energy efficiency. Joanne has tidily slotted a white front-loader alongside dark brown laundry cabinets, while, in a stroke of energy-saving genius, she has included a purpose-built drying cabinet.

"The laundry is an area of the house that I specifically designed not to look like a traditional laundry," explains Joanne. "As the main thoroughfare from the garage, I wanted it to be welcoming and have a contemporary feel."

Contact an interior designer to find out how you can increase the visual and energy appeal of your home: