This Ōtautahi apartment bursts with life, thanks to the vivid hues imagined by the late colourist Peta Tearle. Layered with Sue McGregor’s collection of design pieces, it turns a simple space into a lively and inviting home.
As medium-density housing fills in the gaps in our urban centres here in Aotearoa, there’s far too much drab going on for our liking! That’s not what you’ll find at Sue McGregor’s place, though. She’s punched up the personality of her apartment with
some seriously saturated hues.
Located within the four avenues of Ōtautahi/Christchurch, the apartment was designed by architect Tobin Smith, director at Common, with an open-plan living area downstairs and two bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs. “It had good bones,” says Sue. “But it had been fitted out by a developer for the rental market, so the interior was fairly basic and painted in a very cold white with grey carpet throughout. I felt chilly when I entered!”
No stranger to small-space living, Sue saw potential in the size, location and freehold title. She had also completed enough renovations to know who to call on to rework the interior to fit her vision for the place.
“I engaged my friend Peta Tearle who was a fabulous colourist and interior designer,” says Sue. Sadly, Peta passed away soon after the project was complete and was posthumously awarded the Resene Total Colour Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023.
The transformation began with practical updates. Sue insulated and lined the exposed concrete block dividing wall, recarpeted throughout, and added underfloor heating in the bathrooms, which were tiled and then finished with new cabinetry, as was the kitchen.
Then Peta’s expertise came to the fore with a palette that seamlessly saturated each room to imbue it with its own unique mood, with colour-drenching delineating the dining, cooking and lounging zones.
Sue and her dog Barnie, along with her partner Paul Robertson and his dog Nitro, enjoy this city bolt-hole as much as they enjoy time at their other home, Kumiko’s Guest House and Russell’s Cabins in Ōmihi, North Canterbury.
Guided by the sun, Peta chose calming blues for the sitting area on the eastern side of the apartment, a favourite spot for morning coffee. On the western side, the house opens to a courtyard, where sun-drenched afternoons exaggerate the vibrant ochre splashed across the walls, furnishings and decorative accents that Sue has collected over the years.
“I like colour and am open to trying new things,” she says. “I enjoy using existing furniture and favourite objects to create a comfortable space without necessarily following trends.”
Providing the connection between the two living spaces, a galley kitchen breaks away from the block colour theme with tiles giving way to a textured wallpaper that wraps the space — ceiling included. Instead of inbuilt cabinetry on all sides, the kitchen is furnished with mid-century storage solutions, adding character and charm. Upstairs, colour once again plays a starring role: the main bedroom is bathed in cheerful yellow, while the guest room is awash in soft greens.
Each space has its own personality but harmonizes through a cohesive palette of rich shades.
Another genius idea from a friend, designer Peter Dunnachie, was to use Luis Barragan-style shutters instead of curtains. These shutters, installed upstairs and down, strategically angle the light and view.
Sue’s approach to decorating was equally thoughtful. She brought plenty of treasured pieces from her previous Arts and Crafts-era cottage, noting that “furniture and art can adapt to different styles of architecture. The older pieces have history, although even the new things here have stories,” says Sue.
Reflecting on the update, Sue is thrilled with how redecorating has invigorated her living environment. “I love coming home; the light plays in different ways at different times of the day, in every room,” she says.
The contrast between stepping through the doors before and after Sue updated the interior is remarkable. It’s a testament to how embracing bold colours in small spaces can truly transform them and how thoughtful decorating can turn a simple space into a saturated sanctuary.
Words Alice Lines
Photography Biddi Rowley