Bring the coffee-and-caramel palette of old photographs home for a two-tone aesthetic that is a warm hug of nostalgia.
In association with Resene.
What goes around comes around and this year, brown is back and making its move. From Pantone’s colour of the year 2025 (the milky Mocha Mousse) to rich, espresso-esque furnishings, these warm hues are cropping up everywhere — which is no surprise. The colour makes firm reference to the 1970s, a decade that’s quietly influencing interiors with a shift towards the tactile and the grounded.
In this folksy space, we’ve leaned into that raw, earthy vibe, with Resene Allspice as the hero colour. It wraps the walls creating instant depth atop the blank plaster.
We’ve seen coffee shades paired with neutrals before, but here it leads the palette teamed with highlights of golden Resene Salted Caramel on the bench-seat base and the paler, pared-back Resene See The Light on the skirtings. The effect is cosy and inviting, with an emphasis on texture over gloss.
Layered with parchment, linen, cane, timber and wool — all resting on Resene Foundation underfoot — this comfy corner feels equal parts elevated and easygoing. It’s the kind of room that ushers you in, shoes off, brew in hand.
PAINTED ITEMS Walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Allspice; bench-seat base in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Salted Caramel; skirtings in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene See The Light; floor in Resene Walk-on tinted to Resene Foundation, resene.co.nz/colorshops. DÉCOR ITEMS D.153.1 lounge chair by Gio Ponti, $10,159, dawsonandco.nz. Norfolk rug in chocolate, from $1840, bayaliving.com. Lina floor lamp, $2100, designcentralnz.co.nz. Jumbo Gradient Kalamata fabric (used as seat upholstery), $95/m, marthas.co.nz. Ida bolster cushion covers, $75 each, cittadesign.com. Wooden side table, $1350, vitrine.co.nz. White clay mug by Scott Brough, $60, handcraftedmodern.co. Freestone artwork by Aida Smith, $1190, aidasmithart.com. Clark wall light, $890, designcentralnz.co.nz. Cane ‘peanut’ chair by Rondel Design, $950, mrbigglesworthy.co.nz. Geometric Lexicon vase by Dryburgh pottery, $207, handcraftedmodern.co. Flowers by Isadia, isadia.co.nz; Studio velvet fabric in Tobacco (used as a curtain), $120/m, marthas.co.nz.
Stylist’s tip
For a calming effect, pay attention to your colour ratios. Here, the bold Resene Allspice takes the lead across most surfaces, while the brighter Resene Salted Caramel is used in a smaller dose to layer the space with contrast, without overwhelming it.
THE PALETTE, FROM TOP Resene Allspice, Resene Salted Caramel, Resene See The Light, Resene Foundation.
Styling Juliette Wanty
Photography Wendy Fenwick