In living colour
Leo Meredith, managing director at LM Architectural Builders in Christchurch, showcases two very different projects.
Tell us about these designs:
The yellow Kowhai House (shown above) and its matching Kowhai Pod House are two unique projects we completed in Ashley Gorge, North Canterbury. They are very simple box-like forms, with natural materials of concrete and wood. Colour is then used to really make them pop. The image (below ) is from another house in Halswell, Christchurch, and uses colour in the bathrooms via the shelves, offset by fresh white mosaic tiles.
Is colour an important aspect of design?
In the right application, colour can enhance the architecture and take it to another level. Colours can say many things and have many moods, and there are many ways they can be interpreted and affect how you feel in a space. Something relatively simple can have a stunning effect.
What’s your advice on incorporating colour?
It’s essential to trust your designer to introduce colour, which can be daunting for some people. Colour isn’t for everyone, or for every project, so if it’s something that you would like to explore then I would encourage you to tell your architect or builder, and they will be able to guide you. In some cases, as in our Kowhai houses, you can use colour in the art or interior decorations and keep the wall tones very simple. It’s about working as a team; a good designer or architect is worth investing in for an excellent outcome.
What colours are you liking right now?
I am loving green. We are doing an exciting project in a remote location using green as an exterior colour and then natural tones of plywood, cork and burnt orange carpet on the interior. It is very well suited to this site. I also really love a bright yellow in the right situation. Those would be my two favourites!
Photography by Sarah Rowlands
