Located in downtown Auckland, the Waldorf Apartments – Scene 3 provides serviced accommodation options in the central city. The apartment building features a modern, clean design, but the recent refresh, with its elegant French Wash walls, has added a sophisticated aesthetic — a sense of luxury with layered colour and subtle movement.

For the revamp of the main entrance of the building as well as in lift foyers, the apartment management team wanted to make a statement that would add interest and drama to what were originally neutral spaces. While wallpaper was considered, they soon found a more organic solution with Porter’s French Wash in their rich complex colours, after visiting the team at the Porter’s Paints Showroom in Kingsland.

For an elemental response in the main entrance, first Porter’s Low Sheen was used in the colour Tapenade — a complex grounded olive-brown. French Wash in Ancient Grains was then used over the top for richness and extra depth. The translucent wash appears almost cloud-like in its depth and variation.

For the lift foyer walls, the deep inky blue of Old Havana French Wash has been used over Porter's Low Sheen Acrylic Blue Steel, a paler but tonal colour to the wash over the top. French Wash in Old Havana was chosen bringing to life the layers of colours peeking through while complementing the apartment door tones.

For Porter’s Paints’ Anoushka Haskell, the choice to use French Wash came down to the beautiful, unique look with low maintenance. “The French Wash creates a delicate, broken appearance," she explains. "The clients loved the slightly textured and original look of it and thought it would stand up to more wear than wallpaper in those common areas."

Porter’s Applicators Guild-trained applicators MIM (Make it Mint) worked on the project, applying the two-step system to ensure the texture and look required. The technique involves rolling the first coat of Porter’s Low Sheen. Once the wall is dry, the French Wash is brushed over the top and then ragged using muslin cloth. “This traditional ragging technique removes some of the French Wash, masks the brushstrokes, and leaves its own organic pattern across the wall," says Anoushka.

With the French Wash walls making a statement while creating a more sophisticated look for the building, the managers are now planning on further enhancing the space with new art and furniture referencing the new character that Porter’s French Wash achieved. “It’s a real statement,” says Anoushka. “French Wash gives the entrance life. People really notice it, it looks stunning."