Inspiration can come from anywhere, and this home is testament to just how far a little inspiration and creativity can go.

This wasn't the biggest budget project or the one completed the quickest, but what this project did have was owners with a willingness to embrace the power of colour and careful attention to detail to bring in intriguing features that give this home a real personality of its own.

And those differences are evident right from the roadside with an eye-catching fence that has custom laser-cut palings inspired by the sea. The deck is shaped like airplane wings, the intriguing kitchen bench is made out of timber slivers, and a cavity slider only reveals its edgy teal — Resene Marathon — when it is pulled out. The yellow entrance hall in Resene Galliano boldly welcomes visitors and sets the scene for the rest of the house.

For this creative couple (she is Sparrow & Co jewellery; he has an antiques background), choosing a more unique approach comes naturally. As Anna says, "Once someone shows you something that's different, it's hard to go back to normal."

Having come from a previous house painted entirely in Resene Black White, they "found it hard choosing colours, especially when the walls are all sealer-white and you first put colour on them." With a determination to have a colourful home with a retro mid-century vibe, they were soon on their way with their bold choices.

The one colour that did come easily was Resene Kombi. It's a lovely warm green that works well with the black and timber cabinets in the kitchen.

The deep blue of Resene Elephant was an easy choice for the feature wall in the living room, helping to disguise the black wood burner in front. It wasn't the first option for the master bedroom, but has turned out to be the perfect choice combined with a hand painted herringbone pattern to transition from the dark wall to a light Resene Half Ecru White one at the back.

As many boys do, black was the request for their son's room. Wanting to avoid a colour so dark, they explored alternative options on the Resene Metallics and Special Effects range, ending up with the sleek Resene Pure Pewter.

A striped drinking straw was created as a feature wall in their daughter's room with Resene Tutti Frutti and Resene Half Ecru White horizontal stripes. Even the chickens get a multi-coloured home, finished in leftover paint.

With all this colour, the key is not to overwhelm; Resene Half Ecru White runs throughout the house as a backdrop to the strong colour, with all ceilings in Resene Alabaster.

With eco principles in mind, the home is built in an L-shape facing north-west for good sun access, and the polished concrete floors act as a heat sink. Double doors in the children's bedrooms bring in the sun from the north-facing gallery hall.

Neither time nor budget has stood in the way of creating a magical jewel-like home for this family of four. It's filled with found treasures, upcycled pieces, bold colour and thought-out features that lift this home beyond the ordinary.