In compact spaces colour and texture take on greater significance. For Pac Studio, this reworking of a tired and dated townhouse kitchen and bathroom was also an opportunity to continue our research into colour: How it defines identity, delineates space, affects mood and atmosphere. Here, the bathroom could signal the start of a fresh and sunny day; the kitchen could provide a calming and quiet place to cook in the evening and close the day with a cup of coffee.

The starting point was the rearrangement of space for efficiency. The relocated laundry freed up space for an additional guest bathroom. Lifting the ceiling height in the bathroom transformed the sense of space. New doors from the kitchen connect with a lovely herb garden and bring in natural light.

The overarching aim was to create two distinct spatial experiences – using colour and texture as a counterpoint to the home’s more neutral rooms. A ‘pleated’ kitchen tile was selected for warmth and the way that it captures the light when it falls across its surface. The fresh yellow of the bathroom was carefully matched to a terrazzo tile with a yellow gold fleck of crushed shell. Both feel light and bright even on the most cloudy day.

Our obsession with crafted details can be seen in the hardware – custom-designed by Pac’s Sarosh Mulla with architect James Pearce for 277 Design, it is crafted from salvaged Pohutukawa, which has been hand-turned and fitted to brass. They are lovely to use, they also feel wonderful in your hand.