Into the blue

A high calibre home for a high calibre community, Fowler Homes Waikato have created something very special with their new showhome in the sought after Pukekura Park community – tile selections from The Tile Depot helped to complete the impeccably styled interior.

Inspired by one of the early wall tile selections for this home, navy blue tiles and feature walls have become a striking detail amongst the bathroom and ensuite areas.

Considered to be “the only colour that has an array of positive effects, and little to no negative effects on the psyche” (The Psychology of Colours for Interior Design), blue is an excellent choice for people wanting to branch out into colour exploration in their interiors.

For Shelley Cattle of Fowler Homes Waikato, the use of blue as an accent colour in this new home almost happened by chance. 

With a penchant for coastal luxe interiors, where soft neutral greys, white and natural woods work in harmony, Shelley Cattle knew that this home, with its somewhat rural outlook, required a slightly different aesthetic and a pop of bold colour that would connect to its setting.

Crisp, clean lines with universal appeal

Wanting the tiles in this home to have crisp clean lines with universal appeal, Shelley Cattle narrowed in on the City collection of 100x300mm subway wall tiles for the master ensuite – a collection of high gloss tiles with straight rectangular edges available in 11 colourways.  

With a uniform colour, no surface undulation and no wavy edges, the City tiles had the contemporary, fresh aesthetic she was hoping for.  

From there everything fell into place. 

There were really only two of the City colourways she felt appropriate for this home, both in shades of blue. 

A cocooning and soothing character

The co-owner and operator of Fowler Homes Waikato selected City Navy Blue, a rich deep blue which has a cocooning and soothing character. 

This was tiled to the ceiling behind the bath and walk-in shower in a vertically stacked pattern that further emphasised the clean, minimalist lines she was after. 

The adjoining walls were tiled in Blanco Brillo White Mat and the space was then tied together with Shabby Bianco, a soft grey cement-effect porcelain with a slightly industrial character – the perfect choice in this contemporary, semi-rural setting. 

The Shabby Bianco flowed across the floor and into the shower and behind the bath, terminating in a full-length nib wall shelf.

Informing wider choices

From here, the Prussian blue tones of the City Navy Blue informed paint choices and feature wallpaper in both the family bathroom and separate toilet. 

The same soft grey Shabby Bianco porcelain was used across the floors in both these spaces and again up a nib wall behind the bath and into the walk-in shower. 

It was also used to create a skirting in the toilet which was not only a practical design decision in terms of where the wallpaper terminates, but also added a sense of width to the room.

Warm woods, soft greys and white are still applicable to a rural setting and are still an important part of this home’s interior palette. 

They flow throughout all areas of the dwelling, intercepted by stunning engineered stone and black oak coloured cabinetry in the kitchen and similarly coloured feature walls. 

The effect is a cohesive interior language that unites all areas. 

These colours and materials work beautifully with the dark blue tones on the bathroom walls and the oak vanities add a natural warmth to all the bathroom areas.

The guest ensuite has its own unique identity where soft neutral greys and whites, have created a light and airy retreat. 

Terrazzo Light Grey porcelain is the main feature in this space – a tile with a striking terrazzo stone design that flows seamlessly across the floor and into the shower. 

This has been paired with a simple white subway tile called Victoria White Gloss Ripple that reflects the light and adds to the ensuite's sense of spaciousness. 

These were laid in a vertically stacked pattern, in keeping with the master ensuite tiles.

The repetition of vertical linear elements is an important detail throughout the interior and exterior areas of the home. 

Catching the light

However, in the laundry and scullery areas, the designer deliberately chose white penny round mosaics to create an unexpected and delightful textural contrast. 

The Mosaix Penny Round White glass mosaics adorn the walls in these spaces with Shelley Cattle particularly liking them in the laundry where they play with the natural light, reflecting different colours that vary with the change in light levels through the day.

A high level of design and attention to detail lie behind the gorgeous tile selections that adorn this showhome. 

The use of the navy-blue tiles to inform other design decisions created a beautiful outcome. 

This is an incredible dwelling that will no doubt have a direct inspiration on the design decisions of many future Fowler Homes Waikato homeowners.

Visit the showhome

Showhome address:  32 Whare Marama Drive, Pukekura, Cambridge

Open now for viewing Thursday and Friday 1pm till 2.45pm, Sunday 1pm to 4pm or by appointment

Designed by: Fowler Homes Waikato

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Arie Stokes