The owners of this Dunedin house wanted it to include lots of different shapes. PHOTOS: LINDA ROBERTSON : Angling for ‘something different’

The main bedroom is painted Resene Paprika. The owners say they have always had houses with a lot of colour and find it "uplifting". : Angling for ‘something different’

One of the owners of the house painted the scene of a boat moving through a storm-tossed sea, in the style of Japanese artist Hokusai. The owner also made the replicas of the lion-dog and the terracotta warrior flanking the bath. : Angling for ‘something different’

A reading nook fits into a corner at one end of the living area. The yellow shade is Resene Thumbs Up. : Angling for ‘something different’

The tiled stairway leads from the entry at street level to the living areas on the middle floor. : Angling for ‘something different’

The floor in the main ensuite is blackwood from the West Coast. : Angling for ‘something different’

The exterior (top) is clad in rough-sawn Japanese cedar. : Angling for ‘something different’

A teapot, based on one from the Han dynasty, is among many replicas of ancient Chinese ceramics made by one of the owners. : Angling for ‘something different’

The owners spend most of their time in the living-dining area, which has a large picture window overlooking the garden. : Angling for ‘something different’

An American-style, wing-back chair made by one of the owners. : Angling for ‘something different’

The garden has only been in for three years but is "growing well". : Angling for ‘something different’

The home has distinctive front doors. : Angling for ‘something different’

The stylised birds at the entry were carved from Oamaru stone by one of the owners. : Angling for ‘something different’