Change is good

NZ House & Garden, Resene / Colour expert

Author and gardener Lynda Hallinan reaches for the paint pots when she feels like a new look.

Garden journalist Lynda Hallinan has written books and spent 25 years doing up houses.

Why do you love working with Resene colour?

I love change, in both my garden and my home. Using paint is the most satisfying way to effect a dramatic change, and it’s fun. I’m not a minimalist in any sense, but I use neutral wall colours for a little calm amidst my clutter. My current favourites are Resene Wheatfield, because its creaminess pairs well with art in wooden frames and Resene Eighth Rice Cake, because it’s just off-white enough to work with both contemporary and vintage furnishings. I recently bought a statement couch in mustard yellow velvet, which clashed horribly with the existing pale blue roman blinds, so I gave them a funky facelift with Resene Liquid Gold and added extra pops of colour with textured plant pots in Resene I Dare You. The Resene 100mm Easy Reach #1 smooth surfaces sleeve roller tray kit is ideal for these sorts of mini makeover projects.

Any tips on using colour in a garden?

Be brave. I famously repainted my shepherd’s hut several seasons in a row, opting for a different look to suit the plants I was experimenting with at the same time. The hut started out charcoal Resene Baltic Sea with white daisies, then spent a Christmas in Resene Pohutukawa with cherry red zinnias, followed by an autumn in Resene Clockwork Orange to match my tangerine heleniums. I’ve also dabbled with Resene Paddock, a beautiful sage green, and deep blue Resene Bullitt, which is the same colour as my favourite plum, the English damson.

What are your favourite Resene colours and why?

It’s probably a cliche, as someone with green fingers, but green is my all-time favourite colour. I love all shades, from muted to bright. A few years ago I painted all the windows of our stable in zingy Resene Glade Green, while more recently I’ve renovated our colonial settlers’ cottage in Hunua using more subtle shades with earthier tones.