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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 01

Here's a taste of some of the Colour Expert questions and answers to help you with your own colour scheme.

If you would like more colour advice for your project, please ask our Colour Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller. Colours are a representation only.

 
 
 
 

Q&A   p. 01

Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.


Q. We have dark chocolate brown carpet in our house. We are repainting the three bedrooms and hallway and I would like a light coloured paint on the walls that will complement the dark chocolate floors. I was wondering about Resene Eighth Tea but am worried that might be too stark a contrast. What do you think? Perhaps Resene Quarter Tea or could you recommend any other light colours that might go with dark brown?

A. Apart from Resene Quarter Tea you might also consider Resene Eighth Bison Hide, Resene Eighth Joss or Resene Albescent White. If they are used with pure Resene White ceilings and woodwork trims you will see some lovely warm light depth of colour.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Eighth Joss
Resene Eighth Joss
Resene Albescent White
Resene Albescent White
Resene White
Resene White
May 2013

Q. Our house is Resene Half Friar Grey and the fence is Resene Foundry. I need a red/orange for an outside feature wall. Heaps of testpots later still no success. Any ideas?

A. You may have tried some of these, but some good accent colours to try are:
Resene Bonfire, Resene Cracker, Resene Whizz Bang, Resene Tall Poppy or Resene Hot N Spicy.

Resene Bonfire
Resene Bonfire
Resene Cracker
Resene Cracker
Resene Whizz Bang
Resene Whizz Bang
Resene Tall Poppy
Resene Tall Poppy
Resene Hot N Spicy
Resene Hot N Spicy
May 2013

Q. I am trying to find a really nice warm light grey colour, I don't want a blue/purple tone to it. Ideally, a nice warm grey that goes well with plain white.

A. You might investigate the following colours as one of them could be just the right colour for you - Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe, Resene Truffle or Resene Quarter Cloudy. They are all warm and look great with Resene White.

Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe
Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Quarter Cloudy
Resene Quarter Cloudy
Resene White
Resene White
May 2013

Q. We are painting the exterior of our house which was built in 1970 and has a lot of orange/red brick. We are not painting the brick. What colours would work for the painted areas, to minimise the impact of the brick (we are not fans of brick work) but cannot paint over it for budget reasons?

A. It depends how much painted areas are on the house as to how much influence the colour (or colours) would have in modifying the impact of the brick. Also the existing colour of the roof needs to be taken into account and what type of windows you have - are they wooden or are they aluminium?

I think you could investigate the following colours which are grouped together from lightest (white type colour) through to really dark to give you a palette to look at and possibly inspire you: Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream - for window/door joinery, Resene Thorndon Cream - under soffits/roofline fascias and deck base facing boards, Resene Triple Thorndon Cream for weatherboards, Resene Half Gravel for the garage door and Resene Armadillo for the front door.

These colours - when seen together - are tonally earthy and might just tie in the shadow on the brick and the natural mortar grout.

If the base down to ground level under the decks was built in with the same dark slatted timbers that are used in the front fences etc then you have storage (behind) and instead of skinny poles cantilevering the deck out into space it would feel grounded, substantial and related to the entry point detail.

A tonal colour palette will add a pleasing balance to the house and modify the multi-coloured effect you have now and that will make the bricks seem nicer as they won't be one of many multi coloured elements on the house.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Armadillo
Resene Armadillo
May 2013

Q. What is a stunning green to have in my lounge room looking out onto my beautiful garden. Otherwise, what other suggestions do you have?

A. Do you want the lounge walls to be the thing that everyone admires (to the point that they don't notice the garden) or do you want the eye to look past the lounge walls out of the windows to admire the beautiful garden? Do you want a new colour - stunning green or other colour - to look good with the existing furniture, carpet, curtains etc? Or are you getting new everything in the lounge to go with the new wall colour?

For the new main colour - neutral - for all other rooms apart from the lounge, I think simplicity is the key as you have lovely colourful 'things' and a neutral colour should be extremely flexible to allow for any soft furnishings. I would consider using Resene Quarter Spanish White. This will look really nice, light, spacious etc and will work with pure Resene White for painted window joinery and ceilings.

Lounge walls - keeping in mind your views to the garden and the furnishings and artwork you have I think you may like Resene Double Lemon Grass. This is quite a traditional green with an olive/lichen undertone and is muted and restful. You could add a possible feature wall in either a warm gold - Resene Quarter Putty or a deep biscuit - Resene Double Spanish White.

For the kitchen cabinets - keep these light as it increases space is timeless, and not 'trend' related so you won't tire of it. Perhaps you could look at the same neutral as the main walls throughout the house - Resene Quarter Spanish White.

You could add some rich aubergine, deep deep olive green, rich burnt terracotta and raisin brown into the fabrics you use for cushions, throw rugs or perhaps a recovering of a chair or two.

Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Double Lemon Grass
Resene Double Lemon Grass
Resene Quarter Putty
Resene Quarter Putty
Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Double Spanish White
May 2013

Q. We have used Resene Pavlova as the main wall colour in our house. What colours would you recommend for the doors etc and carpet? My thoughts were Resene Quarter Pavlova for doors and oatmeal for carpet.

A. As alternatives to the Resene Quarter Pavlova on the doors you might also check out Resene Double Pearl Lusta (rich earthy cream) or even Resene Eighth Pavlova (softer than Resene Quarter Pavlova) or even Resene Spanish White, which has similar (but less yellow/green) tinters in it to Resene Pavlova.

Resene Pavlova
Resene Pavlova
Resene Quarter Pavlova
Resene Quarter Pavlova
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Eighth Pavlova
Resene Eighth Pavlova
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
May 2013

Q. I am trying to decide on a pale lemon colour to paint the interior of a country cottage. There will be lots of timber furniture in the house. I want to team the yellow/lemon with white trims. Any suggestions on the two colours? The exterior will be a buttery yellow colour with white trim as well.

A. It sounds as though you want your house to glow with sunlight - delightful!

All yellows no matter how light appear much stronger/brighter than you would ever imagine. All interior wall colours seem deeper anyway because of changing light/shadows/close proximity of walls. With those facts in mind the following colours may get you started on your options whether inside or outside:
Resene Pale Prim, Resene Mellow Yellow, Resene Primrose, Resene Buttermilk, Resene Splash or Resene Milk Punch.

It is very important to trial the yellows – apply two coats on A2 card and move it around into all the rooms so you can see what it really looks like. Once you find something you like you may still need to lighten it - remember colour escalates in value and all yellows no matter what they may appear to be like are far stronger than you could imagine.

I would use Resene Alabaster or (warmer) Resene Half Orchid White or Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta as a white to enhance the yellows.

Resene Pale Prim
Resene Pale Prim
Resene Mellow Yellow
Resene Mellow Yellow
Resene Primrose
Resene Primrose
Resene Buttermilk
Resene Buttermilk
Resene Splash
Resene Splash
Resene Milk Punch
Resene Milk Punch
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
 
May 2013

Q. What other colours would go with our Resene Quarter Tea ceiling and Resene Half Tea on the walls? This is our main colour scheme through our house but we would like to make our 8 year old girl’s room a little more funky.

A. Funky is good. Mid toned or bright colours look really great with Resene Half Tea. Pale pretty pastels may not work so well as they seem to suit being with 'whites' more than the slightly muddy neutrals.

Depends what your girl likes - but perhaps you could investigate the following colours:
Resene Glamour Puss, Resene Serenity, Resene Kumutoto, Resene Birdcage, Resene Boogie Wonderland or Resene Smitten.

The other way of approaching colour for an 8 year old is jazzy patterned/colourful curtains or duvet, some painted furniture or bright coloured storage bins for toys and books or lovely decor wall stickers that can be peeled off when she doesn't fancy the them any more.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Glamour Puss
Resene Glamour Puss
Resene Serenity
Resene Serenity
Resene Kumutoto
Resene Kumutoto
Resene Birdcage
Resene Birdcage
Resene Boogie Wonderland
Resene Boogie Wonderland
Resene Smitten
Resene Smitten
May 2013

Q. We have just bought a beach place and our contractor is starting the painting before we arrive next week. We want the whole inside to be white - ceiling, walls, etc except a couple of feature walls - which I have already selected colour for. It is an older, quite dark small house, and I know some whites can look grey in low light areas. Can you recommend a white that will glow a little brighter in this low light place?

A. I can. I think Resene Half Bianca could be the 'white' for your house. It is a fleecy off white - but not so light/warm that it turns sickly yellow. It is possible to use the lighter version of this Resene Quarter Bianca, which is almost white but never cream. Your choice - warmer or lightest? Colour always develops more colour personality in an interior and if you want white with no grey in it - lightest is better.

Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
May 2013

Q. We are planning on using Resene Eighth Joss on our wall but unsure as to which white we should use on doors, window frames and skirtings. We had thought Resene Alabaster but that seems a bit too white. Also our kitchen cabinetry is in Resene Black White. Help!

A. Any chance of changing the wall colour - or the kitchen cabinet colour? If not, the obvious compromise is to do the woodwork the same colour as the walls but in a Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel finish instead trying to find another white when you have one already - Resene Black White.

Resene Black White and Resene Alabaster like each other - but neither 'white' is truly happy with the Resene Eighth Joss.

It might be worth considering another wall colour so that Resene Alabaster and Resene Black White have a 'friend' they both like.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Eighth Joss
Resene Eighth Joss
May 2013

Q. We are looking at painting the Linea on our new home Resene Shark (or similar) and need a lighter colour for the plaster - we like grey tones, but are not sure on the contrast.

A. It’s best to choose the powder coat colours for the roof, garage doors and window joinery first as there will be fewer colour options.

You may need to find out what restraints there are in regard how deep a colour the plaster can be painted - too dark will void the warranty on the substrate. You need to know this before losing your heart to a colour and then finding out that if you use it you may be penalised in some way. If your Linea was painted Resene Shark and you wanted a lighter grey tone then you might consider Resene Quarter Tuna but if this is considered to be too deep for the plaster work then perhaps Resene Gull Grey or Resene Silver Chalice.

Another deep colour for the Linea might be a more coloured charcoal like Resene Double Gravel or Resene Kensington Grey.

But the most important decision is to choose the powder coated elements first so the rest of the colours can be chosen to complement them.

Resene Shark
Resene Shark
Resene Quarter Tuna
Resene Quarter Tuna
Resene Gull Grey
Resene Gull Grey
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Double Gravel
Resene Double Gravel
Resene Kensington Grey
Resene Kensington Grey
May 2013

Q. I'm painting my house Resene Thorndon Cream in open plan living/dining/kitchen, Resene Tea in the hallways and bedrooms and Resene Napa in the bathroom. What colour would you recommend for the ceilings/trims and interior doors? Also do you think the colours I have chosen go together?

A. I am a little worried that Resene Tea may look too deep in the hallway. Hallways are known for their lovely light aspect as they very rarely have windows in them. Also unless you have a huge amount of white (tiles on walls etc) in the bathroom you may find Resene Napa looks twice as dark as you expect and a bit muddy.

If you lighten the colours (except the Resene Thorndon Cream) to Resene Half Tea and Resene Half Napa you may find they relate better and flow softly through the spaces.

Perhaps you might investigate Resene Alabaster or Resene Quarter Rice Cake as options for the ceiling, trims and doors.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
May 2013

Q. We are looking for a light baby boy blue kind of colour for a baby boy’s room. The room is small so we want to make it a light colour without it being cold.

A. A lot of people consider blue of any kind a cool colour; however I have often found that if it has a little depth and a subtle bit of watery green in the blue it seems warmer than a very pale blue tint.

You might like to investigate the following colours:
Resene Cut Glass
or for something a bit deeper/warmer - Resene Onahau
or if you like something paler/cooler - Resene Pattens Blue

Blues always make spaces seem bigger but the natural light, the colour of carpet, the colour of the curtains etc will have a great bearing on whether the blue looks warm or cool. If you paint it and then find it doesn't feel as warm as you would like add some orange to the room - perhaps a small rug on the floor or a lamp shade - that usually alters your perception of how blue feels.

Resene Cut Glass
Resene Cut Glass
Resene Onahau
Resene Onahau
Resene Pattens Blue
Resene Pattens Blue
May 2013

Q. I am desperately trying to find a paint colour that resembles milky tea. Can you recommend one?

A. I just dashed off to make a cuppa with more milk in it than I usually like to have as I too was at a loss as to what constituted a best colour. I think you might like Resene Eighth Malta or alternatively Resene Quarter Drought. They look like Chanui Irish Breakfast tea with lots of 'real' milk in it.

Resene Eighth Malta
Resene Eighth Malta
Resene Quarter Drought
Resene Quarter Drought
May 2013

Q. I am wondering what blue would be good for a medium sized room - light or dark?

A. There are hundreds of possibilities in regards to blue colours and all need to be judged according to the mood or ambiance they create and how they react with pre-existing colours within the room and also - most importantly - what the quality of natural light is as this will influence how you see the colours.

You might like to try the following colours:
For a light colour try Resene Half Escape or Resene Breeze
For mid tone colour try Resene Meltwater, Resene Hemisphere or Resene Zephyr

Resene Half Escape
Resene Half Escape
Resene Breeze
Resene Breeze
Resene Meltwater
Resene Meltwater
Resene Hemisphere
Resene Hemisphere
Resene Zephyr
Resene Zephyr
May 2013

Q. I need an idea of what neutral colour goes best with Resene Hullabaloo. This is in a bathroom and for a brick concrete wall.

A. It is always a possibility to use a 'white' but because of the concrete brick wall too stark a 'white' may make the room feel chilly or unfriendly especially when you think of all the other white things in the room - vanity, bath, shower and toilet - so the colours I have suggested are warmer or more complex neutrals that will not seem too stark… try Resene Bianca, Resene Eighth Truffle, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Spanish White.

If you have your heart set on 'white' then try Resene Sea Fog. Too definite a neutral colour may rob the Resene Hullabaloo of its clean/bright look so you would need to try the colours out with a testpot to check they enhance the Resene Hullabaloo and make the bathroom look appealing.

Resene Hullabaloo
Resene Hullabaloo
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
May 2013

Q. I have chosen to paint my walls Resene Half Villa White. What shade should I go for my ceiling? I am planning to paint the trims and doors a contrasting 'white' - what tone/colour would you recommend? I have heard the general rule of choosing half and quarter tones but I am a bit worried the contrast will not be enough and they will end up looking the same.

A. Because you have chosen Resene Half Villa White, which is very 'white', choosing to use a 1/4 version for woodwork and ceilings isn't going to achieve a contrast - it will just all look the same. So what I think you should investigate is changing from Resene Half Villa White to Resene Villa White and then, if you do choose to use Resene Quarter Villa White for woodwork and ceilings, you will see a difference in the colour - not a major contrast, but a nice subtle difference in tints.

If you’d prefer to stick with the Resene Half Villa White then I would suggest that you use Resene White as it will give you a very clean, crisp contrast. Or consider Resene Quarter Rice Cake - if you look at the colour codes for Resene White and Resene Quarter Rice Cake you will notice they are remarkably similar - the difference being that Resene Quarter Rice Cake has the merest hint of sharp yellow in it compared with Resene White.

Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
May 2013

Q. My house has decorative shutters on the outside windows similar to Resene Rhino and the garage door is the same colour. I will keep the Resene Rhino colour on the exterior but would like to change the house colour from Resene Black White to Resene Seashell. Do you think this will look ok?

A. Yes it will look ok. All you are doing is changing from a slightly warmer 'white' to a 'cooler' white that has a little silvery undertone. It will look really smart with Resene Rhino.

Resene Rhino
Resene Rhino
Resene Seashell
Resene Seashell
May 2013

Q. I am going to repaint the whole house except the ground level. I will use Resene Woodsman to paint the upstairs and the balcony/bar. Could you please advise some colours for the upstairs timber, balcony deck, balcony bars and window frames.

A. It is important to use the correct product to re-stain with to ensure no adherence problems. If the lower walls and garage doors are to remain as they are now then the upstairs timber that is to be re-stained would need to be a nice co-ordinate so both upper and lower parts of the house look good together. You might investigate using Resene Pickled Bean or Resene Nutmeg. Both of these colour stains are really nice.

For the balcony deck and bars, you might like Resene Bark or Resene Bushtrack.

The outer window surrounds and barge boards could be repainted to match the lower portion of the house again - if you had some of that paint still available. Alternatively you could paint them a lighter, crisper colour to highlight the deeper stain options that I have suggested - perhaps Resene Titania or Resene Eighth Lemon Grass - both of these have a little green in them which I am hoping goes well with the downstairs portion of the house.

Resene Pickled Bean
Resene Pickled Bean
Resene Nutmeg
Resene Nutmeg
Resene Bark
Resene Bark
Resene Bushtrack
Resene Bushtrack
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
May 2013

Q. What are some complementary colours that would tone well with Resene Akaroa? Was thinking of using Resene Quarter Akaroa on inside walls and Resene Eighth Akaroa on the ceilings of our new house. Would these colours be too bland? Would we need a different colour around the door frames, skirtings? Also I am after a warm soft duck egg blue colour... what would you suggest?

A. You may find in some interior rooms that Resene Quarter Akaroa looks as strong as Resene Half Akaroa. This often happens with interiors - the close proximity of walls and the changing qualities of light make colour seem stronger. Because of that the ceiling colour - Resene Eighth Akaroa - may seem darker and make it look as though the walls and ceilings are the same colour. You won't see very much contrast - if that is what you were hoping for.

If you do want to see the contrast you may need to lighten the ceiling a bit more - perhaps try Resene Half Albescent White.

Skirtings and door frames aren't highlighted these days as much as previously - always remember if you do choose a different colour for them you are effectively making them a feature by drawing attention to them - is this what you want to do? Are they uniquely special? If they aren't worthy of highlighting then you can paint them the same as the wall colour but in a Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss finish, which is often enough of a change.

A warm soft duck egg blue colour suggestion might be Resene Half Periglacial Blue or Resene Zumthor but these types of colours often look best when a clear crisp white is used to 'lift' them. Soft neutrals (like the ones you are thinking of having) may make these colours look drab or a bit grey instead of pretty and duck egg blue.

Resene Akaroa
Resene Akaroa
Resene Quarter Akaroa
Resene Quarter Akaroa
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Half Akaroa
Resene Half Akaroa
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Zumthor
Resene Zumthor
 
May 2013

Q. We are renovating and painting a 20 year old house. The roof will be painted the same as the aluminium windows which are Karaka. The rest of the house is a mixture of rough sawn weatherboards and a 'mud' block so it is a sandy/clay colour. I love the dark stained idea and have gone back and forth on which stain to use on our timber areas. I love Resene Shadow Match with the blocks but I am not sure whether it goes with the Resene Karaka green of the windows - any suggestions for me?

A. I think you could look at either Resene Banjul wood stain or Resene Touch Wood wood stain as both these co-ordinate well with Karaka. It would be very wise to choose to use Resene CoolColour™ technology as the darker stain colours could cause a few heat related issues and even though Resene CoolColour technology won't solve these issues at least it won't create as much heat absorption/retention on the weatherboards.

Resene Shadow Match
Resene Shadow Match
Resene Karaka
Resene Karaka
Resene Banjul
Resene Banjul
Resene Touch Wood
Resene Touch Wood
May 2013

Q. I have a heritage house, red/brown brick and am looking to repaint the timber work. The existing colours are a yellowish/mustard and a cream combination. I don't mind this palette, but would like to freshen up the look, possibly a brighter yellow and a pale lemon? Do you have any suggestions on colour combinations and complementary colours?

A. You might look at these combinations - but beware yellows/lemons can look quite strong and are not heritage inspired:
Resene Ipanema with Resene First Light
Or Resene Weathered Yellow with Resene Rice Cake
Or Resene Golden Sand with Resene Rum Swizzle

I would be inclined to use a clean warm ochre yellow and a real white to freshen up the look, such as Resene Splash with Resene Alabaster.

Resene Ipanema
Resene Ipanema
Resene First Light
Resene First Light
Resene Weathered YellowResene Weathered Yellow
Resene Weathered Yellow
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Golden Sand
Resene Golden Sand
Resene Rum Swizzle
Resene Rum Swizzle
Resene Splash
Resene Splash
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
May 2013

Q. What colour could we paint our roof, foundation, shutters and window frames? I think the house is Resene Corn Field maybe. We are selling the house so do not want to change the weatherboard colour.

A. If you use a mid-toned grey for the roof, such as Resene Half Tuna, it will look very smart and modern. I suggest doing both the window frames and the shutters in Resene White to make the windows light/large and fresh and possibly a soft silvery grey like Resene Half Surrender for the foundations. Grey and white always looks smart and crisp and offsets a yellow main colour beautifully.

Resene Corn Field
Resene Corn Field
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Tuna
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
May 2013

Q. We are currently building a house and have decided on Resene Grey Friars as our roof colour and would like to keep grey as the colour for the exterior. We want to go two shades - a darker one for the Axon and a lighter one for the weatherboards.

A. The following colours may inspire you -
Resene Quarter Grey Friars with Resene Grey Chateau
Or Resene Double Stack with Resene Silver Chalice
Or Resene Tapa with Resene Eighth Tapa

Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Grey Chateau
Resene Grey Chateau
Resene Double Stack
Resene Double Stack
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Eighth Tapa
 
May 2013

Q. I am trying to match the colour of our new roof - COLORSTEEL® Azure Blue. I thought of cream with matching azure and another lighter colour for trim. I have ideas but am not sure how it will look.

A. A Resene colour match to COLORSTEEL® Azure is Resene Undercurrent. A nice palette of colours to use on your house might be:
Resene Pearl Lusta or Resene Orchid White as the main colour with Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta for any ‘whiter’ trim details and Resene Awash for doors, windowsills, window surrounds, corbel brackets under roof line fascia and any other element you want to pick out.

Resene Undercurrent
Resene Undercurrent
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Orchid White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Awash
Resene Awash
May 2013

Q. I have a 1948 weatherboard low set house with a red roof. What colours are a good choice for the exterior?

A. As this is quite open ended, I often say to people who ask this question 'What do you like?' because there are so many options available these days some of which you would love and some of which you would feel decidedly lukewarm over.

Here are a few that you might look at: Resene Villa White, Resene Quarter Bison Hide, Resene Half Ash, Resene Eighth Friar Grey, Resene Quarter Spanish White,
Resene Eighth Drought

Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Half Ash
Resene Half Ash
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Eighth Drought
May 2013

Q. Can you suggest a couple of different neutrals for interior walls that will work well with both orangey cypress pine floors and trims in Western Cedar? There is also a lot of dark antique furniture and the light levels are medium to low. The main aim is to modernise the space and help it feel less dated and depressing. The walls are currently cream coloured and we want to move away from this. There is also a lot of art work in muted tones.

A. It sounds as though you have a marvellously warm and interesting house.

If you have rooms that aren't flooded with natural light and sunshine then you need to trial colour carefully as any of the beige or grey or taupe range may add to the shadowy aspect of the rooms. You may need warmth and light to create a lovely ambiance - certainly the wood (furniture, floors and trims) adds lots of colour and richness but may well conspire to limit your wall colour options.

Try a really light colour - this will go with anything and be simple and serene enough to work with what you have… try Resene Bianca or a warm/earthy neutral with equal yellow/umber/green tinters in it such as Resene Eighth Akaroa or Resene Bison Hide or a soft yellow based green neutral, such as Resene Half Joanna, which (hopefully) will have a love affair with the wood.

Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Half Joanna
Resene Half Joanna
May 2013

Q. I am wanting to use Resene Black Haze on the walls and Resene Black White on the ceiling. It is quite a dark living area. Will this create warmth?

A. There is very little difference between the two colours - if you are wanting a lighter ceiling colour then you wouldn't achieve it by using Resene Black White N93-005-100 with Resene Black Haze N92-006-101. The code numbers of the colours show their closeness.

If you wanted an alternative suggestion for ceilings to use with Resene Black Haze then I would suggest that you look at Resene Quarter Black White or Resene Alabaster.

In a dim or dark space you may notice a lot more grey showing in the colour because of the quality of light - or lack of light. Resene Black Haze is not a colour I would call warm but if you had other elements of rich, warm colour within the space and soft ambient lighting then that might modify how you felt about the colour and you could perceive it as slightly warmer.

Warmer types of colour for this area might be those that feature yellow, red or brown tints, such as Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Eighth Spanish White.

If you have the opportunity to pop into a Resene ColorShop and look at the A4 samples of all of the colours and place a sheet of white printer paper between them you will see the 'reality' of the colours and their underlying warmth or coolness will be evident. It would still pay to trial colour in the environment to see just how much influence the light or lack of light affects the colours.

I generally recommend painting two coats onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border so that the eye focuses on the trialled colour and isn't 'confused' by the colour of the existing walls altering your perception of it.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
 
May 2013

Q. Could you please tell me if Resene Quarter Cloudy is a grey colour or more beigey and how dark is Resene Half Cloudy?

A. Resene Quarter Cloudy is a light, warm beige with a grey base. You may need to play the 'compare' game and look at several other colours to ascertain which colour is greyer or more beige by comparison. If you put it alongside Resene Half Tea, Quarter Cloudy looks greyer and if you put it alongside Resene Quarter Foggy Grey it is more beige.

In a shadowy south facing room Resene Quarter Cloudy could look quite greyish. Colour is a chameleon and constantly changes according to changing qualities of light and is altered by any colour that is close to it.

Resene Half Cloudy is a mid-toned colour - if you place it next to pure white it appears to double in strength - definitely not a pale colour but not deep either. If it was being used in a dim, shadowy situation (like a narrow hallway) it would look deeper however.

Resene Quarter Cloudy
Resene Quarter Cloudy
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Half Cloudy
Resene Half Cloudy
May 2013

Q. We are looking for a garage door colour for a little town house that is painted in Resene Half Tea. The house faces north and we live by the sea.

The windows are brown aluminium and the fence is brown. I would like the garage door colour to be modern and a colour that sets off my house, makes a statement maybe! Next time I paint the house I would choose a slightly deeper colour, or a more updated colour. If you could give me some ideas for garage and also for the next house paint job, that would be great. It is no big deal to repaint this as my place is small.

A. Firstly if you were inclined to repaint the house slightly deeper these colours might inspire you:
Resene Half Napa, Resene Quarter Craigieburn or Resene Eighth Pravda

These colours are still yellow based but deeper and more grey based. The garage door could be just about any colour but I have suggested the following because they are interesting with the new colour options I have suggested for the house but would still work with the Resene Half Tea. You could try Resene Imprint, Resene Half Chicago, Resene Half Tuna or Resene Wanaka.

The garage door facing north /close to the sea may need to have a Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour to reduce the amount of heat the surface absorbs - that is what the CC means alongside the colour names. It costs a little more to have this type of paint formulation but it does reduce heat related problems compared to the same colour using the normal technology.

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Eighth Pravda
Resene Eighth Pravda
Resene Imprint
Resene Imprint
Resene Half Chicago
Resene Half Chicago
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Wanaka
Resene Wanaka

May 2013

Q. We have a large home on the west coast with very high ceilings. We have a charcoal/dark grey carpet and are going to do a feature wall in Resene Smoky Green. Can you help us with some 'white' wall colours? We live by the sea and are battered by many storms, so not a grey white, but not a super yellow one either. Any suggestions would be great!

A. I feel you may need subtle/ambiguous warmth to balance the light/aspect and ambiance. You might try the following colours:
Resene Half Albescent White, Resene Quarter Merino, Resene Eighth Fossil or Resene Sea Fog

If you place a sheet of white printer paper against larger samples of these colours (A4 samples can be seen at your Resene Color Shop) you will be better able to identify the underlying tints and tones within them. Take your time in trialling them as they will look radically different in all rooms and on all walls at different times of the day - you need to know this in advance so Resene testpots applied (2 coats) onto A2 card leaving an unpainted border all around the edges will allow you to move it into all rooms and be large enough to make judgement with.

Resene Smoky Green
Resene Smoky Green
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
May 2013

Q. We are currently updating our kitchen with new cabinetry and appliances. 2.8 stud with picture rail at 2.2m. The bottom half of the kitchen walls are painted Resene Half Pavlova, above the picture rail is painted Resene Half Spanish White. These colours look great together but we are having trouble deciding what colour new cabinetry should go in. It's a villa style house but the cabinetry is going to be modern so keeping the theme isn't essential.

The current cabinetry is Resene Half Pavlova enamel which looks ok but perhaps there is something out there which looks brilliant? We would like to keep the benchtop light.

A. I suggest you might look first at benchtops to see what you fancy. It pays to choose the most expensive surface or the one with the most limiting range of options first. Compared to paint colours you may find there is a lot less to choose from.

You don't say what the floor is? Wood? It does influence how other colours are seen so there will be a little compromise necessary - you might like a colour a lot but if it looks 'off' against the floor then you might end up choosing an alternative colour because you don't want a discordant factor creeping into the kitchen.

Kitchen cabinetry - at this point in time- is favouring 'whiter' colours with slightly deeper (or very much darker) benchtops.

Because of the Resene Half Pavlova and the Resene Half Spanish White I am not able to offer as many options but the following colours will work but you may need to use the colour chosen for the cabinetry for any other painted woodwork or the ceiling to tie it all together.

Colours to try: Resene Eighth Spanish White or Resene Bianca.

Resene Half Pavlova
Resene Half Pavlova
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
May 2013

Q. I have recently moved house. The wall colour is Resene Designer White and it feels cold in this house. However, the carpet and floor tiles are mid/dark grey - I would like some advice on a suitable (conservative) wall colour please.

A. The following colours are neutral and conservative and will work with the tiles and carpet. Try Resene White Pointer, Resene Barely There, Resene Double Black White or Resene Half Merino.

I suggest it may be wise to pop into a Resene Color Shop and look at the larger A4 samples that are in their Colour Library. If you pop a sheet of printer paper between the samples it will help you judge the depth and subtle undertones within each colour. If you also look at Resene Designer White at the same time your eye/brain will see the differences in the colours compared to the Resene Designer White so you don't misjudge a colour and think it is too similar to what you have already.

Please don't worry too much about the mid/dark grey tiles and carpet - they are able to work with many wall colours as they are fundamental neutrals. It will be the different qualities of natural and artificial light within the rooms that will make you see the wall colour undergo changes.

Resene Designer White
Resene Designer White
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Barely There
Resene Barely There
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
May 2013

Q. We have had our bathroom walls tiled halfway but I lack confidence to choose a colour for the walls. Tiles are white as is the shower and vanity and trims (which are still OK) and the rest of the house is sort of French Provincial with Resene Quarter Spanish White walls and Resene Half Spanish White lounge furniture covered in striped fabric of 'coastal colours' (we have sea views) so what would be a nice contrast for a good sized sunny bathroom.

A. If the bathroom is sunny have you considered watery cool colours? This could tie in the coastal aspect and will sit well with the white tiles - the colours listed below are an indication of what you might look at: Resene Carefree, Resene Half Emerge, Resene Breathless, Resene Quarter Powder Blue, Resene Half Periglacial Blue or for a complete alternative Resene Sandspit Brown from the Karen Walker Paints palette, which is warmer/deeper than Resene Half Spanish White

Resene Carefree
Resene Carefree
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Breathless
Resene Breathless
Resene Quarter Powder Blue
Resene Quarter Powder Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Sandspit Brown
Resene Sandspit Brown
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
May 2013

Q. We need help selecting an exterior house colour to update our look. We have a deep ocean COLORBOND® roof, black window trims and a monument garage door. We live at Mount Tamborine which has a country feel in a leafy area.

A. You are fortunate as your roof, garage door and window trims allow you to embrace many types of colours for the exterior. You might investigate the following colours as a starting point: Resene Fossil, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Joanna or Resene Tea.

I would consider doing the top rail of the deck and the battens in the gable as a much lighter colour so it stands out as a crisp detail - perhaps Resene Double Alabaster.

Resene Fossil
Resene Fossil
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Joanna
Resene Joanna
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
May 2013

Q. I am trying to find paint colours for our nursery. I want it to have a vintage feel and I am leaning towards blues and yellows. I am also looking for the colours to be subtle and warm without being too bright.

A. Dependent upon what natural light you have in the room (which can change radically how colours are seen) and what existing elements that you have that you are working around (carpet, curtains) you have a lot of options - far too many to list in a helpful way.

But if you had something to 'hook on to' - a picture from a magazine of something that you feel epitomises the look you are trying to achieve, or a colourful cot duvet or curtain fabric that you fancy that will be the anchor of the room's colours then you have a 'start point'. Without this you may be finding the whole exercise a bit more difficult. Paint comes last - after other decisions are made so that you can have free choice for other things in the room and not feel constrained in any way.

But if you would just like a few colours to get an idea of vintage blues and yellows or subtle/warm colours that aren't bright - which are two distinctly different types of palettes, then you might consider the following colours: Resene Melting Moment or Resene Escape - these two colours represent 1950-1960s vintage mid toned pastels or Resene Moon Glow or Resene Pattens Blue - these two colours are chalky/subtle and slightly warmed pastels.

Resene Melting Moment
Resene Melting Moment
Resene Escape
Resene Escape
Resene Moon Glow
Resene Moon Glow
Resene Pattens Blue
Resene Pattens Blue
May 2013

Page 01

Colours are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.

 

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Colours shown on this website are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.   See measurements/conversions for more details on how electronic colour values are achieved.

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