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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 109

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. 109

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


Q. Our house exterior wall currently is yellow with a maroon trim and red/brown roof. We are having trouble selecting a light colour combination for our house because of the colour of the roof. Have you any light colour combo solutions that you could recommend? (I do not like the yellow). 

A. I am not 100% certain that the guttering and the downpipes are a delightful feature that deserve to be highlighted – you may not agree with me on that one so I have included in brackets a colour for that purpose. Some colour ideas – not too pale – that may appeal to you are the following – Resene Half Cougar (main) with a slightly warm white for all the trims and windows – Resene Quarter Merino (Resene Rhino). Or Resene Caraway (main) with a slightly warm white for all the trims and windows – Resene Quarter Rice Cake (Resene Felix). Or Resene Triple Duck Egg Blue (main) and a cool crisp white for all the trims and windows – Resene Half Black White (Resene Artemis).

March 2021


Q. We are looking at painting a bach. Could you suggest a nice bright colour? I was thinking red or maybe a blue. We live on the coast.

A. You don't mention whether it is the exterior or the interior of the bach that you are painting so I have included several reds and several blues – try Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Jalapeno, Resene Wishing Well or Resene Endeavour.

March 2021


Q. The exterior of the house is Resene Double White Pointer and the roof is Ironsand. Would like a nice darkish blue for windowsills. We want a pop of colour.

A. A darkish blue would be a nice 'pop' of colour. Perhaps one of the following  may appeal to you – Resene King Tide, Resene Midnight Express, Resene Billabong or Resene Madison.

March 2021


Q. I am choosing colour for my house. Currently the brick is a brown colour with Titania joinery and gutters. I have chosen to paint the weatherboards with Resene Half Silver Chalice. Keep the brick colour with brown (coffee). What colour should I choose for soffits and the concrete base?

A. You might use a paler version of the Titania colour – Resene Quarter Titania or a paler version of the Resene Half Silver ChaliceResene Athens Grey (Eighth Silver Chalice). Or alternatively a nice neutral white – Resene Sea Fog.

March 2021


Q. We have some wooden chairs we would like to paint. We are planning to cover the chair pad in black leather look fabric. We have a light kitchen (white) with a white/cream rustic vinyl on the floor of the dining room/kitchen. The walls are Resene Quarter Tea and the curtains are grey. We have an oak extendable table we will be putting the chairs with. We are thinking of painting rather than having a wood look (as chairs are pine and table is oak). We are thinking of a rustic /distressed look in a cream colour (but not too distressed) but are open to other ideas. If we were to go for that look, we don't want the colour to be too white and clean looking. What colours can you suggest? Or what other ideas do you have that you think would match the look we are going for?

A. Doing a nice rustic/distressed look on the chairs is a great way of adding a different look to the dining room/kitchen.

You might use Resene Quarter Tea as a basecoat and then apply Resene Quarter Albescent White in a Karen Walker Chalk Colour paint. It is very easy to rub back with very fine wire wool in those areas where natural wear might occur to expose a wee bit of the basecoat. Plus the chalk paint is a very 'rustic' type of coating.

If you want the paint work to be protected a bit you can wax it. If you don't wax it the chalky surface will slowly rub and age with general wear.

Alternatively you can use Resene Bianca as a basecoat and a diluted (using 1 part colour/3 parts Resene FX Paint Effects Medium) topcoat of a lighter variant of this colour – Resene Quarter Bianca. A lot of rough brushing over the basecoat will allow you to build up more (lighter) colour but in a transparent way. You could rub back with very fine wire wool to achieve a more worn look if you desired.

March 2021


Q. My kitchen is U-shaped in an open plan area between two small living areas. The walls are Resene Dutch White except a small area round a bifold door which is red. The lower cupboards are grey tones and the central splashback is of greys/red glass tiles and I will continue the red paint along the small area either side of the splashback. (This red will be on the same wall as the existing small red area). I want to have the upper cupboards on the U-shaped kitchen painted an off white shade and my inclination is to paint them Resene Half Dutch White. These cupboards are in the darkest part of the whole open plan area. Is Resene Half Dutch White the way to go in an area like this? 

A. Are you choosing Resene Half Dutch White because you really love the rich yellow cream and because it would relate well to the main wall colour – Resene Dutch White? Resene Half Dutch White isn't that much lighter than Resene Dutch White.

If the cupboards are in a really dark area, then perhaps you might choose a lighter/brighter off white such as Resene Orchid White. Or try a stronger rich cream – but not as deep as Resene Half Dutch White – try Resene Quarter Dutch White.

March 2021


Q. We have a pale green roof that doesn’t need painting but a house that does and brown aluminium joinery set into timber frames. I’m struggling with house paint selection. I totally love Resene Half Periglacial Blue and Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue but I doubt these will work with the roof.

A. Unfortunately you’re right that the Resene Periglacial Blue colour family is unlikely to suit.

One day you will replace the roof with a deep charcoal with blue undertones in it and the window joinery with a slightly warm white and then you will have the colours you desire on the house. Until that day comes, I recommend you check out the following colours – Resene Quarter Bison Hide, Resene Double White Pointer, Resene Triple Merino or Resene Ash.

Any of these suggestions will work with a green roof and the brown joinery. What about the doors? You could try Resene Peace, Resene Double Pravda, Resene Grey Area or Resene Sambuca.


Resene Grey Area

March 2021


Q. We are building a 60sqm minor dwelling in Hamilton. We have chosen Grey Friars for the roof and Titania white for the joinery. Could you please suggest a few colour choices for the cladding? We are thinking of a light grey colour, since it is a small house.

A. The following colours may be a start point for consideration for the cladding – Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Half Tapa or Resene Archive Grey.

I hope these warmed greys provide a little inspiration. They work well with the yellow/green/grey undertones of Titania.

March 2021


Q. We are going to paint our 1960s bungalow. We would like to go lighter and will have a Grey Friars roof. Can you please recommend a colour for weatherboards and trims? It’s currently Resene Half Arrowtown and Resene Half Mondo.

A. Resene Clouded Blue – main – with Resene Poured Milk windows and other 'white' trims, Resene Quarter Heathered Grey – main – with Resene Half Sea Fog windows and other 'white' trims, Resene Silver Chalice – main – with Resene Quarter Black White windows and other 'white' trims or Resene Thorndon Cream – main – with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream windows and other 'white' trims.

March 2021


Q. Our lounge, living room, dining is painted in Resene Rockbottom and we also used Resene Rockbottom in the semi attached kitchen. We wish to make minor kitchen alterations and will move to a white ceiling and want a recommendation on a white that you think will best complement the Resene Rockbottom in the other rooms. We have found the kitchen a little too dark. We want to lift it somewhat and will also replace the splashbacks. 

A. You might use Resene Sea Fog for the ceilings. It works well with Resene Rockbottom and it isn't too stark a white. Some options for the splashback colour might be one of the following – Resene Triple Sea Fog (relates to the ceiling colour), Resene Silver Aluminium (sparkly metallic) or plain mirror glass with a top edge that is bevelled – this would increase the light and reflectivity within the kitchen.

March 2021


Q. Are there warm charcoal greys and cool charcoal greys? I'm looking for a warm contrast for greige and am thinking of charcoal – I'd like it to be a warm shade.

A. You might check out the following warm charcoals to see if they appeal to you – Resene Cosmonaut, Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Zeus, Resene Nocturnal, Resene Foundry or Resene Baltic Sea.

March 2021


Q. Please can you help with Resene Cape Cod colours for exterior.

A. In Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard on the eastern seaboard of America there are a lot of white houses. Some whites that you might look at – Resene Black White, Resene Sea Fog and Resene Wan White. The following colours are some other coastal inspired options you might like to check out – Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue or Resene Zumthor.

March 2021


Q. I'm trying to choose a colour for the exterior of my house. All the windows have been painted Resene White and the interior is Resene Eighth Drought. The exterior was Resene Tea, I think, but I would like to go lighter.

A. Have you considered a much lighter variant of Resene Tea – perhaps Resene Quarter Tea? Alternatively perhaps one of the following colours may appeal to you – Resene Quarter Parchment, Resene Half Ecru White or Resene White Pointer.

March 2021


Q. Our roof is in good condition and painted in a light grey (Resene Gull Grey). Our question is can we paint the guttering (and other key features as well) Resene Shuttle Grey? Our barge boards and sills we are thinking of Resene Triple Thorndon Cream and for our weatherboards Resene Thorndon Cream.  Could this work? Our windows are already white. Would the roof be too light in colour?

A. Yes, I do think the roof would be too light a colour. I think that the sun reflecting off the surface would make it look lighter/brighter  and it could look as though it was new unpainted iron. If the roof can't be seen at all then Resene Shuttle Grey with its blue/grey tones for the guttering and other key features would look really lovely with Resene Thorndon Cream for the weatherboards and other trims in Resene Triple Thorndon Cream.

March 2021


Q. I am about to paint the interior of my home and really like Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for my walls. I am now trying to find a contrasting lighter colour that complements this well for the ceilings, windowsills and framework.

A. With such a very pale tinted white colour as the main colour there isn't much that is lighter. I recommend you try Resene Quarter Alabaster or Resene White.

Alternatively you might consider using the same colour as the walls.

Often when the main colour is very, very pale using exactly the same and relying on sheen differences, such as Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss for the woodwork and Resene SpaceCote Flat for the ceiling to offset the low sheen on the walls is a practical option.

March 2021


Q. We are in the process of replacing and painting our weatherboard house Resene Rakaia and want to paint the new foundations when they go up. Can you recommend a nice contrasting colour to do these in?

A. You might consider one of the following – Resene Half Baltic Sea, Resene Half Scarpa Flow, Resene Eighth Bokara Grey or Resene Triple Rakaia. The default choices would be white like the windows etc or the same colour as the gables.

March 2021


Q. We have completed our hall painting using Resene Quarter Black White on the ceiling. The hall walls, doors and frames are Resene Quarter White Pointer. We don’t have much contrast. It’s a very stark white hall. We thought we could paint the doors and frames in a contrast to change it. What colour would you suggest – we thought something like Resene Quarter Tea. The lounge has Resene White Pointer on the walls with exposed timber ceilings and looks good.

A. After a bit of thought about your comment of the ceiling and walls looking very stark with not much contrast, I think it would be worth trying – Resene Quarter Black White on the ceilings, skirtings and architraves.

But it is the walls that need a little bit more colour – you could try Resene Half White Pointer (relates to the lounge colour but lighter) or Resene Quarter Tea (warmer tone). Doors could definitely be different to the architraves and skirtings – so perhaps the same colour as the walls but in a Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss enamel finish?

March 2021


Q. We are updating our kitchen to a nice stainless steel bench and wooden cupboard frontages. We are also changing the wall colour – it has been Resene Linen with Resene Joanna on the ceiling, we want to go more yellowy cream, thinking maybe Resene Half Colonial White or Resene Double Pearl Lusta on the walls. What would you suggest for the ceilings?

A. If you are using a stronger yellow/cream on the walls perhaps one of the following colours may work – Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta or Resene China Ivory.

All colours in an interior can appear much stronger – sometimes doubling their intensity – or appearing much brighter depending upon the type of colour.

March 2021


Q. I would like a neutral to complement our warm white pearl matt joinery. My kitchen has a navy island bench/Empira white benchtop with the other cabinetry in white and the benchtop in iconic white. I tend to have blue/green soft furnishings with rust/copper pops of colour. The kitchen is North facing living areas with a raked ceiling.

A. Try these neutrals – they work well with Warm White Pearl joinery – Resene Quarter Villa White, Resene Quarter Parchment, Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Half Thorndon Cream.

March 2021


Q. We are looking at colours to paint the outside of our villa. We are trying to choose between COLORSTEEL® Ironsand or FlaxPod for the roof. We would like to paint the weatherboards a nice clean white – we have had Resene Black White suggested, what are your thoughts on this? The front door we want to paint black. We are unsure what colour to paint the front porch decking. We want a light grey that will fit in the same family of colour as the roof. Can you please suggest a light grey that will complement either Ironsand or Resene Element?

A. Some whites that you might consider for the exterior – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Barely There or Resene Black White.

Light grey suggestions for the front porch decking might be like these colours – Resene Gauntlet, Resene Quarter Masala, Resene Gunsmoke or Resene Grey Area.


Resene Grey Area

March 2021


Q. I have a new kitchen installed and need to choose a colour for the splashback. The splashback will reach around the hob and extend right along the bench and under the window (which will be white). The kitchen is black and white. I was thinking a Smeg green, but toned down a smidgeon, for the splashback. Or something like Resene Mint Tulip, again a bit toned down though.

A. I love your colour ideas in regard to the splashback. Try these colours to see if they suit – Resene Sorrento, Resene Conch or slightly brighter – Resene Half Opal or much lighter/brighter – Resene Half Reservoir or Resene Edgewater.  

There are two types of glass used as splash backs but only one of them that shows the colour behind absolutely true to reality. That is called Crystal Clear Low Oxide glass. The other is called Standard Float Glass which has a definite green cast to it. That one can make a white paint look super minty.

March 2021


Q. We are planning on painting our dining and living area walls in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream (we are keen on a warmer white). What colour would you recommend for the doors, skirting boards, window frames etc? We have used Resene Quarter Black White for trims in the bathroom so would we be able to continue with that?

A. You could use that white but it may look cooler/greyer compared to the Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. Would that worry you? If that is the case then perhaps you could use one of the following whites – Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream or a cleaner crisper white – Resene Quarter Alabaster.

March 2021


Q. I am repainting our exterior and have been advised to use a reflectivity of at least 70%. I like greys but may need to go lighter.

A. The following are colours that meet the criteria and I have listed the LRV alongside – Resene Concrete, Resene Quarter Rakaia, Resene Athens Grey, Resene Quarter Surrender, Resene Triple Black White or Resene Half Iron.

March 2021


Q. I have a rustic sunroom which I am going to paint Resene Lemon Grass with Resene Alabaster on the ceiling and door/window frames. The floor is some kind of painted wood (like ply). As we are not able to tile for a while and want to improve the overall look, what colour would you recommend for the sunroom floor to complement the trim and walls? The adjoining living room has timber floors and we are going to paint the walls Resene Merino.

A. The following are some earthy colour options that you might like to check out – Resene Half Gravel, Resene Double Stonehenge or Resene Moccasin.

Instead of a plain paint colour you could stencil a pattern on the floor. Or you could do a paint effect to mimic a tiled floor.

March 2021


Q. We are going to paint the exterior of our house (approx 1910, single storey villa). We are looking at Resene Celeste for the weatherboards and Resene Half Black White for the trim. The roof is Grey Friars.

We need advice for a front door colour. We like the idea of making a statement with the door colour. The colour which seems to go well is Resene Deep Koamaru, however, it is very similar to the colour we already have. I'd like to change it. The colour I'm thinking is Resene Carpe Diem, however, my husband isn't sold on that colour. He thinks a more saffron shade would be better. I also like Resene Wasabi and Hullabaloo. Do you have any suggestions?

A. Perhaps the following colours may appeal to you – Resene I Dare You, Resene Jalapeno, Resene King Tide, Resene Atlas or Resene Jailbreak. If you can't make up your mind you could play the ‘Like It Least’ game. By removing the least liked colour – you can choose one – and then your husband can as well you will end up with one colour. It is the best one – because you both have removed the ones you didn't like as much.


Resene I Dare You

Resene Jailbreak

Resene King Tide

March 2021


Q. We have just purchased a house and have decided that Resene Half Biscotti is the colour for us. I want to do a feature wall in the main bedroom, my girls’ bedrooms and playroom (same colour) and I would like a blue/navy bathroom. My husband is worried it will look hodgepodge. Can you suggest colour that would complement the Resene Half Biscotti. We need a main colour for the bedroom, a bathroom colour – Resene Ivanhoe might be an option and a bedroom/playroom colour that is pink/burnt orange but light in colour. Is this possible without looking like a disaster?

A. Your main house colour – Resene Half Biscotti – is a very warm sweet beige. Before you race off and buy huge amounts of this colour might I just say all colours in an interior can look double their depth.

So even though you say you are all set to have Resene Half Biscotti please be aware it may look like Resene Biscotti or even Resene Double Biscotti in some rooms or at different times of the day – would that worry you?

Best idea is to trial it with a testpot first and I would also recommend you trial Resene Quarter Biscotti.

The following colours may appeal to you for feature walls – Resene Glorious, Resene Neutral Bay, Resene Leather or Resene Juniper.

March 2021


Q. We have a Shadowclad house with Karaka aluminium joinery and unpainted corrugated iron roof. We live in a rural setting. We are looking to paint the Shadowclad and need colour advice on colour options which will go with the Karaka windows, wear well and look good in our natural setting.

A. The following are a few colours that you might check out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Eagle, Resene Schooner, Resene Double Tea or Resene Caraway.

March 2021


Q. I want to paint my house exterior in Resene New Denim Blue. It currently has a green fascia and dark charcoal roof. I want the fascia to be a grey-white, but not so pale that it looks completely white, and not blue-tinged so that it ends up looking baby-blue. 

A. The following are some slightly coloured whites that may appeal to you – Resene Triple Black White, Resene House White, Resene Whitewater, Resene Quarter Atmosphere or Resene Quill Grey.

March 2021


Q. We are turning a bedroom into an ensuite and walk-in wardrobe. Our bathroom will have white walls, wooden floors (rimu), grey slate tiles on the floor of the shower and white tiles on the walls of the shower. Our vanity is a very soft grey with a Cararra top. I'd like to paint the wall behind the vanity a colour that will be elegant and restful, but which also makes me smile. I am looking in the mid-dark blues and teals. Do you have a suggestion?

A. The following are a few elegant and restful deep blues and teals that may appeal to you – Resene Zinzan, Resene True Blue, Resene Bunting, Resene Teal Blue, Resene Billabong or Resene Spinnaker.

March 2021


Q. I have a gallery kitchen and want to paint the walls, laminate cupboards and even the benchtop. I have two windows north facing that the bench goes up to that have pine around them. I’m not considering painting window frame yet as I have pine doors and trim throughout the house. I am going for black light fixtures and cupboard handles. What would be good colours to do. I have considered a grey tone around the windows only but am not sure if will go with the pine.

A. It can be tricky to find exactly the right tone and colour when there is a 'something' (pine window frames) that isn't being changed. In your case everything must work well with the pine.

You could try these colours – option 1, try Resene Triple Black White for walls, Resene Half Black White for cabinets and Resene Tapa for the benchtop (in a two pack product), or option 2, try Resene Merino for walls, Resene Double Merino for cabinets and Resene Taupe Grey for the benchtop (in a two pack product).

The warmth of the colours that are suggested are to co-ordinate harmoniously with the pine.

March 2021


Q. We are painting the interior of our 1800s villa type house upstairs. I was thinking of Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. Would it be too dark with the attic type shaped rooms? What would be a nice dark-mint green that goes with it?

A. I don't think Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream G93-011-091 would be too dark in the attic shaped rooms. However, if you have reservations, you could use Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream in just those rooms.

The following are some deep toned greens that work well with your main colour – Resene Double Lemon Grass, Resene Yucca, Resene Cabbage Pont or Resene Viktor.

March 2021


Q. We are looking for a nice warm neutral grey for the majority of the house to go with our Resene Alabaster trim. What would you suggest? We would also like to paint a feature wall in our lounge behind the TV in a dark denim type blue that would also go with the Resene Alabaster trim and the grey walls. We have a very sunny light filled house.

A. You might check out the following warm greys to see if there is one that appeals to you – Resene Whiteout, Resene Quarter Rakaia, Resene Athens Grey or Resene Triple Black White.

And some possibilities for a dark denim type of blue feature wall – Resene Rhino, Resene New Denim Blue, Resene Hammerhead or Resene Avalanche.

March 2021


Q. I have a single level three bedroom house built in the late 90s and will be repainting the interior. I am looking at using one paint colour the same strength on the ceiling/walls and trim and would like to use a warm colour.

A. If you are using the same colour on all surfaces the ceiling will look slightly deeper than the walls. This is because of the angle and the way the light falls away making shadow.

Because of that the colours I am suggesting are very pale – try Resene Half Orchid, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Albescent White or Resene Half Merino.

March 2021


Q. I’m having trouble finding a paint colour combination for a 1940s kitchen. At the moment I’m thinking either Resene Hero or Resene Buttercup for the cabinet doors, but I’m not sure what colour to paint the walls and cabinet framing (it would be the same colour for both). It is a very dark room with hardly any natural light, so white is not an option as it looks very dingy. Do you have any ideas on a colour for the walls and framing of the cupboards that would work well with Resene Hero or Resene Buttercup on the cupboards?

A. You might try the following colours – in brackets I have noted which of the two colours it may look best with – Resene Half Buttermilk (with Resene Buttercup), Resene Half Dutch White (with Resene Hero). Or another option – because I have had some ideas – Resene Quarter Moonbeam (with Resene Sweet Corn). These are bright but have a soft mellow glow about them.

March 2021


Q. I want to choose a dusty grey/blue for the kitchen joinery in our new home and I want the walls to complement this, without going for the safe option of white walls. There will be a new brick fireplace and white moulded beams on the ceiling. Big bay windows with white plantation shutters will finish off the space. And the window joinery will all be white.

A. One of the following dusty grey/blues may appeal to you – Resene Lynch, Resene Excalibur or slightly lighter/bluer – Resene Halcyon or Resene Half Dusted Blue. Have you considered painting the walls the dusty grey/blues and using white for the cabinets? Just a thought – because you don't want white walls you could reverse the scenario.

Alternatively, one of these neutrals may appeal to you for the walls – Resene House White, Resene White Pointer, Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene Eighth Drought.


Resene Halcyon

March 2021


Q. Could you please suggest some warm grey tones for the exterior of a large split level house, that would go with Silver Pearl coloured windows? I have looked at Resene Half Friar Greystone for the bottom of the house and Resene Quarter Friar Greystone for the body of the house but worried it will end up 'cold' looking in bulk as it is a very large house. I’m also after a statement colour for garage doors and front and back doors etc.

A. You could try out these colours – Resene Quarter Taupe Grey (and the deeper variants of this colour), Resene Quarter Foggy Grey (and the deeper variants of this colour), Resene Archive Grey or Resene Quill Grey.

The house doors might be more of a statement if they were a definite colour. Do you have any favourite colours? One of those might be the way to go.

Or – just an idea – perhaps one of these – Resene Influential, Resene Family Tree or Resene Raging Bull.

The garage door might be a darker colour – Resene Triple Friar Greystone or Resene Double Masala.


Resene Influential

March 2021


Q. We've put in a new kitchen with white cupboards with a black gloss marble effect bench. The splashback will be gloss white tiles. What sort of white for the walls?

A. Perhaps a more shaded white like one of the following for the walls – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Quarter White Pointer or Resene Merino.

Ceilings and all wood trims – skirting boards etc – could be real Resene White – to create a clean crisp contrast.

March 2021


Q. We are stuck on choosing a colour. We have a cosy cabin and are thinking something quite dark and moody. The window frames will be left as oiled timber and the floors are a dark hardwood. It is currently being lined with a 150mm VJ panel.

A. It looks like a wonderful way to get away from it all. You mention a certain ambiance – i.e., cosy, dark and moody – that is certainly the effect of all the dark hardwood floor and the oiled timber details.

Perhaps you might check out the following moody colours – Resene Ivanhoe, Resene Yucca or Resene Chapta And Verse.

You might also consider warm, lighter (less moody) colours as they work really well with wood – Resene Half Astra or Resene Iko Iko.

March 2021


Q. What colours go well with a Gull Grey roof on a stucco home with white joinery? Or we could choose a Grey Friars roof?

At present we have Resene Jimmy Dean. We love the colour but we will be reroofing in either Gull Grey or Grey Friars and as Resene Jimmy Dean is a blue toning, we aren't sure if it will go. We love a strong colour but are not averse to a lighter colour but are having trouble with the lighter greys as some look muddy, green or just don't stand out from our white joinery. Can you please suggest some colours that could go with either roof colour?

A. A. If you used Grey Friars for the roof then the following colours may be slightly more harmonious – Resene Quarter Grey Friars, Resene Half Tuna or Resene New Denim Blue.

If you used Gull Grey for the roof then the following colours may work well with it – Resene Condor, Resene Chicago or Resene Half Gravel.

March 2021


Q. I have a stucco house with concrete tiles. I am looking for a new exterior scheme. I am picturing something like Titania for the new garage doors, fascias and windows, a dark roof and a soft coastal blue for the walls.

A. Titania is a yellow/grey toned colour and it may control what colour options suit your exterior – have you considered that?

The following are a few suggestions that may appeal to you – option 1, try Resene Triple Duck Egg Blue as your main colour with roof in Resene Coast. Or Resene Dusted Blue as your main colour with Resene Grey Friars for the roof. Or option 3 – Resene Neutral Bay for the main colour and Resene High Tide for the roof.

March 2021


Q. We have a flat roofed 1950s three bedroom weatherboard house as a rental property. Currently it is painted white with old metal garage doors and veranda post painted in a deep red. We need a colour scheme for the exterior in a hurry as the painter is waiting on a decision. We don't want to paint the house too dark so we're thinking maybe a lighter colour for the walls (not white) and a contrast colour for the garage doors and window trims.

A. The following options are simple and timeless and may appeal to you – option 1, try Resene Double Merino as the main colour with Resene Quarter Merino under soffits, eaves etc and Resene Quarter Baltic Sea for garage doors and veranda posts. Or option 2, try Resene Half Truffle as the main colour with Resene Eighth Truffle under soffits, eaves etc and Resene Half Masala for garage doors and veranda posts.

March 2021


Q. We have a Gull Grey COLORSTEEL® dutch gable roof with matching Resene Atmosphere spouting. The aluminium windows/doors are silver pearl. The house is mainly old style roughcast with a small area from a recent alteration using Stria board which we painted in Resene Armadillo. Most of the fencing around the home is also Resene Armadillo. Can you please suggest some colour options to paint the roughcast that will work in with the roof and Stria board? We were thinking a light/whiter tone like Resene Black White or Resene Sea Fog but are open to options.

A. The colours that you have mentioned are good options but before you choose, please check out the following to see if one of them appeals to you – Resene Barely There, Resene Merino or a lighter variant of Resene Atmosphere – Resene Quarter Atmosphere.

March 2021


Q. I want to find paint colour(s) that will complement our macrocarpa ceilings, which are throughout the house. I like duck egg blues and greys, but I'm wondering if I need to stick to whites/creams.

A. Some of the following light/warm colours would work well with the ceilings – Resene Half Tana, Resene Quarter Ecru White, Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Tiara, Resene Nebula or Resene Half Inside Back.

March 2021


Q. If I am planning Resene Quarter Rice Cake on my walls. What colour should I paint the skirtings and doors?

A. If you want them to be lighter than the walls but still slightly coloured you could use Resene Eighth Rice Cake. But if you wanted a whiter look you would have to use real white – Resene White.

If you wanted a slightly deeper colour you could use Resene Half Rice Cake or even Resene Rice Cake.

March 2021


Q. What white wall and ceiling paint would suit concrete floors? I don't like creamy/yellow tinged paint, but with concrete floors, I suspect the white needs to be a warm white? We're going for modern, clean lines with pops of colour through tiles, artwork etc.

A. Some warm – but not creamy – white colours that you might check out – Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Merino or Resene Half Sea Fog.

March 2021


Q. We are going to reclad our downstairs exterior which is currently painted Resene Double Lemon Grass. The upper exterior is Resene Eighth Lemon Grass and will stay as is. I'm now looking to go darker on the bottom exterior. The window trims will be Silver Pearl and the roof is Resene Karaka but is not really visible from any road level aspect. I think I'm keen to move into a dark grey/green direction.

A. The following colours may appeal to you – Resene Cobblestone, Resene Tapa, Resene Quarter Gravel or Resene Quarter Karaka.

March 2021


Q. For our weatherboard house we’ve used Resene Delta. We’re now looking to paint the concrete block around the bottom of the house. After much debate we decided we wanted a dark grey colour and went with Resene Half Tuna however are looking for something greyer.

A. A. Some other greys to check out are – Resene Gunsmoke, Resene Chicago or Resene Triple Delta. Some ideas for the roof are Resene Element, Resene Squall or Resene Windswept.

March 2021


Q. We are thinking of painting our exterior weatherboards in Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and would like suggestions of what would complement for the trims.

A. Some of the following colours may appeal to you – they all work well with Resene Quarter Silver Chalice – whiter colours like Resene Half Athens Grey or Resene Quarter Black White, mid and deep toned colours like Resene Double Silver Chalice or Resene Double Stack.

March 2021


Q. We are painting the exterior of our house and wanting to go with a light grey. All the colours I find are either too blue or too dark. Our roof is COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue. Eaves and windows will be white, and doors and bottom boards of house will be New Denim Blue. Can you suggest a nice very light grey that would suit?

A. Seeing as you have a New Denim Blue roof and want to use New Denim Blue on the doors and bottom boards of the house those blues may influence how you see any other grey. You don't mention which greys you have carefully tested so I have my fingers crossed that I am not mentioning those same ones again to you.

Perhaps one of the following light greys may work with New Denim Blue and appeal to you – Resene Triple Black White, Resene Quill Grey, Resene Midwinter Mist, Resene Grey Seal, Resene Half Mountain Mist or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey.

March 2021


Q. I’d like to know what goes with Ebony Clay.

A. Resene Ebony Clay looks good with many colours. These are just some that may appeal to you – Resene Napa, Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Black White or Resene Mischka.

March 2021


Q. We like Resene Lynchpin or similar? What colour around sills and barge boards/roof? It’s a beach bach hence the blues!

A. If you like Resene Lynchpin you may also like the following colours – Resene Escapade, Resene Bali Hai or Resene Botticelli.

The trims could be a fresh white – Resene Eighth Rice Cake.

The roof could be – Resene Grey Friars or Resene New Denim Blue.

March 2021


Q. Our beach house is currently painted Resene Tea with dark bronze joinery. I would like to change it to a white. A warm/faint beige white. I want a crisper look to it without it being an icy white. I don’t want it to reflect the white.

A. The following are some warm whites with slightly beige undertones that you might check out – Resene Eighth Fossil, Resene Eighth Truffle, Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Eighth Drought.

March 2021


Q. What exterior paint colours complement New Denim Blue aluminium windows and doors?

A. If you mean a colour that works well and harmonises with New Denim Blue then you might use creams, beiges and whites – perhaps one of the following – Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Quarter Biscotti or Resene Black White.

March 2021


Q. I am painting my house Resene Double Ash. I would like to know a darker shade to paint the footing. Part of the house is Summerhill stone the other is stucco – but the whole footing all the way round is stucco planning to paint the bricks and top stucco Resene Double Ash, wanted a darker colour for base and also the garage door.

A. The following are some deeper but harmonious colours that you could check out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Cobblestone, Resene Raptor, Resene Touchstone or Resene Tapa.

March 2021


Q. I want to paint a garden wall. The fence next to it is Resene Woodsman Tiri. The joinery on the house is Ironsand (not adjoining this wall). I am advised that a Resene Lumbersider in a Resene CoolColour is the way to go. If I use the Ironsand it will be too dark and too brown. Can I find a Resene Lumbersider colour that is between the two i.e. a bit lighter and greyer than the Resene Lumbersider?

A. One of the following may appeal to you – they are not as brown as IronsandResene Chicago, Resene Half Gravel or Resene Eighth Ironsand.

March 2021


Q. Please advise which Resene Woodsman Wood Oil Stain matches Ironsand.

A. There isn't a direct match between paint and stain – it may be a similar or sympathetic colour but not exactly the same. I have often recommended the following stain colours to use alongside IronsandResene Woodsman Sheer Black, Resene Woodsman Banjul or Resene English Walnut.

March 2021


Q. We will be having Resene Half Malta on our living room/hallway/bedroom walls. I’d like to do our kitchen cupboards in a creamy white (rather than white) with some white wall/white tile backgrounds. I’d also like to do the laundry and bathrooms in the same white wall colour. What would you suggest for a creamy white and a white?

A. The following colours may appeal to you – Resene Albescent White or Resene Half Albescent White and Resene Quarter Spanish White.

Some whites for the walls to go with Resene Half Malta and the warm creamy kitchen cabinets might be one of the following – Resene Alabaster or slightly warmer – Resene Quarter Bianca.

March 2021


Q. I want to paint the outside of the Resene House White. Inside I have used Resene Black White. Can I use this for the exterior of the house in full strength? What is the best black to complement it for the trim and roof?

A. Yes of course you can use Resene Black White for the exterior. Alternatively – because sunlight makes all colours much lighter/brighter – you might use Resene Double Black White as it may not look as stark as Resene Black White.

The trims and the roof could be Resene All Black or Resene Nero.

March 2021


Q. I was thinking along the lines of a browned grey colour on spouting and bargeboards kind of like Resene Nocturnal or Resene Baltic Sea or maybe lighter like Resene Napa? The windows are brown. The house colour is something like Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Quarter Truffle. We want a kind of neutral colour that won’t date. Maybe Resene Parchment under eaves. I was thinking Resene Napa for the fence as it gets dirty from the gravel.

A. The fence might be a mid-colour – Resene Gauntlet. The spouting and bargeboards could be darker – Resene Half Ironsand. Alternatively you might reverse the placement of the colours if you preferred.

The main colour on the house might be one of the following – Resene Half Truffle or Resene Eighth Friar Greystone. A lighter colour for under the eaves etc – Resene Black White or Resene Barely There.

March 2021


Q. What are good exterior whites for a house that gets a lot of sun?

A. The following whites are worth checking out – Resene Barely There, Resene House White, Resene Sea Fog or Resene Double Black White. These whites are slightly shaded in tone so they don't appear stark in very bright natural light.

March 2021


Q. I have an old Australian cottage dated 1897. Original hardwood but heavily overpainted. I want to do a full repaint outside and inside, including roof and verandas. Thinking of outside I'm veering towards a light sandy/yellow on outside walls? What colour for the old corrugated roof? What colour for the veranda floor? What colour for the old wooden sash windows?

A. Some options for the exterior that may appeal to you – Resene Quarter Parchment or Resene Eighth Sisal. The roof might be one of the following colours – Resene Scoria or Resene Canyon.

The wooden sash windows and other trims could look good in one of the following colours – Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Alabaster.

Deeper variants of these colours might be considered for the main interior rooms – Resene Rice Cake or Resene Half Sea Fog. The veranda floor could be one of these options – Resene Triple Parchment, Resene Half Innocence or Resene Burnt Sienna.

March 2021


Q. We are wanting to refresh all of our internal walls in our four year old home, which are currently all painted in Resene Thorndon Cream. The internal doors, ceiling, scotia, and skirtings are in Resene Black White. Can you please help us with a suggestion for all of the walls in a lovely white? Or could we just use Resene Black White on the walls too?

A. Yes, you could use Resene Black White for the walls. That way you wouldn't see the ceiling and trims taking on a slightly grey look if you were to use a warmer white for the walls.

Alternatively you might check out the following whites – which may appeal to you – and work with Black White – Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Eighth Tea.

March 2021


Q. I am looking to paint the bach weatherboards Resene Half Black White with the architraves Resene Double Concrete. What colour should the roof be done in?

A. Perhaps one of the following colours may be considered for the roof – Resene New Denim Blue or Resene Windswept.

March 2021


Q. We are painting the exterior of our house and were thinking of Resene Surrender for the main house, a white for the windows and soffits and wondering if we should paint the concrete base Resene Surrender of a contrasting colour such as Grey Friars and the chimney? Also our garage door and roof are Ironsand, should we paint these Grey Friars?

A. Yes, I do think that the garage roof and roller door should be repainted in Resene Grey Friars.

The concrete base of the house and the chimney may not look as nice as you might like if they are painted too dark (Grey Friars) but a lighter variant may link everything together nicely – Resene Quarter Grey Friars.

Alternatively a deeper variant of the main house colour may appeal – Resene Triple Surrender.

If not, you might check out these ones to see if they appeal to you – Resene Poured Milk or Resene Half Black White.

March 2021


Q. I am looking to repaint the house with a modern clean colour (was leaning towards a grey). All of our fencing is painted in Resene Element – with a tile roof and we are not sure where to start.

A. I think the place to start is the garage door. If it was the same colour as the fence – Resene Element – it would be balanced and harmonious. Some colours to consider for the house are these ones – the bracketed colour is for the foundation of the house if you want to maintain it as a feature. The colours can be reversed – i.e. lighter to the foundation and slightly deeper to the house. Or – alternatively – the house and foundations can be painted just one colour.

Try option 1, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey (with Resene Foggy Grey) or option 2, Resene Eighth Tapa (with Resene Half Tapa).

March 2021


Q. I am having a house built (with GJ Gardner) and have opted for Resene Quarter Tea for most of the walls with a mid-brown carpet and other warm tones. The colour specialist has suggested Resene Black White for the ceilings and trims. I would like a lighter shade for the walls in the bathroom and ensuite (not Resene Quarter Tea), either white or light cream. The colour specialist has suggested Resene Half Thorndon Cream but I am wondering if this is too dark and I know it has a green tinge.

A. You might check out the following colours – Resene Double Black White, Resene Wan White, Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Quarter Merino.

I have a small worry that Resene Black White may take on a grey undertone if it is used with Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Quarter Merino.

One way to get over that as a possible problem is to use Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Quarter Merino for walls and ceilings etc.

March 2021


Q. Our weatherboard house is painted Resene Half Lemon Grass with Resene Bianca window frames and Resene Pohutukawa doors. We would like to paint the iron roof a pale or mid grey. We have a lot of greenery around the house.

A. The following greys may appeal to you as roof options – Resene Gauntlet, Resene Lattitude or Resene Mid Grey. That way you can compare them with each other and alongside a swatch of Resene Lemon Grass and Resene Bianca.

March 2021


Q. I am painting my interior walls and skirting boards. The joinery is Desert Sand. We are looking for a neutral colour.

A. Desert Sand is quite a strong colour. The following are a few options that are lighter but harmonious – Resene Half Biscotti for walls with Resene Half Orchid White trims, or Resene Half Spanish White walls with Resene Half Bianca trims.

March 2021


Q. Can you please recommend a wall colour that is a neutral white with no yellow or beige tinge that would go well with Resene Black White coving, architrave and skirting?

A. The following whites may appeal to you – Resene Barely There, Resene Double Black White, Resene Athens Grey or Resene Merino.

March 2021


Q. I am looking at doing Resene Rice Cake on the walls and Resene Quarter Rice Cake on the ceiling, trims and doors. What would be a good colour for a feature wall – nothing too dramatic?

A. Some ideas for a feature wall for you to try – Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Half Perfect Taupe, Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Grey Seal. These are beautiful gentle pastel colours that work well with Resene Rice Cake.

March 2021


Q. We are after some advice as we are currently redecorating the inside of our first home. We have decided on Resene Double Merino and will have feature walls throughout of Resene Waiouru. Could you please advise of which white we should use for trims (door architraves and windows)?

A. You could try a soft/very light variant of the wall colour – Resene Quarter Merino, or alternatively, Resene Alabaster or Resene Eighth Rice Cake.

March 2021


Q. I have Resene Triple Parchment on the walls and as far as I know, I have white on the ceilings. I want to change the colour of some of the walls but it needs to blend with the rest of the house painted in Resene Triple Parchment. The kitchen is dark so it needs the paint to help lighten it up. I have light cupboards and a darker speckle bench top and white door frames and windows.

A. You might consider using lighter variants of Resene Triple ParchmentResene Parchment, Resene Half Parchment or Resene Quarter Parchment.

March 2021


Q. I am redecorating my bathroom in our 100 year old villa. The bathroom has a Rimu floor and will have varnished waist high Rimu wood panelling. We have a corner shower which is white and a white toilet and pedestal washbasin. The curtains and tiles (above the washbasin) will be chosen once we have our colour sorted. Can you recommend colours that work with natural wood?

A. The following neutral colours are ones that may appeal to you as well as work well with Rimu – try Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Double Villa White or Resene Pearl Lusta.

Alternatively a wee bit of definite colour can look lovely with Rimu in an old villa – Resene Aspiring or Resene Emerge.

March 2021


Q. We are looking at painting the walls of our renovation Resene Quarter Tea and I am trying to choose the white for the windows and the cornice. Is there just a standard white? Or what would you recommend?

A. Yes there is a standard white – Resene White. It would work very well with Resene Quarter Tea and provide a very crisp clean contrast. Some people prefer a soft edged very slightly coloured white like Resene Eighth Black White or Resene Half Alabaster but it is a personal choice.

March 2021


Q. We have a beachfront 1970s bach in Golden Bay and we want to paint the exterior so that the bach recedes into the garden. Nature and the beach will be the heroes and our bach will resemble a bird's nest of rather large sticks! I have found Resene Wood Bark, Resene Monkey, Resene Coffee Bean and Resene Burnt Umber as possibilities and we're wanting a black for the shutters and windowsills. Could you advise on which brown to choose and a companion black for it please?

A. A black for the shutters and windowsills might be one of the following – Resene Black which will work with any dark brown, Resene All Black, which will work with any dark brown, or Resene Blackjack which is slightly softer and has an earthy undertone. It works well with Resene Monkey.

March 2021


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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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