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.
Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.
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Q. We're doing a new build and are wanting to do green kitchen cabinets and second lounge. The kitchen is based on a country kitchen style with a wood laminate benchtop. We're thinking quite a snug feeling for the second lounge and the rest of our walls will be Resene Half Tea and trims and ceilings in Resene Alabaster. The greens that we're choosing between are Resene Olive Green and Resene Jurassic and we can see benefits for both. Resene Olive Green seems more bold and Resene Jurassic seems a calm green. A. To be honest either will work for a country style kitchen – and you are correct Resene Jurassic has a slight blue/grey edge to it so it is calming – where Resene Olive Green tends to have a yellow undertone and yellow energy, but works well with many colours and timber. However, as the rest of your walls are Resene Half Tea, I suggest Resene Jurassic which is a great green to pair with on trend schemes and it works better with Resene Half Tea. October 2022 |
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Q. We are about to choose a new updated Resene colour for our apartment building and need advice on a neutral to white to replace the current soft mint green. We are keeping the garage, trim and fences in Resene Double Gravel and the joinery is white. The building was built in 1952. A. Check out Resene Triple Black White or Resene Half Ash – a neutral with a soft hint of grey will pair with the Resene Double Gravel and contrast with the white joinery without emphasising it. Colours do brighten and lighten outside up to 30% – so on buildings we don’t usually recommend a stark white – however, if you are looking for a white – Resene Sea Fog is a versatile white which suits most colourways and a variety of architectural styles – whites were commonly used on buildings in the 1950s and in Greek architecture – taking a cue from the name ‘Delphi’. October 2022 |
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Q. I think the interior of our house has been painted with Resene Caraway on the doors, skirting and windows and Resene Half Caraway on the walls. I find the colour too dark and am looking for a whiter colour for the walls. Can you suggest anything which co-ordinates with the Resene Caraway so that the walls could be repainted. A. Grey whites look good with Resene Caraway – check out Resene Sea Fog. October 2022 |
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Q. I am looking at painting my bedroom Resene Ethereal. Will the Resene Elderflower go with this? I am looking at putting Resene Elderflower on the window trim, skirting boards and the wardrobe. A. Resene Ethereal looks good with clean contrasts – and Resene Elderflower is clean enough that it will work and it can create a nice ambience choosing a slightly warm white for trims in a bedroom.  Resene Elderflower  Resene Ethereal October 2022 |
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Q. What colour options would you recommend for soffit boards please to blend Resene Barely There painted external walls with Grey Friars fascia boards/roof? A. Resene Barely There is quite light outside so I suggest painting the soffit the same – this will create continuity and less of a contrast with the Grey Friars – alternately you might like Resene Half Barely There. October 2022 |
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Q. I’m painting a new build. The roof, windows and doors are FlaxPod, the majority of the house is Linea weatherboard and two walls are Stria. I’m going to paint the Linea a white colour like Resene Black White or Resene Half White Pointer and want to paint the stria something between the two, maybe a grey with a slight blue tinge to it. A. FlaxPod does tend to sit better with warmer greys – see if any of these appeal – Resene Solstice, Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Half Baltic Sea or Resene Nocturnal. Resene ColorShops have a colour library of A4 paint swatches – which can look very different when viewed outside in natural light than online. I suggest asking Resene ColorShop staff to assist you in finding the whites you prefer, Element (Resene’s equivalent to FlaxPod) and the greys – and view them together outside to compare tones. October 2022 |
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Q. After much internal debate I have decided to paint the exposed wooden beams in our upstairs bedrooms. The bedrooms are a colonial style A frame meaning the ceilings take up more area than the vertical walls. We also have rimu doors and trims. Downstairs I have Resene Quarter Truffle walls and Resene Alabaster ceilings. As the ceilings in the upstairs bedrooms are more dominant and the beams create shadow, I would like a warmer white. I was thinking of using Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Rice Cake on the bedroom ceilings and beams, and keeping with the Resene Quarter Truffle on the walls. A. Have you thought about wrapping Resene Quarter Truffle on the walls, ceilings and beams – it is light enough to do so and will create a warm, modern appearance – it is also a very current look – or you could paint the wall behind the beds Resene Quarter Truffle, Resene Half Truffle or full strength Resene Truffle and the rest of the walls, ceilings and beams Resene Quarter Rice Cake – this is warmer than Resene Alabaster and will look deeper on the ceilings in the bedrooms. October 2022 |
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Q. I want to paint the exterior of our house which has previously been stained. The house is plywood with wooden battens. The aluminium windows are a forest green and the roofing iron is Grey Friars. We were thinking a grey colour but are very open to suggestions. A. I agree a grey will work best in this instance – suiting the substrate and will help to bridge the gap between the joinery and roof – the trick is to choose a grey with a hint of green – not too light so the windows dominate – and not too grey so that the joinery looks more green against the roof. See if any of these colours appeal: Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Half Delta, Resene Greige, Resene Quarter Gravel, Resene Double Tapa, Resene Chicago or Resene Quarter Taupe Grey. October 2022 |
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Q. I really like the colour of the Resene Sureseal primer and I'd like to tint some Resene SpaceCote Flat to around half of that colour for my hallway. Can you let me know your closest Resene colours? A. The closest matches are Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta or Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta. Testpots are available in these colours. October 2022 |
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Q. I am going to paint my brick house to modernise the look. My garage door, aluminium joinery and gutters are Resene Porter. I am looking for a modern mid-grey to paint the bricks that will complement this. I was looking at Resene Gravel/Resene Half Gravel or Resene Gauntlet, but am not sure. A. Resene Gauntlet is my pick – it will pair with the Resene Porter better – Resene Gravel or Resene Half Gravel looks too green next to it. October 2022 |
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Q. I want to paint the weatherboards on our house Resene Eighth Stack and wondered what white you would recommend for trims to go with it. Would Resene Black White or Resene Half Sea Fog be a good option? A. Resene Half Sea Fog will be a good option. October 2022 |
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Q. I was wondering if someone can tell me whether the Resene Quarter Black White is a slightly warmer colour than Resene Alabaster. Both colours look almost identical on the A4 colour swatches so I'm just trying to determine what the difference is between the two. A. Resene Alabaster has the potential to be a warmer white compared to Resene Quarter Black White. Resene Quarter Black White is slightly more grey – so in a south facing room or one that has a lot of shadow – it will appear more grey – therefore cooler; however, Resene Alabaster can also appear cooler in these types of rooms – simply because low light rooms make cool toned whites appear greyer – it is all about light – perhaps choose Resene Alabaster for living areas and brighter areas and a slightly warmer white for bedrooms or low light rooms – or dress these rooms with lots of texture and warm colours. October 2022 |
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Q. I have painted Resene Quarter Silver Chalice (Resene Double Athens Grey) on the walls of an entranceway and kitchen/lounge (open plan living). I’ve painted master bedroom (walls and ceiling) Resene Quarter Lemon Grass. What would be a good contrasting colour for the kitchen/lounge ceiling? Would Resene Athens Grey work? Also I need suggestions for a good contrasting colour for skirting boards etc that would contrast with Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and Resene Quarter Lemon Grass. A. Colours shadow on ceilings so Resene Athens Grey will look like the wall colour – for a fresh, clean contrast, I suggest Resene Alabaster for the ceilings and Half Athens Grey for the skirtings and trims. Alternately you could choose Resene Half Athens Grey for the ceilings and trims – however, you will need to test the colour as it can change tone on a ceiling. October 2022 |
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Q. Our house is a villa and we have decided we'd like to paint the house in Resene Avocado. The roof is Scoria and we are thinking about a blue for the eave brackets, something like Resene Tarawera or Resene Revolver. The window surrounds in something like Resene Hermitage or Resene Duck Egg Blue. Would these colours work together? Could you suggest alternatives to the window surrounds. We are not keen on grey and would prefer something more colourful. A. Great to see colour being used on an exterior! Yes your combinations work but just need a bit of fine tuning – I suggest leaving the Resene Tarawera out and using a softer version of Resene Revolver (for balance) such as Resene Gun Powder (great colour) it will team better with the Resene Avocado and Resene Hermitage. I also suggest repeating Resene Gun Powder on to your window sills and facing (complete bottom sill, and brackets) – you don’t need another colour as you have the Scoria to consider as well. For the window frames and sashes use Resene Hermitage. For the weatherboards use Resene Avocado. We always recommend using Resene testpots to try out your colours as colour lightens outside and can even change tone depending on what it is adjacent to. October 2022 |
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Q. We have a plaster home which we will be painting in Resene X-200. It has a terracotta coloured roof. We are wanting to change the colour to something more modern and fresh. Do you have some colours you could recommend? A. I suggest painting the window trims and pergola timber slightly deeper – a colour which will pair with the cream joinery. Try Resene Half Ash walls with Resene Double Ash accent, or Resene Quill Grey with Resene Half Mountain Mist accent, or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey with Resene Foggy Grey accent or Resene Double Merino with Resene Quarter Arrowtown accent. October 2022 |
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Q. I have Resene Half Ash on plaster walls and a terracotta roof on a 1950 home. Which COLORSTEEL® colour in grey should I go for the garage door and then the two shed doors will be matched in a grey Resene paint? It is in a garden setting. A. I suggest investigating FlaxPod – it has been developed to suit natural NZ environments – the Resene equivalent is Element. October 2022 |
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Q. May I please get some advice on colours for our home. I am absolutely terrible in not knowing where to start/or choose. We have Linea board around the front of our house, and living room to stacker slider. Then the bedrooms and rear of house are in Axon board. I’m thinking something smart, not too dated. The home is 11 years old. We have just repainted the interior with Resene Black White with neutral tonings. The roof and joinery are Grey Friars. We are rural, have a great outlook and black post and rail fences. A. I recommend you try Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Half Delta, Resene Surrender, Resene Stack or Resene Half Stack. I suggest painting the Linea and Axon board the same colour – so the house doesn’t visually separate. October 2022 |
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Q. My house is painted Resene Red Oxide on the roof and doors and Resene Bone White on the walls. My question is what colour should I do the concrete steps. I have tried Resene Tuna which showed up too much dirt and now Resene Triple Ash which is looking too light. A. I recommend you try Resene Ravine or Resene Tino Pai – both are mid-toned colours which are muted enough to not show the dirt. October 2022 |
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Q. I am repainting my bedroom. The colour is Resene Half Linen which I love and am going to use again. I have a feature wall currently in Resene Evolution and I would like a softer look, maybe a grey/green or even a blue. The carpet is a charcoal blue, quite dark. A. See if any of these appeal: Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Eau De Nil, Resene Double Ash, Resene Helix, Resene Lazy River or Resene Conch. Paint A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) with two coats of a Resene testpot of each colour, leaving a white border on all edges to neutralise the existing Resene Evolution and attach to the wall.  Resene Eau De Nil  Resene Helix  Resene Lazy River October 2022 |
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Q. I am going to paint the walls in my house Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. I would like advice on what colour I should paint the ceilings, windowsills, architraves and doors. My window aluminium is black and my new doors have vertical grooves and black handles. It is a 1980 build and renovation job. The exterior cladding is bolstered Oamaru Stone. I am looking to achieve a timeless classical look throughout the house. A. Resene Half Alabaster is what I recommend for the ceilings and doors – vertical grooved doors look lovely light and bright – for the architraves and window frames – I recommend keeping them the same as the walls – so there isn’t too much contrast against the black joinery – these areas are generally painted in a Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss finish so this will create contrast in itself. October 2022 |
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Q. I currently have a basic rectangular weatherboard house painted with Resene Caraway walls and a Resene Lignite brown roof with window frames in Resene Dutch White. I am looking at replacing the iron on the roof and have the option of changing the colour. The fence all around the property is iron and has been painted Resene Lignite and the baseboards of the house are too. I have seen a house locally with Resene Gravel highlighting the outer sills and baseboards (currently I have Resene Brunette on the windowsills and think I may change this to Resene Gravel). My question is the colour of the roof – do you think the Resene Gravel will look strange with Resene Lignite on the fence all around the property as I don't want to have to change all that too! A. Yes I do feel the fence will look totally unrelated to the house if you use Resene Gravel – what works on one house doesn't necessarily mean it will work on another – check out Resene Ironsand for your roof, baseboards and trims – it relates to Resene Lignite – but is a more modern colour. October 2022 |
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Q. We are doing a new build and thinking of a New Denim Blue roof, downpipes and garage door with white joinery and weatherboards painted in Resene Half New Denim Blue or Resene Quarter New Denim Blue. We are getting natural stained cedar shiplap accents also. Would the cedar look good with these grey blues? A. Yes! Cedar complements classic denim blues very well. Resene ColorShops have a colour library of A4 paint colour samples – the staff will be happy to assist you in finding the Resene Half New Denim Blue or Resene Quarter New Denim Blue to see which you prefer – half strength is slightly more grey – quarter strength slightly more blue. Take them outside to view in natural light – as colours lighten up to 30% in bright light – both will look good. Certain substrates like new weatherboards may have a colour restriction (a specified LRV rating) so please check with your weatherboard supplier or builder to make sure these colours are suitable. October 2022 |
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Q. I'm about to choose colours for a modern, new build by the beach and was wanting some colour advise please. A. It really is open to what you are trying to achieve – coastal homes can have light or darker roofs and contrasting joinery or the same. I suggest your roof contrasts to your joinery – it does affect the interior to what joinery you choose. Have a look at Grey Friars (mid grey – with a slight undertone of blue) for the roof, Marley spouting and downpipes and Appliance White (goes well with greys and whites inside and outside) for the joinery and garage door. You could use Resene Sea Fog for the bargeboards, fascias and eaves and Resene Half Delta for the walls – a stone grey which picks up slight green tones and suited to modern contemporary schemes. It will depend on neighbouring houses to how this scheme will work. I hope this gets you creating with your new build colours. October 2022 |
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Q. We have a double brick villa that we have painted Resene Quarter Masala with white window surrounds etc. We have a pine fence that we would like to stain or paint but are very stuck re colours. Half the fence is new and half is old so we can’t paint it white as the old wood isn’t in great condition. So we think we will need to go dark but black would be too harsh. We are open to staining or painting. A. I suggest you paint rather than stain the pine fence – stain is semi-transparent and unless you go black to help hide the difference – the two woods (old and new) will appear a different colour. White paint is still a solid colour but it would be recommended that you undercoat the old fence wood first – then at least two coats on all – you will get an even white finish – Resene Lumbersider – Resene's recommended fence paint covers very well – however – I feel that white is not the right decision anyway. White will be quite bright and high maintenance. If you decide on white – Resene Sea Fog is less glary and a great colour for outside. I don’t feel you should bring in a new colour – but instead you could complement the Resene Quarter Masala – try a testpot of Resene Masala or Resene Half Ironsand. October 2022 |
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Q. What is the closest stain colour to Ironsand in the waterborne range to stain a pine fence? The garage door and roofs are Ironsand. A. Most people choose Resene Treehouse or Resene Charred Black when they are complementing Ironsand on the house – testpots are available in these stain colours – I recommend you try a couple. October 2022 |
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Q. My fence is painted Resene Grey Friars, weatherboard and bricks Resene Quarter Tea and cedar weatherboards Resene Pitch Black oil stain. The joinery is dark. I am about to have the house painted. Can you please suggest grey tone colours for the weatherboard and bricks to complement the grey fence and black cedar? I would like a darker tone for the bricks. A. I suggest a mid-tone grey for your weatherboard, as you have dark window joinery and it looks good blended, as it does with the cedar – however I have included a couple of lighter options. Colours do lighten by 30% outside – I have suggested three options – light to dark. I suggest painting the garage door Grey Friars and the steps may need to match the bricks. Option 1: Weatherboards in Resene Stack or Resene Half Stack with bricks in Resene Quarter Grey Friars. Option 2: Weatherboards in Resene Surrender with bricks in Resene Shuttle Grey. Option 3: Weatherboards in Resene Ted with bricks in Resene Raven or Resene Half Tuna. October 2022 |
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Q. I am in the process of choosing paint for our newly renovated house. It is nestled up in the hills in Eastbourne surrounded by bush. I would like the bedrooms to be a lovely grey blue and would like to choose Resene Half Dusted Blue for the bedroom walls. Please can you advise what white I should use for the trim and ceiling. Then the rest of the house will be white – considering it looks out onto a lot of greenery with a glimmer of the sea in the distance please could you recommend a suite of whites (ceiling, trim and walls) that would suit? Also to note the carpet is a cream/grey wool. A. Half Dusted Blue is a beautiful grey/blue – due to your location, outlook and carpet – I suggest Resene Half Rice Cake for your walls and trims, with Resene Quarter Rice Cake for your ceilings – including the bedrooms – which will tie in this area to the remainder of the house. I haven’t recommended a huge contrast between surfaces as I feel the location and outlook should be the focus – we don’t want the eye to stop at different strengths of colour – I am hoping it will flow through the space and to the vista. A slightly lighter ceiling will pair better with the blue and give visual height. The walls are generally best painted in low sheen (Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen) and the trims in semi-gloss (Resene Lustacryl) so this also creates a difference. October 2022 |
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Q. I’ve painted two south-facing bedrooms in Resene Half Duck Egg Blue. The colour is a lot stronger/deeper than expected. Any suggestions/washes I could put over the painted walls to soften/tone down the colour? A. A wash is a very definite look – the Resene Duck Egg Blue family actually looks really good with whitewashed furniture and whites in general. I recommend bringing in lots of texture on the windows and bed with white to lift the room - lightening the walls may make the room feel cold – rooms do appear more balanced once dressed – however you might like to do a special effect on one or more walls to soften the overall feel of the Resene Half Duck Egg Blue. Check out the habitat plus – bedrooms and special effects books to see what current effects are on trend and techniques. You can collect these free booklets at your local Resene ColorShop or view online. October 2022 |
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Q. We have painted the interior of our new build Resene Quarter Albescent White. I wondered if I could get your help with some suggestions for both complimentary and contrasting colours that I can use when I dress the house. The style is warm yet clean with some wood accents. A. Warm, soft beiges such as Resene Foundation, with warm metals, ochre tones such as Resene Open Sesame and warm salmon browns like Resene Otter and lots of greenery and natural textures in wheat or sandy tones such as Resene Tua Tua, will complement your style and pair with the slight warmth of Resene Quarter Albescent White. Contrasting tones to the above are charcoals, grey greens and clays and terracotta. October 2022 |
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Q. I want to freshen a dull study space. It is painted Resene Half Spanish White, including the ceiling, walls, architraves, skirtings, doors and office built in furniture. I don't want to paint the doors or built in furniture. Would Resene Alabaster on the ceiling and Resene Blossom on the walls work with the Resene Spanish White on the doors and built in furniture? A. There are not many colours that Resene Half Spanish White doesn't marry with – however, I feel Resene Blossom may make Resene Half Spanish White appear a little dirty – it does sit better with warmer pinks such as Resene Shilo or Resene My Pink. Resene Blossom is a lovely colour and will sit well with Resene Alabaster – however, because you are not repainting the doors and shelving – Resene Half Spanish White sits better with its own variants and I recommend Resene Quarter Spanish White for the ceiling – this will marry in with the built ins and doors and works with Resene Blossom – more so than half as it has less colour basically. So it really is a matter of deciding if you can live with the built ins and doors not sitting quite right with the walls, or looking at other pinks that may pair better. Colour can also be manipulated with soft furnishings and lighting. October 2022 |
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Q. We are trying to find a colour to paint our veranda. The house colour is Resene Akaroa and the roof needs repainting. It was a darker brown. We have brown aluminium window frames. If you could also suggest a brown for the roof, I would appreciate that. A. Resene Ironsand is a great colour for your roof which will pair with your windows nicely. Try Resene Tapa or Resene Castle Rock for your veranda. October 2022 |
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Q. We've used Resene Buttery White from the Karen Walker Paints collection on our walls but need advice on a white/neutral trim colour. We have started with Resene Half Rice Cake but I think it's too white and stark. A. I recommend you try Resene Quarter Villa White or Resene Chalk Dust. October 2022 |
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Q. We are looking at buying a new double garage door in COLORSTEEL® Windsor Grey. We are also looking to paint the roof and house. What would you suggest as complementary colours to Windsor Grey? A. Generally for balance, roofs are painted the same colour as the garage doors – but not in all instances – sometimes garages are matched to window joinery etc – depending on their location. I am guessing your roof will suit being painted the same as the garage doors being a dark colour. Resene Noir is the equivalent to Windsor Grey, or you might like to consider a slightly lighter version – Resene Times Square (same as half strength Noir/Windsor Grey).  Resene Times Square  Resene Noir October 2022 |
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Q. I am looking for a lustrous, very light but warm white for my timber panelled interior walls. The timber floor is (unfortunately) a very warm (almost orangey) colour by now and we cannot change that. So a cold white will not work. Can you let me know your thoughts please? We have large windows everywhere with a very green, tropical garden so a nice bright white would be lovely. A. Resene Bianca, Resene Half Bianca or Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta are light, warm whites which will tone with your native floors and help to diffuse any reflected green from the outside garden – keeping the rooms bright and warm. October 2022 |
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Q. I have Resene Merino in all my living areas and hallway. I love it, the trims are all Resene Alabaster. I would like to change just the lounge colour to be a slightly different tone or colour, but nothing too different. It’s all open plan and I’m keeping Resene Merino elsewhere. My accent colour is going to be green, not mint green (e.g. we just did Resene Olive Green in the bedroom with La palma wallpaper) so a bit of a tropical theme. I have steel grey sofas. It’s very bright in the lounge as most of it is windows. A. Resene Merino is a fabulous white and your colour combinations are sounding fabulous. A subtle shift in tone is what will work for the lounge and keep the scheme current. As you have lots of bright light – I recommend staying with the cooler toned whites – but stepping up to more of a grey/white which will counteract some of the light and work with the proposed greens – sage, olive and forest greens all work together; and your steel grey sofas. My suggestion is Resene Double Sea Fog for the lounge with Resene Alabaster trims. The Resene Sea Fog family sits nicely next to Resene Merino. They are essentially both from a cool toned palette – but Resene Sea Fog and its variants can be manipulated to appear cool or warm depending on what you pair it with – Resene Alabaster will keep Resene Double Sea Fog fresh and not too muddy. October 2022 |
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Q. I am building a cottage/two bedrooms based on Cape Cod early settler style. I love the 'oatmeal' look whereby I would like my living area and hallway in Resene Eighth Fossil. My kitchen will be white as well as bathrooms. What colour white will be best? I had liked Resene Half Bianca but it’s too creamy for Resene Eighth Fossil. I'm not keen on greys. I guess the white needs to hold a good contrast without being too similar to the Resene Eighth Fossil itself. A. See if any of these appeal: Resene Quarter Milk White, Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Alabaster. You can use a sharp white like Resene Alabaster if you are using a lot of texture and oatmeal colours – you will still be creating the Cape Cod ambience this way – the other two are similar but a lighter and subtle shift of tone to the Resene Eighth Fossil. October 2022 |
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Q. I need to stain my deck in four areas – balcony, front deck and back deck and fence. Basically, I don't like it as it is now as it all looks very woody and the same colour. I was thinking maybe the deck and fence could be different dark colours. A. Dark fences and substrates visually recede – which is good when property borders are defined. See if any of these appeal: Resene Woodsman Pitch Black, Resene Crowshead (warmer) or Resene Shadow Match (charcoal). The decks, railings and retaining walls could be stained a lighter colour – Resene Woodsman Natural or for a slightly deeper tone – Resene Nutmeg. Resene have CoolColour stains for dark colours – due to clever pigment technology, more of the sun’s energy is reflected away from the substrate, subsequently reducing the risk of heat damage issues. Please check with Resene ColorShop staff whether a Resene CoolColour is right for your project. October 2022 |
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Q. I want to paint my small kitchen a light sage green. The room has a window but it's on the dark side of the house so doesn't get much natural light. There are white splashback subway tiles. The kitchen is open to the lounge which is painted with Resene Bianca. What greens would you suggest? A. See if any of these greens appeal: Resene Secrets, Resene Half Secrets, Resene Celeste, Resene Quarter Beryl Green or Resene Half Beryl Green – being a space that doesn’t get too much light the last two greens do have a little bit more brightness to them than your traditional pale sage green – which generally has more grey, so they might work better in a darker space. October 2022 |
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Q. I am looking for a warm earthy feel to our new home. It has timber floors and leather chairs. I am thinking Resene Eighth Truffle for walls and Resene Quarter Sandstone for the feature wall. What colour should I use for the ceilings/trims/doors? My aluminium joinery is Sandstone Grey. A. Your combination of colours is lovely. Resene Quarter White Pointer is a greyed white with hints of taupe and will pair for the ceiling, keeping the earthy ambience but lightening the ceiling from Resene Eighth Truffle on the walls. Consider using a deeper strength of Resene Eighth Truffle for the doors and trims – try Resene Half Truffle. This will keep the earthy feel, rather than highlighting doors which there can be quite a few of down the hallway for example – white or off white can be quite sterile with this style, and draw the eye to the doors, rather than an overall appearance of a palette blending together, with subtle contrasts. Alternatively you can use Resene Quarter White Pointer. October 2022 |
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Q. We are doing renovations to our 1980 Hardiplank house, replacing all the joinery and roof with Grey Friars. Could you give me some recommendations for a light colour in the whites and neutrals to paint the exterior please? It's a long rectangular home with lots of windows and we live rural. A. See if any of these colours appeal: Resene Half Cloud, Resene Eighth Stonewall, Resene Ash or Resene Half Delta. October 2022 |
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Q. Could you please advise exterior colours on north facing walls that have been recently rendered, and that would go with schist? The aluminium window and door surrounds are Karaka, and there is a lighter, faded green roof. A. It does depend on what tone of Schist you have – but colours to try which will tone with different variants of Schist and Karaka are: Resene Double Bison Hide, Resene Copyrite, Resene Half Taupe Grey or Resene Archive Grey. I am conscious of the fact that the aspect is north facing, so the colour will wash out by approx 30% – but also considerate of it being a rendered finish and colours which are too dark can absorb heat, with subsequent issues – check with your painter/builder if there are any LRV restrictions – it depends on the substrate. October 2022 |
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Q. What colour white would best suit? We want to paint the ceiling and walls the same colour, to achieve a Scandi look with our American Oak wooden floors. Not a plain white, as this might look a bit sterile, but something that appears bright warm and open. This is for an open plan area including kitchen, dining and stairwell. We are going to complement this with pops of green indoor plants and a charcoal feature wall with a wooden bookshelf. A. Check out Resene Bianca – it is clean, warm and bright – it is very good at borrowing light and will create a Scandi feel, and it will tone with the American Oak flooring nicely. If it is a bit yellow – then try Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta. Alternately you could try Resene Half Rice Cake – a little bit more earthy however, with a very subtle green undertone. October 2022 |
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Q. For our new build, we have selected Resene Half Rakaia as the base wall colour in living areas and Resene Half Periglacial Blue from the Karen Walker Paints range for bedrooms. The ceiling is in Resene Half Black White. I don't like white for the doors, I really want a grey shade. Could you kindly suggest a grey colour for the room doors and cupboard doors which would go well with Resene Rakaia and Resene Periglacial Blue? We considered Resene Delta but didn't think it sits well with these two colours. A. I recommend Resene Black White for the ceiling. Investigate these greys for the doors and cupboard doors: Resene Triple Black White, Resene Double Concrete or Resene Silver Chalice. October 2022 |
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Q. I'm planning to paint our front living room and have prepared it. At present the ceiling, walls, architraves and skirtings are all painted the same colour – Resene Half Spanish White. The paint is 20 years old. I want to brighten and freshen the room and think Resene Half Bianca would be good. Should I paint the ceilings the same or use ceiling white? I find the current scenario is dull and oppressive. It is a large sunny room with large windows. A. If you find the current placement of colour oppressive then I suggest painting the ceilings a soft white such as Resene Alabaster. October 2022 |
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Q. My living and kitchen area have retro style casement windows and I would like to paint them and also all door trims in Resene Pale Leaf. The walls are VJ and get a medium amount of natural light and all windows look out to garden. Do you think Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Half Rice Cake would be best suited to the walls? Would I do the skirting board/ceiling in a different shade white or same as the wall? A. Resene Half Rice Cake pairs well with greens and your beautiful style suits warmer whites. Resene Half Bianca is another pale warm white you might like to try – these whites may take on a certain amount of the green reflected from the windows and trees. Resene Half Bianca is good at neutralising green. October 2022 |
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Q. What is the best 'white' for painting interior doors and trim i.e. architraves around doors and windows and sills in Resene Lustacryl to go with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen walls in Resene White Linen? We have lots of Rimu trim and floors. I wonder about Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Triple Alabaster. A. Resene Alabaster will be best – it is our most popular white for these areas. Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Triple Alabaster will be too grey. October 2022 |
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Q. We have a 1929 bungalow in Westmere, Auckland. The roof is COLORSTEEL® Desert Sand. The cladding is weatherboards, timber windows and doors and barge boards. What colour choices would you advise for these? A. Complex warm neutrals pair well. Investigate Resene Half Parchment or Resene Sugar Loaf for the weatherboards with Resene Alabaster for the bargeboards, fascias, windows and door frames. The bottom windowsills including facing and the doors, try Resene Double Napa. The front door could look stunning in a gloss finish using Resene Enamacryl. For any timber fences – try Resene Mondo or Resene Gravel. October 2022 |
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Q. I’m repainting the weatherboard exterior of my house. It was Resene Half Foundry with a COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey roof and Sandstone Grey joinery. I want to lighten the colour of the weatherboards and what are some options (other than a lighter Resene Foundry) that would work well together without it all blending together to look too grey? A. Check out Resene Eighth Masala, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey and Resene Double Stack. All of these will tone but create enough contrast and are much lighter than Resene Foundry. October 2022 |
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Q. I live in the King Country and am looking for an exterior paint for my house. The house was built in 1994 and is made of Firth Focus/Pioneer Bricks Grey Blend which is composed of 50% Smokey grey, 25% natural and 25% charcoal grey bricks. The roof is Pacific Blue iron and the joinery New Denim Blue. We have Resene Sandstone walls and a Grey Friars roof shed adjacent to the house. A. Colours to pair all the existing elements together are: Resene Eighth Truffle, Resene Cloudy, Resene Westar, Resene Concrete and Resene Half Stack. October 2022 |
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Q. My house is painted Resene Half Tea and I am wondering what colour to paint the front door. At the moment it is purple and I hate it. A. Can you pull a colour through from the house – the roof, joinery or an accent colour – sometimes deeper versions of these colours in a gloss finish look great on the front door. Alternatively you might like some of these trending colours which pair with Resene Half Tea (they will need to work with other existing elements, so a testpot is recommended) – Resene Savour, Resene Kombucha, Resene Watermark, Resene Piazza, Resene Outlaw, Resene Rebel or Resene Vantage Point.  Resene Watermark  Resene Kombucha October 2022 |
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Q. We want to paint our walls in a shade of white that complements our powdercoated aluminium window joinery which is very close to Resene Half Spanish White. The window frames are currently painted in Resene Half Spanish White and the walls are currently a dark shade. Is there a white paint colour suited to Resene Half Spanish White that you recommend we look at? A. Check out Resene Chalk Dust. It will pair with Resene Half Spanish White while remaining a warm white. The Resene Spanish White family works together well so Resene Eighth Spanish White is also an option – but is more cream than Resene Chalk Dust. The windows and framing will be darker than the walls – is this the effect you are going for? October 2022 |
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Q. I was wondering what colour the Resene colour isolator cards are? A. Unfortunately the grey isolator is not a Resene standard colour – it is based on an international standard for colour isolators. Try Resene Half Tapa as an alternative – there are standard deeper and lighter variants of this colour available also. October 2022 |
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Q. Our house has black aluminum joinery and Shadowclad (currently painted Resene Bokara Grey). The front door is bright orange metal. We are seeking a lighter colour (>45 LRV%) for the exterior walls – but the pale green we like (Resene Pale Leaf) doesn't sit comfortably with the orange door. A. Minty greens and pale aquas sit quite nicely with bright orange – try Resene Kandinsky, Resene Nebula, Resene Paris White or Resene Beryl Green. October 2022 |
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Q. We're having a house built and the painters will soon need an exterior colour choice. The only colour we've chosen so far is FlaxPod for the roof, windows, front door and garage door. There is some cedar on the house. I have no idea which version of white, or off-white would look best. A. Resene Sea Fog is a grey edged white that is perfect for exterior use and will suit your scheme. It is a bit muted (although will look like a soft white outside) which means it won’t be too glary in bright light. It suits urban and natural environments. October 2022 |
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Q. We've just painted our living room in the Resene Sea Fog. We are looking to find complementary colours that would add a pop of colour to the room, but are unsure what colours would be a good match. We quite like greens, and earthy tones, but are open to any suggestions! A. Resene Sea Fog is very versatile and will sit well next to a multitude of colours, however, it particularly pairs well with muted colours. See if any of these appeal: Resene Time Traveller, Resene Inside Back, Resene Ravine, Resene Tic Tac Toe, Resene Pravda, Resene Beryl Green, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Quarter Masala. Also look at lighter and deeper variants of these colours – the best one will also depend on lighting, flooring and furniture etc. October 2022 |
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Q. I would like to paint my front door yellow. My exterior is Resene Triple Sea Fog on the weatherboards and trim, with Resene Double Stack on the bottom foundations. Resene Double Stack also continues onto the steps leading up to the front door. The interior of the house has a coastal theme with blues and greys and light (ish) pine wood floor throughout. I’d like to introduce a few yellow decor components throughout the house, based on the front door colour, but wish to keep with the chilled coastal vibe. What yellows do you suggest? I’m drawn to sun kissed, starstruck and corn but wasn’t sure if these are a good complement for the existing colours. A. Yellow is a great colour for a front door and to bring through in the interior via accessories and soft furnishings – you are on the right track with your tone, however, I have tweaked them slightly and chosen two yellows which may appeal – try Resene Light Fantastic – a brighter yellow with depth and is a popular tone for front doors of grey homes – or for a more golden hue – Resene I Dare You. You can mix and match a bit – so if you choose the brighter cleaner option such as Resene Light Fantastic for your door – you can bring the golden hue into your home also. October 2022 |
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Q. We are undergoing a renovation to our existing two-storey Linea house where we have done a small extension (including new front entrance and slight extension in Axon, an internal access garage (rendered) and deck above to the front of our house) and are wondering what colours to choose i.e. whether the small extension and garage should be the same as the main house, or a different colour. The existing house is painted Resene Double White Pointer with Resene Chalk Dust for the fascia and existing deck trim and posts (deck is Vitex). All joinery and flashings including the new front door and garage door is Matt Gravel (close to Windsor Grey and appears with a bluish tinge). Not sure if we should do the same colour, similar but contrasting or totally different to the extension? A. An extension is basically that – an addition to the original house or building, therefore in most circumstances it makes sense to keep all colours the same, including the joinery, flashings if applicable. October 2022 |
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Q. I own a 40 year old Lockwood. I’m painting the fences Ironsand to complement a tropical garden. What colour would you recommend for the trims on the house? The house is the standard Lockwood white colour but needs attention, so I could change this too. A. I recommend Resene Half Masala for the trims – it is a slight change in tone from Ironsand but pairs with it well, and gardens. For the Lockwood walls – try Resene Double Ash, Resene Quarter Pravda or Resene Double Bison Hide. October 2022 |
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Q. I'm looking for recommendations for an exterior white for a high set, weatherboard house. We have pearl white windows, perisher white garage door and a Surfmist roof, fascia and gutters. I’m looking for a white that is not too stark, has some contrast with the trims, windows and is not too grey/beige. I’ve been looking at Resene Sea Fog and Resene Double Sea Fog. Any others I should consider? A. The Resene Sea Fog family is a great option – Resene Sea Fog is a versatile white which isn’t too stark outside – colours and whites lighten and brighten in natural light – investigate Resene Triple Sea Fog. October 2022 |
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Q. We're looking for a light concrete grey paint for our living room walls. We notice Resene Concrete has a bluish tinge. Can you suggest a light grey/concrete colour without a blue, green or mauve tinge? A. Try Resene Quarter Silver Chalice or Resene Silver Sand. October 2022 |
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Q. Our house has a large old deck that we need to stain but we are unsure what colour. The cladding will be Resene Mountain Mist, windows and trim Resene Half Concrete and roof in Windswept. We have stained a new woodshed with one coat of Resene Tiri and love the colour but aren’t sure if it will work on the deck with our house colours. It gets cold and damp here in winter but very hot in summer so we don’t want anything too dark that will be too hot to walk on A. Investigate Resene CoolColour stains – thanks to clever pigment technology a Resene CoolColour looks like a normal colour but it reflects more of the sun’s energy, so it doesn’t get as hot as a standard colour would. Your colour combinations work well and Resene Tiri is definitely an option – I suggest comparing it to another colour – this helps to determine if it is the right tone or not. Resene Smokey Ash is an alternative to try – a bit lighter and warmer. October 2022 |
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Q. We are renovating a small house and have chosen Resene Element colour for the roof and aluminium joinery. We are not sure on the colour for the Shadowclad cladding. We have lots of windows, I am thinking a lighter grey. But am open to suggestions. I would love to go a dark blue but would that be suitable with Resene Element? The cladding is vertical. The house is in North Canterbury. A. You might want to check with your builder on the LRV (light restriction value) rating for Shadowclad – as I am aware dark colours are not recommended for new Shadowclad cladding – therefore a dark blue would not be suitable – and doesn’t pair all that well anyway with Element. Colours that might appeal are: Resene Mountain Mist, Resene Double Concrete, Resene Half Delta, Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Archive Grey or Resene Copyrite. October 2022 |
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Q. I am freshening up a bedroom which originally was Resene Pavlova with the skirting board and window sills etc Resene Quarter Pavlova. I was thinking of Resene Half Periglacial Blue or something similar. I want something warm and fresh looking. A. These options might work – Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue, Resene Quarter Powder Blue or Resene Sandspit Brown. It always best to test a few colours, so that our eye can have something to compare tones to in the room. October 2022 |
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Q. Hello, I am wondering if you could give some suggestions on complementary colours in a green palette for Resene Double Rice Cake. I am thinking I will paint the exterior walls this colour and the window trims and sills and doors Resene Masala but wondered if you could suggest other complementary colours that may be worth getting a colour swatch for to give a comparison. A. These complex greens may appeal – see which ones you are drawn to and test two or three with the Resene Masala and Resene Triple Rice Cake so you can compare tones. Try Resene Siam, Resene Paddock, Resene Clover, Resene Raptor, Resene Evolution, Resene Spanish Green, Resene Woodland or Resene Gravel – olive based grey. October 2022 |
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Q. I am building a new home and chose Resene Half Alabaster to paint on interior walls. Please help me to choose a right option for the ceiling. A. Resene Half Alabaster is a true white – you do have the option of painting the ceilings the same colour as the walls – as Resene Half Alabaster is light enough – or alternately Resene Eighth Black White for a slight contrast. October 2022 |
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Q. I have painted my ceiling of the whole house with Resene Half Black White. I have painted north facing light filled walls of lounge with Resene Double Black White. I also have three bedrooms yet to paint. I am thinking of applying Resene Double Black white to the west facing light filled master bed room. Two other rooms are east facing and get sunlight in the morning. Could you please suggest a warm white for those two rooms with Resene Half Black White ceilings? I want the ceiling colour and the wall colour to look different. What about Resene Half Spanish White? A. Complex neutrals work well In East facing bedrooms – and a warmer neutral will stop the overall scheme of your home feeling clinical. Lighter variants tend to also work better in East facing rooms, as these rooms can be shadowy in the afternoons so colours appear denser and flatter. Try Resene Half Spanish White, Resene Half Tea or Resene Half Truffle. October 2022 |
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Q. Could you advise which white wall colours would go best with Resene Half Black White for ceilings, windows and trims and a wooden floor stained dark walnut. A. Resene Half Black White is very neutral but it is a true white and sits on the cool side of the spectrum so generally pairs better with other cool whites – if you have low light or cooler rooms such as bedrooms – lots of texture and a bit of pattern can help to visually warm these rooms. Resene Sea Fog is a versatile white and will pair well with a lot of furnishings – perhaps you could consider Resene Sea Fog for living areas and Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene Triple Sea Fog in bedrooms. October 2022 |
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Q. Please suggest a front door colour to look good with Resene Napa. Is there a red colour that will work? A. Try Resene Pohutukawa or Resene Red Berry. October 2022 |
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