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 are renovating our house in Queenstown. Our kitchen cabinetry is Resene Pravda and will remain. We are installing new engineered hardwood in a medium brown tone. Our walls in the kitchen/living/dining area will be painted Resene Parchment and the ceilings will be Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta. This kitchen/dining/living area is adjacent to a den/family room area (through a large pocket door) which will get new cabinetry. We are planning for those to be finished in Resene Tea, with walls/ceilings in Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta. Off this room is a laundry room. The benchtop will be Caesarstone Fresh Concrete and new cabinetry in Resene Half Truffle. Do you see any issues with colour flow or clashing undertones? A. The colours work well together, undertones are being repeated in your hard finishes, soft furnishings and wall colours – the neutrals complement one another (paint colours) and with a subtle shift of tone in each wall colour and being adjacent to each, but not necessarily in the same room; – is a clever way of creating interest, and consistency will flow from one room to another. Well done! Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are definitely going ahead with Woodsman Shadow Match for our home for the walls. We also like the door frame and eaves in Resene Half Sea Fog. My siblings are concerned the front door is too dark and have suggested Resene Seachange as an alternative. The roof is Grey Friars. What are your thoughts on that? If we were to paint the door Seachange, would you change any of the other colours i.e. gables or would that be over the top. There is a garage door that also needs painting – and a wall from the adjoining property which is currently a mustard colour. What should we paint them? A. Yes you can use Resene Seachange – however, I suggest you use it for the fascia’s, posts and front door only – otherwise the fence will dominate, when you look at the property, especially from the front. The metal gutters/roof are Grey Friars so for the garage door I suggest you use the same. Consider Resene Grey Friars for the fence – it is not dark when painted outside in bright. The mustard wall I suggest you paint a colour which complements Resene Shadow Match such as Resene Friar Greystone or Resene Triple Friar Greystone – which will also pair with the blues – and window joinery – this could be an option for the fence as well to tie in the (mustard) wall. You might want to investigate Resene Cool Colour paint for the substrates which are going to be painted darker colours to help reflect more heat.  Resene Friar Greystone  Resene Triple Friar Greystone Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are looking at painting the exterior of the house and were looking for ideas. Our exterior joinery is an ivory colour (it looks like Resene Spanish White). What colours would go well with this? Also with that in mind what colours would go well on the inside with rimu timber doors and flooring and ivory joinery? A. For the weatherboards I suggest warm tones which are classic and in vogue and go well with ivory joinery – try Resene Open Sesame or Resene Malta – with a darker roof and bargeboards – Resene Half Ironsand. I suggest painting the window, door frames and bottom window sills in Resene Spanish White to match the joinery – with Resene Courtyard for the doors, porch and steps. For the interior – ivory joinery sits well with warmer variants – and these warm whites pair well with Rimu. Investigate Resene Quarter Spanish White as a base colour – it is possible to add a sage green such as Resene Field Day (The Range 2024), perhaps for the lounge – it can take colour. For the bedroom or master bedroom consider a warmer variant of Resene Spanish White such as Resene Tua Tua.  Resene Tua Tua  Resene Open Sesame  Resene Courtyard  Resene Field Day Feb 2023 |
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Q. My house has fibre-cement cladding (the 1980s unattractive wide cladding!). What is the best colour choice to try to detract/hide this ugly cladding (I assume keeping it a light colour will emphasise it more than going a darker colour)? Also we have two large trees in the front and back garden, so I was thinking a mid-tone dusty blue colour could work. A. Yes darker colours will help hide the type of cladding you have. I suggest you try deeper colours which disguise the joinery as this also enhances the age of your house, which in turn gives a hint to the type of cladding – try Resene Half Bokara Grey, Resene Solstice or Resene Credence. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have painted my bedroom with Resene Double Dutch white and I'm thinking of doing a feature wall. What colour should I use? I'm looking at a semi light to dark colour as the room gets a lot of natural light. A. Resene Double Dutch White works well with many colours – you really need to look at what other colours are going on in the room/house that you can draw inspiration from and where the feature will be – behind the bed is the most popular feature wall space in the master bedroom. Is there fabric (on the bed for example)/ flooring, furniture or other accessories you can inspire from – what colours/style do you like, and what ambience are you trying to create – thinking about these features helps to create a cohesive scheme. Also consider Resene wallpaper if you don’t have much texture or pattern – check out the habitat plus booklet online ‘wallpaper’ and ‘bedrooms’ or pick one up from your local Resene ColorShop. The Resene Range collection of fashion colours might interest you. I particularly like the warm Tuscan earthy colours with Resene Double Dutch White, from which you can decorate and build a theme – Resene Tuscany, Resene Dawn Glow, Resene Arriba, Resene Domino, Resene Otter and Resene Dapper.  Resene Arriba Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have Resene Half Ash walls with white joinery, wood (rimu – floors and some benchtop areas) and much stainless (more benchtop, handles, appliances). What colour splashback do you recommend? It will sit on top of the stainless [I'm thinking pale greyish turquoise] A. See if any of these colours appeal – if you can get one or two samples behind glass that will help as colours do alter with the texture of glass – especially if it is standard float glass – which already has a green hue so may enhance the green undertone of colours. Most splashback suppliers are happy to provide a few samples in your chosen colours. Try Resene Edward, Resene Haven, Resene Harp, Resene Half Inside Back, Resene Morning Haze or Resene Unwind. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are renovating and I'd like to use Resene Silver Chalice as the exterior colour on my house. I’m wondering what you recommend as the trim colour to accompany this? A. If you are looking for white trims to go with Resene Silver Chalice, try Resene Black White it looks great with Resene Silver Chalice. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are painting our plaster fence the colour of concrete. What colours should I look at for this outdoor application to create a concrete fence look? A. If you go onto the Resene website, and search ‘Resene concrete look colours’ then select ‘concrete colours and clear finishes’ there is a great article including a curated selection of Resene colours which best match natural concrete from light to dark shades. Colours do look different in true reality to online samples – my picks to try and popular choices to create this look are Resene Stack, Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Silver Sand, Resene Half Atmosphere and Resene Kensington Grey. I would also include the colours Resene Concrete (gives a wet cement look) or Resene Double Concrete – only because colours do lighten outside. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are planning to paint our sunroom in Resene Gothic. The room was built on to the house about 20 years after the original house (which was built early 1960s). It's the only room in our house with aluminium windows, and they are a very stark, harsh white. Any suggestions on what might be a good colour for the surrounding bits of the windows? The room is very hot in summer and cold in winter. It is well positioned for the sun. A. Resene Gothic is a great colour – I have seen it in a sunny living room and looked great! The aluminium could be Arctic White which is a very cool toned harsh white – not a lot of whites look good next to it – you could ask your Resene ColorShop staff to tint you the match for Arctic White – or try a Resene White testpot next to it. Or you do have the option of painting Gothic on all surfaces – I don’t recommend a lighter or complementary tone as this will just highlight the windows – where painting the trims white (if it works) or Resene Gothic will allow the eye to flow through to the outside view. If you are still unsure – paint two coats of Resene Gothic and Resene White on to separate A2 card, as you did for the walls, and attach to the window framing – don’t paint straight onto the existing colour, this will alter how the colours you are trying, will appear in true reality. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint my nursery for our baby boy room. I have tried three testpots of Resene Halcyon, Resene Half Halcyon and Resene Envy but I need help with them as I want the one that would have the most warmth in. We have black curtains and white drawers. A. Resene Halcyon is the warmest of the three as it is quite muted – also try Resene Half Dusted Blue or Resene Powder Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection – these are a bit greyer but slightly warmer. Feb 2023 |
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Q. Our house exterior is currently blue/grey and I have tested two colours – Resene Double Stack and Resene Mako. What would be a nice colour somewhere between these colours? We don't want one that has a tinge or green/blue though. A. Try Resene Trojan or Resene Ship Grey. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are now getting to know our house and want to keep its Tuscan-look. It has a terracotta coloured roof and Lignite joinery (windows and downpipes). I’m wondering about painting the plaster Resene Napa or Resene Half-Napa (currently Resene Quarter Spanish White). Is Resene Napa a good colour to keep a Tuscan theme? A. Yes Resene Napa is definitely in keeping with the Tuscan theme! Colours do lighten outside so I suggest Resene Napa rather than Resene Half Napa, which will also look warmer on plaster. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have the exterior of my house painted in Resene Half Tapa and Resene Quarter Albescent White. I need a colour for my front door to compliment the Resene Quarter Tapa either side. I have tried numerous samples so far and have not been successful. A. Deeper blue/greens or warmer olive browns in the family of Resene Half Tapa will work with both Resene Quarter Albescent White and Resene Half Tapa – see if any of the following colours appeal – Resene Unite, Resene Suits, Resene Innocence, Resene Time Traveller, Resene Warrior or Resene Blackout.  Resene Unite  Resene Time Traveller Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have very weathered cedar boards on my father's house that need re-staining. The roof has just been replaced in Grey Friars and the windows are ugly brown aluminium. So we need something that won't make the windows stand out. What colour would you suggest for the re-staining of the cedar boards and a complementary colour for the fascia, front door and fence. A. I suggest Resene Woodsman Shadow Match for the stain – it is a warm charcoal and will pair with the windows and roof – I also suggest staining the timber window frames to match. To tie in the roof which has a slight blue undertone I recommend painting the fascias, gutter (if possible) and the posts Resene Grey Friars. The door frame and eaves I recommend to stay white – although a softer white will look better such as Resene Half Sea Fog. The front door and fence I suggest Resene Invincible (Resene Triple Grey Friars) – dark fences recede and greenery looks good against them – the fence is generally a low sheen finish and I recommend a gloss for the front door. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have an older style Lockwood house with brown aluminium joinery. I am building a garage alongside in COLORSTEEL® and am trying to decide what colour the COLORSTEEL® should be and I will paint the house to tie it in. Keeping in mind the aluminium joinery on the house, what do you think of Sandstone Grey for garage, house roof and base, with Sea Fog weatherboards on house. Would this look ok. A. Yes Sandstone Grey with Resene Sea Fog is a combination which will work – but it is a lighter option. Do you want the COLORTSEEL® garage to stand out – something to consider. Brown aluminium joinery pairs well with deeper tones – consider Ironsand for the COLORSTEEL® garage and roof with Sandstone Grey (equivalent is Resene Gauntlet), for the base of house – with Resene Double Sea Fog for the weatherboards. Whites tend to lighten and brighten outside. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have just finished relining our lounge, dining, kitchen space and have square stopped. We are planning on paining the walls Resene Alabaster but are stuck on the ceiling and trim colour. The joinery is Vantage windows in Appliance White. A. As the ceilings are square stopped and you have two whites already – Appliance White and Resene Alabaster – which work well together – have you considered Resene Alabaster for the ceilings and trims – the sheen levels will help to create contrast – generally walls low sheen, ceilings flat finish and trims etc semi-gloss. Alternately, consider Resene Half Alabaster for ceilings and trims – especially if ceilings are standard height and you want to see white ceilings. Resene Half Alabaster will shadow with different lighting so at different times of the day it will appear to match the wall colour (Resene Alabaster), where full strength Resene Alabaster will appear a little more shadowed at times than the walls – if this doesn’t faze you then take advantage of the square stopping and paint the ceilings, and trims the same as the walls. Feb 2023 |
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Q. Is Resene Alabaster half a cool or white colour. How would it perform in a darker space like a hallway? A. Resene Half Alabaster is considered a cool toned, true white. For a dark space especially a hallway – it might appear cold – it does depend on the entire scheme of the home, adjacent colours, flooring, etc. Generally cooler whites suit lots of light, or spaces where you layer warmth through texture, or rooms with natural texture such as wooden floors. Sometimes a slightly warmer white which borrows light is a better option for darker spaces, where you don’t have the option to add a lot of texture, such as fabrics and window dressings to balance the coolness of the walls – whites such as Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Half Bianca. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have a 70s Lockwood home, open plan living area, chapel ceiling, north facing, tonnes of light – north and west walls are all glass. The south, west and north walls are plasterboard. The internal and east wall remain Lockwood timber. After literally years of searching I have finally decided on Sea Fog for my walls! What is the best colour for the trim/door frames/etc? I’ll do the Lockwood wall a different colour so that it makes sense rather than all walls one colour two textures. Do you think Resene Triple Sea Fog is enough of a contrast against the Resene Sea Fog? Or should this be a slightly darker colour? There was a comment that the contrast won’t be enough so it will just look in shadow but there is so much light in the room I’m not so sure about that! A. Resene Triple Sea Fog is enough contrast and a great colour however, this does depend on how natural light falls in the room as to how much of a contrast there will be – as the wall is textured with the wood this will also help to create contrast – so the best advice is to paint A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) and attach to the Lockwood wall to see how Resene Triple Sea Fog appears – and decide whether you want more contrast or for it to be subtle – if it appears too light for you, consider Resene Quill Grey. Resene Alabaster is a good contrast for the trims/door frames etc and these are generally a semi-gloss adding another layer of visual interest. Feb 2023 |
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Q. Can you please recommend complementary colours for Resene Gordons Green? We're painting a garden shed, and using this as our test run for our house colours when we repaint later in the year. The roof is COLORSTEEL® Karaka and the body of the shed will be Resene Gordons Green. We're looking for recommendations for a relatively bright accent colour to go with this for the doors. The door frame will be a white. A. See if any of these colours appeal: Resene Funk, Resene Rock Spray, Resene Monza, Resene Pioneer Red or Resene Deep Teal. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I’m painting our entire old house in soft muted blues and greens. So far I’ve used Resene Moon Mist and Resene Linen and they were perfect. I’ve just painted a bedroom Resene Half Periglacial Blue and it’s too blue. So I’m going to repaint it and I’m tossing up between Resene Duck Egg Blue and Resene Half Duck Egg Blue. The only problem is when I overpaint the Resene Half Periglacial Blue with the Resene Half Duck Egg I can’t see a difference. There is a discernible green/grey difference between Resene Duck Egg and Resene Half Periglacial but I would prefer the lighter if possible. A. The Resene Duck Egg Blue family and the Resene Periglacial Blue family are very similar but not exactly the same, so when testing the colours – I suggest painting onto A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) rather than over the existing colour, which will alter the perception of how your eye sees the new colour you are trying. Resene Half Duck Egg Blue can appear more blue than full strength Resene Duck Egg Blue which can appear more grey/muddy – depending on natural and artificial lighting – generally when we lighten a colour sometimes the stronger tints such as blue are enhanced, when other tints are reduced – in basic terms. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have a little bach on the beach. It is a small Hardiplank rectangular bach with no features rectangle. It has grey aluminium joinery and is getting a new roof . What colour would you suggest? I’m thinking blue as it’s on the beach. I’m looking at Resene Bunting, Resene Wanaka, even Resene Midnight Express and possibly doing the porch that is smaller where the ranch slider is a contrast perhaps a burnt orange. As it’s a bach I think I can be a bit brave with colours. Please also suggest a roof colour? Or do I match roof and walls in one colour? A. I feel a mid-toned blue will work well for your bach and might pair with the grey joinery better – try Resene Lakeside (Resene Half Wanaka), Resene Lazy River or Resene Safehaven. The deeper blues generally pair well with white joinery – however Resene Astronaut (a shade lighter than Resene Midnight Express) might work. For the roof I suggest a light grey to match the joinery, such as Resene Atmosphere. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are doing a villa renovation. I really want to do a subtle light blue exterior with white trim, possibly a white or light grey roof. Are you able to give me a few options for a light/pastel blue and maybe some complementary whites? A. See if any of these blues appeal – they may seem a little saturated online but they will appear up to 30% lighter outside in natural light – try Resene Cut Glass, Resene Half Opal, Resene Timeless, Resene Slipstream, Resene Jungle Mist or Resene Jet Stream. For the roof I suggest Resene Half Atmosphere or Resene Whitewater.  Resene Timeless  Resene Slipstream Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have a large historic villa. The roof is COLORSTEEL® Karaka green. What colours do you suggest for walls, window surrounds and window sashes? A. See if any of these combinations work for you – the colours suggested are complementary to Karaka:
Colours will lighten and brighten outside in natural light. Feb 2023 |
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Q. What colour shall we paint our roof, wooden shiplap panels and wooden fence? The front door frame is Karaka green, the aluminium windows are brown and bricks are brown with a dark grey mortar. We want to modernise the house and like the idea of greys but are not sure it that would work with what we have. A. Resene Gravel is a grey with a green edge – which pairs well with the joinery and Karaka – it is tricky to bridge the gap between the bricks, mortar, joinery and door frame, however Resene Gravel or Resene Double Gravel might work – you might like to consider Gravel for the roof and Double Gravel for the fences or paint them both the same – either Resene Gravel or Resene Double Gravel. For the ship Lap – a lighter tone of Resene Gravel will tie it all in and not introduce another palette – investigate Resene Quarter Gravel. I suggest you paint A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) with two coats using Resene testpots and attach to appropriate areas where possible – please do not paint straight on to existing colours as this might alter the true reality of how the new colours will appear. I suggest you also paint your gutters the same colour as the roof. Feb 2023 |
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Q. Our house exterior colours are Resene Mondo and Resene Quarter Mondo, the joinery is light grey. We are repainting our roof and wondered what colours would match. We were thinking a lighter grey to match the joinery – currently it’s the old decramastic brown. We’d do the fascias too. What roof colours would match? A. See if any of these Resene greys work for you – Resene Atmosphere, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Grey Seal, Resene Mountain Mist, Resene Four Winds or Resene Half Scarpa Flow. I do suggest you paint A2 card (available at Resene ColorShop) with two coats using Resene testpots and place next to the joinery, as it does depend on what tone of grey the joinery is as to which grey will complement. Colours will lighten outside – especially on the roof.  Resene Grey Seal  Resene Four Winds Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are doing renovations to our 1980 HardiPlank home. It has a double basement on one end and is elevated on the site in a rural environment. We have chosen Appliance White joinery and a Sandstone Grey roof. We are going to have Resene Quarter Lemon Grass exterior walls but I'm wondering if it might be a bit green looking. Could you suggest other colours that would go with the joinery and roof colour? Other colours I’ve looked at are Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and Resene Half Silver Chalice? A. Resene Quarter Lemon Grass will appear green – soft but green toned – if this is not the look you are after then I suggest as an alternative try Resene Half Ash – more of a muted green/grey neutral which will pair with your chosen roof and window joinery. Resene Half Silver Chalice might work but may appear a bit blue for your liking – alternatives to try are: Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Silver Sand or Resene Half Foggy Grey. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am deciding what white to use on the exterior house paint for a villa. We have used FlaxPod for the roof. We were planning to use Resene Alabaster around the windows. The front door is currently black. A. I suggest you try Resene Double Sea Fog – it doesn’t create glare like a brighter white and although it looks a bit grey on the chart – it actually lightens and brightens outside and contrasts nicely with the Resene Alabaster windows. Alternately you might like to try Resene Merino – slightly warmer. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have a very sunny north facing sandy brick and tile 100sqm unit with large windows in all rooms. I have already painted the lounge, hall and two bedrooms in low sheen Resene Half White Pointer with Resene Alabaster ceilings, doors and trim. I still have to paint the bathroom and kitchen walls. They have new crisp white fixtures and the new kitchen is white cupboards and charcoal benchtops. I am concerned Resene Half White Pointer may not suit the black/white joinery as it does have a pink tinge in some lighting conditions. I'm wondering if Resene Double Alabaster might be a suitable complementary colour to Resene Half White Pointer for these 'wet' rooms with white fixtures? Any other suggestions? The floor is just concrete currently, which I intend to put a beige/grey, not too light or dark carpet on, with wood oak look wet area vinyl flooring. A. Resene Double Alabaster is a great option and will pair with the Resene Half White Pointer as well as the hard finishes you are proposing especially the vinyl oak flooring. In the wet areas where you are using Resene Double Alabaster there won’t be a lot of contrast between ceilings, doors and trim (in Resene Alabaster) although varying sheen levels will create their own contrast i.e. flat ceiling paint, semi-gloss trims and doors – generally. If you would like slightly more contrast and perhaps a little more warmth (depending on what colours, if any, you accessorise with) consider Resene Half Sea Fog (Resene Triple Alabaster). Try testing Resene Half Sea Fog and Resene Double Alabaster using Resene testpots and see which looks better in the spaces.  Resene Triple Alabaster Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are using a white on exterior windows. What softer white would be recommended? We do not want it to be stark white. A. It really depends on what other colours/neutrals you have to pair with – there are so many soft whites – for warmer soft whites you might like to check out Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Quarter Rice Cake – for cooler toned whites which aren’t stark – Resene Black White or Resene Half Sea Fog. All colours including whites – lighten and brighten outside. Make sure you test the colours outside with Resene testpots before making a final choice. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am painting our house in the Resene Eighth Friar Greystone and I would like to know what the best white (to paint eaves and windows etc.) is with this colour? Is there a good colour that is also similar to Monument to paint the gutters and what goes best as well? A. Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Double Alabaster will look good with Resene Eighth Friar Greystone, depending on how much of a contrast you want. Resene Nocturnal is the equivalent to Monument – Resene Nocturnal is a fabulous warm charcoal which will work well with Resene Eighth Friar Greystone and the suggested whites. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have a pretty ugly 1970 brown clinker brink (dark charcoal grout) house with brown roof and brown wooden panels above the bronze aluminium joinery. We are about to paint the decramastic roof in Resene Ironsand. We will also repaint the wooden panels above the windows with Resene Ironsand. I was thinking of painting the soffits and fascias Resene Quarter White Pointer, is this a good match? Also we have quite a deep alcove at the back door which was dark as it was brown! I have recently undercoated this and it has lightened it up that much I think I will also paint this Resene Quarter White Pointer (or whatever colour the soffits/fascias are). Given the dark brown brick, Resene Quarter White Pointer alcove and 1970 house era I would love suggestions for a pop of colour to paint the back door. A. Yes – Resene Ironsand and Resene Quarter White Pointer go well together and your scheme is great for your house! I definitely suggest painting the alcove Resene Quarter White Pointer. Try these colours as the accent colour – Resene Boost, Resene Funk, Resene Ipanema, Resene Wild Thing, Resene Kombucha or Resene Clockwork Orange.  Resene Kombucha  Resene Boost Feb 2023 |
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Q. I want a warm cream colour on my walls so have chosen Resene Solitaire. Would it be best to use a half or quarter tint on the ceiling? A. Resene Solitaire is a lovely warm colour and has made it back on trend. Resene Quarter Solitaire is what I suggest, as ceilings appear in shadow, so colours become darker – therefore, Resene Half Solitaire will appear the same colour as the walls, unless you have an extra high stud height or vault ceilings. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are renovating an old bungalow across the road from the beach. We have chosen Resene Infused as our bold colour. We are looking for suggestions for the other walls and trims. We want to have a light and airy feel. A. Resene Merino looks lovely with muted greens such as Resene Infused as a neutral or Resene Half Merino if you want a cleaner white for trims. You may also like to include Resene Thorndon Cream for a slightly warmer tone for walls in areas such as bedrooms – Resene Half Ash for areas that receive good light and you can consider Resene Duck Egg Blue, which will pair well with the above colours and Resene Infused.  Resene Infused Feb 2023 |
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Q. Are Resene Concrete and Resene Half Concrete cool or warm colours? Do they go together well? We are doing bathrooms in concrete and thinking of doing the rest of the house in Resene Half Concrete. A. Resene Concrete and Resene Half Concrete are slightly on the warmer side of greys – the deeper variants such as Resene Concrete are warmer as they have more tint, less white. Yes, they go together well and are two fabulous, popular greys. Warmth can also be added via texture and accent colours on the warmer side – through accessories/soft furnishings. Feb 2023 |
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Q. Can you please advise which Resene colour can match FlaxPod. A. Resene Element is the match to FlaxPod. Feb 2023 |
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Q. In our planned kitchen reno, we have a Smeg stove whose colour equates to Resene Pearl Lusta. We have a bright white fridge. We want cupboard doors similar to Resene Pearl Lusta, and we're looking for a benchtop to bring in the white with the cream. What palette do you suggest for the benchtops? A. Benchtops have different texture and colours within them – and it really depends on what material you are choosing for your benchtop – perhaps a benchtop which has a base colour of a warm off white will work if you want to keep the kitchen neutral, then it might incorporate flecks of white and another neutral. This neutral colour will depend on other elements, such as your flooring/ other hard finishes like your splashback, and the style you are creating overall. The best advice I can give you is to take a swatch of Resene Pearl Lusta to a kitchen studio and discuss options onsite with a kitchen designer – they will be happy to show you the latest materials in kitchen benchtops. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am repainting the inside of a 1914 transitional villa which was renovated in the early 2000s where the lounge was added as a large lean-to. The lounge has beige carpet, and the rest of the house has matai floors. I am thinking of painting the lounge a warm white colour to go with the wood, and then having a dark grey feature wall behind the kitchen with the kitchen cupboards repainted the same colour. I am currently thinking of Resene Half Truffle and Resene Fuscous Grey, do you think that these colours are a good choice or are there other combinations that you would recommend? I am unsure how light a shade to go for as it is a large room with lots of light and I don’t want the walls to appear too bright. I am also repainting the hallway and bedrooms (one of which will also have a dark grey feature wall). Will the same shade of white work for the hallway/bedrooms as well as the lounge or should I go with a lighter shade for the smaller space (these rooms also don’t get as much light)? What colour ceiling and trim would you recommend that goes with these? A. Yes Resene Half Truffle and Fuscous Grey will work. You might consider Resene Quarter Truffle and then you can use this colour for all rooms or change the colour in the bedrooms to Resene Half Sandspit Brown from the Karen Walker Paints collection for a softer warmer colour – with Resene Half Truffle for the remaining areas. Also try Resene Gravel as an alternative to Resene Fuscous Grey – see which you prefer. The ceilings and trims I suggest Resene Milk White or Resene Half Milk White. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are building a new house for staff on a farm. It is north facing for the sun in the living area and the bedrooms with quite a bit of glass. We prefer warmer colours. I have been looking at Resene Parchment, Resene Akaroa and Resene Bison Hide. I would love some suggestions for wall colours, doors (I want them darker to hide marks), ceilings and architraves. A. Resene Parchment, Resene Eighth Pravda or Resene Tea might work well with your existing colours. Try Resene Half Napa for the doors and Resene Double Alabaster for the ceiling and architraves. Feb 2023 |
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Q. Will a Karaka roof suit a house painted Resene Linen? Which white should I use on trim? A. Yes Resene Linen and Resene Karaka work together, we always recommend testing colours first, and to view outside in natural light. Use Resene Black White or for more of a brighter effect Resene Half Black White – although whites do brighten outside. Resene Black White pairs with Resene Linen and Karaka as it has a hint of umber which means it is slightly muddy, therefore pairing with the earthiness of the other two colours. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am wanting to paint my bedroom green. It is quite big and is very light and faces north. We have one wall glass opening onto a courtyard. I have a bright orange and green bedhead , sage green stripe curtain and multi green and orange covered chairs. There is a lot of blue in the bedhead fabric also. I started looking at lemon grass, spring green and then went to frontier and bud. I feel frontier is too lolly and feel I need a more tranquil colour. A. Resene Secrets, Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, Resene Celeste or Resene Kangaroo might work for you – they are all slightly different but are tranquil and will work with your existing colours – they are softer but this will create the ambience you are wanting to create. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are about to get the exterior of our house painted before we put it on the market to sell. The aluminium joinery, garage doors and roof are Karaka green and the fascias will be painted in the same colour. We were thinking about painting the weatherboards Resene Half Tea, do you have any other suggestions? A. Resene Half Tea looks perfect with Karaka and especially on weatherboards – it you want to test a couple of other colours consider full strength Resene Tea, Resene Eighth Arrowtown or Resene Triple Merino. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have an Ironsand roof and heritage type house, with wooden windows which I would prefer to be white. I’m looking for a good colour that would complement Ironsand. A. Try Resene Merino, Resene Half Merino or Resene Half Wan White – all will work with Ironsand on a heritage style home. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I’m struggling to choose a colour to repaint the wall of old cabinets in our newly renovated kitchen. The walls are painted in Resene Despacito (Resene Half Bone), windowsills are Resene Alabaster and the kitchen doors will also be soon painted in this. We quite liked Resene Juniper but got worried about the darker tone so then thought Resene Breeze would work but not sure this does the Resene Despacito justice. Now feeling hopeful about Resene Seachange or Resene Lynchpin. The concern about a dark colour was it would make the space smaller and darker but we do have a lot of windows. A. I suggest a darker colour as dark colours recede and a grey blue will work well with the wall colour, balancing the warmth. I suggest Resene Wayfarer or Resene Lynchpin is a lovely colour. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have a 1963 kitchen that we are wanting to brighten up with a nice white wall and ceiling paint. Currently, our walls are the original yellow peachy colour and I need help knowing what white to choose in our home. I don't like the white that has a tint of blue if that helps. A. With your kitchen colours I suggest a slightly warmer white – see if any of these Resene colours appeal: Resene Quarter Milk White, Resene Quarter Albescent White, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. For the ceilings I suggest a fresh clean white such as Resene Half Alabaster. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are building a new house on a hilltop in a farm in a rural location. We are having an Ironsand roof, windows, front door and downpipe. The cladding is Midlands Tuscan bricks which turned out to be more yellowish than camel. What colour would you suggest for the soffit? A. I suggest you try a warm white – whites will brighten outside – so nothing too stark. Try Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I live in a town housing complex. Our town houses are cedar / brown coloured (2 years old). We currently all have our front doors painted the same colour, but the body corp has agreed to owners painting their doors in complementary colours. We are seeking a palette of different colours that owners can select from. A. Rich colours look great with Cedar – so if you stay with a similar depth of colour – you can have various coloured front doors. The latest The Range fashion colours fandeck you could investigate – such as Resene Aroha, Resene Clockwork Orange, Resene I Dare You, Resene Dark Chocolate, Resene Deep Teal and Resene Plan B. Resene ColorShops have a stock library of A4 swatches of colours – staff will assist you in finding the colours – you can then mix and match colours to see which look best next to each other and take outside the shop to view in natural light. Resene testpots are always recommended to try the colours on site.  Resene I Dare You  Resene Aroha  Resene Plan B  Resene Dark Chocolate Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am building a cottage on my son's property (6 acre block) next to his existing new build. His house is reddish brick, off white aluminium windows and Windsor Grey roof. My house has the same roof colour and Windsor Grey aluminium. I now have to decide what exterior colour paint to go with. The interior walls are going to be Resene Merino and white trim. I was originally going for a dark exterior (perhaps Resene Foundry) but I am having second thoughts as I am not sure if the style of the house would suit dark paint. A. You might like to consider a slightly softer, warmer grey such as Resene Fuscous Grey from the Karen Walker Paints collection. It works well with Resene Merino and Windsor Grey – perhaps the eaves could be Resene Merino and the fascias and walls Resene Fuscous Grey. Consider using CoolColour paints to help reflect more heat. With some substrates – darker colours are not recommended. Talk to your builder or Resene to see if dark colours and CoolColour paints are suitable for your project. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We want a white kitchen (painted cabinets) already booked. We have a strong ‘marble look’ porcelain bench ordered. We also wanted a bright looking paint look for an open lounge/dining. I was thinking Resene Black White for the cabinets but then had no idea what to do with the walls if I did that? I’m happy not to have a white on the walls but want something that makes the place look bright. A. Resene Black White looks great with Resene Alabaster on the walls – there is a subtle contrast but enough to create interest. These two whites will work very well for your kitchen. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are painting our Spanish plaster exterior white and have interior white walls. I would love advice to narrow it down and if I can mix say Resene Black White for the exterior and Resene Alabaster for the interior. A. I suggest Resene Sea Fog for the exterior as it is a versatile white – it suits a lot of environments and architectural styles – whites do brighten in natural light – so any slight hint of grey will reduce the white being too stark, but the house overall will appear white. Yes you can have different whites inside and out – Resene Alabaster will work perfectly for your interior and pairs well with Resene Sea Fog on the exterior. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am buying a tiny house. The joinery and roof are Ironsand. I’m not sure what colour would look good. I want to paint not stain. A. I suggest colours with a bit of depth – these tend to look good on tiny houses – consider using the CoolColour version of these colours – CoolColour paint is basically where more of the sun’s energy is reflected away from the substrate, reducing heat related issues, which can occur with darker colours on timber substrates – talk to Resene staff at your local ColorShop for more information. See if any of these appeal: Resene Archive Grey, Resene Half Stonehenge, Resene Quarter Sandstone, Resene Quarter Masala, Resene Credence, Resene Ironside Grey, Resene Gauntlet, Resene Double Friar Greystone or Resene Quarter Ironsand.  Resene Credence  Resene Double Friar Greystone Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have a 1960s brick house with stucco. It’s currently painted grey. We face north west on an elevated position and get a lot of sun on the house. We would like to paint the house a colour to contrast the white windows and woodwork while not getting too hot. There are numerous old coats of paint on the surface. The current colour has a green tinge which we do not really like. A. A softer colour will work well with the white windows – a subtle contrast. A slightly warmer tone might suit too. See if Resene Concrete or Resene Triple White Pointer appeal. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I will be painting the interior using Resene Wheatfield for the bedrooms and Resene Half Wheatfield for the hallway, kitchen, dining and lounge. Which white should I use for the ceiling , trim and doors? A. Try Resene Alabaster – it will keep the walls in the spaces looking modern and fresh. The doors and trims tend to be a semi-gloss, the ceilings a flat finish and walls generally low sheen,, The different sheen levels also help to create contrast. Feb 2023 |
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Q. The current colour is mission brown and I can’t stand it and find it boring. I would like to look at more red hues. Resene Half Hairy Heath is on the way the others are too dark and look close to the brown I have. My house is a ranch style with quite wide eaves so it can be shadowy. I’ve had a look at one of your current colour book and like Resene Fire, Resene Scorched Clay, Resene Teranova and Resene Tandoori on the red hue side but they are quite dark. I can’t imagine what a whole house would look like . The roof is light coloured. A. I suggest you test the colours as the red will be enhanced outside compared to the charts – I suggest trying full strength Resene Hairy Heath as well – as colours lighten and brighten outside. Resene Fire may appear quite bright on an exterior – perhaps look at Resene Bi Hoki. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am slowly doing up a miner’s cottage and struggling with picking a colour as I’m having a hard time envisioning it. I am looking into paint window frames, weather boards and roof. For the weatherboards, I was looking at white (Resene Black White, Resene Sea Fog shades) or a muted light greige (Resene White Pointer) or something such as Resene Quarter Linen. I’d even consider a blue/grey. Front door wise, I like Resene Duck Egg Blue or a sage colour. For the roof I have no idea. I don’t mind going either dark with something like Resene Blue Night or light with perhaps a light grey. I’d love something timeless, fresh, inviting and have an English cottage feel. I’m thinking of having rows of Hydrangea Limelight in front of the cottage with grass in front. There are three buildings to paint. A. Resene Sea Fog is perfect for your house. Possibly the other two buildings you could consider a slightly deeper tone – such as Resene Triple Sea Fog. For the window frames and sills consider Resene Alabaster to contrast against the weatherboards. Resene Sea fog is a versatile white which suits most environments and is not too ‘stark’. Resene Duck Egg Blue will be lovely for the front door, also consider Resene Double Duck Egg Blue. The roof I suggest a grey blue – this will have better longevity than a brighter blue roof – consider Resene Rhino or New Denim Blue.  Resene Double Duck Egg Blue Feb 2023 |
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Q. After the floods I need to start thinking of a colour scheme. My townhouse is Redwood cedar and has a Karaka green roof and decks painted in Resene Quarter Karaka. The basement/first level is white over concrete blocks. I am looking at options for the front door – perhaps Resene Porter, Resene Waiouru, Resene Charcoal or Resene Half Bokara Grey. A. Resene Porter is my pick as it pairs well with Resene Karaka and cedar. Resene Waiouru might be interesting in a gloss finish – olive greens also sit naturally with Resene Karaka and timber – it depends on whether you want a dash of colour or a neutral, and bring out colour in accents outside. Perhaps paint A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) with both testpots – two coats and attach to your front door to choose. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I’m after a similar colour scheme, a dark charcoal grey, and an off white trim. My painter said he’s ready to do the roof in the coming weeks, so I need to make some decisions pretty soon! A. Try Resene Baltic Sea or Resene Fuscous Grey with Resene Half Wan White. Colours will lighten in bright light so these may appear slightly darker online – colours are not accurate online compared to paint samples (we always recommend testpots first). You might like to talk to your painter about Resene CoolColour paint – when using dark colours – depending on the substrate – Resene CoolColour paint helps to reduce heat related issues by reflecting more of the sun’s harmful energy away from the substrate. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I would like to paint the weatherboards of our 1980s red brick and weatherboard home in a dark charcoal. I have tried several testpots – Resene Nocturnal (too light), Resene Element (ok but still a little light), Resene Nero (too black), Resene Bokara Grey (too brown), Resene Double Cod Grey (too light) and Resene Cod Grey (love this colour but in sunlight looks like navy). As you can see I need some help! A. Resene Zeus works well with red brick – it is a charcoal not a black with similar tonings to Resene Cod Grey. Sometimes it’s better to go a bit softer and get the balance with the brick right. Other deeper colours that might work for you are Resene Charcoal, Resene Noir or Resene Black Sand. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am looking to paint (not wood stain) the wing walls and exterior flat face along the top of my house, as a subtle complement to Resene Iroko. I'm thinking a very dark colour and am totally open to neutrals (I like murky colours). Or do you reckon using the same Resene Iroko shade all over? The fascia would be in some kind of white I imagine. A. Resene Porter might work really well to complement Resene Iroko and I do suggest painting the wing walls and exterior flat face at the top and base this colour – as well as the vertical end walls. If you are looking for a complementary white for the eaves, check out Resene Double Black White, rather than a stark white. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are remodelling our new brick house, and looking for a new colour scheme complementary to our red bricks, which we would like to keep. A. As you have the main cladding in brick – I suggest keeping the roof and garage door one colour. Try Resene Zeus or Resene Double Gravel (colours will appear lighter on roofs and in natural bright light), with a complementary lighter colour for the rest of the painted areas – try Resene Foggy Grey (gable end, poles, base and veranda base, and main entrance walls). You might like to paint the front door the same as the garage door – but in a gloss finish. Try Resene Half Wan White for the frames. Alternatively you could opt to paint the entrance walls Resene Half Wan White. The eaves and windows (if any could be painted) Resene Half Wan White. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I’m trying to make a statement at an entrance/hallway – I’m not sure on the colour – the flooring will be honey parquet with neutral carpet stairs (satin taupe). There is a chandelier I’ve bought. The house is mainly Resene White Pointer. What colour would go with this on one back wall to make a statement? Even a textured colour or wallpaper? A. Resene wallpaper will add texture and pattern – creating visual impact in a neutral area – the colours can be a similar tone or deeper – so muted taupe or warm greys/browns. The pattern will also depend on the height and the width of the wall – plus lighting can affect the way a paper appears – a soft chandelier light could work well with a luxe wallpaper, where direct light can be too reflective – a metallic paper might look amazing! Perhaps take measurements and pop into your local Resene ColorShop and ask staff to assist you in finding the latest wallpaper collections. While there pick up a complimentary habitat plus booklet ‘wallpaper ‘ it is full of inspiration and wallpapering ideas – you can also read it on the Resene website and view the wallpaper collections – however, a tactile approach I feel is always best with wallpaper so it’s best to view the books in-store. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I need to paint our front door and would like your advice as to what colour to paint in order to complement the walls. The walls are COLORBOND® Jasper and the trim is an off white. The door was stained but as you can see, very uneven and the best option would be to paint. A. See if any of these Resene colours work for you: Resene Double Mondo, Resene Space Shuttle or Resene Porter. It will also depend on the colour of your roof if visible. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are repainting our stucco house which has a COLORSTEEL® Rivergum roof. We want a warm soft creamy greyish look for the walls to match. So we were planning to use Resene Truffle with maybe a darker chimney (perhaps Resene Stonehenge or Resene Mondo). Do you have any other suggestions or colour matches that have worked? There are not many Rivergum roofs around. I see Resene Concrete goes really well with it (and terracotta accents). A. Resene Truffle will look lovely – and it works with terracotta accents too – however I would be inclined to keep these accents to planters/pots. Resene Masala or Half Masala has a green edge and will work well for the chimney. Alternately you could look at a grey such as Resene Quarter Tapa with Resene Half Masala. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am planning to repaint the cladding. The current colour is Resene Sandstone, but I’d like to change it to a lighter grey colour. The roof is dark brown grey – I think Ironsand – and the window joinery is aluminum dark brown. The deck rail is Resene Half Ironsand and the fence is Resene Tiri. A. A warm toned grey will work well with your existing colours – try Resene Dusted Grey, Resene Cloudy, or Resene Double Truffle. Feb 2023 |
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Q. My kitchen cabinets are Resene Quarter Moonbeam. I have accent drawers in Resene Celery, Resene Fountain Blue and Resene Florentine Pink (going for a 1950s colour palette) now I need a colour for the walls. The benchtops are rimu and I have a white butler’s sink and white ceiling. This is for a mid century country cottage. What should I use for the wall colour? A. A warm off white will balance the rimu and cabinetry and is in keeping with the mid-century cottage style. Try Resene Elderflower or Resene Meringue.  Resene Elderflower  Resene Meringue Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are looking at painting the exterior. We were thinking of painting the brick. We are going to get the roof painted a dark grey (almost black) and wondered what you would suggest colour wise for weatherboards and brick? Would white or light coloured weatherboards and black brick work? A. With the roof almost black – good idea! I suggest you paint both garage doors to match, therefore keeping the brick slightly softer – a dark grey will work better onto the brick. See if any of these work for you – Resene Ebony Clay, Resene Baltic Sea or Resene Ship Grey. For the weatherboards – Resene Triple Sea Fog will work really well – it will lighten outside and give enough contrast against the white windows and balustrade. The ideas you have are great for the style of your house and will freshen and lift the exterior appearance. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are about to get our 1930s bungalow and roof repainted, and need some suggestions for a good colour combination. We are thinking of a dark roof, lighter grey weatherboards, light/white window frames and darker grey sills. Existing spouting is a dark green (roof was green), so thinking either Ironsand or Grey Friars would work for the roof. We don’t want the walls too dark as it is a more traditional house, but want it definitely grey rather than white (and not too blue toned either). A. Try Resene Grey Friars. Consider these colour palette options: roof and guttering in Resene Grey Friars – I suggest you paint the gutters if possible, weatherboards in Resene Half Foggy Grey or Resene Half Delta, eaves and rafters in Resene Half Black White or Resene Quarter Villa White, windows in Resene Half Black White or Resene Quarter Villa White, windowsills in Resene Double Stack, porch and steps in Resene Double Stack and front door in Resene Double Foundry or Resene Pohutukawa. Please do not test colours directly on to existing substrates as this might alter the true reality of the colours – paint two coats of testpots on to A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) and attach to the house to view colours outside – colours lighten outside. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I need to find a colour for my fence for a single storey house. The gates and garage door are Resene Ironsand, the weatherboards are Resene Atmosphere, the brick is Resene Quarter Chicago, front picket fence and window frames are Resene Black White and the roof is dark grey with lots of angles. A. Try Resene Fuscous Grey or Resene Bokara Grey. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are planning on painting our red brick 1969 home. We have painted the roof Grey Friars which in reality presents lighter due to the reflection and contours of the concrete tile. We are leaning towards painting the house Grey Friars also. We have new white joinery. We have a conservatory out the front and would like some advice on a good colour to paint this. A. I suggest painting the exterior of the conservatory the same colour as the house – as it is broken up with windows so this won’t be too intrusive and dark colours recede – there is no advantage to paint it a different colour. Perhaps test Grey Friars for the walls and Resene Tuna – which is a little less blue. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We are about to paint our full house and need help selecting whites. For the exterior red brick, the painter is spray painting it on next week. We are thinking maybe Resene Sea Fog but are unsure how grey that looks vs white. Then inside – we just want a nice white unsure which – not too cold, not too warm, it’s a coastal beach house. A. Resene Sea Fog is a great colour for exteriors and suits most environments as it isn’t too stark and so therefore not ‘glary’. Outside colours whiten and brighten in natural light. For the inside try, Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Bianca, Resene Half Bianca or Resene Half Merino. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have just built new wooden fences around our house. Would you paint or stain these? I’m guessing a dark colour like the front fence? We will be putting up some type of fence around the front on top of the existing concrete one to keep the Grandkids in, possibly black wrought iron (aluminium) spear top. The other colours on our exterior are – roof in Grey Friars, weatherboards in Resene Half Thorndon Cream, trim in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, door in Resene Black Bark, front porch in Resene Raven and front fence in Resene Nocturnal. A. I suggest you paint the perimeter fences around the house in Resene Nocturnal as they are the same material as the main boundary fence (plus you don’t want to bring in too many different greys/blacks) then definitely you can have the black spear wrought Iron. If you are not sure do a test of a stain possibly Resene Shadow Match which is a soft charcoal. Don’t paint Resene Nocturnal straight on to the house perimeter fence in case you choose to stain as stain won’t adhere to paint. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I have a 25 year old stucco home with Resene Half Spanish White walls and a Grey Friars roof, window frames and garage door. I’m looking to paint my fences and would appreciate your help please. Blacks seem to be what most of the neighbourhood are doing. I have previously used Resene Bokara Grey on another property. A. Resene Bokara Grey may not sit so well with Grey Friars – I do recommend a dark fence as it offsets greenery very well and is not intrusive but striking. A deeper tone of Grey Friars might work really well for you – slightly softer than black – investigate Resene Invincible. As an alternative you might like to test a dark grey – such as Resene Tuna which is less blue than Grey Friars but complements it well. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I would like a dark red colour with bluish undertones. Resene Raspberry looks like an option, Resene Half Pohutukawa is a bit brown and Resene Lip Service looked nice in the night light – though a bit purple in the daylight. Are there any other colours that you can suggest? A. See if any of these reds work for you – Resene Quarter Pohutukawa (similar to Resene Raspberry but a current colour – less brown than deeper versions), Resene Code Red, Resene Salsa or Resene Very Berry. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I'm looking to get a commercial warehouse repainted and need help with the colours. I was thinking the main colour could be a blue with smaller bits being done in orange or grey or bit of both. Do you have colour combos you would recommend for commercial buildings? A. Resene Rhino is a smoky grey blue which works well on commercial buildings – brighter blues are higher maintenance and tend to fade quicker. Consider swapping the proportion of colour – as you have dark joinery on the top level and white on the lower – perhaps use Rhino on the top level including the bargeboard, and a softer grey on the lower level – Resene Half Mountain Mist. The buildings adjacent could be in Resene Rhino – I suggest one colour rather than splitting the colour with a paint line. Orange such as Resene Clockwork Orange – can be brought in to the scheme on to roller doors or any entrance doors. Keeping it simple with a more solid colour will modernise the building and give it structure. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am picking exterior colours for a terrace house new build. I would like to get some colour advice for the three colours of the exterior. The yellow I have chosen is Resene Putty as I prefer a close to natural wood colour finish, for the black I plan to use Resene Ironsand, according to the architect’s advice and for a white, I’m unsure. I was thinking perhaps Resene Double Black White after comparing Resene colours. A. Resene Putty is a lovely colour – something to consider – outside its ochre undertones will be enhanced – for alternative options for a natural effect (to wood) investigate Resene Canterbury Clay or Resene Quarter Colins Wicket – please view colours outside in natural light. With these warmer colours – Resene Double Black White may be a little too cool grey – alternatively look at Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Wan White – both slightly warmer – once again view outside as whites appear brighter. Resene Ironsand will pair well with these colours. Resene ColorShops have a stock library of A4 swatches – the staff will be happy to assist you in finding the colours – then you can pop outside while at the shop and see how the tones compare. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am thinking about painting my lounge a dark moody colour as my daughter thinks that would look good. I am in two minds on this so would love advice on something a bit lighter. I love Resene Lemon Grass but would it be too much green with a green couch as well? The two rooms off the lounge are painted Resene Bianca (dining room) and Resene Quarter Lemon Grass (bedroom). Do you think dark and moody or softer relaxing tones? We are also about to paint the outside of our bungalow, it is currently panting Resene Half Regent Grey. I’d like to go something a bit more traditional. Do you think Resene Half Thorndon Cream with Resene Eighth Thornton Cream trim? Will this be okay with the Grey Friars roof and Resene Nocturnal front fence? A. I suggest a moody colour for your lounge – a marine blue will sit well alongside the green sofa and accent colours. Resene Elephant is a beautiful colour but I feel you need to soften the colour slightly – check out Resene Time Traveller. Resene Half Thorndon Cream looks lovely on character homes and with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for the trims etc it will really lift the visual appeal of your house – I suggest keeping the windowsills Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream (currently dark) and perhaps consider a deep blue black for the front door – such as Resene Blue Bark or Resene Twilight Zone.  Resene Twilight Zone Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars house. We are doing some landscaping. The pool surround is white. We will be building a vitex deck (light stain). What colour would you do the fence? A. I would tend to paint it a dark colour so the fence blends into the background letting the pool and landscaping be the hero – a colour with similar tonings to Grey Friars – try Resene Invincible.  Resene Invincible Feb 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint a doll’s cradle a type of pearl white. I have been looking at Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta, Resene Alabaster and Resene Villa White and I was wondering if you’d maybe be able to help me decide? I don’t want it to have a pink or a yellow tone. But also not too white like paper white. A. Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta will be perfect – a semi-gloss finish will help to give it the pearly effect. Resene Alabaster will appear too white and Resene Villa White is quite lemon/beige. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have built a small house in COLORSTEEL® Ebony. We have a large roof overhang and do not know what colour to paint this. We have a deck below it. The material is groove pine. I wonder if it would look ok if we stained it the same colour as the deck. or painted it a light grey. A. Staining the overhang won’t give you the effect you desire I feel – so a soft grey is the way to go. I suggest Resene Triple Sea Fog – which may appear a bit more grey if shaded. I don’t feel you need too much grey – but if that appears too pale for you try Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Concrete or Resene Quill Grey might appeal. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We want to paint our room. We are going with Resene Pearl Lusta on three of the walls as the plan is to paint all the house in Resene Pearl Lusta. But we want to have a feature wall again. We have looked at red/pinks such as Resene Quarter Pohutukawa and Resene Rock N Roll – but they lack depth and I’m not sure they will look great with Resene Pearl Lusta. Do you have any recommendations of a red/pink that might go well with Resene Pearl Lusta? Also I was wondering if a navy might go well with Resene Pearl Lusta. The idea is not to paint the whole wall – but to just paint from the floor to above the bed. A. Resene Pearl Lusta works well with most saturated colours – especially cleaner colours. Try it with Resene Pompadour, Resene Blackberry, Resene Very Berry or Resene Love Me Do. Some navy colours will definitely work – try Resene Midnight Express, Resene King Tide, Resene True Blue, Resene Ocean Waves or Resene Epic.  Resene Ocean Waves  Resene King Tide  Resene Epic Feb 2023 |
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Q. I am stuck for a colour for my ply and batten new house build. I initially wanted a dark green cladding colour with dark joinery but am now going with white joinery as it was so much cheaper (uPVC joinery). I would still like a dark exterior colour but don’t see many dark houses with white joinery that I like. The white of the joinery has been described as Appliance White and I have gone with a COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey roof. I liked the thought of a really dark green as we have a large pōhutukawa tree outside with a view of the estuary. How dark a green do you think we could go with these colours we already have to work with? A. For a deep green – Resene Quarter Karaka is about as dark as I would suggest for the exterior – this depth of colour will make your windows pop – do you want them to stand out? Other colours to consider are Resene Cobblestone, Resene Castle Rock, Resene Ravine and Resene Lattitude. However, before you test any colours – you do need to check with your builder or local council the LRV (light restriction value) of ply – as you may find dark colours are not recommended and you could forgo warranties if you proceed – you might also want to talk to your builder/council about Resene Cool Colour paints. These allow you to choose a wider range of deeper colours – as due to clever pigment technology more of the sun’s harmful rays are reflected away from the substrate – but LRV ratings will still need to be considered. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I'm searching for some Resene colours to work with a red leather couch in an older character cottage on a rural property with bamboo flooring (I am looking to change this to spotted gum). I am thinking white walls with possibly green cabinetry and some other Resene colour painted objects – any colour inspiration, type of white etc? A. With the red sofa and character of your home – I suggest not using a colour which is too white or cool toned, for the main colour. Try Resene Half Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream which will look lovely and I suggest teaming this colour with Resene Double Thorndon Cream or Resene Triple Thorndon Cream for the cabinetry and vertical boards below the walls. The deeper versions of this colour family tend to go more green – then I suggest you team it with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for the ceilings – and paint or look for objects in a mixture of colours similar to Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Beryl Green and Resene Quarter Tapa. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint the brick on my house. I can't change the roof colour which is COLORBOND® Jasper. I’ve chosen a limestone paver for the patio and the windows will remain, they are bronze. I just don't know what colour to paint it. A. A colour which is a mid-tone will blend with the roof, joinery and pavers. I have suggested a few different colours to see what works best for you – test at least three so your eye can determine the different undertones. Try Resene Eighth Arrowtown, Resene Foundation, Resene Perfect Taupe, Resene Quarter Heathered Grey, Resene Akaroa or Resene Truffle.  Resene Foundation Feb 2023 |
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Q. I need advice on what colours will match other colours in a new build kitchen dining living open space. A. It depends on what your fixed colours are i.e. benchtop, flooring, cabinetry any existing accent colours etc. Whites and neutrals are generally the easiest to complement with other colours – there are warm and cool tones – which you choose will depend on natural lighting and what colours as in soft furnishings, you intend to decorate the dining/living room with. Warm whites and neutrals work better with other warm colours and cool whites and neutrals tend to work best with other cool toned colours – however, a room with grey whites and blue greys for example can be warmed with lots of texture in natural materials. Feb 2023 |
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Q. I would like to go dark on our 80s home which is semi-attached to a white house. We think the spouting could be Ironsand and New Denim Blue there is also white spouting. We have white joinery please can you advise a colour for us? It’s difficult to picture but this house goes up to three storeys more like a turret room. It is weatherboard. A. The following suggestions will work with Ironsand and New Denim Blue – speak to your local Resene ColorShop team to see if CoolColour paints are right for your project. Try Resene Solstice, Resene Fuscous Grey, Resene Triple White Pointer or Resene Eighth Arrowtown. For the door consider Resene Clockwork Orange, Resene Turbo or Resene Plan B. Resene Plan B Feb 2023 |
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Q. We want to paint our house to give it a lift – maybe a wow factor. After driving around our neighbourhood we have decided to go dark, hopefully we don't regret it. We are thinking a dark charcoal grey with blue undertones but are unsure what would look best. We have a dark roof and fascia. A. I agree a dark grey/charcoal with blue undertones will match your roof and dark fascia – I suggest you keep the soffit and windows white – I recommend painting the windowsills white. Please do not test colours directly on to the substrate, as the existing wall colour will influence the way the new colours appear – paint two coats of testpots on to A2 card (available at Resene ColorShops) leaving a narrow unpainted edge all around the perimeter of the card and attach to the walls – the white edge will help to neutralise any adjacent colour. See if any of these Resene colours work for you (blue undertones will be enhanced in natural light) – Resene Foundry, Resene Half Tuna, Resene Shuttle Grey, Resene Tuna, Resene New Denim Blue or Resene Half New Denim Blue. Feb 2023 |
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Q. Does Resene FX Blackboard Paint match Resene Black? A. Yes, it is Resene Black. Feb 2023 |
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Q. We have chosen Thunder Grey for the window frames for our house (small rural cottage). We want to paint the exterior and roof a dark colour (we are thinking dark greys/charcoal /black tones) so that the house sinks back into its rural setting. What dark colour choices would Resene recommend that would match well with Thunder Grey and ensure we had some contrast between the window frames and the walls/roof (walls and roof likely to be painted the same colour)? The cladding is a HardiPlank product and so can handle dark colours. A. Warm charcoals match well with it – see if these colours appeal: Resene Nocturnal, Resene Times Square or Resene Noir. We recommend testing three colours to see how the undertones appear – paint two coats of testpots onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving a narrow unpainted edge all around the perimeter of the card and attach to the walls. The perimeter of white will neutralise the existing wall colour – we don’t recommend painting straight on to existing coloured substrates, as the colour will not show the new colours you are testing in their true reality. Feb 2023 |
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