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 re-cladding our bach in Omaha with COLORSTEEL® Thunder Grey. What colour would look good for the joinery? I find black far too heavy with the Thunder Grey. We are thinking Resene Half Bokara Grey. We’re thinking a concrete type colour for that? Lots of greenery around. A. Investigate Resene Times Square. It has similar tones to Resene Half Bokara Grey but is more grey, where Resene Half Bokara Grey might appear more brown.  Resene Times Square April 2023 |
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Q. I am restoring an old 1950s cottage and we are prepping to paint the exterior. The roof COLORSTEEL® will be either BasaltBase or TernStyle. Can you recommend any colours to go with these to suit our cottage? We need a colour for the weatherboards, white for trims and what do we do with the baseboards colour and front door? A. On a house with a low built roof – the two choices of colour you are considering are the perfect depth. You could try Resene Double Truffle or Resene Quarter Friar Greystone for the weatherboards, with BasaltBase for the roof, Resene Friar Greystone or Resene Double Friar Greystone for the baseboards and Resene Quarter White Pointer for the trims. Resene Aroha or Resene Warrior might appeal for the front door. Alternatively, try TernStyle for the roof with Resene Bison Hide, Resene Tino Pai or Resene Stack for the weatherboards. Try the baseboards in Resene Windswept (equivalent to TernStyle), with Resene Half Sea Fog for the trims. Consider Resene Dynamite or Resene Tangaroa for the front door.  Resene Quarter Friar Greystone  Resene Friar Greystone  Resene Double Friar Greystone April 2023 |
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Q. I would like to paint my master bedroom and ensuite. I have a 1910 cottage. Currently the walls are Resene Half Black White which I am finding cold. I am thinking either Resene Soothe for the bedroom with a darker pink (or other suggestion in the very small ensuite). The ensuite does have a very large window. I have Resene Alabaster already for all the trims. The carpet is a brownish shade. My other thought was to go for a yellow tone in the bedroom to brighten it up, but not sure in the ensuite. A. I think it’s fabulous to warm up your bedroom with colour! Resene Soothe is a beautiful dusky pink which pairs well with other colours and whites. Yellow might appear a bit sour in a bedroom which might feel a bit on the cooler side. For the ensuite consider these colours: Resene Ebb, Resene Valentine or Resene Sakura. April 2023 |
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Q. We are looking to repaint our master bedroom as it needs a refresh. We like the current bedroom colour (Resene Half Drought) so we will repaint the bedroom with that as it works really well with all the other furnishings. The ensuite is currently Resene Acropolis but sometimes it looks a little 'grubby'. We wondered if Resene Quarter Drought would be suitable for an ensuite, but can you please recommend some other colours that might work well with Resene Half Drought? We do like the warm neutrals but there are a lot to choose from so any advice would be appreciated. A. Resene Quarter Drought might work very well – you will need to test the colours in the ensuite. See if any of these warm neutrals appeal, and you can attach to the ensuite walls to compare – try Resene Albescent White, Resene Half Sandspit Brown or Resene Eighth Joss. April 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint my living room in whites or off-white. My living room is west facing which is brighter in the afternoon rest of the day is not bright. We spend a lot of time in the room and don't want any hint of grey or black. A. West facing rooms suit neutrals which are slightly muted/deeper so they appear warmer in the morning – where a true white or cleaner neutral might appear lifeless and cool in the morning. Consider these off whites/neutrals – they will also pair with the rimu door – it does help to manipulate the whites towards a warmer overall feel – by dressing the room with lots of texture. Try Resene Merino, Resene Sea Fog, Resene Chalk Dust or Resene Half Cararra. April 2023 |
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Q. We are looking at using Resene Half Concrete on the walls, Resene Eighth Black White on the ceiling and trims, what colour would you recommend on the doors please? A. Consider painting the doors Resene Concrete in a semi-gloss finish – slightly deeper than the walls, providing contrast and practicality. Alternatively if you want to highlight the doors consider painting them the same as the trims in Resene Eighth Black White – however, this will create in areas such as a hallway with possibly a lot of doors, a wall of white which might draw the eye to the doors first. April 2023 |
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Q. We are absolutely in love with our bathroom walls. After removing the wallpaper, we had our wall skimmed and painted Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. It covers every imperfection. However we do not love our hallway colour/paint choice. We would like a very light grey to go with it. The hall has a variety of light sources but can be dark in places. A. Consider a warmer colour such as Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown from the Karen Walker Paints collection which is a lovely neutral that will help to lift and emit light into the space. Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue is also an option for the hallway – it might appear a little greyer/cooler in the hallway. April 2023 |
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Q. I wanted a warm beige for my bathroom (small area), 2710 x 1810. I looked at Resene Quarter Bison Hide which may be a bit dark with different lights so I thought I would go with Resene Eighth Bison Hide. Do you think that would be good? It seems to look okay on card but I’m trying to imagine all over. I have a neutral wood grain vanity and cork tiles for flooring. What would you suggest for trim with Resene Eighth Bison Hide. I’m also thinking of the trim working for rest of house, doors, window frames, skirting. I’m yet to choose wallpaper. A. Resene Eighth Bison Hide is a lovely beige and will pair well with your existing elements – I suggest pairing it with Resene Eighth Rice Cake for trims to keep it light and fresh but with a very slight hint of warmth, opposed to a grey white. Investigate the wallpapers in-store at your local Resene ColorShop – there are many new exciting books to browse and the staff will be happy to assist you in finding these, to coordinate with the Resene Eighth Bison Hide. April 2023 |
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Q. We have purchased a 2010 home in Linea weatherboard with a COLORSTEEL® roof. The weatherboards are currently Resene Half Cloud. The joinery and garage doors are a muddy brown. We are replacing the joinery/roof/garage doors with COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod. The Resene Half Cloud is too light for the roof but we are not sure what colour to paint the weatherboards. We like Resene Triple White Pointer as we are also keen on using Resene White Pointer/Resene Half White Pointer in the interior. But we are considering whether we should go for a deeper colour on the weatherboards. The house is in Taupo so we also don’t want the interior to feel too ‘cold’. A. Resene Triple White Pointer will be more or less the same depth as Resene Half Cloud on the exterior – so to make a change and with a slightly warmer undertone see if any of these appeal: Resene Truffle, Resene Double Truffle, Resene Credence or Resene Archive Grey. Resene White Pointer is a little warmer (more of a grey/taupe) than true grey whites – that said it does depend on the lighting – so for living rooms etc consider Resene White Pointer. Resene Half White Pointer might appear cooler, as it basically has less colour. Rooms such as south facing bedrooms, may make the Resene White Pointer seem cooler and grey toned, you might also consider Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene Half Truffle.  Resene Credence April 2023 |
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Q. I have put down new carpet (Godfrey Hirst Ravine in colour Gulf) throughout my house and though I thought it was grey, on sunny days it has a blue hue. My house is north facing and has large windows and sliders so it’s very light and bright. What colour can I paint the walls to neutralise the blue tone in the carpet? I am planning on buying new window treatments too. The lounge has just a chocolate brown leather suite in it and the dining room just a mid-brown stained wooden dining table and chairs A. Greys and beige will be your best bet to at least soften the effect of the blue. Whites might reflect the blue onto the walls and create more issues. Paint A2 card with two coats of test pots and see how the colours suggested react in the space. Try Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Quill Grey, Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Half Tea – Resene Quarter Tea might also throw a tint back to blue but I feel it is worth testing. April 2023 |
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Q. We have a villa. In places it is dark. The light changes and can make the white look dark. We have had Resene Alabaster in our last two places so would like to try something different. I’m looking for a white to use with Resene Dark Knight and Resene Colour Me Pink. My partner is suggesting Resene Quarter Concrete, I like Resene Eighth Black White. A. Resene Eighth Black White will work well – it will be clean and fresh, and works well with colour. Resene Quarter Concrete might appear ‘muddy’ or greyer in areas that are darker especially. April 2023 |
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Q. We've just painted our sunroom in Resene Gothic and want advice on what colour to do our internal doors and doorframes. We feel the ceiling white might be too harsh. We were thinking Resene Double Black White or Resene Half Merino. I guess we want something a little softer that will go well with Resene Gothic. We have Resene Quarter Spanish White elsewhere in the house on the walls and almost all the other doors are wood. A. Because you have warmer tones throughout the house – including Resene Gothic, although a blue has a slight edge of warmth to it – then I suggest using Resene Half Merino for the doors and door frames – as it morphs between cool and warm. Resene Double Black White is a cool toned white and might appear quite grey. April 2023 |
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Q. We have a new build pavilion style home with lots of glass on the northern side (living) bedrooms on the southern side. We are thinking of using Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Rice Cake right throughout walls, ceiling, doors and trims. The cabinetry and tiles throughout house are dark and moody. We have oak flooring with a hint of grey. Do I need a different ceiling colour? The apex in the living room is about 6m lined in grooved ply. A. No I don’t feel you do – the ceiling is quite high and both those colours are off white so there is no need to change the ceiling colour. Using different sheen levels will create interest – generally semi-gloss for doors and trims, low sheen for walls and flat for ceilings. In the bedrooms I am assuming the stud height is standard. Whites can shadow on the ceiling, so appear a little deeper but I don’t think this is a problem. It creates a cosy atmosphere in a south facing bedroom if the ceilings are the same colour as the walls. April 2023 |
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Q. I am having the exterior of my brick and tile house painted near the beach. I painted the fence dark blue but can't remember the colour name. I like modern colours. The house is painted a mix of creams and green at the moment. I am starting with the triangles on the roof which are dark grey. The window frames are dark brown aluminium. A. The following colours might work for you – they work with most bricks and brown aluminium windows – Resene Masala, Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Ironsand or Resene Triple Truffle. April 2023 |
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Q. I am looking at painting the exterior of my house Resene Napa. I painted my previous home Resene Napa with the windows in Resene Quarter Sisal. The new owners repainted the windows in a white. It looks fantastic. I have been suggested Resene Half Rice Cake for my windows. It has a yellow hue to it. I'm not sure if that is the right colour. Could you please recommend a white to go with Resene Napa? I'm a bit lost with which white to go for. A. Resene Half Rice Cake may be a bit warm for your windows. I suggest trying Resene Quarter Rice Cake for a soft effect – without being too warm – or if you want the windows to contrast against Resene Napa and really pop then Resene Alabaster. April 2023 |
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Q. Our back fence is really close to our house living area which is also a very small space. The building manager mentioned they will be painting it black but I have the feeling that it would make the room seem smaller. Also from a quick google search an oil stain could be a better choice for a timber fence? So the question is, what is better, paint or stain and what type? Would the colour make any difference in the room? Both fences seem to have different type of timber colouring already, would there be a way to make them a bit more matchy using different stains? Our walls are Resene Quarter Milk White if that makes any difference. And we will be having grass there. A. Dark fences actually create the illusion of more space, especially if surrounded in foliage, as they create a shadow effect against the greenery – black also will offset grass – as opposed to lighter fences. As your joinery is black or very dark – I suggest to create cohesion, you stain or paint your fence black to match. The darker you go the more hidden the mismatched timber will be – this is not possible with lighter stains. As you are only having grass and not foliage in the area you are concerned about, then perhaps a stain will be better as black stains create a softer appearance than a solid paint finish – just be aware that painting the fence black will cover the mismatched timber completely – where staining will help to disguise – but isn’t a solid finish. Resene Waterborne Woodsman Pitch Black is what I suggest for your fences – it has good coverage for a stain, opposed to traditional solventborne stains, which generally show more of the grain. Resene Pitch Black and lighter stain options are available to view online or in store on the Resene Exterior Woodcare chart. Stains pine and cedar chips can be viewed in-store and Resene testpots are available. April 2023 |
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Q. The house is a double storey in a beach location. The house is the colour Resene Tana. The fencing around is a weathered timber. The decking is faded and needing attention. Which colour would you recommend on the fencing and decking? A. I suggest painting the fence – Resene Double Gravel – which will tone in nicely with the house. For the deck – if it is to be painted try Resene Quarter Gravel or if stained try Resene Tiri. You may want to talk further with your local Resene ColorShop staff, about whether staining or painting the deck is suitable – in terms of the timber and whether there is a coating on the deck at present. April 2023 |
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Q. We are getting an extension on our house and the new part has a roof colour in Windsor Grey. How likely is it that we get a paint colour to match exactly to paint the old iron parts to match so you can't see the colour difference between old and new? A. Talk to your local Resene ColorShop. They will have a match to Windsor Grey they can mix for you. The Resene equivalent is Resene Noir.  Resene Noir April 2023 |
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Q. I want to repaint our home. We've already painted some of the windows in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, so want to retain that colour. I'm quite keen on an earthy or warm green for the weatherboards. I've used Resene Linen on another house and love that. I’m just keen for something new! At some point we will replace the roof shingles with COLORSTEEL® however at this stage please keep roof colour in mind. A. See if any of these Resene colours appeal: Resene Epitome, Resene Quarter Arrowtown, Resene Half Grey Olive, Resene Kangaroo or Resene Triple Thorndon Cream.  Resene Epitome April 2023 |
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Q. I have a New Denim Blue roof and white windows. I was going to go with Resene Dusted Blue for the door but not sure if this is right. A. Resene Dusted Blue is an option – you might also like to investigate Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Delta or Resene Eighth Arrowtown.  Resene Double Duck Egg Blue April 2023 |
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Q. We are renovating a small ensuite bathroom. It’s basically white, with a marble look floor and black accents. I have chosen Resene Poured Milk for the walls as it's close to the flooring colour. Please can you suggest a suitable Resene colour for the ceiling and trims? A. Resene Eighth Black White will pair well with Resene Poured Milk.  Resene Poured Milk April 2023 |
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Q. I'm about to embark on painting our 45 year old Lockwood bach. The hallway already has doors and door frames in Resene White. I was thinking either Resene Sea Fog or Resene Black White. Which shade(s) would you recommend for walls, for the high ceiling, for skirtings? And what paint type – gloss, semi-gloss, matt? A. I suggest you paint the walls, ceilings and skirtings in Resene Half Sea Fog. Use flat finish (Resene SpaceCote Flat) for the ceilings, low sheen (Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen) for the walls and semi-gloss (Resene Lustacryl) for the skirtings. The different finishes will create the contrast and then you have the white doors – rather than a few different whites. April 2023 |
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Q. We are doing renovations to our 1980 Hardiplank home. It has a double basement at one end, elevated on the site in a rural environment. We have chosen Appliance White joinery and a Sandstone Grey roof. We were 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 or 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. It’s 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 are Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Silver Sand or Resene Half Foggy Grey. April 2023 |
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Q. I'm having the interior of my traditional house repainted after a flood. It’s a cold house with big rooms so we need it to feel warm. If we put Resene Eighth Black White on ceilings and Resene Quarter Merino on walls in most rooms how would that be? Also for the hallway Resene Quarter Rice Cake below dado rail and Resene Quarter Truffle above? A. I suggest Resene Alabaster for the ceilings with Resene Half Merino – this will be a little warmer. For the hallway – Resene Quarter Rice Cake will work but consider Resene Half Truffle for above the dado. Going a bit deeper will create warmth and the colours are still pale enough. April 2023 |
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Q. I'm painting on my mother's 20 year-old brick and timber house, which we are putting on the market soon. It was stained. Wanting to nourish the timber I decided to convert it to a painted surface, and after cleaning brushed on Resene Wood Primer then Resene Quick Dry. Then I applied Resene Lumbersider in Resene Moccaccino. I'm wanting to quieten the whole effect. The colour will be quite deep – something like Resene Cioccolato, Resene Hot Chocolate or something that will come close to the original stain. Resene Moccaccino is proving to be too red, particularly on the Eastern side, where there is so much orange already. A. Resene Cioccolato is worth testing as it works with greens such as your joinery – to tone with the brick and joinery you might like to test – Resene Brown Pod (still has a red undertone), Resene Woodburn (more brown) or Resene Half Wood Bark (quite deep). Please test the colours before deciding as they look very different once painted outside. We don’t recommend testing straight on to existing colours as these might change the perception of the new colours. Resene ColorShops have A2 card available, which you can paint two coats of a Resene testpot onto and see how the colours appear. Perception of colour does alter depending on the substrate – but testing a colour this way is the safest way to see what tone appeals.  Resene Moccaccino April 2023 |
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Q. I am repainting my small rustic tropical home in Fiji. I am tired of white. I am using Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue for the walls. My floor is blue carpet tiles. I have lots of wood and bamboo accents. I am stuck for which white to use on the ceiling. I don't want a grey look, too modern and we have lots of overcast weather, but want it to be bright without being stark. Can you recommend a white colour for the ceiling? A. Try Resene Eighth Rice Cake or Resene Quarter Bianca – the first option pairs well with Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue – the latter is cleaner and brighter – and both tone with wood. April 2023 |
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Q. Is there an outside house colour paint that just has a tint of blue? A. Investigate Resene Solitude or Resene Designer White. April 2023 |
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Q. What colours blend with Resene Wheatfield? A. Resene Wheatfield is a warm neutral cream – and will suit most other colours, however, it pairs particularly well with other warm tones – including yellow greens, deep reds, sandy beiges and lighter variants, such as Resene Smashed Avocado, Resene Aroha, Resene Pavlova and Resene Quarter Wheatfield. It will also pair with a white such as Resene Alabaster.  Resene Smashed Avocado  Resene Aroha April 2023 |
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Q. We have added a large barn-like extension to our existing cottage. The existing cottage is board and batten cladding that is stained in Resene Woodsman Pitch Black with white joinery. For the new extension, which is also board and batten, we have chosen FlaxPod joinery, and want to paint rather than stain the board and batten. Resene Element seems too light, Resene Nero is throwing too blue. Could you recommend a black that throws warm and will ‘match’ the Resene Pitch Black and work with the FlaxPod joinery? A. FlaxPod does have a warmth to it and any traditional blacks which match ‘Pitch Black’ such as Resene Black (closest) might appear blue next to FlaxPod. I suggest you complement the joinery (FlaxPod) and the colours will pair next to Pitch Black. Resene Noir is deeper than Resene Element and complements FlaxPod. Consider using Resene CoolColour paints for the board and batten as timber painted a dark colour is subject to heat related issues. CoolColour paints are where the colours looks ‘normal’ but the system allows the sun’s harmful rays to be reflected away from the substrate. April 2023 |
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Q. The hues of Resene Ottoman and Resene Sonique are perfect for a job I'm doing but I need tints - ideally half or a quarter of each. Is there a way to get a sample/drawdown of these tints please? A. Yes, half strength and quarter strength drawdowns can be organised via your local Resene ColorShop. Alternately a representative from Resene can organise this for you if you are a specifier – you can enquire about this at the same time. If you prefer wet paint the stores could arrange a special colour for you and tint it into paint. April 2023 |
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Q. I've narrowed my neutral colours down to these two, both of which I love – Resene Half White Pointer and Resene Half Merino. What are the essential differences between these two please? I'm not keen on yellows, nor do I wish to have a cold white colour. A. Resene Half White Pointer is more grey/taupe, warmer than most greys – while Resene Half Merino is a milky off white which is not grey. Both are neither too warm nor cool – with these complex neutrals it is always best to test the colours painted onto A2 card. We recommend two coats and attaching to the walls in the intended space, to compare tones with the natural lighting of the room/s – as this will affect how the colours appear – warmer or cooler. April 2023 |
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Q. We are looking at painting our bungalow exterior Resene Titania. The roof has been changed to COLORSTEEL® Ironsand. This would blend in with the 30sqm shed (shed doors and roof are Ironsand, and walls in Resene Titania). Our garage is galvanised and would be painted in the same theme. We would prefer the wooden windows white. The upper sashes have lead-light with partly stained glass. Should we do the base of the house in Resene Ironsand or Resene Titania? Our north facing front door is magenta (which is not facing the road). Would a different red suit this combination better? We are looking for a cohesive understated look. A. Consider softening the base of the house – but still creating a contrast with Resene Solstice which will pair with Resene Irons and Resene Titania. Resene Half Alabaster will pair well for the windows, it is a true white, clean and fresh – note that all whites will brighten outside. For the door investigate Resene Very Berry, Resene Rock N Roll or Resene Salsa.  Resene Solstice  Resene Very Berry April 2023 |
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Q. Would you advise what other colours go with Mission Brown? We prefer not to have any more brown. A. It will depend on where and what the substrate is that Mission Brown is painted on as to what colour will work best. However, Mission Brown pairs well other earth tones and soft whites such as Resene Fossil, Resene White Linen, Resene Swiss Caramel, Resene Mai Tai, Resene Ravine or Resene Colins Wicket.  Resene Swiss Caramel April 2023 |
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Q. Our house is Resene Half Ironsand. It’s timber. We need to paint our roof and we would appreciate some colour recommendations. What would you suggest? A. As you have dark joinery and walls – I suggest going dark on the roof so it doesn’t become the feature – consider Resene Element. This will tone nicely with the walls and joinery, and isn’t too deep. Some greenery in pots will add contrast on the deck. April 2023 |
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Q. Our house is currently a 'cream' colour. We have gone for a Grey Friars roof, spouting and garage door. We would like to make the exterior of the house a light grey colour. We have got testpots of Resene Concrete, Resene Double Concrete, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and Resene Quarter Stack to trial. The window and door aluminium trim are frost ultra med bronze (so a deep brown not black). A. My pick is Resene Concrete or Resene Double Concrete, depending on how much contrast you want. Colours do lighten outside – so perhaps paint A2 card (available @ Resene) with two coats of testpots and attach to the house (we don’t recommend painting directly on to the existing cream, as this might alter the perception of the new colour). Resene Concrete or Resene Double Concrete are slightly warmer than the Resene Silver Chalice family and therefore bridge the gap between the cool toned Grey Friars roof and warm joinery. April 2023 |
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Q. I am thinking of 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 advise 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 in the bedroom. Do you think I should use dark and moody or softer relaxing tones? We are also about to paint the outside of our bungalow. It is currently Resene Half Regent Grey. I’d like to go something a bit more traditional. Do you think Resene Half Thorndon Cream with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream trim would work 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 in Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream and perhaps consider a deep blue black for the front door such as Resene Blue Bark or Resene Twilight Zone.  Resene Twilight Zone  Resene Time Traveller April 2023 |
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Q. Our house is a two storey villa painted in Resene Double Linen with a grey roof. The bargeboards are Resene Evolution. The door surround is Resene Sea Fog. What colour would you use for the front door? A. I suggest you repeat the Resene Evolution on to the front door in a gloss finish or a rich vibrant red such as Resene Shiraz, also in a gloss finish. April 2023 |
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Q. We are painting the exterior of our house. We have a split level house consisting of a basement garage, and two more levels above with a deck running around the side and front of the house on the first level where the living areas are. Our house is predominately north facing with sea views. Inside has already been painted before we brought and it is all white which we may change a little. We like the Hamptons, cape cod look, so we are sticking to whites, greys and blues. We have already started painting the outside entertainment area/gazebo which was a red/brown and have painted it Resene Freestyling, which looks good. We have chosen Resene High Tide for the roof. We were thinking of maybe painting the whole house in Resene Freestyling with white around the windows. Or should we go more white? Our windows are very dark /brown bronze aluminium which looks almost black, with wooden windowsills/architraves. Our downpipes and guttering are white. A. For the main house consider using a grey white which isn’t too glary but sits well with the Resene High Tide roof and dark brown joinery. Try Resene Triple Sea Fog – this will give you the Hamptons look. Using Resene Black White for the window frames, fascia and soffit will soften the white of the spouting. April 2023 |
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Q. We have a 1970 single level house with ranch sliders and large windows, all painted white with yellow gables and a decramastic black charcoal roof. We are changing the roof to Gull Grey, the gables to Resene Half Masala and the trim and fascia Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Black White. What colour do you recommend for the weatherboards? A. Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey would look good on weatherboards with Resene Half Masala and Resene Gull Grey. April 2023 |
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Q. I am looking at Resene Rivergum for a cosy lounge and a grey for the bedrooms. What neutral – Resene Black White or Resene Alabaster – would go best with these colours? A. It depends on what the white/neutral is for and where it is going – is it for walls or trims – if walls – are the rooms sunny or shaded? Trims, ceilings etc I suggest Resene Alabaster as it will lift the green and grey rooms and be fresh and modern. Walls if there is plenty of light – Resene Black White might work well – it has a slightly more grey tone to it than Resene Alabaster. If there is low light – possibly Resene Alabaster as it is slightly warmer – however, if the rooms feel particularly cool – then the walls might benefit from a slightly warmer neutral such as Resene Merino. April 2023 |
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Q. I'm hoping you'll be able to help with some advice for interior paint colours. We want to paint our lounge, dining/kitchen and entrance/stairs/hallway. We'd like to keep it neutral. The stairs and hallway are on the darker side but the lounge and dining room are sunny/bright rooms with large windows. The carpet is a light creamy/beige colour and we have oak coloured floors in the dining/kitchen. All the doors are wood. We have used Resene Alabaster for the ceilings and trims in the bedrooms and have leftover paint so ideally would like to use this for the other areas too. We got a testpot of Resene Double Alabaster and tried in on a bit of the wall in the hallway and feel it's just too white, a bit cold and stark. So we'd like something a bit warmer but that will still work with Resene Alabaster on the ceiling and trims. We've used Resene Half Robin Egg Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection in the bedrooms and really like this colour and so are thinking of using the leftover paint we have to do a feature all in the lounge. I'm nervous to do anything too creamy as I don't want the walls to look yellow! A. Resene Half Rice Cake is my suggestion – it has warmth and will pair with your existing elements – Resene Rice Cake might be too yellow. Resene Alabaster for trims and ceilings will work well and repeating Resene Half Robin Egg Blue is a great idea for the lounge – or consider full strength Resene Robin Egg Blue – depending on the source of light. April 2023 |
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Q. Our house is getting a compete reclad in plaster, new roof, new balustrade and new windows. We want to create a more modern look. We wondered about painting the exterior some kind of warm grey/greige (nothing too dark as our house is shady in the afternoon). We were initially quite keen on COLORSTEEL® Silver Pearl windows frames but are unsure if a warm grey would work with it? We are thinking of doing a dark roof, balustrade, garage door in Windsor Grey, Slate or FlaxPod. A. FlaxPod has warmth and will merge with Silver Pearl. FlaxPod is not too dark whereas Slate is quite dark. FlaxPod is a big seller at present as it works in many environments and has been developed to suit our local landscapes. Greys to try with it are Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Quill Grey or Resene Silver Sand. April 2023 |
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Q. I am needing to choose my bathroom colour to go with the timber in the room too. Currently it is Resene Rice Cake which is too yellow. It is a south facing room so I do not want anything too cool. I either want it fresh but not stark or I was looking at a zen space – I like Resene Half Coriander but feel like it's too dark. A. Resene Half Rice Cake is my pick for a south facing bathroom with timber accents – it will visually warm the room without being too yellow and works well with timber – perhaps bring in the green through plants, accessories and linen. April 2023 |
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Q. We have a clinker brink house. My first thought is to paint everything white. But my family have other thoughts. I put a blue on the board below the white spouting and on an insert around some windows. I did not like the colour so close to the brown. Could you please give suggestions to make a few accents (maybe around the peak and both ends of roof and the board under the spouting) or if it would be better all white. I think I will keep the inserts around the windows white. A. I suggest painting all substrates which aren’t brick a deeper white which has a warm grey to it which in turn merges with the brick and joinery. Try Resene Triple White Pointer which will lighten outside but will modernise the house, where white might still appear dated. There are lighter versions of this colour which you might also like to try – Resene Double White Pointer and Resene White Pointer – any lighter and you are ending up with white outside. April 2023 |
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Q. I'm trying to generate a colour palette for Resene Wasabi and can't work out how to do it. I’m thinking of Resene Wasabi for feature walls and a softer, lighter colour to bounce light onto the feature walls. I'm also looking at turquoise colours that aren't too dark if you have any recommendations? A. Resene Bianca is perfect as an off white which works with Resene Wasabi to illuminate light around the room or if you might like to test Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Half Thorndon Cream. Turquoises to try are: Resene Gulf Stream, Resene Blue Chill, Resene Kumutoto, Resene Aqua or Resene Keppel. April 2023 |
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Q. I'm renovating both the paint carpet and vinyl. Our house is north facing and quite sunny. The carpet colour is Paua, a shade of grey and browns, the vinyl French oak smoke is a shade of grey, brown and cream. I've been looking at Resene Sea Fog and Resene Double Rice Cake. I can't decide what would go better. I was thinking of painting the interior all the same colour and the cupboard doors a lighter or darker shade. A. As your house is sunny and warm – I suggest Resene Sea Fog will work quite well as it morphs between cool and warm depending on what furnishings you layer with it – consider Resene Triple Sea Fog for the cupboard doors. The best way to tell is to place samples of the flooring and paint colours in the spaces intended and see how they appear together – Resene Double Rice Cake might appear quite yellow. April 2023 |
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Q. We are thinking of painting our walls Resene Half Rice Cake – what colour would you recommend on the ceilings? A. I recommend Resene Eighth Rice Cake or Resene Alabaster – the latter being slightly cooler and brighter. April 2023 |
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Q. I am building a study in our backyard. We are deciding between Grey Friars and Ironsand for the roof. Ideally we would like the building to blend into its surroundings and not stand out too much. Do you have a suggestion as to which of these would suit better, and then what colour we should paint (or stain) the cladding (Shadowclad)? A. Ironsand will blend into the bush better – I suggest teaming it with a stain such as Resene Woodsman Charred Black for a uniform look – but with the wall colour being a stain – you are creating another texture.  Resene Charred Black April 2023 |
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Q. I have painted one wall Resene Ayers Rock and I would like to have a green to offset it. Which green would be a good option with Resene Ayers Rock? A. Olive greens off set the fabulous Ayers Rock – try Resene Bandicoot or deeper Resene Tic Tac Toe. April 2023 |
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Q. I am painting the exterior of our 1970s A frame bach. It has brown aluminium windows. What colours would look good? A. Colours which merge with the brown joinery - modernising and emphasising the A frame structure will look good – Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Half Bokara Grey, Resene Half Gravel, Resene Cobblestone, Resene Solstice or Resene Taupe Grey. A soft white such as Resene Half Sea Fog will look good for trims such as fascias. Resene Solstice April 2023 |
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Q. Our five year home looks old fashioned and mismatched. The previous owners used a different shade of light green in each room and painted an accent wall in an aqua shade in the bathrooms. The tiles are a muddy light grey/green and the carpet is fairly neutral. The skirting boards and doors are painted in the same shade as the window trim, about quarter or half strength of the Mist Green joinery. The ceiling in the living hub area (including kitchen) is cathedral and timber sarked. What I would like to do is repaint the interior in a neutral colour – someone suggested Resene Alabaster. I am not too sure if this would look grey. I want to tone down the green emphasis by painting the doors and trims in a light neutral. Perhaps an eighth shade of the wall colour. I’d like to brighten the ceilings – particularly in the passage and retain the timber ceilings. I am also looking for colours for the exterior walls and roof which lift the exterior. Colour and personality doesn’t scare us too much we just want it to work in this rural home. A. For the interior I suggest a slightly warmer hue for the walls, such as Resene Merino with Resene Quarter Merino for the doors and skirtings and Resene Alabaster for the ceilings. Resene Half Rice Cake is an alternative to try but is warmer and I suggest pairing this with Resene Alabaster for the ceilings, doors and skirtings – if you prefer this colour. I suggest a soft white with a slight grey edge for the exterior walls – Resene Double Sea Fog – it will appear lighter and brighter outside in certain aspects – with Resene Atmosphere for the roof. April 2023 |
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Q. I have my bedroom, bathroom and entrance room painted in Resene Eighth Fossil. Is it possible to create a whitewashed effect? If so how would I go about doing this, and what colours would be suitable to use as a whitewash? A. We have a product called Resene FX Paint Effects Medium and this can be used to create a whitewash/lime wash effect. I suggest using Resene Alabaster mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium applied over Resene Eighth Fossil if you are wanting to create a lighter/whiter effect on your walls. Resene Eighth Fossil will still come through the medium but Resene Alabaster effects finish will be a fresh white topcoat – randomly applied. We recommend you do a sample board first or area to see if the combination works for you – you can always soften the whitewash down by using a slightly warmer white – but a white wash is generally a true white. April 2023 |
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Q. In my new build, most of my kitchen cabinetry will be made of Melteca Warm White Naturale. What Resene wall paint colours match this colour the best? A. Warm White Naturale has quite a unique undertone – Resene have a custom match to this colour and I recommend a quarter strength of it for the walls. Perhaps ask at your local Resene ColorShop if they can order a special A4 drawdown in quarter strength for you. Alternatively you might like to test (with a sample of the cabinetry) Resene Double Alabaster. April 2023 |
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Q. We are planning to re-stain our house – cedar weatherboards at top with blue plaster at bottom. Our painter suggests we go darker with cedar and we are thinking of grey for plaster. Would you recommend black, grey or dark brown cedar stain? And which grey? A. I suggest Resene Woodsman Shadow Match a warm charcoal for the cedar, with Resene Triple White Pointer for the plaster. I recommend Resene Half White Pointer for the soffit and fascia. April 2023 |
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Q. I think I've landed on painting my internal walls Resene Eighth Blanc. Can you recommend a colour for ceilings and trims to go with this? A. Resene Half Alabaster or Resene Quarter Alabaster will look fresh and modern and will enhance the tone of Resene Eighth Blanc. April 2023 |
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Q. We have an 80s Summerhill stone house with gable ends clad in the old wood grain Hardiplank. The stone in unpainted, the Hardiplank is cream, the roof is steel painted something similar to Permanent Green. We have recently replaced the aluminium joinery and garage door with Windsor Grey. We plan to repaint the roof a similar colour to the Windsor Grey eventually. Currently we are replacing the HardiPlank cladding on the gables with Shadowclad and are looking for a colour to paint it and the other house trims that will go well with the natural Summer hill stone and the Windsor Grey colour. A. See if Resene Credence or Resene Stepping Stone appeal to you. Colours generally appear lighter in natural bright light. When it comes time to paint your roof – Resene Noir is the equivalent to Windsor Grey. April 2023 |
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Q. My son and his wife have purchased an old villa in Petone. The roof is being replaced shortly and will be COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue. The garage at the front of the property will eventually be demolished. My daughter-in-law quite likes the idea of a pink house, but my son is not so keen. Seeing as you helped with the paint colour for my mum’s unit, I thought you might be able to come up with some suggestions for combinations of paint colours that would work for a villa. A. I suggest a warm biscuit beige – which will look lovely with white windows such as Resene Alabaster and pair well with New Denim Blue. Try Resene Foundation, Resene Eighth Malta or Resene Tua Tua. Let me know what they think – and we can go from there – colours will appear different to what you see on line and can lighten outside in natural light – so test first before deciding. April 2023 |
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Q. We have these grey fibreglass columns that we need to paint. We are looking at a Roman inspired colour/off white colour? Or painting them a colour that will suit the backdrop and make them pop. The paint also needs to have a rough texture to give it that Roman column look. At the moment the fibreglass is a smooth surface. We are at a loss at what paint and colour to buy and would really appreciate your help. A. Most Roman and Greek inspired columns were made of marble – so consist of a cooler grey toned white or a slightly warmer aged white see if any of these Resene colours will work for you – the added texture of the Resene Resitex will help to create varying depths of colour depending on the light. Try Resene Wan White, Resene Poured Milk, Resene Vista White, Resene Milk White or Resene Quarter Albescent White. Resene Poured Milk April 2023 |
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Q. I have a 70s cedar and plaster home that is very woolshed-like. We are renovating and have Ironsand coloured windows. I'm looking at staining the cedar Resene English Walnut. Do you think the colours go together? I also wonder what ‘white’ would work for the plaster work. The cedar covers the second level, the plaster the lower. A. Resene Treehouse or Resene Charred Black look good with Resene Ironsand teamed with a grey white such as Resene Double White Pointer. This will appear lighter outside in bright light. April 2023 |
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Q. We are planning on repainting our house and looking for on trend suggestions. The roof has been painted in Ironsand, the bottom board trims we were planning to paint Ironsand also. We are thinking either a clean warm white or light brown, anything that doesn't have a blue tint to it if possible. A. I do suggest painting the bottom boards Resene Ironsand and the bargeboards – investigate Resene CoolColour paints for the bargeboards – basically this is where the colour looks ‘normal’ but due to clever pigment technology, more of the sun’s harmful rays are reflected away from the substrate, reducing heat related issues with timber. As the bargeboards and fascias are not easily reached to repaint, it is worth investigating. Walls I suggest the following options: Resene Quarter Friar Greystone, Resene White Pointer or Resene Half Napa. I feel a light warm white will not complement the silver windows and make enough impact with a repaint. Please note that colours do tend to appear lighter outside. To test the colours, please do not paint straight on to the existing colour/substrate, unless you undercoat first with a product such as Resene Quick Dry, as the existing colour might change the appearance of how the new colours will appear in reality. Resene have A2 card and testpots, paint two coats on to the card and attach to the house. With Quarter Friar Greystone I suggest the eaves are Resene Half White Pointer. With Resene White Pointer the eaves can also be the same. With Resene Half Napa I suggest Resene Black White for the eaves. Resene Quarter Friar Greystone April 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint my 9 year old son’s room a warm neutral shade. It is on the colder side of the house, getting only a little morning sun. The windows and skirts are Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. I was looking at Resene White Pointer as an option – or maybe Resene Double White Pointer? Would these go with the window colour? Any other warm neutrals you can suggest? It doesn’t have to be white based. A. Resene White Pointer although a slightly warmer grey – is still going to feel a bit cold in the afternoons and possibly dull – plus it isn’t the best match with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. A bit more depth of colour is good for these types of bedrooms – check out Resene Quarter Truffle, Resene Half Truffle or Resene Quarter Fossil. April 2023 |
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Q. How is it best to create a theme for a room? A. I feel the most important aspect to think about when embracing a ‘theme’ for a room is to consider how you want that space to feel when you, a family member or guests enter it – the things you notice and are drawn to, even the things that you no longer desire, will prompt you to decide on what style and elements should stay or go – then you can create a room/home that is authentic as well as aesthetically pleasing, you just need to stay true to yourself – discover your own design style – a unique design style is always a pleasure to discover, however, there are basic principles and current design trends which will keep you in check, so the look when completed isn’t ‘overdone’ – One room rarely encompasses one design style – it is more eclectic than that – but always adopt the design principles of balance, proportion and scale – to create harmony. The trick is to define a look, which is very much still your own. Current fun themes to incorporate into your spaces are:
 Resene Just Dance April 2023 |
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Q. Do you have any design tips/and ideas how to implement fibre and grain/getting back to nature into a project? A. The perfectly imperfect beauty found in unusual objects and surfaces, helps to create an ambience where people love to gather, relax and study. Materials such as wood, clay, grass cloth, bamboo and iron all are subject to wear and tear and can be introduced into the home in creative and interesting ways – such as ply for walls, and furniture which can be stained or colourwashed; walls which can have texture and paint effects layered – popular effects at present are watercolour walls or ombré; toys, vases, pots and planters distressed with chalk paint or given the current popular look of rusted steel. If you are more of a luxe lover, you can still celebrate the simple life and introduce natural textures in the form of organic wall coverings which are made with natural materials including reed, jute, arrowroot and cork – variations in texture and colour are characteristics of the wall covering and add to the handmade aesthetic. Always look for original pieces you already have to work with – remembering that humble materials and pieces add to the celebration of the simple life. Choose muted pastel colours which complement your homes style and existing elements or contrast for a conversation piece with heavier shades like dark greys, blues and greens, rusts, terracotta and olive. Resene products to try:
The final look of your stain, colour wash or paint effect will depend on the type of timber or surface you are applying these products to. Always make sure you experiment with representations of your product if possible, or on to cardboard until you are happy with the colour and technique – the key is to be happy with your creation and to add your distinct colour and flair. April 2023 |
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Q. We have painted our bedroom in a full tint of Resene Solitaire and the walls and Resene Quarter Solitaire on the ceilings. We love the wall colour but find the ceiling almost looks white. Would it be advisable to paint over the ceiling with Resene Half Solitaire? Our room measures 6200 x 5000 and one wall is all windows of a height of 2100. The ceiling has a slight slope but the average centre height is 2700. A. Yes definitely darken the ceiling colour – generally with flat ceilings the colour is seen in shadow so appears darker – in other words – Resene Quarter Solitaire will appear more like Resene Half Solitaire. With light coming from a source – large windows and with an above average ceiling height at the centre, your colour is appearing lighter than expected – consider full strength Resene Solitaire as well. This is a current trend to paint ceilings then same colour as the walls – it creates a cosy atmosphere – however, if you are concerned that it might appear darker at standard height – then half strength will work. April 2023 |
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Q. I would like to know please what warmer colours I use on the walls of a south facing bedroom. Presently, I have the doors and window frames black white which I love, however I don’t want to go grey. A. See if any of these colours appeal – they will work in a south facing bedroom and have a warm edge – but will pair with the Resene Black White – anything too yellow or warm will not pair well with Resene Black White. Try Resene Half Sandspit Brown, Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown, Resene Half Fossil, Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene Joanna. April 2023 |
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Q. I would like to ask your advice on the colour scheme I am considering for the deck area I have recently had built and nearby retaining walls and trellis. The Linea boards of the house are painted Resene Lumbersider in Resene Stonehenge and the window trims are Resene Half Sea Fog. A. To create a harmonious scheme – consider staining the capping, planter boxes and retaining walls Resene Crowshead – dark stains are not solid like paint and they actually recede, and look great against greenery – staining the capping the same as the retaining wall will simplify the scheme and create a uniform appearance. I actually suggest considering staining the stairs and deck Resene Crowshead – blocks of dark stains look great! Don’t be concerned about too much Resene Crowshead – retaining walls are really only half walls and the trellis is going to be light and a vertical surface is seen before a horizontal surface. Trellis I recommend painting Resene Stonehenge and this will soften and contrast to the Resene Crowshead. Resene CoolColour paints and stains help to keep it cooler underfoot when walking on decks stained in dark colours – you can check out CoolColour technology online or talk to staff at your local Resene ColorShop or your painter. Alternatively you can stain the stairs and deck a lighter colour such as Resene Iroko, Resene Natural or Resene Tiri. April 2023 |
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Q. My house is currently Resene Mantle. I would like to change the house colour to be more contemporary like a grey with Resene Mantle trim. What colour would you suggest? A. See if any of these Resene colours appeal: Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Triple Merino, Resene Pumice, Resene Harp or Resene Quill Grey. April 2023 |
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Q. Our bungalow interior is largely Resene Half Spanish White with Resene Quarter Spanish White trim. We have three rooms with contrast colours – the walk through dining room is Resene Matakana with Resene Quarter Spanish White trim and one bathroom is Resene Half Tea and has the same trim as elsewhere. We have always papered our bedroom as a contrast though it is a marbled warm cream with the same paint trim. Unfortunately the building of an extension has damaged one of the papered walls, so we are going to paint the room now as it’s easier. We still want a warm complementary tone but one which is different to define the space. It is a bright room with duck egg and cream curtains. Would Resene Dutch White or Resene Double Dutch White work? Resene Half Dutch White is too pale. I have them all tested on the wall but can’t decide. I don’t want blue or grey tones. A. I feel that because of the bright light the colour is being washed out – plus to pair with the Resene Duck Egg Blue and other neutrals – slightly earthier tones might be more suitable and because of the light the golden undertone should be enhanced. Try Resene Crowdpleaser or Resene Chamois.  Resene Crowdpleaser April 2023 |
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Q. My roof is Resene Noir and my joinery is Silver Pearl, could you please give some colour advice for my shadow cladding and bargeboards? A. See if any of these colours appeal for the Shadowclad – Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Atmosphere or Resene Half Tapa. Please check with your builder on LRV (light restriction values) of colours for Shadowclad – if you choose a darker option such as Resene Half Tapa – you might want to investigate CoolColour paints for the Shadowclad – talk to your builder or local Resene ColorShop to see if CoolColour paints that reflect more of the sun’s heat are right for your project. April 2023 |
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Q. My painter who I intend to carry out my full exterior repaint has suggested that my intended colour scheme (based on lots of looking at colour swatches and trying of testpots by myself) of Resene Wheatfield (walls) and Resene Black White (wooden joinery and soffits) is outdated and will not appeal to prospective buyers, suggesting instead that I go with something like Resene Black White (walls) and Resene Half Black White (wooden joinery). The painter's advice took me a little by surprise and so has prompted me to seek expert advice. A. I suggest that you look at Resene Triple Black White for the exterior walls – the triple variants are very popular as colours lighten and brighten outside and if you paint the whole house Resene Black White it will be very white. Resene Half Black White will work for the joinery. For the bottom sills and base of house I suggest a grey such as Resene Tuna – if it pairs with the roof- assuming you are not painting the roof. April 2023 |
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Q. We have moved into a 1920s bungalow. The kitchen cabinetry is Resene Half Pearl Lusta and the joinery is Resene Spanish White. I'm trying to find a wall colour that freshens these up and looks good with wooden flooring and trims. I quite like Resene Half Perfect Taupe, Resene Quarter Stonehenge, Resene Quarter Pravda, Resene Half Truffle and Resene Triple White Pointer. We have black light fittings, chesterfield couches and rimu furniture. Can you advise which wall colour you would recommend? A. Resene Half Truffle or Quarter Pravda might work – also try Resene Sandspit Brown – being warmer it might pair better and with the Rimu. The other option is Resene Double Spanish White. April 2023 |
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Q. I am trying to choose paint colours for two medium sized bedrooms. One faces east and has a small window so is a dark room. One faces west, has a large window and gets lots of strong afternoon sun. The carpet in both rooms is dark brown. Do you have any suggestions for either of the bedrooms separately, but ideally would like a Resene colour to use in both if possible. A. The lighting as you have addressed is completely different from an east facing room to a west facing room – east facing rooms emphasise green and blue undertones with neutrals and west facing rooms will enhance warmer undertones such as red and peach. That said – complex neutrals are probably your best options. Consider Resene Half Periglacial Blue, Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue, Resene Sandspit Brown, Resene Chalk Dust or Resene Half Tea. Paint A2 card with two coats of Resene testpots – and attach to the walls in each room, to compare tones and see how these colours appear, day and night. Please don’t paint directly on to the existing wall colour, as this mighty alter the perception of how the new colours will appear in reality, once the room is fully painted. You might find that you prefer to use two colours – you can dress the rooms with similar accent colours – for example if you paint the west facing room Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue (it will probably enhance the blue or green but that’s ok – it is a lovely soft calming colour, and you could choose Resene Half Tea for the East facing room. You can accent the Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue with neutrals and taupe, lots of texture and dress the East facing room with slightly muted blues and greens. Or one colour might just work for you – depending on whether the undertone appeals to you. April 2023 |
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Q. We have a small 1940's villa/cottage and have just put on a Sandstone Grey roof. We will paint the house next and are looking for advice on good colour combinations with a Sandstone Grey roof. A. See if any of these combinations appeal:
Resene Solstice April 2023 |
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Q. We are painting a timber exterior and have Arctic White powder coated windows. We’re looking for a matching white. Is there one? If not, a white that doesn’t clash? We’ve started with Resene Alabaster but it is very cream coloured beside the Arctic White. A. Resene have formulated a match to Arctic White – you can request this at your local Resene ColorShop and they can tint it into your chosen paint. Arctic White is a blue toned white so even Resene White looks warm by comparison – for detailing such as window framing or if you want bright white cladding – the custom match is best – alternately for timber cladding consider a deeper white such as Resene Triple Sea Fog which might not clash as it has more colour. April 2023 |
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Q. We are renovating our small (90sq m) 1980s bach at Lake Taupo including replacing the internal hardboard walls with plasterboard and replacing the hardboard and beamed ceilings with new ones. The living/dining/kitchen has windows on three sides, but the biggest one looks straight at the lake and faces west. It is a very hot house in summer. The windows are all aluminium powder coated in Ironsand. We are also replacing the kitchen with a mix of light oak and white units – I am yet to choose the benchtop but we want to keep it light because the house is so small. Our theme is ‘lake meets Scandi’ and our furniture is light oak with dark grey sofa and jade green kitchen stools downstairs. Upstairs we have a duvet cover (which we love) with charcoal and denim blue stripes on an off white background. We are looking for some wall colour ideas please. In fact any colour suggestions would be super as we are also replacing the carpet and may end up with a new sofa! We have a townhouse in Wellington which is super modern and white with charcoal carpets and we really want the houses to look different, but we are conscious we want the Taupo bach to be light. A. You have the perfect location for a scandi theme! I suggest a palette of warm creams, off white walls, warm woods, and a hint of green and blues – it’s more about the textures than bold colours and a neutral scheme with pops of colour (perhaps through soft furnishings, objects and art) fits in with the bush and water you can see beyond. The vista is the feature. It’s the layers that creates interest – lots of texture – perhaps a dove or ecru coloured linen sofa with a couple of tan, taupe, olive or grey chair/s might work for a change or if chairs don’t suit then add colour for throws, cushions, furniture and objects – into living areas and/or bedrooms. Texture such as leather, linen, natural fibres will make the home feel elegant, but simple which is true Scandi style. See if Resene Rice Cake, Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Chalk Dust appeals to you for the walls of living areas. For bedrooms/bathrooms either continue with the warm white or look to colours such as Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue, Resene Half Linen, Resene Half Secrets, Resene Half Emerge or Resene Sandspit Brown. For carpet consider a warm mid grey – cut pile. Accent colours with all of above are deeper variants of the suggested colours including olive greens, sage, duck egg blues, soft terracotta and camels, with pops of brighter blues and teals. Resene ColorShops including Taupo have a stock library of A4 samples to view while in the shop – staff will help you find the suggested colourways so you can see how they look in a larger swatch. April 2023 |
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Q. We are about to move into a late 80s/90s home, which is open plan with a big ranchslider on one side, a smaller window at one end and a large window (fills top half of wall) opposite the ranchslider. So there is lots of light. The top end of the room has a kitchen which is mostly white and grey stone splashback. Currently, the walls are a neutral cream colour. We love the peaceful greens and think having our walls green in the living area will bring the outside in (we are on a lifestyle block). We have quite a bit of timber furniture, a big leather couch and a peacock blue velvet couch. Our current house has Resene Bluegrass walls which we love but I think it will be too strong in this new house. The new house is completely different to our character home so we know we will have a completely different look and feel with the new place. What colour greens would you recommend for the house we are about to buy? Should we paint the kitchen as well? Should we paint all the walls or have different accents? A. I suggest keeping the walls all one colour – as the space is broken up with a lot of windows – and as the kitchen flows into the lounge, paint this space the same as the lounge. Yes your character homes current colour might be too strong – I suggest Resene Quarter Lemon Grass or a grey green such as Resene Half Ash. April 2023 |
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Q. I am hopeless with colours! I want to paint the bedrooms in my period house a grey. I've noticed this colour in several villas I've viewed. Can you give me any ideas about what shade it would be please? A. I am not sure of one particular grey for villas – but popular greys which you might like to try are: Resene Rakaia, Resene Concrete, Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Surrender, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Half Delta, Resene Triple White Pointer and Resene Stepping Stone or a popular greyed blue – Resene Duck Egg Blue.  Resene Stepping Stone April 2023 |
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Q. We are looking to paint soffits etc to blend in with guttering and aluminium joinery colours. As these are fairly standard power coating colours I was hoping you might be able to advise what Resene paint colours to use? Continuous Spouting – ColorCote Threadbare White and joinery Arctic White. A. Arctic White is a cool toned, slightly blue white and any white from the Resene range including Resene White looks creamy next to it – Resene have a custom made formula for Arctic White and Threadbare White – this is the best match available using Resene paints and colours. You can ask for these to be tinted for you at your local Resene ColorShop. April 2023 |
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Q. I am about to paint my new house and am looking at using Resene Eighth Rice Cake on the walls. Would it be ok to paint the ceiling the same colour or should it be white? We were thinking of painting doors/trims/architraves white, is this ok? A. Yes absolutely you can paint the ceiling and walls Resene Eighth Rice Cake with Resene White for the doors, trims etc. Painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls is currently trending and creates a warm cosy feel, and the white contrast for the doors and trims will bring out the soft colour of the walls. April 2023 |
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Q. I have grey/cream floor tiles and want to paint my walls a creamy grey colour that will be light and bright and complement the tiles but not look yellow. Currently the majority of the walls are painted Resene Dutch White but this is too strong. After much back and forth, several testpots and colour samples, I chose Resene Half Merino as the colour on the card was just what I was after. However after painting my kitchen walls with this colour, it looks nothing like the creamy grey colour on the chart. It's quite blue grey on the walls and not creamy grey at all. What colour would you suggest I try? A. Interesting that Resene Half Merino is throwing blue – I am wondering if there is reflection from some blue element in your room. I suggest you test Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Rice Cake and Resene Half Wan White. When testing these neutrals please do not paint on to existing colours as they do tend to alter the perception of the new colour and can enhance different tints. Paint two coats of testpots on to A2 card leaving a white perimeter on all edges of the card to eliminate adjacent colours, and attach to the walls to compare tones. There are lighter variants of these neutrals if you’d prefer a lighter finish. April 2023 |
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Q. Are you able to suggest any complementary colours for COLORSTEEL® Tidal Drift please that are both neutral and available in a range of strengths (quarter, half, full, double, etc)? A. Resene Scarpa Flow seems to tone really well with Tidal Drift – try the Resene BS5252 range of colours from Resene Sea Fog through to Resene Quill Grey and the range of greys in Group A 00 neutral (Resene Quill Grey to Resene Baltic Sea). The Resene Multi-Finish palette R63 has lighter variants of Resene Scarpa Flow from Resene Quarter Scarpa Flow to Shark – these colours can also be considered and mixed. Resene Sea Fog is the white I recommend and Resene Double Foundry is the deep charcoal I recommend. April 2023 |
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Q. We need a new colour scheme to paint our house inside and out. We are looking for a modern neutral look. The roof, gutters and joinery are Ebony, weatherboards are either white, light grey or tan. What colour should we use for the balance of the external cladding and for the internal walls/trim/ceiling? A. I suggest Resene Triple Sea Fog for the weatherboards – a light grey – and Resene Double Foundry for the remaining external cladding – if the LRV rating is suitable for your timber. For internal ceilings, doors and trim try Resene Double Alabaster. April 2023 |
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Q. I’m a first home buyer and want to repaint our home. We currently have grey walls and white trim, with feature walls in each room. It has a brown undertone to things. The house gets some sun but isn’t super bright. I want to brighten the house with white walls. Can you please let me know an options for wall colour and trim/door colours and how this combination could work? A. Congratulations on your first home! I suggest Resene Half Merino for the walls as it isn’t as grey or cold as some of the other whites and without yellow – and although it sounds like you have good light coming in – a white midway between warm and cool is perfect – if that makes sense! The trick is how you dress the rooms – you might at some stage consider changing the curtains – check out the Resene Curtain Collection online to get ideas to go with Resene Half Merino. Lots of texture, helps to keep white rooms cosy and friendly. Resene Half Merino will pair well with your carpet and brown undertones throughout the house. Even if these change in the future Resene Half Merino is a good backdrop for many colours. It does depend on the aspect of light – so we always recommend painting A2 card with two coats of a Resene testpot and attaching to the walls. Painting directly onto the existing colours tends to alter the perception of the new colours. For the trims, ceilings and doors I suggest Resene Alabaster – this will keep the scheme fresh and light, plus if you want to change wall colours or add colour to any rooms later down the track – Resene Alabaster will work with most colour ways. April 2023 |
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Q. We're trying to find a colour for the exterior doors (two solid, two French) on our villa. The walls are currently being painted in Resene Pewter, with Resene Double Alabaster trims to match the double glazed windows and Resene Mid Grey bargeboards, guttering and roof (eventually). Other colours in view of the house are Resene Picked Bluewood gates beside the house and some Resene Black trellis and perimeter fencing. A. Resene Pewter is a beautiful colour on weatherboard. For the doors I suggest tying in the Resene Pickled Bluewood tones – investigate Resene Balderdash, Resene Bluff or Resene Wayfarer, depending on whether you want a deeper tone, slightly lighter and greyer or a bit brighter. I recommend you paint A2 card with two coats using a Resene testpot of each colour and attach to the doors to see what works for you.  Resene Wayfarer April 2023 |
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Q. Our home has a high pitched ceiling with dark stained beams, and timber walls similar to Lockwood style. I want to modernise it and I wonder if it would work to paint both the ceiling including beams, and also paint the wooden walls white, or perhaps whitewash style. I need a second opinion. A. Resene Colorwood Whitewash (pre mixed for you) is great for Lockwood style walls and ceilings and is a popular finish – however, having dark stained beams might be difficult to white wash over, unless you thoroughly remove the stain. My suggestion is to paint the ceiling and beams. My colour suggestion is Resene Alabaster for the ceiling and beams – consider teaming this with Colorwood Light Greywash for the walls – to give a modern contrast, but still a soft effect as it is a wash, or Resene Colorwood Whitewash for the walls. Alternatively I suggest painting all the walls Resene Alabaster. April 2023 |
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Q. How do I marry up a new white kitchen with warmer white walls in a kitchen/dining/lounge open plan room? I don't want it to look sterile in the rest of the house but I love the white kitchen look. A. It really depends on whether the white kitchen has warm or cooler undertones – but there are some whites for walls which can work with either – the best practice is to paint A2/A4 card with two coats of Resene testpots (available at Resene ColorShops) and compare with the kitchen white – comparing in the intended space will give you the best indication of what will work – as we can advise, but natural lighting will have an impact on the appearance of the whites. It helps to add texture and/or colour to the space, whether through colourful accessories or if that’s not your thing – then dried or fresh flowers, pottery, timber boards etc. Sample at least three whites for the walls – my suggestions are: Resene Half Sea Fog, Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Merino, Resene Bianca or Resene Chalk Dust. These are good whites to start with all slightly warmer or cooler than each other – but not completely cool. April 2023 |
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