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. What are some ideas for using paint colour, wallpaper or other Resene products to turn creative storage ideas into a design feature of a room? A. Many storage ideas can be presented in a fun, colourful way, doubling as a practical solution – it really depends on the purpose of the storage. If you are simply adding more shelving for example, into your living room – then painting your shelving into the same colour as your walls will give the illusion of space and not dominate the room. This also helps draw the eye to what is on the shelves rather than the shelves themselves – using a different texture through sheen levels will help to create some interest such as Resene Lustacryl or Resene Enamacryl and is a functional solution. Alternatively if you want to add drama and transform a bookcase, or turn your shelving into a piece of art then colour blocking with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen can transform a wall or alcove and be continued over the shelving or onto different storage solutions such as cubbies in different colours, with smaller creative pieces such as hooks, trays, boxes, crates and baskets in contrasting colours – Resene testpots come in a variety of products such as Resene FX Metallic and Resene Colorwood stain. This is an inexpensive way to have some fun, and try out some bold contrasting colours and different textures – or if you are after a more subdued palette and like the rustic appeal, look to Karen Walker Chalk Colour paint and wax range to transform those vintage room dividers and storage benches. Resene wallpaper is an alternative to colour blocking and can be used for walls behind shelving to create an artwork, whether that is the back or side walls of a bookcase, a display cabinet, an alcove or the front drawers of a repurposed dresser. There are some fabulous fun wallpapers in the Resene collection, and can add texture, pattern and colour to revamp your storage pieces, in particular geometric and bold botanical patterns can look fabulous, or you might like to add a paint effect to your storage pieces such as stencilling or a masked effect. The main thing to consider is to choose colours and finishes which complement your overall scheme, creating interest but not taking away from any decorative elements. July 2023 |
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Q. How would you define a space that is still neutral but uses more saturated colours? What are the advantages of using deeper colours? What are some ideas for layering colours/using bolder neutrals while still keeping to a “neutral” finished look? A. The new neutrals have warmth and depth to them – they have complex characteristics – they challenge us to widen our neutral options, by exploring light and dark options and playing with texture. Any colour can be subdued and appear neutral when combined with the basics such as greige, whites or beige, and spreading the colour throughout the space with varying strengths, reduces the impact of a bolder colour, whilst still creating impact. You can add visual texture, pattern and colour to a neutral palette, with wallpaper, stains and painted finishes with Resene FX Paint Effects finishes, or create your own monochrome finish. Deeper colours in a neutral scheme make it more visually interesting, a darker floor or ceiling can make a bold statement and create a focal point. Media rooms, large living spaces and recreation rooms are great places to explore using deeper neutrals. Lighting is vital to create the right ambience – make sure your lighting is spread around the room, as darker colours absorb light. Take a close look at the undertones of the neutrals you choose – notice if they have hints of pink, green or yellow for example – noticing these variations allows you to play off that undertone with the other colours you layer on top – look at neighbouring colours which have similar undertones but aren’t exactly the same variation of that neutral – this creates a more interesting palette. July 2023 |
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Q. What statement colour would work best for the inside of my front door, the cupboard next to it, and the frame of the rectangular arch to the kitchen? It’s an apartment so I’m conscious of not making the space look small. I was thinking a not-quite midnight navy but haven’t found one I like. A. See if these two navy blues appeal: Resene Biscay or Resene Bunting. July 2023 |
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Q. I'm doing a dark master bedroom. My WIR is walnut and the ensuite will be dark and timber when I can afford to finish it, so dark in the bedroom makes sense. My totara four poster bed will be the star. It is a south room with no direct sun, so I figure to embrace the dark cosy feel, but I'm struggling with colour. My velvet curtains I’m making are close to Resene Triple Blanc, I have wooden floors with a beige rug under the bed. I was thinking of Resene Bokara Grey, but I’m tossing up whether Resene Ironsand is warmer and Resene Half Bokara Grey was more grey than brown. There will be plenty of timber, so brown edged is key for warmth also especially in a south facing room. I was thinking Resene Triple Blanc for the trim top and bottom and ceiling purely because I'm struggling to make a decision and the matching drapes would look good I think. I’m open to options and ideas. It’s a 1865 house and I’m also doing detailed bead wall panelling as its 3m ceilings and it makes it feel lux and adds interest to boring walls. A. I like your ideas and your curtains, ceilings and trims will pair very well with the smoky brown walls. I would also recommend trying Resene Double Ironsand. Resene Half Bokara Grey is actually more brown than grey, so it might be worth a try as well. The detailed bead panelling is a great addition to the room.  Resene Double Ironsand July 2023 |
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Q. Currently our walls are painted Resene Half Joss. At night or in shade they look more purple. I want to repaint with a lighter white as our lounge has lots of windows but no direct sun so is dark. Our family room is very light and gets all day sun. I have tried Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta but it’s a bit green at night. We are completely redecorating so the only things I need to match are pale wood floors and neutral linen look curtains. A. Perhaps try Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Half Merino. July 2023 |
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Q. I have decided to paint my main area walls in Resene Rivergum and using Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on the ceilings and trims – do you think that’s the right white to use? A. Resene Rivergum is a beautiful mid grey-green which works well with both cool and warm colours – it should pair well with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. For a cooler toned white, see if Resene Quarter Merino or Resene Double Alabaster appeal. July 2023 |
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Q. I'm a mural artist/oil painter and was wanting to try replicate my oil painting colour palette for waterbased paints to use on walls. This specific oil colour palette is for realistic portraiture and the goal is to have simple base colours that I can mix to make an array of colours. I've had a look at all the Resene colours and tried to match the RGB codes of my oils on your colour code finder. So I've found the closest match for all of them, but I'm not sure if there is a better method to matching the colours? Or if you have any other recommendations? Are there different types of Resene colours that mix better together to produce a new colour? I haven't used Resene paint before so I'm new to all the colours and the types of paint available. But I've heard it is the best quality/pigment for murals, so I'm excited to see if I can make this colour palette work! A. RGBs are not the best way to match colours as they are electronic representations only. The best option is to paint out a small piece of each oil colour, allow to dry, and take them into a local Resene Color Shop and match to colour cards. Resene stores have a stock library of A4 swatches, so once you have narrowed down closest options, check your colours against the A4 swatches in store. Resene ColorShop staff will be happy to assist you. Paint colours are always best matched using the physical versions. July 2023 |
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Q. We recently bought a house and the separate lounge is painted in Resene Double Stack. It feels dark and cold and I would like to lighten it up and create a warmer cosy vibe. Is there a lighter/warmer colour option to use in place of Resene Stack? A. See if Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Triple Concrete (latter still a bit cool) appeals or you could go for a greige, such as Resene Quarter Friar Greystone, Resene Eighth Friar Greystone or Resene Four Winds.  Resene Eighth Friar Greystone  Resene Quarter Friar Greystone  Resene Four Winds July 2023 |
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Q. We have a round living room with a flat slanted ceiling – an elliptical shape. Generally a light space – lots of windows. I am considering painting the ceiling flat black. The reason is that sunlight slanting through the windows shows up every imperfection in the plasterboard ceiling. I have seen something like this done before and rather than ‘close’ the room in it seemed to have the opposite effect. It would certainly be dramatic. What are your thoughts on this? The wall is currently a beige colour but thinking of changing it to something like Resene Concrete. The ceiling has cracks and there are also some screw pulls and dips that are highlighted by the daylight angling across the surface. The advice from a plasterer was they could fix it but it would go again – apparently they see a lot of this in this area because of the high winds we get. So the idea was to go matt black maybe that "blacker than black" that Resene has to hide all the problems. The ceiling is high. It would be dramatic. But it could also be wrong – hence my asking for your advice. I don’t think the greys will hide the cracking as the crack lines are effectively black. Probably 30 years ago we'd have used a plaster/stucco effect but that seems out of fashion now. A. A black ceiling won’t necessarily close the space in, but it can have the effect of lowering the ceiling. See if any of these work for you: Resene Westminster, Resene Black Sand (near black), Resene Nocturnal or Resene Foundry. If the ceiling is high then possibly straight black, like Resene Nero might work. You could also ask your builder whether a suspended ceiling is an idea. July 2023 |
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Q. Our property features a COLORSTEEL® roof in Ironsand and mostly wooden windows, with some silver joinery. Could you suggest a neutral colour scheme that would be attractive to a wide range of people? A. For the weatherboards Resene Silver Chalice is a very popular colour and will appeal to many I suggest taking this colour under the eaves and onto the fascia. For the windows and trims I suggest Resene Half Athens Grey. July 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint my kitchen cupboards and I’m thinking it could look really striking painted black. We are also going to replace the bench tops to a neutral colour as well but will do this once we repaint. A. A near black could look stunning with the wood floors – see if any of these appeal: Resene Double Foundry, Resene Black Sand or Resene Fuscous Grey. July 2023 |
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Q. We are trying to decide on an exterior paint colour. I like Resene Woodsmoke, my partner likes Resene Big Stone. He thinks Resene Woodsmoke is too dark, I think Resene Big Stone is too blue. While I’ve looked at so many colour swatches and bought about 10 test pots, I’m struggling to find what works. Is there a technical way to say which colour would be the best compromise between the two so that I don’t buy increasingly large amounts of testpots? A. There isn’t really a technical way to say which colour will be the best lol, however, as well as Resene Woodsmoke being deeper, it also has more of a green undertone and Resene Big Stone as you say Blue – what they have in common is they are both muted or ‘greyed off’. Two colours to perhaps test are: Resene Exactly, which has similar tonings to Resene Woodsmoke but a bit lighter and Resene Dark Slate which is a smoky green grey. July 2023 |
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Q. I have selected Resene Barista because in my house – a warm dark brown with a hint of plum. I had selected Resene Half White Pointer as the colour for rest of the walls in the room. The room does not get lots of light. Two small windows and a larger window about 1.2m by 90 cm. Is this the right white? A. Yes printed colour will always look different to an actual paint colour – however, it is a good place to start for inspiration! Yes Resene Half White Pointer should work well with Resene Barista. July 2023 |
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Q. We are renovating a weatherboard house and would like some advice on what colour to paint the fences and the sides of the neighbour's garages that form our boundary. We have already purchased/starting using the following colours: foundations in Resene Grey Friars, weatherboards in Resene Silver Chalice, trims in Resene Alabaster, internal walls in Resene White Pointer or Resene Half White Pointer. The front door will be Resene Poppy or a similar red. The fence that will be built along the front of the section has minimal vegetation so just needs to work with the house colours. The back section is tricker as it is dominated by a 3m high garage that forms our boundary with the neighbour. We have permission to paint our side of it but don't want the colour to dominate the entire yard. We have planted a row of Corokia hedging in front of it. There are a variety of smaller sections of fencing in the backyard as well (some timber palings, some COLORSTEEL®). I am leaning towards Resene Half Lemon Grass or Resene Quarter Lemon Grass for the back of the section, but am undecided for the front. I would appreciate your input. A. The Resene Lemon Grass family might not fit into your new colour scheme. I feel the fences and boundary walls need to relate to the house, and all need to be one colour for cohesion, although this is not a rule so to speak, but something to consider. Darker tones look great against greenery and gardens and actually aren’t as imposing as one would expect – however, if your back boundary wall is quite high, I suggest using a mid-toned grey that ties in with the house colours – not too dark, and note that colours will appear lighter outside in bright natural light. Try Resene Half Grey Friars, Resene Half Tuna or Resene Quarter Grey Friars. July 2023 |
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Q. I'm selecting a timber entrance door and I want it in a dark chocolate. Do I need to stain or paint? And do you have recommendations on which colour and product I need to choose? Some people told me the original colour of the timber will affect the result after staining/painting, how this works? A. Resene Woodsman Oil Stain will give you a natural look stain finish. Please note that there can be variances of colour, depending on the type of timber being stained – we always recommend testing colours/stains before making final decisions. Two colours to test are Resene Bark and Resene Timberland. July 2023 |
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Q. We recently bought a property that's surrounded by gardens and apple orchards. It's a 1906 villa and is decorated in a traditional, glamorous style with peachy creams and wallpapers and timber flooring – the look doesn't suit our young family (with two boys aged 9 and 11). I want to paint over the wallpaper and bring a more modern, calm feeling. I like a coastal look but given the house is amongst apple orchards, I was wondering if some green tones might also work. I don't like red so prefer a colder background to the colours. I was thinking Resene Black White in the lounge, kitchen and hallway, in the master bedroom Resene Coast or Resene Timekeeper, in the ensuite Resene Lemon Grass or Resene Tasman to go with the green in the stained glass window, in the big bathroom Resene Tasman or Resene Black White and in our son’s bedrooms Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue or go a bit adventurous and have a dark (Resene Black or Resene Timekeeper) feature wall. I'll also be replacing most of the curtains/blinds to go with the new colour scheme. A. Resene Black White is quite a cool toned colour considering your timber flooring – consider Resene Double Alabaster for the lounge, kitchen and hallway, which is still cool toned but not quite as grey. For the ensuite and bathroom Resene Tasman is a beautiful colour. Coast will look fabulous for the master bedroom – and for your son’s rooms consider the darker options for feature walls, perhaps with Resene Double Alabaster – investigate Resene Welcome or Resene Invincible. July 2023 |
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Q. An interior paint question. The house is having the same colour on the walls and the ceilings. The house gets morning sun but not evening. I am thinking Resene Half Sea Fog. Is this a good choice? A. It really depends on what other colours/furnishings/flooring etc is going on within the house, however, Resene Half Sea Fog is a great white because it works with both cool and warm tones – so it might work as long as the rest of the furnishings are warm and there is layering of textures. Resene Half Sea Fog will look like Resene Sea Fog on the ceiling – all off whites generally appear darker on ceilings due to shadowing on the ceiling. For a slightly warmer alternative you might like to try Resene Merino or Resene Quarter Rice Cake, depending on whether these tones pair with everything else of course. July 2023 |
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Q. I have a tiny beach cottage in Northland. We are slowly renovating it. It faces south (but has amazing views). I originally used Resene Black White on both the interior and exterior (window trims only against Resene Black on siding), but have found that on the exterior it looks yellowish/creamy compared to the optic white aluminium window frames. I want a really bright white inside mainly because of the lack of sun and a bright white to match the exterior window frames – what colour of white do you suggest? A. I am assuming you mean Arctic White. Resene have formulated a match to Arctic White, which your local Resene ColorShop can tint for you. Arctic White is an icy blue toned white – therefore it can even make true whites like Resene White and Resene Black White look warm by comparison. It is very tricky to work with in regards to whites, as you have seen, there is a discordant clash if anything else is used close to it. You might like to try Resene White and Resene Mystic as alternatives – just to see how they appear in your space – as natural light also has an effect on the paint colour. July 2023 |
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Q. I have a couple of questions for bedrooms. The trims in the whole house are Resene Alabaster, and likely to be Resene Sea Fog on walls in the living areas otherwise. Bedroom 1 – North facing, we want a light blush tone. We are looking at Resene Pearl Bush but are concerned it may be a bit too much brown undertone, especially as the headboard is a light grey velvet, and the room has an office coming off it which will have a grey desk top in it. Bedroom 2 – South facing, again we will have Resene Alabaster trim. We want a lighter green colour, but warming/not much colour. We initially thought Resene Zumthor but this may be too cool? Or is a better direction a colour like Resene Half Duck Egg Blue or Resene Half Copyrite but it’s possible that may be too cold/grey also? A. Yes Resene Pearl Bush, although a beautiful colour, might appear a bit brown – try Resene Despacito, Resene Ethereal or Resene Soothe. I suggest you try Resene Half Duck Egg Blue which works with many other colours, and being muted, has a certain warmth to it. Alternatively investigate Resene Emerge or Resene Half Emerge, Resene Quarter Lemon Grass is also lovely. July 2023 |
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Q. I have a huge house painting task and need an expert to help choose the colours. My Californian bungalow is to be entirely repainted inside and out following massive damage from fire, smoke and water. The house is currently being restored/rebuilt, including rimu floors redone, new plasterboard and ceilings throughout, new kitchen, bathrooms, etc. I'd like all whites on exterior and interior. Simple, classic, tasteful. The new roof will be COLORBOND® mid grey. It has a big hardwood deck and its all-white pergola survived the fire. A. I’m sorry to hear about the fire, water and smoke damage, that must have been devastating for you. For exteriors, we generally specify the deeper variants of whites, as they appear lighter and brighter outside. Resene Sea Fog is a versatile white which works well on weatherboards and in most environments – so consider Resene Double Sea Fog for the exterior with Resene Alabaster for windows and trims. The warmer whites work well with Rimu floors – perhaps test Resene Merino, Resene Rice Cake or Resene Half Sea Fog and Resene Alabaster will pair well with these for trims etc. July 2023 |
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Q. I hope you can give me some advice regarding colour options for a feature wall. We have a garage conversion that is used as a music room/hang out space for our kids. It has been painted in Resene Half Tea. Can you let me know what colours could be used for a feature wall, behind the drum kit? We are thinking a bold colour or dark blue would be nice as the rest of the house is very neutral (intentionally!) and this room was designed to be a fun space for the kids and their friends to hang out. It is approx. 3m x 4.5m and does have natural light coming in. A. Blues look great with Resene Half Tea and I feel the right shade of blue will tie in the brighter blue accessories and soft furnishings in the room, which will then make it look cohesive. See if any of these appeal – Resene Epic, Resene Ocean Waves, Resene Island Time or Resene Plan B. July 2023 |
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Q. I have a 70s house and have just installed 50+ metres of fence in Titania COLORSTEEL®. I would now like to paint my home a light colour which complements the fence, but don't know where to start with getting the right tone/colour etc. Is there a complementary grey to Titania? A. You haven’t mentioned what other colours are existing on the house that you may have to complement i.e. the roof and window joinery. Generally green greys and neutral grey whites pair with Titania, such as Resene Ash, Resene Double Ash, Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Half Tapa – but this will depend on the other colours existing as mentioned. July 2023 |
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Q. We are painting our 1930s house – weatherboards in Resene Cloudy and trim, porch and windows in Resene Alabaster. Next to our house is our enormous concrete (textured) garage with a COLORBOND® Slate roof. It has been converted into a tiny house so has weatherboards where the garage door used to be. What colour should we paint the garage concrete walls to go nicely with our Resene Cloudy house and not overpower it? I've tried Resene Cloudy (too light), Resene Friar Greystone (too dark) and Resene Triple Truffle (not enough contrast). We are trying to add a bit of craftsman bungalow charm to our whole property so an accent colour is also needed for the decorative porch brackets and front door on the house (maybe Resene Russet or Resene Wayfarer). We live in a coastal village so want to keep the vibe light and airy. I'm finding Resene Cloudy hard to pin down for a scheme so any help appreciated! I am told it is a warm colour with red and yellow in it. A. Try Resene Credence or Resene Half Stonehenge – please don’t paint directly onto the garage walls as the existing colour and substrate will affect how the new colour will appear in reality. For the front door Resene Wayfarer will look stunning with Resene Cloudy. July 2023 |
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Q. What is the closest colour in the Resene Waterborne Woodsman range to FlaxPod? A. Resene Woodsman Crowshead works with FlaxPod – it is not an exact match however. We always recommend testing colours before making final decisions – stains might appear differently depending on the timber. July 2023 |
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Q. Which wall colour will modernise my 16 year old home and give it a more beachy feel? The main living areas face north/northeast and have lots of windows. The original colour scheme was Resene Akaroa. A. To create a beachy feel – going into neutral off white territory is what will achieve this. The off white needs to balance the warmth of the north facing light, so nothing too creamy and it also needs to pair with your kitchen cabinetry, tiles and your window joinery – therefore as a base colour throughout I suggest Resene Wan White, from there you can dress the house with beachy colours and add colour to the walls if desired, or for any cooler rooms add layers of texture or choose a slightly warmer white such as Resene Half Rice Cake – perhaps for the bedrooms. July 2023 |
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Q. We are painting the exterior of our villa in grey and are considering the following for weatherboards: Resene Freestyling, Resene Half Raven or Resene Quarter Silver Chalice with Resene Grey Friars for roof, garage door and front door, using Resene Black White for all joinery. Can you advise on the weatherboards please if any combination is better than the other or other better grey tones? A. Resene Silver Chalice looks fabulous with Resene Grey Friars and Resene Black White – I suggest using a deeper variant than Resene Quarter Silver Chalice as colours can appear up to 30% lighter outside. So perhaps consider Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Silver Chalice – if you do choose Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and want a crisper look for your joinery – consider Resene Half Black White. July 2023 |
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Q. We want to paint our 1920s bungalow. We think white with a light blue or green trim (around the windows etc). What would you suggest? We live in a very green area with lots of trees around. A. If you have a lot of greenery around – this will reflect onto the white walls. If this is not an issue then look at the slightly deeper variants of the whites as they do brighten outside. Bungalows generally have nice windows. An option is to have a green (I favour green with your outlook) undertone for the walls and a complementary white for the windows. See if any of these whites appeal: Resene Merino, Resene Thorndon Cream or Resene Linen and with them you might like to consider a white such as Resene Alabaster – or if you choose Resene Linen – Resene Black White looks quite good. Also investigate Resene Half Lemon Grass for the weatherboards with Resene Quarter Linen for the windows and trims or a white such as Resene Double Alabaster for the weatherboards with Resene Quarter Linen for the windows and trims. July 2023 |
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Q. I have a villa and cannot make up my mind for the colour of the weatherboards, but have decided on Resene Black White for windows and trim etc and Resene Grey Friars for the roof and garage door and maybe front door. I was suggested Resene Silver Chalice which looks lovely from the testpot. As I am worried it might be a tad light I was wondering if Resene Double Silver Chalice would work equally well, or is it better to stick to Resene Silver Chalice? Also what door colour do you suggest with this, sticking to Resene Grey Friars or a blue tone door or any other suggestion? A. Did you do a sample of Resene Silver Chalice – two coats? Wet paint always appears lighter – then dries darker. In saying that colours will appear lighter outside, once spread onto a large surface. Resene Silver Chalice is a popular choice with Resene Grey Friars because it pairs well – you can test Resene Double Silver Chalice, it is personal preference. For the front door you can investigate a deeper variant of Resene Grey Friars such as Resene Invincible or perhaps a sunny yellow such as Resene Wild Thing or a green like Resene Kombi.  Resene Double Silver Chalice  Resene Invincible July 2023 |
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Q. I am painting the interior of our 1940s home. We are thinking of walls in Resene Half Rice Cake and then ceilings, window trims, doors, architraves and skirtings in Resene Alabaster. Will Resene Alabaster look OK against the slightly warmer Resene Half Rice Cake? Or would you recommend a different colour? A. If there is plenty of light during the day, then yes Resene Half Rice Cake is a great option. Also please test Resene Half Cararra and Resene Chalk Dust – they are similar, but have slightly different undertones. All will pair with Resene Alabaster, and this is a great option for your ceilings, doors, trims etc. July 2023 |
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Q. My daughter wants to paint her laundry. It comes off the open plan living/kitchen/lounge area which is currently Resene Quarter Sisal. She's not overly fussed on it being too yellow and wants it light, as its currently quite dark. Do you have any suggestions as this could be carried through the hallway and bedroom areas? A. See if Resene Bianca appeals to your daughter – it is a light, warm off white which isn’t too yellow, but is good at emitting borrowed light, so is good for darker rooms, without feeling cold. It is neutral enough to carry through to the hallway and bedroom and will flow from Resene Quarter Sisal. July 2023 |
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Q. I am looking for a colour to go on a new build house exterior with rendered brick, ebony Abodo board, FlaxPod joinery and roof and grey schist pillars. I am looking for a beige grey that doesn’t throw too much green or pink for the rendered brick. A. Abodo Ebony and FlaxPod both have a warmth to them – see if these warmer beige greys appeal – Resene Half Tapa, Resene Archive Grey, Resene Greige, Resene Friar Greystone or Resene Gauntlet. We always recommend testing colours before making final decisions. Colours generally appear lighter outside. July 2023 |
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Q. We have Resene Quarter Tea on all walls in the house. The kitchen cabinets appear to be Resene Tea. We want to lighten up the house a little bit and are considering keeping the kitchen cabinets Resene Tea. Would Resene Eighth Tea look ok on the walls with Resene Tea cabinets. The flooring in the kitchen will be Jacobsen Vinyl Traffic 250,Winter Pine-Pebble Grey and the new carpet is a mid-grey with a hint of beige. Any other suggestions for the wall colour, or do you think Resene Eighth Tea will work? A. Keeping the cabinetry Resene Tea is not a bad idea at all – the beige tones are all trending again – however, Resene Eighth Tea does change tone a bit and I feel next to the vinyl in particular, it might appear to have a slight pink undertone. Consider Resene Quarter Tea – it is a lovely soft colour much lighter than Resene Tea – or Resene White Pointer might work – more grey. There are lighter variants of Resene White Pointer that you could investigate as well – try Resene Half White Pointer and Resene Quarter White Pointer. July 2023 |
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Q. I have fashioned a replacement snake head out of clay and glued it on. I still have some filling and sanding to do. Does Resene have a metallic paint colour that would work for the colour of Tutankhamun’s head? A. Try Resene Blast Grey 2 from the Resene Metallics and special effects range. Resene testpots are available. It isn’t too shiny and has a warm (red/yellow) undertone. July 2023 |
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Q. We have a house in the mountains of the South Island surrounded by golden tussocks. The house is clad in Gull Grey COLORSTEEL® with New Denim Blue roofing and trims and white pearl aluminium windows. We have a carport which we are going to fill in to become a garage. We want a bit of fun so are keen for a coloured door, thinking perhaps Resene Meteor? Should we go for a New Denim Blue surround, white or Gull Grey. A. Resene Meteor should work really well. Resene ColorShops have a stock library of A4 swatches – you could compare a swatch of Resene Meteor, COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey (the Resene equivalent is Resene Atmosphere) and Resene New Denim Blue while there – staff will be happy to assist in finding the swatches – and take them outside to view in the natural light. For the trim – generally pedestrian doors are part of the main garage door? If so then I suggest the trim be the same colour as the garage door – leave the Resene Meteor to be the hero – don’t over complicate it. July 2023 |
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Q. I’m keen on Resene Black White for the interior walls with Resene Quarter Alabaster for skirtings and architraves. I am doing Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue in the main bathroom vanity and a Resene Rakaia vanity for each of the other bathrooms. Do you have any other suggestions? A. Your interior sounds lovely – you might like to test Resene Half Sea Fog as an alternative to Resene Black White – only because it is a little warmer – it all depends on how the whites appear in the natural light. Resene Half Periglacial Blue, Resene Half Emerge or Resene Half Surrender are colours you might like to consider bringing through for bedrooms or the master bedroom. July 2023 |
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Q. Our house is painted in Resene Quarter Iron and trim in Resene Quarter Alabaster. The front door will have a brushed nickel doorknob and round knocker centred. I wanted to get an opinion on Resene Gunsmoke for the door or would it suit a lighter colour? It faces south so Feng Shui is important and most of the day there is shade at the front. I like Resene Ravine. I would like something with a smoked or warm undertone for Feng shui south facing as opposed to the blue undertone. A. With the front door in shade – perhaps a lighter colour will be more suitable and consider a gloss finish – to bring life to the finish and another dimension. Resene Enamacryl is a water based Enamel which is a gloss finish – but not a super gloss finish, which the traditional oil based paints are. If the door has many defects then you might want to consider a semi-gloss, water based enamel finish, such as Resene Lustacryl. Try Resene Ted or Resene Gull Grey – both of these have a slight blue undertone and might lift the appearance of the door opposed to a darker colour. Or see if Resene Half Silver Chalice works for you – much softer or Resene Half Chicago which is a warm stone grey. Or you could try a soft red such as Resene Half Pohutukawa – it is the luckiest colour for a front door and representing fire in Feng Shui it also is for protection.  Resene Ted July 2023 |
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Q. I'm trying to get a colour close to Falu red, the Scandinavian house/barn colour. A. Investigate the reds on the Resene multi finish palette R11 – depending on which example on line I look at, Falu Red can have tones of Resene Raging Bull through to Resene Red Planet or Resene Avant Garde. Test pots are the best option – two coats – and preferably for a colour like this – on to the substrate you are painting – a sample – although we don’t recommend painting straight onto an existing colour – you will need to undercoat an area first – as existing colours might influence the way the new colour will appear in reality once the whole building/house is painted out. Colours do brighten and lighten outside – hence another reason to test first. July 2023 |
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Q. We are renovating our ensuite and wanting to repaint it in a warm white. We are trying to tie it in to our recently painted bedroom feature wall in Resene Half Halcyon. It has one South facing window. We’ve chosen an oak laminate flooring. The vanity will be white with a vertical slat feature on the drawers. We have chosen a backsplash tile in a soft blue. Our theme is coastal country. We are trying to select the best white(s) for bathroom walls/ceiling/trims. A. I suggest the Resene Rice Cake family – it will give you warmth without being too yellow – and goes well with the blues, oak and will give that coastal/country feel. You might like to paint the ceilings and trims Resene Alabaster – this will keep it looking fresh and bright, with the warmth on the walls. July 2023 |
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Q. I’ve painted my roof in Resene Steel Grey but now need to get spouting replaced so I need to find a COLORSTEEL® colour that is closest – could you please advise? COLORSTEEL® suggested I order a range of their grey samples. I also spoke to a local Resene ColorShop and they said if I just went one up on the roof chart so just above Steel Grey is Windswept which is the same as COLORSTEEL® TernStyle that should be fairly close. Does that sound correct? It’s for the spouting and fascias so will mostly be in different angles to the roof and not directly comparable. A. A. Yes it will probably work – TernStyle is a neutral grey like Resene Steel Grey – just a bit darker. Ask the COLORSTEEL® supplier to send you a sample of TernStyle and hold against the roof colour if possible or to a swatch of Steel Grey at your local Resene ColorShop (the larger swatches are more accurate for colour co-ordinating). July 2023 |
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Q. I have to choose colours for a house I am having built in Tauranga. I would like a yellow house with grey roof, but don’t know how to choose the exact ones and how to know how it might look. I realise this is a bold colour. A. It really depends on what type of yellow you want and what is the substrates? What is the design and location? Certain substrates such as weatherboards have LRV (light reflection values) restrictions – which means basically no dark colours or saturated colours. What are you planning for your roof and joinery colour? Some locations have council restrictions on which type of colours can be used for the exterior. The best way to see any combinations and the true nature of colour, is to paint A2 card with two coats of Resene testpots and see how the combinations appear outside together (colours appear lighter outside and yellows can intensify) – or you can order A4 drawdown swatches online via the Resene website, www.resene.com/drawdowns. As you are at the beginning stages – I suggest you talk to your building company about the above queries and they might be able to guide you to suitable roof and joinery options – from there we can see what paint colours will work for you – let us know what type of yellow – cream, buttery, bright etc you prefer. Alternately you can book a free in store appointment with one of our Colour Experts and take all the info with you – they will meet you at a local Resene ColorShop that suits. This service can be booked online at www.resene.com/colourconsult. July 2023 |
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Q. Which 'white' goes best with Resene Perfect Taupe. A. If you want a true white Resene Alabaster pairs well with Resene Perfect Taupe. If you want a slightly warmer white with less contrast investigate Resene Milk White. July 2023 |
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Q. I am getting my house repainted and am looking at using Resene Cello (for the bottom level which is currently green, the barge boards, the garage doors and the sides to the entrance to the garage which are currently dark green) and Resene Quarter Frozen for the top level and under the eaves (currently white). I would like it to also go with the fence around our section which has white panels and Resene Shark posts and railing. A. I would tend to tie the Resene Shark fences into the house scheme by using a deep grey on the base and a grey blue on the boards. This will really modernise the overall look of the house, plus the Resene Cello and Resene Quarter Frozen are going to intensify outside – so the Resene Quarter Frozen will look baby blue and the Resene Cello will brighten – which might not complement your bricks. Consider Resene Half Shark or Resene Tuna for the base and Resene Ted for the boards. July 2023 |
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Q. We are at the stage of picking a colour scheme for our kitchen in our new build. We would really appreciate your advice on a light green/grey neutral for the lower kitchen cabinets. We have Resene Quarter Hillary in our current house and we love it. Would this work for the green or be too dark? We are going to do light stone look benchtops and wooden open shelving. Also a wooden island and black tapware/hardware. Our floor will be engineered oak. For the back splash we were thinking of keeping it simple with white subway tiles. Do you think a thin black grout would be good or would you go with white? All the upper cabinetry will be white/cream. What shade do you suggest? We don't want it to be too sterile and we will be using the same colour in other areas of the house. Will it need to match the white of the tile exactly? A. I feel that Resene Quarter Hillary might not be the right tone for this kitchen design – it isn‘t too dark however, so if you love it then perhaps consider it – also investigate Resene Eighth Lemon Grass. For the white – I suggest you choose the subway tiles first – no the whites don’t have to match exactly, but it is good to get similar undertones – you might not be happy with a warm white for cabinetry and walls, and then a cool toned white for the tiles, for example. There are far more whites in a paint range than subway tiles – so it makes sense to choose the tile first and then the colours – if you require further help with the white once you have a tile, we are happy to help. Saying that, to give you something to work with – if you did opt for Resene Eighth Lemon Grass then slightly warmer white subways will look best and investigate the Resene Merino family for the white cabinetry and walls. I suggest white grout – to pair with the soft cabinetry colours – plus a little bit of black is lovely in the kitchen, and you have this with your hardware. Grey grout might also be an option for you. These two grout colours are classics. At this stage I suggest you paint A2 card with two coats of Resene testpots in the above suggestions and take them to a tile supplier to compare – alternatively, you can order A4 swatches online, www.resene.com/drawdowns. July 2023 |
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Q. What greys do you think would look best as we have cream windows and two white window surrounds? A. Warmer greys with a bit of depth to balance the cream joinery mostly. See if any of these appeal: Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Kensington Grey – the latter are slightly more cooler toned but might appeal. We always recommend Resene testpots before making final decisions – please do not paint directly onto the substrate as the existing colour might influence how the new colours will appear in reality (once the entire house is painted). Use A2 card – which you can paint two coats of Resene testpots onto and attach to the house, or alternatively, undercoat an area first before painting samples on to the house. July 2023 |
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Q. My house is ply and batten painted in a dark brown/green. I need to make it lighter. My joinery is Palladium silver and the gable ends plus roof are standard zincalume steel not coloured. Can you advise me on a new colour for the walls please? A. See if any of these appeal – Resene Ted, Resene Triple Concrete, Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Baring Head or Resene Scarpa Flow. July 2023 |
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Q. I am looking for exterior colours for a small 1890s terrace house. Although it is north facing, it is partly below the footpath level so it doesn't get much light. It will have a white metal fence and balcony. The courtyard will be dark grey porcelain tiles with slight veins of white to look like stone. (National Tiles – Orvieto in Silver). The roof is terracotta red. I also need a colour for the front door. I am thinking of a white with an undertone of green or a pale green for the walls, and a darker green for the front door. A. Your terrace house is gorgeous – the following colours are neutrals tipped with green. They might appear lighter outside – although as you say, the walls are shaded a bit – but by no means are these colours dark. I feel going any lighter and the colour might appear too bright with the white railings – but we always recommend testing colours, before making final decisions, and testing three colours, gives your eye the ability to decipher undertones. Try Resene Celeste, Resene Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Linen. For the door investigate these deeper greens – Resene Forty Six, Resene Rivergum, Resene Quarter Karaka, Resene Middle Earth or Resene Mangrove.  Resene Forty Six July 2023 |
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Q. Is Resene Salsa or Resene Pohutukawa or Resene Scoria best with bronze joinery? A. Resene Scoria or Resene Salsa look good with bronze joinery. July 2023 |
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Q. Do FlaxPod and Resene Pohutukawa colours go well together in terms of joinery and front door colours? A. Yes they will complement each other well. Both are very popular exterior colours too for this application. July 2023 |
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Q. We are about to reclad/replace joinery at our bach in Pauanui with Axon panelling and white joinery. At the same time we want to update the exterior colour to make it more modern, but still in keeping with the beach vibe. We like greys, along the lines of Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Surrender (but open to suggestions) and for the basement either stick with white or go a dark grey. Can you please recommend some colour options for us? We are also closing the deck in for privacy with weatherboards (rather than the metal balustrades). What colour would you recommend painting this? Should it be the same as the house colour or basement colour? A. I suggest Resene Silver Chalice with Resene Ship Grey for the basement. This will modernise the overall appearance – Resene Surrender may be a bit too light. I don’t recommend going too dark on the base (as in a charcoal) as a bigger contrast is what you have now and this can date the look, regardless of the colours being used. For the deck weatherboards I suggest keep with Resene Silver Chalice. When choosing the white for the joinery please consider Appliance White as opposed to Arctic White which is very cold and has a blue undertone. July 2023 |
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Q. We are constructing a new house with horizontal timber weatherboard. The joinery/trims are white and the roof is Grey Friars. Please suggest a grey colour for weatherboards. A light/mid grey will be best. A. I agree, as you have the white joinery and trims – a light to mid grey will pair best, as well as meeting the LRV restrictions for new weatherboards. See if any of these appeal: Resene Half Delta, Resene Surrender, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, Resene Double Concrete or Resene Iron. We always recommend testing colours before making final decisions. Colours tend to appear lighter outside due to our natural bright light. July 2023 |
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Q. I need to choose exterior colours for a modern pitched roof two storeyed four bedroom townhouse. I am thinking of a stone grey wide-iron roof, walls in Resene Half Athens Grey and joinery like windows and French doors in the lighter grey you call Resene Atmosphere. Do you think this all works? A. Resene Atmosphere pairs well with Sandstone Grey – I suggest considering Resene Atmosphere for the walls with Resene Wan White for the windows and French doors – or you could look to the lighter variants of Resene Half Atmosphere with Resene Half Wan White. Just note that colours do tend to lighten outside, due to our bright, natural light. Resene Half Athens Grey might be a little cool toned paired with Sandstone Grey. July 2023 |
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Q. I have a mist green COLORSTEEL® roof, Karaka green balustrade and Resene Double Alabaster windows. I'm looking for a grey green for the house. I love Resene Rainee and wondered if this will work? Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. A. Yes Resene Rainee will work – however, you might like to test a few earthier greens as well. Try Resene Kangaroo, Resene Bud or Resene Half Lemon Grass. We always recommend Resene testpots before making final decisions – please do not paint directly onto the existing colour as this might influence the way the new colours will appear. July 2023 |
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Q. We are having our Shaker-style kitchen cabinets resprayed. The kitchen walls are Resene Half-Sisal, the floor is a rich brown timber and the benches are black marble. The current cabinet colour is a buttery cream and we want to go lighter. Could you suggest some good Resene neutrals for the new colour please? A. The neutral will still need to have a little bit of warmth to work – but you definitely can go lighter and less cream. See if any of these work for you – Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Chalk Dust or Resene Quarter Milk White. July 2023 |
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Q. My exterior joinery is Resene Half Fuscous Grey. What colour palette do you suggest for the exterior of my two storey home? I like a contemporary look and prefer darker colours. A. Here are some colours that will pair with Resene Half Fuscous Grey for you to consider – they work together as a palette – try Resene Fuscous Grey, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey, Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Nocturnal, Resene Atmosphere and Resene Sea Fog. July 2023 |
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Q. Does grey tiles on the hearth go ok with a feature wall in a similar grey or should it be a complete contrast? A. Yes it is certainly ok for the hearth and feature wall to be similar or the same colour. The consideration is whether the hearth is a feature or not? If not then it is best for it to blend into the feature wall – if it is a feature then a contrast will highlight it. July 2023 |
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Q. We're painting our exterior – we want a light grey weatherboards, dark grey roof and white joinery. We were thinking Grey Friars for the roof and Resene Silver Chalice for weatherboards. Which white do we choose for the joinery – Appliance White, Arctic White or Warm White Pearl? A. Grey Friars and Resene Silver Chalice work well together and they pair nicely with Appliance White. Arctic White is too blue and cold and Warm White Pearl is too warm with this combination – Appliance White is a very nice white and also well specified for this type of scheme. July 2023 |
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Q. We purchased our home and located the paint colour in storage. The wall colour is Resene Derby – as a creamy apricot. We would like to change the wall colour to create a coastal Hamptons vibe – off white, neutral – not greys or blues. Our floor tiles feature ivory and cream swirls. The carpet has been replaced with wood look vinyl. Can you suggest a colour that is close to the depth of Resene Derby, without that creamy yellow effect? I love the way the walls look with lots of natural light, or under bright white led lights at night. We’ve even switched out the warm lights in attempt to reduce the yellow. We have tried Resene Merino, however it’s too grey. A. If you want an off white neutral without the cream tones then the depth will appear lighter than Resene Derby. We do suggest testing colours with Resene testpots – please do not paint directly onto the existing Resene Derby walls – as this will make colours appear differently. Resene Merino will appear more grey sitting next to Resene Derby for example – than if the whole room is painted out although I suspect Merino will not pair with your tiles well. For the Hamptons vibe, but to tone with your hard finishes try Resene Rice Cake, Resene Chalk Dust, Resene Half Cararra or Resene Half Bianca. There are lighter and darker variants of Resene Rice Cake, Resene Half Bianca and a deeper variant of Resene Half Cararra – it all depends on how they appear in your natural and artificial light. July 2023 |
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Q. I am trying to find a light grey indoor paint for the walls of all rooms. I am finding that the lighter I go they have a blue or violet tone. To get more of a grey look I have to go to dark, our rooms are quite small and I'm worried this may close in the rooms more. Do you have any advice of a light grey that doesn't have yellow, blue or violet tones? I prefer it to be a silvery grey. A. See if any of these light greys work for you: Resene Triple Black White, Resene Concrete, Resene Hint Of Grey, Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene Barely There. Depending on the light aspect of each room they will appear more or less grey – natural light will do this and the only way to counteract this is to use different strengths of the same grey, – or change to a slightly different grey in bedrooms compared to the living areas for example. To start with I suggest you choose a tone you like and see how it appears in the rooms – we always recommend you paint two coats of Resene testpots onto A2 card and move around the spaces. July 2023 |
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Q. I'm thinking Resene Black White for our window and door frames and Resene Innocence for the weatherboards (in CoolColour option). Does that sound like a good combo to you? It's a 1930s bungalow. For now, I just can afford to paint the windows and door frames, but I need to know my eventual weatherboard colour in order to choose the white shade well now. Resene Black White is a neutral, right? So it should work well with other weatherboard colours should I change my mind about Resene Innocence later on. Is that correct? A. Yes Resene Black White will work well with the type of colour scheme you are looking for. Resene Black White looks lovely for window and door frames on a 1930s bungalow. Innocence is a great colour! Also try Resene Half Innocence and Resene Bluff, which is a lovely weatherboard colour for bungalows (more blue however). Colours do tend to lighten outside, due to our natural bright light. July 2023 |
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Q. Our house is quite modern and we wish to repaint. It is currently painted in Resene Half Grey Friars and Resene Triple Truffle. We plan to repaint the lines in full Resene Grey Friars as the garage door and front door are Resene Grey Friars. Can you suggest some options that would go well on the flat board section to replace the Resene Triple Truffle? A. I agree full strength Resene Grey Friars will work as colours do appear lighter outside due to our bright natural light. For the flat panels consider these colours: Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Half Delta, Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Half Stack, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Triple Concrete. July 2023 |
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Q. What colour trim looks good with Resene Eighth Spanish White or Resene Quarter Spanish White paint? A. Resene Half Alabaster looks nice with either – it is fresh and clean, so gives a nice crisp contrast. We always recommend Resene testpots before making final decisions. July 2023 |
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Q. I have this staircase which the treads and stringer is from Victorian Ash. The treads will be stained as dark brown but I just wanted to see if you have any stain in white colours as I do not want to paint the stringers. I want to stain them to see the wood texture under the white stain. Is there any product for this purpose? A. Resene Colorwood is a range of interior wood stains and washes designed to colour timber, while still allowing the grain of the timber to show through. The type of timber the colours are applied to will change the appearance of the white. I suggest you try Resene Colorwood Whitewash, Resene Colorwood Rock Salt or Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. July 2023 |
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Q. We are in the process of house renovations are looking into painting our entire house with a neutral colour with a preference for whitish grey colours and were looking at the Resene Alabaster range (we particularly like Resene Double Alabaster). We are also going to install Natural Oak wood flooring and were hoping to get an expert’s view on what colour would work best with it. A. I really like Resene Double Alabaster with Oak flooring – it has the definite grey undertone to counteract the warmth of the Oak appearance. Alternately you might like to test a slightly warmer white such as Resene Quarter Rice Cake. July 2023 |
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Q. We are currently redecorating and have Resene Alabaster as a trim and likely plan to use Resene Sea Fog on walls. Previously we had Resene Alabaster with Resene Double Sea Fog but would like to lighten it up a bit. Resene Double Sea Fog previously worked well in back living area which had less light, but made the front lounge (north facing) look cold. What would you suggest for the front lounge? We possibly may consider a feature wall there also. A. I am surprised the north facing lounge looked cold – as generally north facing rooms get plenty of sunlight and can take colours from the cooler spectrum. Resene Double Sea Fog may have suited the back living area as it is less white so to speak – even though it is a cool toned colour. Perhaps for the north facing front room – a brighter white is what is required to emit light around the room – try Resene Sea Fog or even Resene Half Sea Fog might work well in this room. I suggest you paint A2 card with two coats of Resene testpots and attach to the walls to see how they appear with the natural light. July 2023 |
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Q. I have Titania coloured windows. I am going to paint my house white and wondered which particular white to use that will blend nicely with the windows. A. Consider Resene Quarter Ash or Resene Double Sea Fog – both look a little deeper on the colour chart but colours can appear up to 30% lighter outside, so we tend to suggest the slightly deeper variants of whites. We always recommend testing colours before making final decisions. July 2023 |
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Q. My house is New Denim Blue corrugated iron. I’m about to get all my aluminium windows/doors changed to double glazing. Currently all the aluminium is New Denim Blue too but I wondered if I can change this to give the house a bit of a lift to it? A. Consider Appliance White as your joinery colour – it will lift the appearance and is easy to decorate with on the interior – as of course the aluminium is facing the interior as well. It helps to balance the overall appearance of the house if you can introduce a white elsewhere, such as fascias or soffit – Resene Half Sea Fog is complementary to Appliance White. July 2023 |
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Q. Which colour would be the closest to 'Gauntlet' or Sandstone Grey as the roof colour. I need to be LRV 45% or above (give or take a point or so) but below LRV 65%. I have l looked at Resene Quarter Tapa and Resene Quarter Friar Greystone. While quarter seems to be the match it looks too green, I would like the colours to match as closely as possible. A. The Resene Friar Greystone family is definitely the closest colour range to Resene Gauntlet or Sandstone Grey – so Resene Quarter Friar Greystone falls between the LRV requirements. July 2023 |
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Q. We want to paint the front door red. I tried Resene Poppy but it is not right. I am looking for a definite red veering to orange, but red, not orange. Post Office red, or fire engine red? Please could you suggest some options. A. See if any of these appeal: Resene Guardsman Red, Resene Whizz Bang, Resene Red Red Red or Resene Jalapeno. July 2023 |
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Q. We are about to build an extension on our house and I am looking for advice on interior paint colours. In the existing part of the house the walls are Resene White Pointer. I am unsure of the ceiling and trims but these will be repainted anyway. We would like something a bit brighter than Resene White Pointer for the new part of the house. Would Resene Black White be a good option with Resene Alabaster for trims/ceilings/doors? Could you suggest any other colours to consider? A. There are so many factors to consider when choosing a white. Do you want a cool toned white (Resene Black White) or a warmer white (Resene Merino, Resene Rice Cake)? Is the lighting good? Are there any other existing colours to pair with – for example – flooring, kitchen colours, windows, accents? Yes Resene Black White is brighter and pairs with Resene Alabaster – but this can be a very cold look – if you have bright light this may work well. If you don’t have warm, bright light and want to brighten the interior, then perhaps consider a warmer white such as Resene Quarter White Pointer or Resene Half Sea Fog – these will both pair with Resene White Pointer in the existing part of the house, and also pair with Resene Alabaster – as long as they work with other elements mentioned above. We always recommend testing colours before making final decisions. July 2023 |
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Q. I need help with selecting a colour for our kitchen cabinetry. I would like a navy blue. Are you able to recommend any? And also a white cabinetry colour that will pair well with it? A. You could try Resene Biscay, Resene Bunting, Resene Blue Night or Resene Indian Ink. For whites, try Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Half Sea Fog. July 2023 |
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Q. We are having a flat re-clad and installing black joinery. As we must paint, I would like to take the opportunity to modernise the look but need an exterior colour that will also go with the garage below where we are keeping the existing 70s brown windows. We are not replacing the brown joinery in the adjoining house , but will be painting inside. The carpet is a charcoal grey. I'm interested in your opinion on interior neutral colours to go with the brown and grey. A. Try Resene Silver Chalice – for all the walls and perhaps consider keeping the soffits and fascias white – such as Resene Black White. If you are going to re paint the timber railings at any stage these could look great in Resene Bokara Grey. For the interior consider Resene White Pointer which sits with both the joinery and charcoal greys. For the ceilings and trims consider Resene Half Black White and the doors possibly Resene Triple White Pointer. July 2023 |
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Q. We have a very large blank wall in our kitchen area, flanked by two cavity sliders. When we purchased the property it had a blackboard so we painted over but we want to have a feature on the wall of some sort. The challenge is that the wall is bookended by the sliders and a kitchen bench area in one corner so we’re not sure how best to solve this problem. One option is a large painting but thinking that wallpapering may be a better alternative but we are unsure of two things: 1. If wallpapering only between the two sliders would this work)? The problem also is that the right hand side is a corner onto an inbuilt book shelf which would mean wrapping the wallpaper from the kitchen corner around to the bookshelf. 2. What type of wallpaper design to choose? We like modern styles but also don’t want it to age! Any ideas of what is popular that would work with our layout constraints? A. No I don’t think it will look right wallpapering the centre part of the wall only – it would need to be taken over the whole wall and you could finish at the edge of the wall rather than taking it around the corner – but it would need to be a random pattern as you will lose the effect above and around the sliders. Resene do have trendy random patterns – quite a few are botanical which is in vogue – I recommend you visit your local Resene ColorShop and ask them to show you the latest looks in wallpaper designs, for this situation. I suggest you do put a fabulous print on this wall – it is a perfect place for art. Check out Resene WallPrint, www.resene.com/wallpaper, it is where you can upload a high quality photo or choose from the gallery of images – to create your own wallpaper feature – then adjust the scaling to fit the wall like a large painting. Alternately there are fabulous Resene wallpapers which could be framed and hung. July 2023 |
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Q. I have Grey Friars on the roof, what do I put on the exterior walls? I have black aluminium doors and windows. Do I go Resene Quarter Grey Friars on the walls, with white window frames? We live in Rural Northern Hawkes Bay, on a sheep and beef farm. I don't want a dirty grey. I would like a crisp grey or something crisp in the neutral tones, if that will work. A. Yes Resene Quarter Grey Friars or Resene Half Grey Friars could work well and having Resene Alabaster (a true white) for your window frames will keep it all looking crisp. Try both options as colours do tend to lighten outside, because of our bright natural light. A few other options with Resene Alabaster frames you might like to consider are Resene Half Tuna, Resene Grey Chateau or Resene Quarter New Denim Blue. July 2023 |
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Q. We're doing a reno – the garage doors and window frames are Grey Friars. We'd thought of painting the rest of the (external) house with a light grey. Is there a colour you'd recommend? Also it's a two storey house with block on bottom and Hardiplank on top. We'd thought of doing the same colour all over, unless you'd recommend doing different colours for top and bottom? A. I suggest keeping both top and bottom the same colour – breaking the colours now will date the overall appearance – I suggest using a grey with a little bit of depth – to give the house character – colours do lighten outside, due to our natural bright light. See if any of these greys appeal: Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Half Delta or Resene Surrender. July 2023 |
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Q. Does burnished copper go with bronze joinery? Does FlaxPod go with bronze joinery? Does black go with bronze joinery? Which of the above three colours look best with bronze joinery? A. Resene Ironsand works well with bronze joinery. July 2023 |
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Q. I want a colour scheme for a 1970s grey brick home. I want white windows and frames – maybe Resene Sea Fog. The vertical cladding perhaps a concrete colour. I also need a suggestion for a dark grey for the block base and door. A. I like the idea of Resene Sea Fog for the windows and frames with the grey brick. Perhaps for the vertical cladding consider Resene Double Concrete or Resene Triple Concrete, as colours do tend to appear lighter outside and this will give you a bit more contrast to the Resene Sea Fog. For the base and door consider Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Half Shark, Resene Tuna or Resene Shark. July 2023 |
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Q. I would like some guidance for a colour to paint an external door, to be the main entrance to our home. We have an enclosed space between two buildings. The buildings are painted Resene Apache. The walls that join the two buildings are translucent Twinwall, with white trim and framing. The joinery is Appliance White as are the barge boards. The room entered into is essentially an enclosed outdoor space. These walls are Resene Moroccan Spice. The roof is Twinwall, exposed framing Resene White and the floor will be timber (yet to be sourced and latex – it is currently just plywood) The door is a slightly oversized barn slider style (husband has it under construction). We initially thought to paint it white also, but now think it is all too stark. I’ve popped into our local Resene ColorShop who made the suggestion of Resene Hot Toddy, which were not opposed to, however would like other suggestions before we decide. They also suggested Resene Cod Grey, but as the door sits on predominately white wall I didn’t like the suggestion as it would pretty much look like black. Would Resene Bullitt be another complimentary option? We’re rural and have outbuildings within view of our dwelling that are Resene Red Oxide with white joinery and trims. All buildings have Gull Grey COLORSTEEL® roofs. A. My first impression is to paint the sliding door Resene Moroccan Spice. The other suggestion is a moody brown such as Resene Outlaw which will pop against the yellow and Resene Moroccan Spice and tone with the remaining colours on site. Unfortunately, I don’t see a blue such as Resene Bullitt fitting in with these colours. July 2023 |
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Q. I want some guidance on a colour option for my Linea Weatherboards. I would like white but my wife is not a fan – the truwood cladding is in the colour Scallop and the roof and joinery is FlaxPod. A. I have to agree with your wife – I feel that white or an off white might be too stark and why not take advantage of being able to paint the Linea a deeper colour, which will appear modern with the Flaxpod joinery? Try Resene Dune, Resene Kia Kaha or Resene Credence. July 2023 |
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Q. We're working on our baby son's bedroom and need advice choosing the paint colours. The window frame is in Ghost Grey and the panel is in Resene Quarter Black White. I'm currently thinking about keeping the architraves and skirting in Resene Quarter Black White, painting the wall in Resene Quarter Iron and a feature wall in Resene Geyser. I’m not sure about the wardrobe and door. Can you please advise if these wall colours are suitable? Which side should we do the featured wall? What colour should we do the door in? Alternatively, is there a better colour options for the wall? E.g do the wall in black white, then a featured wall in soft teal? A. Resene Quarter Black White is fine for the skirtings and architraves and I would continue this white onto the wardrobe doors and door. For the walls – It works well if the feature wall connects to something – so perhaps choose the wall where the cot will sit – I am guessing the plain wall adjacent to the wardrobe doors. Resene Geyser with Resene Quarter Iron might work although depending on the light may appear a bit cold. For the feature wall I also suggest testing a blue such as Resene Juniper or Resene Ziggurat and for the remaining walls perhaps test Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe or Resene Half Duck Egg Blue. July 2023 |
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Q. The exterior of our 1920s bungalow in is Resene Cut Glass with white trim. I want to warm it up a little. I love blue and yellow together so I thought of introducing a little yellow. I thought maybe the front gate for starters, or maybe enough just the gate. The roof is a middle grey. I would love a few yellow suggestions that match Resene Cut Glass. I've thought of pastel delicate yellows, and stronger yellows as well. And also maybe a soft orange instead? A. Brighter yellows look great with Resene Cut Glass and similar green/blues preferably to orange. To balance the yellow and relate it to the house – consider painting the front door the same yellow – just the door. The door frame can remain white – or alternately planting yellow shrubs or flowers near the house – and see how you feel about the door. Yellows to try are: Resene Turbo, Resene Southern Cross, Resene Wild Thing or Resene Galliano. July 2023 |
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Q. We live in a 1924 California bungalow that has dark stained weatherboards. We currently have our living room and dining room painted in Resene Triple Drought. It’s gorgeous! We are about to renovate our kitchen that is visible from the dining room and entrance way (which is also in Resene Triple Drought). We are going with painted cabinets in Resene Black Magic on the bottom shelves and need advice on a corresponding or complementary colour for the upper cabinets. Resene Drought looks rather muddy or almost grey and I’m not convinced the Resene Double Drought really offers enough of a difference. Given how dark the bottom cabinets are going to be, we want to lighten the upper ones up. Our flooring will be in a medium wood grain. Elsewhere the house is done in warm, earthy colours. Can you please offer any suggestions for the upper cabinets (anything other than white)? A. See if these colours appeal – Resene Sandspit Brown, Resene Grain Brown or Resene Tua Tua. You will need to view them in the kitchen space so you can see which tone appears right in the environment and with natural and artificial light. We always recommend testing colours before making final decisions – onto A2 card using two coats of Resene testpots, making sure you leave an unpainted border around the edge. July 2023 |
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