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. I’m hoping you could please let me know the Resene colour that is closest to COLORCOTE® Grey Flannel. A. The closest Resene colour to COLORCOTE® Grey Flannel is Resene Double Gauntlet. September 2023 |
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Q. I have painted two test patches on my cream wall – Resene Merino and Resene Sea Fog. I liked Resene Merino but have been told not to use it as it has yellow undertones and we are looking to get grey curtains, and to instead look at Resene Sea Fog. I find Resene Sea Fog quite bright. What is a colour you'd suggest with grey undertones but just slightly a bit more depth/less bright than Resene Sea Fog (something with similar depth to Resene Merino)? A. Colours can appear different in every space/house due to the lighting aspect and adjacent colours – so in some rooms Resene Sea Fog will look brighter and in others more grey – where Resene Merino will look less yellow and more like a slightly warmer off white. Painting colours directly onto a cream wall will make Resene Sea Fog appear brighter than it might be and Resene Merino might appear more yellow. For this reason, we always recommend painting samples on to separate A2 card (two coats), leaving a white perimeter on all edges of the card, and attaching to the wall and move around the room. My advice is to test Resene Merino and Resene Sea Fog again the recommended way, and if you would like other options to try then perhaps Resene Triple Black White, Resene Barely There or Resene Double Sea Fog might appeal. September 2023 |
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Q. I'm looking to paint my bedroom and am thinking that I'd like to go a soft/restful green shade. At the moment it is in Resene Quarter Napa and a pinky shade that I don't know the name of. I'm updating the rest of the house to Resene Bianca to lighten it up and in the lounge, I also have a blue wall in Resene San Juan. I was wondering if you could please suggest some shades of green for me to take a look at to narrow things down. A. Resene San Juan is a fabulous muted blue and updating your bedroom walls to a soft earthy green will pair well with your other elements and Resene Bianca. Painting all walls is going to really modernise the room. See if these greens appeal: Resene Bud, Resene Secrets, Resene Eighth Lemon Grass or Resene Quarter Lemon Grass. September 2023 |
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Q. We are moving a house built in the 70s to the rear of a section. It has a New Denim Blue roof on it and the joinery is off-white. It actually looks like a rich cream with a hint of sand in it. We are recladding in a plaster, but any warm whites or greys make the aluminium colour look dirty. Resene Half Napa looks okay against it as does Resene Stonewashed or Resene Half Stonewashed. I love Resene Arrowtown, but I don’t think the undertone of green will look good with the New Denim Blue fascia and roof which we can’t change due to the cost. A. Try Resene Quarter Arrowtown – it might not be as green as its deeper variants and it sits really well with New Denim Blue. Resene Half Napa on weatherboards does have a slight grey look to it, without looking dirty next to the yellow cream joinery – possibly why it works – this would be my other recommendation. September 2023 |
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Q. We have a cathedral ceiling in our lounge (4.8 metres) and 2.7 stud elsewhere in our new build. The living/kitchen/dining is open plan with a northerly aspect. We want a white paint all over indoors but 'which white' is the question. Our aluminium window frames are Appliance White. Our carpet lounge and bedrooms are Belgotex 'Avenue' Colour Diesel 79. The flooring in the kitchen/dining is Forte Flooring 'Marron Oak'. The bathroom tiles are Pietra Vena Griege. We need the brightest white but with warmth to it. A. I suggest Resene Double Alabaster for the main living areas – this pairs well with Appliance White which is a grey white – or you might like to try Resene Half Sea Fog. I suggest not going to a warm white in this area as the hard floors, Appliance White windows and northerly aspect might make the white too yellow. For the bedrooms I suggest going a bit warmer so perhaps try Resene Half Rice Cake. It is nice to layer whites – this creates a bit of interest. September 2023 |
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Q. I’m repainting my house and am thinking of a warm white as a lot of the rooms don’t get much natural light. However, our furniture is light grey, curtains dark grey and accessories and pictures mostly light browns, creams, aquas and blues. Can I mix the warm paint with a mixture of warm and cool furnishings? A. Yes, absolutely you can have a warm white with a mixture of warm and cool accessories. However, to make this work – ensure that you strike a balance using 80% warm colours and 20% cool colours, so painting the walls a warm white might help balance the scheme – or you might like to remove a few cooler items and update with some warmer accessories/soft furnishings – lots of scrumptious texture always makes a room appear warmer. Another consideration is to use an off white which isn’t too yellow – so feels warm but not appearing too cream – whites to try are Resene Bianca, Resene Half Bianca and Resene Half Cararra. September 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint the interior of my 90s home in a white that is not too cold looking, but I don’t want anything that might look yellow. I have Resene Quarter Spanish White ceilings, Resene Spanish White walls and Resene Double Spanish White on doors and trims. I’m keen to try something whiter. A. See if either of these warm whites appeal: Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Rice Cake. September 2023 |
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Q. We have new Shadowclad. We also have an extension which will be joined to our main house that will also have Shadowclad (we will be buying new joinery for this project). The current joinery on the main part of the house is a dark brown. What I am really needing help with is finding a new colour to paint the whole house, cabin and extension with or doing two separate colours such as one colour for the main house. I started painting the small cabin a light blue but have since decided I don’t like this look. I prefer more natural colours such as browns, dark greys, other greys or white tones. We would ideally like to find some colours that work with the brown joinery, so we don’t have to repaint it. A. I suggest Resene Bokara Grey for the walls – it is modern and pairs well with brown joinery – helping to disguise the overall effect. September 2023 |
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Q. We are in the process of modernising our bach. It is a 1950s weatherboard home. We have painted the weatherboards Resene Half Gravel and the trim and garage door in Resene Black White. Our next plan is to demolish the existing left hand front deck and stairs and replace with a much bigger pine deck with a balustrade around the edge, new stairs, and pergola over it. The pergola will consist of a clear corrugated plastic roof (as it does now) however we were going to install 45 x 45 battens underneath it to split the light and create modern interest. Boundary fences will be erected and painted black. To the right of the house there will be a fence and gate constructed of 45 x 45 battens. This will give us security and privacy from the road. We are looking for guidance as to an overall colour scheme that is modern and complementary to the Resene Half Gravel. We like the idea of having the fence in maybe a cedar colour but open to suggestions as it would need to be the same colour or tie in with what we use on the left side of the house. A. I suggest you soften the boundary fences from a black to a charcoal which pairs with Resene Half Gravel and repeat this colour onto your roof and garage door, to tie the scheme in. If your boundary fences are quite close to the house and I feel if they are sitting alone as black – then it makes it difficult to use a softer black on the house. I do feel your roof and garage door should be dark – but not heavy black – check out Resene Nocturnal – you might want to investigate using a CoolColour paint – which helps minimise heat related issues when using a very dark colour. For the deck stain and stairs – I suggest Resene Tiri or Resene Iroko – perhaps do a sample of both. Balustrades and pergola batons need to tie into the trim I feel – Resene Black White pairs well, and there will be noticeably less white once the fences, stain and garage doors are completed. For the fence, I am thinking that you should paint it the same colour as the boundary fences – Resene Nocturnal. September 2023 |
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Q. We have a biker’s grey house with Resene Half Black White joinery. We chose Resene Concrete and then Resene Double Concrete for our front concrete fence. It looks white in the bright sun. Do you recommend using Resene Triple Concrete to get more of a Resene Half Concrete tone? A. It will certainly help to go darker – colour outside in bright, natural light will appear up to 30% lighter – you might want to try a testpot of Resene Triple Concrete and perhaps a darker one again such as Resene Kensington Grey. September 2023 |
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Q. Our house has Resene Inside Back throughout the living area. This is perfect to enhance both the distant sea view and close bush view. One wall was a purple feature wall. I’d like to update this wall and am thinking a darker version of Resene Inside Back would be good. I would like some suggestions please. Behind that is a utility area in Resene Half Duck Egg. A. I suggest keeping within the multi finish palette R43 – investigate Resene Rolling Stone, Resene Innocence or Resene Dark Slate – the lighting will determine how the colours respond in the space with Resene Inside Back. You might need a coat of Resene Quick Dry undercoat to cover the purple wall, depending on how deep/bright the colour is, before repainting with the new colour. September 2023 |
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Q. We have a cedar wood house. The garage door is FlaxPod (same as Resene Element). We need to reroof so I was thinking of using Resene Element. I’m just wondering what colour to use for painting gutters and other architectural features. I was looking at Resene Bokara Grey but am a little unsure. A. Yes, I recommend your roof matches your garage door for consistency – you might like to consider the gutters as Resene Element to match the roof – you can then repeat Resene Element onto the architectural features as it is a great colour – depending on how many features you have to detail – or if the design warrants introducing another colour, then yes, Resene Bokara Grey will pair well. September 2023 |
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Q. Our house had black roof gutters, downpipes and aluminium joinery. We are looking for a kind of beige, natural, black white type colour to go with this for the walls? A. See if any of these natural beige/warm grey colours appeal – I have included the LRV ratings. Try Resene Triple Truffle, Resene Taupe Grey, Resene Half Arrowtown, Resene Half Pravda, Resene Credence, Resene Tino Pai, Resene Greige or Resene Double Silver Chalice.  Resene Credence  Resene Tino Pai  Resene Double Silver Chalice September 2023 |
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Q. My house is about to be reclad in Rockcote and the house has existing aluminium joinery and a roof in COLORSTEEL® Lichen. Could you please advise a Resene colour to go with this. I quite like Resene Half Tea, Resene Quarter Arrowtown, Resene Quarter Pravda and Resene Napa but need some advice. A. Lichen is a definite yellow/brown olive – the following are some colours that you might check out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Bison Hide, Resene Double Ash, Resene Taupe Grey or Resene Half Stonewall. September 2023 |
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Q. We repainted our house (circa 1969 boomerang-style weatherboard) years ago in Resene Double Silver Chalice on the weatherboards, accents in Resene Half Silver Chalice, trims and deck in Resene Alabaster and garage doors and base in Resene Baltic Sea. Thinking ahead to future changes, when we redo the roof, what would be a good COLORSTEEL® colour? I'm thinking a pure black would be good (and gives us options if we repaint in future). And I'd like to paint our back door a dark blue. I was thinking Resene St Kilda, or something similar that looks good with the Resene Silver Chalice and Resene Baltic Sea. I'm open to any colour – although not fond of yellow! A. You are right on point with your colours – yes, I feel COLORSTEEL® Ebony (black) is a good option. I like the type of blue you are proposing for the front door as it gives a nod back to the 60s. Resene Teal Blue is another option. Resene Double Silver Chalice September 2023 |
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Q. Our existing house has a COLORBOND® Manor Red roof that will be kept so the new colour scheme will need to work with this. All the timber work is currently stark white. We like the light colour scheme however would like to differentiate between the veranda detailing, doors and windows etc from the main body of the house. The house sits on stone foundations in parts. Originally the timber lattice below the veranda floor level was painted dark brown to tie in with this and form a ‘base’ that the main house sat on. We quite like the idea of perhaps darkening or differentiating the lattice again as it breaks up the height of the house when viewed from the front. We are open to ideas though! A. Here are some suggestions for exterior combinations – as you are probably aware, colours do tend to appear lighter outside so please keep that in mind. You could try option 1 – Resene Grey Nickel for the main body with trims in Resene Sea Fog and trellis, steps or similar in Resene Ironside Grey. Or option 2 – Resene Archive Grey for the main body with trims in Resene Half Barely There and trellis, steps or similar in Resene Quarter Masala. Or option 3 – Resene Silver Sand for the main body with trims in Resene Half Barely There or trellis, steps or similar in Resene Half Chicago. You might also like to try a testpot of Resene Half Ash with Resene Eighth Rice Cake for windows, and for the accent Resene Quarter Gravel. September 2023 |
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Q. Our house needs the exterior painted. It has two materials – Linea and large flat panels. Currently the garage door and spouting are in Ironsand. The joinery appears to be the same, although looks a little browner but this could be due to the sun. I’d love your advice for colour options to work with the unchangeable Ironsand parts. We are putting a pool in with travertine paving (warm tones). Therefore, we also need to consider a colour option for fencing too. A. To modernise the scheme, consider a warm darker grey such as Resene Fuscous Grey or Resene Solstice for the flat panels and for the Linea try Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey or Resene Triple Black White.  Resene Solstice September 2023 |
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Q. What colours do you suggest go with Resene Half Rivergum? A. We have a lounge room that I am thinking of painting Resene Half Rivergum and off that lounge are two young boy’s rooms. The lounge has sliding doors to outside at one end and a high wooden ceiling. One of the boy’s rooms is on the north side, so very sunny and the other is on the southern side, so a bit darker. Wanting some colour ideas for the boy’s rooms that would tie in nicely with the Resene Half Rivergum colour. I am in the process of painting our spare bedroom Resene Half Rivergum, such a gorgeous colour. Resene Half Rivergum looks good paired with cool or dusty, tonal greens for an earthy look to continue – try Resene Linen, Resene Lemon Grass or Resene Bison Hide or the warmer neutrals Resene Cloud, Resene Greige or Resene Eighth Joss – a greyed blue might also suit such as Resene Bermuda Grey. September 2023 |
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Q. I would like a colour for an oatmeal colour that has warm, browny undertones? A. Try these following oatmeal tones – Resene Awaroa Bay, Resene Double Parchment, Resene Half Drought, Resene Drought or Resene Akaroa. September 2023 |
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Q. I am repainting my small townhouse downstairs after recent floods. The carpet in the study and bedroom will be a donkey colour to match the upstairs carpet The downstairs rooms are all quite small and not too sunny. The rest of the flooring will be a luxury Vinyl plank – we have not picked the colour yet. I have always liked Resene Quarter Spanish White and think perhaps I could do all the walls the same throughout but am not sure of ceiling, skirtings, architraves, trims, doors, wardrobe and cupboards. Some people have suggested Resene Rice Cake, Resene Milk White or Resene Alabaster so I’m a little confused. A. Perhaps because you have mentioned that the room is quite sunny – the cooler toned whites have been suggested – however, this is not necessary as it seems you like the warmth of Resene Quarter Spanish White. Why not try it – paint A2 card with two coats of a testpot and attach to the walls downstairs as it might appear different to what you imagined in the space. The yellow undertone might be enhanced – or it could feel lovely and welcoming. I suggest pairing it with Resene White for trims etc this will keep the scheme fresh and clean. Alternatively, Resene Rice Cake or Resene Eighth Fossil might appeal and work better in the space – they both have less yellow. I suggest teaming these with Resene Quarter Black White. Having three options, painted onto card, and comparing in the space will allow your eye to determine which is the best undertone for your house. September 2023 |
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Q. I need to repaint a light grey wall. It is a feature wall in my young adult son's bedroom. I want the wall darker and a warm grey tone (not cold). I have in mind something like Resene Gunsmoke, Resene Stack, Resene Quarter Chicago or something like that. Is there a popular choice for a warm grey suitable for a bedroom feature wall. I need about 1 litre of paint so not a huge wall, and the bedroom is not too big. It’s on the west side of the house with a big window and set of ranchslider doors (so lots of light). A. You are on the right track – mid toned muted colours and neutrals work better in a west facing room – as the lighter cooler greys and colours can look drab. From your suggestions I feel Resene Quarter Chicago could work well – you might like to try Resene Delta, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Kensington Grey or Resene Double Silver Chalice. It really depends on how much light the room receives as low light west facing bedrooms need more of a warm grey than brighter lit ones – Using bold and warm accessories, curtains and furniture and white as trims and ceilings, will modify the general ambiance. Resene Double Silver Chalice September 2023 |
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Q. If I am using Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream for walls and Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for trims which white should I use for kitchen cupboards with Bianca Drift Caesarstone? A. See if any of these whites appeal: Resene Eighth Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Merino or Resene Alabaster. September 2023 |
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Q. The weatherboards on my bungalow are painted in Resene Sea Fog with Resene Double Alabaster window trims. I want a slightly darker paint for the porch flooring in the front entranceway. Not too dark or contrasty but compatible with Resene Sea Fog. A. Resene Quill Grey is a lovely soft grey which is compatible with the Resene Sea Fog family. Generally, colour might appear lighter on a porch. September 2023 |
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Q. Can you please advise which colour we would be best to paint the bottom and top of the external walls of our house? It’s a 1970s red brick house. The red bricks have white grouting and it has a painted section above the brick and underneath the brick – these two sections are what we want to paint, leaving the red bricks as they are. I think we prefer to go dark with the two painted sections of the house, rather than white, would this be more modern? I'm just not sure if it should be the same colour as the front wall or something like a light grey? A. Yes, I feel you should paint the areas you have mentioned Resene Element, and if possible, the garage doors to match, leaving the fascias and soffit of the house and garage white, this will match the grout then. Darker colours look good with red brick and help to modernise the exterior. September 2023 |
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Q. Our interior is Resene Pearl Lusta and Resene Double Pearl Lusta has been suggested for our bathroom renovation. The room is small but very well-lit from a skylight. The ceiling will be clad in VJ plywood and stained. I feel a deeper colour may be better. Still in the cream range. A. Resene Colorwood Rock Salt might look lovely with Resene Double Pearl Lusta. Resene Rock Salt on ply gives a deeper glow of cream/yellow tones – depending on how many coats are applied. Resene ColorShops have examples of stains on pine in store for you to view – testpots are recommended and it is best to test on to an offcut of the ply being used if possible. September 2023 |
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Q. We are painting our walls Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue and in one of the bedrooms I would like to have a feature wall of navy blue, but I don't want it to be too much of a contrast. I looked at Resene Shadowy Blue but felt it was too rich. Can you suggest any deep blue navy colours that might be better? A. Resene Epic is a softer version of Resene Shadowy Blue, although Resene Epic does have a hint of teal hidden in its depths – which means it will pair well with Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue – or you might like to try the softer navy hues like Resene Biscay or Resene Licorice. September 2023 |
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Q. I would like help with picking a great light colour that can work with Resene Eighth Sisal which is painted on all my trims, doors and windows. I don't want any colour that throws red, pink or yellow. This room is not in full sun. A. Resene Quarter Rice Cake looks lovely with Resene Eighth Sisal, and is the right tone, without being too white or cold for a low light room. September 2023 |
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Q. My house is painted in Resene Copyrite on the walls with Resene Karaka trim. The roof is a faded 20-year-old COLORSTEEL® green. I want to paint my new fence. What colour/s (CoolColour, as north-facing) would you suggest? A. I would suggest painting your fence Resene Karaka (CoolColour) to match the house trims – this way it blends into the environment and ties into the house – rather than introducing a lighter tone or different colour, regardless of the roof fading. September 2023 |
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Q. I am searching for a white/neutral for a Scandi loft vibe. We have quite a lot of Strandboard, Accoya and plywood – all of which is having one coat of Resene Colorwood Whitewash applied. We have burnished concrete floors. We are thinking a grey/green/clay toned white – not too cool? And then a whiter white for skirtings and architraves. A. You might like to try Resene Rice Cake with the raw materials – it does depend on the natural lighting in the space – so test pots are recommended. I suggest testing Resene Quarter Linen, Resene Quarter Ecru White or Resene Merino. Resene Half Rice Cake might also be worth trying. When considering the finish – Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen or Resene SpaceCote Flat will give you that natural finish with little to no shine – depending on which one you choose – both are durable and washable, low odour and are an Eco Choice approved product. September 2023 |
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Q. We are thinking of painting our kitchen walls Resene Indian Ink. Will Resene Half Drought cabinetry go well with Resene Indian Ink? A. Yes Resene Indian Ink and Resene Half Drought will look lovely together. September 2023 |
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Q. I need a colour that complements Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. We have used this for all our window frames, door frames and skirting boards due to the cream aluminium joinery for windows and doors throughout the property. We currently have Resene Quarter Tea for all the walls but feel it reflects cream/peachy tones. I would like it to reflect more grey tone as we have Resene Grey Friars for our outdoor aluminium louvre area. What would you suggest please to help with the colour tones of our property? We would like to keep the Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream as we have colour matched our timber blinds to the window frames. A. See if any of these colours appeal – Resene Merino, Resene Half Ecru White, Resene Quarter Ash or Resene Half Ash. You might also consider using Resene Thorndon Cream, which has a green/grey undertone. September 2023 |
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Q. We own a Huntly brick home which sits on a block basement. We are going to add an extra room on top which will be clad with either Axon board or Linea. We want to keep the original brick and roof colours. What colour would suit the base and extension? A. I suggest keeping the basement and extension the same colour as you already have various substrates to break up the design, so consistency is important to make this work. The roof looks quite blue – so a darker grey with a blue undertone might tie it all in together nicely and being a darker colour – it will modernise and ground the overall appearance. I suggest the garage door matches the roof or can be painted to match the base. See if these colours appeal – I suggest painting an off cut of the proposed Linea or Axon and viewing together with the brick and roofing – testpots are recommended. Try Resene High Tide, Resene New Denim Blue, Resene Tuna or Resene Baltic Sea. September 2023 |
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Q. I have had the house painted in Resene Half Lemon Grass and am about to paint the roof. Should I go to the equivalent of Karaka or Rivergum. The Resene Half Lemon Grass is great up close, but it does not have a lot of street appeal so want to lift it a bit with the roof. A. Resene Karaka looks great with Resene Half Lemon Grass. September 2023 |
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Q. I am looking to paint the inside of my house but can't decide on the right shade of white. We want it to be whiter than cream, like Resene Half Sea Fog. Is this the right choice for walls and then would you recommend a different colour for the roof? A. Yes, Resene Half Sea Fog is a versatile white which pairs with many colours – for the ceilings you might like to consider Resene Alabaster. Testpots are recommended – to make sure these whites work with other fixed colours. September 2023 |
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Q. Our home's exterior is painted in Resene Half Bianca, and we are trying to find the right colour to paint the deck at the front of the house. We have tried a few colours and currently we have Resene Akaroa. It looks ok, but maybe a bit bland. We are so confused and would love some suggestions. We have travertine tiles on our pathway, so maybe something more like stone? We love the light colour, but this doesn't look right to me. When I love something, I don't keep doubting it. A. I feel you should use a soft grey, with a slight warm undertone – try Resene Quill Grey, Resene Silver Sand, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Eighth Friar Greystone or Resene Stepping Stone. Resene testpots are recommended – perhaps undercoat a step closest to the travertine with Resene Quick Dry and then test the greys. I also recommend taking home a palette of grey colour swatches similar to the suggestions and seeing which looks best next to the travertine – in case the suggestions aren’t to your liking. Staff at your local Resene ColorShop will help you sort a few options – soft warm greys will pair with Resene Half Bianca.  Resene Eighth Friar Greystone  Resene Stepping Stone September 2023 |
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Q. I would like to paint my front door Resene Rusty Nail. What colour should I paint my weatherboards and trim that has a complementary undertone? It’s currently Resene Periglacial Blue but I have replaced the front weatherboards with new ones. I want a fresh white. Perhaps similar to Resene Merino or Resene Quarter Villa White? It’s a 1920s villa. A. Consider Resene Villa White with Resene Quarter Villa White for the trims. I feel that the full-strength variant is complementary to Resene Rusty Nail and colours including whites, generally brighten and lighten outside. September 2023 |
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Q. We are building a new house in a semi-rural location. There are two buildings – one garage/studio and the other a house. The garage/studio I am thinking of Thunder Grey. The house is Axon so will be painted. We would like the buildings to meld with the landscape, so I am thinking a green grey for the house with perhaps a Sandstone Grey roof and windows. We'd like mid tones – nothing too dark or light. LRV has to be 50% and under for walls, and 25% and under for roof. And then a feature-coloured front door – perhaps a muted terracotta orange, and another feature colour in the front door alcove. A. See if any of these grey greens work for you – when viewing these types of colours – the green undertone really comes to fore in natural bright light. Sandstone Grey should work quite well and these colours balance with Thunder Grey adjacent. Try Resene Ravine, Resene Gravel, Resene Half Gravel or Resene Tino Pai. The Resene Gravel family has a green undertone evident outside at times – there is the lightest variant of Resene Gravel – Resene Quarter Gravel, however, please note that all colours tend to appear lighter outside. Resene Alert Tan is a brown based orange which pairs well with grey greens. For the alcove and front door, I suggest waiting until you have decided on a main cladding colour – so we know what direction to guide you to – it might be that the alcove doesn’t lend itself to a feature colour or a neutral deeper than the main cladding might be the solution. The above suggestions should be viewed with a larger metal sample of Sandstone Grey. Resene Tino Pai September 2023 |
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Q. Do you have a wall colour that would go nicely with our carpet – Godfrey Hurst Pearl bay range in Cockle? We also have flooring that is a light wood brown laminate. A. Resene Half Sea Fog might work well – it also depends on any other fixed colours within the house, such as kitchen colours, window joinery, and if the house has a lot of natural light – as this can change the way a colour appears. I suggest you take the samples to a Resene ColorShop and look at the large A4 swatch of Resene Half Sea Fog alongside the samples. Resene ColorShops have a stock library of A4 swatches. From there, we recommend trying Resene testpots on site. September 2023 |
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Q. My trim is Resene Soapstone and walls are Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay. The ceiling is Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. I would like to update to something warm white and fresh on the walls without changing the ceiling or trim. Resene Bianca and Resene Rice Cake are nice, but they make the Resene Soapstone look a dirty cream. A. Changing to a softer, lighter colour will really modernise your look – so great idea! Resene Blanc is a lot softer and neutral compared to Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay and is a beautiful neutral, soft and restrained – I feel this might work really well. You might like to try Resene Half Blanc as well – however, I feel you need a little bit of depth to keep the Resene Soapstone looking cleaner. September 2023 |
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Q. I need to repaint the front door as it has a few marks and the paint is peeling. I am happy with the same colour but also open to changing the colour too. The blockwork on the house is Resene Half Napa and the doorframe is Resene White. A. A neutral colour will work well with the soft colours of your house and the style – but I do feel it needs to have a bit more impact, so the entrance is evident. Try Resene Stonehenge or Resene Double Stonehenge. September 2023 |
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Q. How do I get a Resene version of a Pantone colour? A. Resene have matches to many Pantone colours – you can see the ones already matched online at www.resene.com/pantone. Resene ColorShops have a Pantone fandeck you can view and can arrange a colour match if your Pantone colour choice has not already been matched. September 2023 |
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Q. I was wondering if you could give us some advice on what to paint the bottom storey of our house. We can't decide whether to go light or dark. Ideally, we would also be looking at getting rid of the green on the roof as well but as the cost of scaffolding etc is quite expensive, we were hoping to find an option that would incorporate it. Currently the green is an ivy green, and the white brick work is Resene Spanish White. We also have recently added two staircases on both sides of the house and we want to know if we should paint these or stain them, and if so what colours? A. I suggest painting the base of the house and the garage door to match Resene Double Gravel – this is a slightly green based dark grey and will modernise the overall look of the house as well as link to the roof. I suggest you stain the railings and stairs the same. September 2023 |
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Q. My open plan east facing apartment has walls painted in Resene Double Alabaster flat paint. There is a covered terrace which shades most walls except for the dining area which has three big windows and needs repainting. The new Resene Double Alabaster seems very bright compared to the rest of the walls. How could I lessen the glare in this area and still connect to the Resene Double Alabaster nearby? A. Firstly, have you used a flat paint for the new Resene Double Alabaster walls? This will help with any glare, and I recommend Resene SpaceCote Flat which is a waterborne enamel – therefore it is a water-based paint which is durable for a flat paint. If you want to reduce glare, then perhaps look at a slightly deeper variant such as Resene Half Sea Fog (Resene Triple Alabaster) or Resene Sea Fog – this will then link back to the original Resene Double Alabaster. The deeper variants will reduce glare, especially in a flat paint – it does mean there might be greyer coming through, so I recommend painting test pots of both onto A2 card, two coats and attaching to this area, to see how they look in natural light. Keep in mind that the testpots are at a higher sheen level. September 2023 |
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Q. I am wondering if you might be able to help find a bright, warmish neutral that might fit across our combined living spaces. I find that the Resene Merino and Resene White Pointer families look too grey, and the Resene Parchment family too beige. I am tending toward the Resene Thorndon Cream family, but am not sure if this will look too green? I’d like to repaint both dark blue feature walls with perhaps a darker version of whichever white we choose, to keep a neutral palette. The lounge windows are north facing. A. I like the idea of a green neutral – for a north facing room. I suggest you try Resene Half Joanna (not too green) and for the feature walls Resene Linen. Alternately you might like to paint Resene Linen in the living room with the white fireplace and consider a botanical Resene wallpaper for the feature wall encompassing your timber console and mirror. An alternative to wallpaper is a product called Resene Sandtex which will give a natural texture to the walls – and can be tinted to Resene Linen – samples of the texture are available to view at Resene ColorShops. September 2023 |
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Q. I’m seeing the trend is black exterior paint for houses. I have a flat roof house being built and would like to know what the popular black paint colour is. The roof would be COLORSTEEL® so would need to match. I also see that the black paint now days won’t bubble like used to in sun etc. A. A popular COLORSTEEL® roof colour is Ebony and the match in paint is Resene All Black, or other popular blacks are Resene Blackjack and Double Foundry. Dark colours will absorb heat and heat related issues can still arise. Resene have a CoolColour paint which helps to reflect the heat away from the substrate, hence reducing (but not necessarily eliminating) heat related issues – you can find out more about CoolColour paint online or via your local Resene ColorShop – this might help with colour choice. You will need to have any dark colours accepted by local authorities before proceeding, depending on your substrate – talk to your builder – they will know about the restrictions and what you can do. September 2023 |
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Q. We are painting a small flat – open living (20m2), 1 bedroom (10.5m2). What colour would you recommend to make the flat feel bigger and lighter? I'm thinking of a white. Should I use the same colour on walls, ceiling, skirtings? A. Resene Half Bianca is a warm fleecy off white – without being yellow – it has a crispness to it which gives light to a small space, without it feeling cold. I suggest painting the trims the same colour – to open up the space – so the eye just moves around the room, where defining areas/substrates can make the eye stop, and in smaller spaces, this is not ideal (if that makes sense!) when you want to create the illusion of space. Generally, walls are low sheen and doors, trims and skirtings are semi-gloss, so this creates contrast. For the ceiling, and scotia (if appropriate), consider Resene Quarter Alabaster – this will give the illusion of the ceiling being higher than it is. For a small space – I recommend Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen – it is a waterborne enamel, so it is super durable, dries fast and easy clean up in water – it will give a luxurious, silky feel to the walls. The trims and any woodwork I suggest Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. September 2023 |
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Q. I am thinking of using Resene Aoraki on the walls of our beach bach. Which white would be best to use to for ceilings (low) and trims please? A. Resene Aoraki is an interesting colour and will look great in a beach bach! I suggest Resene Half Alabaster for the ceilings and trims.  Resene Aoraki September 2023 |
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Q. I was considering painting my 1950s living room and kitchen/dining room/kitchen/hallway in Resene Alabaster or Resene Double Alabaster. I will have white curtains with black curtain rods. I have a house filled with art deco. What do you think and also what colour/finish type of paint for ceilings and architraves? I have tried Resene Black White. It is too grey and does not go with my pictures. A. Resene Double Alabaster or the slightly warmer Resene Quarter Rice Cake should work well – I suggest Resene Alabaster for the ceilings and scotia. As you have a kitchen ceiling to paint – Resene SpaceCote Flat is my recommendation – it gives you a lovely finish which hides imperfections and is washable – which many ceiling paints are not – you could use this for all the open plan areas. The door and window architraves are generally painted in Resene Lustacryl which is a semi-gloss water-based enamel and I suggest Resene Alabaster – being a waterborne enamel means it is a durable, non-yellowing paint, which is easy to clean-up in water and is low odour. Semi-gloss gives contrast to the general low sheen of walls – consider Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for your walls – it is great for high traffic areas and gives a luxurious, silky sheen which is washable – I also feel it is important to invest in good quality finishes when using whites and off whites – non-yellowing, harder wearing. September 2023 |
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Q. Could you please tell me which Resene paint colour matches COLORSTEEL® Snowstone? A. Resene Dusky Sound is the equivalent to COLORSTEEL® Snowstone.  Resene Dusky Sound September 2023 |
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Q. What colour to paint the white bricks at the base of the house? The windows are white, the roof is light grey but needs painting too (later on), the upper storey is brick. Is there a colour to help modernise it? A. Going dark will modernise the overall look – the colours I suggest will pair with the brick and the white windows will give relief – I am keeping in mind that the roof will be repainted at some stage. Resene Masala is a smoky brown which works with most bricks, Resene Nocturnal is a warm charcoal which pairs well with earthy reds, or Resene Tuna and Resene Baltic Sea are dark blue based greys to cool down the warmth of the red. Consider painting your garage doors the same colour as the base to simplify the scheme. September 2023 |
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Q. I have Resene Half Coriander on the wall, what white/neutral colour could I paint the ceiling? A. Resene Quarter Merino or if you want a brighter contrast Resene Alabaster, for more of a green undertone you might like Resene Quarter Ecru White or Resene Half Black White for a cool toned muted white. September 2023 |
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Q. Could you please tell me which Resene paint best matches COLORSTEEL® Tidal Drift? A. Resene Expedition is the paint equivalent to COLORSTEEL® Tidal Drift.  Resene Expedition September 2023 |
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Q. I want a warm white on my home’s exterior. Next door just painted Resene Sea Fog. Our place is super sunny. A. Have a look at Resene Rice Cake – it is less yellow and more muted than the Resene Pearl Lusta family, but warm – I suggest not going to the lighter variants as they might be too bright outside in natural light. Resene Merino is slightly warmer than Resene Sea Fog for a complementary tone. Resene Alabaster is a good trim colour – but going to half and quarter variants for the main cladding – there won’t be much contrast, so consider the full-strength wall colours. September 2023 |
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Q. Could you please advise what roofing colour would go well with Resene Merino and Resene Earth Green? We have to use Resene Heritage colours. A. Resene Nelson Red from the Resene Heritage chart would look great. September 2023 |
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Q. We are going with Resene Blackjack for walls and Resene Half Sea Fog for the windows. What colour would you recommend for the guttering and also the soffit? A. I suggest the gutters Resene Blackjack and the soffit Resene Half Sea Fog. September 2023 |
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Q. Can you please help me with choosing a soft light grey colour for our house that works with a Resene Grey Friars colour roof. Our windows are aluminium in Arctic White. It is a small single storey board and batten house. A. Arctic White is a blue white and Resene Half Iron looks nice with it – it is close in tone so the windows won’t be highlighted – if you want more contrast you might like to try Resene Iron or Resene Ted. September 2023 |
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Q. I am doing a two-tone bathroom. The top is Resene Cest La Vie. I used a white I already had for the bottom and it's awful. The white has a lot of yellow in it. It looks too bright against the pink. I was thinking a muted colour maybe a soft cream would look good. What colour cream would you suggest up go with the Resene Cest La Vie? What tones will go with the orange base in it? A. I suggest you use a white which has a grey edge to it – such as Resene Alabaster, Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Half Sea Fog. Even a pale cream might be too clean and appear yellow, a muted soft white might pair better with this dusky pink, when directly adjacent to one another. September 2023 |
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Q. I have a small room 3.5 x 3.5 on the south side of the house. I am keen to make it a cosy space and wondered what colours you would recommend helping make a room seem warm. The ceiling is Resene Half Black White and currently three walls are Resene Sea Fog, and one wall is an orange colour. The floors are ply but I am planning on getting carpet. A. South facing rooms benefit from warmer shades like pink, blush, gold and yellow tones – these colours can help you achieve a cosy, welcoming atmosphere. Greys and whites which contain hints of pink, gold and yellow will add a more subtle warmth to your space and lots of texture! Try colours such as Resene Biscotti, Resene Soothe, Resene Meringue, Resene Soiree, Resene Solitaire, Resene Inspire, Resene Awaken, Resene Daylight and Resene Eighth Drought.  Resene Meringue September 2023 |
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Q. I have renovated my bedroom wing. The rest of the house is painted Resene Quarter Thornton Cream except for the kitchen cabinets which are Resene Half Black White. The hallway does not get a lot of light and two bedrooms are north facing and one to the west. I’m not sure whether to continue on with the existing colour or not. I am open to changing the colour of the rest of the house to match the reno except for the kitchen cabinets, also what ceiling and trim colour would work? A. Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream will work for the reno – I suggest carrying this through to the bedrooms you can then dress them with colour to differentiate, perhaps with cooler accent colours in the north facing bedrooms and warmer in the west. For trims and ceiling, you could continue with Resene Half Black White or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream teams well with Resene Quarter Merino. September 2023 |
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Q. I have an Ironsand roof and joinery. I’m wondering what colours of yours would work well with that. The sides of the house are cedar which is already in precoated in Resene Woody Bay. The front and back wall have not yet been painted and am wondering on a suitable colour. A. You could look at a warm edged grey such as Resene Triple Black White or Resene White Pointer as these will pair with Resene Ironsand and Resene Woody Bay. I am assuming that the cedar is only on the two sides – otherwise you would continue the Resene Woody Bay to the front and back. September 2023 |
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Q. I am looking for recommendations for an exterior white colour for our lounge which is currently being clad in brick. The rest of the home, board and batten, is in Resene All Black. A. A popular, versatile white that works with Resene All Black is Resene Sea Fog – this is not too stark for outside, or you could test Resene Double Black White – but this will have more of a grey edge, depending on the aspect – so if the lounge is north facing for example – then it will appear less grey and more of a muted white, in bright natural light. September 2023 |
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Q. We are thinking of purchasing a new home, but the current colour combo is not too our taste. It has brown brick, brown aluminium and brown tiles with cedar weatherboard that looks to be painted brown. We would be happy to paint the brick and roof if it was a good idea (i.e., not compromise the actual brick or tiles)? What should we do with the cedar? What colours do you think would work? A. I feel if you really want to upgrade the look of the exterior, then you will need to paint the roof and brick – for the cedar walls and block base I suggest a rich dark charcoal such as Resene Bokara Grey (which has a little bit of yellow and red) or a softer, warm deep grey such as Resene Fuscous Grey. Both these colours will blend with the aluminium to take the emphasis away from the brown. The internal cedar alcove walls (where the seating is at the front) – you could introduce a lighter colour such as Resene Wan White, and you could also paint the soffit the same – Resene Wan White. I suggest you leave the timber railings etc natural to add character. The roof and gutter needs to be a lighter contrast such as Resene Gauntlet or Resene Atmosphere. It is a process of elimination, so gather some samples and start painting Resene testpots onto A2 card and attach to the house so you can start to see what will work best for you. September 2023 |
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Q. I cannot decide what colour to paint our house. The cedar roof will stay the same. Do you have any ideas? A. Resene Half Tana could look really nice, it will pair with the joinery and roof but much more modern. You might also like to try Resene Quarter Tapa, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Copyrite. September 2023 |
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Q. I am building a new house and the roof and windows are in Resene All Black. What off white colour would you suggest would be suitable to go with this? There is no other colour than these two on the exterior of the house. I would like an off-white colour that won’t show every mark/dirt/bird droppings as I presume a pure white would show it more? A. It always helps with maintenance and glare to use a slightly greyed white outside – as they all lighten and brighten in natural light, and next to a black. Resene Double Black White looks nice with Resene All Black – if you don’t mind the slight grey edge, or Resene Sea Fog which is a bit less grey, but not stark. September 2023 |
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Q. I have installed a new deck using 145x35 pine. The decking timber is starting to get small cracks in its surface as it weathers in position. I presume I need a turpentine/oil-based stain that will penetrate the timber and offer some resistance to the weather. I would if possible be going for a natural look or a light stain to retain the natural look of the pine if that’s possible. A. Resene Woodsman Oil Stain will be the best option if you want a natural look which will retain the look of the timber and provide some protection. The colours I suggest are Resene Nocturnal or Resene Driftwood, alternately, you could opt for Resene Furniture and Decking Oil, which gives you a lightly oiled look to the heavily pigmented stain finish. Enquire at your local Resene Color Shop about your options and while there you can view samples of these products/colours on pine. September 2023 |
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Q. Our timber house is painted in Resene Half Bianca on the exterior and we're trying to find a deck paint colour that will go with this. We have tried a few, but they just don't look right. A. It does depend on what other colours you have to work with – but the Resene Friar Greystone family pairs quite well with Resene Half Bianca as it has the warmth, but that grey undertone for a deck. There are variants from Resene Quarter Friar Greystone to Resene Double Friar Greystone which might work well – colours do appear lighter on decks outside. Alternatively look at Resene Gauntlet or Resene Four Winds.  Resene Quarter Friar Greystone  Resene Four Winds  Resene Double Friar Greystone September 2023 |
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Q. We are looking for a single colour to paint our kitchen ceiling, walls, cupboards and window frames in our 1966 weatherboard house. We would like to use same colour in our dining area as it is open plan. Is this possible? The ceiling in the kitchen is gloss. The cupboards are just melamine, I think. Should you not have gloss ceiling in the lounge? A. Yes you can certainly use one colour throughout – there will be different products for different surfaces, so the difference in sheen levels will create interest. As to what colour to choose, obviously a white or neutral is going to work – it really depends on whether you want a warm white or cool white and what other colours you have to pair with, such as window treatments, flooring, bench tops etc. Some popular options are Resene Black White, Resene Half Rice Cake and Resene Merino. Ceiling paint can feel chalky and isn’t designed to be cleaned often – if you do like to clean your ceilings then investigate into a product such as Resene SpaceCote Flat – which is a flat finish but durable. For cleaning your ceiling or spot cleaning we recommend you use Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner, to avoid those annoying smudges – it is available as a concentrate for larger areas or in a premixed spray bottle for spot cleaning and can be used on any painted surface. Gloss ceilings are not overly popular as the ceiling is a critical light area and gloss shows imperfections – this is why flat paints are more suitable for a ceiling. September 2023 |
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Q. What colour works well with Resene Pearl Bush? We have lots of wood and leather in our home. A. Smoky greens, deep reds and espresso browns look good with Resene Pearl Bush, such as Resene Vantage Point, Resene Trek and Resene Pandemonium. September 2023 |
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Q. We have wooden flooring and a concrete fireplace. Although there is lots of windows and open space there isn’t a lot of direct sunlight. We want to keep the space feeling warm and ideally don’t want just white. We are not afraid of some colour or warmer greys or greens similar to Resene Frontier. Suggestions for colour to paint the fireplace would be wonderful too please! A. I suggest a grey with a subtle green edge such as Resene Ash or a warmer neutral such as Resene Linen, or Resene Aspiring with Resene Tic Tac Toe, Resene Contour, Resene New Leaf or Resene Hemlock for the fireplace wall and fireplace. September 2023 |
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Q. We have a blonde brick house currently with a terracotta stamped concrete. We have removed some and put grass down. We are looking into getting the drive sprayed and we are putting a deck down. What colour would you paint the fence? A. Investigate Resene Double Ironsand, Resene Double Gravel or Resene Bokara Grey – different tones but will pair with your existing colours – it is a matter of which looks better on site. September 2023 |
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Q. I am looking for colour advice to paint outside of house with an existing red roof (I am not painting the roof). A. I feel you need to really lighten and brighten the exterior, without it being too stark. Investigate Resene White Pointer for the main cladding with Resene Quarter White Pointer for the trims such as the spouting, soffit, fascias and bargeboards and the external porch railings and eaves of the porch. To modernise the overall look, I suggest painting the window trim the same colour as the house – Resene White Pointer. Testpots are recommended – but please do not paint directly onto the existing colour as this might influence the way the new colour will look in reality – A2 card is available to paint two coats onto and attach to the house. September 2023 |
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Q. I have painted my bathroom, laundry, and a bedroom (that is a quite dark room) in Resene Alabaster. It looks fantastic, but in bright light I notice it shows up a lot of the imperfections in the walls. I am now about to paint the lounge, kitchen and two bedrooms (which are quite bright rooms). Is there a more forgiving shade – similar to Resene Alabaster that you would recommend? A. Resene Half Sea Fog (Resene Triple Alabaster) or Resene Sea Fog might work for you – the more depth the better for hiding imperfections – I would even consider Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene Triple Sea Fog if you don’t mind the hint of grey. Also, you might like to consider using a lower sheen level – Resene SpaceCote Flat is a water-based enamel so it is durable and cleans up in water – being a flat finish this helps to disguise imperfections as they are not highlighted by a higher sheen level. September 2023 |
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Q. I’m looking for an interior colour for a single garage for a new build – likely to be used as a games room rather than a garage. The interior colours are Resene Double Sea Fog, with bathrooms in Resene Ravine. All trims are Resene Black White. Exterior colours are Resene Double Sea Fog with a Resene Gumboot feature on the exterior wall leading into the garage. I'd like a more resistant/durable off-white than Resene Double Sea Fog for this area as it's likely to be well used. I love Resene Linen but feel it's too green, Resene Merino feels too ‘dirty’. I have a real aversion to yellow! A. Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is a waterborne enamel, so it cleans up easily in water and dries fast but has the added bonus of being durable like an enamel – perfect for an internal garage or games room – regardless of colour. Whites are generally known to be higher maintenance as they do show the wear and tear a bit more – however, Resene Double Sea Fog is considered more forgiving than some as it has a grey undertone, and the cleaner whites will be less forgiving. Consider Resene Triple Sea Fog or perhaps a grey like Resene Concrete. September 2023 |
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Q. I would like a neutral colour scheme for my carport. I have an orange brick unit. I would like to paint the metal poles, the storage unit door and the wall of carport. A. To tidy up this area and modernise as much as possible, I suggest one colour – a warm green grey such as Resene Quarter Tapa, which will be more serviceable than the existing colours – I suggest you keep the ceiling of the carport a light cream. September 2023 |
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Q. We are doing up our kitchen and have picked Resene Black White for the cabinets and small bit of the wall that is left. We chose this white because we have it in our bathroom and hallway. However, the kitchen is semi open to the lounge and dining room which is Lockwood. Do you think this white would work with the timber too? The benchtop is sort of an off white with subtle grey speckles. A. I find next to Lockwood slightly warmer tones work well or whites with less grey. Try Resene Alabaster for the walls – Resene Alabaster with Resene Black White on the cabinetry will work quite well together. September 2023 |
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Q. I want to come in and get multiple testpots for our exterior house paint. Can you please recommend a whole range of options for a subtle green grey colour? A. I suggest you try these in testpots (please note that colours tend to appear lighter outside) Resene Ravine, Resene Haven, Resene Helix, Resene Blue Smoke, Resene Pewter, Resene Rolling Stone, Resene Inside Back, Resene Half Inside Back and Resene Field Day. September 2023 |
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Q. We are painting the exterior of our Victorian weatherboard house in Resene Half Haystack, with trims in Resene Pearl Lusta. We are hoping to paint the front door a statement bright green. What shade of green do you think would be complementary? A. With this scheme on a traditional home, I suggest you look to greens such as Resene Kaitoke Green or Resene Parsley. They will appear brighter outside next to a neutral scheme and if you use a gloss finish this will also create intensity. September 2023 |
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Q. Which of your shades of warmer green goes with blush pink? A. See if any of these warmer greens appeal – Resene Wilderness, Resene Stone Age, Resene Woodland, Resene Waiouru, Resene Dingley or Resene Clover. September 2023 |
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Q. We are painting the exterior of our house – corrugated roof, weatherboard and window joinery. We got interested in Resene Coast for the roof – we liked the bluer base to the colour. We are struggling to choose weatherboard and joinery colours that go with this. We've been tossing around Resene Iron for the weatherboards and a white for the joinery. We are also interested in a light eggshell blue (not too bright) on the weatherboards instead of a grey. Is there anything for roof, weatherboards and joinery you'd recommend for us? A. I do believe Resene Iron could work well or deeper Resene Ted – consider taking this colour onto the base to modernise the overall look. Resene Coast is a great roof blue and I suggest teaming these colours with Resene Alabaster for joinery and trims. An eggshell blue might create too much of a coastal/cottage feel, but if you want to try colours in this range with Resene Coast and Resene Alabaster – investigate Resene Cut Glass or Resene Half Duck Egg Blue. Blue undertones are enhanced in certain lights – so even Resene Iron will appear bluer at times and grey others. September 2023 |
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Q. We are renovating our house and painting all the walls, doors and skirtings Resene White Pointer. Our kitchen cabinetry is Resene White Pointer. We were looking for a seamless effect and going to paint the ceilings in Resene White Pointer as well. Our question is do you think Resene White Pointer will look too dark on ceilings? A. If your ceiling is standard height, Resene White Pointer will appear darker compared to the walls, if you want that seamless effect, perhaps consider painting the ceiling Resene Half White Pointer – it will appear a bit darker so will be closer to Resene White Pointer. If the ceiling is higher or raked, then Resene White Pointer should be fine. September 2023 |
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Q. I’m thinking about the full palette we’d like to achieve across the home as we slowly update room-by-room, so trying to pick tones carefully now so it looks cohesive! Would you mind giving your advice on the combination of colours below, or recommending better alternatives? Resene Half Halcyon, Resene Half Emerge, Resene Biscay, Resene Alabaster (trims and ceiling), Resene Rice Cake, Resene Merino and Resene Double White Pointer (internal doors). A. The combination of colours is fabulous! The only change I suggest is the internal doors – Resene Double White Pointer doesn’t sit quite right with the cooler toned colours – consider Resene Double Sea Fog as an alternative.  Resene Half Halcyon September 2023 |
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Q. I'm doing a new build. I am planning to use Resene Silver Chalice on weatherboards, Resene Grey Friars on the roof and garage door and Appliance White for the joinery. What would you recommend for me to paint the fascia board, soffit lining and garage door facing? A. Resene Half Sea Fog matches Appliance White – this is the white I suggest for your fascia boards, soffit and garage frames. You might like to test Resene Sea Fog (a bit deeper) as colours including whites brighten and lighten outside. September 2023 |
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Q. We have a small beach cottage. I want to paint the walls white (not stark), but my husband is anti-white and prefers neutrals. I'm anti beige. Help – we need a compromise! A. Soft greys might appeal and can still suit a beach cottage – such as Resene Quill Grey or Resene Half Rakaia, or perhaps a white which is neither stark or cream or a white which is heading towards misty grey such as Resene Milk White or Resene Triple Sea Fog. A nice umber white is Karen Walker Wan White – not stark at all. September 2023 |
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Q. I am having the exterior of my 70s weatherboard single storey house professionally repainted. The house gets really good morning sun, sits on a concrete base, has a prominent but not so fancy gable, and has a concrete tiled roof. I'd like to keep the wall colour light and fresh (cool), but would like it to somehow contrast against the Appliance White new PVC windows. I'd like the window trims to be the same colour as the new windows. Is Resene Half Sea Fog the closest to Resene Appliance White? I'm considering Resene Surrender (or Resene Half Surrender) for the walls. Then Resene Nocturnal for the roof, the outer trim of the gable and the concrete steps leading to the entrance door. Should I paint the concrete base of the house the same as the walls to make the house look taller/bigger, or will it look disconnected from the concrete steps? Will the house look too dark if the gable is Resene Nocturnal as well even if I make the gable trims Resene Half Sea Fog? A. Yes Resene Half Sea Fog is the closest to Appliance White. Resene Half Surrender or Resene Surrender will work – it depends on how much contrast you want – colours do tend to appear up to 30% lighter in natural, bright light – paint A2 card with two coats of test pots and attach to the exterior to see the contrast with the windows. Painting the base of the house the same colour as the weatherboard will visually extend the overall appearance and modernise the scheme – it is modern to paint the concrete steps separately in this instance. I wouldn’t paint the gable Resene Nocturnal – as the current colour is contrasting to the weatherboard and actually, visually lowers the house – to make the house appear visually taller I suggest painting the gable end the same colour as the weatherboards and painting the trim (bargeboards or gable trim) Resene Nocturnal for contrast. Consider painting the flashing of the gable trim Resene Nocturnal as well (so all of the trim). September 2023 |
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Q. My wife and I own a 1920s villa in Island Bay, Wellington. It is in need of an exterior paint. We would love your advice for colours. We like clean, neutral, light, classic colours that fit the era of the home. It is currently all white, which we like as a concept, but it feels too sterile as the window frames and the weatherboards are the same 'hospital white'. A. I agree the all-white exterior is classic and will suit your villa, however, I also agree you need a softer white for the weatherboards, and perhaps consider a true white as a contrast for the bargeboards windows and trim to add relief, and to highlight the tint in the weatherboards – then a soft grey for the porch and a dark grey for the front door (gloss or semi) will finish the look, without it being too bland so to speak. Resene Sea Fog is a versatile white which is great for villa exteriors as it suits most environments and is not a stark white, team this with Resene Half Alabaster, Resene Half Foggy Grey for the porch and steps and Resene Baltic Sea for the front door. Alternately you could opt for Resene Sea Fog, for the entire exterior, as the sheen levels will create some difference (generally semi-gloss for windows, gloss for doors and low sheen for weatherboards), with the soft grey for the porch (less maintenance than white) and whatever colour or neutral you like for the front door. September 2023 |
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Q. I'm finding it hard to decide on paint colours to freshen up two rooms. Most of the house is painted in Resene Eighth Friar Greystone (ceilings in Resene Black White) but I'm tired of that and want something different for these rooms although I still want to go neutral. The first room is north facing, although looks into planted patio. There is lots of window area. The room is painted in Resene Green Smoke and one wall is a green stained tongue-in-groove feature wall (that was pre-existing). The ceiling is standard height with dark wooden beams and black/white panels between. The second I'd like suggestions for is a north-west facing room, but again with planting outside, standard windows only on one wall, standard height. There is a textured grey/cream wallpaper which I intend to paint over. I've been cleaning down the walls and it's so well-adhered I'm leaving it there. The inhabitant likes bright colours, so there are lime curtains. The room has a smaller attached room used as an office, one window and a bit darker. A. Resene Eighth Friar Greystone would look quite good in these rooms, and I suggest painting the stained green feature wall the same colour as the rest of the walls to lighten, brighten and modernise the room – or you could paint it a feature wall colour such as Resene Cod Grey. Alternately look to a colour such as Resene White Pointer or Resene Double White Pointer for the walls – especially for the northwest room – it looks great with blues. For added colour think about linen, accessories and art. Resene Half Tea is a slightly warmer alternative for these rooms and will work with greens and blues – if you were thinking of keeping the green timber feature wall. Resene Eighth Friar Greystone September 2023 |
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Q. What colour would you recommend to go with New Denim Blue joinery? We're looking at light greys such as Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and Resene Quarter Grey Chateau. We are open to other ideas. We prefer something that does not make the blue in the joinery stand out. We are also looking to put a white trim around the joinery so again a suitable white that is less likely to highlight the blue. A. These softer greys look good with New Denim Blue joinery – it does depend on the roof colour as well. Try Resene Half Delta, Resene Eighth Arrowtown and Resene Triple White Pointer, I suggest teaming these with Resene Alabaster. September 2023 |
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Q. My partner and I are building and are using Resene Double Alabaster as the interior wall colour. What colour would you recommend for window frames and ceiling? A. Investigate Resene Quarter Black White – it gives a crisp fresh feel for the ceilings and window frames with Resene Double Alabaster – you will need to make sure this colour works with your window joinery. September 2023 |
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Q. We are looking for advice on colours for our living, dining, kitchen, entrance area (one space). We have large windows, sliders and limited wall space with elevated garden/bush outlook. The house vibe is restful rainforest. We plan to have a number of house plants in the space. The floors are timber – mid-range brown/greyish. The joinery is Ironsand. The external is board and batten in Resene Treehouse; with some light oak battens on pop-outs not visible from indoors. There is also an existing light brown brick wall section visible from entrance. Other completed elements in our house are a dark moody tiled bathroom and ensuite and moody blue in the main bedroom – all on the south side of the house. Our current thought for living/kitchen areas is for restful greens, but we are open to other suggestions. A. I quite like the idea of an olive green for this space such as the beautiful Resene Tic Tac Toe or Resene Contour. Otherwise try a complex green neutral or a sage – see if Resene Eagle, Resene Bud, Resene Cobblestone, Resene Field Day or Resene Paddock works for you. September 2023 |
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Q. We have garage doors and fence in Resene Grey Friars – on an older weatherboard house with French white joinery. It is currently painted Resene Rakaia – but it still looks white. It has a concrete tile roof which is pretty much black. The stylist is suggesting Resene Taupe Grey or Resene Half Taupe Grey, but we are concerned it’s a bit brown? What would you suggest? We quite like Resene Foggy Grey. A. Yes, the Resene Taupe Grey family does have a brown undertone. Resene Foggy Grey will suit well or you might like Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Half Delta. September 2023 |
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Q. We have Titania aluminium joinery and have just replastered our exterior walls that now need repainting (I think we went Resene Napa on our exterior last time). Our roof is COLORSTEEL® Ironsand I think? Could you advise colours that will go with Titania? We prefer grey tones rather than the beige now. Or even maybe Resene Kangaroo. I was just a bit worried that would be too green. A. Yes, Resene Kangaroo might be a bit green, investigate Resene Ash – this is a grey with a slight hint of green. September 2023 |
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Q. I want to repaint a feature wall in a living room, and the same colour in the indoor entry way. We’re trying to establish a restful, coastal feel in the home, using warm sandy tones, and soft muted blues and greens. We have repainted our master bedroom feature wall in Resene Half Halcyon and want to find a colour that flows well with this into the adjoining living area – something with perhaps a stronger green hue that gently contrasts the blue of the Resene Half Halcyon. I have been looking at Resene Emerge and Resene Tasman but would like a colour expert’s opinion! A. Resene Half Emerge or Resene Secrets might work for you. Resene Tasman feels a little bit too grey. Paint A2 card, available at Resene ColorShops, with two coats of testpots and attach to the spaces to see how the tones compare. September 2023 |
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Q. We have Resene Carefree on our living room walls and would like to replace it with a more 'toned down' colour. Resene Carefree throws a peppermint tone in some light. We don't want to go darker; could go lighter (tending towards white maybe?). Our only limitation is a glass splashback in the adjoining kitchen (open plan) which is Resene Carefree, so whatever colour we choose has to blend in with that splashback. Testpots I have tried include Half Emerge and Resene Half Robins Egg Blue, both are OK but a little dark. A. Try Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue and Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue – these are muted and lighter than you have tried. September 2023 |
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Q. We are using Resene Half Bison Hide for our living area and bathrooms and Resene Eighth Bison Hide for the hallway wall and guest bedroom. For the study nook in the living area, we are thinking of using Resene Bokara Grey. I have beige curtains and a coverlet in main bedroom. This room gets morning and afternoon sun. Which colour can go with the rest of our colour scheme, please? I prefer a warm earthy colour. A. Resene Bokara Grey will work well with the Resene Bison Hide family and similar neutrals. For your master bedroom I have looked at various neutrals but as you have all day sun, the balance between a warm and cool colour is paramount – the Resene Bison Hide family hits the mark. Therefore, I suggest trying the deeper variants such as Resene Triple Bison Hide and Resene Bison Hide. Resene Eighth Bison Hide might also look lovely in this room. For another option investigate Resene Double Sisal or Resene Double Fossil. September 2023 |
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Q. I need an exterior colour scheme for a two-storey house which has New Denim Blue joinery and roof. A. See if any of these colours appeal: Resene Half Delta, Resene Eighth Arrowtown or Resene Triple White Pointer, all with Resene Alabaster for the soffit and trims. September 2023 |
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Q. I am looking for a neutral beige colour for our living room that will go with other rooms that are Resene Double Linen and Resene Cloud. I really like Resene Double Sisal, but I don’t think it goes that well – it may be too yellow. A. I feel you need a softer variant of beige to balance the scheme – see if any of these work for you and they do have deeper variants – Resene Half Bison Hide, Resene Parchment or Resene Fossil. September 2023 |
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Q. I want to paint my house in a different colour. I need to choose a colour compatible with the existing green COLORSTEEL® roof and green aluminium joinery. A. See if any of these colours work for you – Resene Tapa, Resene Half Tapa, Resene Titania, Resene Triple Merino or Resene Epitome. I suggest you paint two coats of Resene testpots onto A2 card available at Resene ColorShops, and attach to the house, please do not paint directly onto the existing colour, as this may change the appearance of the new colours you are testing. Testpots are the most accurate way of viewing colour – as undertones can be enhanced and lightens in natural bright light. September 2023 |
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