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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 132

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.

 
 
 
 

Q&A   p. 132

Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.


Q. We have just purchased a house with a questionable kitchen cabinetry colour and want some advice re paint colour. We prefer neutrals, grey, and charcoal tones, and want to keep the kitchen as bright as possible. It is a small area and does not have a huge amount of natural light. The flooring will be changed to a lighter planking (Malmo Scandia Rosengard or similar) and the carpet will be renewed to a mid-charcoal (Malmo Barcelona Nou Baris).

A. I suggest you try three blue greys – these are classic and although they do err on the darker side – they are not too dark. Are you planning to change the splashback? If so keeping it white will help to keep the rest of the space light – the flooring will also make a difference.

Try Resene Westminster, Resene Baring Head and Resene Half Tuna.

Swatch
Resene Baring Head
Swatch
Resene Westminster

November 2023


Q. If we using Resene Indian Ink for our exterior, what colour would be best for a deck? Would a light grey or darker or something else be best? It will be a stain.

A. It depends on the location – if urban I suggest Resene Tiri – a mid-grey, or if it is coastal Resene Driftwood can look great with blues.

November 2023


Q. What colours would you recommend please for walls, ceiling and trims? The room is quite orangey with the wooden floors and brick look tiles so we are looking to cool things down without clashing. The windows have white trim. The beams we want the same colour as ceiling. And overall everything in the whites and neutrals ranges.

A. Resene Quarter Linen will tone with brick and wood features. Try Resene Alabaster for the ceilings, beams and trims to brighten the overall effect and tie in the white windows.

November 2023


Q. What type of paint would you recommend for a lounge walls/ceiling with a Kent fire as ash/soot is commonly seen above the fireplace. We want a neutral colour that is light and bright. We currently have Resene Quarter Tea and want a warm white but not cream.

A. Resene Half Sea Fog is a warm off white that is not cream, I suggest this for the walls. For the ceiling and trims try Resene Half Alabaster.

November 2023


Q. Can you recommend a soft pale sage green for front door to complement a weatherboard house painted in Resene Thorndon Cream?

A. Colours to try are Resene Celeste or Resene Kangaroo, or for a more definite soft sage green I suggest Resene Green Spring.

November 2023


Q. I’m after a light dusty pink or peach. Maybe Resene Sorbet. Which colour will work best with light grey tiles?

A. I suggest you try Resene Contented or Resene Inspire. These are dusky and softer than Resene Sorbet.

Swatch
Resene Inspire
Swatch
Resene Contented

November 2023


Q. Can you please give me a colour suggestion for a heritage home exterior, leaning towards green tones? We’d like to keep with the heritage architecture but more modern colour wise.

A. I am making suggestions which are updating the scheme you are proposing to be in keeping with the architecture, but with a modern appearance.

Try roof and upper shingles in Resene Half Ironsand, weatherboards/other shingles in Resene Kangaroo, window surrounds, door frames, fascias, bargeboards and eaves in Resene Green White, window ledges and timber doors in Resene Wilderness and boards below weatherboards and deck in Resene Eighth Ironsand.

November 2023


Q. A few years we painted our house in Resene Craigieburn on concrete block and Resene Quarter Craigieburn on weatherboard. We painted the windows with Resene Quarter Black White. We like the results. Thank you for the advice then. We did not change the original roof colour which was green.

Now the carport roof (same green) is really rusty so we are thinking of replacing the carport roof first. Could you recommend roofing colour options for us that will look good and modern with current Resene Craigieburn external walls? We are not in a position to repaint the green house roof yet so the carport roof may be different than house roof for a few years.

A. The roof colour I suggest is Resene Ironsand. It will sit ok next to the green house roof until you are ready to update and it will modernise the scheme.

November 2023


Q. We want to paint our new house walls Resene Quarter Alabaster. What colour should we have the doors and ceiling?

A. Resene Quarter Alabaster is a bright white – therefore it will work well if you colour drench the walls, ceilings and doors – which is painting them all Resene Quarter Alabaster and using different sheen levels to create interest – such as a flat paint (Resene SpaceCote Flat) for the ceilings, low sheen (Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen) for the walls and a semi-gloss (Resene Lustacryl) for the doors and trims.

Alternatively you can paint the ceiling the same – Resene Quarter Alabaster and the doors a bit deeper if you want them to be a contrast such as Resene Alabaster.

November 2023


Q. Our existing waterfront home has timber doors and architraves painted in Resene Double Spanish White. We want to repaint the walls only (not timber). Can you suggest a white/neutral complement for the Resene Double Spanish White which will update it a bit?

A. Resene Chalk Dust or Resene Quarter Spanish White are warm whites which will sit well next to Resene Double Spanish White.

November 2023


Q. I would like to use either Resene Quarter Stonehenge or Resene Eighth Stonehenge on the weatherboards and vertical boards of our bach and Resene Ironsand on the roof. The joinery is old and ‘bronze’ I think is the name of the colour. What colour would you recommend for the trim?

It is currently an ‘awful’ khaki/army green colour!!

A. Consider Resene Half Stonehenge as colours lighten quite a bit outside – and the house will suit a bit of depth to give it structure and to blend in the joinery. Resene Ironsand will work for the roof and for any fences in the future. For the trim – I am assuming bargeboards, fascias and soffit, I suggest Resene Sea Fog. The gable end I suggest painting the same as the weatherboard.

I suggest you try a testpot of Resene Quarter Stonehenge and Resene Half Stonehenge (and Resene Eighth Stonehenge if you like) and if you choose a lighter variant then you will perhaps want to lighten the trim to Resene Half Wan White.

Mix and match the samples – see what works outside and best for you.

November 2023


Q. Would Resene Atomic or Resene Balderdash go with old Lockwood wood surrounds for kitchen cabinets?

A. Both should work with a Lockwood. I quite like the Resene Balderdash as it is a bit softer, even though it is greyer as well.

Greens sit well next to wood – see if Resene Half Rivergum or Resene Smoky Green appeal.

November 2023


Q. We are giving this commercial building a freshen up paint job and need some advice on two or three contemporary colours. The colours will need to be complementary to the existing bronze colour aluminium joinery (which will not be painted). We don't want to overthink it, but want something fresh, probably with the sloped roof element a grey?

A. To modernise the overall appearance with colour – I suggest two options – the first option is to paint the top sloped roof and the bottom walls all the same – splitting the colours can give an outdated look to certain structures – the other option if preferred is to split the colours but have them closer in contrast.

For option one I suggest a dark colour which will blend with the bronze aluminium windows – Resene Bokara Grey.

For option two I recommend swapping the colours – so the darker colour is on the bottom and the lighter colour is on the sloped roof – simply because the sloped roof structure is dominant already – I propose Resene Atmosphere for the sloping roof and Resene Gauntlet for the base.

November 2023


Q. I’m looking to paint the exterior of my 1980 home. It is small and very basic, nothing architectural or even attractive about it. It’s fibre cement and one level and north facing with silver aluminium windows.

I think I’ve decided on Resene Dusted Blue as the body of the house. I’m seeking advice on a colour for the trim and foundation. I’d ideally like to go for something sort of green – I’ve tried a testpot of Resene Green Meets Blue and it looks pretty good but I’m conscious this is just a small section. I was curious if there is anything else you’d recommend – maybe something with a touch more grey or neutral. I live in New Plymouth and want beachy with a touch of something unique but bearing in mind the house itself isn’t something to gaze upon.

I'm planting out the front garden with intent of it being the focal point as the house isn't attractive – it's full of fan palms, leucadendrons, clianthus, grasses and grevillea along the front of the house and alongside the drive. There are lots of pinky/plummy reds, creamy yellows, lush greens and silvery greens. Does this type of garden better suit a warmer/more neutral coloured house rather than the cool blues?

If we go with Resene Dusted Blue, is this a weird exterior colour choice? Are cool blues on their way out? I can't find many examples of it used as an exterior colour on the internet and I get the merits of unique colours on character homes but wonder if it might draw attention to the house rather than complement the garden.

The house is northeast facing and is clad in fibre cement that is painted a pinky beige and with painted timbre trim/accents that are blue-ish brown (which might just be patina/sun exposure). I understand fibre cement places limitations on colour options for body of the house, considering the LRV. The window joinery is metallic silver and the roof will need replacing too. It's going to take some mighty good lipstick to fix this house.

If we go neutral, for the body of the house I like various strengths of Resene Truffle and Resene Tapa. I’m not sure if it's appropriate though? I don't like yellowy neutrals.

If we go the blue/greys – would I be better to go one step greyer than Resene Dusted Blue for the body? Or if Resene Dusted Blue works on the body, for the foundation/trim – I like the direction you went with Innocence, but was wondering if we could take that slightly darker, such as Resene Dark Slate, Resene Calm Green or something similar? The existing paint is quite dark.

I’m planning on painting my back door a bold colour to go with the palette below. My backyard is tropical – lots of coral, orange and green.

A. I agree that the foundation and trim colour needs to be more of a grey/green-blue, these colours complement the Resene Dusted Blue and will still give the overall effect of a beach feel. Keeping it simple is best.

Try Resene Artemis, Resene Innocence, Resene Clouded Blue or Resene Bluff.

Or for a more neutral finish, I recommend you try Resene Half Tapa for the body or Resene Tapa – and it is always in vogue! For the roof you could use Resene Grey Friars which will complement the body, and the foundation, Resene Armadillo. The eaves and trims could be Resene Half Sea Fog.

The best thing you could do at this point is to try testpots of colours that appeal.

Colour is a chameleon and can change depending on the light and substrate it is being painted on to, it is a process of elimination, so by trialling a couple of colours on the house you will get a feel for which direction you wish to go in.

For accent colours, try Resene Wasabi, Resene Good To Go or Resene Sebedee.

November 2023


Q. We are repainting the outside of our Mediterranean style home in Resene Triple Tea. We need to paint fixed decorative shutters, garage door and front door in an accent colour. Which colours would you recommend?

A. Consider Resene Half Bokara Grey or Resene Bokara Grey for the shutters and garage door and perhaps a burnt orange such as Resene Vesuvius for the front door or you might opt to paint the front door the same as the shutters and garage door but in a gloss finish.

November 2023


Q. We're extending our house and have the opportunity to repaint our soffits so I'm looking for a better colour match as our current colour isn't quite right. The house is Shadowclad in Resene Baltic Sea with FlaxPod for the roof, downpipes and fascia boards. I hope you might be able to guide me in the right direction.

A. Resene Sea Fog is a soft white which gives a nice contrast against FlaxPod and Baltic Sea. Alternatively you might want to investigate less of contrast with Resene Double Merino.

November 2023


Q. We are currently renovating and I'm stuck on exterior paint colours. The cladding will be Hebel, and we have new Ironsand aluminium joinery plus COLORSTEEL® roof etc. The house has no gables and no other contrasting cladding, so I'm thinking about multiple paint colours to try and achieve a contrast. This is a farmhouse in the country so the colours would need to be complementary to that. I'm seeking some advice please on colour combinations but also how to paint this contrast i.e. at which points/walls to change to the second colour. We have a fireplace and I've seen homes that have a darker colour on the chimney, but I wouldn't want this to be the only point of difference.

A. I suggest you paint the Hebel cladding one colour and a dark colour to give the house the contrast you desire and with a Resene CoolColour paint – which helps reduce any heat retention which might result in cracking.

From a design perspective – you do have other contrast colours – joinery and brick, plus deep eaves which will look great in a soft white against the darker cladding.

If you use multiple colours – you might result with too many colours and really the structure and setting are the feature – to be honest, unless a heritage home is being painted – gables are currently being painted the same as the walls.

Try Resene Masala or Resene Gravel for the cladding with Resene Wan White for the eaves.

November 2023


Q. I'm mid renovation with a modern extension to our 1920s bungalow. We are painting the original house Resene Half Tana with chimney and barge in Resene Karaka to match the roof. The modern exterior involves vertical shiplap and large glass sliders. Please recommend a few possible exterior colours for the extension. I am hoping to go with a light or white neutral with green undertones that adequately contrasts with the front of the house. Also going with a warm white interior similar to Resene Rice Cake. I have been considering Resene Eighth Tana for the extension exterior but am worried it is too cool against a warmer white interior, and potentially not contrasting enough. Please advise a range of alternatives – or even if there is an even lighter dilution of Resene Eighth Tana to consider?

A. I suggest you try testpots of Resene Quarter Ash or Resene Ecru White – these are light enough as colours appear up to 30% lighter outside.

November 2023


Q. We live in an old villa which has off white/cream walls throughout of an unknown shade – similar to Resene Merino.

We would like to paint our baby daughter’s small south side room in a very pale pink with cream trim just to add a tiny bit of subtle warmth. I am thinking Resene Sauvignon, or perhaps Resene Pot Pourri – or the half versions of these. Will one be warmer than the other and what trim colour/strength would you recommend to keep with the cream theme – perhaps Resene Pearl Lusta?

A. Resene Half Sauvignon and Resene Half Pot Pourri are both standard colours. Resene Half Pot Pourri is warmer and will pair better with a warmer white – try Resene Bianca for the trims.

November 2023


Q. Our open plan lounge/kitchen/dining room is painted with Resene Triple Sea Fog. We would love colour suggestions in blue or green tones for a feature wall.

A. Investigate Resene Shadowy Blue, Resene Smoky Green or Resene Time Traveller.

November 2023


Q. We are painting our living room. We live in an ecovillage surrounded by loads of trees close to the house plus loads of windows and natural light on both the north and west side of the room. The eastern side is the kitchen with no window facing east. The west is a large wall with the ceiling angled up to the north.

We want this to be a feature wall with the main base colour of Resene Blackcurrant. Across that wall we will have hanging chunk crystal and brass sconce lights, air plants in hanging glass pots plus gold leaf. It will be fairly dramatic.

I'm wondering about the shade of white that would complement this ‘vibe’. The folding glass doors and louvre windows have a black trim.

Can you suggest a complementary white shade to go with this please?

A. I suggest a warmer white, with not too much yellow – see if any of these work for you – Resene Half Carrara, Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Half Milk White.

November 2023


Q. We have a plaster cladding house painted FlaxPod and have some old timber cladding currently brown but we want to funk it up a bit. I was thinking a shade of mustard but we’re also not 100% sure we want white or grey.

A. A green with a yellow undertone might work well.

See if any of these appeal – Resene Woodland, Resene Tarzan or Resene Saratoga. Colours can appear brighter outside – so it’s best to test these with testpots.

November 2023


Q. We have an old villa overlooking Wellington Harbour. It directly looks out on to the sea and has a green garden on the western side. We are replacing our slate roof with COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars and will repaint while scaffolding is up.

We will definitely go with white trim. As an elderly couple we will be selling in the next year or so. We have a green and white garden and as this is where the entrance we want a light shade to harmonise in with it and the front door which is Resene Mangrove. Our daughter says a younger couple will buy it and grey is ‘in’.

Is light grey a good choice? We looked at Resene Half Silver Chalice and Resene Quarter Grey Chateau. We want a very subtle colour as the view is the feature, perhaps a contrast white.

A. Although blue greys have been in fashion and will continue to be chosen, green based greys or greige (warm greys) are the current trend. For your villa with the lovely green setting, I suggest Resene Half Ash for the weatherboards which teams well with Grey Friars and looks great on a villa. Team Resene Half Ash with a lovely warm white such as Resene Quarter Bianca for the trims, eaves and windows.

November 2023


Q. We are painting our roof and the entire house. It has brown aluminium windows which aren’t changing. We have spent a lot on colour pots and not progressed, hence the need for an expert.

We want the look to be clean and fresh, not too dark on the walls.

A. My suggestions are to paint the walls and base the same colour as this will modernise the overall appearance of the house – a lighter neutral that tones in with the joinery such as Resene Triple White Pointer with Resene Ironsand for the roof and fascias and Resene Half Black White for the soffit and timber railings.

Alternatively, you could look at slightly lighter variants such as Resene Gauntlet for the roof and fascias and Resene Double White Pointer for the main walls and base and Resene Half Black White for the soffit and timber railings.

Colours do lighten outside up to 30% so when viewing online keep this in mind – I feel if you go too clean and light the windows will dominate as they do now.

Testpots are the best way to view colour – please do not paint directly onto the existing colour as this might alter the perception of the new colour you are trying.

Resene sell A2 card which you can paint two coats of a testpot onto and compare colour options outside, alternately you can paint a small area with Resene Quick Dry undercoat and then test the main wall colour within the white area.

November 2023


Q. We want to modernise our home’s exterior and carport, perhaps with a very dark grey/charcoal or blacks with white. The surface is Hardiplank.

A. I suggest a dark grey for the main walls and base – so you get a bit of a contrast with the window joinery – but not so much that they are a feature. See if any of these Resene colours appeal: Resene Tuna, Resene Foundry or Resene Baltic Sea.

For the bargeboards, fascias, soffit and timber pergola I suggest a soft white such as Resene Sea Fog.

The carport can follow the main house scheme – so bargeboard in Resene Sea Fog and the gable end and posts – the same dark grey as the house.

November 2023


Q. We are painting the exterior of our house and would love some recommendations on colour. We don’t like the existing green colour but feel limited by our dark green roof colour and cream joinery, which we would prefer not to paint if we can help it. We live in Wanaka, the house is plaster, so the heat needs to be factored in.

A. If keeping the roof colour and working with the cream joinery, I suggest a warmer, current colour which has less of a green undertone than the present. I don’t feel you can go too light or that will emphasise the windows, deep enough to contrast with the roof but at the same time blending the roof in a bit more to the scheme. Resene colours to try are: Resene Coral, Resene Malta, Resene Half Napa, Resene Bronco, Resene Half Akaroa and Resene Pale Oyster.

Please note that colours appear up to 30% lighter outside than what you see online or on a chart. Testpots are recommended – please do not test directly onto the existing colour as this will alter the way the new colours will look in reality. Resene sell A2 card which you can paint two coats of a testpot onto and compare colours outside.

November 2023


Q. I am painting the interior of our kitchen and living areas Resene Double Bianca with Resene Bianca on the trims and ceilings. Can you suggest a colour to paint my kitchen cupboards that will be a gentle contrast. I am not looking for anything too brown or yellow. I wondered if Resene Thorndon Cream would look OK? What are your suggestions?

I have already tried Resene Half Parchment and found it too yellow, does Resene Creme De La Creme have a similar amount of yellow? The exterior of our house is in Resene Truffle and you can see it from our kitchen. Is there another suggestion that could work ok tying in the outside also?

A. I suspect Resene Thorndon Cream might look a little muddy next to Resene Double Bianca – I suggest also testing Resene Half Parchment and Resene Creme De La Creme. Resene Creme De La Creme has slightly less yellow – you could try Resene Ecru White and perhaps Resene Half Truffle – which might be worth testing along with Resene Thorndon Cream, in the space.

It’s best to test the colours by painting A2 card with two coats of Resene testpots and seeing how the colours actually appear in the kitchen.

November 2023


Q. We're currently repainting our weatherboard house from white to Resene Triple Sea Fog. We love our Resene Half Kumutoto front door but we're not sure it works with the new colour. Can you suggest other aqua options, please? We are also happy to go to a bit darker similar to the inside of our nearby planters.

A. Muted blues and deeper aquas look good with Resene Triple Sea Fog. See if any of these work for you – Resene Ziggurat, Resene Retreat, Resene Idyllic or Resene Freewheeling.

Swatch
Resene Freewheeling
Swatch
Resene Idyllic

November 2023


Q. I have selected the following colours for my 1925 bungalow: Resene Quarter Grey Chateau for the weatherboards, Resene Quarter Grey Friars for the shingles around the bay and the soffit and Resene Half Raven for the steps and the vertical palings around the base of the house. The roof is (probably) New Denim Blue or something like that. The house is on a hill, with the roadside facing southwest, and the rear facing the hill northeast. I would like a clean white for the windows and trims – would Resene Black White or Resene Half Black White work?

A. Yes – Resene Half Black White will pair well with the strength of greys you have chosen. Consider Grey Friars full strength for the roof – it might be easier to pair with later if you change the scheme for the main body.

November 2023


Q. What paint do you have that is an ‘eggshell’ colour (ideally not with any pink hues but neutral).

A. See if either of these warm neutrals work for you – Resene Eighth Parchment or Resene Eighth Joss.

November 2023


Q. Our house exterior is being painted Resene Triple White Pointer (including garages) with Canvas Cloth joinery and Thunder Grey downpipes/gutters and roof. The architect is going for a monolithic look. I want to find a colour for our new massive front door (3m x 2m) that is in keeping with the look but which also stands out – so looking at some darker grey/brown colours but can't seem to find the one!

A. See if any of these Resene colours work for you – Resene Kia Kaha, Resene Times Square, Resene Porter, Resene Triple Dune, Resene Blackout or Resene Monkey.

Swatch
Resene Kia Kaha
Swatch
Resene Times Square
Swatch
Resene Porter

November 2023


Q. I have Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream on my walls and Resene Alabaster on the ceilings. We have just had new carpet installed and now the walls seem too yellow. Can you suggest an alternative warm white that won't look so yellow? Or maybe I should just try Resene Alabaster?

A. Try Resene Quarter Rice Cake for the walls only – it is warmer than Resene Alabaster, but not as warm as Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. Resene Half Rice Cake might be worth testing too if you feel quarter strength is too white.

November 2023


Q. We are reroofng our house using COLORSTEEL® Ebony. We have Silver Pearl aluminium joinery and where the Hardiplank will be replaced with Rockcote finished in Resene Armadillo. The iron on the ground level will be painted in Resene Armadillo also. What colour do you suggest we paint the eaves and fascia boards?

A. I suggest painting the fascia/barge in Resene Armadillo and for the eaves marry them into the windows by using a soft grey such as Resene Triple Sea Fog – or for more contrast Resene Barely There.

November 2023


Q. Could you please advise me of the closest ‘matt’/normal (i.e. non-metallic look) Resene colour to the Resene Aluminium Roof colour.

A. Try Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Double Silver Chalice.

Swatch
Resene Double Silver Chalice

November 2023


Q. I am struggling to decide what colour to do my deck. The problem is half the deck is older than the other so deciding on a colour is hard as they will be different on each side. I like the coastal look. My house will eventually be white. The decking is untreated pine. I wondered if whitewashing it would create a similar effect or which route I need to go. I don’t like anything too red.

A. I suggest staining the deck a mid-grey to help hide the differences between the new and old timber – lighter stains will not achieve this and whitewash doesn’t last as well on exterior decks. Greys can still give you a coastal vibe – especially when the house is white. You can add lots of white accessories or up-cycle and whitewash outdoor furniture. Try testpots of Resene Tiri and Resene Iroko on an inconspicuous area of the old and new timber.

November 2023


Q. Please can you suggest a very deep, rich Victorian blue colour for me? We're wanting to paint a hallway.

A. See of any of these Resene Victorian blues appeal – Resene Decadence, Resene Aviator, Resene Bullitt, Resene Space Cadet or Resene Cobalt.

November 2023


Q. We have a villa on a farm. The wall colour is Resene Half Linen, which we plan to keep. The fretwork and balustrades are white which we like. We have Grey Friars on the roof. It’s two shades but not intended to be. We intend to paint the roof. What would you suggest for the front door, roof and barge boards around the base? We also thought maybe the panels each side of the front door should be white?

A. Resene Half Linen does look lovely with white trim. Resene Grey Friars will work well for the roof. For the baseboards I suggest Resene Triple Ash. For the front door I suggest a rich red such as Resene Pohutukawa or the brighter Resene Shiraz – both of these will look stunning in a high gloss enamel. Yes I agree the side panels of the door should be Resene White.

November 2023


Q. I want to paint a low light bedroom in a very pale dusty pink but am worried that the beige undertone will suck up the light? I am thinking along the lines of Resene Dust Storm, Resene Vanilla Ice or similar where the pink is present but not necessarily feminine. More of a mushroom colour with not too much beige/brown undertones. The ceilings and trims would be white. I would love your thoughts on both the wall colour and the shade of white to use on ceiling and trims to maximise the limited light this spare bedroom gets.

A. Using a fresh white such as Resene Alabaster for the ceiling and trims will help to brighten the room. The dark wooden trims will be absorbing most of the light regardless of what colour is on the walls – as currently you have a light, warm colour which isn’t working.

In rooms with very low light because of limited windows, it is very hard to borrow light by manipulating with colour – so I feel it is best to work with the room and keep a warmer colour with a bit of depth on the walls. Resene Vanilla Ice might be a bit too clean and feel less cosy. Resene Dust Storm is lovely but might appear quite pink at certain times of the day. I recommend you also try lighter ‘grown up ‘ pinks such as Resene Spring Wood and Resene Cest La Vie – you might be surprised at the undertone that comes through.

November 2023


Q. I am having trouble deciding on a colour of Resene Woodsman stain for weathered cedar and Shadowclad. The aluminium joinery will be FlaxPod. I have bought Resene Nutmeg but maybe it is too yellow and I need something darker.

A. Have you applied two coats as a test to the cedar? The colour will change once two coats are applied and dry.

Yes a dark stain could look fabulous with FlaxPod windows – however, keep in mind that darker stains will absorb more heat. Investigate Resene CoolColour stain (which is waterbased) if you choose to go dark – this will help but will still attract more heat than a light colour. You could try Resene Charred Black.

Swatch
Resene Charred Black

November 2023


Q. Thanks for all your advice on our insurance redecoration of the old four bedroomed villa. We are now back in the house and love the paints you recommended. I’d like your advice on more rooms and outside colours please.

The kitchen walls are Resene Half Merino and the ceiling is Resene Alabaster. We have a thin dado rail with timber panelling below, a chunky mantle over the wood burning fire, some cupboard doors. The floor at the moment is a washed oak effect vinyl. Please suggest warm/darker colours for the above wood surfaces.

We have a good sized double bedroom (used as a study). It has a dado rail and needs the ceiling and walls painted. It’s next to the hallway/corridor with Resene Half Truffle above dado rail and Resene Quarter Rice Cake below dado. I’d be happy to do all the same colours in the study as the corridor.

What do you suggest for the inside of the front door… which leads into the Resene Half Truffle/ Resene Quarter Rice Cake hallway? There are 4 bedrooms in total all leading off the hallway.

I’m thinking that darker colours will increase the depth and warmth as this house has very high ceilings and is cold all year round. We need warm colours, but still in keeping with the age and size of the house. Are there other options close to Resene Half Truffle that will work well or similar warm colours with depth. I think the size of the rooms can cope with deeper colours.

A. For the dado and panelling in the kitchen I suggest Resene Quarter Arrowtown. This should work well with your existing elements/new colours.

For the mantle, I recommend Resene Alabaster – and if possible Resene Alabaster for the timber surrounds adjoining the mantle – this will give it a lovely, elegant feel. I recommend a Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss finish – varying sheen levels also creates subtle contrast.

I feel you can use a deeper variant in the study – try Resene Truffle, with the dado and walls below in Resene Half Merino. This has a little bit more depth than Resene Quarter Rice Cake, but repeats a colour already used on walls in the house.

The inside of the front door you could paint in Resene Alabaster. Villas have such lovely doors – whites highlight these details. If possible paint the door and the timber surrounds in Resene Alabaster.

For the bedrooms, try Resene Half Cougar – a bit warmer and deep enough. The rooms can be dressed differently to create individuality. Alternately you can opt for Resene Truffle or Resene Double Truffle.

November 2023


Q. What is a warmed to mid toned blue?

A. Blues with a hint of yellow or green are warmer than the blue/violet shades. See if any of these appeal – Resene Gothic, Resene Wishlist, Resene Blue Moon, Resene Wayfarer, Resene Wedgewood, Resene Casal or Resene Billabong.

November 2023


Q. I am seeking advice on what colour to paint a kitchen wall and entrance/passageways. Our bathroom walls have been painted in Resene Half Silver Chalice with Resene Double Alabaster on doors/windows. (Great advice from you in the past!)

Most of our bedrooms are painted in Resene Double Concrete with windows/ceiling in white. The lounge and dining room is wallpapered in a medium grey.

We are currently having a new kitchen installed and it is white, with white subway tiles on two of the walls (with light grey grouting) and a dark grey vinyl floor. There is a small bit of wall left to paint and we'd like a light grey colour and the windows white. Can you suggest some suitable choices?

We also will be painting our passageways, both upstairs and downstairs, and a rather large front entrance. The passageways cover a large area and are reasonably light and the entranceway is very light. Again we'd like to keep with a light grey colour, maybe the same as the kitchen?

A. I’m happy to hear your home is coming together nicely.

I agree that the kitchen wall, entrance and passageways should be the same colour – this will ensure that the look is cohesive – plus there isn’t much wall space in the kitchen, so repeating the same grey makes sense. See if any of these lighter greys work for you – Resene Half Surrender, Resene Half Iron, Resene Ted or Resene Quarter Silver Chalice.

November 2023


Q. My roof is currently COLORSTEEL® Ironsand and I'm looking at painting my house a light grey and white colour (white for edges and foundation and grey for main cladding). I also want to do the garage doors a similar dark tone to complement the roof. Can you recommend a complementary light grey, white colour and the dark colour for the garage doors?

A. Resene Ironsand matches the roof, so I suggest this colour for the garage doors. I suggest Resene Concrete or Triple Resene White Pointer for the weatherboards, with Resene Sea Fog for the foundation and trims – Resene Sea Fog is not too stark and will appear white outside.

November 2023


Q. We’re currently in the middle of building our house. The interior has oak wood laminate flooring and GH favourites 0568 Invigorate carpet. Our kitchen cabinets are a deep green. There are lots of black accents - chimney breast and exposed trusses. I’m leaning towards Resene Half Merino throughout for the walls, ceiling and trims. I had originally wanted our master Hardigroove feature wall in green. I’m now leaning more towards a brown as there’s already a bit much green going on. I’m also unsure of what colour to paint the doors.

A. The Resene Merino family will pair well with your style – I will add that if you have a standard ceiling height, with the walls and ceilings being the same colour – the ceiling can appear darker than the walls – not a problem if you want a cosy feel to the house – such as bedrooms – but perhaps not the best option in multi-used areas where you might want to brighten the overall feel.

Consider Resene Quarter Merino for your ceilings (even if only in main areas) and Resene Merino for your doors. The trims and doors are generally painted in a Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss finish so this will help with contrast as well.

For the Hardigroove perhaps consider a softer, olive brown such as Resene Quarter Arrowtown, deeper olive beige Resene Hollyford Track or warmer Resene Awaroa Bay.

November 2023


Q. We have a COLORSTEEL® Titania house with Ironsand aluminium joinery and are building a pergola with an outside kitchen and entertainment area. I made the mistake before in another area of painting the pergola Ironsand and would like this area to be lighter and brighter but I’m unsure if white would work with the Titania. What do you think? I will also have one and a half walls, it will have cabinetry along part of it, and wonder if that should be the same colour. I am thinking a white benchtop and island benchtop and maybe oak backing or a concrete colour. The floor will be black marine carpet for part of it and concrete tiles in front of fireplace and through the galley kitchen it will be timber decking and I need help with that colour too.

A. The following colours are lighter and brighter than Titania and may work for you – try Resene Half Titania, Resene Whitewater, Resene Quarter Ash or Resene Double Sea Fog.

Resene stores have a stock library of A4 swatches, the staff can assist you finding the colours – view Titania, Ironsand and the above recommendations together outside while there, as colours lighten and brighten in natural light.

My first instinct is to paint the pergola, walls and cabinetry the same colour for continuity of structure – plus the cabinetry then becomes part of the wall so to speak, rather than a feature. The island backing might look fab in a concrete effect with the black marine carpet, the oak could then be on the galley floor.

November 2023


Q. I am planning to repaint my house exterior. It has areas of weatherboards and shingles, and I would like the shingles to be a slightly darker or richer colour than the weatherboards. I am considering Resene Rainee, Resene Nebula or Resene Tasman for the weatherboards. But I am having difficulty identifying colours for the shingles that would match or look good with these weatherboard colours. Can you suggest some slightly darker/richer colours that could go with Resene Rainee, Resene Nebula or Resene Tasman?

A. For the shingles Resene Dark Slate will look stunning – with any of the proposed weatherboard colours you are considering. Colours appear lighter outside and undertones are enhanced.

You might also like to try Resene Jurassic, Resene Gordons Green and Resene Forty Six.

November 2023


Q. Would an Ironsand roof look alright with Karaka aluminium joinery? We don’t like Karaka but are stuck with it.

A. Yes – it is not perfect but will actually work ok – I have seen this combination before.

November 2023


Q. We have a huge formal lounge. It has plenty of natural light but because it is huge it never feels cosy. I was thinking of blue tones something quite dark but it’s a lot of room so don’t want it feeling like a cave. I will definitely keep the trims and ceiling white.

A. I suggest a teal blue as they have a bit of warmth to them, and a navy can be cave like in some spaces. Try testpots of Resene Epic and Resene Time Traveller.

Swatch
Resene Time Traveller
Swatch
Resene Epic

November 2023


Q. We are undertaking a major kitchen renovation. Our cabinets will be in Black Magic (which is brown not black) and engineered stone in a brown pattern. The backsplash is a Biscuit Matt. Our 1924 home is done in warm earthy browns with a lot of shades of Resene Drought. The entry way and dining room leading into the kitchen are in Resene Triple Drought. Can you please suggest a warm complementary colour to paint the walls?

A. Investigate Resene Stepping Stone for something a little different from the Resene Drought family – but will pair with your other choices. Alternatively you could choose Resene Half Drought or a neutral such as Resene Chalk Dust.

November 2023


Q. What colour should I paint a basement bedroom to lighten it up? The room is large and has windows down one side and gets sun in the afternoon for a few hours.

A. Warm neutrals such as Resene Bianca, Resene Half Rice Cake and Resene Half Cararra are great for lightening up basement bedrooms, as well as giving a feeling of warmth.

November 2023


Q. We want to do a feature wall in Resene Coral Tree but can't find the right light colour to balance it. We want it to have a pink tinge to it but not in your face. Resene Ebb which is on the same colour chart doesn’t quite look right.

A. Try these soft pink/neutrals – it is good to test three so you can see which tone works best next to Resene Coral Tree – colours on a chart can appear differently when used in a larger amount in a space. Try Resene Dawn Pink, Resene Bon Jour or Resene Spring Wood.

November 2023


Q. We are planning a new house build and I am not sure whether to choose FlaxPod or Ironsand as colour for the weatherboard, roof, door/window frames and gutter. How can I compare those two colours best?

A. Resene ColorShops have an A4 swatch library for you to compare colours in store. Resene ColorShop staff will assist you to find the samples of Ironsand and Element (Resene equivalent to FlaxPod) Take the samples outside to view – they might also have the COLORSTEEL® samples for you to view.

FlaxPod is one of the biggest sellers for roof and joinery in the market at present – it has been developed to suit the NZ landscape so works really well in most environments – although this does depend on the architectural style of your house.

Ironsand is softer and appears more brown – it is an oldie but a goodie and it is still being specified especially for weatherboards, accents etc.

November 2023


Q. We have reclad the gable ends of our brick and tile house with weatherboard. The bricks are a similar colour to Resene Sand. I was planning to use Resene Quarter Tapa for the weatherboard gables, Resene Alabaster for soffits and Grey Friars for the garage door and roof. Am I on the right track or do you have other suggestions?

A. Resene Quarter Tapa is a soft grey with a hint of yellow/green – so it will complement Grey Friars and the yellow undertone of the bricks – it is pale enough to be neutral, yet not stark. Resene Alabaster is a good bridge between the roof and gables. Yes you are right on track.

November 2023


Q. Could you please give me some advice on a suitable colour for hallway ceiling. I would like to paint the walls in Resene Rice Cake. I'm not sure whether to go for Resene Quarter Rice Cake or another light white. I have two projects on at the moment – I am painting the exterior of the house in Resene Napa with Resene Half Rice Cake windows. It’s looking amazing. I’m doing the hallway job on rainy days.

A. If you want a fresh, clean looking ceiling and to keep the area light – then I suggest Resene Alabaster for the hallway ceiling.

November 2023


Q. Can you please suggest some colours that go well with Grey Friars? My garage doors are this colour and I was thinking of painting the whole base of the house this colour with 'something light' on top. The window joinery is a mix of silver and light grey so I've been advised that a white wouldn't give any definition to the windows. The cladding on the top storey is Hardiplank with a slight texture. The roof is a very dark grey decramastic tile.

A. I suggest you paint the top half (including gable ends, gutters and soffit) in Resene Half Silver Chalice. This is a soft classic grey that pairs well with Grey Friars – Grey Friars for the garage doors and base will look great! This will create less of a contrast to having a white top half of the house, which is going to keep the house looking dated.

Resene Half Silver Chalice will blend into the silver window joinery – I don’t see this as a bad thing as this will help to disguise the differences in joinery and the window joinery is not a feature to be highlighted – this style of house looks best with a modern overall appearance, where the colours all pair together.

November 2023


Q. Do you have a colour the same as phonebox red?

A. For the traditional bright phone box red try Resene Bright Red, or for a deeper phone box red – try Resene Rudolph.

Swatch
Resene Rudolph

November 2023


Q. We have recently moved to Marton and bought a house with three sides white wood and one side-the entrance side a red brick with white grout that I find unattractive. We are thinking of painting over the brick. On the north side it has the same brick made into attractive planter boxes too which we would also paint. There is a handsome wooden fence (enclosing garden and patio area) that desperately needs a paint job. A green is our preferred. The house has an iron roof something like Grey Friars.

We would like a fence colour too and a contrasting colour for doors, gable ends, maybe window ledges.

A. To create consistency between the brick and roof – I suggest you try a soft yellow/green grey, such as Resene Quarter Tapa for the white brick – I wouldn’t go too dark if you are considering keeping the white weatherboards – plus a softer colour will suit the house.

The white brick planters I suggest you paint Resene Quarter Tapa as well.

For the gable ends and windowsills only – I suggest Resene Quarter Masala which pairs with the red brick and Resene Quarter Tapa. I don’t feel you need to paint the brick sills however. For the fence investigate Resene Off The Grid.

You might like to paint the front door Resene Pohutukawa.

November 2023


Q. I have a cedar property, I have given it a wash to get rid of the mould etc. Some of the boards are quite dry so will need some protection. Our previous cedar house was also in a bad state so we used Resene Waterborne Woodsman in Resene English Walnut. We went a bit darker as the house had so many imperfections. I was just wondering if you can recommend a darkish brown in the Resene Woodsman range that is slightly lighter than Resene English Walnut?

A. Consider Resene Bushtrack or Resene Treehouse – Resene Treehouse looks great with a green roof.

November 2023


Q. We have a new aluminium fence painted Titania. We want to look at getting a new house colour that goes with this. We have an old bungalow with bay windows etc. Currently the weatherboards are painted in Resene Pravda and the window frames are Resene Half Villa White.

A. Resene Ash or Resene Double Ash pair well with Titania as they have similar undertones. Resene Half Villa White will also pair well with Resene Double Ash – or with Resene Ash you might consider a lighter variant on the windows – Resene Quarter Villa White.

For the trims/base I feel you need to soften the overall effect to update the look – try Resene Solstice to pair with all the other colours.

November 2023


Q. I have a predominately COLORBOND® Merino roof/fascia/window trim with a blue grey offset trim and bricks. The blue grey is in need of repainting and I feel the colour was good but now dated. Could you suggest a new colour (maybe a grey) that I could test to see if it matches my taste and that is perhaps a little more modern?

A. I suggest a warm charcoal. Try testpots of Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Half Bokara Grey or Resene Night Magic.

November 2023


Q. I have exterior walls painted Resene Half Truffle and wooden joinery in Resene Half Pearl Lusta. What is a medium shade grey roof colour you would recommend? I don't want it to reflect blue or too much brown.

A. Resene Mid Grey, Resene Gauntlet or Resene Half Tuna are all suitable roof colours.

November 2023


Q. I want to get a grey/green blend that would be the equivalent of something like quarter or half strength sage to paint on a feature wall in a dining/lounge area and a splashback.

A. Try Resene Helix, Resene Haven or Resene Pumice.

November 2023


Q. I have a black house. My deck is needing to be painted. It’s not a new deck and I will need to have it painted as opposed to stain to hide the imperfections. I'm not keen on red based colours. I’m looking for more a natural/light colour.

A. When looking at the suggestions, please keep in mind that all colours appear quite a bit lighter on a deck, than what you see on a chart. Try Resene Stonewall, Resene Half Foggy Grey, Resene Atmosphere or Resene Gauntlet.

November 2023


Q. Could you please suggest the exterior best dark charcoal or neutral black to go with a Resene Triple Masala exterior? I am looking at Resene Blackjack, Resene Double Cod Grey, Resene Nocturnal, Resene All Black, Resene Double Foundry, Resene Bokara Grey and Resene Ironsand (is there a double Resene Ironsand?).

A. Resene Double Ironsand (yes it is a standard colour), Resene Bokara Grey or the deeper Resene Element would be my suggestions, to pair with Resene Triple Masala.

November 2023


Q. My skirting boards and ceiling architrave are currently painted in Resene Sugar Loaf. My ceiling is Resene Quarter Pavlova. I am wanting to change my ceiling colour to something a little lighter. Any suggestions please?

A. Try Resene Quarter Sisal or Resene Eighth Sisal. Colours can appear a bit darker on ceilings, due to shadowing.

November 2023


Q. We are underway with our painting at last and chose Resene Ecru White however with one coat on it looks too yellow. Before it is too late to change, I would like to change to a white that is less yellow looking and would really appreciate any suggestions. Our previous house colour was quite yellow.

A. As the house colour was quite yellow previously – with one coat, the yellow may be influencing the way the new colour looks in reality – I suggest before making any decisions to do a sample area of a second coat of Resene Ecru White.

With one coat over a cream/yellow existing colour – any white is going to appear more yellow, than what it possibly could once two coats are applied.

If after the second sample coat – (you will only need to do a small area but decent enough to tell) – you feel it is still appearing yellow – then perhaps do a sample of Resene Merino. I suggest you sample new colours onto A2 card and attach to the house or undercoat an area with Resene Quick Dry first to neutralise the yellow base.

November 2023


Q. We have decided on Resene Quarter Friar Greystone for our home and our roof is Resene Ironsand with Karaka joinery. The house is 20+ years old. We don’t know what colour to match with that for the wooden features.

A. As you have a few varying colours already – I suggest for the timber features to paint them Resene Ironsand, which will work with all the colours.

Swatch
Resene Quarter Friar Greystone

November 2023


Q. My deck colour is Resene Freestyling and perhaps a little too bright, The seating is Resene Quarter New Denim Blue. I want to change the deck floor colour. Am I better to go with a grey?

A. Colours on decks do tend to appear brighter – one option is to paint the deck in Resene Quarter New Denim Blue, the same as the seating, so it looks cohesive – or paint it a deeper variant of Resene Freestyling such as Resene Raven.

November 2023


Q. I'm having a steel farm shed done in FlaxPod and want the house to match. Which Resene CoolColour would be the best match? I'm having anodised silver joinery and I also want a light colour to paint the interior of an outdoor room – a silvery/grey colour that blends with a FlaxPod match please. And will Resene Wan White from the Karen Walker Paints collection go well for the interior, with those colours?

A. Resene Element is the match to FlaxPod.

For the interior of the outdoor room try the following Resene colours – which will pair with FlaxPod and blend with the anodised joinery – Resene Half Atmosphere, Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Half Silver Chalice.

November 2023


Q. Do you have a deck paint and colour chart?

A. Resene Walk-on is a great deck paint – you can view this range on the Resene Decks, paths, driveways and recreational areas chart.

Other colours are available to what is shown on the chart – if you have a particular colour you like – check with your local Resene ColorShop to see if the colour can be made in Resene Walk on paving paint.

November 2023


Q. I am looking to freshen up the exterior colour scheme of our recently purchased home. It’s an early 1990s build, woodgrain Hardiplank with brown aluminium windows and galvanised steel roof. The only requirement is that the colours complement the brown aluminium windows because we'll only be retrofitting these to double-glazing as opposed to a complete replacement.

A. I suggest painting the hardiplank walls, the base and the gable ends a warm grey/beige colour such as Resene Taupe Grey or Resene Double Truffle to blend with the windows.

For the roof and guttering consider Resene Fuscous Grey or Resene Nocturnal – this will modernise the scheme, and then have the lightest contrast on the soffit and fascias such as Resene Wan White.

I suggest staining the timber railings, handrails, timber baseboards and gate in Resene Waterborne Woodsman Charred Black wood stain. You could stain the deck with Resene Woodsman Iroko or Resene Tiri.

Swatch
Resene Charred Black

November 2023


Q. I am building a new house and I’m very keen to make some bold colour choices throughout the home. I’d like a colour palette that includes green and blue. I found a colour called Resene Goblin but I don’t think it’s quite right. Can you offer some advice about selecting a palette?

A. It really is a matter of trial and error, as the lighting, adjacent colours and room space will alter the way the colours appear. Test colours onto A2 card using two coats of a Resene testpot and compare in your rooms. Try at least three blues and three greens.

I think Resene Goblin might have been a tad light/bright. See if any of these blues and greens work – Resene Palm Green, Resene Celtic, Resene Welcome and Resene Rolling Hills, Resene Madison, Resene Cello, Resene Biscay, Resene Blue Night and Resene Epic. Mix and match the samples to see which green and blue looks best together, so that you get flow throughout your home.

November 2023


Q. I would like your advice on a cosy downstairs zen scheme for a tree house mid-century bedroom. It has beautiful morning sun reflected off sea through large windows with bush views. It gets afternoon sun through smaller windows. It is cold ish looking at night. It’s currently painted in Resene Tasman and has a bit of Resene Truffle on large windows but I am wondering if it could be cosier? I have been experimenting with mahogany and rimu panelling ceiling but it’s either too busy with the windows or too orange in the sun. The cupboards and door will be stripped back to mahogany but could be stained to go with the dark rimu bathroom next door. Upstairs, we have mahogany panels and paint colours Resene Truffle, Resene Merino and Resene Eighth Bokara Grey.

A. Mahogany is a sought after finish – so I would strip the cupboards and doors back to mahogany and use a satin waterborne clear varnish such as Resene Aquaclear.

For the walls – I feel they could be pale cream with a slight hint of green to complement the mahogany features and to encompass the natural light, such as Resene Creme De La Creme. I also suggest painting the windows in Resene Creme De La Creme so there are less features, and the eye flows from the walls to the windows then the view effortlessly – generally windows are painted in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss so this creates a bit of contrast to the walls which are generally low sheen.

Consider painting the ceiling Resene Half Truffle to evoke warmth and cosiness.

Swatch
Resene Creme De La Creme

November 2023


Q. We have a Windsor Grey roof and windows. Our bathrooms and kitchen are painted in Resene Indian Ink. We would like a complementary grey for walls that isn't too blue. We will do double or triple on the architraves and trim.

A. The Resene Concrete family might pair well next to Resene Indian Ink and Resene Windsor Grey joinery. If this is too blue (as it does depend on lighting and how close the Resene Indian Ink is in relation to the lighter greys) then try Resene Rakaia.

November 2023


Q. We are looking for some help to find light neutral colours that will work well on the walls. The ceiling and trim is a 'white' colour. The flooring will be Quick Step Desert Oak Light Natural and some cream carpet. There is lots of light in the house. It’s a rural property so we want a country vibe.

A. If by neutral you mean a warm off white which will give you a base for a country style theme then try testpots of Resene Rice Cake, Resene Bianca and Resene Merino.

If you want more colour some light beige neutrals to try are Resene Blanc and Resene Sandspit Brown. You might want to add in some soft sage greens or duck egg blues such as Resene Secrets, Resene Half Periglacial Blue, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue or Resene Quarter Powder Blue.

November 2023


Q. We have painted our mantle and surrounds in Resene Alabaster semi-gloss and the cupboard doors and walls are Resene Half Merino. Behind the fire it has just one coat of Resene Half Merino. I’m wondering if you think the Resene Quarter Arrowtown or something else would work well in that alcove behind the fire?

A. If you are happy with the way the cupboard door looks then it can remain Resene Half Merino. For the fireplace – one coat of Resene Half Merino will look pale – two coats will deepen the look – however, perhaps a more serviceable colour such as Resene Eighth Arrowtown might work better – it will also appear a bit deeper once two coats are applied.

November 2023


Q. We need to repaint the exterior of our house. We have Shadowclad cladding. We understand we need a paint with an LRV > 40%. All of these colours seem quite light and don’t suit the contemporary style we are looking for. We are wondering whether using a Resene CoolColour such as Resene Madison or Resene Wanaka would be suitable for the technical spec of the cladding? Or would you have a colour recommendation that would meet the minimum 40% LRV that would suit a modern and contemporary aesthetic?

A. CoolColour paints do not alter the LRV rating – they will help to reduce heat related issues vs the standard version of the colour.

Colours such as Resene Wanaka and Resene Madison are going to be much brighter blues outside – is that the look you are after?

For a modern and contemporary aesthetic, consider going much lighter – to a neutral which then allows the windows to pop, and isn’t a definite grey or colour so it is brighter and encompasses the strong structure. I would paint the house in one colour to further modernise it. Try Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, Resene Quarter Iron, Resene Athens Grey or Resene Aoraki as a start point.

November 2023


Q. What is a colour slightly darker than Resene Baltic Sea (exterior paint)?

A. Resene Fuscous Grey is slightly darker or for a bit more contrast try Resene Nocturnal.

November 2023


Q. We have some timber doors that we'd like to stain a deep red. We have tried Resene Mahogany on patch, and it's not red enough. Do you have a set of red options? I'm after a tone closer to Henna Red.

A. Resene Colorwood Cherrywood is similar to a henna red.

November 2023


Q. We are painting the full exterior of a house. It is in an area with a lot of trees and nature surrounding it. Can you please give us three colour ideas for good exterior colour palettes?

A. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Scheme 1 – Weatherboards and vertical cladding in Resene Quarter Gravel, timber windows, fascias and soffit in Resene Eighth Ash and front door in Resene Kombi.

Scheme 2 – Weatherboards and vertical cladding in Resene Foggy Grey, timber windows, fascias and soffit in Resene Half Wan White and front door in Resene Fuscous Grey.

Scheme 3 – Weatherboards and vertical cladding in Resene Linen, timber windows, fascias and soffit in Resene Black White and front door in Resene Double Lemon Grass.

November 2023


Q. I have painted my deck railings and posts in Grey Friars. What colour would you suggest for the deck as I suspect Grey Friars on the deck might be too much?

A. Try Resene Half Tuna – it is lighter than Grey Friars and is a bit less blue. Colours appear lighter on decks so make sure you test the colours.

November 2023


Q. What is the best type of paint to use for kitchen and bathroom cabinet panels to achieve a durable, water resistant, smooth finish? I am looking for a dark, dusky green colour to paint Kaboodle raw board panels.

A. See if any of these popular Resene dusky greens work for you – Resene Jurassic, Resene Middle Earth or the softer Resene Vantage Point and Resene Rivergum.

November 2023


Q. Which Resene colour is a colour match to Appliance White? I need to select a colour for fine textured plaster external walls which will have the powder coated Appliance White cap flashings.

A. Resene Sea Fog or Half Sea Fog are the closest matches to Appliance White – since colours including whites do tend to lighten/brighten outside, perhaps Resene Sea Fog might be the best option.

November 2023


Q. I have painted my window frames and fascias/gutters in Monument and l want a colour for my front door and rendered fence posts. I don’t want any browns.

A. I suggest painting the fence posts to match Monument which is Resene Nocturnal, a charcoal, so that they are relatable to the house.

For the front door a burnt orange such as Resene Fire in a gloss finish could look amazing, or a deep red such as Resene Aroha, both will also pair well with Monument (Resene Nocturnal).

November 2023


Q. We are building a new house. It will be brick and painted Linea weatherboard. We have chosen the following brick – Midland Brick's Euro Grande in Blanco, roof – Gerrard Corona shake satin, in Grey Friars with matching gutters, downpipes and garage door and aluminium joinery – either Canvas or Titania.

We want to paint the weatherboards in green with a greyed down tone, so not an earthy yellow green. We like the following Resene greens but cannot decide which! In no particular order... Resene Tom Thumb, Resene Half Rivergum, Resene Xanadu, Resene Gondwana, Resene Gecko and Resene Thor. I have read that in outdoor light, colours will look lighter, is that true?

A. I suggest Titania for the windows as this will pair nicely with the other colours and might be easier to work with for the interior.

For the green I suggest Resene Gondwana – it looks lovely with the Grey Friars and bricks.

Please check with your builder if there are any LRV (light reflection value) restrictions.

For the front door I don’t recommend introducing another colour – to keep the scheme clean and smart – I suggest Resene Grey Friars (which matches COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars ) or Resene Titania to match the windows.

November 2023


Q. We are painting the walls, trims, internal doors and ceilings in our house. Is this a good combination: Resene Alabaster for ceilings, trims and doors and Resene Half Sea Fog for walls. We just want something crisp and fresh and to make sure these two combinations will be good together. I also presume because Resene Alabaster is whiter then this should be the colour on the ceilings as it's lighter than Resene Half Sea Fog right? And the lighter colour should be on the ceiling?

A. Yes it is a good combination and quite popular! Yes Resene Alabaster is lighter and should be the ceiling colour.

November 2023


Q. I have painted my two storey house and garage in Resene Eighth Stack, with Resene Half Sea Fog trim and Resene Noir roof. What could I now use on the pergola, decks, fences and garage doors that would complement well?

A. I suggest you paint the pergola Resene Half Sea Fog to soften the appearance and also the garage door – being two storeys the garage door relates more to the trims and windows than the roof – the garage door is generally a semi-gloss finish so this creates its own contrast.

For the fence I suggest a warm black stain such as Resene Crowshead – this way the fence blends into the background, whilst allowing the green setting to pop – if the fence is already painted then I suggest Resene Noir.

For the deck I suggest Resene Tiri a mid-grey stain and you might like to refresh your timber outdoor furniture with Resene Furniture and Decking Oil.

November 2023


Q. We would like to paint our house. The roof (new), base of house, house and garage doors and fences are already painted FlaxPod.

A. I suggest you paint the weatherboards a gorgeous grey/green neutral such as Resene Hindsight or the lighter variant Resene Linen, or you might opt for a warmer tone such as Resene Truffle or Resene Double Truffle.

White windows with FlaxPod (Resene Element) pair well with lighter to mid tone colours – I suggest you paint the window trim and sills, fascias and eaves Resene Half Sea Fog.

If possible – I recommend you paint the gutters FlaxPod to match the roof – Resene Element is the equivalent to FlaxPod.

November 2023


Q. How can I create a bach style feel in my house?

A. Play with shades of the sky, sea and sand – natural tones that can be found at the seaside or bring the outdoor in to recreate that country retreat – juxtapose mid greens, beige and blues, such as Resene Double Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Robin Egg Blue and Resene Awaroa Bay to create an inviting, holiday feel with calming whites such as Resene Chalk Dust, Resene Half Cararra and Resene Alabaster, so the space feels airy and open. Accent with deeper neutrals such as Resene Bokara Grey and Resene Tino Pai to create drama and interest without being overbearing, perhaps by painting panelling in a room, or a master bedroom headboard.

Add pattern and texture with a Resene wallpaper whether that is creating a serene background with a natural grass cloth from the Resene Macau Wallpaper Collection or a flower design from the Resene Summer Wallpaper Collection, for a guest bedroom.

Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen is a durable, washable paint that avoids a lot of finger marks on the walls and gives a lovely velvet effect, or for an earthy softness consider Resene SpaceCote Flat or Resene Room Velvet which is a hybrid low sheen, giving extra durability where required. A stain is right on cue for evoking that weathered, faded look. Use the Resene ‘We Speak Beach’ series of colourwash hues, you can stain walls, upcycle furniture and create effects on the floor.

To create indoor/outdoor flow – bring the outside in to create a strong connection to your surroundings – upcycle furniture, pots and planters with Resene Enamacryl (a tough waterborne enamel) or Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen waterborne paint that ensures maximum durability and is available in the full range of Resene colours, including testpots. Choose colours inspired by nature and add materials traditionally used outdoor such as rattan and cane or add a pop of colour to the interior and exterior of the front door with Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterbased enamel or for maximum durability and sheen, Resene Super Gloss. Add finishing touches with finds from the beach or farm.

Swatch
Resene Awaroa Bay

November 2023


Q. How can I use Resene colour/products to update an older house without erasing its vintage appeal?

A. To modernise an older home, start with a neutral, muted colour palette with shades of soft white like Resene Rice Cake and Resene Creme De La Creme, beige such as Resene Double Truffle, blues and greens such as Resene Half Washed Green and Resene Double Duck Egg Blue – paint the walls, trim and architraves in a room one neutral, with a durable, higher gloss such as Resene Waterborne Lusta-Glo, on the trim to subtly draw attention to it, with a bold dark neutral like Resene Boris or Resene Fuscous Grey, on the doors to make them architectural features – this will give you a modern, sophisticated look that can be easily updated with pops of colour, pattern and texture, whether that is bringing in a geometric rug, a patterned wallpaper from the Resene wallpaper collection, or painting a retro chair a brighter colour, with Resene Lustacryl – the durable, go to semi-gloss water based enamel for furniture, which will make those brighter colours pop – or you might choose a low sheen, smooth finish with a harder wearing hybrid paint such as Resene Room Velvet for a side table in a modern white such as Resene Alabaster to contrast against those muted shades. Muted colours for the base scheme, which are neither too traditional nor too radically modern, will bring a sense of modern life to a traditional home without confusion of styles.

Paint older furniture with a colour from the Karen Walker Chalk Paint range from Resene ColorShops and add modern accents like a sleek metal lamp or highlight an existing lamp with a Resene FX Metallic testpot.

The matte finish of the Karen Walker Chalk Colour paint with the shimmer of the metallic finish creates a unique and eclectic look, which combines the charm of the past with the sophistication of the present and is quick and easy to achieve.

Swatch
Resene Creme De La Creme
Swatch
Resene Double Duck Egg Blue
Swatch
Resene Boris

November 2023


Q. We are repainting our small dental office. The brief is clean, professional and modern. The owner really wants to use Resene Black White as he has it in his home. I need complementary blues that work with that colour.

A. Mid toned, muted (grey/blues) or navy might work well for this space – not too dark, and muted tone blues are warmer – this keeps the overall feeling calm and sophisticated (professional).

See if any of these Resene blues work for you: Resene Clouded Blue, Resene Dusted Blue, Resene Casper, Resene Baring Head, Resene Biscay or Resene Bunting. Compare the blues in the space to see what works best for you – the lighting will alter how the blues appear.

November 2023


Q. We would like to change the colour of our whole house. The cottage is built in 1950. The exterior cladding is weatherboard timber. The current colour is blue and we would like to change it to a lighter tone of blue. The roof and gutter are Grey Friars and the colour of the windows and doors will be any white that you will suggest.

For the interior, as we live in a cooler area would like to use warm colour. We do not like grey. All the bedrooms and living room face to a full mountain and lake view. If the three bedrooms can be in different colours, that will be great. Currently it’s Resene Villa White in the living room and hallway which we think is too yellow for the house.

The colour of the engineered timber in the kitchen and laundry will likely be Carpet Court Nature’s Oak Sierra. The cabinetry will be in a white tone. We haven’t decided on the benchtop and splashback yet. The wall colour of this kitchen area is currently blue – it looks like Resene Echo Blue. We are not sure if we should change this to another colour or should have it the same as in the living room and hallway.

The living area, hallway and all bedrooms will be wool carpeted in a light cream colour. The sofas in the living room are light cream leather.

All the windows, trims, sills and architraves will be in white, but please advise which white to use.

A. See if Resene Bluff works for the exterior – it looks great with Grey Friars, but still has impact. Resene Wan White is the recommended white for the windows and doors.

If you want something lighter outside than Resene Bluff try Resene Longitude, Resene Double Duck Egg Blue or Resene Bounty. It will pay to view the colours in larger samples and in natural light – as colours do tend to appear up to 30% lighter outside.

For the hallway and living room I suggest Resene Awaroa Bay which has depth and warmth –- to bring interest to the spaces and balance the cream.

The kitchen I suggest painting all the walls Resene Wan White – making the splashback the feature with Resene Lucifer metallic paint.

The benchtop will work if it is a dark engineered stone and the cabinetry white.

For the bedrooms – try a palette of Resene Cut Glass, Resene Half Robin Egg Blue and Resene Beryl Green – these colours flow from one room to another nicely and will reflect the landscape.

For the woodwork I suggest Resene Quarter Wan White.

November 2023


Q. Is there a darker version of Resene Ironsand or a double strength Resene Element?

A. Resene Noir or Night Magic would be the next deepest version of Resene Element and Resene Double Ironsand. Resene Noir is a very popular exterior near black and so is Resene Element. Choosing the right shade of black is a process of elimination – to know which undertone works best – I suggest painting a few Resene testpots onto A2/A4 card and compare them with Triple Masala. To sample cool colour paints – 1Litre is the smallest quantity.

Swatch
Resene Night Magic
Swatch
Resene Noir
Swatch
Resene Double Ironsand

November 2023


Q. I want warm white for my home’s exterior. Next door just painted their home with Resene Sea Fog. I want a warmer white. Our place is super sunny. The other neighbour is also white with pail green trim. I’m thinking about Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta with Resene Alabaster trim (windowsills).

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 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.

November 2023


Q. Q. What warm, neutral wall colour would you suggest to go with original cork (ginger) floor tiles?

A. Try Resene Half Sea Fog for a slightly cooler version or Resene Half Orchid White for a warmer neutral. It really depends on how they look in the natural light of the space. Test both colours with Resene testpots.

November 2023


Q. We would like to lighten our ceiling colour. The door frames, doors, windowsills are what I would call a creamy white. Would it look okay if we lighten the ceiling but leave the doors etc in the creamy white?

A. Resene Alabaster for the ceiling which is a classic white, will work with most colours including off whites – just be aware that the cream might be enhanced next to a whiter colour – however, leaving the doors and skirtings etc the same creamy white will balance this effect. I feel it is a smart move and will modernise the space – creamy whites on ceilings tend to look more yellow as they appear deeper, due to shadowing.

November 2023


Q. My roof is Ironsand and the joinery is Warm White Pearl. I'm wondering what to paint my exterior stucco cladding. I was considering Resene Triple Merino but would really value your advice.

A. Yes I feel this combination could work really well – there is enough warmth in Resene Triple Merino to work with Warm White Pearl and enough depth so the windows stand out without being too obvious. Resene Triple Merino pairs well with Ironsand.

November 2023


Q. We are doing up our bathroom and want to change the wall colours. We have white walls throughout the house with touches of black wallpaper, wooden floors and charcoal carpet. And the kitchen is Resene Quarter Lemon Grass. What would you recommend to keep the theme of the house running through the bathroom? Would this Resene Lemon Grass colour suit the bathroom?

A. The colour change will make a huge improvement to the bathroom – I suggest keeping with the theme and trying Resene Eighth Lemon Grass for the bathroom.

November 2023


Q. I need an exterior colour combination for a kiwi bungalow. The terracotta clay roof will not change. I am thinking warm greys for the weatherboards, Resene Alabaster for the windows and Resene Concrete for the base. Please advise on a combination which will work.

A. I suggest Resene Kensington Grey for the weatherboards, with Resene Double Concrete for the base and Resene Alabaster for the windows.

November 2023


Q. I am painting my cottage in the colour Resene Corvette. Can you please give me a suggestion as to which colour to use as trim round the windows? The house is very sunny so I want to go light.

A. You might want to stay within the same family and choose a lighter variant such as Resene Island Spice or the softer Resene Quarter Solitaire – or the brighter Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta.

November 2023


Q. We are looking at painting the exterior of our vet clinic, which has weatherboard sides and a tin roof. So far we are liking the Resene Coconut Cream range for the sides and Resene Bondi Blue for the roof. Do these colours complement each other?

A. I like the rich cream for the sides – and the combination of blue and cream for a vet clinic – however, Resene Bondi Blue might be a tad too bright for the roof and not withstand the elements too well – as in fading more quickly than other less clean colours. If you are going to go with a brighter blue for the roof then I suggest you investigate Resene CoolColour paint, which is basically where due to clever pigment technology, more of the sun’s harmful rays are deflected away from the substrate and consequently the colour can fade slower and there is less heat related damage that might occur vs the standard version of the colour.

I like the idea of a more classic blue with the Resene Coconut Cream that will stand the test of time, such as Resene Coast or Navigate – these colours are from the Resene Roof Colour Systems Chart and have been specially formulated for roofs. Resene CoolColour paint is still an option to consider with these colours – due to the depth of them.

November 2023


Q. I have been given the task of choosing colours to repaint the walls and window frames, interior walls and the aluminium colour for interior glass partition walls. The building is an old Subway shop in green COLORSTEEL® and yellow window frames. The schist veneer on the front and the weathered wooden pergola are staying. The building is on a busy main street. We have been asked to stay within the COLORSTEEL® and aluminium joinery standard ranges so that flashings etc are easy to source, but Resene Summit Roof will be used for the repainting. I am thinking Resene Porter (CS Slate) for the entire exterior walls, with Resene Atmosphere (Gull Grey) for the window frames and interior aluminium joinery. Is that enough contrast? Would Resene Porter/ Resene Slate be too dark do you think?

Another option is Resene Gauntlet/Sandstone Grey for both walls and exterior joinery. We want to modernise the building but not go too far. Interior walls will just be an off-white neutral, perhaps Resene White Pointer similar.

A. Consider Resene Gauntlet (Sandstone Grey) for the entire exterior with Resene Porter (Slate) for the windows.

I feel Resene Gauntlet will pair with the schist/natural timber better which is the feature, and then pairing it with a soft black such as Resene Porter for the windows means there will be a subtle but enough contrast (a darker building and lighter windows will draw attention to the windows as the feature).

Resene White Pointer is a great option for the interior.

November 2023


Q. Our house colour outside is Resene Linen and so are the fence panels of our fence which is surrounding a large deck. We want the deck area to feel a bit more closed in. We are considering dark green and like Resene Woodland and Resene Waiouru. Which of these two would you recommend?

A. I prefer Resene Waiouru for a fence. Resene Karaka or Resene Half Karaka also pairs well with Resene Linen – you might like to test these also.

November 2023


Q. We are repainting a tile roof in Grey Friars and the spouting will be the same. Would you go with white on the fascia and gable end barge boards?

A. Yes generally white fascias and bargeboards work well – Resene Alabaster is a white which pairs well with Grey Friars and for this application.

November 2023


Q. I am looking for colour suggestions for my son’s house, which is currently light. It is on a busy road so is prone to road pollution. It will eventually be a rental so looking for something easy to maintain.

We are looking for suggestions for the weatherboards, front door and steps. The roof tiles will stay the same strong red and the windows frames/sills will be white. The house will be prepped but not taken back to bare boards.

A. I feel going to a mid-grey will cover the existing paint and really modernise the house as well as being low maintenance in terms of hiding road dirt. This does mean a Resene CoolColour paint will be of benefit to help reflect more heat than the standard colour.

Resene Trojan is not too dark but definitely a mid-grey and will work with the strong red roof, for the weatherboards and base. I suggest using Resene Half Jumbo for the steps and Resene Half Baltic Sea in a gloss finish for the front door. Alternatively you might like to try a lighter colour, such as Resene Atmosphere for the weatherboards and base, with Resene Gunsmoke for the steps and Resene Fuscous Grey in a gloss finish, for the front door.

November 2023


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Colours shown on this website are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.   See measurements/conversions for more details on how electronic colour values are achieved.

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