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.
Q. My building company have begun painting the exterior of my house in Resene Half Robin Egg Blue and it looks almost fluorescent and like it may glow in the dark. I would like to darken it slightly and make it muddier (less bright and more traditional) as it’s a weatherboard house. Can you suggest a colour that can be tinted from what I already have? A. I am worried - Resene Half Robin Egg Blue has never been called fluorescent by anyone I have known who has used it. Most people like it because it is softly muted and shadowy. It may be that the colour is not the authentic Resene colour. Sometimes the first coat of any new colour appears really quite strong especially over white or yellow primer coats. If it is definitely fluoro and definitely Resene paint perhaps it would be wise to check that it hasn't been inadvertently mistinted. If you compare it to the colour chart or your Resene testpot you can see if they look the same. The only thing I can suggest in order to make it muddier is to ask for more black tinter to be put into it. The Resene staff will take you through this option very carefully if you choose to have this done as it can’t be reversed. You may achieve a similar colour to Resene Periglacial Blue G79-008-167- but not exactly the same as the components of tint that are already in the existing colour are hard to override. It is a bit like deciding to turn a pavlova back to a sponge cake - not so easy. Please talk to the Resene ColorShop staff about how the colour looks to you and ask if the primer and (perhaps) an east or south light (both of which enhance green and blues) might be what is making the colour look much brighter than you thought it would be. They can also check that your paint colour matches the actual Resene colour.
March 2014
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Q. We are installing a Blue Pearl Granite top in the kitchen and have warm cream coloured cupboards and will be putting white subway tiles on the splashback with a very slight hint of grey. What warm whites on door trims and walls would you recommend? A. You are caught a little between the warm cream coloured cupboards and the white (a little greyish) subway tiles - perhaps you could look at these two to see if they like the cabinet colour and the white tiles – Resene Orchid White or Resene Bianca. I hope these options work for you. There are lighter versions of these colours also if these prove too similar to the cabinets - Resene Half Orchid White and Resene Half Bianca.
March 2014
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Q. We are finalising colours for our new house, due to be painted soon. We have chosen Resene Quarter Tea for kitchen walls and Resene White for ceilings and trims. Upstairs our ceilings come down to the floor so we are concerned that using Resene White would look too stark. We are tossing up between Resene Rice Cake for walls and Resene Half Rice Cake for ceilings vs Resene Quarter Tea for walls and maybe Resene Eighth Tea for ceilings? Two of the rooms have low light. What would you recommend? A. When you have the sort of sloping ceilings that are really like an angled wall instead of the standard flat (above your head) ceiling it often pays to consider the walls and ceilings as one surface so it doesn't get tricky with cutting in and colours looking so different on the wall, the slope and the ceiling flat area. I think if you used Resene Half Rice Cake for walls and ceiling it might work better for you as it is lighter. Alternatively you could use Resene Eighth Tea but being a more shaded toned colour it may look deeper/greyer. Please think this through very carefully - one colour only will remove the 'is this the wall or the ceiling?' question and colour can be used for doors, furniture, duvets, drapes or blinds so it won't look boring.
March 2014
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Q. I am doing up a room for baby and have used Resene Eighth Spanish White on all walls bar a feature wall which I have done in Resene Sea Nymph. I now have two bedside cabinets I want to paint and would like advice as to what will look good with the Resene Sea Nymph. I am thinking along the lines of a yellow/green but any other suggestions are welcome. I quite like Resene Hive, Resene Tweet, Resene Galliano, Resene Citron and Resene Earls Green. Something bright and fun would be great. A. You have created a lovely gentle tranquil colour palette in your baby's room so it pays to choose very carefully an accent (in this case it would be a discord - not a bad one - but will add excitement) so perhaps if you look at these colours to see if they will do that 'excitement' thing for the room – Resene Celery, Resene Vermont, Resene Wild Willow or Resene Spring Fever. A word to the wise - the sort of colours that you were looking at are strong and probably will look 2-3 times brighter and more fluoro than you expect them to look. The ones I have suggested will still look very bright but they are less harsh and aggressive. It is really important that you see the reality of these colours in relationship to the colours already used in the room - are you able to pop into a Resene ColorShop to see the A4 samples in the Colour Library - it would be really helpful if you did.
March 2014
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Q. We have a 100 year old workingman's cottage that we are renovating and would like some help with the colour scheme for the exterior. We prefer neutral colours with some contrast. We have looked at Resene Periglacial Blue as one of the colours, but are not quite sure what to put with it. The outbuildings at the back of the cottage have been pulled down and rebuilt so that there is a new extension joined to the cottage that cannot be seen from the road. It has been built sympathetically to the cottage, but has not been replicated. The front door is at the side of the house. We are not too keen on grey as other houses in the street have it. A. You don't mention the roof. Is it being painted or replaced with a COLORSTEEL® one? There is less to choose from in regard roof colours so you may need to consider that first to give yourselves options - it may also have a bearing on the house colours. Without that info I may be a bit random but you might look at these colours - Resene Periglacial Blue - main colour with Resene Quarter Wan White for trims/bargeboards/windows and perhaps a front door and windowsill for a exciting bit of contrast - Resene Half Smalt Blue and roof Resene Grey Friars, or Resene Thorndon Cream - main colour with Resene Alabaster for trims/bargeboards/windows and perhaps a front door and windowsill exciting bit of contrast - Resene Port Phillip and roof Resene Outback.
March 2014
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Q. I'd like some advice on an exterior colour update for my home. I've just finished painting the entire interior in Resene Quarter Linen (and Resene Half Linen in some rooms) and love the green/grey look. Now it’s time to do the outside - house and two outbuildings. The COLORSTEEL® roof is unfortunately green, but only 10-12 years old so would like to avoid painting this if possible. I would like to keep white around the windows but need a less yellow colour for the weatherboards. A. A few suggestions that you might check out for the exterior and taking into account the existing roof colour which compromises free choice a bit – Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Ash, Resene Double Ash and Resene Quarter Foggy Grey. Your house suits the pure white trim - it makes the windows look really lovely and crisp. You could include the windowsills as white also - just an idea - as it makes the windows look larger and removes the angst of deciding on a third colour for the house.
March 2014
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Q. Deciding on house colour… We have a new roof in the COLORSTEEL® shade called Gull Grey. We have the soffits, fascia, guttering and window frames in Resene Quarter Bianca. What colour would you suggest for the house? It is a stucco over Oamaru stone. It is a corner section and close to the road. We have a six foot high fence that goes right around the section so what colour should we paint the fence? (it is only about four metres from the house so needs to be taken into consideration!). A. If you wanted the roof (which is very light) to be seen as a silvery colour and the house a lot darker you could look at Resene Half Chicago. If you favour using more of the trim colour you could use Resene Bianca - full strength - to have a simple classic look. Some other pale colours that may look good also are Resene Triple Sea Fog and Resene Double Barely There. If you painted the inside of the fence lighter (one of the lighter options listed) it wouldn't appear darkly oppressive and too close to the house. The exterior could still be painted a deeper colour - perhaps look at Resene Half Chicago as it makes the house (if painted a light colour) look smart.
March 2014
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Q. I live in a block of 24 townhouses and we are looking at painting the green trim, the beige weatherboards and also the yellow Besser brick walls. A. These options may give you a little inspiration – Resene Double Thorndon Cream (weatherboards), Resene Double Tapa (green trim) and Resene Double Ash (Besser brick walls), or Resene Triple Sea Fog (weatherboards), Resene Port Phillip (green time) and Resene Half Foggy Grey (Besser brick walls), or Resene Triple Rice Cake (weatherboards), Resene Armadillo (green trim) and Resene Half Tapa (Besser brick walls).
March 2014
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Q. I'm putting new weatherboards on our house. What colour should I use? Inside is all Resene Cameo and Resene Bone. A. With weatherboards your whole look will change on the exterior - you may need to trial colours carefully to see what the bright natural light will do to them - usually colours look a bit brighter or lighter. If you like warm earthy colours you might look at Resene Biscotti, Resene Sandcastle or Resene Sandspit Brown. It’s worth having a look on the Resene website Habitat section and decorating inspiration section and also the www.habitatoftheweek.co.nz website to see what others have done and you may also find something that inspires you for your own home.
March 2014
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Q. We have sloping white ceilings with brown beams in our bedroom. Our ensuite is painted Resene Half Spanish White which looks great. What colour should I paint the bedroom as it gets very hot with the morning sun in summer but also gets very cold in winter? Currently it has a burgundy feature wall and the rest of the walls are an ochre yellow. I would prefer something more calming, but not cold. A. If your ensuite is painted Resene Half Spanish White and looks good perhaps you might look at either of these two colours to see if they will give you the calming but not cold look you are after – Resene Soul or Resene Drought. By using only one colour it will appear larger, simpler/serene, related to the ensuite in a more harmonious way, warm but not boring and with a depth to the colour that absorbs bright light (in summer) and yet feels warm (in winter), sort of toasty and intimate. Embellish the bed with summer and winter themed linen and duvets (blues/greens and crisp white in summer and terracotta reds and chocolate and taupe for winter) and ideally you should be able to create a look for all seasons.
March 2014
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Q. We are planning to paint our house exterior Resene Gravel and Resene Quarter Tapa. Is that OK? What white goes with this? Note that the garage doors are black. Want the lighter colour to be like the concrete block wall. Should I use Resene Half Concrete instead of Resene Quarter Tapa? A. I love the colours you have and would suggest as a white to go with them that you look at Resene Wan White. For the concrete block wall I personally wouldn't use Resene Half Concrete - unless you want a silvery almost lilac undertone in your unrelated grey white - I would stay with either Quarter Tapa or if you want lighter then Resene Eighth Tapa.
March 2014
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Q. I am having trouble choosing a white colour for the whole house. It was built in the '80s and has a very high ceiling in the lounge with dark brown beams. This room has a verandah so only gets a lot of light in winter. I am wanting to paint the beams and walls the same colour with a warmth to the white. I like the Hampton US look. A. If you favour the look that houses on the eastern seaboard of America have, or those in the smart Hampton region, and want a white it is important to consider how all colour reacts to natural and artificial light and all other coloured elements in the house. You have already realised that the verandah overhang reduces natural light a lot. With testing any colour you may have trouble seeing what they are really like or what attributes they may have if you are painting them on already coloured walls so perhaps it might be beneficial to paint all of a testpot (2 coats) onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges so the eye is forced to see the reality of the colour. It can be moved from wall to wall, room to room and the unpainted border stops existing colour altering your perception of what the colour is really like. You might like to try the following options – Resene Half Bianca, Resene Eighth Spanish White or Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta. These all have light and warmth within them as they carry a little ochre yellow in the undertone which is brighter than pure white.
March 2014
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Q. We have dark charcoal carpet and Resene Parchment coloured walls at present with white ceilings, trim etc. Kitchen cabinetry is white with navy blue bench. I am wanting to freshen the place up with a lighter colour as even Resene Parchment makes our hall dark. Our living areas are very sunny. A. Some rooms are shadowy or dim and hallways in particular often lack natural light; the walls are close which intensifies colour and the doors standing like blocks of wood finish or colour make it a difficult area. If there is a very dark carpet all the light is sucked into the carpet and you may need also to consider different lighting. If you lighten the colour - quite a bit - you will make the space seem lighter. You could look at using Resene Eighth Parchment (which may look a bit deeper - more like Resene Quarter Parchment) it may work for you. Or even using a brighter type of colour like Resene Quarter Wheatfield which has more brightness in its tone may work. If the doors in the hallway or in the rooms are painted a deep colour or are a natural wood finish they might need to be lightened also to increase the light aspect.
March 2014
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Q. To make my hall lighter what colour should I do my ceilings? The walls will be Resene Rice Cake. A. The best way to increase light and make the space seem brighter is to use real white on the ceilings - Resene White. If a tinted white colour - no matter how light it looks - is used in a dim space it doubles in strength and absorbs light and increases the coloured look of the room.
March 2014
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Q. I would like some advice re painting the exterior of my stucco home. The roof is silver and there is some basalt stone at the base of the front. It is currently white, but I am thinking about painting it a colour, possibly pale grey, with contrasting window sills, possibly white. I would welcome any advice. A. The basalt stone at the base of the house does lend itself to you using a lovely soft grey on the stucco with real crisp white trim on the windows. You might investigate a few greys like these – Resene Quarter Delta, Resene Quarter Rakaia or Resene Triple Sea Fog. Any pale colour tends to look a lot more coloured than you think after having a white house. These colours are available also as lighter and deeper tints so you can choose lighter or darker if needed.
March 2014
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Q. I have acquired Resene White Pointer and Resene Half Tea paint colours. I have already painted my kitchen Resene Indian Ink and Resene White Pointer and love it. I was thinking of doing the rest of the house Resene White Pointer but wondered if the hall would be too dark? The doors are Rimu (I thought of painting the doors Resene Half Tea perhaps) as is the skirting. The lounge has a feature wall of Resene Elephant which I love and I was wondering if Resene White Pointer would go with this? A. Resene White Pointer will definitely go with Resene Elephant which is a stunning colour. You don't say whether both colours (Resene White Pointer and Resene Half Tea) are acrylic wall paints or whether the Resene Half Tea (which is what you are considering using on the door and skirting boards) is an enamel which is what would be used for painted woodwork. If they are both acrylic paints the Resene Half Tea is warmer and less grey than the Resene White Pointer and may be ok through the hallway and possibly the bedrooms. Light is always a problem in hallways - walls so close together and lack of natural light makes all colours look deeper - so if you don't want the colour looking too dark then you may need to buy some white acrylic paint and intermix to create a much lighter colour or invest in a lovely new colour for the hall – possibly a lighter strength of one of your existing colours.
March 2014
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Q. We have painted our walls Resene Quarter Silver Chalice and now I'm not sure what colour carpet would match the wall colour. A. Resene Quarter Silver Chalice is a lovely silvery grey and will work with a tremendous amount of carpet colours. The best option is to visit a carpet shop and bring home samples. Perhaps keep in mind that very light carpets or very dark carpets may not always be practical but mid toned carpets will add interest and not show too much dirt or fluff/dust and will be versatile.
March 2014
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Q. I am thinking of painting my new house with cedar weatherboards in Resene Equilibrium. The roof and joinery may be Silver Pearl or one shade darker. I would like to have a few feature areas in the house that tie into the outside colour - a barn door and big closet doors. What colours would complement Resene Equilibrium? I’m not looking for really bold colours, just subtle ones. A. You could investigate the following colours to see if any of them suit you – Resene Double Napa - or all of the lighter versions of Resene Napa would work also – or Resene Double Parchment - or all of the lighter versions of Resene Parchment would work also or Resene Double Thorndon Cream - or all the lighter versions of Resene Thorndon Cream would work also.
March 2014
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Q. I am buying a 1920s house. Houses each side are painted pale colours. We like Resene Alabaster but what could we use for walls? The kitchen units are white and walls are white too. it looks very boring. Any ideas for walls? Ceilings? Pale colours for bedrooms? A. If the kitchen cabinets are real white almost any colour could work well. I would be inclined to keep the ceilings White (or Resene Alabaster) to ensure plenty of light and a crisp clean look. Perhaps you could look at these options - Resene Double Sea Fog - this looks lovely in a subtle way and definitely works with Resene Alabaster, or Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Blanc or Resene Half Albescent White.
March 2014
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Q. With Silver Pearl aluminium window frames what would colours would you suggest for the roofing colour (using the COLORSTEEL® Maxx range of colours) keeping in mind that the spouting downpipes will be running down adjacent to the window frames? My partner suggested Grey Friars but I don't agree as it introduces a darker shade of grey. The cladding will be Resene Alabaster. A. Grey Friars may be a bit too optically challenging and dark. Perhaps you might look these colours – Thunder Grey or Smokey. They are standard COLORSTEEL® Maxx colours. There are only a limited number of colours to choose from in that range.
March 2014
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Q. We are assuming that all the doors in our home are painted in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. We have recently used Resene Napa in a circular area encompassing eight doors. Tthe area was dark and we are pleased with the contrast as the colour tones down the cream doors. The rest of the house is bland, with cream and grey/green tones. We need help with lifting the home with a colour swatch that is able to blend and encompass the doors and Resene Napa. The hall has no natural light, and leads to a very large lounge which receives moderate light. The entry, kitchen and dining room receive plenty of light. The kitchen cabinets have steel handles, and other parts of the house have gold tones. We do not want to change the colour of the doors (Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream) as they are in excellent condition. The house is 20 years old, is brick and tile, with cream aluminium window frames and beige carpet. The home is full of character with plenty of angles. It is one level. We are open to a range of colours. A. It appears to me that you have a few colours already. Generally other colours introduced into a home relate to flooring - it is the main colour component and all colours must work with it - and any existing furniture, drapes, upholstered furniture, duvets, kitchen cabinets and work tops etc will have a strong influence too on any new colours. I suggest you keep your palette really simple to allow for any changes that you may want to make and artwork and accessories may provide extra colour 'spots' to enliven the decor. These can be altered or changed as time goes by to make a new look happen. I am sure you want the room colours to work well with your existing elements - most people do. If you were getting new carpet, drapes, duvets etc or a new kitchen then that would open up your colour options a lot. With Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and Resene Napa and your existing bedroom colour Resene Quarter Tea you might look at using Resene Tea, Resene Thorndon Cream or Resene Half Pavlova – you would just need to make sure it suits your carpet.
March 2014
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Q. I have just repainted my house in Resene Frontier, which looks fantastic. However, I have a number of small slivers of wooden trim around each of the brown aluminium windows. I would like them a contrasting colour, and Resene Mondo is nice but it seems quite a similar tone and I'd like some advice on Resene El Paso, Resene Bronze or Resene Dragon as possible options. I have also considered painting two areas of the house (the front verandah alcove and a small extended area (bathroom)) in contrasting colours too. Initially I thought a grey tone - perhaps Resene Double Concrete - which I love but in bright sunlight it is very white (and may be too stark with Resene Frontier?). A. I think you could definitely look at Resene Dragon - and if it looks too light - you could look at Resene Creole. I think that the Resene Bronze may be a bit too warm toned to use around the windows and Resene El Paso may be too olive green. It is harder to use a green around the windows. It either looks wrong with your main colour or wrong with the window joinery. Resene Waiouru is the best as it has some relationship to Resene Frontier but is not so good with the windows. I think the Resene Double Concrete won’t work right with Resene Frontier. If you are keen to use another exterior contrast colour you will need to be very, very careful as you have window joinery colour, house colour and window edge colour and roof colour (4 colours) already vying for attention - it might look over the top to have another colour.
March 2014
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Q. We are having the outside of our house painted and would like some help please. The interior has just been painted Resene Alabaster with Resene Double Alabaster trims and it looks great. Currently the external part is quite creamy and I wanted to go with a crisper look. Do you think Resene Alabaster would work with Resene Double Alabaster for the frames, and Resene Stack or Resene Steel Grey for the sills, doors, spouting etc? A. I think the colours you are considering will look lovely on the exterior. You might reverse the sequence of the colours - Resene Double Alabaster for the main colour and Resene Alabaster for all the frames etc. Resene Stack is the warmer/lighter of the two greys - Resene Steel Grey is a true charcoal and darker. I would recommend that you use CoolColour™ modified versions of the greys to reflect more heat than the normal version of those colours.
March 2014
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Q. I want to paint the exterior of our new house a dark grey, not a cold blue grey or brown but a warm grey! Can you suggest a colour? A. You might check out Resene Double Friar Greystone or Resene Half Fuscous Grey. The first colour has a stone grey look whereas the second colour looks like a smoky grey. They are warm but quite different to each other. Because of the depth of the colours which often causes heat associated problems I definitely recommend you ask for the CoolColour™ modified formulas to try and minimise the absorption of heat.
March 2014
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Q. Is Resene Grey Suit a grey purple? I painted an exterior and it looks more purple. Owner and designer think it is a mistint but store has checked it and it isn’t. A. Resene Grey Suit is described as a grey/ blue with a lilac (another word for purple) undertone. So it is a purple grey. The B in the colour code indicates it is a coloured grey with a blue tone. Did your clients use a testpot first? A testpot is cheap and it helps people see what the colour is really like. If they chose it from looking at a small chip on a colour chart they would also have seen that it was quite a purple coloured grey. You only get a good idea of what colour really looks like by comparing colours - if for instance you compared Resene Grey Suit with a few other greys you start to educate your eye. If you are in doubt about what colours really look like large A4 samples of thousands of Resene colours can be looked at in the in-store Colour Library at Resene ColorShops.
March 2014
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Q. I’m looking for a background colour for several oil paintings that will also go with the furniture etc I have. Floors are charcoal, furniture black, sofa and ottoman are in a narrow stripe that reads at a distance as Venetian red (not bluish), and drapes are linen, with wider stripes in pale and slightly deeper blue grey. There is a wide doorway from this room to the kitchen/dining area which has just been repainted using Resene Silver Chalice (as I’ve found it easy to live with), white units etc and black chairs. No timber colours are used in either room. The living room has fewer windows than the kitchen/dining room. 1960s house. Both rooms lean towards retro. My favourite painting has a viridian and thalo yellow-green focal point, with cadmium red close by, and it’s this painting that I most want to enhance by using perhaps a soft light grey or greyish paint on the walls. Another painting includes turquoise blue and red; orange and black features in others and the frames are black. I’m interested in Resene Periglacial Blue. I really liked the soft airiness of it, when I saw it painted on the walls above timber panelling, in a 1930s bungalow. It seemed to be a very soft pale grey with a hint of blue without looking chilly. This seemed exactly what I wanted; however the testpot that I bought looks in my living room to be greyed-green. I’m wary of green as it can turn dirty or bilious under artificial light. I note in the Q and A section that Resene Half and Quarter Periglacial Blue are recommended more often than the original. Why? Although Quarter is on the neutral list it looks to me to be lighter and greener and Half looks lighter and greyer but it’s on the green list. I’ve also considered Resene Eighth Stack and Resene Half Grey Chateau but I would prefer the rooms to be linked without looking exactly the same and too much grey could be depressing. I’m a typical winter on the Resene personality test except for the bit about being ambitious and decisive. I certainly dislike even a hint of cream or beige. A. Resene Periglacial Blue is an icy river blue with a hint of green greyness - the blue/grey that you saw in it may have been because it was used in a certain way with the warm red/yellow brown tones of wood. Colour when seen in certain light situations and with elements that are coloured alter to respond to those other influences. The green that is in this colour is made from tint components of yellow, blue and grey - hence the G (green) code to denote that type of colour. When lighter versions of a colour are created the tints are reduced and sometimes the base that it is tinted from changes also. This does several things - one or other of the tinters takes a greater role and the colour alters to recognise this. Hence the Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue is listed as a neutral grey with a little colour in it - not a colour that is greyed/muted. Artificial light - incandescent which is warm and yellow - will reduce the green/blue colour further and will make it look slightly greyer. If you compared it to the Resene Powder Blue - and this is what you have to do with colour to truly see the colour - you will see Resene Periglacial Blue looks warmer/greener in its blue greyness. If you compare several blues, greys and green/blues you start to see what they are like - and if you place a sheet of white print paper alongside samples of these colours suddenly your eye judges depth of colour and sees the underlying tones of colour starting to develop. Resene Eighth Stack is a warm (from a blend of stone grey and a tiny tint of yellow ochre which also can throw a bit of green) complex grey. Resene Half Grey Chateau is darker than Resene Eighth Stack and has a silvery blue/grey undertone. I hope these colour notes and the information that I have endeavoured to pass on to you help you to some understanding - colour is part of the light spectrum and if it can change, with changes of light - natural and artificial - and other colour influences that may be seen in close proximity - it will. It is mischievous, quixotic and complex. I suspect from the information you have given to me about your art you have some knowledge of this already. My advice to you is to judge how colour is in each space individually and see how it responds to the colours in the artwork and the light changes. No one colour will be perfect in all situations - you may need to allow for this. Be patient - trial colour carefully at your place - don't choose it because it looked good somewhere else with someone else's light, furnishings and artwork - it will be different in any different situation. If you paint the testpot (all of the pot/2 coats) onto A2 white card leaving the border unpainted all around the edges you can move it from wall to wall, room to room, and the unpainted border makes your eye see the reality of the colour without the existing wall colour unduly influencing it and altering how your eye sees it. In regard lighter versions of colours being more popular than the full strength versions - it is trend related - lighter/whiter colours are the favourites at this point in time. Comparing the colours though, Resene Periglacial Blue sells more than the Quarter or Half strength does currently.
March 2014
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Q. Can you advise me the best white or neutral colour that will go with Rimu wood panelling and architraves? A. You might check out these colours to see if they work for you – Resene Eighth Parchment and Resene Half Villa White or Resene Rice Cake and Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta.
March 2014
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Q. I would really like some advice on colours that will go with our COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue roof. I would prefer to go with something a bit more earthier such as Resene Napa, but think that may be a bit light. And I'm worried that if I go Resene Double Napa that will be too dark. I think the house was originally painted Resene Tea but I found that too light. What would you recommend? A. New Denim Blue is a soft type of grey and always looks good with the following types of colours – Resene Double Tea (darker than previous Resene Tea), Resene Quarter Stonehenge (greyer than Resene Napa), Resene Pravda (deeper than Resene Napa but not as brown as Resene Double Napa) or Resene Half Stonewashed (less yellow/brown than Resene Napa). All exterior colours tend to look lighter due to the natural light diluting the strength of the colour. At this point in time 'in' colours are greyer rather than 'browner' but like anything that everyone is rushing off to use now it will date at some later stage.
March 2014
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Q. I’m wanting to repaint our new home's lounge room. It’s currently yellowish/cream with white ceiling. The skirting is not painted and the floor is interlocked wood. It has two sets of double doors leading in from the dining rom and the hall. We've painted the kitchen walls Resene Spanish White (was pink!) and the hallway (was peppermint green!) also in Resene Spanish White. We'd like to paint the double doors as a bit of a feature and the lounge ceiling, window frames and walls. I like warm neutral country colours. We were thinking Resene Half Doeskin for the walls and Resene Quarter Nullarbor for the double doors. Would that look too brown and cardboard boxy? A. I don't think the difference between the wall colour that you want to use - Resene Half Doeskin - and the double door colour - Resene Quarter Nullarbor is quite right - the doors will look too close to the wall colour but looking as if someone didn't quite tint them the right colour. You might look at Resene Biscotti for walls and Resene Doeskin for the double doors or Resene Half Drought for the walls and Resene Quarter Nullarbor for the double doors. By slightly lightening the room wall colour and ensuring that the door colour is at least 10 degrees deeper you get a nice balance/relationship between the colours. I feel you need to maintain lighter ceilings so it isn't claustrophobic - perhaps Resene Quarter Spanish White? Colours always appear deeper in an interior so the wall colours may look a bit deeper than you imagine they will look so it pays to carefully test the colours and look at them at all times of the day or night as natural light and artificial light alter the colours a lot. I usually advise people to paint all of the testpot (2 coats) onto very large A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges so it isn't right up against the existing wall colour and move it around onto different walls. You can roll the card into a cone shape with colour innermost and by looking into it you see what the colour escalates to, giving the depth that four walls will look like when painted. This is very helpful to you so you can better judge what the overall look will be. If you need a complementary colour or colours to work with the brown/tan tones think of artwork on the walls in teals/midnight blues/mid toned aquas and black.
March 2014
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Q. I have a 50s weatherboard house with white exterior walls and window frames/sills. I have to choose a COLORSTEEL® roof colour for the new roof. At the moment the roof is blue with blue foundations but I'm not keen on blue. Want to keep the white as it is newly painted. Would do the frames and sills in matching or toning colour with roof. What colour/s could I use to modernise but still keep the character? A. Roof colour options in COLORSTEEL® aren't that extensive but there are many popular ones like Grey Friars, Thunder Grey, Karaka and Sandstone Grey, so here are a few colours that you might consider as trims etc on a white house - listed in order to correspond with the roof colours mentioned: Resene Quarter Grey Friars and (softer/lighter) Resene Grey Chateau, Resene Quarter Gravel and (softer/lighter) Resene Half Friar Greystone , Resene Double Tapa and (softer/lighter) Resene Half Tapa, or Resene Taupe Grey and (softer/lighter) Resene Quarter Taupe Grey. March 2014
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Q. I am building a new house with pine rough sawn weatherboards. I really like silver pearl or millennium silver roof and joinery but am a bit stuck on an exterior colour. Wanting something lightish, grey but warm without blue tones. A. With such a silvery/light roof and window joinery you need to proceed with caution - if you want the roof and joinery to look as though they are (even slightly) coloured then you might need a really pale house colour, such as Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Black White. If you want the joinery and roof to look really pale and silvery white and the house deeper in tone then perhaps you might look at these colours – Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Quarter Grey Friars.
March 2014
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Q. We are using Resene Truffle on our interior walls and we are not sure what colour white to use for our skirting, trims, doors etc. We want a nice strong contrast between the two. A. You could use either of these 'whites' - the first is cool and crisp and the second is warm and soft – Resene Alabaster or Resene Quarter Bianca. Both will provide the contrast you seek albeit working in slightly different ways.
March 2014
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Q. I am building a new house. We have Ironsand roof tiles, Silver Pearl joinery and we would like the plaster finish to be a brownish grey, darker than the Silver Pearl. I have tried 1m square test pieces in Resene Tapa (too grey), Resene Pravda (pink tinge), Resene Friar Greystone (too grey) and the favourite at the moment is Resene Stonehenge. Do you think that would look good on the exterior plaster with the Silver Pearl and Ironsand? A. I think Resene Stonehenge is great with Ironsand and Silver Pearl. My only concern is that the plaster system that you are having on your new house may have some set criteria in regard the depth of colour that they consider appropriate. You might enquire as to what system is being used and ask the plaster system manufacturers for information in this regard before you make your final colour choice.
March 2014
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Q. If you are painting your walls in off white tones what colour would you paint the internal doors and wood work? A. If I had lots of small sticky fingered children and damp-tall-wagging dogs I might look at a deeper version of the wall colour so it forgave the constant wash down of fingermarking. If that wasn't the case then I might use the same colour as the walls in a semi-gloss enamel finish so it was seamless. |
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Q. I like Resene Double Napa, but it makes my walls look slightly pink. Any alternative suggestions that look similar, but won't 'bring out' the pink in my light beige walls? Not sure what colour they are, but the skirting, ceilings and door surrounds are three quarter strength Resene Rice Cake. A. It may be that the main wall colour is the problem colour as both the Resene Double Napa and the lighter Resene Rice Cake that you have for ceilings and trims looks nice together. You may need to test your colour choices very carefully until you find one that looks good with your main colour and trim/ceiling colour in the rooms with all your other coloured elements - flooring curtains etc. The main colour is the most important part of the scheme and you need to use that as the start point.
March 2014
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Q. Repainting a house that has a New Denim Blue roof and garage door. Currently painted Resene Craigieburn which we may do again but could you suggest other colours that would go with the blue? A. Try Resene Half Pravda (a mix of brown and grey stone), Resene Half Foggy Grey (soft warm stone grey) or Resene Triple White Pointer (grey beige). These suggestions take you away a bit from brown toward greyer tones which may make a nice change.
March 2014
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Q. I have silver/grey silk curtains with a sheen for my living and dining areas. Would you suggest a white or grey wall colour? A. You might look at the following colours to see if they will work – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Double Black White or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey. The colours change a lot during the day and according to the light so please test them carefully and look at pure white (printer paper is good for this) alongside of them to see their underlying tints and tones.
March 2014
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Q. I am using Resene Half Smalt Blue for the exterior of our house. I need some advice on roof colour and complementary colour for trims - we have white windows. A. You might check out these colours for the roof as they will work with your main colours – Resene Explorer, Resene Coast or Resene Grey Friars. For trims - it does depend on how much trim colour is needed and on what surfaces but you certainly could use more Resene White and possibly a distinct contrast like Resene Quarter Lignite or Resene Red Earth.
March 2014
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Q. What curtains go with charcoal carpet and Resene Quarter Iron walls? A. You are really lucky - your fundamental neutral colours already chosen for walls and carpet allow you a huge selection of curtain possibilities. If you are close to a Resene ColorShop you can pop in and check out the gorgeous boutique range of Resene fabrics in the Resene Curtain Collection to see if any of them suit you. The sort of colours I imagine could be silvery pewter colours, charcoals and silvers, reds and blacks - possibly simple textures or textural sheers, or slippery shimmery sheens and contemporary abstract patterns.
March 2014
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Q. We would like to paint our entire interior in either Resene Quarter Truffle (walls), Resene Alabaster (skirtings/ceiling) or Resene Quarter Tea but we also need a colour for our kitchen cupboards (off-white stone top). Would Resene Half Tapa or Resene Half Masala work for the cupboards in those schemes above? A. Resene Half Tapa may be the better of the two colours - Resene Half Masala is quite deep and a very strong/macho in mood - but if you test Resene Half Tapa and think it may be a little too green toned you might also check out Resene Quarter Gravel or Resene Friar Greystone .
March 2014
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Q. I want to paint a warm light grey throughout my interior. I will be using different accent colours in each room, such as blacks, blues, purples and greens. I am unsure of which grey to choose. A. It is extremely important that you test your warm grey options at your house, in your light and with your things as any colour alters considerably when light changes and other coloured elements like carpets, drapes, duvets, upholstered furniture and kitchen cabinets and work tops are near it. You might check out these ones – Resene Half Rakaia, Resene Concrete or Resene House White.
March 2014
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Q. I'm going to paint my interior walls in Resene Bianca. I hear that ceilings are often painted a different colour. What is a good colour to paint the ceiling? Could it also be painted in Resene Bianca? A. If you like Resene Bianca for both the walls and ceilings you can use it on both surfaces. If you want just a little more lightness and contrast you could use Resene Half Bianca or (lighter/whiter) Resene Quarter Bianca. Often ceilings that are painted the same colour as the walls look a deeper colour as the light falls away casting shadows across the ceilings and the (same) colour looks deeper. The main reason ceilings are lighter/whiter than the wall colour is so the walls look more of a colour and to reflect more light/provide contrast.
March 2014
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Q. We are looking for a very dark colour(s) that will make a statement with the Resene Friar Greystone range. Darker than the Resene Triple Friar Greystone . A. You might like to try Resene Double Masala or Resene Double Mondo.
March 2014
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Q. Could you please recommend a light exterior colour (perhaps with grey tones) to match as best possible with forest green aluminum joinery (not too accentuated however). We have had some colour advice before but that was more for brown tones which we didn't like. So far our favourite is Resene Bokara Grey so looking for a light alternative before making any decisions. A. You have a brown brick chimney - are you painting that so it doesn't intrude into the new colour scheme? - and a very distinctive multi coloured stone base on the house and unusual stone risers on the steps to the patio entry as well as the very green windows and roof, wooden varnished front door with a white frames and white framed glass conservatory off the front patio. So many elements all vying for attention. The Resene Bokara Grey will definitely highlight the green roof and windows so that they 'pop' out. I suggest you think about what is on the house that isn't going to be changed or got rid of and perhaps think about a neutral like Resene Tapa or slightly deeper - Resene Double Tapa - these have a green undertone in the grey hue and may well highlight the lovely stonework in the base of the house, have a love affair with the white framed conservatory and varnished front door and befriend the definite green roof and window joinery. The chimney will still stick out but it could be sealed and painted Resene Armadillo so it is less 'brown' and more toned to the main colour of the house.
March 2014
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Q. My HardiPlank™ house needs restaining but Hardistain is no longer available. Do I now paint the cedar coloured boards? I want to avoid the orange colour. The roof, drainpipe and aluminium windows are Permanent Green. The roof needs painting and my husband is keen on Resene Karaka - but we are still stuck with Permanent Green windows. What do you suggest for walls, soffits, roof and base boards? A. The type of paint/stain system you have had can be painted over with a low sheen waterborne paint, such as Resene Lumbersider, to maintain a natural look. You can have any colour but obviously since you are used to a cedar type colour you may need to look at what is available that doesn't flash orange at you - perhaps check out Resene Irish Coffee which is more tan or Resene Potters Clay or (lighter) Resene Leather. A word to the wise - paint colours have a deeper/stronger look than what you have had before so they may need to be tested so that you can envisage what the more solid depth of colour looks like. Unless you want to highlight and feature the base boards I suggest you paint them to match the house colour - it is the simple option. For the roof, personally I would stay with the Permanent Green so the windows have a friend, or replace (etch, undercoat and paint) the powder coated window frames. It is always extremely difficult when one of the elements of the house isn't going to be changed - in this case a new roof colour and new house colour used with the old window colour is a bit like getting a new smart dress and wearing it with your favourite old gumboots to a party. A compromise with the roof may be to use a very similar colour (but slightly deeper) like Resene Botanic.
March 2014
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Q. We are thinking of painting a feature wall in our little girl’s room Resene Dancing Girl but not quite sure what to paint the other walls? A. There are several options open to you for the main wall colour - a warmed sweet white - Resene Half Bianca, a cool white - Resene Alabaster, a beige/cream white - Resene Albescent White or a yellow/green white - Resene Half Ecru White.
March 2014
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Q. Our house was built in the early 2000s and we have Ironsand aluminium joinery. What interior colours do you suggest to use on the walls and window surrounds so that we keep the rooms looking spacious? The rooms all have plenty of natural light. The carpet is a camel/golden sand colour. A. You might look at the following colours to see if they might suit – Resene Quarter Parchment and lighter for windows Resene Eighth Parchment, or Resene Bianca and lighter for windows Resene Quarter Bianca, or Resene Quarter Spanish White and lighter for windows Resene Eighth Spanish White. Or if you favour the lightest of the colours suggested it is okay to use it on both walls and windows if that is an option you favour.
March 2014
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Q. We would like some suggestions for the colour of our foundations and eaves. Have tried a few but no luck. Our house is 1970s Summerhill stone with red roof, which won't be painted. We have a greyish mortar plus we're rural. Foundations are roughcast concrete.
March 2014
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Q. I am desperate to find the right colour to paint the woodwork around the exterior of our house. It would be easier if the roof colours weren't already there - Headland and a creamy colour. The brickwork has a strong dark grey in it and I was wondering whether that would be the way to go or do I go safe? Also I would like to paint the front door. We will also need to replace the guttering and again a colour for that would be appreciated. A. I think you may be right in regard greys but not too dark apart from on the lattice covering the foundation of the house and possibly on the front door . You might like to try these earthy stone greys – Resene Quarter Arrowtown and deeper Resene Half Chicago, and Resene Half Tapa and deeper Resene Squall. You still have to consider the powdercoat colours that you aren't getting rid of when choosing guttering but if you chose PVC guttering and painted it to match the lighter of the two colours then it would complement what you have. If you had to have powdercoated guttering then you might look at Woodland Grey as it would work with the colours suggested.
March 2014
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Q. My stucco house has recently been painted in Resene Aspiring. I am now trying to decide on foundation, windows and front door and porch colour... any suggestions please? A. I am not sure how deep a foundation you have (how much colour would be seen in relation to main colour) or what style windows and front door you have and what your porch looks like so my suggestions can't be more tailored to your house but you might look at these colours – Resene Rice Cake - light and bright, Resene Half White Rock - little bit more coloured or Resene Bandicoot – darker colour.
March 2014
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Q. I am getting ready to paint a 1940s weatherboard house. I would like to return it to a grey roof and white but not too bright white, with the window frames also done in a white but not the same. I have been looking at Resene Double Sea Fog for the weatherboards, Resene Alabaster for the window frames and Resene Mid Grey for the roof but am not completely sure about the combination. I don't want a cream weatherboard look. A. You might look at these greys – Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey or Resene Concrete. You may need to look at A4 samples of these colours at your local Resene ColorShop in their colour library plus the others you have mentioned in order to compare and to then judge which greys suits you better. Placing them alongside each other will help you to see which undertones of colour are in each grey and which one suits the roof and white colours you want to use.
March 2014
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Q. We have a 1930s bungalow that we are painting with a Resene Ironsand roof, Resene Quarter Napa weatherboards and Resene Black White fascia boards and door/window trim. What colour would you recommend for the soffits? A. Usually the under soffits are the lightest of all your colours so in this case you could use Resene Black White or if you wanted slightly more 'shadow' then you might use Resene Double Black White.
March 2014
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Q. I'm needing to select a colour for the exterior of our bungalow. The roof and fence is Resene Grey Friars, the windows and trims are Resene Black White. Our double garage door is cedar stained Resene Bark. I have a short list of Resene Concrete, Resene Half Concrete, Resene Half Iron and Resene Quarter Iron. Which colour would you recommend to go with Resene Grey Friars and cedar door. We are close to the harbour so I'm wanting something that feels a bit 'seaside'. A. Resene Half Iron is a smart cool grey but perhaps you might also check out these colours – Resene Half Surrender, Resene Mystic or Resene Midwinter Mist.
March 2014
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Q. I'm in search of a butter yellow for my kitchen walls. I'm after a warm butter - not too garish, or sharp and lemony or egg yolky yellow. I’m lucky enough to have Rimu woodwork (ex state house) so am after warm yellow to go with wood, and that in a stronger version of same colour can go on the top eight cupboards. I will use a blue swedishy green on bottom cupboards. Please help have tried Resene Wild Thing too yellow and Resene Smiles too lemon/acid/sharp/pale. I'm sure there must be a go to butter yellow. A. Oh dear - yellows and 'butter' in particular are tricky as you have found out. All yellows (from the palest to deepest) are often two to three times brighter and stronger than you expect them to be. With this in mind you have to sneak up on yellow - and the one that you look at on a chart and say 'No too insipid - too pale - not buttery enough' may well be the right one as it doubles or triples in brightness and strength. Please look at real A4 samples of colours at your local Resene ColorShop in their colour library - there is absolutely no other way of seeing the real colour that I know of that I can say truthfully 'this is what it really looks like'. The other thing of course is testing it in your rooms so that your quality of light and any other elements of colour that you have there already that will strongly influence what the colour looks like - you need to see it that way to judge whether it is okay. I always recommend painting two coats (all of the testpot) onto A2 card (available from Resene) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges. This helps you to focus on the colour and see it in reality uninfluenced by existing wall colours. You can move it around from wall to wall and room to room to see how angle and light changes it. Please check out these colours – Resene Beeswax - might seem pale but it isn't, Resene Corn Field - might look a little sour, Resene Mellow Yellow - a sweet yellow, Resene Butter - seems a little dirty but is mellow, Resene Golden Sand - rich and mellow, Resene Primrose - will look slightly greenish especially in south and east facing rooms and Resene Festival - quite strong (and don't forget will double or triple in strength).
March 2014
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Q. We have painted our roof Resene Ironsand and now have the exterior walls to paint. We were looking at Resene Double Truffle but are now not so keen. The older style house has aluminium joinery similar to Ironsand and is currently painted similar to Resene Stonewall but not quite and the previous owners were not sure what the paint was. We are looking for something lighter than the current shade. The house is built of Hardiplank and the Resene Stonewall looks better than the samples of Resene Double Truffle. Can you suggest something suitable for the wall colour? A. I think you should check out the following colours as they are a bit lighter than Resene Stonewall but definitely a bit more full bodied and robust than Resene Double Truffle – Resene Half Arrowtown, Resene Half Pravda and Resene Napa.
March 2014
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Q. We are wanting to do Resene Quarter Tea for the walls throughout our new house. What colour would you suggest for the ceilings and trims? A. If you want a crisp/sharp look then you might look at using Resene Quarter Black White and if you want something a little softer/warmer then you might consider Resene Quarter Bianca. Both of these are lovely but it really depends on so many other aspects - natural light or lack of it, colours of flooring and drapes, furniture duvets etc. If you can pop into a Resene ColorShop to look at the A4 samples of these colours you can try them with the Resene Colour View slides which allows you to place the painted card behind the sample room photo so you can see walls and ceilings in the colours. It is a great help to be able to envisage the rooms this way.
March 2014
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Q. I would like a recommendation on a brown to match the aluminium windows on my bach (to be used for the exterior trim) and a complementary colour to use on the cladding (including the battens). I plan on painting the roof in Resene Grey Friars as we have leftover paint in that colour from another job. A. Perhaps you could check out one of these for the trim - the cc after the colour name stands for Resene CoolColour technology which I recommend so that the paint/surface doesn’t get as hot in the sun – Resene Quarter Lignite CC or Resene Nest Egg CC, and perhaps either of these for the cladding – Resene Half Sisal or Resene Quarter Bison Hide CC.
March 2014
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Q. I need to repaint my house. It’s brown brick on the bottom, wood painted brown on top and a reddish roof. I am thinking a different colour, something modern that ties in with the brown brick, and as such am thinking roof - Resene Grey Friars, Resene Ironsand or Resene Lignite, and wood – a brownish based colour that works with the roof and brick, or something with a green tinge. A. Resene Ironsand for the roof might be a good choice - not too brown, not too steel grey and would tie in the clinker brick colour. You might like to try Resene Napa cc, Resene Quarter Craigieburn cc or Resene Double Ash cc - a little bit earthy green. The CC in the colour code denotes a colour that can be reformulated to Resene CoolColour technology, which will reflect more heat than a normal version of that colour.
March 2014
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Q. I am wanting so help to choose an outside colour scheme for our 1920s railway cottage. We have a fairly neutral colour palette inside - Resene Triple Sea Fog in living areas and bedroom. The master room at the front of the house is Resene Double Pearl Lusta. The front of the house faces north west and gets sun in the afternoon/evening. The windows are fairly large and were replaced in the 70s. We will be painting the roof as well. The boundary fences are a dark brown but would also look at painting these too as we have recently replaced one side. We are also doing a small kitchen extension and large decking off the back of the house, which are in design stage. We'd like to have something fresh looking and neutral. The weather boards aren't in the best condition so we are wanting a darker colour than the white it currently is. I do like the idea of a grey with trims and possibly a third colour on the bottom window sills. I also like blue-grey - a beachy feeling. A. You might investigate these two palettes of colours to see if they are inspirational:
Of course colours used for sills and doors can be any exciting statement colour - this is where you can exploit your desire for bold or vibrant, deep or random as it is such a small part of the overall theme - don't limit yourself - colour is the bit that marks your house out as yours not the neighbours. March 2014
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Q. We have a large stucco house that is in need of a repaint. The house is somewhat monolithic from the street and we're unsure of what colour scheme would work best to soften its appearance. We want to reduce the contrast of the brown aluminium windows as well and make them blend in more to the wooden frames. We're about 100 metres from the sea on the West Coast, so a beachy feel might be nice. Our colour scheme inside is Resene Robin Egg Blue and Resene Beryl Green, with wooden floors. A. I suggest that you look at a soft stone colour to try and minimise the window joinery – try Resene Eighth Stonehenge, Resene Half Cloudy or Resene Quarter Taupe Grey. A natural look with a palette of colours like stones, sand and driftwood would sit well in the close vicinity of the coast. You might bring some of the Resene Robin Egg Blue to the exterior in the form of painted deck furniture or planter boxes to embellish the deck or by the front entry in some way. Then a crisp white like Resene Quarter Wan White might be used as the bargeboard trim and under the soffits.
March 2014
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Q. Could you please suggest colours to paint exterior Hardiplank cladding on a 1970s house currently painted in a colour similar to Resene Apache. Three sides of the house are clinker brick, the other side plus the front entry way is Hardiplank. Prefer earthy colours or perhaps darker grey tones. A. I can't quite see darker grey tones working with the deep brown clinker brick on the house. Perhaps you could investigate these colours - they are light/mid toned and earthy which might work nicely with the other parts of the house – Resene Half Pravda CC, Resene Half Stonewall CC or Resene Half Friar Greystone CC. The cc in the colour code denotes it can be formulated with Resene CoolColour technology which I would recommend to modify the heat/u.v. effect on the surface.
March 2014
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Q. My 1950s house has an abode finish over the old weatherboards. The closest colour I can match it to is Resene Gold Coast. The concrete tile roof is in a darker terracotta colour which I would like to change. Which roof paint colour do you suggest? I would like to keep the house looking beachy Mediterranean. A. If you no longer favour using a darker terracotta on the roof but like the 'beachy Mediterranean' theme you might look at these colours to see if they will suit you – Resene Coast, Resene Explorer, Resene Scoria or Resene Old Copper.
March 2014
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Q. We are extensively modernising a seaside bach and are struggling to choose the exterior paint colour scheme. Already had 6 Resene testpots! At the moment we like Resene Horizon as the starting point for the scheme, and the windows will be white (aluminium). Our concern is to avoid making the house look small(er). It is not the biggest of houses, although it does appear quite tall as it is so close to the pavement and there is a steep hill at the back. When we played around on Resene EzyPaint, we actually preferred the look of the darker colour at the higher (second storey) level but understand this goes against the basic rule about space. The fence is going to be in a light grey. Having been considering Resene Iron family. A. If you want a deeper colour at the top portion of your house and a lighter one on the bottom you can do that - it is your choice - the world will not end if you decide you want to do that. I personally think that cutting the house in half by using two colours isn't always a good idea because it draws more attention to the two levels and can relegate the lower storey to 'not the real house/only the foundation/garage/too ugly to look at' status. I like the idea of you using Resene Tuna on the stone part of the house and maybe on the balustrades of the steps leading up to the side of the house. Resene Iron for the lower portion of the house is a good idea as it will be seen close to the Resene Tuna so will be quite exciting but not too dark for the weatherboards and the white aluminium windows will still pop out crisply. I know you love the Resene Horizon but before you totally decide I recommend you check out Resene Bismark as it is a bit more shaded and with all the very bright light that you have on the face of the house I would hate for you to think Resene Horizon is a bit washed out. Colours on an exterior in a bright light situation often look lighter. It is all about gradations of colour being well balanced and I am not so sure that Resene Horizon will be.
March 2014
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Q. My motel is painted with Resene Lumbersider in Resene Canterbury Clay. We are completely repainting the complex and want to use Resene X-200 but the Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay in this type of paint doesn’t exactly match. What should we use to try and match the Resene Lumbersider finish? We are using the Resene X-200 as its more flexible to assist with movement. A. Resene X200 does tend to pick up the tinters in a different and somewhat stronger way - this may make a colour like Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay look more yellow than you may expect. You can do several things to get the colour absolutely right -
March 2014
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Q. We are renovating our house at the moment and are stuck on which colour(s) to paint our exterior weatherboards, fascia board and barge boards, window sills etc. Our roof and spouting are COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue. Do we go with grey/blue shades or brown shades? A. Even though whites, greys and blue/greys are popular at the moment and will work well with the New Denim Blue a lot of the beiges, browns and greyed browns (taupes) look lovely as well. You might like to try Resene Barely There, Resene Iron, Resene Truffle, Resene Cloud or Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe.
March 2014
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Q. Could you advise on a sharp, fresh white for a large open plan space (small kitchen, dining and living room) facing west in a 1930s house (approx 50 square metres) with brightly coloured leadlights and fanlights (red, blue and green) and wooden floors. It gets no morning sun but intense afternoon/evening sun in summer. I have used Resene Half Island Spice as a neutral elsewhere, but want something more brilliant but not cold - I like a lot of light and previous colours I've chosen all end up looking muddy. A. These coloured whites may be good for you to trial in the room - it is how the colour looks in the morning (lack of light) that you need to ensure is good - the warmth and brightness of the afternoon light will not be a problem – Resene Quarter Bianca, Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Half Orchid White. A word to the wise - please look at the Resene testpot samples on all walls and on all shadowed angles and always on a white background not a coloured wall as the existing colour will make you see the test samples totally wrongly. A2 card for trialing colour on is available at Resene ColorShops and using all of the testpot (two coats) on the card leaving an unpainted white border all around the edges will help you identify and judge the reality of your colours.
March 2014
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Q. We are building a pergola off our newly built house and I want the colour of the pergola to match the window aluminium colour which is Silver Pearl. I was wondering which one of your colours best matches Silver Pearl? The plaster exterior of our house is Resene Quarter Masala. A. Because Silver Pearl is a metallic pearl it is hard to put a paint colour close to it as a match - the light causes it to alter a lot - but you might investigate Resene Delta or Resene Quarter Tapa to see if they suit. If you are unsure about either of these then a default colour would be darker - perhaps Resene Masala.
March 2014
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Q. My feature wall is a striped wallpaper with a light and dark grey stripes; what colour would go best on the other three walls? A. If you want the wallpaper to be a stand-alone feature you could use a 'white' or a soft grey - perhaps look at these colours – Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Concrete or even a deep soft charcoal to create a double whammy of excitement – Resene Quarter Grey Friars.
March 2014
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Q. I’m unsure how to pull off a darkish lower and lighter upper grey tones contrast with my split level house. I think the rear and sides will be fine because there are stairs, decking etc to break up the walls, but the front of the house has a lot of road frontage and I’m not sure which colours would go well. A. Have you thought of just using a light/mid colour (same colour) on both levels so they read as a simple block rather than a multi-level building? By doing two colours you effectively isolate both levels and each level then says 'look at me - no don't pay attention to the other - I am the only special colour!' If you want both levels to be their own different colour then possibly the best way to do it is to use lighter and deeper versions of the one colour so at least they like each other. Perhaps like this - please note these are just ideas of linking colours to give you an idea not what I think you should have definitively – Resene Triple Fossil (lower) and Resene Fossil (upper) or just one colour Resene Double Fossil.
March 2014
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Q. We have just painted the exterior blockwork of our home in Resene Quarter Malta and are now looking to freshen up the soffit and fascia board. We have bronze aluminium windows and white guttering. Should we paint the soffit and fascia the same colour? We were going to get white, but were wondering if there's a tint you would recommend to go with the Resene Quarter Malta? A. I always think the soffit and fascias should be the same colour as it is a neat simple solution. You could look at Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Half Soapstone as they are lovely warm whites that look good with Resene Quarter Malta. If you find that they are too 'coloured' for you then Resene Double Alabaster would be a good choice - it is a whiter colour but not stark.
March 2014
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Q. I have chosen Resene Quarter Tea for my bathroom walls to tone with the vinyl chosen but wonder whether it will be too dark for the ceiling. Would Resene Eighth Tea work for the ceiling? A. I sometimes find that Resene Quarter Albescent White looks better with Resene Quarter Tea compared to Resene Eighth Tea which is cooler and greyed off.
March 2014
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Q. We have an orange Huntly brick home with red mortar, lots of wooden windows and a rough plastered 600mm high base around the house. The roof is brown but will change to COLORSTEEL® soon, spouting is white. We need help choosing a colour scheme that works with the mortar and brick but doesn't accent it. A. I think if you plan to change your roof to a COLORSTEEL® one soon it might pay to look at roof colours first. You have a much more limited choice available to you but because of the Huntly brick and red mortar I would suggest you look at COLORSTEEL® Thunder Grey which has an element of grey/green in it or COLORSTEEL® Smokey which is a paler stone grey neutral that works with any colour. Then perhaps look at a relatively distinct colour for the 600mm high base of the house and spouting if possible - perhaps Resene Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Ash - and use this same colour for windows. This removes white from the scenario as a default window colour and doesn't over emphasise the brick and mortar colour.
March 2014
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Q. I have decided to paint a newly rendered house in Resene Double Stonewall. I would like advice on accent colours for the trim - fascias, front door, privacy screens and eaves. The roof has been painted dark charcoal. A. You could look at doing the roof line fascias a lighter version of the main colour - Resene Quarter Stonewall. This could be good also for the privacy screens to link it all together. The under eaves could be Resene Sea Fog and the front door could be a dramatic red like Resene Pohutukawa or a deep mineral blue like Resene St Kilda. Any perimeter fences around the property could be Resene Black to link in the roof colour.
March 2014
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Q. Our house is Resene Nomad. We just built a new fence, which is Resene Double Foundry. I'd like to repaint the exterior of the house so it goes better with the fence. A. If you wanted to change the whole house you could use a soft lightly tinted greyed white like Resene Half House White and a really dark roof colour like Resene All Black and lots of sharp clean white Resene Quarter Black White to create that severely smart up trend look that is exciting people at the moment. Coupled with the fence colour you have worked through the achromatic palette. Or alternatively are you able to add a little trim to the house in the Resene Double Foundry? It could look stunning as a door colour or a windowsill trim - sometimes just introducing some of the desired colour onto the house ties the colours together a bit more. If you were worried about the black depth of the colour you might use Resene Foundry which is related but softer. You might consider these options as they don't involve changing the entire exterior colour just embellishing it a bit.
March 2014
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Q. I want to put Resene Hawkes Blue throughout my house and have two feature walls of the same colour. I was thinking of a Resene Nutmeg sort of colour, and on the small wall at the back of the sink I would like to put a really different colour that would really pop. It's only about 2.5 x 1.5m. A. Resene Hawkes Blue is one of those incredibly delicate ethereal blues that can be totally wiped out by using too much of another colour that doesn't allow it to have pride of place in the house. If you go ahead and use a nutmeg sort of colour this could happen very easily. I suggest you look at using a softened 'white' like Resene Double Alabaster in the rooms where Resene Hawkes Blue is going to be the feature colour and as the ceiling and woodwork colour throughout the whole house. In the kitchen you need to take into consideration the colour of the benchtops and cabinets - they are there already (unless you are replacing them then you have all the options in the world) and consider whether more blue related to the Resene Hawkes Blue, such as Resene Echo Blue or deeper Resene Ship Cove might help link the colours together. Alternatively (and again wholly dependent upon what the kitchen colours are now) you might introduce a soft red like Resene Zinger or a gingered tan like Resene Whiskey Sour.
March 2014
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Q. We have a 1970s house to paint. The roof is Resene Karaka and it has aluminium windows. Can you suggest a colour for the walls? We have thought we could paint the roof another colour if need be. A. To go with the existing roof colour you might check out these colours – Resene Double Ash, Resene Double Thorndon Cream or Resene Rice Cake. Or if you did consider a new roof colour as well as a new house colour you might consider these options - Resene Ironsand with Resene Half Pravda, or Resene Gauntlet with Resene Triple White Pointer.
March 2014
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Q. We are going to paint and put in new window frames for our art deco house. Do you have any suggestions of what good colour schemes would match? If we replace our frames (probably aluminium) we'd need to pick the right colour to match what we might paint the house. The house looks quite lovely and bright when the sun hits it in the afternoon. So not too dark. We also have a lower entertaining area that looks more like a swimming pool with the colours it's been painted. The green goes all around the wall and we want to paint that soon. A. Please be very careful when getting new windows because it would be so easy to replace with modern and lose the detailing that the Art Deco frames give the house now, which is an essential part of the charm of the style of house. Another thing to consider is - though the wooden frames are a distinct colour now and look lovely with the palette of colours and therefore quite appropriate - sometimes choosing coloured powdercoated frames has to be viewed with caution because the wrong frame colour can't be removed easily unlike the painted wooden windows you currently have which can be changed with every change of house colour scheme. So - what does that lead you to in regard windows? White - goes with anything (but one white Arctic White has a cool slightly grey tone and Warm White is warmer/softer and more mellow) or cream - sometimes this is a definite yellow, muddy or even peach tone and may keep you trapped with the terracotta, tan brown, warm beige look or silver - could look quite contemporary and certainly favours the whites, greys and charcoal/blacks that are on trend at the moment for house colours and black which may well be a default 'right' colour as it goes with all other colours and maintains the crisp detailing (like wrought iron) that Art Deco buildings are famous for. You are right about the way the sun has a love affair with the house in the later afternoon - gorgeous! In regards to the green on the lower entertaining area - paint it out as soon as possible even if it is just to match the house or as a white undercoat while you work your way through colour options. If it is painted white then that would be a good area to test your colour options as they are seen best on white - all other colours influence you eye and often confuse you as to what the tested colours really look like. Ideally you need to decide on the windows and paint the green wall first as these will be start points in your new colour scheme. March 2014
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Q. We are having our house repainted. At the moment we have a colour similar to Resene Half Linen in all the rooms and we want the living area to be painted the same colour. We chose Resene Foggy Grey for the master bedroom and Resene Clouded Blue for the boys’ bedroom. We are unsure what to do with the corridor (not much natural light, dark brown floor) and the guest bedroom/study (north facing but not very bright due to small window, light grey carpet). A. Hallways are often a bit dim - perhaps you could look at Resene Eighth Tana, Resene Half Ecru White or Resene Half Joanna. You might consider using the same colour, whichever one you choose, in the guest bedroom to increase light and keep the room looking spacious and simple. All of the colours suggested look nice in association with the other colours you have used in the house.
March 2014
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Q. We have chosen Resene Woodsman Natural for painting our deck. What colour do you suggest to paint the house (double storey block)? We also have a brustic fence. I was thinking Resene Tea. A. Resene Tea is good but perhaps if you like that sort of colour you could check out Resene Half Bison Hide and Resene Quarter Pravda also as they may inspire you.
February 2014
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Q. Resene Eternity is pretty much the colour we want for the spouting etc, but could you advise which colour would be just a bit blacker? In the sunlight this looks a bit too green with the walls, which are 50/50 Resene Lusty and Resene Dynamite. A. Bright sunlight does tend to enhance the colours - if you want similar to Resene Eternity but darker you will find at certain times of the day what might look almost black suddenly looks quite green. You could try Resene DNA which is deep and slightly blackened or Resene Oil which is a sooty black green. Your main colour will enhance any green at all in any colour as it is a red. This is referred to as a complementary bias – red loves green.
February 2014
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Q. Deciding between white and black interior paint for our bach. We have Resene Alabaster throughout our full-time home. My brother uses Resene Black White in his lounge - I've never liked it, it feels cold in his house, yet I feel it's the best white for our bach. Our bach joinery is black, floors and ceiling are natural pine plywood. There is lush green native planting outside the window. Walls (inside) will be white except one (open plan living) is glossy black tile. And one bedroom will be black (cave-like). I have narrowed paint options to Resene Black White vs Resene Alabaster and Resene Nero vs Resene Black - any thoughts? A. Resene Black White and Resene Nero have a little underlying grey/blue undertone and Resene Alabaster and Resene Black are harder and a little more stark and optic. There is only a little difference really to choose between them - but they will respond to natural and artificial light in a slightly different way. The flooring (mats perhaps) you use over the natural plywood, the drapes and blinds, artwork and any existing coloured furniture coverings and duvets may need to be looked at with the 'white' and 'black' to ensure a good look.
February 2014
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Q. I've done a hallway in Resene Double Black White and want a grey that will flow on for the lounge which is north facing. Want a warm grey preferably a couple of hues darker than the Resene Double Black White. A. You might check out these colours - Resene Eighth Friar Greystone and Resene Half Foggy Grey. They are soft, warm and a couple of hues darker than Resene Double Black White. They also available as deeper versions - Resene Foggy Grey and Resene Quarter Friar Greystone .
February 2014
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Q. We are in the process of building and have chosen Resene Stonehenge for the lower kitchen cupboards and Resene Black White for the upper. What colour do you suggest for the ceiling and walls? A. If you want the upper cupboards to merge into the walls and not pop out then you could use the same colour for walls and ceilings - Resene Black White or if you want the walls and ceilings lighter but related to the upper cabinets you could use Resene Half Black White. If you would prefer the upper cupboards to look more of a colour you might use Resene Quarter Black White or Resene Alabaster. Or if you would like the walls to be a definite colour but all ceilings and woodwork to look crisper/whiter then you could consider Resene Eighth Stonehenge for walls and Resene Half Black White for ceilings etc.
February 2014
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Q. We have a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof and Tarras stone on the front exterior. Can you help with a colour for the weatherboards on the rest of the house? A. Because of the colours that are in the Tarras Stone you have a few options – you might like to try Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Foggy Grey and Resene Half Delta.
February 2014
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Q. The outside of my new house will be bagged schist with weatherboards in Resene Triple Tea. Will COLORSTEEL® Ironsand be an ok colour for the roof and garage door? A. I think the COLORSTEEL® Ironsand for roof and garage will look really nice with your other exterior colours. You don't mention what the window and door joinery are - often they are the same as the roof colour - but even if they aren't I can't see a problem with these lovely earthy tones.
February 2014
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Q. I am undergoing a new build. Our selected internal wall colour is Resene Quarter Tea with Resene Eighth Tea skirting etc. Carpet is a darkish charcoal/brown. What colour should I paint the standard height ceiling? A stark type of white or a type of black/white? A. I think you could check out Resene Alabaster or Resene Half Sea Fog as they are slightly less grey toned. Ceilings often look a bit greyish as the light falls away leaving more shadow so unless you want a greyer ceiling please be careful.
February 2014
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Q. Please can I ask for a suggestion to paint our roof. We have painted the weatherboards with Resene Stonehenge. A. You might investigate the following colours - they will all work with your main colour – Resene Ironsand, Resene Squall and Resene Groundbreaker.
February 20144
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Q. We are building a new house, have colours mostly sorted but not sure about internal doors. Walls are Resene Half Sisal, ceiling, door frames and architraves are Resene Albescent White. Flooring in kitchen /dining area is Karelia wood in country oak. Carpet greyish brown. The doors are full height. Should we paint them the same white or would you suggest a colour? A. Your choice of Resene Half Sisal (which is slightly yellowish) may make the ceiling, woodwork (and door colour - yes I would do the doors to match the woodwork), Resene Albescent White, look a little pinkish. I think if you want to use a definite coloured white then you might consider these alternative options if you want a 'white' that works well with your main colour – Resene Rice Cake or Resene Quarter Wheatfield. If you aren't wanting to emphasise the yellowish tone in the Resene Half Sisal you could use Resene Triple Alabaster.
February 2014
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Q. We have a 1930s two storey weatherboard house due for repainting. It is currently painted in Resene Spanish white, with Resene Holly green shingles with a pale green trim. Very nice but now dated. That colour scheme was used on a lot of houses and there seem to be certain combinations that work well. What would you suggest for a house of this age? A. If you favour a traditional look for the house you might look at these options - #1 Resene Double Rice Cake (main), Resene Quarter Rice Cake (windows, under soffits) and Resene Quarter Gravel (deep trim and doors), or #2 Resene Parchment (main), Resene Double Alabaster (windows, under soffits) and Resene Van Cleef (deep trim and doors). Lighter colours were always chosen as a main so really there is no end to the possibilities for a new palette of colours - and trims were mid to deep toned.
February 2014
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Q. We are currently repainting our house white. We are having trouble deciding what colour to paint our roof, handrails, base block and garage door. We have been thinking all along to have a black or dark grey roof, like Resene Karaka or Resene Grey Friars and then the same colour for the hand rails and garage door. Then using a lighter grey for the base blocks. We are a little unsure though and would like some advice. Also we are concerned about using a dark roof colour as some people say it makes your home hotter in summer. A. These palettes of colours offer slightly lighter roof colours (which I still recommend you get formulated in CoolColour™ technology to reduce heat absorption) and lighter co-ordinating colours for possibly the base blocks - or if not then just the hand rails, post etc.
You can of course play about with where you put the colours, how much you use of the colours but they all will look really nice with white.
February 2014
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