Here's a taste of some of the Colour Expert questions and answers to help you with your own colour scheme.
If you would like more colour advice for your project, please ask our Colour Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller. Colours are a representation only.
Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.
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Q. I have recently had a new kitchen added to my 1966 home. The cabinetry is Arctic White with a feature panel under the breakfast bar in duck egg. I am wondering if you could suggest a colour for my walls in the kitchen and lounge? A. Arctic White is a cool toned white with a blue undertone, so a lot of whites can appear creamier next to it – I suggest picking up on the duck egg tones, consider Resene Half Duck Egg Blue or Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue. Alternatively, you might like a soft grey/taupe tone, such as Resene Half White Pointer that can complement the soft tones of duck egg and the clean crispness of Arctic White. June 2025 |
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Q. Our home is painted with Resene Half Tea on all the walls. Our kids would like some feature wall colours in their rooms, can you suggest a mid green and lightish purple? Greens we are looking at are around Resene Tom Thumb, Resene Gecko or Resene Xanadu. Purple thinking around Resene Perfume or Resene Biloba Flower. But we’re open to anything else that would harmonise with Resene Half Tea. A. I really like Resene Xanadu for the green with Resene Half Tea. Resene Xanadu is a cooler grey green and creates a calm environment, while Resene Half Tea brings a bit of warmth. I suggest Resene Dancing Girl for the purple – it is a little deeper than Resene Perfume and Resene Biloba Flower so a better flow with Xanadu and a good balance with Resene Half Tea. June 2025 |
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Q. For an interior paint job with walls and ceilings in Resene Black White and window surrounds in Resene Quarter Black White, do you have any recommendations for skirting? Maybe something a bit warmer? A. Resene Alabaster looks great with Resene Black White and is a bit warmer, without going to a cream. Resene Triple Black White is also warmer. Resene Alabaster will have less contrast to Resene Quarter Black White, but I don't see that as too much of a problem – it just depends on the overall look you want to achieve. Resene Alabaster will retain a fresh cleaner look, where Resene Triple Black White is a bit earthier and is tonal. You might also like to try Resene Half Alabaster for a bit more contrast, but it is a little cooler than full strength Resene Alabaster. June 2025 |
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Q. We're renovating our mid-century modern home in Auckland, which is surrounded by established native plantings and overlooking Manukau Harbour. For the exterior, I've always liked a murky blue with white trim, and perhaps a bright orange/yellow front door. Do you have any suggestions? Or is this not a good fit with mid-century modern? A. Murky blues, white trims and orange or yellow front doors are typical mid-century modern colours, and the style is open to modern interpretation. The darker blue vertical boards with the garage door matching balances very well. Colours to try are Resene Baring Head, Resene Bluff or Resene Bounty with the vertical feature and garage door options of Resene New Denim Blue, Resene Rhino, Resene Coast or Resene Big Stone. For the trim try Resene Black White. I recommend you finalise the main house colours first then approach the yellow or orange – I am leaning towards orange – like Resene Clockwork Orange – for the front door. June 2025 |
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Q. I am colour blind and need some advice! I have bought a new place and it has two items that are fixed in their colour and cannot change and I've no idea how to match to them. The first is the new flooring in a driftwood wood colour, the second is the kitchen counter is granite and will remain the same. I am looking for advice for paint to complement these. Everything else can change. We need a colour for the cabinets, the walls and then the ceilings. We were thinking keep it very simple and bright with some combo of Resene Half Bianca and full Resene Bianca, but we really don't know anything. We just want some light neutral colours that match and the colour in the room will come from several paintings we own that are vibrant yellows, oranges, and blues. Our furniture is all cream, we have some cream rugs with multi coloured speckles and our solid furniture is white washed pine (Hamptons style furniture) or white rattan. All advice very welcome! We just want simple and bright. The white goods will also all be modern and silver moving forwards, not the older ones in place. A. Yes, keeping the walls light and simple will be effective – to complement the Hamptons theme and because you already have the strong character of a warm granite bench and then the lovely floor. However, I feel you can mix the whites up a little to create interest. Depending on light, the Resene Bianca family might be a bit clean for your home. I suggest trying Resene Half Merino for the walls, with Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream for the cabinetry and Resene Alabaster for the ceiling and scotia. Resene Half Merino is a slightly cooler white, while Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream is a warm, creamy neutral, combined they create a cohesive, stylish space that will complement the coolness of the silver and the warmth of the granite. June 2025 |
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Q. I am having Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta doors and skirting. Does Resene Quarter Tea go with this as a light neutral? One large room doesn't get much light so I even wondered about making walls and trims both Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta but thought that might not look very stylish. A. Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta is a bit yellow next to Resene Quarter Tea, which in turn can bring out the magenta in Resene Quarter Tea and make it appear pinkish. Resene Half Tea will be better as having more depth the pink is not so evident next to the light cream. Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta can look stylish on the walls and trims – consider Resene Space Cote Low Sheen for the walls, a durable, low sheen waterborne enamel, which means being a durable paint, the light walls will remain looking better for longer. Trims and doors are typically Resene Lustacryl a semi-gloss waterborne enamel because it creates contrast when using one colour and it is harder wearing. June 2025 |
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Q. We are repainting our large house in neutral colours to sell it (ceilings, walls, doors, skirtings). We have vaulted ceilings with exposed painted beams, terracotta tiles downstairs, white tiled bathrooms, wooden kitchen, some wood window surrounds. We are recarpeting with Malmo Demure. We want it to look modern, warm and inviting, but most importantly to appeal to as many people as possible. We have test boards of Resene Quarter Linen and all fractions/multiples of Resene White Pointer, but we are worried it all looks a bit grey as we are used to (and love) a lot of colour. One has a skirting painted in Resene Double White Pointer. A. The Resene White Pointer family will be a bit flat and grey for your home. Resene Quarter Linen should work and look modern, fresh, but not white and not grey – it is a neutral with a slight hint of green – soft and airy – a popular neutral at present. I recommend painting the ceilings white (or keeping the same white now if necessary) – if you are repainting try Resene Alabaster which is a warmish white that will create a nice effect with Resene Quarter Linen. June 2025 |
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Q. I have a commercial building and I want a plain colour on the walls and ceilings. I was told Resene Black White – should I have a different ceiling and trim colour? A. Resene Alabaster looks great with Resene Black White walls, for a modern look and subtle contrast. June 2025 |
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Q. We are painting our main bedroom and were looking at a light blue tint. We are keeping the existing curtains and the carpet will be a light grey. I looked at Resene Quarter Frozen, Resene Spindle and Resene Half Spindle but they are a bit stronger than what I am looking for. I have used Resene Half Sauvignon in my daughter's room which is lovely so was looking for something with a similar tone. The room is south facing and quite cold but does get a lot of natural light. If blue is not quite right, are there other colours you would suggest? I have used Resene Bianca in the hallway and could possibly use that but I did like the idea of having some colour in the room as long as it isn't overbearing. A. Blues with a slight purple or warm undertone help to warm the natural cool light of a south facing bedroom – layering blues looks great so I do think a blue might work – you can warm the scheme with warmer accent colours for accessories like bed linen and art. Try Resene Breathless, Resene Link Water, Resene Solitude or Resene Half Duck Egg Blue. If this doesn't work for you – consider a smoky grey blue like Resene Smokescreen to wrap the colour around, and blues with less white appear warmer – or consider a neutral like Resene Cashmere – verging on coral. June 2025 |
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Q. I am building a house in Wellington and I really love the idea of using the Resene FlaxPod colour for the exterior weatherboards. My roof and windows are already in FlaxPod, and I am considering using the same colour for my James Hardie Vertical Oblique 200mm weatherboards as well. However, I have a few concerns and would like to clarify them with experts. My house is a single-story gable-style home with a front barn door entrance. The roof tray profile and windows are already in FlaxPod. I am considering using FlaxPod for the weatherboards as well. Do you think this would look good, or would you recommend a different colour that might be more suitable? If I use FlaxPod for the weatherboards, will it make the house significantly warmer during the summer? Is this a bad decision from a thermal perspective? Is FlaxPod considered a passive colour? Is FlaxPod an earthy colour? Some people have mentioned that this colour is more suitable for the South Island rather than the North Island. Is there any truth to this? I am a bit confused by the feedback I have received from friends and would greatly appreciate your expert opinion before making a final decision. A. Yes, I believe Resene Element (Resene version of FlaxPod) will look great for your oblique weatherboards and will give good balance to the strong structure of the roof – otherwise a lighter colour will make the roof dominant. This is a current look that works very well, plus you have chosen a substrate which lends itself to darker colours, as many substrates have LRV restrictions, so dark colours cannot be used. As far as heat retention goes – yes darker colours absorb more heat and therefore naturally the heat can be transferred to the interior – this is most likely in warmer climates and on the North and West sides of the house – it also depends on the building structure so talk to your builder about your concerns and how the design/structure of your house might have an effect on using a darker colour, besides the main cladding. Using a Resene CoolColour paint will help reduce the heat absorbed – I recommend if you can to try a sample onto a sample substrate to see how you like the colour – keeping in mind one colour can look different on varying substrates and in different products – usually minimal, so the scheme still works together. FlaxPod is one of the biggest selling COLORSTEEL® and joinery colours currently throughout NZ. It was designed to suit many NZ environments from coastal to rural NZ, south to north. Perhaps contact NZ Steel and ask if they have any locations they can recommend for you to view. FlaxPod is a neutral – it sits between cool and warm – it is basically a grey black, but it has an earthy warmth to it, hence, why it suits so many environments. Cooler colours are considered more passive – but being quite dark – it is recessive so I suppose that can be considered passive. I describe it as a deep neutral with hidden warmth and earthy, how warm it appears depends on what it is being paired with – so if you are using it on the entire exterior this might be the best outcome for the colour remaining neutral – the best idea is to test it, please test in CoolColour paint if at all possible, and view on-site or at least outside. June 2025 |
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Q. We are choosing a wall colour. We are renovating a small bathroom, east side of house. We have Resene Half Spanish White on walls but this doesn't seem a great match with the tile: Nicolo matt porcelain tile from the Tile Depot. We have a rimu floor – quite red and warm with brushed nickel fittings and probably a white sink. We’re still deciding on the cabinet – maybe French Oak. We’re aiming to avoid too grey as it depresses me! A. Resene Half Cloud could look really nice and isn’t too grey – however, if you don't like the idea of any grey tones then I suggest you go for a warm white or a soft beige – I recommend you take a tile into a Resene ColorShop and ask the staff to help you find the right warm white undertone. Sometimes with hard materials like tiles the physical sample needs to be viewed with a swatch of the paint so the correct undertone can be advised. The staff will be happy to show you Resene Half Cloud as well – Resene ColorShops have a library of A4 precoloured swatches to view whilst in store. When viewing, take the tile and swatch close to the window to resemble natural interior light. From there any colours recommended or that you prefer I suggest you take a Resene testpot home to try in your own space. June 2025 |
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Q. We are having aluminium double glazing inserted into our wooden window frames. The aluminium is off white and our exterior frame colour is Resene Spanish White against Huntly brick (1965 house). Inside we have Resene Bronco painted wooden joinery. My husband wants to change the inside colour joinery to off white to match the aluminium but I think the aluminium will look fine with Resene Bronco. He thinks it will be too much but I'm not a fan of matchy matchy. Most of our interior walls are Resene Grain Brown. A. Yes, it will work with Resene Bronco and particularly since you have Resene Grain Brown walls, however, my honest opinion is if you want to change the wall colour later – then off white will be easier to pair with. I do like the look of the interior matching the exterior joinery – it is a cleaner look and simplifies the scheme. But having two different materials can allow you to have a different colour inside – it really is personal choice – if it was me and I had the opportunity – I would paint the joinery off white. Resene have a formula that matches off white Aluminium joinery – ask at the Resene ColorShop how to obtain a sample – always test the colour first – onto an undercoated window frame is best. June 2025 |
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Q. We are building a house and I keep flip flopping back and forth on colours. I know that going light is safe and looks nice, but I keep coming back to the idea of having some bold colours in our home. I am wanting to do a feature wall in our master bedroom behind our bed. I have always been drawn to rich greens. The room will get lots of light and has ocean views. Any other suggestions? Secondly, I am contemplating going for a navy in our hallway. Unlike the bedroom this won't get much light, is narrow and long. What are your thoughts on this? Any colour suggestions? Finally, I am thinking about painting the wall to the right of the front door. This will be the first wall you see when you open the front door. I was thinking about using the same navy as the hallway if we go for that. Again, what are your thoughts on a dark colour for the entrance way. Is this inviting? I want it to make an impact but then draw your eye in to the light, open living spaces (again with sea views). A. The three colours I recommend are chosen to balance one another and complement the furnishings and overall ambience. I suggest trying a green like Resene Palm Leaf – it sits between Resene Forest Green and Resene Olive Green. Yes, a dark coloured entrance can indeed draw the eye into a lighter adjacent room and view – the dark entrance acts as a frame, drawing the attention to the light space beyond it – cool toned colours like navy recede so they are not overwhelming in an entrance as they don’t advance upon you – plus the wall you are considering is open and not in an enclosed entrance. I suggest trying Resene Coast, Resene Bunting or Resene Blue Night. A dark colour looks fantastic on a long hallway as sometimes a light coloured hallway of depth can be underwhelming, therefore, using the same colour as the entrance is a great idea as the two areas are connected through both being transitional areas – and repetition of colour creates harmony – the same colour may look slightly different in the two spaces anyways, due to the difference in light. June 2025 |
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Q. I'm working on a fit-out project and I'm looking for a blue tone to apply on a corridor/wall ceiling. I’m looking for a metallic blue and a more lighter blue. I'm worried the corridor would be too dark with the metallic blue. A. It needs to have some depth or brightness to balance the remaining lighter elements, as you are aware, but darker cool toned colours like blue are recessive and great for a corridor with a lower height as being a passive colour it won’t encroach in this instance. With a lack of natural light, the metallic flake won’t be as enhanced in the corridor – although I am I guessing the artificial lighting will be on constantly. Resene Sputnik (soft navy metallic) or Resene Time Warp both from the Resene Metallics and Special Effects chart are great blues – Resene Time Warp is brighter. For a blue without a metallic flake, but for a brighter lighter look you could look to Resene Tory Blue or the muted Resene Astronaut or the less muted Resene Azure – something around these tones. June 2025 |
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Q. We are looking at painting our son's apartment. The walls and ceilings are Resene Black White and he has timber look cabinetry. He is thinking of Resene Black White for the door and surrounds and left-hand wall. But either a yellow or green on the cupboards? It’s a small area so keeping it simple is best. A. I suggest you take Resene Black White onto the wall, door and surround and the cupboards – to keep a seamless flow, to keep it light and to modernise. There is already contrast with the timber look cabinetry. June 2025 |
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Q. I am considering cladding and colour scheme in a bach renovation mid-century type cottage using an Ironsand roof and wrapping three sides for cladding in Accoya Grey vertical cladding. Across the front facade I need an accent colour to add some life to these dominant features. A. Yes, Ironsand works for a mid-century cottage – or FlaxPod is another option, but deeper – the Resene paint equivalent to FlaxPod is Resene Element. If your objective is to give relief to the dominant colours – then perhaps consider a neutral. Resene Triple Truffle works well with Ironsand or FlaxPod, alternatively, you could go for a stark contrast such as an off white like Resene Merino. Be aware that dark colours on some claddings such as weatherboards can retain heat and cause heat related issues – Resene CoolColour paint is an option to help reduce these issues. Whites you will have no issues, a neutral like Resene Triple Truffle is borderline – considered a mid-colour so you might want to investigate using a CoolColour. June 2025 |
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Q. We are looking at using Resene Evolution as a feature in our living room and are struggling to find the right white to go with it. We're a bit sick of grey but want to avoid anything too beige/cream. A. It depends on the light in the room – Resene Black White can look great in spaces that have lots of light, while warmer whites like Resene Half Bianca can be better in spaces with less light – and is not too cream or beige. Resene Half Merino sits between warm and cool – this might also work for you. June 2025 |
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Q. I have used Resene Waterborne Woodsman Pitch Black on our cedar house. What colour would most closely match the above on Resene Coolplast Construction system on the plaster walls using Resene X-200 CoolColour paint. Our aim is to have the Cedar and Plaster match. A. The closest and most neutral will probably be Resene Black – but I recommend that you obtain a sample if possible - perhaps talk to a Resene ColorShop or your builder for a sample of Resene X-200 CoolColour Black – generally an A4 swatch can be ordered if not a wet sample. June 2025 |
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Q. I have a south facing main bedroom with minimal window space and 12ft stud. I want to paint it green. What greens would you suggest to keep it warm, light and gender neutral? A. Greens which are not too grey will work best, as these greens can be a bit sour in a south facing room – so olive or brown based greens are best. Try Resene Frontier, Resene Bud, Resene Green Spring or Resene Half Secrets. June 2025 |
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Q. We have a project that has had Anthracite Grey specified for the window joinery. The closest cladding match is Dimond Black/Ebony. We require a contrasting white, and paint for vertical weatherboards. The weatherboard supplier prefers an LRV of greater than 45%. A. Try Resene Sea Fog – it has an LRV of 81%. It is a versatile white that will create a stylish and modern look, with soft tones to balance the black and Anthracite. June 2025 |
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Q. I want to seek advice and guidance on exterior colours for my house. I have COLORSTEEL® Lichen, which I'd like to repaint before replacing it due to costs. I'm trying to extend the life at this point. Our roof is COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue and joinery is brown. We have replaced very old tea tree as the banister on our deck with bamboo. We used a maple/honey finish. There is a lot going on now with the colours. The doors downstairs have just been refinished with a stain. Not sure what the colour is but it took forever to do, so we'd like to keep them as is. The trim and rafters need a facelift too. A. To balance the blue of the roof and the brown aluminium windows I suggest a deep warm charcoal for the corrugated cladding – it will modernise the house and the corrugated iron can take a dominant colour – try Resene Fuscous Grey from the Karen Walker Paints collection it is not black – and is available as a CoolColour paint which helps the iron to stay cooler in summer. For the bargeboard, fascia, soffit with rafters – one option is to stain it the same colour as the timber – this will balance the overall look – as there is none of this colour at the top level which can make the house feel like there are too many different colours. Alternatively with the darker corrugated cladding that should help to soften the effect of the stained joinery so you could opt to paint the bargeboards and fascia Resene Fuscous Grey, with the soffit and rafters a soft neutral such as Resene Double Merino. June 2025 |
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Q. We have selected Thunder Grey for the roof, fascia and spouting on a new build with Matt Appliance White Dulux Aluminium joinery. For the two claddings (one weatherboard and one vertical), we are considering Resene Half Gravel and Resene Atmosphere. Will those greys match or can you suggest better suited greys? A. Yes, those two greys work well together, with the other elements, to create a cohesive modern look or you might like to try Resene Quarter Tapa in replace of Resene Atmosphere for a slightly warmer look – Resene Atmosphere is crisper and cooler if you want a contemporary feel. June 2025 |
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Q. I need a complementary colour for walls to suit kitchen cabinets painted in Resene Half Pearl Lusta. I will possibly paint the dining area to match. I prefer soft mossy/sage green tones. A. Try Resene Green Spring, Resene Bud, Resene Spanish Green or Resene Half Rivergum. I am thinking Resene Bud might work well if you are taking it through to the dining room – but they are all lovely and you can go a bit more dramatic with Resene Half Rivergum – or if the design of the space allows – perhaps use this for the dining room and one of the paler sage greens for the kitchen. June 2025 |
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Q. I’m looking for the colour that is the closest match to Monument that is available in the CoolColour range. Could you please help? A. The equivalent is Resene Nocturnal. It is available in a CoolColour paint – I recommend you try a sample first as CoolColour paint can affect the colour slightly – but this is the compromise between colour accuracy and protection of the substrate. June 2025 |
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Q. We are interested in some opinions on paint colours for the walls of our fairly dark lounge room. A. Try Resene Athens Grey, Resene Half Athens Grey, Resene Poured Milk or Resene Thorndon Cream. June 2025 |
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Q. We have a three bedroom 1980s brick and tile standalone townhouse which is the last one in a block of three. The garage and front door face north, the living area at the back of the house faces west. We are looking for colour suggestions for the garage and front doors, the concrete block base, and the vertical wooden slats in several areas including above the windows. We are also wondering if we should repaint the barge boards and other roof areas white or go for something different. A. dark colour looks fabulous next to brick and really modernises a house of this era. If you use Resene CoolColour paint for your dark colours this will help reflect heat. My suggestion is to paint the garage door and front door Resene Bokara Grey CoolColour and paint the gable ends/bargeboards, spouting and soffit if applicable in Resene Rakaia. For the vertical boards, including windows I suggest Bokara Grey, this will make the boards above the windows blend into the joinery and brick. For the base I suggest Resene Double Rakaia and for any concrete porch if applicable – this will balance the higher gable ends etc in a lighter colour. The garage door and front door timber surround I suggest Resene Rakaia. For a lighter option – try Resene Half Stonehenge for the garage door and vertical timber boards, including above the windows, with Resene Merino for the gable ends/bargeboards, spouting and soffit if applicable, Resene Merino for the garage door and front door surround, and Resene Half Ironsand for the base and front door using CoolColour paint. June 2025 |
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Q. We have painted our house in Resene Triple Sisal. The aluminium joinery is mid bronze matt. We now need to replace the roof. Do you think Ironsand would complement the Resene Triple Sisal and also match the joinery colour. Or could you make an alternative recommendation. A. Yes, Ironsand will pair well with the window joinery and Resene Triple Sisal. I also recommend cleaning the front door and timber railings with Resene Moss & Mould Killer which kills the mould spores not just visibly removes them, followed by Resene Timber and Deck Wash which helps brings the timber back to a lovely colour, or as a prerequisite to painting. For the railings consider painting them Resene Ironsand which will match the roof – I recommend you use a Resene CoolColour paint to help reflect more heat when using a dark colour on timber. June 2025 |
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Q. We have a bathroom with the below items being used in it. Can you provide some feedback on the best colour to go with this. We are thinking of a grey. Tiles in Milano mid grey with black trims, black tapware and vanities in Southern Oak with Ponti Stonecast white top. A. Although it may not be an exact match – Resene Triple Black White or Resene Half Concrete could work well. There are lighter variants of Resene Triple Black White if that appears too dark and Resene Concrete is a little deeper than half. June 2025 |
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Q. We are looking at painting our interior. We want to start small and gradually work our way up to painting the home ourselves. Our home has been painted a neutral 'greige' throughout. We want a colour to bring some light into the house and create a feeling like a big, warm hug to walk into. We want to keep our main living spaces natural with some more complementary colours to the bedrooms that are not overpowering. We have a laundry area, a hallway leading to a small living area with a kitchen (this living space receives the least light), and then a large, separate living room with big windows, which gets lots of light. The front entryway leads into the small living room, kitchen and the upstairs area, so these colours would need to be the same or highly complementary to each other. The two bedrooms upstairs are separate. Can you suggest some colours to start with for this scheme? We are also considering hiring a consultant, but would like to start by creating some swatches and using testpots first. A. Generally, for accuracy of colour options we would need to know – kitchen colours, flooring, and any existing furnishings/colours you intend using, however, we can make suggestions for a palette to consider and then you will need to assess if it works with any fixed colours/textures. Location and the era of your home can also affect the colour choices and how they appear inside. For your home check out warm inviting natural colours like sand, terracotta, espresso browns, and muted greens like sage green, duck egg greens and blues might also appeal. Try Resene Blanc, Resene Quarter Parchment or Resene Bianca as a base colour for enlightening spaces and these are great neutrals for entranceways, corridors and darker spaces that require a bit of warmth as well – there are deeper and paler variants if necessary. Have a play with these as well to see what you prefer – lighter options might be preferred for the laundry or you could opt for a soft green – Resene Half Washed Green or Resene Bud are gorgeous. Deeper variants might be more welcoming for the living room and with lots of light, so the colour is not washed out. For bedrooms consider Resene Periglacial Blue or Resene Half Robin Egg Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection or Resene Open Sesame. Accent with terracotta and browns like Resene Dawn Glow, Resene Florentine Pink and Resene Rebel. June 2025 |
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Q. I currently have a pink summerhill stone house. I would like to paint the brick to a more modern colour. Currently, the concrete tile roof is a mid grey colour but I am looking to upgrade to COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars. Would a tone of olive green work for the brick? Or do you have any other colours to recommend? What window trims and door colours should I use to match the new colour? A. An olive green might not be quite right with Grey Friars – but a colour like Resene Ash which is a grey green neutral or a muted tone work quite well. Some colours to consider are Resene Half Washed Green, Resene Ravine or Resene Haven – a popular warm grey like Resene Silver Chalice will also work – these colours look great paired with Resene Alabaster. I quite like the Resene Ash family for your style of home – Resene Half Ash, Resene Ash or even Resene Double Ash; these look great paired with a warm clean white like Resene Bianca. June 2025 |
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Q. What neutral/white wall colour would go well with a Resene Eighth Pravda cabinetry and Resene Mondo (island) kitchen? A. Try Resene Merino or if this is too warm – Resene Half Merino or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. For a cool toned white you might like Resene Black White. Resene Quarter Tea is also a possibility. June 2025 |
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Q. We are painting a villa. It has a COLORSTEEL® Sandscape roof and Interpon joinery in Titania. It looked neutral in the photo, but perhaps it has a green undertone like COLORSTEEL® Titania. We have been looking at Resene Alabaster fretwork and windows and Resene Double Black White weatherboards. I am wondering if the weatherboard colour can work with both. Also, the extension has a new roof. The old villa has a red roof about 8-9 yrs old and can be painted. Should we use the same or different colour? The council forces a 1m passage to separate old and new. A. If the scheme of the old villa is the same as the extension – then yes, paint the roof Resene Lighthouse – which is the equivalent to Sandscape. Titania and Sandscape should work together – and yes Resene Triple Black White will work for the main cladding with Resene Alabaster for the fascia, trims such as ornate detailing, railings etc and soffit. June 2025 |
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Q. My house was built 22 years ago and at the time we opted for white walls and pale grey internal doors and door surrounds. After the earthquake, the repairs allowed for the walls to be repainted but not the doors. We had the walls done with Resene Black White. The doors are looking pretty shabby now and need repainting. If memory serves, they were painted Resene Acropolis. Please can you advise if you think that is a good colour to stick with or if I should consider a different colour for the doors. A. Resene Acropolis (equivalent of Resene Half Tea) sits well next to Resene Black White – however, if you want to lighten and modernise the overall appearance and perhaps blend the doors a bit more so they are not too featured – then consider Resene Alabaster – which is a slight shift in white, next to Resene Black White. June 2025 |
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Q. We have stripped our window frames because the outer frame is native wood, but the frames around the glass are cedar and I’m less sure I want that wood exposed due to colour difference and texture. There’s the added complication that I didn’t manage to completely strip the cedar before double glazing was installed and there’s still paint in the tight bits. I’m thinking of painting the cedar white, as we have two large windows dominating the front of the house with white aluminium frames, but I am struggling to find a white match (or nice contrast). A. We would need to know what the aluminium colour is – Resene ColorShops have matches to aluminium colours – this will create the closest look – or you could opt for a soft white like Resene Bianca or Resene Alabaster. Resene Alabaster is a popular trim colour regardless – it just depends on how it looks next to the aluminium. June 2025 |
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Q. I'm trying to choose colours for this little area in my studio area. The back wall of the cupboard has seaweed wallpaper, so I'd like to draw out the blue or green and create a lovely rich dark wall on the other side (it will have internal lighting). Then I want complementary colours for the leadlight door and maybe different colours for the apothecary drawers, then we are planning on painting the rimu cabinet doors too (but keeping the rimu benchtop and rimu flooring). I'm wanting the corner space to be 1920s gin cabinet feel then the rest of the room a creative and airy space. It is attached to a greenhouse so something to complement all the plants out there. A. The first thing is to get the complementary dark colour right. In this instance as everything really involves around the paper – my advice so you are not going back and forwards with many test pots is to take a physical sample into a Resene ColorShop and ask an in-store colour expert to help – you may need a sample from a stockist if you don't have any paper left over – or take a closer pic of the paper. An in-store Colour Expert can be booked online or phone your local Resene – it is a free service. You can book this online at www.resene.com/colourconsult. Too many colours in one area is going to create chaos as the paper is already a feature – so work with similar tones – perhaps blues and greens and one accent colour (that might be contrasting in the paper) or instead of the accent pick out a background neutral if there is one. June 2025 |
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Q. Our home has a COLORSTEEL® Ironsand roof and COLORSTEEL® Titania joinery. What Resene colours would suit this combination? Our house is newly clad in James Hardie Axon cladding, giving it a distinctly Scandinavian vibe. A. For a Scandinavian feel try Resene Half Ash or Resene Triple Sea Fog for the Axon Cladding. June 2025 |
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Q. I really like the tones of Resene Bud but would like a slightly lighter shade is there one available and if yes what is it called? Or would I need to ask for half Resene Bud? A. Resene Green Spring is a softer alternative to Resene Bud and is a lovely pale sage. You can ask a Resene ColorShop if they have a match to half Resene Bud (as it is not a standard colour) and what samples are available. Our Colour Lab can create lighter and darker versions of most Resene colours. June 2025 |
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Q. We’ve stained our townhouse with Resene Pitch Black, and just had new double glazed, black windows installed. We have white barge poles. We still have the lovely faded green colour steel roof. What could would be a good option for the roof. (And any other ideas). A. I suggest you paint the roof to match Resene Pitch Black for a modern exterior – Resene Nero is the black to try – I recommend you use a CoolColour paint – as this will help reflect heat. If you like the idea of the roof being a bit lighter then try Resene Windswept. June 2025 |
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Q. I have painted our bedroom walls but there’s currently one wall unpainted which the previous owners used as a feature wall, and we’d like to carry on that tradition. The colour I’d like it to be is a moody blue/green/turquoise, and I quite liked the Resene FX Paint Effects photo I saw in an article on your website. Do hit me with your colour suggestions as to what would work in that space! A. I like the first example for your space – it is earthy and warmer and will suit the light. You might like to try a limewash effect using these colours – Resene Mangrove as the base (two coats) followed by Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with a testpot of Resene Ravine. You might also like to try a basecoat of Resene Paradise with a wash of Resene Green Meets Blue. I suggest you try a sample area using Resene testpots onto A2 card of both products before committing to a wall, until you are happy with the technique. There are more examples on the Resene website about paint effects and it’s a good idea to view the habitat plus booklet 'special effects create with paint' – you can view this and more at www.resene.com/painteffects. June 2025 |
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Q. We are trying to match a Resene paint on a house we have bought. We were told the colour was Resene Builders White but I cannot see that name on your current charts. Can you advise how I can match the colour with a current product please? A. Builders White is not a colour as such – it is generally white paint that has a little bit of black added – something painters order themselves usually – pop into a Resene ColorShop and see if they have a formula for 'painters white' or 'builders white', and then I suggest you buy a 250ml test pot if possible to see how close it is to your house white. June 2025 |
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Q. We have a small house that needs repainting inside. We are intending to use the home for a holiday rental. It is quite dark inside and we are thinking Resene Quarter Blanc or Resene Quarter Merino on the walls teamed up with wood laminate flooring. Does that sound ok and what colour would you recommend for ceilings and doors ? A. Try Resene Half Merino – I feel Resene Quarter Blanc might be a little too warm for a rental and Resene Quarter Merino a bit pale – Resene Half Merino sits well in between; team it with Resene Alabaster for ceilings and doors to give a fresh, modern contrast. June 2025 |
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Q. Can you please tell me the name of the colour green of the words ‘Paint it Green for the Environment Day’ on your poster. Also the colour in the rectangle underneath the tree. I've bought a testpot of Resene Robin Egg Blue, but it's just a bit too light. I can't seem to find any colour swatches with the similar colours. A. Printed colours don’t translate perfectly to the paint colours but you might like to try Resene Spring Green or for a darker option Resene Killarney for the wording and for the rectangle Resene Spring Rain. June 2025 |
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Q. I'm looking for a warm light blue, suitable for a bathroom. Can you suggest a few to choose from, especially ones that have half and quarter variations? A. Try Resene Half Breathless, Resene Tranquil, Resene Jet Stream, Resene Quarter Frozen, Resene Half Spindle or Resene Half Halcyon. Blue is not considered a warm colour, but some can impart warmth – it depends on the lighting in your bathroom to how they appear so ensure to test colours in the space, the blues suggested are for their soothing vibe. June 2025 |
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Q. We are planning to repaint our 1989 built Hardiplank house. It is single story on piles on a sloping site, with weathered pine decking across east and north facing sides. We are keen on going with earthy tones and are gravitating towards green-blacks to set off the planting around us. We have white aluminium joinery. We are also replacing the roof. Currently we are liking Resene Marshland and Resene Karaka, with a slight tendency more towards Resene Karaka as it seems a bit more recessive. For the roof colour we are looking at FlaxPod for all over dark, Thunder Grey for less severe, Lichen for a complimentary contrast or Ironsand for subtle contrast. Are there any other colours you would recommend exploring for the walls? Do you have recommendations for roof colours with Resene Karaka walls? A. I like FlaxPod for the roof with Resene Karaka walls. The dark grounding FlaxPod roof balances the warmer Resene Karaka walls – FlaxPod was introduced to suit most NZ environments. You might also like to try an earthy grey green such as Resene Cobblestone for the walls with a Resene Karaka roof or for a softer neutral earthy exterior try Resene Double Tapa walls with a FlaxPod roof. Having three options is a great way to see the different undertones – I suggest getting the roof samples and then trialling them with your Resene testpot colours. Resene Karaka and Resene Element are the matches to COLORSTEEL® Karaka and FlaxPod. June 2025 |
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Q. Could you please advise a colour slightly darker than Resene White Thunder for an interior colour? A. Resene White Thunder is quite unique. You could try a double strength of Resene White Pointer. June 2025 |
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Q. I'm about to paint my apartment walls so that I can project movies on to them. What colour/s do you recommend for the wall so that I avoid unwanted reflections etc while still getting the clearest images, and getting essentially 'white' walls during the day? A. Product will be the decider in this instance as white paint is generally the most reflective – however, if you paint the walls Resene SpaceCote Flat, which is a waterborne enamel flat paint, so it has no sheen which makes it the least reflective white paint – being a waterborne enamel it is also more durable than a standard waterborne paint. I recommend you try Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Alabaster. June 2025 |
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Q. Our house interior is currently painted Resene Villa White. I’m looking for a white which has cool grey undertones rather than cream, beige or yellow tones. Which is Resene’s greyest white while still being white rather than a noticeable grey? It needs to work with Resene Grey Friars, Resene Prussian Blue and Resene Longitude. A. Try Resene Black White or Resene House White. June 2025 |
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Q. We would like to paint our living area, dining area, kitchen, staircase and hallways a neutral white. It is currently powder blue. Our kitchen has white cabinetry. We think the living area is North-East facing and am thinking a creamy warm white may work. Could you please provide some colour options? A. Try Resene Half Milk White or Resene Half Cararra. It really depends on how the warm whites appear next to the white kitchen too. June 2025 |
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Q. I'm repainting an apartment, that I have just bought. It is currently it is yellow blue with red curtains. I would like something calming and cosy, everyone is saying I should do a white or grey. I would like some recommendations on a colour combination to use. the kitchen floor is concrete. A. Are you changing the blue of the kitchen cabinetry and the blue carpet? If you are then I suggest you choose these colours first and work from there. For a kitchen with concrete floor, a white will work well – something like Resene Black White or the warmer Resene Half Sea Fog. For the lounge if you want calm and cosy a soft green like Resene Robin Egg Blue from the Karen Walker Paints collection might look nice – I recommend you paint all the walls one colour to modernise the scheme. June 2025 |
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Q. We have painted the inside of our house in Resene White Pointer and Resene Half White Pointer with Resene Alabaster wardrobe doors and window frames. The other interior joinery and doors are mainly rimu. The carpet is a browny greyish. But I feel I need to add some oomph into each room. I am trying to find some nice blues or greens to paint the feature walls in three bedrooms and also a wall in the bathroom and the living area. There is also a coloured wall under the island bench where the bar stalls are. It’s an awful cold dark grey which brings down the area so I am keen to paint that. The kitchen is a warm white not a cold white. The master bedroom and other bedroom get a lot of natural light and sun. The downstairs areas get less direct sun because there is a wide covered porch which reduces direct sunlight. The toilet, bathroom and bedroom 3 are downstairs. Bedroom 3 can feel cold as it’s more shaded. The living room has a high skillion ceiling painted white. Parts of the living area are shaded by some neighbour’s big trees (grrrr). The kitchen cabinets are white (a warm white (definitely not cream) rather than a cold white) and the benchtops look similar to a Quartz Stone colour but with more white. I do like colour and have used Resene Inside Back and Resene Edward in our bach but these tones don’t seem right with Resene White Pointer. A. For the island unit colour – this can make or break a scheme and doesn’t always work as a colour – plus it depends on the material – a painted laminate can be done with the correct primers and undercoat but it isn’t as durable as a laminated surface – however, being under a bench it may not be an issue. Greens and blues which work with Resene White Pointer are Resene Emerge, Resene Jet Stream, Resene Gothic, Resene Field Day, Resene Xanadu, Resene Nebula and Resene Navigate. Consider painting three of four feature walls in the house and to keep a modern appearance – bring in coloured accessories and furnishings for other areas or paint all the walls in one room a colour. Sort the bedrooms first as colour works well as a feature in these spaces and then address the island unit and remaining areas – as they may need a softer colour approach. It may be that one of the suggested colours works for one of the other areas – once you have painted up your samples move them around the different areas to see how they look. To make a sample, apply two coats of your testpot onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border around the edge to help you see the true colour. Move it around the space during the day and night to see how it looks. June 2025 |
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Q. I am trying to figure out what shade of white will go with the timber in my house. I have timber panelling on the walls and timber floor. I am trying to go for a brighter shade to brighten the house up. A. Try Resene Bianca – it is a lovely light warm off white – much lighter than your current cream. It brightens and gives the illusion of more light – it works well with timber and heritage style homes. June 2025 |
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Q. Can you please suggest weatherboard colours and roof colour for our house with brick first floor and upper levels weatherboard. Joinery is white. We are thinking of changing the roof to Grey Friars or Thunder Grey. A. Resene Grey Friars will work best with your white joinery and yellow toned brick. For the weatherboards try Resene Half Ash or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey. June 2025 |
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Q. I’m doing a new home build. I’m thinking of warm neutrals. Inside I was planning to use Resene Quarter Akaroa for the walls. Which white will be good for trims and internal doors and wardrobe doors – Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Villa White or something else? The kitchen cabinets are a linseed type colour. Shall I go full strength Resene Akaroa or Resene Bison Hide on external rendered walls? The windows and roof are COLORBOND® Monument. A. You will need to see physical samples of the whites/exterior colours with your other elements to check they look good together but Resene Quarter Villa White or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream are good options. For the exterior it really depends on the look – Resene Akaroa will flow to the inside well but is quite warm and pale compared to Resene Bison Hide which is deeper and earthier. You may need to order Resene A4 drawdown paint swatches from the Resene website and see which you prefer next to COLORBOND® Monument or ask for samples of the render if possible. I prefer Resene Bison Hide – for a modern earthy look – but both will work. June 2025 |
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Q. I have a 1948 house. I am wondering about a colour for the bathroom. I am thinking a green shade. A. Yes, a green will suit the era of your house – just ensure the colour works with the other elements in your home and looks great in the light. Try a soft sage such as Resene Green Spring, Resene Frontier or Resene Bud or for a more vibrant shade – Resene Amulet. June 2025 |
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Q. Our roof colour is COLORSTEEL® Mist Green. We want to paint the weatherboards in a light and complementary colour. The house is 1970s ranch style with naturally coloured deck surrounding it that we don’t want to stain or paint. What colours or colour palette would you suggest we look at? A. Depending on your window joinery colour – you might like to investigate earthy pale colours such as Resene Ecru White, Resene Quarter Grey Olive, Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Kangaroo, Resene Aspiring or Resene Double Rice Cake. June 2025 |
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Q. We are currently doing a commercial build and cladding the exterior walls in vertical steel cladding – Colorcote Sandstone Grey. Our designer has suggested the cement soffit sheets are painted to match this colour. What Resene colour is the closest to Colorcote Sandstone Grey? A. Resene Gauntlet is the equivalent to COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey. I recommend you check a sample of Resene Gauntlet against your Colorcote sample to make sure they are a good match. Our Colour Lab can also create a custom colour if needed. June 2025 |
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Q. I’m looking to paint my little house in Resene Ecru White. I would like to paint the deck in Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen and some slat boards below but I’m wondering what is a beautiful colour scheme to do the second colour. A. A colour that is between the garage and paler Resene Ecru White will blend well – try Resene Archive Grey or Resene Greige. You can use a Resene CoolColour for this to help reflect more heat. June 2025 |
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Q. What colour should I paint my bathroom ceiling (tongue-and-groove) and walls? Things I don't want to change: The interior of the bath is cream and the exterior is a warm beige and the mirror has a greige colour laminate shelf and on top of the mirror. There is also a heat light/fan on the ceiling with a slightly cream plastic casing. There are rimu floorboards and three rimu window frames. There are white subway tiles behind the white toilet (with pale grey grout). I want to feel calm and pampered in my bathroom as I often use it in the evening to unwind from the day. I have a teak Balinese wooden carving above the toilet and plan to buy a teak stool to go beside the bath. I would like to add candle sconces on either side of the mirror (probably wrought iron), and a large pot plant for under the middle window. I would prefer a light colour, probably an off white, it is a very light filled room. The hallway that opens to the bathroom has one wall painted in Resene Nocturnal and the other in Resene Black White. The hall is dark and I don't really know if I want to go into a dark bathroom. A. A warmish light off white which bounces light around the room may work well – try Resene Bianca, alternatively Resene Half Thorndon Cream is a green tipped neutral which will bring a zen like feeling to the space and work with the elements existing. I recommend you paint the timber surrounding the toilet and mirror as these two areas date the scheme and leave the skirting. For the storage timber I wouldn't attempt to bring in another feature or timber colour – consider whitewashing it with Resene Colorwood Whitewash. June 2025 |
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Q. We are building a new home which is clad in COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod and I was wondering if Resene White Pointer would be a good choice for the interior and also do I do the doors and trim the same colour or use maybe Resene Half White Pointer? A. Yes, Resene White Pointer works with FlaxPod – but ensure to see samples of each colour together. Resene have a stock library of A4 Resene drawdown paint swatches – they will be able to show you the equivalent of FlaxPod and Resene White Pointer – view them as close to natural light as possible without going outside. I feel for your home Resene Half White Pointer might be best for the doors and trims – as new builds generally have quite nice doors and it is a current trend to use varying shades of white. June 2025 |
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Q. We have a board and batten house which we have painted in Resene Charred Black and would like to use a red on the joinery. We are looking at Resene Poppy, Resene Jalapeno or Resene Quarter Pohutukawa? We are in a bush setting. Any suggestions on the best red? A. Reds intensify outside and are prone to fading a bit quicker than some colours. You can use Resene Clearcoat UVS to help protect against fading, if you are okay with having a gloss finish. Resene Quarter Pohutukawa may appear a bit too pink with charred black and Resene Poppy will dominate as charred black is quite earthy – you could try Resene Jalapeno, Resene Hot Chile or Resene Rudolph. I quite like a blended look as reds will stand out regardless – the eye is drawn to red first hence why it is a popular 'grab your eye' colour in advertising – so an earthier red for me means the windows will feature but you won't lose sight of the house – bright red doors are popular for this reason so the visitor is drawn to the entrance. Earthier reds you might consider trying are Resene Aroha or Resene Dynamite. June 2025 |
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Q. I need a hand with colour ideas that would go with bronze windows. We are thinking coastal doc hut feel the existing house is white with a green roof. A. Consider Resene Squall – an earthy neutral with touches of green and grey – for the roof, with a soft smoky green grey for the walls and gable end such as Resene Half Ash which will complement the earthy tones of the roof and bronze windows. You might like to paint the bargeboards, gutters and fascia Resene Half Ash and keep the soffit a grey white like Resene Black White. Alternatively, you might like a deeper green for the roof such as Resene Karaka with Resene Castle Rock for the gable and cladding and Resene Merino for the bargeboards, fascia, gutters and soffit. These schemes create a grounding and natural feel – blending the bronze windows rather than having a stark white exterior. June 2025 |
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Q. I've spoken to you before by email and had great suggestions on paint. I've had my house painted. Now I'm up to my old deck. I painted it Resene Brown Pod but when the suns out the Resene Brown Pod doesn't look dark enough. Are you able to suggest a darker brown for the deck please? Maybe a colour that was popular back in the 70s and 80s. A. Resene Brown Pod is a great colour and quite dark – keep in mind that all colours appear lighter on decks – you might like to try Resene Toorak and Resene Sambuca, which are similar in tone. Alternatively, if these are appearing too light for you – look to more of a black/brown like Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Wood Bark. When you’re using a dark colour, choose a Resene CoolColour if you can to help reflect more heat. This will help to keep the deck a little cooler than the standard colour when you are walking on it. June 2025 |
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Q. The Resene Half Frozen on our living room walls has to go. It is great during the day but with dimmed lights at night it doesn’t look right next to the gorgeous Resene Wafer colour in the adjoining rooms (dining and kitchen). Please can you recommend a warm colour no darker than Resene Wafer that will work with the chartreuse, forest greens and dark plums in the rug, drapes and upholstery. A. It may be the transition from such a warm colour like Resene Wafer through to an icy blue that is causing the problem. Consider a warm pale terracotta like Resene Beethoven, or a warm velvet neutral like Resene Quarter Heathered Grey or Resene Foundation. Alternatively, you could try a very soft sage like Resene Half Secrets which creates a gentle warm atmosphere with a subtle contrast to Resene Wafer or a warmish off white such as Resene Rice Cake or Resene Double Rice Cake. June 2025 |
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Q. I would like advice on colour options for my kitchen joinery. I would like to do the lower joinery in a dark colour and the upper cupboards and pantry in a white. The Raven Caesarstone bench is staying. A. Try a warm grey for the lower cabinets such as Resene Gunsmoke, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Half Fuscous Grey. For the pantry and upper cabinetry try Resene Wan White or Resene Half Sea Fog. The walls could then become Resene Half Wan White or Resene Sea Fog – depending on what you choose for the upper cabinetry. You might also like to investigate Resene AquaLAQ Colour Coat which is a tinted finish designed for kitchen cabinetry – it can be applied directly to cabinetry that has been prepared and correctly sealed. As it is usually sprayed a professional is recommended. Darker timber will work better for the flooring to create a cohesive design. June 2025 |
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Q. I've used Resene Double Alabaster inside for our renovation. In one of the bedrooms (east facing) it’s taking a very cool tone, blue tinged. The carpet will be a light grey so in this room I’m not sure if that will make it even worse. I've not selected curtains yet and could add other colours through cushions etc to warm it up. The bathroom is similar but the coolness of less concern. A. If there is no blue or green in the room such as adjacent colours or flooring then I believe that the reflection from outside greenery is possibly giving the walls a blue/green tinge – the whiter the colour the more reflection from adjacent or outside colour – I find warmer whites or complex neutrals seem to suit east facing rooms – because the morning light is so clear it can emphasise blues and greens, and the warmer hues balance the intensity of this light. Grey is possibly still a good option for your carpet because it will help to neutralise the blue – just ensure it is not a cold grey or blue toned carpet – suppliers can help you with samples – a warmer brown grey might be better (more grey than brown however). You can warm the space with any warm toned accent you like – Resene Alabaster is neutral and works with most colours – consider warm tones for accessories, soft furnishings – from terracotta to warm beige to olive greens – a patterned duvet and artwork might help distract and pull in those warm tones – of course it can still include a cool tone or two, but make sure the dominant colour is warm. Investigate the Resene Curtain Collection online or at your local Resene – a textured linen look might be quite nice – I would be careful with colour here as the light might reflect something more unexpected and curtains are not as easily replaced – so a warm natural colour with texture might work. June 2025 |
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Q. We have purchased an old cottage with two different wood flooring types. Half the house has beautiful spotted gum flooring, the rest is cyprus. Can we stain the cyprus to look more like the spotted gum flooring colour? The floor is about to be fully sanded and finished. A. Resene Colorwood Enhance is a coloured additive that can be added to a Resene clear floor finish to create a subtle colour enhancement and to even out discolouration. It works well over varnished surfaces as it doesn't always require sanding, and you can customise the colour. A stain such as Resene Colorwood interior wood stain will dramatically change the colour of your floor but requires more sanding and careful application – it is best to test it on an inconspicuous area first. As your timber is not a typical colour like Rimu or Pine for example I recommend you visit a Resene ColorShop to view the options as they have examples of these products on timber and will be able to advise which colours/enhancers to try. June 2025 |
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Q. I have two testpots we have tested in a bedroom for the feature wall of our nursery, and would like to know if there is a colour that is in the middle of the two – Resene Quarter Joss (fraction too dark) and Resene Half Biscotti (fraction too yellow/pale). A. Try Resene Eighth Joss – it is not as brown as Resene Quarter Joss or as yellow as Resene Half Biscotti, it is a beautiful colour. If you want something with a bit more depth you might like Resene Sandspit Brown from the Karen Walker Paints collection or Resene Swirl. June 2025 |
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Q. We have a north facing living area with large windows and have the rooms painted Resene Half Fossil (love the hint of green especially on a sunny day). We want to do a white kitchen and have been suggested Resene Thorndon Cream as the white to use. Do you think they will go or should I mix some timber or a colour in there to break it up. Do you suggest another white for the kitchen joinery? A. Yes, Resene Thorndon Cream works with Resene Half Fossil – if you want whiter then look to Resene Half Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. Resene Black White works well with Resene Half Fossil and creates a true white kitchen – if going all white, plus if it is a sunny area the cooler whites work well. It also depends on any existing white in the area – such as ceilings, door , and trims – is this a warm white or cooler white? Wood/wood laminate accents is a popular option in kitchens at present and could break it up nicely, but it really depends on what style you are creating, the theme of the house and design of the kitchen. If you have an island unit it can be nice to have a colour or timber look on the front. If this is a renovation – be open with your kitchen designer about your ideas and see what will work for you and the space. To start I recommend you order Resene A4 drawdown paint swatches and compare the whites in the space, with the existing colours and light. June 2025 |
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Q. We are painting our miners cottage exterior Resene Pewter. We need something different for the trim. We’d like a dark colour but not what everyone is using. A. Resene Pewter is a fabulous colour and works well on this style of home. It is originally from one of Resene's first colour ranges the 101 Colour Range – 101 colours that were introduced in 1969. Some of the colours in this collection including Resene Pewter have been repeated onto current charts. My reason for explaining this to you is that I am suggesting two colours that might work for you that originate from this chart or are similar – Resene Teal Blue and Resene Tangaroa (close to Resene Midnight on the 101 chart). You might also like Resene Explorer – a slate blue. Alternatively, you could look at a deep green such as Resene Rolling Hills. June 2025 |
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Q. We have a 1970s brick home with wooden weatherboard accents over doors and windows. We have an Ironsand roof and new archgola (Ironsand colour) with bronze joinery. I would like two other complementary colours to paint the brick and wood. I predominantly want the brick to be a pure cream colour. I don’t want a bright white but a very warm off white and a darker colour for the wood. A. Resene Double Rice Cake might be lovely for the brick – it works well with Ironsand and isn't too yellow but will give you the warmth – if you would like more cream – try Resene Double Villa White. For the timber try Resene Triple Truffle – it works well with the other elements. June 2025 |
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Q. My house is painted Resene Ziggurat and the deck is Resene Milk White. I want to change the deck colour but to a colour that is complementary but still light and beachy as it's like a beach house. A. A duck egg colour that’s not too grey could be nice – such as Resene Slipstream, Resene Timeless or Resene Duck Egg Blue – bit greyer. June 2025 |
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