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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 17

Here's a taste of some of the Colour Expert questions and answers to help you with your own colour scheme.

If you would like more colour advice for your project, please ask our Colour Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller. Colours are a representation only.

 
 
 
 

Q&A   p. 17

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


Q. We have painted our bedroom Resene White Pointer. We would like to do a striped feature wall behind the bed as we don't have a bedhead. What colour would go best with Resene White Pointer for stripes?

A. If Resene White Pointer was the base colour (lightest stripe) then you could use deeper Resene Triple White Pointer or a much lighter contrast like Resene Quarter White Pointer. These variants keep the look really sympathetic and well co-ordinated. Alternatively you can do strong accents like a red, a deep charcoal blue or even a metallic silver, such as Resene Madam M, Resene Elephant or Resene Silver Streak.

Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Madam M
Resene Madam M
Resene Elephant
Resene Elephant
Resene Silver Streak
Resene Silver Streak
June 2014

Q. Would Resene Thorndon Cream be a complementary weatherboard colour in relation to a Pioneer Red roof colour? What other complementary colours could accent windows and trim combined with these two colours?

A. Resene Thorndon Cream is lovely with a Pioneer Red roof. It may look a bit lighter in bright natural light and if you felt it was too light you could always use Resene Double Thorndon Cream which might look lighter like Resene Thorndon Cream. A nice window colour could be Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream with either of these two as possible deeper colours - Resene Arrowtown or Resene Tapa.

COLORSTEEL® Pioneer Red
COLORSTEEL®Pioneer Red
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Arrowtown
Resene Arrowtown
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
June 2014

Q. I have a 108 year old villa with very high ceilings and the lounge, dining room and kitchen are Resene Rock Blue up to the picture rail and then Resene Quarter Spanish White. I was getting it repainted but wondered if Resene Spindle or Resene Powder Blue would be a more subtle wedgewood colour?

A. Resene Spindle has the same lovely violet/blue undertones as Resene Rock Blue but Resene Powder Blue is much greyer in its undertone by comparison. You could check out these two to see if they offer you other options – Resene Shinto or Resene Smokescreen.

It is only by comparing that you start to identify the reality of the colours - and they will take on another look when paired with existing colours and the natural and artificial light situations that you have.

Resene Rock Blue
Resene Rock Blue
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Spindle
Resene Spindle
Resene Powder Blue
Resene Powder Blue
Resene Shinto
Resene Shinto
Resene Smokescreen
Resene Smokescreen
June 2014

Q. I am painting my loft bedroom and want to use grey shades. The exposed beams I want to paint a darker grey and dry brush over them with a lighter shade, the one I use for the walls, so I want the two to be complementary. I've tried some sample pots, some are a bit too blue and cool. I'm heading towards Resene Half White Pointer, though it may look a little bit green. Any ideas for warm greys for the complementary shades?

A. You might like to try Resene Quarter Truffle (lighter) and Resene Truffle (deeper) or Resene Quarter Rakaia (lighter) and Resene Rakaia (deeper) or Resene Sea Fog (lighter) and Resene Quarter Foggy Grey (deeper). They are greyish (but not too industrial) and warm and will give you the soft wash effect that you are trying to achieve. They also come as lighter and deeper versions in case you need more or less of a colour.

Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene QuarterRakaia
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
 
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
 
June 2014

Q. Just wondering I should go lighter or darker on my trim and doors? The ceiling and coving is Resene Alabaster and the walls are Resene Quarter Tea. The joinery is Canvas Cloth. I was thinking slightly darker like Resene Half Tea for trim and doors as it is similar to the joinery?

A. That sounds like a good idea - I have just checked out the metal sample of Canvas Cloth and Resene Half Tea and I think they look good together. Doors often show a lot of fingermarking so slightly deeper than walls is a practical way to go.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
June 2014

Q. I am currently doing an assignment where I have to create three paint palettes for an imaginary client. All I know is it’s a busy family and she wants to modernise. Any suggestions welcome.

A. If this is an imaginary client you probably need to develop a scenario - perhaps she has twin boys 10 years of age, works part time at a gym, husband is a rep for a confectionery company and is away from home three nights a week - that sort of thing will help you 'flesh out' your assignment. If you develop three palettes - i.e - A pale 'white' minimal look, a bright primary look with charcoals and a rich deep look with wooden floor boards and rugs, you would cover the field of expectation for a client and exploit your colour and decor skills. Resene Paints has masses of colours for you to develop on each of these palettes and you can order larger A4 samples to do concept boards on each theme.

June 2014

Q. We are repainting our 1950s weatherboard house. I have seen a number of houses with a combination I really like of pale mossy grey/green weatherboards with white or off-white trim. Can you suggest some combinations?

A. The following colours may inspire you - I have put them into little palettes so you can view them as a 'look' - #1 Resene Ash and Resene Half Bianca, or #2 – Resene Eighth Lemon Grass and Resene Alabaster or #3 – Resene Moon Mist and Resene Half Sea Fog.

I hope this is helpful. Looking at the large A4 samples of these colours at your nearest Resene ColorShop will help you tremendously - seeing colour in reality always does and you may come across other combinations also.

Resene Ash
Resene Ash
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Moon Mist
Resene Moon Mist
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
June 2014

Q. We have a gunmetal grey kitchen with black benchtops, varnished rimu floorboards and a dark grey/brown carpet. We are wanting a wall colour that is neutral with a hint of colour, something that will work with browns and greys. We were thinking of Resene Eighth Tea or Resene Eighth Fossil? Something warm...

A. Resene Eighth Fossil may be a little warmer/less grey toned than Resene Eighth Tea. Colours alter and react to existing colours and light, natural and artificial, in a space so it is really important that you trial colour and judge it within the space. I always recommend that you paint the testpot, two coats onto A2 card available from Resene ColorShops, leaving an unpainted border all around the edges. This helps you focus on the reality of the colour unaffected by the existing wall colour. You can move it around from wall to wall which helps a lot as the colour is seen quite differently at each angle change. If there is no 'whiter' colour in the room a colour may be judged as paler than what it actually is.

Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Fossil
June 2014

Q. We have Resene Half Bison Hide on the walls throughout the house and I would like to add a couple of feature walls but cannot find a suitable colour. I would like something darker than Resene Bison Hide.

A. Have you considered darker variants of Resene Half Bison Hide? The Resene Bison Hide palette goes up to Resene Triple Bison Hide and a range of variants could be used for a tonal effect. If you are looking at definite colours, as opposed to neutrals, then red, blues and deep greens would work. Perhaps look at these as a start point – Resene Breakfree, Resene Avalanche or Resene City Limits.

If you would like a neutral but not a Resene Bison Hide variant then you might look at Resene Half Felix or Resene Stonehenge.

Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Triple Bison Hide
Resene Triple Bison Hide
Resene Breakfree
Resene Breakfree
Resene Avalanche
Resene Avalanche
Resene City Limits
Resene City Limits
Resene Half Felix
Resene Half Felix
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
 
June 2014

Q. Our existing joinery is New Denim Blue (similar to the Resene Half New Denim Blue) which we don't like and can't change. The house is having a new roof and weatherboards. Which Resene and COLORSTEEL® colours can we use to make the blue look less blue or not stick out?

A. Beiges and brown and some taupe colours will emphasise the joinery 'blue' colour - not encouraging if you want it to not stick out... and if you don't find another similar colour it will stand out as the only 'blue' on the house. The best thing you can do is compromise. Try COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars or COLORSTEEL® Storm Blue for the roof - they are darker bluish/steel/charcoal so they should befriend the New Denim Blue joinery. Have a look at Resene Quarter Tapa or Resene Half Stack - because they are grey with a greenish undertone they may force your eye to see the New Denim Blue joinery as greyer than it really is.

COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Storm Blue
COLORSTEEL® Storm Blue
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Half Stack
Resene Half Stack
June 2014

Q. We have an original 1902 villa which is currently being renovated. The roof colour will not change and that is COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars. The house is currently painted in Resene Half Pearl Lusta with white window frames and Resene Midnight Moss doors, but we want a much fresher look. We still like the Resene Midnight Moss colour but there would be no problem in changing it. We're less interested in a heritage look than we are in a relatively fresh palette. We also have a return veranda colour to consider as well.

A. Fresher is cooler and crisper with a bit more grey undertone at this point in time. If this suits your desired look, try these combinations:
#1 - with a charcoal door, Resene Concrete - main colour - this colour comes as lighter variants if you prefer lighter, Resene Alabaster on the window joinery and Resene Cinder, or #2 - with a fresher deep green door, Resene House White - main colour - this colour comes as lighter variants if you prefer, Resene Quarter Black White for window joinery and Resene City Limits.

COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Midnight Moss
Resene Midnight Moss
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Cinder
Resene Cinder
Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene City Limits
Resene City Limits
June 2014

Q. We are currently building and the exterior is weatherboard. We like Resene Half Truffle. Would this go with the roof colour of COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey? The window frames are COLORSTEEL® Warm White Pearl.

A. Your colour preference - Resene Half Truffle - looks really smart with the Warm White Pearl joinery and the COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey roof.

The only thing that you need to know in advance is that often exterior colours look a lot lighter due to the natural light diffusing the depth of the colour. Your Resene Half Truffle may look as light as Resene Quarter Truffle when the sun is directly on the house walls. If this suits great, but if you don't want it to look too light then use Resene Truffle or alternatively you could check out Resene Eighth Stonehenge.

COLORSTEEL Sandstone Grey
COLORSTEEL®
Sandstone Grey
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle

Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Eighth Stonehenge
Resene Eighth Stonehenge
June 2014

Q. We have painted Resene Quarter Truffle throughout three living areas thinking it would be a nice neutral colour, but it has gone blue in one room! What would you suggest for a neutral shade that goes with joinery and carpet?

A. Colour changes on every wall and in every room according to the light, natural and artificial, and other coloured components. Is the end room an east or south facing room? This might account for the blue look you have. You may need to experiment with a warmer colour to override the natural cool aspect of the room.

Always trial testpots on large A2 card so you can move it around from wall to wall and see a large enough swatch to make good choices. The card can be purchased from a Resene ColorShop and if you paint two coats (all of the testpot) onto it leaving a unpainted border so you eye focuses on the reality of the colour you will be better able to come to a decision. If you are time poor these samples can be ordered as BigColour samples.

One of these may work for you – Resene Eighth Drought, Resene Eighth Fossil or Resene Truffle.

Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
June 2014

Q. The interior of our house is mostly Resene Black White, with one bedroom Resene Thorndon Cream with Resene Alabaster trim, and another Resene Sea Fog with Resene Alabaster trim. We were going to paint our dark 1920s hallway in Resene Black White, but my husband accidentally did all of the trim in Resene Alabaster. Which ‘white’ should we do the walls please?

A. I think you might look at using Resene Triple Alabaster (this colour is also called Resene Half Sea Fog) as it is lighter, less grey and slightly warmer than Resene Black White or Resene Sea Fog.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
June 2014

Q. We are renovating an apartment which is on the top floor and is north facing so it gets plenty of sun. We want a minimalist look and are considering painting the ceilings, walls and in addition having kitchen cupboards and bookshelves in the same ‘white’ colour. We are considering Resene Black White, Resene Alabaster and Resene Wan White. Would you go with a single white colour palette or would you consider some variation between walls, ceilings, cabinetry and shelving?

A. If it is a minimalistic look then I think using the same white on all surfaces would be appropriate. I would vary the gloss levels/paint types for different surfaces - walls would be Resene Zylone Sheen acrylic low sheen or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, ceilings in Resene SpaceCote Flat Fly deterrent flat waterborne enamel, wood work (including cabinetry and shelving) either Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel or a Resene Enamacryl full gloss waterborne enamel. Bathrooms, laundry spaces and kitchen walls (directly around cook tops and benches) may need a tougher paint – Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel on all surfaces if you want washable and resistant to soaps, moisture and airborne cooking fumes and splatter.

Resene Black White has a grey undertone which may absorb a little bright sunlight and stop any glare factor. Resene Wan White has a slightly warm grey undertone than Resene Alabaster. I suggest you paint up large samples or order some very large pre-painted ones known as BigColour samples from your Resene ColorShop and move them around from wall to wall to see how they are in situ and how they respond to the quality of light that you have.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
June 2014

Q. I have been slowly doing up an old house and am at a total loss as to which colours to use on the walls of the hallway which is a long high ceiling stairway (quite narrow considering the roomy proportions of the rest of the house) with a shorter hallway at the top. There are five doors off this area. All of the hallway timber has been treated with a very dark stain from the 1920s. The house has lots of interesting architectural features (dado rails etc, including up the stairs/hallway). There are some lovely windows leading up the stairs but these do not let in a lot of light so the entire hallway is quite dark. I am not adverse to painting all the dark timber. The bedrooms off the top landing are all large, bright and sunny with lovely views and are painted Resene Beryl Green, Resene Bandicoot and Resene Tacha. There is also some Resene Periglacial Blue floating around. The carpet is a horrid dull blue/grey/green but I am going to replace that as soon as I can. I am torn between introducing more colour/character in the hallway, and considered a patterned wallpaper but it would be too expensive - so was wondering if you could suggest a paint option that might work with all these other colours. Would a paler/lighter neutral or off-white work or should I explore deeper/richer tones? I am prepared to be brave with colour, if you think an off-white would not work. The hall is wallpapered at present with a cream/beige striped affair from the 70s which does nothing for the space, but that might be because it is quite torn and shabby. In the rooms downstairs I have used Resene Washed Green, Resene Nirvana, Resene Stonewall, Resene Butter and Resene Thorndon Cream.

A. Hallways are awkward areas, narrowness, lack of light, a surfeit of doors etc all conspire to create problems. No amount of wishing and hoping will make dim spaces appear light and bright but using lighter woodwork and ceilings helps a lot. Painting the dark stained woodwork is the single most successful way of creating light and still drawing attention to the architectural detailing. So a warm light neutral needs to be chosen - one that will like close association with existing colours and the new hallway colour... or wallpaper.

Hallways and stairwells are not rooms that you sit or eat or sleep in so they can be a colour that has distinct character. As you pass through on your way to the real rooms (the ones with functions) it may pay you to consider creating a gallery effect using photos or prints for the hallway which will cause you to pause and really look at the walls. The dim light will stop them fading and a few gorgeous higher wattage multi-globe light fittings will enhance the higher ceilings and give enough ambient light to enjoy the space.

You might consider using Resene Half Villa White for all the dark stained woodwork and consider either of these colours for the walls - Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue or Resene Half Emerge. If you work a colour theme for the frames of the artwork and family photos - all the same - like Resene Half Smalt Blue which loves your other colours and place a few op shop mirrors opposite any doorway leading to bedrooms where light may live to reflect it you have a lighter/brighter illusion of space. Another option is to collect some large samples of gorgeous expensive wallpaper and box frame them, varying the size of the box frames, to add more colour, pattern, texture or outright drama, and feature hang them to create a sense of artistic creativity in the hallway or on the stairwell.

Resene Beryl Green
Resene Beryl Green
Resene Bandicoot
Resene Bandicoot
Resene Tacha
Resene Tacha
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Washed Green
Resene Washed Green
Resene Nirvana
Resene Nirvana
Resene Stonewall
Resene Stonewall
Resene Butter
Resene Butter
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
 
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue
Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Half Smalt Blue
 
June 2014

Q. We are building a 236 square metre house on ten acres and using Shadowclad® for the exterior with the front box type entrance in concrete block. There are large floor to ceiling stacker windows along the front (north side) and a verandah that wraps around. I have been thinking about using Resene Smokey Ash in the Resene Woodsman range with the joinery and roof in Ironsand. Would this combination work? I also have Resene Tiri and Resene Shadow Match to try out. If I was to go a bit darker what colours would you suggest? It's a rural outlook. I don't want the house to stand out too much but I do like the darker colours. What roof colour would suit Resene Bokara Grey if I was to go that dark?

A. If you were to use Resene Bokara Grey then you are faced with an Ebony roof (this is going to be a very dark oppressive statement as well as attracting a huge amount of heat) or a paler roof - like Sandstone Grey then you have to choose the window joinery - either Ebony or Sandstone Grey to match the roof.

I like the idea you have of using a wood stain on the shadow clad with Ironsand for the roof and joinery. Try some offcuts of Shadowclad® in stain colours and see if you can get real COLORSTEEL® powdercoat samples of Ironsand so you can see what will look good for you. Try Resene Woodsman Iroko and Resene Banjul well as Resene Smokey Ash and Resene Tiri. That way you will see a selection of deep earthy tones that work really well with Ironsand. Why not use a darker colour on the concrete block entry? Something like Resene Bokara Grey might be great as an entry statement and wouldn't be too darkly oppressive overall.

Resene Smokey Ash
Resene Smokey Ash
Resene Tiri
Resene Tiri
Resene Shadow Match
Resene Shadow Match
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
COLORSTEEL Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
Resene Iroko
Resene Iroko
Resene Banjul
Resene Banjul
 
June 2014

Q. I have a Grey Friars roof and white window sashes. What kind of light grey would you recommend?

A. You could check out some of these light greys – Resene Iron, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, Resene Surrender and Resene Flotsam. If you are able to pop into a Resene ColorShop to see the large A4 real paint samples of these colours in their colour library you could pop a sheet of white printer paper between them to help you identify the depth of colour and the unique undertones. Then if you place a A4 sheet of Grey Friars (a Resene match to COLORSTEEL® roof Grey Friars) with them and you will get a good representation of how it might all come together for you.

COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
Resene Iron
Resene Iron
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Flotsam
Resene Flotsam
June 2014

Q. I am building a modern style house with Rockcote walls, some cedar weatherboards stained a natural oily colour and with the roof and windows in Ironsand. I cannot decide which white to use on the walls. I was thinking Titania but now wonder if that is going to be too dull. What could I use to be a bit lighter? I don't want a bright white house but think it will look a wee bit old fashioned if it is all muted.

A. You might look at the following colours but do please take on board the fact that bright light on an exterior often makes pale 'white' type of colours look much brighter/lighter – Resene Half Merino, Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Half House White and Resene Half Ecru White. All of the colours listed come as deeper variants and sometimes lighter ones as well.

COLORSTEEL Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half House White
Resene Half House White
Resene Half Ecru White
Resene Half Ecru White
June 2014

Q. Our smallish main bedroom is on the cold south-western corner of the house. There's a big west-facing window but it doesn't let in much light because the house is nestled in bush. It has a wooden ceiling, wooden floor (both pine I think) and wooden blinds on the window. We have Rimu bedroom furniture and white bedding. The room is currently refrigerator white with an awful burgundy feature wall. Could you please suggest some colour options that aren't 'white'?

A. With the light aspect you have and all the wood in the room (which though it is warm may also read as dark) you may never succeed in making it light, bright and cosy. I would suggest you use a little more depth and warmth in your green rather than a light dusky green which may look grey or sour because of the quality of light in a cold south western room. Warmth and intimacy is a mood that is missing - often - from this type of space. You might investigate these colour combos to see if they will make this room very gorgeous and desirable – Resene Bud with Resene Half Villa White, Resene Flax with Resene Cararra, Resene Spanish Green with Resene Quarter Spanish White and Resene Lemon Grass with Resene Bianca.

The alternative thought is that you paint it all a rich warm neutral like Resene Akaroa and do the trims to match but in a semi-gloss enamel - if you use whites and warm charcoals for the bed coverings and perhaps a rich red for bedside lamps to add a night time glow it may 'morph' into the most desirable space full of an intimate ambiance.

Resene Bud
Resene Bud
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Flax
Resene Flax
Resene Cararra
Resene Cararra
Resene Spanish Green
Resene Spanish Green
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Akaroa
Resene Akaroa
     
June 2014

Q. I am redesigning my kitchen. It will have a Tristone ‘Antarctic Snow’ benchtop (acrylic but has a stone look) and Prime Panels ‘Tusk’ colour on the cupboard doors. Can you recommend a wall, ceiling, skirting and door trim colour that will work well with the doors please... but not be too ‘blah blah boring beige’? The room will be large and north facing (kitchen/dining/lounge all open plan) so I would like to carry the colour on all four walls.

A. I personally would be taking my benchtop and cabinet samples (and flooring too - it makes up a huge amount of colour in a space) into the nearest Resene ColorShop to look at all the colours that are in the Colour Library. They are A4 size and real paint so they are the best way of checking out what might work and what might not. Look for brighter/lighter colours (ceilings and woodwork) and deeper colours (walls) so that you build a palette and then order the testpots or pre-painted samples and take them into the environment as it is the quality of light - as it changes from natural to artificial - that will help you judge what is best.

No short cuts - a big job like this demands that you take the time to slowly make decisions and then there will be happiness with a job well done.

June 2014

Q. I am thinking of using full Resene Thorndon Cream and Resene Half Thorndon Cream on internal walls throughout our villa type home. Is it better to use Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on ceilings, trims and doors?

A. For more definite crisper contrast I think I would be more inclined to go for Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. People have different expectations however - some like a soft transition between colours with nothing unduly highlighted. It is a personal preference. Villas often have lovely wooden trims, doors and ceilings so I think they benefit by being highlighted.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
June 2014

Q. I am changing my roof and also want to repaint the exterior of my house. I have ordered COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue for my roof but am struggling on what colours for the exterior.

A. You might check these colours out to see if any of them suit the house – Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Double Blanc, Resene Eighth Drought, Resene Half Cloudy or Resene Eighth Napa.

There are hundreds of other options but these suggestions will offer you a bit of insight as to all of the different types of colours that will work with New Denim Blue.

Resene New Denim Blue
COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Blanc
Resene Double Blanc
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Half Cloudy
Resene Half Cloudy
Resene Eighth Napa
Resene Eighth Napa
 
June 2014

Q. We are painting our home’s exterior, which is a villa. We want a warm white, off white which is not cream or cold to look at. White with warmth.

A. You might check out some of these colours - do remember the south and the east side of the house may show your warm white as a cool white because of the axis of light: Resene Rice Cake, Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Soapstone, Resene Half Albescent White or Resene Merino.

Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Soapstone
Resene Half Soapstone
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
June 2014

Q. We are looking for a colour to paint our kitchen splashback. Our benchtops are a truffle grey colour, cabinets are white and the walls are Resene Quarter Truffle. I like the idea of a pale blue kitchen glass splashback. Can you recommend a Resene colour to use?

A. You might look at several different types of blue - not just light blue - and because there are two types of glass that is used for splashbacks you may need to view the colours behind glass. Standard float glass shows the colour different to reality and crystal clear low iron oxide glass shows the colour true so you don't have a 'surprise' when it is complete and end up with something less than you wanted. Large A4 samples of all Resene colours can be viewed in Resene ColorShops in their Colour Library - seeing reality makes choosing so much easier.

Try Resene Meltwater, Resene Bermuda Grey, Resene Oxymoron, Resene Half Kumutoto and Resene Breeze.

Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Meltwater
Resene Meltwater
Resene Bermuda Grey
Resene Bermuda Grey
Resene Oxymoron
Resene Oxymoron
Resene Half Kumutoto
Resene Half Kumutoto
Resene Breeze
Resene Breeze
June 2014

Q. We have chosen Resene Quarter Tea for exterior weatherboards, Resene Alabaster for windows and Resene Tapa for doors and concrete that is below the house. There is an orange brick pillar at the corner of the front door. We wonder whether it works well?

A. Resene Half Tea may give you just a little more definite contrast. Resene Quarter Tea may look ok as well but could be a lot lighter in direct sunlight - it is up to you but I am inclined toward Resene Half Tea. It definitely will go on alright over top of the lighter colour.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
June 2014

Q. I'm planning to use Resene Quarter Lignite as my main colour for painting my weatherboard home. What white would you recommend for the windows and trims? Also I need a recommendation for a darker colour for the lower barge boards on the house.

A. Don't go too 'white' as it may look harsh - perhaps look at either of these two options – Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene House White. A darker colour could be either of these two options – Resene Double Mondo or Resene Half Ironsand. Another alternative to Resene Quarter Lignite is Resene Half Oilskin.

Resene Quarter Lignite
Resene Quarter Lignite
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Double Mondo
Resene Double Mondo
Resene Half Ironsand
Resene Half Ironsand
Resene Quarter Lignite
Resene Quarter Lignite
Resene Half Oilskin
Resene Half Oilskin
 
June 2014

Q. Our walls are Resene House White. What ‘white’ would you recommend for our cornices and ceilings?

A. I think Resene Half Alabaster will work really well with Resene House White - it will add the crisp clean contrast and make the main colour develop more personality and ambiance.

Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
June 2014

Q. I am looking to paint a two storey beach house. We have brown aluminium joinery. I was thinking of a Lignite or Ironsand roof and Resene Truffle for the walls. What would be your opinion or is there a better colour you think we could use?

A. If you like Resene Truffle you might also like to test these other warm neutrals to see if you like them better than Resene Truffle – Resene Quarter Cougar or Resene Quarter Napa. It is only by comparing that you truly see what colour looks like. Ironsand as a roof colour is dark enough to be interesting but not as definite a brown as Lignite is.

COLORSTEEL Lignite
COLORSTEEL® Lignite
COLORSTEEL Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Quarter Cougar
Resene Quarter Cougar
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
June 2014

Q. We are decorating two smallish bathrooms, both south facing. One has considerably more natural light then the other due to the size of the windows. Fixtures and fittings are a mix of chrome, glass, with white shower and bath surrounds. We have selected a med-dark grey floor tile with a hint of glitter in it, that give off a mixture of greys and beiges depending on the light. Have opted for ceilings, trims and doors to be painted white. Am just wondering if an Resene Eighth Ash would work as wall colour for the walls? Does this come off looking more grey, beige or green as I was afraid the Resene Quarter Ash looked a little green and I want a light neutral scheme?

A. Resene Eighth Ash is less green/more grey but you may need to test it on large A2 card from your Resene ColorShop (use all of the testpot and paint two coats) and move it around from wall to wall to see if any green pops out at you. It is all about the changing quality of light - natural and artificial - and how it works on the colour.

If it does 'green' then you might try Resene Sea Fog as an alternative.

Resene Eighth Ash
Resene Eighth Ash
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
June 2014

Q. I am going to use Resene Perfect Taupe or half on our walls. What colour would you suggest for our ceilings and woodwork trims?

A. You might look at one of these colours - listed in order of depth – Resene Eighth Joss, Resene Half Albescent White, Resene Quarter Albescent White, Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Alabaster.

Resene Perfect Taupe
Resene Perfect Taupe
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
     
Resene Eighth Joss
Resene Eighth Joss
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
May 2014

Q. We are trying to decide on exterior paint colours for our 12 year old country home, with the aim to blend in with our native bush backdrop. The house is warm, compact, two storey, with a steeper pitched, dark charcoal tiled coloured roof, with green mist aluminium joinery. The exterior cladding is weatherboard. We are tending toward grey. Interior has been done in Resene Quarter Linen and Resene Half Linen.

A. Your window joinery – COLORSTEEL® Mist Green - is quite a yellow based green and it might pay to investigate warm/earthy greyed tones otherwise an industrial/urban inspired grey may over emphasise the yellow/green of the windows and definitely not blend into the native bush backdrop. Perhaps look at these types of colours – Resene Tapa, Resene Friar Greystone , Resene Evolution, Resene Knave or a green deeper than the windows but sympathetic – Resene Cliffhanger or a rich toned neutral – Resene Triple Thorndon Cream.

Resene Quarter Linen
Resene Quarter Linen
Resene Half Linen
Resene Half Linen
Resene
COLORSTEEL® Mist Green
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Evolution
Resene Evolution
Resene Knave
Resene Knave
Resene Cliffhanger
Resene Cliffhanger
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
May 2014

Q. We like Resene Concrete on charts, drawdowns and from sample pots but have heard that it can look cold and blue. We like warm colours but want something that will go well with any other colour from orange to red and green when we add colour from cushions, art, rugs etc. We have looked at all the neutrals including Resene White Pointer but they all seem too white and plain or too yellow whereas concrete has a bit more depth to it. Is Resene Concrete cold and blue? Would Resene Ecru White or Resene Wan White be better?

A. Resene Concrete is a cool silver grey - it is warmer than Resene Iron and much cooler than Resene Quarter Cloud and Resene Whiteout. You may need to test colours in the situation they are being considered for. Take your time and test colours to see what changes occur in different areas under different light situations and with all other coloured things you have. Resene Ecru White is a bit yellow/green but Resene Wan White is a lot 'whiter' than Resene White Pointer.

Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Ecru White
Resene Ecru White
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene Iron
Resene Iron
Resene Quarter Cloud
Resene Quarter Cloud
Resene Whiteout
Resene Whiteout
 
May 2014

Q. I have Resene Wan White throughout my home. I wanted a fresh but warm duck egg or opal type blue for the back of my splashback. I chose Resene Escape, but it looks cold and too blue. Could you suggest an alternative that is fresh, light and not cold looking?

A. The following colours all have a lovely 'duck egg' or opal undertone – Resene Carefree, Resene Breeze, Resene Ashanti, Resene Nebula, Resene Opal, Resene Half Powder Blue or Resene Half Periglacial Blue.

Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene Escape
Resene Escape
Resene Carefree
Resene Carefree
Resene Breeze
Resene Breeze
Resene Ashanti
Resene Ashanti
Resene Nebula
Resene Nebula
Resene Opal
Resene Opal
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
May 2014

Q. What is the closest laminate colour (for a kitchenette) to Resene White Pointer?

A. You might check out - benchtop laminate - Wilsonart Carrara Santorini - not the same but looks good with Resene White Pointer or cabinet laminate Bestwood Melamine Mist Naturale. The Bestwood sample looks like Resene Double White Pointer. Have you considered having a two pot sprayed lacquer finish applied to the cabinets? That way you can have exactly the colour you want.

Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double White Pointer
May 2014

Q. We have a 1980s cedar clad house. Looking to repaint with a view to selling. Thinking of off-whites/creams throughout to give buyers a blank canvas. We have oak floors in dining and lounge and have Aran Heath carpet.

A. I think your idea of a universally appealing off white/cream is a great idea. Try these off-whites to see if they would work for you – Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Albescent White or Resene Bianca. These colours are available as lighter and deeper variants also.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
May 2014

Q. We have had our entire interior house walls painted in Resene Sea Fog and I find it a little cold especially on dull overcast days. Can you suggest a colour to paint some feature walls and a dining room. The dining room is currently Resene Half Oilskin but we want to paint the long wall in the lounge a feature colour but I wonder if this will be too dark and not the right contrast. We have modern white and black furniture but an earthy tone carpet and drapes.

A. If you plan on keeping the Resene Half Oilskin in the dining room you might consider a lighter softer variant of this colour for the lounge - Resene Eighth Oilskin - this would help to warm up the Resene Sea Fog. Alternatively you could look at these colours - Resene Triple Sea Fog - a tonal variant of your main colour, Resene Quarter Pravda or Resene Taupe Grey.

All of the colours will work with Resene Sea Fog and black and white furniture but they mostly need to associate well with the flooring and drapes.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Half Oilskin
Resene Half Oilskin
Resene Eighth Oilskin
Resene Eighth Oilskin
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
May 2014

Q. We will have Ghost Grey window joinery and a Resene Grey Friars front door. Our kitchen cabinetry will be Bestwood Ash Pinstripe and our benchtop is New Ash Dust. Could you please recommend some colours for interior walls? We like neutrals, but don't want an all white look for the walls and trims. Not sure if Resene White Pointer would go with Ghost Grey window joinery.

A. The powdercoat colour Ghost Grey seems to be more related to Resene Double Rakaia or Resene Rakaia. Perhaps if you could check the colour samples together you might have a better idea of what colours look good. If the Resene Rakaia is too warm toned you might look at Resene Black Haze as a really light but not white main colour. By using the real sharp Resene White for ceilings it will bring out the depth of colour which will stop it from looking too 'white' overall.

Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
   
Resene Double Rakaia
Resene Double Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
Resene White
Resene White
May 2014

Q. In our new build we have natural oak flooring and green tinted glass. Most rooms get full sun at some point during the day except one. We have a natural cedar feature wall. What colour white would you suggest for the walls and should this be the same for the ceiling?

A. There are so many options available for you to choose from but generally speaking I always recommend that you choose flooring, kitchen cabinetry and work tops first (the most limited and expensive elements) and then choose a colour or colours that look good with them. The carpet is the dominant factor colourwise or in your case the natural oak flooring throughout the house so everything else has to work with it. Colour generally comes last in the decor decisions even if the actual painting comes first. If you choose the colour first you may find that it stops you having something else that you really want because it doesn't look good with it.

Sometimes if you want the ceiling and the walls to be the same colour then the colour you choose may need to be really, really 'white' as colour always looks deeper on the ceiling compared to the walls. I like a bit of contrast between the walls and ceiling colours to add more visual interest but in this regard people are different - some prefer everything to be the same. The only problem that I see with that is the ceilings are an acrylic matt paint and the walls are often a low sheen or satin finish in main living areas and some rooms (laundry, bathroom and kitchen) and the ceilings in these spaces require a tougher, scrubbable finish in a paint film so a waterborne enamel is generally used not a standard acrylic. Some popular ‘white’ options to consider are Resene Sea Fog, Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Merino, Resene White Pointer, Resene Half Thorndon Cream or Resene Bianca.

All of these colours come as lighter and deeper variants. Colour changes constantly with light and shade and with any other colour seen close to it - take your time with decisions and testing your options.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
May 2014

Q. What colour carpet looks best with Resene Sea Fog?

A. Resene Sea Fog is such a good white neutral it goes with just about every coloured carpet except pale green and pale peach but I suggest you pick up samples of carpet and take them into your home to see how space and light changes how you see the carpet colours. All colours change radically in some cases at different times of the day and night and in association with any other coloured element that is close to it. Take your time and choose wisely - unlike paint on the walls carpet isn't changed generally for about 20 years so it is important to find the right one.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
May 2014

Q. We have an oblong entrance room 7 metres by 2.2 metres. The door end is glass and the adjacent long wall is 50% window nearest the door. The door end is very light – it gets morning sun and the opposite end is dark - this gives the room a tunnel effect. The floor is T&G Heart Matai. The rest of house is variations of Resene Tea, but the lounge is a buttery yellow (French doors from entrance room). I wonder if Resene Lemon Grass would be any good?

A. Your idea of using Resene Lemon Grass is really good. If it appears too deep (interior colours often double in strength) you could use Resene Half Lemon Grass and get a similar effect. Greens always look good with wooden floors and are great 'balance' colours as they feel fresh and rest the eyes.

Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
May 2014

Q. I have a house with roof and trim in New Denim Blue. I want to change the main colour from pale brown to pale to mid grey. Can you suggest a grey that would work well with New Denim Blue?

A. These pale-mid greys might suit you – Resene Quarter Delta, Resene Quarter Stack, Resene Triple Concrete, Resene Surrender or Resene Half Grey Chateau.

New Denim Blue roof
COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue

Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
May 2014

Q. We have a south facing house with some north facing windows with a lot of greenery surrounding it. We want to warm and lighten up the house but without it being cream. We thought Resene Alabaster but are worried that maybe it is too cool? Should the woodwork be the same colour?

A. South facing rooms are cool and the natural light isn't kind - they don't like 'white' unless it is a really warm tone. I am worried the Resene Alabaster will look greyish and chilly. I personally would consider painting the wood trims as they annoy the eye as they are now - demanding that you look at them - and not being gorgeous enough architecturally to warrant the attention. You might look at these colours for light, warm and versatile in a whitish way – Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Half Albescent White, or Resene Eighth Spanish White or Resene Quarter Spanish White.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
     
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
May 2014

Q. We're currently in the process of building a new home. We have gone with a white kitchen using thermowrap gloss cabinets and a stone benchtop slightly off-white with a fleck through it. I like the white look but am afraid it will look too sterile. Would Resene Sea Fog look OK on the walls? Also, I’m not sure what colour to go on internal doors/architraves/ceiling.

A. I can see nothing wrong with your idea of using Resene Sea Fog - it will be subtle but nice with the white gloss kitchen cabinets. Other rooms if they are larger or very bright you might consider using Resene Double Sea Fog as it would be a little more definite. I personally would have real white ceilings - Resene White - but if you felt it might be too stark then Resene Quarter Black White might be better. Skirting boards, door frames, doors etc could be Resene Sea Fog in a semi-gloss enamel finish so it is only highlighted by sheen not a colour difference or alternatively you could use a slightly deeper colour just on the doors as they are inclined to show fingermarking from constant touching - perhaps Resene Double Sea Fog.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
May 2014

Q. We are building a house and we want to use Resene Gauntlet as our roof colour. We also think we might use Resene Titania for the window frames. What neutral colour can we use for the exterior and the front door? What colour garage door should we use - we have four garages and I don't want to make them a feature?

A. For powdercoated garage doors you could use COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey as it matches Resene Gauntlet. The following colours will work well with Resene Gauntlet and Resene Titania for the as a main house colour – Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Half Thorndon Cream (lighter but similar to Titania) or Resene Quarter Stonewall.

Front door colours are where you can exploit a little more personal approach to colour - this is your 'unique' statement so whatever you really fancy that is what you should have.

Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene
COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey
 
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Stonewall
Resene Quarter Stonewall
May 2014

Q. Can you please recommend a good stain and colour to paint/stain over cedar which has been painted the popular (of the time) brown colour? We would like to modernise the colour scheme.

A. Modern stain colours are deep, earthy and sometimes greyer toned - the following colours are some that are popular at this point in time – Resene Banjul, Resene Tiri, Resene Touch Wood, Resene Iroko and Resene Smokey Ash. It would pay to test the colours (yes there are Resene testpots available) over the existing stain to see what it looks like as stain is semi-transparent and you often inherit a slightly different colour than expected because of the existing colour showing through and influencing the new colour.

Resene Woodsman Banjul
Resene Banjul
Resene  Woodsman Tiri
Resene Tiri
Resene Woodsman Touchwood
Resene Touch Wood
Resene Iroko
Resene Iroko
Resene Woodsman Smokey Ash
Resene Smokey Ash
May 2014

Q. We have to paint the inside of our house and are looking for one colour throughout. What is the most popular colour being used in your Whites and Neutrals range? We don't like anything too dark. We live by the sea and have lots of light in some rooms and it’s quite dark in others. We are worried that the choice of paint might look too light in some rooms and too dark in others.

A. Colour - any colour - will look quite different in different rooms according to natural light and shadow lines within the rooms. The carpet colour will also have a direct bearing as to how the wall colour looks too. If you only want only one colour (the most popular colours are quite clean and stark or greyish) perhaps look at these suggestions – Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Sea Fog, Resene Quarter White Pointer, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Bianca.

If you paint all of the testpot (two coats) onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges it will help you to focus on the colour. It can be moved from wall to wall and room to room so you can check it out and if you roll the card into a cone shape with the colour inner most you will see how it would look if four walls were painted - it replicates how colour in an interior can look stronger than you expect. The colours I have listed come as lighter and deeper variants also.

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
May 2014

Q. We have an old weatherboard house painted Resene Napa with Resene Titania trim and a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof. We need to decide on a wall colour for our new garage as COLORSTEEL® does not have Resene Napa. Can you suggest a COLORSTEEL® color that is close to Resene Napa? Or would we be best to make the whole garage Grey Friars?

A. There isn't a match in COLORSTEEL® for Resene Napa - the COLORSTEEL® range is fairly limited but perhaps you could consider the Titania as the main body of the garage and Grey Friars for the roof and roller door? The Grey Friars as a whole garage colour could be quite a heavy dark statement but it could be a nice fence colour. If at any time in the future you built a pergola or a trellised fence shelter alongside the garage, as a carport or a sheltered eating area, then you could paint it Resene Napa to co-ordinate back to the house colour and tie the two buildings together.

Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
May 2014

Q. I have bought a 1960s brick and rough cast house that I am now renovating. I would like some advice on painting the roof and exterior - my aim is to make the brickwork 'disappear' so the exterior looks less disjointed. I love the idea of Resene Red Red Red for the roof and Resene Half Sea Fog for window frames and soffits. But I'm struggling to find nice greyish tones for the roughcast and brick. Could you suggest a scheme that would work?

A. Resene Red Red Red doesn’t come in a 10 litre size so you’d need to buy it in 4 litre cans. You might also like to check out these red colours that are available as 10 litre pails and are formulated as roof paint - Resene Dawnbreaker, Resene Pioneer Red or Resene Red Planet. In regard a nice greyish tone for the roughcast and brick perhaps look at these greys to see if you fancy them – Resene Triple Rakaia, Resene Half Friar Greystone , Resene Delta, Resene Half Tapa or Resene Quarter Tuna. All of them will work well with Resene Half Sea Fog.

Resene Red Red Red
Resene Red Red Red
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Dawnbreaker
Resene Dawnbreaker
Resene Pioneer Red
Resene Pioneer Red
Resene Red Planet
Resene Red Planet
Resene Triple Rakaia
Resene Triple Rakaia
Resene Half Friar Greystone
Resene Half Friar Greystone
Resene Delta
Resene Delta
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Quarter Tuna
Resene Quarter Tuna
May 2014

Q. What is a good contrast colour to use with black white walls? I need to look at a splashback and drapes.

A. With Resene Black White you can have any colours for the splashback and drapes because it is a 'white'. Might I suggest that you start a little scrapbook of colour samples and collect photos of fabrics etc so you start to see what appeals to you. Without an understanding of what you fancy you may well end up with someone else's ideas which will make it someone else's home.

Generally speaking the flooring casts a strong influence and has to work well with new colours and existing elements - furniture, duvets, kitchen cabinets and work tops etc. Start looking, start collecting ideas and start getting excited about what is available - it is all lovely but as individuals we are unique so what we favour reflects that.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
May 2014

Q. We have an early 1960s natural clay brick house. The bricks extend up to the white aluminium window sill. Above that is painted plaster. The roof is Sandstone Grey. Could you suggest some colours for the plastered section to give the house a modern look? The fascias and garage door are at present Rivergum.

A. You have four colours now - bricks, roof, windows and fascias and garage door. I am a little concerned that it might look fussy and unco-ordinated if you elect to have the plastered section another colour. I would recommend that you use one of the existing colours - first preference would be to match the Sandstone Grey of the roof with Resene Gauntlet or alternately to match the Rivergum using Resene Rivergum. There is a slightly lighter version of a similar colour to the roof that you might consider also - Resene Quarter Friar Greystone .

Resene
COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Rivergum
Resene Rivergum
Resene Quarter Friar Greystone
Resene Quarter Friar Greystone
May 2014

Q. We have used Resene Oilskin for the lower part of our 1960s house and Resene Half Malta for the weatherboards on the top part. As we also have a mix of honey and brown toned bricks I'm not sure what colour to paint the main door or the concrete landing and steps leading to the door to tie everything together. Below the bricks it will also be painted the same as the rest of the lower level. My wife wants to paint the concrete steps, patio and front door the same darker Resene colour I mentioned - Resene Oilskin. The lower level is on the other sides of the house but would it be too much?

A. I am inclined to agree with you about Resene Oilskin being too much if it is used on all the surfaces you mentioned. It will be a bit heavy and aggressive. I quite like the white front door, door frame and sill - it appears modern, very large, generous and light and relates well to the windows. If another deep tone is used for the porch and steps the door still stands out as a beacon of light.

A random thought - if the base of the house and the concrete under the bricks is all to be Resene Oilskin then you might do the risers of the steps – the narrow vertical edges - the same colour. They join onto the concrete area under the bricks so it reads as a neat statement and appropriate. That leaves the top of the steps and the porch which could be the same colour as the weatherboards - Resene Half Malta. Alternatively - the porch and steps could be Resene Malta - not as dark as Resene Oilskin but a little deeper than the weatherboards which are Resene Half Malta. My suggestions may not be exciting but you do have a lot of colour presenting on the house already with the variegated coloured bricks, windows, doors, roof, base of house and weatherboards so it could be in danger of looking chaotic if a wider range of colour is added.

There is another alternative suggestion - if the base of the house and the steps and the porch were the darker colour it would definitely need a special door colour to relieve the darkness. You might consider something like Resene Hot N Spicy for the front door which pulls out the warmest colour from the bricks and links them into the scheme instead of isolating them.

Resene Oilskin
Resene Oilskin
Resene Half Malta
Resene Half Malta
Resene Malta
Resene Malta
Resene Hot N Spicy
Resene Hot N Spicy
May 2014

Q. Could you suggest a weatherboard colour for our new house? We've chosen Ironsand for the roof and Mineral Brown for the joinery (similar to Resene Taupe Grey). We're thinking Resene Quarter Ironsand for a bay feature at the front of the house, and a near-white for the window facings (like Resene Quarter Milk White). We'd like the weatherboards to be a warm grey ('greige') that contrasts nicely with the other colours. Resene Quarter Foggy Grey has been suggested but I'm worried that might be too pale grey and boring?

A. I have been carefully looking at your window joinery colour - Mineral Brown - and to my eye in different qualities of light your window joinery appears to be both browner/greyer than Resene Taupe Grey which is a yellow based grey. Mineral Brown appears to me as a colour much more similar in tone to Resene Stonehenge or Resene Schooner. I am also worried that Resene Quarter Milk White may throw a little mushroom grey when seen against the window joinery colour.

Perhaps you could check out these colours - Main colour – Resene Quarter Stonehenge or Resene Eighth Stonehenge, bay feature - Resene Quarter Ironsand, window facings – Resene Merino or Resene Half Merino. If you pop into a Resene ColorShop and look at the A4 sheets of colour from the Colour Library alongside your original colour ideas with a real piece of the powdercoat joinery metal and roof metal then you will be able to compare and get some ideas of reality.

If you place a sheet of white printer paper between the two 'whites' it helps you to see the underlying tint colours in them so that you aren't surprised later when it may be too late to change. You can order both A4 sheets of colour or the larger (and somewhat better) A2 BigColour samples if you need to 'see' the colours on site. Never apply testpots to a surface that isn't white as it alters how you see colour, to your confusion , and isn't a best way to judge how they look.

COLORSTEEL Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Milk White
Resene Quarter Milk White
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Eighth Stonehenge
Resene Eighth Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
May 2014

Q. Could you please advise a modern colour choice and type of paint or stain for our house?

A. You need to consider the existing roof and window joinery colours if they aren't being replaced - perhaps look at these paint colours – Resene Pravda, Resene Stonehenge or Resene Friar Greystone . Or try these stain colours – Resene Banjul, Resene Touch Wood or Resene Bushtrack.

If it is stained now ideally it should be stained again as the preparation is simple, however if you were wanting to paint over stain it is time consuming and can be more expensive. If it stain is being re-applied over existing stain it pays to check what the new stain colour looks like over the existing colour. Stain is semi-transparent so you can inherit the old colour influencing the new colour which makes a different colour to what is expected.

I strongly recommended choosing a Resene CoolColour™ version of your chosen colour which minimises the heat absorption that deeper colours create on the surfaces being painted or stained.

Resene Pravda
Resene Pravda
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Woodsman Banjul
Resene Banjul
Resene Woodsman Touchwood
Resene Touch Wood
Resene Bushtrack
Resene Bushtrack
May 2014

Q. We are going to paint the plaster exterior of our house to sell it, to freshen it up and use a more modern colour. Can you please suggest some more modern colours that may go with this brick?

A. You appear to have very distinctive orange/red/purple undertones in your bricks and what looks like a deep red type of colour in the powdercoated joinery - these colours do inhibit quite a lot your other colour choices. You might look at these colours for the plaster work – Resene Quarter Biscotti, Resene Quarter Drought, Resene Half Fossil or Resene Eighth Pravda.


Resene Quarter Biscotti
Resene Quarter Biscotti
Resene Quarter Drought
Resene Quarter Drought
Resene Half Fossil
Resene Half Fossil
Resene Eighth Pravda
Resene Eighth Pravda
May 2014

Q. I am planning on painting my walls Resene Quarter Truffle. I'll have American oak floors, silver pearl joinery and white with little speckles trend stone and was looking at Resene Heathered Grey as my cabinet colours but I've just done a test area and am worried it’s a bit too dark. Can you help suggest some complementary colours to the cabinets given all my choices above?

A. If your cabinets are being painted you could check out these colours – Resene Half Truffle (tonal variant of wall colour), Resene Quarter Pravda, Resene Quarter Stonehenge or you can go classic/timeless/light - Resene Alabaster.

Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Heathered Grey
Resene Heathered Grey
   
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
May 2014

Q. I recently painted my lounge in Resene Half Tea. The carpet in my lounge is brown - perhaps almost a raisin colour (like Resene Congo Brown). What do you think the best Resene curtain match would be? And do you think it's sensible to have the curtains the same colour as the walls?

A. I think it is sensible to have the curtains similar to the wall colour as it makes spaces seem larger - but it doesn't always happen that way because you see a curtain fabric and your heart dictates (as it does!) and that is what you end up with and if you see something gorgeous or simple or funky - why not?!

Pop into your local Resene ColorShop and check all of the Resene fabric range - keep an open mind - and look at something like Frequency - colour Naturalle and take it from there.

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Congo Brown
Resene Congo Brown

Resene Frequency Naturalle
May 2014

Q. I have been looking at colours for my room and I was wondering if the colour on the paint chart is actually the same colour as how it looks on the wall? Please tell me if I should picture the colour as a shade darker for the real paint, the same or a shade lighter.

A. In an interior 99% of the time colour appears deeper. The close proximity of walls and the shadow lines plus the changing qualities of natural and artificial light increase the depth of colour.

The 1% of the time when colour in an interior may appear lighter (than you think it will look) is when you have floor to ceiling windows on three walls and skylights.

It is always hard to judge from a small sample on a chart which is why I recommend that the testpot be painted onto large A2 card (all of the testpot = 2 coats) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges so your eye focuses on the reality of the colour and the unpainted border stops the existing wall colour from unduly influencing the testpot colour. You can move it from wall to wall or room to room and see how it changes - and it does - and if you roll the A2 card into a cone shape with the colour innermost and look into it the colour looks deeper - as if all four walls was painted - this is a great way of ensuring you know what the colour is like in a whole room.

Resene ColorShops have the A2 card and testpots but you can also order already painted A2 card (it is called Resene BigColour) of the colours you are considering. This is a boon if you are stressed for enough time to paint your own samples.


Q. I have an ex-state house circa 1958. I want to paint the exterior of the house to match the colours of my COLORSTEEL® garage. The colours are COLORSTEEL®  Smooth Cream and the roof, flashings and roller door are in COLORSTEEL®  Lichen. I don't know what colour to paint the windows on the house. Would you recommend a particular shade of white or should I just stick with Smooth Cream?

A. COLORSTEEL® Smooth Cream is quite a deep yellow/cream and it needs to have other colours to balance it. Might I suggest that you consider using Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Orchid White for all the trim and windows and perhaps consider doing the window sills and doors deeper than COLORSTEEL® Lichen which can look somewhat indecisive - neither yellow nor green - and a bit sludgy. Lichen looks swamp mud brown if you put green close to it and dirty clay yellow if you put brown next to it - but Resene Gravel might be a good 'friend' for it.

Resene
COLORSTEEL ® Smooth Cream
COLORSTEEL Lichen
COLORSTEEL® Lichen
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Orchid White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Gravel
Resene Gravel
May 2014

Q. I am looking at painting my new home in Resene Thorndon Cream. One of the bedrooms is dark and I am told does not get any sun with little natural light. It is painted a pale apricot. My reading tells me that richer colours with good lighting is the answer. It will be a guest room and the carpet is just a light browny colour. The room is a good sized room.

A. If the light browny grey carpet is in all the rooms (not just the guest room) it may make the Resene Thorndon Cream look like a greyed green tone - will this suit you? A warmer colour for the guest bedroom might be Resene Villa White or Resene Double Pearl Lusta and if you used small touches of red or burnt terracotta in accessories or linen on the bed it would appear lush and warm.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
May 2014

Q. What cream would complement a feature wall of Resene Avalanche? Had been considering Resene Thorndon Cream.

A. Resene Thorndon Cream works well with Resene Avalanche to create a smart cool look. Some other creams that are less grey based that you might look at also so you can compare are Resene Half Wheatfield or Resene Rice Cake.

Resene Avalanche
Resene Avalanche
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Wheatfield
Resene Half Wheatfield
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
May 2014

Q. We are painting a two storey home with the roof in Ironsand and we want a nice earthy tone for the walls – any suggestions?

A. You might like to check out these lovely earthy colours to see if one of them might suit you – Resene Quarter Craigieburn, Resene Napa, Resene Ash or Resene Sandspit Brown.

COLORSTEEL Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Ash
Resene Ash
Resene Sandspit Brown
Resene Sandspit Brown
May 2014

Q. We have a 1920s bungalow and we want to paint the lounge. Our house has native timber floors, skirting and doors and I want some help choosing a neutral colour that goes with Matai medium coloured wood and that is warm and inviting. As the house is so old the rooms are quite small so I would prefer a colour that opened the room up also but without making it look cold.

A. You might like to check these colours out to see if they suit – Resene Bianca, Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Eighth Parchment. They are available also as lighter and deeper variants.

Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Eighth Parchment
Resene Eighth Parchment
May 2014

Q. We are painting our kitchen and family room which is a very light sunny room. We’re looking at Resene Half Drought on the kitchen cabinets or maybe full strength Resene Drought and want some ideas for a lighter wall colour.

A. You could try Resene Half Spanish White, Resene Half Sandspit Brown, Resene Eighth Drought or Resene Pearl Lusta. They are all warm neutrals that will allow you plenty of opportunities to co-ordinate with carpets, drapes and furniture colours.

Resene Half Drought
Resene Half Drought
Resene Drought
Resene Drought
   
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown
Resene Half Sandspit Brown
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
May 2014

Q. We want to sell our house and wondered if you could give us colour advice on what we could do to make the house look more appealing? I wondered about repainting the fences?

A. The front fence is small in stature and if someone else bought your house they might consider putting up a higher fence. I think if you wanted to paint fences you might choose one colour for all - a warm charcoal could work well. You might consider Resene Fuscous Grey or Resene Double Gravel. The only reason I suggest this type of colour is that being a charcoal it goes with everything else and being dark it is considered a smart modern look. Cleaned down spotless paintwork and freshly painted window and door joinery and fences can certainly smarten up a home ready for sale.

Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Double Gravel
Resene Double Gravel
May 2014

Q. I want a warm colour that doesn't make the room feel small. I’m painting a small bedroom with natural wooden window frames in a rustic ‘hippy home’.

A. You could try Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Quarter Dutch White or Resene Eighth Sisal. These colours come as deeper variants also if you felt they were too pale. They are warm and light and would work well in a rustic home.

Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Dutch White
Resene Quarter Dutch White
Resene Eighth Sisal
Resene Eighth Sisal
May 2014

Q. We have painted the roof of our transitional villa/bungalow with Resene Squall. We didn't realise it had such a khaki look to it especially in the sun. Please can you suggest some neutral colours for the weatherboards, base and trim as we are at a loss to know what will work with Resene Squall.

A. Sometimes when we get a bit of a surprise about what a colour really looks like in a bright light situation - as you have - and it stops all thoughts as to what could be used with it. In the case of Resene Squall - an earthy olive based charcoal - it works with a huge number of colours. Here are a some options for you:
Option #1 - Main colour Resene Ecru White with trim in Resene Half Rice Cake and base in Resene Quarter Evolution.
Option #2 – Main colour Resene Quarter Taupe Grey with trim in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and base in Resene Half Cobblestone.
Option #3 – Main colour Resene Triple Sea Fog with trim in Resene Half Sea Fog and base in Resene Half Tapa.
Option #4 – Main colour Resene Spanish White with trim in Resene Quarter Villa White and base in Resene Half Chicago.

Resene Squall
Resene Squall
   
Resene Ecru White
Resene Ecru White
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarte Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Cobblestone
Resene Half Cobblestone
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Half Chicago
Resene Half Chicago
May 2014

Q. I need to pick a colour for our soffit. It has to be off a white base. The aluminum frames are a light peach/cream colour. We will be getting the spouting replaced in either white or dark grey. Would a dark grey look ok under the soffit? What is the darkest I could go in a white base? Or should I stay with a white?

A. The darkest grey (off a white base) is a light grey like Resene Delta or Resene Kensington Grey - I wouldn't use a grey under the soffits as it has no relationship with the house even if you did have a grey spouting. I would be inclined to use white guttering and Resene Half Black White on the guttering fascias and under the soffits. White works with everything and often grey is another distinct colour and because of the multi-coloured bricks and the light peach window frames I wouldn't consider another colour would add anything gorgeous to the house.

Resene Delta
Resene Delta
Resene Kensington Grey
Resene Kensington Grey
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
May 2014

Q. I have a light mocha colour carpet in my lounge. This will be for an open plan kitchen and dining area and I’m looking at Resene Malta or Resene Stonehenge on the walls. My windows are in between a cream and white aluminium. I've decided to paint the ceiling in Resene Alabaster. I’m also not sure as to which colour to carry on through to the hallway and what colour to do the internal doors. Most of my furniture is black.

A. Without having a sample of the light mocha carpet to check out close to the two colours that you have indicated it would be almost impossible to say one way or the other what might be a good colour for the lounge. It would pay you to test the colours very carefully prior to rushing off to purchase paint. Testpots are your best friends and it is well worthwhile painting up samples and placing them vertically alongside the carpet to get a best idea of their suitability. Resene Alabaster will work really well throughout for ceilings.

Please go slowly - even to the extent of just under coating all walls and woodwork in white when you move in so that you can

  • Remove existing colours so you see the spaces better.
  • See where the light falls within the rooms.
  • Identify what colours look best with the carpet which - when all other colour is removed - may double in colour strength or alter your first impression of what it is really like.

If you choose a definite colour tile (black or mocha) it may stop other options being available for cabinets and work tops.

If curtains aren't being renewed immediately you may have to compromise a bit unless you don't mind things not looking their best colour wise.

Resene Malta
Resene Malta
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
May 2014

Q. I want to install a glass splashback in my new kitchen and think I like a blue for contrast but am struggling to decide on the Resene blue. I am looking at Resene Half Escape and Resene Hemisphere.

A. If you pop into your local Resene ColorShop and look at the A4 real paint samples of these colours in their Colour Library it will definitely help you to choose - it is all about comparing colours in a large enough format to judge what they are truly like. Other colours you might like to consider are Resene Escape - a bit more depth than Resene Half Escape and Resene Awash - soft depth but not as strong as Resene Hemisphere.

To ensure the colour looks as gorgeous as you imagine it will be you need to know there are two types of glass used for splashbacks - standard float glass, which casts a murky greeny cast over the colour, and star bright crystal clear glass that shows the colour absolutely true. If you are at all unsure what the different effects will be then place a sheet of colour under each of the types of glass. You splashback person should have a sample of both types of glass to view.

Resene Half Escape
Resene Half Escape
Resene Hemisphere
Resene Hemisphere
Resene Escape
Resene Escape
Resene Awash
Resene Awash
May 2014

Q. I want to paint kitchen walls and ceilings in 'white' and I'm thinking that Resene Rice Paper may be the right colour but I would love your advice on this. I want to paint the kitchen cupboards in three different yet complementary spring colours and I'm thinking a selection of yellow, orange and red colours would be great.

A. I can imagine this as a fun, retro look. I feel that the walls and the carcasses of the cabinets need to be really simple (ideally the same colour) if you want to use three colours for the cabinets and drawers otherwise it will be a bit chaotic. I am unsure about Resene Rice Paper for the walls as it is such a dominant lime/yellow.

You might look at these scenarios -
Option #1 - Walls and kitchen carcasses Resene Bianca, ceilings and any painted skirtings, windows frames, doors in Resene Quarter Bianca, cabinets in Resene La Luna, Resene Crusta and Resene Rapture.
Option #2 - Walls and kitchen carcasses Resene Double Alabaster, ceilings and any painted skirtings, windows frames, doors in Resene White, cabinets in Resene Shalimar, Resene Japonica and Resene Anise (a touch of green adds the Spring to the palette).

Just be a bit cautious and test the colours on large A2 card and look at it in the environment as colour has a habit of doubling in depth and intensity.

Resene Rice Paper
Resene Rice Paper
       
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene La Luna
Resene La Luna
Resene Crusta
Resene Crusta
Resene Rapture
Resene Rapture
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Shalimar
Resene Shalimar
Resene Japonica
Resene Japonica
Resene Anise
Resene Anise
May 2014

Q. If I use Resene Double Bianca (low sheen) for the walls and Resene Bianca (semi-gloss) for the trims/doors/skirts and Resene Double Bianca (flat) for the ceiling, will we see the difference between the walls and the trims/doors?

A. You won't see a huge amount of difference - it will be a subtle difference. I think you might be better to use Resene Half Bianca for the trims, doors, skirting boards and ceiling if you want these elements to be more of a contrast (look whiter) with Resene Double Bianca as the wall colour. Resene Bianca is only slightly lighter/less yellow toned than Resene Double Bianca.

If you were to use Resene Double Bianca on the ceiling as well as the walls you may well see it looking deeper (more coloured) than the walls because of the angle of the ceiling and the way the light falls away from the ceiling creating shadow plus the flat finish always makes a colour seem deeper.

Resene Double Bianca
Resene Double Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
May 2014

Q. We live in an old Queenslander. We have some tongue and groove walls and some walls that have been sheeted. We get a lot of natural light throughout the day, although my kitchen is quite dark. I am looking for an off-white for the walls and ceilings that would complement our house.

A. You might check out these 'off whites' as they are really lovely – Resene Half Orchid White and slightly deeper – Resene Orchid White, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Pearl Lusta and slightly lighter Resene Half Pearl Lusta.

Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
May 2014

Q. I am painting walls Resene Stonewashed in a large sunny area with an oatmeal colour. What would be a nice trim colour that would tone in as I don't want to carry the Resene Stonewashed down? Also need to do the ceiling.

A. Depending upon whether the oatmeal is yellow/cream based or pink/beige based you could try – Resene Half Spanish White, Resene Eighth Biscotti or Resene Albescent White. They might also be used for the ceiling as you have a definite mid toned wall colour so they will appear much lighter by comparison.

Resene Stonewashed
Resene Stonewashed
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Albescent White
Resene Albescent White
May 2014

Q. I am painting a new cottage in Geraldine in Resene Half Napa. Is this LRV okay or too dark? Considering even using Resene Quarter Napa.

A. Resene Half Napa has a LRV OF 51% - this is good - but Resene Quarter Napa has a LRV OF 59% which is more light reflective and therefore cooler. It really depends on what the joinery and the roof colours will be as to which main colour will look the best overall. LRV beneficial zones for colours are those between 45-100% - but if you are in an area of strong UV and extreme heat exposure then I would always ask for the CoolColour™ re-formulated colours to aid reflectivity.

Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
May 2014

Q. I like the idea of pale colours for the cottage but Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Alabaster looked promising but too light! Can you suggest any other shades we could try or any other ideas?

A. Very bright natural light often blurs colour and differences disappear. Perhaps look at using Resene Triple Sea Fog and Resene Half Alabaster or alternatively Resene Wan White. Another possibility is Resene Quarter Foggy Grey and Resene Quarter Wan White.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
May 2014

Q. What are your thoughts on exterior fascia and trim/window colours to complement the main body of our home which is a speckled orangy brick? Roof and gutters are Woodland Grey. Perhaps some lighter tones?

A. You might like to try Resene Taupe Grey, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Triple White Pointer. They are all available as lighter variants also.

COLORBOND® Woodland Grey
COLORBOND®
Woodland Grey
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
May 2014

Q. I have some furniture painted in Resene Bay Leaf and Resene Half Bay Leaf and I'm trying to find out what range the colour comes from and the colour chart it comes from. I can't find the colour chart online or in a store where I live. I'm painting some other furniture and am trying to decide on other colours that I could use to complement the Resene Bay Leaf. Am quite fond of art deco/mid century design/colours so aiming for something along those lines.

A. Resene Bay Leaf is a colour that features on the BSS5252 Colour Range which is an historic but still used colour chart. There isn't a Half Bay Leaf colour but a 'special' may have been made for you and this can be done in a Resene ColorShop. Colours that work really well with Resene Bay Leaf are – Resene Gum Leaf, Resene Amazon, Resene Chathams Blue, Resene Astronaut Blue, Resene Husk, Resene Old Brick, Resene Sahara or Resene Minsk.

Resene Bay Leaf
Resene Bay Leaf
Resene Gum Leaf
Resene Gum Leaf
Resene Amazon
Resene Amazon
Resene Chathams Blue
Resene Chathams Blue
Resene Astronaut Blue
Resene Astronaut Blue
Resene Husk
Resene Husk
Resene Old Brick
Resene Old Brick
Resene Sahara
Resene Sahara
Resene Minsk
Resene Minsk
 
May 2014

Q. I am planning to paint some of my weatherboards Resene Destiny (around an entrance/patio) and the rest of the house Resene Jet Stream. A third auxiliary colour will be Resene Bubbles. Can you please suggest a colour from the COLORSTEEL® range for my gutterings?

A. A simple charcoal like Grey Friars will always work as it is a fundamental neutral or alternatively slightly bluer grey like Storm Blue or Pacific Blue.

Resene Destiny
Resene Destiny
Resene Jet Stream
Resene Jet Stream
Resene Bubbles
Resene Bubbles
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Storm Blue
COLORSTEEL® Storm Blue
COLORSTEEL® Pacific Blue
COLORSTEEL®Pacific Blue
May 2014

Q. I would like to paint our house Resene Bokara Grey, with the window surrounds Arctic White. The cladding is cedar. What paint do I use?

A. If you want the cedar to look natural when painted most people choose Resene Lumbersider which is a low sheen tough acrylic for exterior use. I recommend that you get the colour in the CoolColour™ reformulated version to try and minimise the extreme heat that this colour will absorb from the sun. The north and west side of the house will show fading a lot sooner than the south and easterly sides of the house and consequently will usually need repainting sooner. Cedar is a soft timber that needs religious maintenance in order to ensure it doesn't deteriorate and extremes of temperature are never good for any timber as they cause movement and 'carking' (this is when the timber twists and bends) and splits may be created which allows moisture into the wood.

Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
May 2014

Q. What colour would go best with Resene Sandstone?

A. It depends whether you want lighter (whiter) or accent (definite colour) or tonal (paler variant of Resene Sandstone) so here are a few colours for you to look at – Resene Albescent White (whiter), Resene Boulevard or Resene Avalanche (definite colours), Resene Quarter Sandstone (lighter variant) or Resene Mondo (deeper related accent).

Resene Sandstone
Resene Sandstone
Resene Albescent White
Resene Albescent White
Resene Boulevard
Resene Boulevard
Resene Avalanche
Resene Avalanche
Resene Quarter Sandstone
Resene Quarter Sandstone
Resene Mondo
Resene Mondo
May 2014

Q. We are going to paint our interior walls Resene Merino with Resene Quarter Merino ceilings and cornices, or Resene Sea Fog with Resene Quarter Sea Fog ceilings and cornices. Could you please tell me the differences between these two colours?

A. Resene Merino is slightly warmer/more complex colour than Resene Sea Fog which has a grey undertone. If you want to use a 'whiter' colour for the cornices and ceilings then if you use the lightest version of the wall colour you should see a definition of contrast. If you want more 'white' colour contrast whether you are using Resene Merino or Resene Sea Fog you could use Resene Alabaster as it will work for either colour.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
May 2014

Q. I am looking for a very liveable soft green. It is for our high ceilinged living room as a feature wall. We have modern wicker coastal furniture and light sisal flooring. I don't want anything too lolly nor muddy. Something fresh, relaxing and totally easy to live with.

A. Everyone sees colour from a personal point of view - emotionally as well - so here are a few lovely greens to get you going on your 'green journey' – Resene Paris White, Resene Secrets, Resene Coriander, Resene Green Mist, Resene Locust, Resene Envy or Resene Rainee.

The changing qualities of light will alter any green so take your time and test them and live with them for a day or so to better judge how they will work.

Resene Paris White
Resene Paris White
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
Resene Coriander
Resene Coriander
Resene Green Mist
Resene Green Mist
Resene Locust
Resene Locust
Resene Envy
Resene Envy
Resene Rainee
Resene Rainee
 
May 2014

Q. We have a late 70s house and we are going to have the roof and the red trim painted to try and modernise it a bit - can you suggest a colour for both? The timber cladding is a black stain. The second option would be to paint over the black stain with another colour, but this would be a big job.

A. I think if the roof, garage doors and the trim were the same colour it would be better than choosing several colours. If you count what you already have (as colours) you will see you have quite a few - #1- bricks with several subtle variations of colours, #2 - window joinery, #3 - black stained weatherboards and deck etc, #4 - bargeboard trim, #5 - roof, #6 - garage doors. Greens immediately spring to mind as being possibilities – Resene Lush (brighter one), Resene Butterfly Creek (deeper than Resene Lush), Resene Evolution (lighter/olive tone) or Resene Port Phillip (soft muted green).

And a brown might work too – Resene Drumbeat (relates to the brick) or Resene Groundbreaker (more subdued than Resene Drumbeat).

Resene Lush
Resene Lush
Resene Butterfly Creek
Resene Butterfly Creek
Resene Evolution
Resene Evolution
Resene Port Phillip
Resene Port Phillip
Resene Drumbeat
Resene Drumbeat
Resene Groundbreaker
Resene Groundbreaker
   
May 2014

Q. We have an original 1960s kitchen and want to paint the cabinets. The walls will be Resene Quarter Tea, like the rest of the house, but we are struggling with kitchen cabinet ideas. We have a new white benchtop to put in on the left wall - so I was thinking something darker. Do we paint the higher cabinets white, and the bottom cabinets a darker colour? I do like grey based greens and blues - but I also want a warm colour as the kitchen is on the south side of the house.

A. If you did paint the upper wall cabinets a lighter colour I would be inclined to use the wall colour so that the cabinets recede into the wall and don't absorb a lot of light - as well as look smart and well co-ordinated. If they and the carcasses were Resene Quarter Tea (in a semi-gloss finish) they would still look subtly different from Resene Quarter Tea as a low sheen wall paint. Ceilings, skirting boards and door frames, window sashes and frames in Resene Half Bianca (this is warmer than real white) and all lower cabinets in a greyed blue like Resene Boulevard or a greyed green like Resene Lemon Grass or Resene Periglacial Blue could look really beautiful. I wouldn't go too dark on the lower cabinets as they will look deeper because of the southerly light aspect and the shadows. Please check out how these 'greyed' colours look as you might need brighter cleaner colours to compensate for the southerly light.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Boulevard
Resene Boulevard
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
May 2014

Q. I'm painting my new house from the Resene Thorndon Cream range. I would like to know options for ceilings that would go well with Resene Double or Half Thorndon Cream on the walls.

A. If you want to only use the Resene Thorndon Cream palette of colours I would suggest you used Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream as it works well with both colours. If you don't want to use another lighter version of the Resene Thorndon Cream palette of colours you could use Resene Alabaster - again it will work with either wall colour - but it will create more light and will make the wall colours appear deeper and more interesting because of the contrast.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
May 2014

Q. We are renovating our 15 year old house. Our new kitchen benchtop will be Polar from the Quantum Quartz range. I am looking for a colour for the two-pack kitchen cupboards that will look white, but also tone with the benchtop. I think a true white will make the benchtop look a little creamy. We also want to repaint our very cream walls so they look white. We have dark polished timber floors throughout the main living areas. Would you suggest the same colour as the cabinets for the walls? I was thinking of Resene Eighth Parchment for the cupboards and walls, a white ceiling and white window trims and architraves. For the glass splashback in the kitchen I was considering Resene Blast Grey 2.

A. I love the idea of Resene Blast Grey 2 for the splashback as it has real warmth. It suits the Resene Eighth Parchment as it has a similar type of beige/yellow undertone. Quantum Quartz Polar is a grey white and very smart. Have you seen the colours, wooden floor samples and the Quantum Quartz all together in reality? The reason I ask is you indicate that you want your walls (and possibly cabinets) a 'white' not the cream that are now - and Resene Eighth Parchment is a definite colour compared to real white. Other 'white' colours you might look at to compare are – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Half Merino or Resene Half Wan White.

When you have the opportunity to compare several 'whites' and you place a sheet of printer paper close to them you suddenly see all the underlying tints and tones within the colour which is helpful.

Resene Blast Grey 2
Resene Blast Grey 2
Resene Eighth Parchment
Resene Eighth Parchment
   
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Wan White
May 2014

Q. We would appreciate some help on our interior if possible please. Where the wall meets the ceiling is a square stop. The entrance foyer and hall are polished concrete with quite a bit of stone exposed. And in the main kitchen/living/dining area the floor is American White Oak with an almost walnut coloured oil stain.

We'd appreciate your advice on suitable paint colours for
1. Interior window surrounds and interior window architraves. All the exterior window and door joinery is powder coated aluminium in Quarter Pearl Lusta. Should we stay with this colour for the interior of the window and door timber frames? And should the internal architraves that surround the frames also be the same colour?
2. Ceiling. The flush mount downlights are white - we assume the ceiling should also be white but what is the appropriate Resene colour description for this?
3. Internal doors. Again we thought these should be white?
4. Skirtings and interior door architraves. Should these be white too, and if so, should the internal architraves of the exterior windows and doors be the same white too (we're really unsure about this decision), or should they be the window joinery colour?
5. Walls. We'd like to stay fairly neutral and thought Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene White Pointer may be appropriate?

A. If you have had a powdercoat colour specially matched to Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta for the exterior of your house then you can definitely use this colour for the interior window surrounds etc. If the lights are white - probably powdercoated but which white powdercoat colour is it? Without knowing it might be hard to exactly match the white for ceiling paint but Resene White would be better than a tinted white which might show quite different to the lights.

Doors and skirtings, door frames etc should match the window surrounds otherwise they will look as though a mistake has been made.

For the walls - Resene White Pointer might be better than Resene Half Sea Fog which might make all the trims (Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta) look yellowish as it is warmer than Resene Half Sea Fog.

I query whether you have had a special powdercoat colour made for the windows to match Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta - might it be Warm White Pearl or Pearl White which are standard powdercoat colours? If this is the case then all 'white' trim work and ceilings in the house might be better tinted to Resene Double Alabaster which even though it isn't exactly the same would associate well with the powdercoat colour. You might like to check this out for peace of mind.

Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
May 2014

Q. We have moved into a two storey home in which Resene Half Sea Fog has been used on ceilings and doors with Resene Pavlova walls. I want to change the wall colours but keep Resene Sea Fog. Would Resene Half Thorndon Cream or full Resene Thorndon Cream go with Resene Sea Fog?

A. If you have Resene Half Sea Fog then Resene Thorndon Cream would be fine. If the wall colour was lighter (e.g. Resene Half Thorndon Cream) then you might notice the ceiling and trims looking a bit grey. Essentially Resene Half Sea Fog will look 'white' as long as the wall colour isn't too pale.

Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Pavlova
Resene Pavlova
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
May 2014

Q. I have a building with Grey Friars roof, joinery and painted detailing, and have moved another building onto the site. What are the closest colours that you make to Grey Friars?

A. We have an exact match to Grey Friars in the roof chart - It is called Resene Grey Friars. There are also two lighter versions - Resene Half Grey Friars and Resene Quarter Grey Friars.

COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
May 2014

Q. I would like to know the best colours to complement our house for a COLORBOND® Deep Ocean garage door and guttering and gables. The foundation will be a light white sandstone colour and the brickwork will be a dark red/brown federation brick.

A. You could try these colours – Resene Quarter Spanish White - this would be the lightest colour and Resene Double Spanish White - this is the warmer/deeper colour. If however the sandstone is lighter/whiter then you could try Resene Half Pearl Lusta and Resene Parchment.

If you wanted to use a little more of the COLORBOND® colour as trim on the house then this is a match to it – Resene Coast.

COLORSTEEL Deep Ocean
COLORSTEEL® Deep Ocean
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
       
May 2014

Q. My kitchen is white, the splash back is black. Our whole living area is going to be 56 square metres with all vinyl planking. I am going to choose dark vinyl and was looking at Resene Half Truffle for whole rooms and the living area and Resene Quarter Truffle for the bathroom, toilet and ensuite. My tiles are black and the vanity is white. I haven't chose the carpet. What about Resene Half Thorndon Cream? Any ideas for the carpet?

A. I think that Resene Half Truffle and Resene Quarter Truffle will look stunning with the white kitchen, black splashback, black tiles etc. I think you should choose a mid toned grey/taupe for the carpet - not too dark as it will show up all the fluff and dust. Resene Half Thorndon Cream is a little bit green toned and sharper than the Truffle colours and to my mind it isn't as warm.

Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
May 2014

Q. I have decided to go with Resene Quarter Parchment for my living areas with white for the ceiling and skirtings. The reason for this is because half of the lounge gets very little daylight (the only source being a 300mm circular skylight). Is that a good combination that will not look too bright or too dull in these areas? Also, if I go with Cool White LED downlights in this living area, would that work well? I also have non-glossy dark black tiles with a bluish tinge in the bathroom. Which colour would blend in with the outside Resene Quarter Parchment and the inside tiles as well?

A. Resene Quarter Parchment is a very good choice but before you go ahead with the painting might I suggest that you check out Resene Half Spanish White which is just a little bit warmer/cleaner. It is only when you test colour in the environment that you get a good judgement on whether it will suit or not - please do try the testpots on large A2 card (from Resene ColorShops) and look at how it responds to the light that you have. Are there Warm White LED down lights available? I just feel that you may need a softer/warmer quality of artificial light. With the dark tiles in the bathroom I would suggest that you just use the same colour (as the other rooms) as it could look warmer.

Resene Quarter Parchment
Resene Quarter Parchment
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
May 2014

Q. My kitchen is painted Resene Black White and black. The tiles are Livingstone Supreme grey with a hint of yellow/green. I have a sea scene painting, with a white background and lots of grey and purple and a hint of sea green/blue. I want to do a feature wall in Resene Mobster or Resene Gun Powder. Would Resene Sea Fog be OK for the walls or should I use something a bit more greeny?

A. If only the kitchen cabinets are Resene Black White (and not the walls), then using Resene Sea Fog will almost be a mistake - I say almost because it is really similar to Resene Black White so if you thought you were getting a different 'white' on the walls you may not see any difference at all. If you want to see a difference (even a slight shadow of difference) what about considering using Resene Double Sea Fog which would still work with a feature wall colour and does look slightly grey/green in a warm neutral way.

Alternatively if you want more yellow/green in the wall colour you might consider Resene Thorndon Cream.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Black
Resene Black
Resene Mobster
Resene Mobster
Resene Gun Powder
Resene Gun Powder
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
     
May 2014

Q. We are painting our very colourful house room by room and tending towards very plain colours as we're so inexperienced. We have finished the spare bedroom in Resene Buttery White with Resene Alabaster trim, and were so happy we started doing the master bedroom and the hallway very nearly the same, Resene Buttery White walls with Resene Half Buttery White trim and ceiling. However, it worked well in the spare room, but it's starting to look terribly bland! Have you got any suggestions particularly with the hallway? I like the Karen Walker range, especially Resene Half Periglacial Blue, so thought about changing the walls to that, (we plan to do Resene Half Smalt Blue and Resene Buttery White in the bathroom), but we're going a bit conservative because we also plan to change carpet and curtains but haven't done so as yet.

A. I think one of the reasons that what looked great in the spare bedroom is a bit bland in the hallway is because it needs the same light and the same contrast. Obviously it is a different space with possibly less light but it may really need the Resene Alabaster for ceilings and woodwork trim. No contrast (or very little) equates to no visual interest which is also called 'bland'.

Hallways are a little bit like Cinderella before she got dressed for the ball - in need of embellishment - so use the artwork and family photos to create a lovely gallery in the hallway. We are so busy rushing through the hallway on our way to the exiting rooms we forget this space or think that it doesn't need 'dressing up' in any way. Also hallways aren't large, light or bathed in sunshine usually so I would think that Resene Buttery White would increase light, feel sunny and give it a lovely flow on effect.

The other colours/rooms that you are considering sound really lovely.

Resene Buttery White
Resene Buttery White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Half Smalt Blue
May 2014

Q. We are building a house in the Blue Mountains. I am looking for a very pale blue grey for living room/kitchen walls (it is open plan) to reflect the bush and mountain landscape around us. I want to complement it with a darker blue grey for the wood on the kitchen island and on the interior of the kitchen cupboards. Can you suggest some combinations? Am considering Resene Hermitage, Resene Bel Air, Resene Coastal Blue but not sure in which combination or in which combination of strengths.

A. This is such a lovely plan to use these type of blues in a kitchen. Because the blues that you have indicated are random (unrelated to each other) you do need to proceed carefully. The following colours are as related as I can find – Resene Quarter Powder Blue and Resene Powder Blue, Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue and Resene Periglacial Blue, Resene Zumthor and Resene Bounty, and Resene Casper and Resene Clouded Blue.

Resene Hermitage
Resene Hermitage
Resene Bel Air
Resene Bel Air
Resene Coastal Blu
Resene Coastal Blue
 
Resene Quarter Powder Blue
Resene Quarter Powder Blue
Resene Powder Blue
Resene Powder Blue
Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue
Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Zumthor
Resene Zumthor
Resene Bounty
Resene Bounty
Resene Casper
Resene Casper
Resene Clouded Blue
Resene Clouded Blue
May 2014

Q. We have an old bungalow by the sea with lots of greenery. The existing roof and some balustrading (around the deck areas) is COLORSTEEL® Karaka. The external paint is currently Resene Half Spanish White but we would like an off-white that is less pink/yellow. Wonder about Resene Thorndon Cream with quarter or eighth strength for windows etc but need a colour for sills.

A. I think your idea of using Resene Thorndon Cream and lighter variants is a great idea. If you like this sort of colour you might also investigate - as an alternative to lighter variants of this colour - a crisper/whiter window colour to create more contrast and show off the Resene Thorndon Cream a bit more - Resene Half Rice Cake. Then for the window sills and possibly a front door you might look at these colours – Resene Double Tapa (deeper), Resene Double Ash (lighter), Resene Red Earth (deep/warm) or Resene Avalanche (deep/cool).

COLORSTEEL® Karaka
COLORSTEEL® Karaka
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Double Ash
Resene Double Ash
Resene Red Earth
Resene Red Earth
Resene Avalanche
Resene Avalanche
May 2014

Q. We are building a new house. The roof is Monument and the door and the window frames are black. The garage and front door are timber. The walls are rendered and we would like some advice on the colour.

A. You could try Resene Triple Blanc, Resene Truffle, Resene Quarter Pravda or Resene Quarter Tapa.

Resene Triple Blanc
Resene Triple Blanc
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
May 2014

Q. My roof is a light khaki green but I want to change the wall cladding to a lighter colour such as in the Resene Whites & Neutrals. Can you recommend a colour that will complement the roof colour?

A. You might look at these colours - they will seem very light compared to what you have now but they are definitely not pure white but far more interesting – Resene Triple Thorndon Cream, Resene Caraway or Resene Triple White Pointer.

Don't try the testpots on the existing dark colour as you will be confused and misled about the colours - paint them onto large A2 card, from a Resene ColorShop, using two coats - all of the testpot - and leave an unpainted border all around the edges of the card. This way you will see what the colours are truly like and you can move the card around the house to see what a change of angle and light will do in regard altering how the colour will be seen.

Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Caraway
Resene Caraway
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
May 2014

Q. Looking for a colour to blend with Resene Double Tapa and Resene Alabaster. We have used the colour Surfmist for the roof and guttering.

A. You could use these - they range from a match to the roof, slightly deeper than the roof and related to the main house colour – Resene Titania, Resene Bone White or Resene Half Tapa.

Resene Double Tapa
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
COLORSTEEL Surfmist
COLORSTEEL® Surfmist
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
May 2014

Q. Our concrete and stucco exterior house was originally an apricot colour. We tried to go with grey but are now thinking a neutral, browny, mudbrick colour might be better?

A. Did you find the grey looked too much like unpainted concrete - this sometimes happens with greys. Perhaps you could look at these colours to see if they suit you - Resene Quarter Craigieburn, Resene Quarter Gargoyle, Resene Akaroa, Resene Drought or Resene Triple Blanc.

Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Gargoyle
Resene Quarter Gargoyle
Resene Akaroa
Resene Akaroa
Resene Drought
Resene Drought
Resene Triple Blanc
Resene Triple Blanc
May 2014

Q. We have recently purchased a stucco and tile 50s house. The deck has been painted, not stained, so it’s slippery when wet and a hideous colour (the fence surrounding the property is the same colour). The joinery has flaking paintwork, but the stucco is in good condition. Your advice on updating the colour scheme, without changing the stucco, would be much appreciated.

A. The safe choice for the joinery would be to use a 'white' - it goes with anything - so perhaps look at Resene Alabaster or Resene Eighth Rice Cake and for the deck a mid-toned colour for a bit of contrast could be good - use Resene Sidewalk paving and deck paint modified with SRG grit which will help prevent slipping. Try Resene Half Stonehenge or Resene Taupe Grey.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
May 2014

Q. We are looking to paint our interior with a French/country cottage theme.

A. Colour suggestions generally relate to existing coloured components that you have now and the quality of light you have. Soft greys, greens or blues are used with white tints to give the soft French look. Other colours can be added in later once the light look has been achieved. These are a couple of scenarios that you might investigate – Cool look with Resene Wan White, Resene Emerge and Resene Quarter Black White, or Warm look with Resene Bianca, Resene Rakaia and Resene Quarter Bianca.

Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene Emerge
Resene Emerge
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
May 2014

Q. We are about to renovate the basement of our 1890s villa, which gets decent light for a basement but very little direct sunlight. It is currently Resene Quarter Tea but I'm keen to have a paint colour throughout my house that is whiter but still has the warmth of Resene Tea and is definitely not cream. We have quite a bit of chocolate brown and orange accents in art and furniture.

A. It does all hinge on how the quality of light affects any colour and because of that you need to trial colour carefully. Please don't apply the testpot to the already coloured wall. It will alter your perception of the trialled colour so that you can't judge the reality of it. If you paint it onto A2 card, from a Resene ColorShop, using two coats - all of the testpot - leaving a border of unpainted card all around the edges you will focus on the colour and it is easy to see how it changes because of angles, light and shade when you pin it on different walls.

Try Resene Merino, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Tea. They are lighter and still warm. How they look will depend not only on light but all other coloured flooring, drapes and furniture in the basement.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Eighth Tea
May 2014

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