Here's a taste of some of the Colour Expert questions and answers to help you with your own colour scheme.
If you would like more colour advice for your project, please ask our Colour Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller. Colours are a representation only.
Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.
Q. We have a property which has a new COLORSTEEL® Ironsand roof. The weatherboards are currently in Resene Napa and the base in Resene Half Oilskin. I’m thinking it is time for a change. My thoughts were to change to a Resene Truffle or Resene Cougar for the boards, and maybe a lighter Resene Ironsand for the base, or a shade of Resene Stonehenge. Want to keep a warm tone ideally. Thoughts? A. I like your colour ideas. I do think that Resene Cougar may be warmer than Resene Truffle. A lighter version of Resene Ironsand for the base of the house sounds great too - perhaps Resene Quarter Ironsand? I feel that a different tone of Resene Stonehenge may be too yellow/green based and not warm enough.
March 2015
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Q. Our house has brown aluminium windows and needs exterior painting. What are the best colours to go with the windows? We were thinking of a blue-grey but now don't think it will match. A. It is always difficult when window joinery is such a definite strong colour. Some blue-greys might work - deeper ones - but you don't say what your house is built out of - and a deep blue grey may be too strong for weatherboards but OK for Hardiplank® or stucco. The following colours are worth investigating – Resene Hammerhead (blue/grey) and other neutrals – Resene Quarter Craigieburn, Resene Half Napa, Resene Quarter Pravda or Resene Quarter Joss.
March 2015
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Q. We have decided to decorate our boy’s south facing bedroom Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue. But are stuck on a white for the ceilings and windows, doors and skirting boards. This is the first room of our house to be renovated and we would like the white to be used through the house. The next bedroom is likely to be Resene Half Beryl Green. We haven't carpeted yet but the carpet is likely to be a grey/charcoal colour. And we would like a neutral white/grey tone for the rest of the house. Could you please suggest a white that would match? A. South facing rooms are not known for their warm sunny aspect. Your choice of Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue may look cooler and greyer and may not show any blue/green tone - is this ok? A cool 'white' that will look good with both bedroom colours and will go nicely with grey/charcoal carpet might be one of these colours – Resene Quarter Wan White or Resene Quarter Black White. Perhaps you could check out these colours as a neutral white/grey tone for the rest of the house – Resene Half Duck Egg Blue or Resene Double Black White.
March 2015
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Q. I am wanting some advice on colour options. We have used Karen Walker Resene colours. Our bathroom and laundry are Resene Powder Blue and another blue in this range, our office is Resene Quarter Crisp Green and we have just painted our lounge Resene Kina Brown (which makes for a fabulous media room). Our dining room has been Resene Sanguine Brown and our kitchen Resene Beryl Green but we would like to bring both of these rooms together and paint them one colour that works with the rest of the house. The Resene Sanguine Brown now feels too dark for the dining room/family area space. What colours would you recommend? A. Are you wanting to stay in the Karen Walker palette of colours? If this is the case you might look at these colours – Resene Albescent White or Resene Sandspit Brown. Both of these colours are warm and neutral and will flow nicely into the Resene Kina Brown in the lounge. Alternatively you could go with the new lighter versions of the blues or greens – Resene Half Beryl Green or Resene Half Periglacial Blue. Or you might use a 'non Karen Walker' colour that is like a lighter version of the colour you have used in the laundry (Resene Quarter Crisp Green) - Resene Miso - which might be a nice way to carry this colour into the kitchen and dining room. March 2015
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Q. Do you have any suggestions for a new and fresh colour scheme for my house? The roof is Ironsand which we cannot change. Trim is Resene Spanish White and the house colour is Resene Stonewall with Resene Double Stonewall on the doors. We are very bored with these colours now and would like a change. We would like to keep it light and crisp. A. You might like to check out these colours to see if you like them – Resene Triple Merino (main), Resene Half Merino (trim) and Resene Quarter Ironsand (doors), or Resene Quarter Friar Greystone (main), Resene Rice Cake (trims) and Resene Double Friar Greystone (doors). March 2015
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Q. We are wanting to render our home to increase curb appeal but have reddish/orange roof tiles. Any thoughts on what colour we should render? At this stage we are not wanting to respray the roof but happy to repaint gutters. A. The warm terracotta coloured roof does indicate that warm neutrals may be the best colours for the render. You could look at these types of colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Quarter Drought, Resene Fossil or Resene Half Bison Hide. Alternatively you might look at soft blue or green edged greys – Resene Double Concrete, Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Half Delta.
March 2015
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Q. We have Resene House White walls and trims, our furniture is a nice warm light wood and our carpet grey. I am looking for a colour that isn't just another grey to paint a large entertainment wall. I like the way Resene House White looks good with our light wood furniture and I have noticed it suits some of our green art. Are there any nice soft green grey or taupes that would work? I don't want to go for just a grey and nothing too bold, just a subtle, warm change. A much darker house white would be pretty. We are going for a warm, relaxing look and feel. A. There isn't a much darker Resene House White but you might look at Resene Half Mountain Mist or Resene Flotsam - they look lovely with Resene House White. I have looked for a green grey to go with Resene House White but they do tend to bring out a sneaky tinge of mauve in Resene House White - you might look at Resene Hermitage.
March 2015
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Q. I have a small (90sqm) weatherboard house (one of the old railway cottages). Weatherboards and sash window detail are painted white (not sure exactly which white!) and the window sills and door trim are painted in Resene New Denim Blue (to match the roof colour). I currently have a white front door which I would like to change to something more striking. Any suggestions for colours that would go well with the blue for use on the front door? A. If your house is true white (not a Dutch, Colonial, Spanish or other white) and the roof and trims are Resene New Denim Blue you could use a funky orange, a fresh lime colour or even a hot pink based red. You might look at these colours and see if any of them appeal to you – Resene Daredevil, Resene Limerick or Resene Scrumptious.
March 2015
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Q. Doing a feature wall in blue. Can you suggest a colour that is light blue to almost a silvery look? A. Silvery light blue tones are usually very light - sometimes a little blue sometimes a little grey. They are only appreciated as the delicate colours they are when all other walls are white. Most other definite colours seen very close to them wipe them out completely. You might look at these colours to see if they are the sort of silvery light blue you have in mind – Resene Half Breathless or full strength Resene Breathless and Resene Designer White.
March 2015
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Q. On the interior of my modern townhouse I'm going to use Resene Rice Cake on the walls and Resene Quarter Rice Cake on the ceiling and trim. For my feature walls I was thinking of using Resene Eighth Mondo or Resene Triple Tea. Will these colours be OK with Resene Rice Cake or what would you recommend? A. I think the Resene Eighth Mondo may be more striking and add a better level of contrast. Resene Triple Tea is a yellow brown and with Resene Rice Cake it emphasises a salty (almost) yellow/green tone. It depends what you like - but the Resene Eighth Mondo is a bit more sophisticated. As an alternative you might check out Resene Half Pravda as a lighter colour.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting the exterior of our 1950s roughcast home. The windows are off-white aluminium joinery inserts with wooden trim/sills. We have chosen Resene Ash for the walls and Resene Squall for the roof. We are not sure what to do with the windowsills - would you blend them in and paint them a shade of Resene Ash or paint them Resene Squall to make them stand out and tie in the roof colour? A. The house may look a little ill-defined and plain if the windowsills aren't picked out. What you could do - a sort of dress rehearsal - is paint one sill Resene Ash or lighter (possibly using a Resene testpot) on one window and Resene Squall on the other and see which one you like best. Sometimes a little test like this makes things easier when deciding which way to go with trims.
March 2015
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Q. We are looking at changing our internal colours in our hallway - we have had secondhand French doors just installed which are Resene Quarter Spanish White. We were looking at doing the walls in Resene Half Rakaia. My question is what colour would suit for the skirtings, ceiling and remaining doors - we don't want the skirting to look too white or too yellow. A. If you like the colour of the French doors - Resene Quarter Spanish White - you could use that on the other doors, skirtings and ceiling etc so they all match. Alternatively you could go to a lighter version of this colour - Resene Eighth Spanish White. Or you could use this colour just for the ceiling and use Resene Half Rakaia (same as the walls) for all woodwork but in a semi-gloss enamel finish. This would highlight the French doors and make a feature of them.
March 2015
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Q. Is it possible to paint a steel railing with a paint finish like aluminium ranchsliders (a metallic sheen)? A. Long answer short - yes, there are metallic paints that look like silver aluminium but if you are hand painting the railing it won't exactly match the anodised or powdercoated smooth baked finish of the windows. It will be somewhat similar. You could check out Resene Aluminium or one of the other silvery greys from the Resene Metallics and Special Effects Chart.
March 2015
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Q. We need to repaint the wooden joinery of our 1950s brick and tile house. The bricks are pointed with cream pointing and I want to match that with paint colour, but am struggling to find the right cream. Can you tell me if there is a heritage cream that is likely to be the right one? A. I think you should look at these creams – Resene Double Pearl Lusta, Resene Half Beeswax, Resene Double Villa White or Resene Spanish White. They have been used on traditional houses for years and years. Unfortunately there is no 'one' that was used exclusively. You may need to 'accept' a near enough matching colour as new paint and older coloured pointing on mortar are different to each other.
March 2015
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Q. I would like to know what colour - white/cream/ivory - for a bathroom skirting board and ceiling that goes nicely with Resene Solitaire? I would like one that is not greyish. A. You could check out these colours – Resene Quarter Solitaire or Resene Eighth Spanish White.
March 2015
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Q. Just wondering if a colonial home exterior would look good in Resene Double Perfect Taupe, with white windows and fancy work, Resene Bright Charcoal on the roof and Resene Vanquish on the front door and windowsills? A. The colours that you refer to are lovely. Are you unsure about them? Has someone undermined your colour ideas with negative comments? I do hope not - but if they have (family and friends are not always nice to know in this regard) just tell them 'my house for my colour choices and your house for your colour choices'. Please be assured that the balance between the colours (from palest to darkest) and the harmonious co-ordination will work well.
March 2015
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Q. What is a good white for the interior walls and ceilings of our house? We have sisal sandy carpet with a black thread through it, and we like the clean fresh look of white walls. Our style is retro with splashes of blue, teal, yellow, emerald and pink, a bit eclectic. A. All 'whites' are good (for someone) but they are all quite different. Some are cool and some are warm. They will all respond and alter with changes of light and at different times of the day and with definite colours seen close to them. Because of the sisal carpet colour I have suggested these colours but I do think you need to test them so you don't end up with a 'white' that doesn't suit your home and lifestyle – Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Half Bianca or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. I would be inclined to use the same colour for walls and ceilings but if you wanted to create a tiny bit of clean contrast then you could use Resene White for the ceilings.
March 2015
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Q. Looking for a good neutral colour for our living areas. Would Resene White Pointer be suitable for this? A. As long as Resene White Pointer looks great with your flooring, curtains etc and doesn't alter too much in changing natural and artificial light it may be perfect. I suggest you test several neutrals so that you can get a better idea of what they will look like in your house. Perhaps you could check these colours – Resene Half Truffle, Resene Barely There or Resene Eighth Bison Hide.
March 2015
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Q. We have an English Tudor styled two storeyed character house with an orangey terracotta tiled roof. We quite like the new Resene Half Duck Egg Blue on the weatherboards with Resene Alabaster white on window frames and maybe Resene Duck Egg Blue on windows. Do you think this colour palette will work with the terracotta roof? If not what would you recommend? A. Yes I think the colours that you have mentioned would work well - but if you at all unsure then perhaps by comparing them with the following colours your decision will be clarified - comparing colours sorts out what they are really like as well as confirming the rightness (or wrongness) of your choices – Resene Half Emerge and Resene Emerge.
March 2015
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Q. We're looking at painting the exterior of our Brisbane house. The colours we are considering are Resene Tea/Resene Double Tea and a grey similar to Resene Gravel on the rear and front timber deck railings and trim. The window-frames are aluminium. I don't particularly like the brick we have but we are leaving them for now. What do you think of this combination; do you have any other suggestions? A. I think the colours are great but here is another palette of colours - I suggest you compare them with the ones you have mentioned and if the bricks are staying as they are now that any judgements be made close to these as they are a distinctly coloured element of the house – Resene Half Bison Hide and Resene Half Fuscous Grey.
March 2015
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Q. I am wanting to repaint my house exterior. I have Karaka aluminium joinery and double garage door. Do you think Resene Napa is a nice choice with that or do you have another suggestion? It is a modern plaster house. A. I think Resene Napa is lovely. Good choice. If you want to compare several other colours to see if you might like them better then you could check these ones out – Resene Eighth Stonewall and Resene Half Taupe Grey. These are slightly greyer than the browner Resene Napa - they are referred to as greige - grey/beige - but they are warm so they work well with Karaka.
March 2015
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Q. I am torn between Resene Energy Yellow and Resene Wild Thing. Which is best for a hallway? I was going to do the ceiling and have Resene Pearl Lusta on the walls. I have cornices to paint as well. A. Wow! I think you may be a bit of a 'wild thing' with lots of 'energy'! Both these colours are super bold and bright yellows - I think Resene Wild Thing may be slightly warmer than Resene Energy Yellow which may have a shadowy cast to it. It seems to be a bit of an exhilarating new trend to use a definite colour on the ceiling and a more neutralised wall colour - I like it. It is very much a personal choice as to which of the two bright yellows you use. I think I would be inclined to paint the cornice the same colour as the walls. The reflected glow of the ceiling colour may make you feel you have a sunny yellow colour on the cornice and walls. All the best with your delicious ceiling statement colour.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting our house with Resene Quarter Villa White on the base and weatherboards with trim in Resene Jaguar - what roof colour would suit? A. Any colour could be used for the roof because the main colour of the house is so obliging. The trim is very, very dark as well as being purple/blue based black so perhaps it might be a good call to relate to the main colour not the trim. You might look at using earthy colours like these – Resene Climate, Resene Touchstone or Resene Squall, but if you were inclined toward a dark blue toned charcoal then a lighter colour like Resene Tuna could be used.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting the exterior of a 100 year old Queenslander and are struggling for inspiration. We’re very tired of seeing the ubiquitous beige/white/black (and shades thereof) and would like to try something different. Any ideas? Please not yellow or shades of it. Your colours seem terrific, but I am useless at putting things together. A. Have you thought of soft greens, duck egg blues or mysterious lilac pearls? If these are used with a real stark white and a deep charcoal roof you would have a house totally unlike any other Queenslander. Try Resene Half Secrets, Resene Carefree, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Tasman, Resene Rolling Fog or Resene Morepork.
March 2015
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Q. The new extension to my house is painted Resene Tea with Resene White trims. I'd like to paint the main house a different but complementary colour (possibly a bit darker) again with the White trims and a black hand rail to the balustrade. A. You might look at the deeper variants of Resene Tea – Resene Double Tea or Resene Triple Tea. Or completely different but happy to be seen with Resene Tea – Resene Taupe Grey.
March 2015
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Q. I have bought the colour Resene Half Iron for my house, but in the afternoons it tends to go really blue. I’m really considering repainting in a lighter grey. Does Resene Quarter Iron have much blue through it or is it more grey? A. All greys have some other undertone of colour in them. Resene Iron is a grey that sometimes throws a little blue. Resene Quarter Iron still carries a tiniest hint of that colour - it is cool and the natural light from the east (early morning) may emphasise a smidgeon of blue. You might compare the Resene Half Iron with these other light greys to see which you prefer – Resene Quarter Surrender or Resene Black Haze.
March 2015
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Q. We have a little worker’s cottage to be painted. The roof and windows are Karaka green. Have you got any suggestions on colour for the rest of the exterior? A. With such a deep earthy green on the roof and windows I suggest you look at using one of these types of colours - not too stark/not too clean – Resene Half Tea, Resene Half Titania, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Half Parchment or Resene Triple Sea Fog.
March 2015
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Q. We have purchased Resene Double Sea Fog to do our bathroom and would like to add a splashback in a teal/aqua colour. What would you recommend to go with the Resene Double Sea Fog? A. You might like to check out these colours – Resene Kumutoto, Resene Meltwater, Resene Wishlist, Resene Such Fun, Resene Lochinvar or Resene Toto.
March 2015
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Q. If my planned aluminium windows are in COLORBOND® Dune, what internal wall and trim colour would suit? The proposed dwelling is a compact, contemporary house with average natural light. I prefer whites and neutrals. A. I think you should check out these colours – Resene Eighth Pravda or Resene Black White, or a lighter main colour – Resene White Pointer, or a slightly more 'coloured' white – Resene Quarter White Pointer.
March 2015
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Q. We just completely renovated a 1965 house and chose Resene Napa for the outside of the house and our fence. The window trims are Resene Quarter Black White and the roof is Ironsand. Now we are looking for a modern colour for our main entrance and were thinking green or blue shades. Can you please make some suggestions? A. For a modern green try Resene Koru, or slightly deeper Resene Wimbledon. For a modern blue try Resene Skydiver or slightly deeper Resene Into The Blue. Alternatively for a blue/green try Resene Waterfront or deeper Resene Yarra.
March 2015
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Q. We're about to paint pretty much the whole house - at this stage we're thinking the same colour. The new extension upstairs has polished light concrete floor, and exposed wooden beams and light bamboo kitchen cabinetry, so we are looking for a warm, light white. I am leaning towards Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta. Which one would you recommend, or do you have any other recommendations? A. You might check out these colours to compare them to the ones you have mentioned – Resene Rice Cake, Resene Bianca or Resene Half Villa White.
March 2015
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Q. I have a house over 100 years old. The roof was recently painted. Now I am trying to choose exterior colours. Was thinking Resene Merino for main body. Would like to retain one stripe of the red on window ledges but lighten the frames to last longer. A. Resene Merino is nice and would work well with real white - Resene White - windows in order to have a definite clean contrast and picking out the sills to match the roof is a good idea. The roof looks like a red oxide - is it Resene Scoria or Resene Red Planet that you have used? An alternative idea for the house would be to go slightly deeper (colours often look a lot lighter on an exterior) and use Resene Double Merino as the main colour and Resene Quarter Merino as the windows.
March 2015
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Q. My weatherboard colour is Resene Double Spanish White. Would Resene Stonehenge or Resene Stonewall be a good colour to use on the bottom block wall? A. Resene Stonehenge looks really smart and Resene Stonewall has a similar 'yellowish' tone as the Resene Double Spanish White so it harmonises well.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting one office in our work weatherboard building. This is used as a board/meeting room and has a video conference unit/TV in it. The table is a grey/white and chairs are a dark blue standard colour. There are also dark blue venetian blinds. The room pretty much gets all day sun but then the venetians are closed when the video conference unit is used. The room would be approx 5 x 5 sq metres. A. With a very sunny room - and the need to create a dim environment for video conferences - it might be wise to consider grey/beiges which usually work really well with all blues. You might check out these colours to see whether they suit your needs – Resene Truffle, Resene Quarter Cougar, Resene Half Tea or Resene Eighth Napa.
March 2015
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Q. My house build is about to start. I need to choose a colour for the exterior walls which are plastered aerated concrete panels. The roof is Ironsand, the windows Sandstone Grey. I initially thought Resene Quarter Black White, but people tell me that will be glaringly white. The patio is off the lounge which faces north so don't want to wear sunglasses when sitting outside! Can you advise a few colours in the light range that I could consider? A. You could consider whites that traverse grey and stone undertones to absorb that bright light – Resene Barely There, Resene Sea Fog or slightly deeper - Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene Quarter White Pointer or slightly deeper - Resene Half White Pointer.
March 2015
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Q. We have a villa built in the 1890s and have a roof painted with the colour Resene Undercurrent. The exterior is white but we are not sure what colour to paint window frames and sills along with the door. A. My first thought is to use a soft water blue/green to trim the windows and door frames - Resene Conch or a clearer brighter colour of a similar nature - Resene Sea Nymph. If you picked out a navy or a traditional oxide red for the windows sills and doors it might add a bit of contrast - Resene True Blue or Resene Pioneer Red.
March 2015
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Q. We have painted the exterior of our plastered house and the plaster window trims have been done in Silver Pearl, to match the aluminium joinery. We need to paint the solid timber door and were thinking of some type of red, but not too sure which way to go, bright fire engine red or dark maroon plum. A. You must choose the red colour for the door that attracts you the most. It is a door that will welcome people to your home. It is the door that you will see first and last so it has to be the type of red that makes you feel like a million dollars. When you look at a few reds gathered together please do this - Which of these do I like least? Discard that one and continue in this manner until the last red remaining is the one you like most. That is the way to sort out the one that will stay. Do not ask anyone else's opinion of which red to use - it is your choice - they can have what they favour at their place. March 2015
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Q. What roof colour would match spouting in Windsor Grey? A. Resene can tint a colour match of this colour. Or a deep colour that would work with your spouting is Resene Windswept or even Resene Grey Friars - they don't match but are happy to be seen close to the Windsor Grey.
March 2015
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Q. We are looking at painting our walls Resene Half Black White. Can you please tell me what colour we should paint our ceiling, doors, window frames and skirtings? A. You might use Resene Eighth Black White or Resene White - either of these will add bright contrast. If you don't want a tonal contrast you could consider using the same colour as the walls - which would be a low sheen acrylic - but in a ceiling matt acrylic (for main rooms) or Resene SpaceCote Flat waterborne enamel (for service rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens) and Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel or alternatively Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel for all woodwork and doors. This way the different sheen levels are the only difference - not a colour difference.
March 2015
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Q. We are replacing our timber joinery with wide anodised aluminium joinery. The timber butts to the weatherboards and has no trim so has no timber surrounds. The 1950s ex-state house was renovated to look like a bungalow which look we will keep but with a contemporary finish. The challenge is not to draw attention to the joinery. I was thinking painting the house a light shade of grey so the eye isn't drawn to the joinery. Or should I go a light-mid grey shade so the joinery? The objective is for the joinery to disappear. I welcome your suggestions. Many thanks. A.You may need to test several greys to find the one that looks best to your eye. You might check out these ones to see if any of them fit the bill – Resene Silver Chalice - or lighter variants of this colour - Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, or Resene Delta - or lighter variants - Resene Half Delta or Resene Quarter Delta. There are other greys - hundreds - but these options may give you a start point.
March 2015
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Q. What colour would you recommend to use in the hall and south facing bedrooms that would tone with Resene Eighth Colins Wicket which is in the north facing living area. Aluminium joinery is Grey Friars and the carpet is light grey. I’m thinking of using Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream as the colour for trims and interior doors. A. South facing rooms often reflect a cold, sour or dim light and hallways are not known for being flooded in natural light so it would pay to test the colours very carefully. If you request A4 samples of the colours you are considering it might be an aid to making decisions. A slightly warmer colour (less green or grey toned) that might be considered as an alternative if the ones you are considering don't look as good as you want is – Resene Eighth Sisal.
March 2015
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Q. My window frames, door frames and skirtings and doors are all Resene House White, as are my walls. How could I change just the walls to a warmer, deeper colour. I'm thinking Resene Double White Pointer, not dark or dramatic, just a shift in tone and depth. I don't know if it is do-able keeping the trims and doors Resene House White, nothing warm and cream seems to go with it. A. Resene Double White Pointer could be ok. You might look at these colours also – Resene Truffle, Resene Flotsam or Resene Whiteout. Resene House White is an unusual colour and doesn't want to work with many colours - sometimes looking warm and sometimes looking cooler and greyer.
March 2015
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Q. What colour is closest to the aluminium powder coated colour silver pearl? A. The short answer to your question is no paint colour is closest to Silver Pearl powder coat. Silver Pearl is a pearlescent sheen that changes constantly and it can look similar to 3-6 colours at different times of the day. You might use ar colour like one of these – Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Quarter Tapa. These colours look reasonable but in a few minutes times with a change in the natural light they may look totally wrong. It is often a better idea to choose a colour that 'likes' the Silver Pearl and is happy to be seen close to it rather than trying to match the Silver Pearl.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting our office walls Resene Alabaster and we want to choose a colour for the doors. The floor is a charcoal carpet. A. You might look at these colours for the doors to see if they appeal to you – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Triple Concrete or Resene Regent Grey. Bold clear colours would work also - a little excitement may be a good thing in an office environment if it is only doors not walls – Resene Flourish, Resene Dauntless or Resene Confidante.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting our house Resene Triple Tea with Resene Shark and Resene Black White also being used. What colour would you pick for the roof? A. Try Resene Groundbreaker - tonally related to the main house colour, Resene All Black - slightly deeper/blacker than the trim or Resene Winchester - a warm metallic that relates well to the main colour.
March 2015
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Q. What white will work best? I am looking for a white exterior paint that will work alongside my COLORSTEEL® Ironsand roof. It is a monopitch roof that climbs towards a ridgeline in a bush surrounded area. I have looked at Resene Sea Fog and Resene Alabaster but worry that they will end up with a cream or yellow hue given the amount of light this bush near the beach section gets. We have Silver Pearl joinery too. I really want a soft grey hint in a relatively white paint. A. You might check these 'grey/whites' out as they are cooler so may maintain their whiteness in your setting – Resene Black White, Resene Wan White, Resene Quarter Concrete or Resene Quarter Surrender. A word to the wise - natural light makes white colours on an exterior look very glary but soft undertones of grey in a white modifies this and still encourages your eye to judge the colour as 'white'.
March 2015
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Q. We are wanting to paint the feature wall in the second bedroom red. We quite like Resene Pohutukawa or maybe Resene Madam M. The skirting boards are white. Can you please suggest a good colour to go with it? A. Often the wall that has a feature colour on it has skirting boards in the same colour so there is only one colour on that wall. You revert to the normal 'white' for other woodwork in the room. In regards to a 'good' colour to go with the red feature wall it depends on what you want - A neutral colour - to coordinate with existing flooring or to follow on from other rooms in the house? A contrasting colour to work with the 'feature' colour? Soft green, yellows, blues etc? A colour to co-ordinate with existing bed linen or drapes? A warm neutral that works well is Resene Clotted Cream or alternatively Resene Half Tea. A colour that always works well with reds is green - you might check out Resene Half Tasman or Resene Carefree.
March 2015
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Q. We have bought a 1970s cream Hardiplank® house with dark brown aluminium windows. It looks very dated and we want to make it more inviting, fresh and more modern looking. What colours would you recommend? We have to keep the awful brown windows. A. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Half Akaroa, Resene Truffle, Resene Quarter Napa or Resene Quarter Cougar. They do come as deeper versions should you decide you are ready for more substantial colours.
March 2015
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Q. What is the best brightest white for interior walls? A. It sometimes depends - quite a lot - whether rooms get bright natural light all day long on all the walls or only a little bit and not on the walls. You may need to test the whites because they can alter quite a lot and you need to see this and adjust which white will work best in each individual space accordingly. Try these ones – Resene Eighth Rice Cake, Resene Alabaster or real white – Resene White.
March 2015
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Q. I want to paint in white. I would like to know what white paint for the walls and what white paint for the doors and windows etc. A. Perhaps you might look at these options – Resene Black White (walls) and Resene Quarter Black White (ceiling and all woodwork), or Resene Half Rice Cake (walls) and Resene Eighth Rice Cake (ceiling and all woodwork). The first options are cooler/slightly greyer and the second lot of colours are slightly sharper with a tiny edge of yellow. You may need to check out how these whites respond to your spaces, the light and your other coloured elements.
March 2015
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Q. If I went Resene Half Stack on the exterior of my house and Resene Double Stack on the base with Grey Friars for the roof, would that look okay? A. I like the colours that you have mentioned. I think they will look absolutely lovely with Grey Friars. Use lots of delicious crisp white to lift your greys and create contrast for eye interest.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting our walls Resene Black White. What colour and paint should I use to paint the doors and skirting boards? Should I use the same colour or something different? A. You could use the same colour but in a semi-gloss enamel (Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel) which is the usual recommendation for painted woodwork. Or you could go lighter - this will put a little more emphasis on the wall colour and make you notice it more – Resene Half Black White, Resene Quarter Black White or Resene Eighth Black White.
March 2015
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Q. Could you please advise what interior whites or neutral tones work best beside the sea in Victoria? A. It is your choice - so you can use any white or neutral that you favour. The only thing that is important to remember when it comes to choosing colours is the bright clear light that sea side houses get and the amount of large windows that allow all that bright light into the rooms often makes stark whites a bit too glary to be comfortable. So a neutral palette that has a cool blue, green or grey undertone may be more restful to the eyes. Generally speaking colours are chosen to co-ordinate with existing flooring, curtains, bed linen, upholstered lounge furniture and kitchen cabinets and worktops - unless you are getting everything new for the house after painting. Most people have to compromise because of existing elements in their home in order to have a pleasant harmonious scheme. As a start point you might look at these colours – Resene White Pointer, Resene Half Black White, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Half Tasman.
March 2015
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Q. We have just purchased a new house and we are thinking of painting most areas Resene Half Truffle. Can you recommend a nice white to go with it for the bathrooms? Also a dark grey for a feature wall, and a teal and bright blue for kids’ rooms feature? A. These colours may appeal to you – Resene Sea Fog or Resene Eighth Truffle for the bathroom, Resene Half Fuscous Grey or Resene Half Baltic Sea for the feature, Resene Dauntless and Resene Resolution Blue - teal and bright blue for the kids’ feature walls.
March 2015
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Q. We are looking for a colour for our kitchen splashback. We have a white kitchen with Resene Perfect Taupe on the walls and light brown wooden floors. We would like it to be a feature since there is no other colour in the kitchen so are looking for something that stands out. A. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Broadway, Resene Timekeeper, Resene Madam M, Resene Alcatraz (metallic) or Resene Light Year (metallic). There are two types of glass used in splashbacks - only one shows the colour behind it absolutely true to reality. It is low iron oxide crystal clear glass - the other one - standard float glass - alters the colours quite a bit because of its green cast.
March 2015
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Q. I am painting my heritage weatherboards Resene Half Ash. There is a lot of fretwork. What would be the best white to paint the trims and detail? A. You could look at these really crisp whites - they enhance the soft ash green of the weatherboards – Resene Eighth Rice Cake, Resene Alabaster or real ‘white’ Resene White.
March 2015
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Q. I have a room painted in Resene Pearl Lusta with the ceiling in Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta. I want to paint the wooden bed in the room white. What is the best shade of ‘white’ to go with Resene Pearl Lusta, creams and ivory furnishings? The room is a little dark. A. You could use the same colour as the ceiling (Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta) but in a semi-gloss waterborne enamel paint - this may make it seem lighter - so that you are well balanced and harmonious. Or alternatively you might look at using 'white' Resene Alabaster but it may make the walls look a little yellow by comparison.
March 2015
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Q. We are doing a renovation and extension and need help with exterior colours. We’re thinking of warm greys. A. Try these warm greys – Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Triple Concrete. They will work with the existing white powdercoated windows and roof but if either the roof or windows change they may not be compatible.
March 2015
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Q. We are trying to choose a roof colour in COLORSTEEL® and are painting the dark wood of the upper level in Resene Sisal and the block fence beside it is Resene Triple Friar Greystone . Really need help for a standard roof colour please. Would like something not too dark, but will consider all options. A. You could consider COLORSTEEL® BasaltBase, Thunder Grey, Karaka or Ironsand.
March 2015
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Q. I have wooden outdoor seats that I would like to paint a bright contrasting colour against a Resene Mist Green house. A. The best contrast for green is a red but these other colours may also be worth checking out – Resene Jalapeno, Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Buttercup or Resene Kudos.
March 2015
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Q. We are renovating our simple 1950s weatherboard home. We have just re-roofed using COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey and have begun painting the weatherboards in Resene Eighth Stonehenge. Can you recommend a dark grey brown/charcoal for the baseboards and a colour for the timber fascia? The gutters are a simple white uPVC. I am undecided if the fascia should be the same colour as the roof or a slight variation. A. You might look at these colours – Resene Half Ironsand or slightly lighter - Resene Quarter Ironsand, or Resene Double Stonehenge and for the fascia - a lighter/but related version of the roof colour – Resene Half Gauntlet.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting our Californian bungalow style house in Resene Tea and have used COLORBOND® Wallaby for the gutters, bargeboards etc. We would like to choose a vibrant contrasting colour for our front door. Do you have any suggestions please? A. You could check these colours out to see if any of them appeal to you – Resene Koru, Resene Into The Blue, Resene Countdown or Resene Bingo.
March 2015
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Q. Somehow I've ended up with Smooth Cream painted stuccoed exterior walls on my old character cottage with New Denim Blue on the roof and overhead garage door. I'm left feeling I can only continue with New Denim Blue for the window ledges but what harmonious colour could I put on the wooden window frames themselves? I'm thinking of some shade of antique white e.g. Resene Spanish White. A. Resene Spanish White may be too muddy/deep and not give you enough clean contrast. You might check out a much lighter variant of Resene Spanish White or a sweeter/cleaner cream – Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Quarter Dutch White or Resene Bianca.
March 2015
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Q. We were thinking of using Resene Alabaster on all trims and doors but wondered if we should be using Resene White on the ceiling? A. I personally would use Resene Alabaster for the ceiling - but there is very little difference between Resene White and Resene Alabaster. The White may seem slightly starker but in some lights you may not even notice.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting most of our home Resene Half Tea. We want a colour to go in a sunroom that is off the kitchen (separated by a double cavity slider), we are thinking a fresh blue or green that will go well with Resene Half Tea. A. Most greens and blues that have a slightly soft edge to them (so that they look good in close association with Resene Half Tea) are still considered to be fresh but colours can alter a lot depending on the quality of natural light. You might look at these colours as a start point – Resene Unwind, Resene Blue Moon, Resene Emerge, Resene Shinto, Resene Rainee or Resene Duck Egg Blue.
March 2015
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Q. I have a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof and Titania aluminium joinery - what colour can you suggest to go with this on the Linea® weatherboards? Either dark or light greys whichever goes best. A. Try these colours – Resene Taupe Grey, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Half Tapa, Resene Kensington Grey, Resene Quarter Grey Friars, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Silver Chalice. The greys are warmer in hue so that they work with the Titania.
March 2015
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Q. We are building and i want to use Warm white Melteca for the kitchen cabinetry. The floor is oak but has grey tones through it. I like the look of white walls but don t know what colour to use on the ceiling, trims, doors and then walls. I was thinking Resene Black White for the walls and Resene Alabaster for the rest. Would this work ok with the floor and kitchen? It is an open plan space. A. Resene Half Alabaster may be a better 'white' for the ceilings and all other wooden trims and doors if you want to be able to see clean contrast. Resene Black White is good but Resene Sea Fog may be slightly better as it picks up the same type of warmth as the Melteca colour.
March 2015
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Q. We are painting a feature wall in our baby’s room Resene Yabbadabbadoo and was wondering what colour to paint the other three walls. We want to do a white colour. What do you suggest? A. It depends whether the room is cool, dim or shady or blindingly hot and bright - so I have included light/warm whites and cool/muted whites for you to consider – Resene Half Bianca, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Sea Fog or Resene Double Black White.
March 2015
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Q. Doing a reno on a 1962 house and painted the large sliding door and double hung window in Resene Alabaster white! Looks great with white furniture and honey wood and cane. Just stuck on what colour to paint on the walls. The room has good natural light and I’m looking for a fresh neutral colour. A. You might look at these alternate colours to see which you find appealing – Resene Triple Alabaster (Resene Half Sea Fog), Resene Eighth Bison Hide or Resene House White.
March 2015
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Q. I am looking for a fairly neutral colour for our bathroom walls. Please advise what colours would go with a Clearlite vanity made from the following melamine colours Bestwood - Basalt woodgrain and Prime - Manor Oak wood finish. A. Lots of colours will work with the melamine colours - please check these out – Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Eighth Fossil, Resene Eighth Bison Hide, Resene Half Whiteout or Resene Eighth Tea.
March 2015
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Q. My house is to be built very soon. I have chosen a lime green door and silver windows - probably silver pearl. I want a dark coloured roof with dark Linea® and light coloured plaster. But the house side that is seen most is on the cold side of the house so I don't want it to be cold colours. Grey Friars is the colour for the roof that seems to work so far but what dark paint and warm off white would work with that and the lime door? A. You might look at these colours that will afford you a smart but warm look on the house – Resene Double Rice Cake, Resene Triple Sea Fog and contemporary mid-deep greys – Resene Quarter Grey Friars or Resene Double Stack.
March 2015
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Q. I’m trying to get a match for a colour and all I have is the RGB value. How can I get the colour? A. RGB values are how electronic screens display colours If you go to our Find-A-Colour tool – www.resene.co.nz/findacolour - you can enter the RGB value and then it will show you the closest Resene colours. You could then pop into a store and see if any of these suit you. The other option is printing out your RGB value as a colour, however often the printed version will look quite different to the online version, which is why matching it up to the nearest Resene colour and then using that as a start point is often more successful. March 2015
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Q. We have a red COLORSTEEL® Scoria roof. We are painting the walls Resene Sisal with Resene Double Sisal on windows. Should we have another colour on barge boards or Resene Triple Sisal? A. You could use Resene Triple Sisal but with all of the other colours being so closely related you won't get a lot of visual contrast. It may even look all the same at certain times of the day depending on the natural light. You might consider using a much lighter version of your exterior colours - I suggest you look at Resene Quarter Sisal. You could use this also for under the soffits and on the guttering fascias and possibly for painted doors. This colour would 'pop' in a clean crisp way and would highlight both the roof colour and the main colour.
March 2015
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Q. We live with Resene Half Bianca (and other colours) in a house that is light upstairs and darker downstairs. It works really well. I am looking to get our office painted in Resene Bianca too - the office faces east but as it is downtown it looks out on buildings so it's not sunny or particularly light and the floor is a darker colour (purplish blue). I am wondering what strength Resene Bianca to use - would half be suitable or would you even consider a quarter? A. I am inclined to think that for an east facing office space you may need full strength Resene Bianca to compensate for lack of light, to create a bit of warmth and also because of the darker floor colour. A lighter variant of Resene Bianca (half or quarter) may look whiter but may also make the carpet appear very dark and when the space loses direct sun light it may look cold.
March 2015
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Q. What is a warm grey white that I can use for a basement room? A. You might check these colours out – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Quarter White Pointer or Resene Black Haze. If you use real White for ceilings and any woodwork then you will notice the warmth in the grey/whites.
March 2015
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Q. I want an aqua coloured splashback. What colour paint should I use to get this effect? A. It depends upon what type of splash backglass your colour is seen behind - standard float glass may 'dirty up' the aqua and not look like the paint sample but crystal clear low iron oxide glass will show it true to reality. Some aqua colour ideas to get you started – Resene Carefree, Resene Reservoir, Resene Cut Glass or Resene Escape.
March 2015
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Q. We are building a house and would appreciate some help. Our roof is Ironsand and the aluminium windows are Silver Pearl. We are thinking of a lighter colour plaster with a darker Linea® board. There is much more plaster than Linea®. It seems that off white plaster is popular with darker Linea® but how would an off white plaster go with silver window frames? A. I think the secret to lighter/whiter plastered surfaces with darker Linea® accents and Silver Pearl joinery is to use a 'coloured white' so it isn't too stark and softly associates with the window frames and a deeper colour that relates to the roof colour in some way. Some colours you can use as a start point are: Resene Merino (plaster) and Resene Triple Stonehenge (Linea®), or Resene Black Haze (plaster) and Resene Quarter Ironsand (Linea® ), or Resene Double Barely There (plaster) and Resene Half Baltic Sea (Linea® ). When one looks at the lighter colours indicated here it is often wise to put them close to 'real white' - like printer paper - so you can see and appreciate their 'colours' and not misguidedly judge them as 'white'.
March 2015
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Q. Please help us choose external paint colours for our big boxy house that will go with a fading green roof! We were thinking of a dark grey colour scheme, with darker on the bottom level but we are totally open to suggestions. A. The roof colour does limit your options a little. For two tones of related greys that will work well with the green you might check these colours out – Resene Half Tapa (house) with Resene Double Tapa (bottom level), or Resene Quarter Taupe Grey (house) with Resene Taupe Grey (bottom level), or Resene Truffle (house) with Resene Triple Truffle (bottom level). These colours do have lighter and deeper variants so you can explore those as alternative options also.
March 2015
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Q. Looking for the perfect white to paint our interior. We had a federation style house by the beach, it's currently quite dark but down the line we'll add in skylights. We know warm whites are meant for darker rooms and traditional houses but we love the fresh plantation/hampton style. We tried vivid white but it's too stark. We lean more towards grey whites than yellowish/cream whites and want there to be a subtle difference between trims and walls. Thinking maybe a white with a warm grey base could work? A chalky porcelain, milky very matt sort of colour, just off-white but still fresh and modern? A. You are very on-trend - the look you are wanting to create is very popular. Try these colours – Resene Sea Fog (walls) and Resene Quarter Sea Fog (ceilings). Use the same colour for all painted woodwork in a semi-gloss water based enamel to create that sheen level difference for architectural wooden detailing. If you check these colours at your nearest Resene ColorShop in their Colour Library - large A4 real paint samples are really helpful for viewing - and place a sheet of white printer paper slightly over the samples to see what the underlying tints and tones are like. I suggest you investigate the possibility of using Resene SpaceCote Flat - these paints are super flat but washable and will definitely give you a chalky look.
March 2015
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Q. We are building an old (new) villa and keeping with tradition throughout. We have decided to paint most of the house interior walls Resene Thorndon Cream and sills, scotia, architraves and ceilings in Resene Half Thorndon Cream. I was wanting something a little different for the lounge wall and wondered what would go with Resene Thorndon Cream that is a bit deeper in colour but keeping to the same tone? A. If you are wanting something other than the deeper version of Resene Thorndon Cream - i.e Resene Double Thorndon Cream or Resene Triple Thorndon Cream then you might check these colours out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Quarter Grey Olive, Resene Caraway or Resene Double Tea.
March 2015
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Q. We are building a childcare for kids 0-3 years. In terms of layout: secretary, parents waiting area, kitchen, staff toilets, staff room, two big rooms for the kids (one room for 0-2 years and the other room 2-3 years), children’s toilets and changing area. A. With such a big project you so have more decisions to make than choosing colours - flooring, blinds and curtains, work surfaces, bathroom wet wall cladding, kitchen/food preparation work surfaces etc. Very young babies and children appreciate clear bright - but not fluorescent - colour. They respond to the stimulation and it has a positive effect upon emotional and intellectual growth and development. These colours may get you started – Resene Sing Song (main entry/waiting room/hallways), Resene Soft Whisper (staff room, staff toilets/children’s toilets and changing rooms - this is a colour that could be used in all spaces with just the following colours used as a feature wall only in the kids rooms), Resene Tutti Frutti (0-2 year old children’s room) and Resene Yabbadabbadoo (2-3 year old children’s room). If it is possible to paint shelving units, storage cupboards or doors in a warm colour to add extra appeal in the children’s rooms it is worth considering Resene Memphis Belle or Resene Irresistible.
March 2015
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Q. We have a small three bedroom house which we want to paint the walls all the same colour. The ceiling is white and the carpet a grey colour. I am considering Resene Alabaster for the trims and doors. The house is south facing at the bottom of a hill covered in native bush. In winter the sun doesn't get above the trees. I want a neutral that has warm tones but looks good with the greenery out of the window and makes the house look bigger. The sun does reach the north facing windows in the summer months. I have been round in circles thinking about different colours including Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Merino, Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Black White, Resene White Pointer and Resene Ecru White. A. South facing rooms are often dim, cool and sour in their quality of light. Natural light that is filtered through foliage has a green cast to it so it too affects the interior colour. For instance - colours could look green, sour and cool. The colours that you have tried and discarded are cool, greenish, sour or grey/muddy toned. Neutrals with warm tones is what you say you want so perhaps you might look at these colours – Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Eighth Sisal, Resene Quarter Fossil or Resene Eighth Akaroa. I have found from personal experience that slightly deeper colours maintain warmth in south facing rooms - so not too light/whitish but warmer - and you might try deeper versions of the ones I have listed. Colour and light (which controls colour and how it is seen) aren't easy to understand. If you take on the thought that what will look good may be completely different to what you thought would work or what you like - because you have seen it somewhere else - all will be well. March 2015
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Q. What suggestions do you have for the background wall colour for a small shop interior (very little natural light) which sells NZ Post items, magazines, cards and Lotto? Accent colours are dark blue (Lotto), red (NZ Post) and orange (future Lotto). Also intend to paint solid magazine and card stands. I want to give the shop a warm, modern up-to-date feel that is inviting to customers without being too over the top. A. If you have very little natural light you might look at these light warm colours - they will work with the dark blue, red and orange – Resene Double Bianca, Resene Villa White, Resene Half Orchid White or Resene Rice Cake. The magazine and card stands could be the same colour as the walls - so they recede into the walls and don't steal too much space - and the magazines and cards will be more colourful and interesting on a neutral backdrop.
March 2015
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Q. Can you give me colour suggestions for the exterior of my house please? It has brown aluminium joinery with concrete block. Not a lot is seen from the street - just the double garage door and the side of the garage. I'm not keen on creamy, yellow tones. I would also like a great contrast colour for the front door. A. You might check these colours out - no creamy yellows - they are contemporary neutrals with underlying brown, grey or slightly green/grey hues – Resene Quarter Cougar, Resene Truffle, Resene Eighth Stonehenge or Resene Quarter Taupe Grey. Some ideas for your front door – Resene Barometer, Resene Wimbledon, Resene Red Letter or Resene Ayers Rock.
March 2015
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Q. I have a narrow villa hallway with three foot high tongue and groove panelling and kauri doors. As there is no glass in the front doorway the hallway gets very little natural light, although at the end is a stained glass door which opens into a sunny north-facing lounge. How can I use colour to make the hallway appear wider as well as brighter and more inviting? A. All walls will look deeper/more shadowy close to a source of natural light - that is the door to the sunny north facing room - so that is one definite reason for the dimness. If you were to use two mirrors opposite each other you would get twice as much reflected light from the room at the end of the hallway. If they were larger mirrors it would be even better. Paint colours to create light - where natural light is missing- are yellow toned creams or (for the bold at heart) brighter yellows as they mimic sunlight. Hallways are spaces one passes through so bolder colours can be accepted here where they may not be wanted in other rooms. Often people will use white to try to brighten a space but it just creates more greyness and can be unfriendly so please be aware of that. Real white for ceilings and painted woodwork also works to increase the appearance of light. Extra lighting in the hallway - for evenings - wall light fittings as well as multi globe ceiling lights all help to increase light and make spaces appear warmer/lighter etc. Blues can make a narrow room seem wider but they will also increase shadow and make it dim again! Try these colours – Resene Half Beeswax, Resene Sidecar or Resene Sunkissed.
March 2015
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Q. I'm trying to select a grey colour for our master bedroom. The room is adjacent to another painted in Resene Half Secrets so I'm trying to find something that works in with that colour too. I have looked at Resene Quarter Surrender and Resene Quarter Rakaia. A. There is something warm and mysterious in Resene Quarter Rakaia that looks really lovely in close association with Resene Half Secrets. Resene Quarter Surrender is lovely in a silvery cool way also. When you use a testpot, paint all of the testpot - two coats - onto A2 card and leave an unpainted border all around the edges of the card it helps you see enough of the colour to judge what it really looks like. The card can be moved from wall to wall so you can see how it alters in different light and angles. It is amazing how the colours look when tested this way - the unpainted border also helps by acting as a barrier from the existing wall colour so it isn't wrongly influenced by it.
March 2015
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Q. We have just bought a new home, which is rendered and single storey. We want to repaint the entire exterior of the house including the tiled roof, walls, trim and panel lift door. The only thing we cannot change is the aluminium windows which are Pale Eucalypt. Can you suggest a modern and contemporary colour scheme which will still work with the Pale Eucalypt? A. Unless you want the Pale Eucalypt powdercoated windows to be the 'odd man' out in the new colour scheme I suggest it may be wise to paint either the roof or the panel lift garage door (but not both) in the match colour - Resene Paddock. Try these colours and see if they appeal – Resene Truffle, Resene Caraway or Resene Quarter Arrowtown. A deeper colour for either the roof or the garage door (but not both) might be Resene Squall or Resene Windswept.
March 2015
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Q. I have a two bedroom unit that needs painting. I want to paint the walls Resene Half Sea Fog. I want to paint the whole unit white. My question is what strength (half, quarter, double) of Resene Sea Fog do I paint the ceiling, door frames, doors and wooden windows? A. If the ceiling is slightly lighter than the walls it will reflect a better quality of light and makes a 'white' space seem more interesting - perhaps you might consider using Resene Alabaster - this is also called Resene Eighth Sea Fog. For all skirting boards, door frames and windows you might use the same as the walls but in a semi-gloss enamel finish for ease of cleaning and to maintain a simple look. Doors - which get a lot of touching/fingermarking - you might consider using Resene Sea Fog or if you want them to stand out as more of a feature then you might consider using Resene Double Sea Fog - again in a semi-gloss enamel.
March 2015
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Q. We have just purchased an 1910 cottage. We are renovating and instead of doing neutral colours we are wanting to give it some warmth. We are leaning towards a mustard on the old wooden kitchen cupboards, maybe like Resene Zion. What other options are there and if we were to go a mustard what colour would we put on the walls to complement it. It is only a small enclosed kitchen. A. It might be wise to consider a slightly lighter mustard so that it doesn't overpower the kitchen - perhaps something like one of these colours – Resene Hot Toddy or - softer hues – Resene Tussock or Resene Pizza. And then if you use lighter wall colours like these – Resene Quarter Pavlova, Resene Wheatfield or Resene Half Villa White. Colour always doubles in strength in an interior.
March 2015
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Q. I have a door frame that needs fixing and then I will need to paint it. How do I go about finding the exact same colour paint? I only need a small amount. A. Matching any existing paint colour is extremely difficult. Unless there is some in marked tins in the garage or shed that you can match to the door frame then the best way is to use a Linbide scraper to get a reasonable amount of paint flakes off from an inconspicuous area. Put them into a clear plastic bag and take to your local Resene ColorShop and ask for a colour match. They may be able to do it in store or they may send it to our Colour Lab. Other than that you might match as closely as possible the existing paint to a colour chart - choose the colour that looks best and re-do the door and any other painted woodwork in the room - 500ml of enamel will cover 6 square metres which is quite a few door frames etc. March 2015
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Q. I want to choose a new interior colour scheme. The external windows and doors are Resene Gothic gloss enamel. I wonder if there are some complementary colours in light mushroom for the walls. I also want to highlight internal door frames and cupboards e.g with a darker mushrooom brown. A. It is important that any 'mushroom' type of colour not carry too much warm (pinky) undertone or you may be in danger of creating a pink/blue nursery look. You might look at these colours - lighter for walls and slightly deeper for cupboards, doors etc – Resene Quarter Truffle with Resene Truffle, or Resene Quarter Cougar with Resene Cougar, or Resene Eighth Drought or Resene Half Drought.
March 2015
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Q. My house is clinker brown with white trims and silver aluminium. I am wanting colour ideas on reds and greys for painting the back wooden door and garage tilt door. All fencing has recently been painted with Resene Mission Brown so really wanting reds/greys to modernise everything so it’s not all brown and green. A. You might look at these reds and greys to see if they appeal to you – Resene Dynamite, Resene Salsa, Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Gravel, Resene Baltic Sea or Resene Fuscous Grey.
March 2015
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Q. I'm wanting to know how I go about colour matching some paint to my existing painted interior walls at home. I have read on your website that Resene can create a custom colour match to your own sample by bringing it into any Resene ColorShop. What I'd like to know is: is this sample a cracked old piece scraped off the wall? Or a piece of plasterboard craft-knifed away with the paint still intact? A. The better the sample the better the match. Generally most people take a small piece from an obscure area that won’t be seen. In theory either sample you suggest could work but the surface of it needs to be clean for when it is measured. Ideally it’s best to have a piece at least the size of a $2 coin. March 2015
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Q. We've used Resene Ash (full, half and quarter) throughout our house. I'm looking for a true grey or a green-grey that could be mid to dark in a similar tone to carry on the theme and match to the grey tones in the marble for our bathroom and kitchen. I really don't want a grey with magenta because it always looks purple in our house. A. Try these green-greys – Resene Delta Grey, Resene Triple Ash, Resene Quarter Evolution or Resene Friar Greystone . For a grey that carries the least underlying colour within it you could look at this one – Resene Mountain Mist.
March 2015
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Q. I am doing up a villa. I would like a white look exterior look. Would you use the same colour for the interior? And what do you think is the best colour for the skirting? A. I think a slightly more 'coloured' white may be better on the exterior of the house as natural light has a habit of lightening/brightening colours and it could look quite glary otherwise. A lighter version of the exterior 'white' could be used throughout the interior as angles/shadows and different aspects of natural light alter how it is seen and it can appear to be many tints or tones without changing it at all. If you stay in a palette like this you may find it works well for you – exterior – Resene Double Black White, interior walls Resene Black White, interior woodwork and doors Resene Half Black White and interior ceilings Resene Eighth Black White. Resene Eighth Black White could be used for exterior window joinery and under the exterior soffits/guttering fascias to add extra ambiance to the main exterior colour. There are other 'whites' that you might try and as long as you play the palette the same way I have suggested above all should be well and you will end up with a really nice look.
March 2015
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Q. We are repainting the exterior of our 1930s ex-state house. The exterior of the house is stucco and weatherboard with wooden window frames etc. The repaint comes about because we are extending the house. The extension is of a modern style with some COLORSTEEL® Ironsand and some cedar cladding. We are thinking of a colour for the stucco, another for the weatherboards and a third for the window frames etc. The stucco cannot really be seen against the modern extension, cedar and Ironsand but the weatherboards can. We have been thinking of Resene Truffle for the stucco, then Resene Eighth Truffle for the weatherboards and Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for the windows and trim. Alternatively, we've considered Resene Half Atmosphere for the stucco, Resene Half Cloud for the weatherboards and Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for the windows. A. I like the first palette of colours you are considering - they are tonally harmonious and elegant. The second lot of colours don't like each other so much and seem too similar in depth to create a balanced look.
March 2015
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Q. We are building a small retirement home. The roof is COLORBOND® Basalt, the windows and guttering Monument and the shed is in COLORBOND® Cove (separate from the house). A. It is a bit different and quite unique to use three completely different powdercoat colours for the roof, the joinery and guttering and the shed. I think you may need to use a very simple and smart colour for the house so it doesn't make it look too busy and un-coordinated. Try Resene Titania, Resene Caraway or Resene Quarter Parchment.
March 2015
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Q. I am wanting to do a feature wall behind the fireplace. I am doing the walls in Resene Bison Hide. The floor is oak timber and the carpet is dark grey/brown. What would you suggest I do the feature wall in? A. You might check these deep neutral colours out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Half Masala, Resene Quarter Ironsand, Resene Half Baltic Sea or Resene Scoria.
March 2015
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Q. We have painted a spare bedroom in Resene Quarter Tea. Can you suggest a colour for our wardrobe doors? The carpet is light brown colour. A. If you want the wardrobe doors to merge in and make the room more spacious and simple then you could use the same colour as the walls but in a semi-gloss enamel - just the different sheen will make it seem only a little different. If you want it to be cleaner/crisper and make the wall colour seem more of a colour then you could do a 'white' like Resene Half Alabaster. If you feel you want a quiet 'feature' colour to add a little bit of ambiance to the room you could use Resene Tea. Or if you are lusting after colour/excitement/drama - but not on the walls - then you might paint it something radical like Resene Memphis Belle or Resene Freefall and then use these sorts of colours as bed linen or curtains.
March 2015
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Q. I am modernising my kitchen with a new benchtop etc. I am going to get the kitchen cupboards painted,but as the kitchen and family room are together, I am not sure about the paint colour for the cupboards. The walls are wallpapered in a cream beige colour, the doors and trims are I think Resene Pearl Lusta. I want a light neutral shade but don't want it to look too cream. Would Resene Half Rice Cake be suitable or can you suggest another colour? A. As long as you change the doors and trims to match up with Resene Rice Cake I think it would look really nice. But if you are keeping the Resene Pearl Lusta as doors and trims the two colours wouldn't look that good in close proximity as the Resene Pearl Lusta is far more yellow/cream and may make the Resene Rice Cake look sharp/sour by comparison. As an alternative for the cabinets (if Resene Pearl Lusta is staying on trims etc) you might use Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta as they are the same palette of colours and are balanced and harmonious.
March 2015
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Q. My pergola is dark brown. I want to paint it a soft cream. A. You can paint the pergola in Resene Lumbersider - a low sheen acrylic - or if you want it glossier then you could paint it in Resene Sonyx 101 - a semi-gloss acrylic - or Resene Hi-Glo gloss acrylic - a full on shiny look. There are hundreds of soft creams so here are a few to get you started – Resene Bianca, Resene Pearl Lusta, Resene Rice Cake or Resene Quarter Spanish White. They are all quite different from each other and it really depends what other colours you have on the house as to how they might look.
March 2015
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Q. We have Western Red Cedar trim windows doors and wooden floors. Everything is cream and warm. I was looking at a grey – Resene Black White or Resene Half Black White. Will this suit? A. Perhaps you might consider a slightly less grey based cool 'white'. If you compare several 'whites' you can see how they compare to each other and then by testing them in your house with the wood, the natural light etc it may be more apparent which is best for you. Watching them alter during the day and night from changes of light and shade, angles of walls and other colours that are in these spaces you may get a better idea of what looks right. Don't paint testpots directly on existing coloured walls - it alters the reality of the colour and you don't see it as it really is. I always suggest painting the testpot - all of it/two coats - onto large A2 white card leaving a unpainted border all around the edges so you focus on the colour and then moving it from wall to wall/room to room so that you get to know what it is really like. Please check out these 'whites' – Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Barely There or Resene Sea Fog.
March 2015
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Q. We want to paint the interior of our 1950s home with a ‘white on white’ look but we need some help selecting the colours and tones, flat vs semi-gloss vs satin etc. The kitchen is currently the only room in the house painted and the wall colour is Resene Silver Sand and the cabinets are Resene Sea Fog. Could you advise the best combinations to use to brighten the rooms up and make them appear bigger and not washed out? A. If you do the extremely simple but classical real White - Resene White - on all ceilings and all woodwork it goes with everything, creates lots of light and contrast. Ceiling paint in main rooms is called Resene Ceiling Paint flat acrylic - service room ceilings are better painted in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel as it is made for rooms where it is steamy or full of cooking fumes etc - it can be wiped and kept clean. The main rooms in the house could have Resene Zylone Sheen low sheen acrylic on the walls and Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom waterborne enamel for service rooms because it can be wiped down and is tougher. For a more durable finish in general wall areas use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen. Woodwork - doors etc - could have Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel or - glossier if you prefer – Resene Enamacryl gloss waterborne enamel. Wall colours could match the cabinets - Resene Sea Fog - or be slightly deeper - Resene Double Sea Fog. Coupled with the real White for woodwork and ceilings you will have a lovely white on white look that has character and isn't stark.
March 2015
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Q. I am building a new house and would like the entire interior painted in some sort of white. We want a slight contrast between the wall and roof/skirtings etc. The house will have a black and white kitchen, black joinery, polished concrete floor in the main living area and dark grey carpet. We would prefer to stay away from creamy/brown tones. A. Try these 'whites' out - they have subtle undertones of almost grey – Resene Wan White, Resene Black White, Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Quarter White Pointer. They are all different from each - this may not be apparent at first. If you can pop into your local Resene ColorShop to view the large A4 real paint samples in their Colour Library and place a sheet of white printer paper between the samples it will help you judge what the reality of the 'white colours' is truly like. Generally speaking you can use the same colour on all surfaces - matt acrylic for main room ceilings and a waterborne enamel in a low sheen for kitchen, laundry and bathroom ceilings, semi-gloss enamel for all woodwork and low sheen acrylic for walls and a waterborne low sheen enamel especially made for kitchens, laundries and bathrooms in service rooms.
March 2015
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Q. We have a large home and the outside is mostly clad timber painted with Resene Arrowtown. We have a large covered deck which is in need of painting . It does not have anything on it at the moment, just needs cleaning but what colour deck paint would you suggest to go with Resene Arrowtown? A. If you are going to paint the deck (as opposed to staining it) then I suggest you use a product called Resene Lumbersider - a low sheen acrylic - that is very obliging and comes as all colours. If however you would prefer a paint with a bit more sheen/tougher on foot traffic areas then you might use a product called Resene Walk-on, which is a standard paving and deck paint. You could try these colours – Resene Half Gravel, Resene Double Friar Greystone or - much lighter – Resene Quarter Friar Greystone or Resene Eighth Arrowtown.
March 2015
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Q. Our house is presently painted in Resene Travertine. I want to freshen it up and it is due for painting. We are also planning on painting kitchen joinery. What colour would you suggest for the kitchen? Should the walls and the joinery be the same colour? I want a light colour that is crisper than Resene Travertine. We have wooden floors and the benchtops are Rimu. A. It is a matter of personal choice whether you do the same colour on the kitchen cabinets to match the walls. It would be a different paint product and a different sheen (semi-gloss or full gloss) for the cabinets - walls are often a low sheen - which may make them look related but visually lighter because of that fact. It is a popular way to work colour in a kitchen. These types of colours are lighter/crisper than Resene Travertine: Resene Rice Cake, Resene Half Villa White or Resene Half Cararra.
March 2015
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Q. We are in an old villa which is painted in the traditional villa colours of deep cream and emerald window sills etc. We have updated the interior and now want to update the exterior. I want a pretty soft light grey with maybe fretwork and window frames etc in Resene Quarter Rice Cake. But it is so hard to find the right grey. We are gardeners so I want a soft grey that will not be too dominant so that the green of the trees etc still look good. Do the garage doors nowadays get painted in the same as the main colour of a different colour as we used to do? A. Some greys are too cold and clinical, some greys look like an accountant’s office. There are only a few greys that work well with sharp yellow/green whites like Resene . You don't mention what colour the roof is - if it is an existing colour that isn't going to be changed that will limit an already limited amount of greys that might be used. Try these soft light greys – Resene Pale Slate, Resene Flotsam, Resene Rakaia, Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Surrender.
March 2015
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Q. We're building a new house and are choosing neutral 'beige' colours for the paint (not grey). I bought a testpot of Resene Half Blanc, which we like for the wall colour, but noticed yesterday that it has a pinky tinge. Would Resene Eighth Joss still give this pinky effect? And what colour would you suggest for ceilings? I thought Resene Quarter Joss for doors. A. Beige is either red based or yellow based - it appears you have discovered all the 'pinker' beiges. Colour in an interior always looks stronger and more 'coloured'. So even very pale colours (if they are pinky) can look a lot more coloured than you might imagine. It pays to remember they change a lot when other colours are seen close to then - flooring and drapes, kitchen cabinets and work tops. Unless you are viewing all of your samples together you won't see what the colours will really look like plus any change of angle, shade and light will also alter the colours. Perhaps look at these colours - they are warm but not as pinky – Resene Eighth Fossil, Resene Half Albescent White or Resene Eighth Akaroa. These colours also come as variants - so doors etc could be the same colour but deeper.
March 2015
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Q. Apart from the roof (Grey Friars), I am having the whole exterior of my bungalow painted. For the vertical base boards and the verandah and steps I am thinking a dark colour, probably the Grey Friars again. I want to go for a white in the window frames and a light colour in the weatherboards that is not blue/grey, that is also away from the cream that I have at the moment. Do you have some suggestions? And for the front door (I was suggested a charcoal) - something not bold but that is a slight contrast to the verandah? A. I think that using the full strength Grey Friars on the deck/steps and base boards of the house might be too dark and would 'sandwich' the house making the weatherboards look shorter in height and upsetting the overall balance. Have you considered a lighter variant of Resene Grey Friars? You might check out Resene Quarter Grey Friars. That leaves a very dark charcoal available to be used for the front door - perhaps Resene Double Cod Grey or Resene Double Foundry. The following are some options for the main colour of the house - they all look really nice with the white and charcoal colours – Resene Half Foggy Grey, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Half Cloud, Resene Whiteout or Resene White Pointer.
March 2015
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Q. I am painting the interior of our house. The three bedrooms are Resene Half Thorndon Cream, the bathroom, toilet and laundry are Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. The exterior is painted in Resene Linen (1960s weatherboard) and all trim, doors and ceiling are in Resene Alabaster. To break the colours, what would you recommend for an entrance and darkish hallway? You will note all the colours so far are green tone or neutral. I was thinking of a warm grey or Resene Double Thorndon Cream but am not wedded to either. I am also tempted to go Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream again to minimise paint tins. The lounge and dining will be eventually be Resene Half Thorndon Cream. A. What you have used sounds really nice and I can understand you thinking of just continuing in like manner - but I do think before you do that you might check out these light warm greys – Resene Rakaia or Resene Eighth Friar Greystone . Even if the hallway is darkish as long as you have ceilings, doors and other woodwork in Resene Alabaster it will look very elegant and delicious. A small trick to maximise natural light is to place a large mirror on the hallway wall directly opposite doors that lead into very light /sunny rooms. The reflection of natural light in the mirror lightens the hallway as though there are windows in it.
March 2015
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Q. I am looking for an off-white to go in a commercial space (a gym and cafe). The walls are in Resene Black, there are bright yellow accents in Resene Supernova, and we will be using Jarrah cladding in some areas. So I'm wondering which off-white would suit both the cool tones of the black and the warm tones of the Jarrah. The off-white will be used for the upper walls, the walls in the office, and the cafe, and some other areas such as bathrooms. I was thinking something with a slightly grey, but warm edge would be nice - perhaps Resene Merino? I want to steer away from creams and very crisp whites - something with some depth and a velvety edge would be great. A. I have a reservation in regard to Resene Merino. It has the very real tendency to look muddy in an almost pink way. This tendency may be even more developed when it is seen in close proximity to Resene Supernova. I think you should check out Resene Sea Fog - although it is possible to go slightly deeper - Resene Double Sea Fog - because of the nature of your building, its function and the other colours you have chosen. Alternatively you might look at Resene Half Barely There - or slightly deeper - Resene Barely There. I strongly recommend you organise to get samples from your nearest Resene ColorShop. You can also order and buy A2 BigColour samples - these superior large samples could be a boon as they can be attached to the wall or ceiling and are large enough to be seen from a distance.
March 2015
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Q. I am trying to choose wall and kitchen cabinet colours. We have a lot of plywood in the kitchen which I want to team up with quite a true white-white (rather than a creamy white). I then wanted a white that would work with this that we could paint throughout the house, which would not end up too cool in the darker rooms and ok in very sunny rooms. The floor is finished in quite yellow based bamboo floorboards and concrete grey tiles in the bathrooms. A. All colours change in different spaces, in different qualities of light and when other colour is seen close to it. It pays to be aware that pure white - Resene White - doesn't carry any coloured tinters in it but because White reflects all light/colour it will alter a lot in rooms with different aspects of natural light. In south facing rooms (which are cooler/dimmer) it will take on a grey hue, in easterly rooms (early morning/sharp clear light) it may take on a green hue, in westerly rooms (these get low sun later in the afternoon) it may look creamy or peachy. In your particular case the ply and the bamboo have enough yellow in them that it may warm up the white on the walls. I suggest you test several whites very carefully. Apply all (two coats) of the testpot onto A2 card leaving an unpainted border all around the edges - this will be real pure white. Move the testpot sample from wall to wall/room to room to see how it alters - and it will. These 'whites' will give you several different types of white to test – Resene Alabaster, Resene Half Black White, Resene Quarter Bianca or Resene Quarter Wan White.
March 2015
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Q. I have seen a home in a photo but when I try to use the same colours they look different on my house. A. Colour isn't static and unchanging - if it can change it will. Every change of light - natural and artificial, every time of the day, every change of angle, every axis - North, South, East or West - will show another subtle change of colour. Seeing a testpot on a coloured (already painted surface) will alter how you see it. Seeing the colour close to a dominant colour will change how you see it. A different type of surface will make you see the colour differently. A different sheen level can make you see a difference in the colour. Seeing a colour in print (photograph) or digitally (as a computer representation) is often deceptively wrong. I never base my judgement on this as I know from personal experience I will not be seeing the colour as it really is - technology isn't exact enough - yet. March 2015
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Q. We have a bungalow which is mainly white, has a blue roof and blue external base boards. We are replacing the roof with New Denin Blue COLORSTEEL®, and eventually looking to paint the house a light grey-white, with white window trim. At this stage we are replacing the deck balustrades with wood which will be painted. My question is, what colours might work well for the deck balustrades and deck stain? Also, what colours might work for the external base boards, and eventual house colour? A. The deck balustrades would look really crisp if they were Resene White like the window trim. A Woodsman stain for the deck floor could be a grey - Resene Bleached Cedar - or a warm wood brown - Resene Nutmeg or a 'not really coloured' stain like Resene Natural. A main colour for the house could be these types of colours – Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Concrete or Resene Half Iron. The base boards could be a deeper version of the house colours - a subtle difference only but it might add height to the house - or a lighter version of the roof colour to link the house together.
March 2015
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Q. I am trying to pick an external render colour for my house and my windows are Jasper - any recommendations? Also should I have the same coloured gutters and fascias or should I go darker than Jasper to something like COLORBOND® Monument. A. If you do change the coloured gutters etc to the darker neutral – COLORBOND® Monument - it does stop the brown of the Jasper having such an influence over what colours might be considered for the render. But if you do use Monument is it at all possible to use it on some other element of the house i.e the garage door or front door? This would tie it all together and make a complete statement instead of a random colour suddenly appearing on the house with no association. Colours that might be considered for the render that work well with both Jasper and Monument – Resene Half Bison Hide, Resene Eighth Pravda, Resene Cloud, Resene Sandspit Brown or Resene Eighth Stonehenge.
March 2015
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Q. I would like to know what ‘cream’ does not come out looking like it has a pink tinge. A. Cream is either green, brown, pink or yellow based. Any cream can throw a warmer undertone (sometimes called 'pink') if it is seen close to reds, warm browns, terracottas or is in a west facing room or west exterior wall of a house. Westerly light is red based and it warms up creams so they look a lot more 'pink'. Resene Half Spanish White carries multiple tinters in it but it often looks muddy or even peachy when it is compared to Resene Half Pearl Lusta which is sharply yellow/green by comparison. Resene Orchid White is yellowish and makes Resene Half Pearl Lusta look green and Resene Half Spanish White look peachy. I recommend you use testpots painted onto large A2 card and move them around the house - room to room/wall to wall - to see how they change because they are all strongly influenced by natural and artificial light and other colours seen close to them.
March 2015
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Q. I’d like to restain my weatherboards with a light grey (which may take several coats to cover the existing brown) and plaster and paint the bricks with a darker grey to give it a more contemporary look. As the bricks frame the front entrance, I suppose the door should be a complementary colour to the darker grey but something that stands to emphasise the entrance. Our metal fascia and concrete tile roof colours are very similar to Resene Tiri. Would Resene Riverstone work on the weatherboards and what could then go on the plastered brick and door? A. Covering a deep stain colour is always easier if another deeper colour is chosen. If you did attempt this exercise with Resene Riverstone it may take an extra coat. I strongly recommend testing the colour over the existing stain - somewhere where the result may be not noticeable. May I suggest going a bit deeper than Riverstone - perhaps Resene Smokey Ash. Use the CoolColour version to minimise deep colour /heat absorption on the weatherboards. Stains are by their very nature semi-transparent and a completely new colour (existing and new combined) can eventuate because of the original not being totally blocked out by the new colour. For the brick work and plaster - to go with the above mentioned colours - you might look at using one of these colours – Resene Half Ironsand or Resene Half Baltic Sea. In your thinking and planning for the new look on your house had you at any time thought of reversing the sequence of colours - very deep to the wood like Resene Tiri and softer/lighter like Resene Quarter Masala for the brick and plaster? It would still be contemporary and the dark stain may not need to be laboured over in order to cover the existing stain colour.
March 2015
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Q. We are doing a major house renovation including building an attached double garage with timber weatherboard cladding to a brick house that we intend to plaster over at the same time. Part of the overhaul includes changing the windows to aluminium double glazed for which we have chosen the Titania colour. We are thinking about changing our roof colour to Ironsand but could be open to suggestion. We live out in the rural area surrounded by greens and a large oak tree. Pollens can be a problem during Spring time. We would like to have your suggestions for a combination of outdoor colours that works with an Ironsand or similar coloured roof and Titania joinery, and perhaps a suggestion of colours for the garage and front door. We are not particularly fond of overly brown dominant colouring. A. Ironsand for the roof sounds like a good choice. Not too brown, not too green but deeply warm and earthy. Titania window joinery is a good choice also - it is a funny yellow/green/stone colour and works with a lot so other colours. These are good colours for a rural area. If pollens on the house are a problem in the Spring time then it might be wise to choose 'pollen hiding' colours and that means nothing too pale as the pollens will give it a grimy yellow look. Perhaps you could check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Half Tapa, Resene Craigieburn, Resene Climate or Resene Triple Ash. The garage door might be the same colour as the joinery or the roof - keeping it simple and all tied together harmoniously. The front door could be the colour you really favour the most - whatever that might be - as it will be about 500ml of gloss paint that can be changed when you feel like a 'new look' without the work of changing everything on the exterior. You could use anything but here is an idea – Resene Countdown - a colour that hints of autumn leaves and flaming sunsets.
March 2015
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Q. We are building a new house with a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof and Silver Pearl joinery. I would like some brownish grey suggestions for the plaster and darker Linea® that will fit in with the landscape and not date. Please can you suggest some complementary colours. Resene Half Cougar and Resene Half Truffle have been suggested as the plaster colours which I like. A. As well as the ones you have mentioned you might like to check out these colours – Resene Eighth Stonehenge, Resene Half Napa or Resene Quarter Friar Greystone . If you can pop into a Resene ColorShop to view the A4 real paint samples in their Colour Library and compare all of the colours you will be able to make a good judgement on what looks the best. Seeing large samples of colour is the best way to choose. All of the colours come as deeper versions also - which is handy to know - as colours always appear far lighter on the exterior due to bright natural light stealing the depth out of the colour.
March 2015
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Q. We will be recladding a three storey townhouse with a board and batten tower for the upper floor, Rockcote for the main living area (mostly windows) and repaint of the concrete block at ground level/garaging. There are two townhouses connected and the roadside property has extensive natural wood stairs and railings (all naturally weathered to a grey). The roof is COLORSTEEL® Rivergum and the aluminium joinery Mist Green. What paint colour(s) would you recommend that would work with the timber towers and would you do the lower concrete block in a darker shade of that colour? (e.g. Resene Double Spanish White for bottom and Resene Spanish White for living layer). I would like the whole building to be understated and as natural looking as possible. I'd prefer to not go with any grey tones as I think it would be too cold. I like buildings that blend with the surrounding trees etc. A. I suggest that instead of having three colours (five really with the two different greens on the roof and windows) you just use two colours (four really with the roof and windows) and combine the concrete block and Rockcote to 'ground' the building. You might check these colours out to see if they appeal – Resene Tea (board/batten) and Resene Triple Tea (Rockcote and block), Resene Half Parchment (board/batten) and Resene Triple Parchment (Rockcote and block), or Resene Quarter Cougar (board/batten) and Resene Cougar (Rockcote and block).
March 2015
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Q. We are in the procees of rebuilding our kitchen and have chosen Infinity alabaster for the benchtop and are considering Resene Lemon Grass for the lower cabinets. The kitchen is open plan to the lounge dining area which is currently painted in Resene Half Sea Fog. Can you please help with some colours for the upper cabinets and the walls. I'd like to try and achieve a coastal relaxed feel and prefer not to have an all white kitchen. A. I like your idea of using a soft smokey green for the lower cabinets and something quite different for the upper cabinets as well as walls etc. But as an alternative to the Resene Lemon Grass might I suggest you check out Resene Inside Back for its grey damp sand and stormy sky hue. Upper cabinets can look bulky if they are too definite a colour and may feel as though they are advancing physically, gobbling up space so if you maintain the Resene Half Sea Fog as the wall colour then the upper cabinets might be either of these colours – Resene Double Sea Fog - related to the wall but 'up toned' so they are like a shadow of sand, Resene Emerge - related to the lower cabinet alternative colour, or Resene Triple Merino - a flaxen colour that looks good with Resene Lemon Grass.
March 2015
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Q. We currently have Resene Aths Special throughout our house and looking to lighten this by approx half. Just wondering, the colour is approx 10 years old, is it possible to get a half strength or quarter strength made of this colour? Alternatively is there a colour in your current range that is a similar colour in the equivalent half or quarter strength? A. Resene Aths Special is still available. Resene computer files of all colour formulas allow for 'non current' colours to be made in the future. As it is from a white base it could be halved and quartered. Special formulas with your name against it would be lodged on file for future reference at your Resene ColorShop. The only problem as I see it is there are no testpots of the lighter variants of Resene Aths Special for you to test and you may not like the colours once you have bought large amounts of them. Lighter and deeper variants are 'new' colours and as such they may not look as you imagine they will be. The following similar (current colours) that are all available as testpots and can be viewed as A4 colour samples in the Colour Library at your local Resene ColorShop might be helpful – Resene Caraway, Resene Half Caraway, Resene Joanna, Resene Half Joanna or Resene Quarter Joanna.
March 2015
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Q. We have just received grant funding to paint the exterior of our Playcentre. Please help us chose a fun kids colour combination that's says come and play. Playcentre colours are Yellow and Purple, the joinery is a mid grey colour. The painter said to keep it pale for maintenance but we want to be bright and fun? A. Here’s an idea involving a little artistic creativity - if very large ply sheet jigsaw cutouts of flowers, trees and stick figure children and perhaps rainbows or balloons were painted up in bright Playcentre inspired colours and were attached around the building then that might constitute the 'c'mon and play' theme. These could be painted by parents with Resene testpots - 1 testpot covers around 1 square metre so from an economic/creative perspective it is very achievable. The building itself could be a very simple yellow cream or a slightly deeper sunny cream/yellow - any yellow hue attracts a lot of attention and is seen as sunny, happy and playful. Doors and smaller trims can be highlighted in pops of colour to add to the general theme. Some colour ideas to get you started: Resene Half Pearl Lusta (main), Resene Tree Frog (doors), Resene Pukeko (smaller trims) and Resene Starstruck (barge boards over frontage), or Resene Beeswax (main), Resene Kudos (doors), Resene Kakapo (smaller trims) or Resene Gorse (barge boards over frontage) Resene testpots worthy of consideration for 'special details' - any and all from the Resene KidzColour chart and The Range fashion colours 16.
March 2015
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Q. What white would blend best with standard white subway tiles? A. All 'white' tiles are slightly different in 'whiteness'. I always suggest taking a tile into your nearest Resene ColorShop and looking through the A4 real paint samples in the Colour Library. If you use a sheet of white printer paper partially over the colour samples and the white tile it will help your eyes can see the reality of the 'white' colours. They are all subtly 'coloured' and this is something that isn't apparent until you test like this. Generally speaking a slightly deeper white may work best with the tiles because the tile stays 'whiter' and the walls have their own colour which creates visual difference and a better harmony. March 2015
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Q. What colours looks good in an art gallery or if we have a lot of art to display? A. A popular colour choice for art galleries or homes with a lot of art is Resene Black White.
March 2015
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Q. Would Ironsand or Scoria for guttering and all exterior doors go with a red brick and Resene Bark stained house? A. These colours would work well. If the house is more brick than Resene Bark stained wood then the emphasis might be more toward the Ironsand with a smaller amount of Scoria as trims. But if the house is primarily wood stained to the colour Resene Bark with a lesser amount of the house being brick then using the Scoria as the greater colour and Ironsand the lesser amount makes sense. It is all about balance and harmony and using enough of a colour to ensure a contrast is achieved.
March 2015
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Q. I have just painted my house Resene Quarter Masala. Looks great! I have white windows, Merbau decking and Sandstone windows. I'm looking for a colour burst for the front door or eaves. A. See if any of these colours appeal as your 'colour burst' - Resene Blaze, Resene Wimbledon, Resene Starstruck, Resene Windfall or Resene Breakfree.
March 2015
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Q. I want to paint my bathroom. I have tried lots of testpots and can’t find the colour I am after. The best way to describe it is, milky coffee. I am finding that the colour on the charts looks quite different when on the wall, some seem much lighter and some darker. A. The colour you imagine is often difficult to replicate in reality. If you make a mug of milky coffee that is the right colour and relates well to the look you want to achieve and find a colour from a chart that matches - as close as it is possible then that might be a start. But what most people don't understand - colour is so tricky - all colour looks deeper in an interior. So - once finding something that you are happy with - you need a lighter version of the colour. Testing colour in the space you intend to place it is really important. Most people test paint the wrong way. I always suggest that the testpot (all of it/two coats) be applied to large white A2 card (available from your Resene ColorShop). You need to see a large amount of colour not a small amount of colour. All Resene ColorShops have a Colour Library where A4 samples of real paint colour can be viewed to help with what testpots are ultimately chosen to test in the unique light of the room in question. If a border all around the edges is left unpainted it helps your eye to focus. Then you can judge the depth and reality of the colour and the unpainted white edges act as a barrier keeping the tested colour away from existing wall colour. Existing wall colours greatly influence how you see the tested colour - but not in a helpful way - as it alters your perception of what the test colour is really like. So you are misled. The large card can be moved from wall to wall - because colour alters on different angles. It can be viewed under changing natural light and artificial light - this alters the colour a lot - which you need to know about. The card can be rolled into a cone shape with the colour innermost. If you look into the cone at the colour you will then be able to see how deep it will look - as if four walls were painted- because the colour intensifies and can look twice as dark as you might imagine - you need to know this in advance to ensure the depth of colour is ok. One of those many testpots that you have tried might well be the right one - if you tested in this fashion. March 2015
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