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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 32

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

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

 
 
 
 

Q&A   p. 32

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


Q. I have cream drapes and cream bed linen and sometimes white bed linen. The wall and doors are painted Resene Parchment. Every wall has a window or door. The feature wall has three small square windows also with cream drapes. What do you suggest as colour for the feature wall? Does white and cream even match?

A. Have you considered using a wallpaper instead of paint for the feature wall? That way you might be able to find a cream and white combination or a parchment beige/gold/cream wallpaper that would help tie your drapes, the predominant wall colour and cream and white bedlinen. Cream and white do often work together as long as the cream is more dominant than the white. If you have your heart set on paint then you might look at using a metallic like Resene Ignition to enhance the Resene Parchment and to add a touch of glamour.

Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Ignition
Resene Ignition
June 2015

Q. We are renovating our bathroom and the bottom half of the walls are lined with Hardigroove® which I was going to paint Resene Double White Pointer. I am wanting help on picking a colour to go with the Resene Double White Pointer for the top half of the walls. I was thinking Resene Quarter White Pointer but am looking for other suggestions to get some ideas.

A. I like your idea of using Resene Quarter White Pointer and you might also look at using Resene Merino or even Resene Quarter Albescent White. Take your time and test the colours well as they do undergo colour changes in different light situations.

Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
June 2015

Q. We are currently painting our 1923 wooden bungalow. The weatherboards are going to be Resene Quarter Friar Grey, the windows Resene Alabaster and the concrete walls and around the lower part of the house Resene Friar Grey. What are the 'rules' about how far the Resene Alabaster goes as far as the soffit and exposed joists? Also we think a bright red/rust front door would be nice.

A. There are no 'rules' as such but generally under the soffits of the house and any verandah ceilings are painted the lightest colour. Corbels, wooden joists, decorative detailing/posts etc around the porches and sometimes the bargeboards and guttering fascias can also be painted to add light contrast and crispness to the main house colour. Some people do the door frames to match the window frames as well.

Bright red/rust colours for a front door sound like a nice idea so you could check these out – Resene Pioneer Red, Resene Countdown, Resene Dynamite or Resene Hot N Spicy.

Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Friar Grey
Resene Friar Grey
 
Resene Pioneer Red
Resene Pioneer Red
Resene Countdown
Resene Countdown
Resene Dynamite
Resene Dynamite
Resene Hot N Spicy
Resene Hot N Spicy
June 2015

Q. We are looking for a neutral grey wall paint to contrast with Resene Alabaster trims/doors and a dark grey carpet. We like Resene Iron but it seems to be a blue grey - is there a pure mid/light grey tone?

A. Resene Iron is a grey with an undertone of blue. If you compare greys you are better able to judge what colours are hiding in them - without doing that you can be very misled. All grey carries colour within it. All colours alter also with changes of natural and artificial light. Colours need to be tested on a pure white back ground and viewed within the space you want to put them in to help you to see the reality of the colour.

Perhaps check these ones out as they may appeal to you and not show too much of their undertones – Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, Resene Concrete, Resene Quill Grey or Resene Triple Sea Fog.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Iron
Resene Iron
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter
Silver Chalice
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
June 2015

Q. My 1980s house is painted with the colour Resene Joanna. What colour should I paint the roof and base?

A. Resene Joanna looks good with Resene Half Rice Cake (lighter base option) or Resene Quarter Evolution (darker base option) and roof colours like Resene Squall and Resene Ironsand.

Resene Joanna
Resene Joanna
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Squall
Resene Squall
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
June 2015

Q. We are trying to identify a colour we have previously used in our bach which has been rebuilt. We think the colour is Resene Swiss Coffee. Could you confirm whether this colour has a hint of purple in the light?

A. I would describe Resene Swiss Coffee as being a milky mushroom colour - so yes it might throw a mauve especially in corners where the colour bounces off itself or in rooms with a dim or southerly aspect. In other rooms - larger, lighter or with a warmer aspect this colour description may not be correct - colour is a chameleon and if it can change it will do so.

Resene Swiss Coffee
Resene Swiss Coffee
June 2015

Q. Is green lightened with white brighter than green lightened with yellow?

A. As a rule of thumb any colour that has yellow in it seems brighter than the same colour with white in it. Yellow is brighter and is seen with a stronger clarity than white. However I think there may be subtle variations sometimes according to what type of green it is and whether the yellow that is added to it is ochre (earthy/softer) or chrome yellow (very sharp/clear) - those differences can have a definite bearing.

June 2015

Q. We have painted one room in Resene Half Lemon Grass with one wall in Resene Tax Break and are really happy with it. As we have a small house we have more than enough to paint another room with the Resene Half Lemon Grass too and wonder what other colour would go with it, on one wall? We don't want both rooms to look the same.

A. Two possibilities spring to mind - the first one is that the Resene Half Lemon Grass be used as the 'feature' (as it is quite a definite colour in its own right) and a warm neutral be used as the main wall colour - i.e Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Spanish White.

If the Resene Half Lemon Grass is a main colour and another colour is used as a feature you might investigate these types of colours to see whether they appeal to you and suit the role of the room and the natural light and furnishings within the room – Resene Matchmaker, Resene Stonewashed or Resene Tapa.

Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Tax Break
Resene Tax Break
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Matchmaker
Resene Matchmaker
Resene Stonewashed
Resene Stonewashed
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
 
June 2015

Q. Our aluminium windows are framed a dark brown and the walls are a Resene Spanish White colour from 10 years ago, so quite cream. We want to update but also have to consider dark window frames. Too white could look awful?

A. I am inclined to agree with you - too pale/white a colour could look a little stark and may overemphasise the darkness of the window frames. Perhaps if you want a new look (but not cream) you could consider one of these of colours – Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Tea, Resene Eighth Pravda, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey or Resene Ash.

Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Eighth Pravda
Resene Eighth Pravda
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Ash
Resene Ash
   
June 2015

Q. I have lightish grey bricks going up on the outside of my new home. I have chosen Resene Black White as my soffit colour. Is this going to be too dark as others have said they have used Resene Quarter Sea Fog or Resene Half Alabaster?

A. The Resene Black White may look a little greyer (looking up at a colour that has shadow over it often does that) but if you are hesitant you might consider using Resene Half Black White or even Resene Quarter Black White or Resene Eighth Black White. They are extremely similar to the colours that others people have used - but I do have to ask - did they use the same bricks as you and same style of new house? What works well for some may not work perfectly for all people so do test the colours really well to be sure of your choices and how they respond on your house.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Quarter Sea Fog (Double Alabaster)
Resene Quarter Sea Fog
(Double Alabaster)
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
June 2015

Q. We need to match some flashing to Resene Stonehenge. Could you please advise what is the closest colour match in the COLORBOND® colour range?

A. In the COLORBOND® colours there are these options – Gully - not too bad/slightly yellower in tone or darker/greyer in tone – Wallaby. It is a compromise between the two and I suggest you look at real powder coat metal samples of the colours before you make your final decision.

Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
June 2015

Q. We are building a new house with the exterior being board and batten, which we will stain darkest brown, and plaster. We are looking at using a Gull Grey roof and windows. Just looking for colour suggestions to use on plaster that will complement Gull Grey and dark brown. We were thinking of Resene Thorndon Cream walls on the interior with Resene Alabaster ceilings and frames.

A. Have you enquired as to what level of colour is recommended for board and batten timbers in order not to void the guarantee on the substrate? There is often a range of colours and a recommended LRV % (light reflectance value) associated with coatings on timber. Your builder and painter will be able to advise you in this regard but if you want independent advice then you could try BRANZ. You need reasonably light colours for the plaster - and as a contrast to the roof and joinery.

Ones that you might look are these – Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Quarter Delta or Resene Triple Merino
or slightly deeper – Resene Half Foggy Grey or Resene Half Atmosphere.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta

Resene Triple Merino
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
Resene Half Atmosphere
Resene Half Atmosphere
 
June 2015

Q. We recently bought a house and the colours in the kitchen/living area are terrible! Currently the kitchen cabinets are dark red, there is a purple feature wall and the hallway leading into the kitchen is a deep pink. We want to repaint but feel hopelessly overwhelmed by the choice of colours. I was thinking of maybe a light minty green for the kitchen cabinets (and I would replace the stainless steel bench top with a wooden benchtop), a neutral white/cream for the hallway and perhaps replace the current purple feature wall with a medium grey feature wall? Alternatively all the walls could be a neutral white/cream colour although I worry that would be too light and bright as the room gets a lot of natural light.

A. Because of the strong colours that have been used on the walls might I suggest that you under coat all surfaces in Resene White to remove the colour influences. Then you can test your colour options on a 'non-coloured' back drop as I suspect it will be difficult to see any tested colour in reality against the existing colours.

Any colours chosen need to work really well with any element that isn't be changed - carpet? drapes? Sometimes it is about compromising to get the look coming together in a balanced way.

Once the existing wall colours are removed and replaced with Resene White you might look at these colours - to get you started – Resene Coriander, Resene Double Rice Cake and Resene Quarter Grey Friars, or Resene Kandinsky, Resene Bianca or Resene Double Delta.

Resene White
Resene White
Resene Coriander
Resene Coriander
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Kandinsky
Resene Kandinsky
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Double Delta
Resene Double Delta
 
June 2015

Q. I want to repaint my shadow box a colour other than white. The ornaments etc that I put in it are all in green tones. What would be an appropriate colour? Walls are white.

A. It will change the role of the shadow box from what it is now - a 'no colour' decorative shelving system that shows off the coloured ornaments that are in it - to a coloured decorative shelving system that you want people to notice (for itself) and finally notice the coloured ornaments after that. Is that what you are trying to achieve?

I feel you need to think this through very carefully.

You might consider a black colour which is still a neutral but will 'pop' off the white wall and still work with green coloured ornaments as a possibility – Resene All Black or Resene Nero.

Alternatively you might choose a deep sparkly metallic like Resene Blast Grey 3 - a touch of neutralised glamour.

If you could match one of the green ornaments you might be able to use that as a colour for the shadow box also.

Resene All Black
Resene All Black
Resene Nero
Resene Nero
Resene Blast Grey 3
Resene Blast Grey 3
June 2015

Q. We have bought a lovely Persian rug, dark red/blues. What neutrals would go with this in the lounge?

A. Your possible options may need to relate to the furniture, the drapes and adjacent rooms more than the rug. Or do you want the walls to only look good with the rug and not with everything else? I am sure that isn't the case and you really want the room to be gorgeous with everything (rug included) as well as being a colour that you personally like a lot.

Blues and reds look good with warm creams, lighter related blues, toffee beiges and reds that match the ones in the rug. Look firstly at what other colours you have in the lounge (as well as in other rooms) and work with the colours that you know will tie all things together.

But if you are just after some neutrals then the following colours may be a start point – Resene Spanish White, Resene Clotted Cream or Resene Nougat.

Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Clotted Cream
Resene Clotted Cream
Resene Nougat
Resene Nougat
June 2015

Q. What colour do I paint my walls? I love a gallery feel with white walls and my last house had this feel but I also had polished mahogany floors throughout. This new house has polished concrete. The exterior of the house is Surf Mist roof and rendered walls with timber entrance door and a small amount of timber decking. All other doors and windows are white powdercoated aluminium. I do want the house to feel warm and inviting as well. The rooms are a good size with high ceilings, no cornices and quite a lot of natural light from the north east and south east. I have tongue and groove sheeting under the eaves outside and on ceilings in the porch, entrance and outdoor terrace. I have chosen to have polished concrete floors to all living areas. There are no stones 'thrown in' so just this simple clean shiny pale grey. Wet area floors are in a 500 x 500 tile the same colour as the concrete. The carpet in bedrooms is a (very) dark blue grey. My timber furniture is mostly all very warm with dark teak. I have a huge pale cane/rattan lounge with black seat cushions and lots of off-white throw cushions, two large almost white leather sofas and large Persian rugs which are mostly reds. My kitchen is almost all classic white (which is a warm white) with a bank of Jarrah drawers on either side of the oven and bench tops in kitchen and bathrooms in Essa Stone New Crystal Salt.

A. You might look at these colours - they work well with the concrete and white (joinery, sofas and kitchen cabinets) and especially nice with the rugs and jarrah – Resene Half Thorndon Cream or (lighter) Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or Resene Half Titania.

Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Titania
Resene Half Titania
June 2015

Q. I am struggling with choosing interior colours for our new build. Our furniture is mostly black leather and rustic old wood with wrought iron knobs and I want a fresh grey to add a homely feel and not go towards the browns in the greys. Just wondering if you could help me with some interior colours that make a room feel bigger, go with darker furniture and dark woods. We have chosen curtains that are linen in a neutral grey between Resene Half Napa and Resene Quarter Napa and white wooden venetians for the front of the house, which is roadside.

A. Greys are not usually referred to as homely unless they are warmed by brown tones. Greys are ambiguous, no nonsense (which is why they work so well with White and Black and bold clear colours) and often best in very contemporary, minimalisltic or commercial environments.

The colours that you mention – Resene Half Napa and Resene Quarter Napa - are brown based greys. If you compare them to other colours that may appear somewhat similar you will see how brown they are - look at Resene Half Truffle and Resene Eighth Stonehenge - these are greyer. These two greys may be worth investigating as they don't 'brown up' too much. Other greys that you could also check out are Resene Half Mountain Mist or Resene Eighth Friar Grey.

It would definitely pay you to compare a series of greys together to let your eye judge the reality of the colours. The last two I have mentioned make the previous greys look brown by comparison - it is all about comparing! Colours are mysterious and changeable - this is why they challenge us so much.

I love the white wooden blinds, wrought iron knobs, black leather and rustic old (dark) wood - it sounds very warm and relaxed.

Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Eighth Stonehenge
Resene Eighth Stonehenge
Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
 
June 2015

Q. I want some suggestions for a new house we purchased as I want to change the colours to make it more modern. The roof is a blue powder coated and will likely stay this colour. The roof, gutters and garage door are definitely blue. I will consider painting the gutters and the joinery a black or dark grey if required.

A. A deep charcoal may work (not as hard edged as black) and allow you to embrace (lighter) silvery greys or warmer stone greys as main options. Is that the sort of modern look you were contemplating? You are a little bit compromised in regard colour choices because of the blue roof etc but you might check out these colours – Resene Foundry and Resene Geyser, or Resene Nocturnal and Resene Half Foggy Grey.

The existing colour scheme features two colours on two different types of substrate so perhaps modernisation might be only one colour and reusing the dark colour on the garage door as well as gutters and joinery.

Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
Resene Geyser
Resene Geyser
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
June 2015

Q. We are choosing between Resene Foggy Grey and Resene Quarter Friar Grey for the exterior colour and LINEA® gable. Our roof is Grey Friars. What would be a good colour for the window sills as a lighter option for the above colours? We don't want it too white.

Do you think we should paint the fascia in the above chosen colour or go for the lighter shade to match the window sills?

A. Resene Foggy Grey does allow you to use the lightest variant (Resene Quarter Foggy Grey) as the window sill and fascia colour - so it will be light but not white. Resene Quarter Friar Grey has a lighter variant (Resene Eighth Friar Grey) but it isn't a lot lighter so the difference in tone may not be noticeable on the fascias and sills. If you did decide to use this particular colour you might need to look at this sort of colour as a lighter trim - Resene Double Sea Fog.

You may need to investigate the larger A4 real paint samples of all of these colours in the colour library at your local Resene ColorShop to be better able to judge which way to go with your colours. Seeing large samples helps tremendously with decision making.

Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
June 2015

Q. We are looking at revamping our 80s style house, hopefully to more neutral colours. At the moment our window frames are cream and the joinery is blue/grey. I would love white joinery but I'm not sure it would work? Our kitchen is wood but I want to repaint it white. Keeping in mind our carpet is blue/grey and we can't really afford to replace it.

A. You are contemplating huge changes (wood cabinets to be painted white is a biggie) but if you look at what may not be able to be changed - strong green bench tops, existing coloured flooring, what looks like cream wall tiles and quite definite yellow toned cream windows frames - and look for a warmed white that associates well with the window joinery it may be a starting point.

It is hard to truly judge the type of cream the window joinery is from the photos but if perhaps you investigate using Resene Quarter Rice Cake for the kitchen cabinets and around the architraves of the doors, windows and skirting boards and as the ceiling colour it establishes your warmed 'white'. The walls may need to have some association with the flooring if it is not being replaced and with that in mind you might look at these sorts of colours – Resene Half Tasman (a little touch of green/grey), Resene Triple Rice Cake (deeper version of the 'white' colour) or Resene Half Thorndon Cream (less yellow toned than Resene Triple Rice Cake).

I hope these suggestions get you thinking about how to tie together all of the existing elements and still offer a new neutralised palette of colours.

Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Half Tasman
Resene Half Tasman
Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
June 2015

Q. I am specifying colours for a public toilet. So far we are specifying Resene Ironsand for the roof and door trims, Resene Gull Grey for the interior floors, Resene Black White for the interior walls and doors (interior and exterior). For the exterior walls we like Resene Mamba, but want to check that this is the best choice against the Resene Ironsand. Or is there another grey that is a similar tone, yet a better colour match?

A. Resene Mamba is a delightful purple shaded with black but not a colour I instinctively would associate with Ironsand which is an earthy brown based charcoal. There seems to be a distinct element of discord between the two colours. Is there a reason that you have chosen a purple grey?

Perhaps check out these alternative options to see if the warmth in the grey picks up the base undertone in the Resene Ironsand which is warmed with ochre – Resene Concord, Resene Friar Grey, Resene Half Gauntlet, Resene Half Taupe Grey or Resene Triple Rakaia.

Resene Black White for all doors may not be practical as it may show up grease and dirt very quickly and may attract graffiti. You may want to consider something darker.

Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Gull Grey
Resene Gull Grey
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Mamba
Resene Mamba
 
Resene Concord
Resene Concord
Resene Friar Grey
Resene Friar Grey
Resene Half Gauntlet
Resene Half Gauntlet
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Triple Rakaia
Resene Triple Rakaia
June 2015

Q. I am looking for a dusky rose colour for my bedroom walls.

A. Everyone has a version of a dusky rose but they are all somewhat different. You might look at these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Devoted, Resene Boutique, Resene Careys Pink, Resene Viola or Resene Bordello.

Resene Devoted
Resene Devoted
Resene Boutique
Resene Boutique
Resene Careys Pink
Resene Careys Pink
Resene Viola
Resene Viola
Resene Bordello
Resene Bordello
June 2015

Q. We have moved into a contemporary house with light grey floor tiles and blue carpet which needs replacing. We are thinking perhaps of going to a rust/beige flecked colour. What colour would you suggest to replace Resene Merino at present on all walls? We want to convert to a warmer colour scheme.

A. Are you planning to change the contemporary light grey floor tiles as well to co-ordinate with the more natural relaxed colours of the carpet? If not will you mind if they don't like each other?

Choosing big things like flooring is always difficult as it is very dominant and if the different types of flooring meet in the door ways and 'glare' at each other it can be disconcerting.

I suggest you try several colour with the carpet samples to see which one works best. Try these colours as a start – Resene Half Villa White, Resene Eighth Bison Hide or Resene Half Fossil.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Half Fossil
Resene Half Fossil
June 2015

Q. Our walls are full Resene Tea and ceiling Resene Quarter Tea as our window frames and doors. We are wanting to change the colour of our, at present, Rimu kitchen cupboards - what colour should they be? The flooring has just been renewed to a grey concrete look.

A. I do understand - wood can get to be a bit 'bossy' and brown - so perhaps look at a pale slightly coloured white like Resene Double Alabaster which will add contrast and bridge the colour gap between the floor colour and the walls. Alternatively a little bit warmer - Resene Quarter Albescent White.

Stay away from any colour that is too grey as it will make the walls look browner by comparison and don't go to a darker variant of Resene Tea as you will be getting too brown a colour (like the Rimu is now).

Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
June 2015

Q. I need to lighten up our lounge dining area/open plan as we have limited light in these areas. They are situated in the middle of the house/old bungalow. I prefer greens or greyish blues in warm tones.

A. You might look at these greens - they have a slightly yellow undertone which could lighten the space - Resene Eighth Tana or Resene Half Secrets.

Greyish blues (because of the grey) may make less light in the space but you might check these ones out - Resene Half Duck Egg Blue or Resene Half Emerge. Have you considered using a cream - the yellow undertone would definitely lighten the space – Resene Half Villa White.

Resene Eighth Tana
Resene Eighth Tana
Resene Half Secrets
Resene Half Secrets
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
June 2015

Q. We have a 1960s brick and decramastic tile house (red brick) and we are going to replace the roof and repaint the trim etc. Our present thinking is a COLORSTEEL® corrugated roof in a dark grey with matching gutters - this is partly due to budget and partly due to ease of installation.

A. You might look at these dark grey COLORSTEEL® colours – Monument, Grey Friars, Ironsand, TernStyle or Thunder Grey. The colours that have an earthy undertone may suit being closely associated with red brick.

COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Thunder Grey
COLORSTEEL® Thunder Grey
June 2015

Q. The house I have moved into is painted the same Spanish White everywhere - ceilings, walls, doors and trim! I want to add colour to break it up but I am struggling to find colours that will go with it and where to paint. I don't really want to have to paint the ceiling but everything else I am open to - any ideas?

A. I know you say you don't want to paint the ceiling but if you did it would create more light and free up your other colour options.

Having the ceiling the same colour as the walls doubles the intensity of the colour and if it is hard to co-ordinate with on the wall it is twice as difficult when it is such a dominant ceiling colour.

If the woodwork likewise was repainted in a warm white it too would free you up and allow you to add contrast, visual interest and being neutral (goes with everything) suddenly the task at hand wouldn't seem so difficult. Perhaps look at using this type of colour for ceilings and woodwork - Resene Quarter Bianca.

If Spanish White everywhere is the culprit then remove some of it. Later on when it recedes a bit (because it isn't everywhere) then you may find it isn't as hard to co-ordinate other colours with.

Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
June 2015

Q. I have chosen Resene Half Alabaster for new doors. Will there be a slight colour difference if I have used waterborne paint and the doors are the same colour but oil based paint?

A. A low sheen or matt acrylic colour used on the wall may make the semi-gloss enamel on the woodwork seem a little different - lighter or brighter usually because of the sheen level, not the product as such.
At the front of the Resene The Range Whites & Neutrals fandeck page ix there is a helpful sheet of same colour/different gloss/product chips. It shows how different the colour can look in this regard.

Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
June 2015

Q. I'm building a house and have no idea about colours! We have designed and managed the project and I don't want to give up and get an interior designer in at this stage (and we only have a week to choose colours). It's a very modern house (black gloss cabinets in kitchen, concrete floor and timber T&G ceiling). I don't want white walls. I'm quite keen on the stone base or the beige in your latest email (Truffle).

A. I feel your stress - colour is difficult and tricky and fear tends to stop any productive thoughts from happening. Is it possible to use a pale grey/beige and an almost white for ceilings and trims and let the neutrality of the house allow you to explore colours as curtains, upholstery, duvets, art work and small accessories?

Check these options out – Resene Half White Pointer and Resene Quarter Black White, or Resene Quarter Truffle and Resene Alabaster, or Resene Eighth Bison Hide and Resene Half Sea Fog.

These colours are listed from cooler/grey to warmer/beige. Any of these will work for you and layering deeper variants of these colours (drapes) and contrasting spots of sexy colour (accessories) may be your way forward.

Breathe - relax - and pop into a Resene ColorShop to view large A4 real paint samples in their Colour Library - this will let you see and judge the colours.

Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter
Black White
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
   
June 2015

Q. What wall colour would you recommend to update and brighten a bathroom with almond ivory fixtures and sage green-based flooring?

A. You might check out these colours to see if they work for you – Resene Quarter Solitaire (light/warm), Resene Half Albescent White (light/shadowy) or Resene Quarter Spanish White (looks like a mix of the previous two).

Almond Ivory is a dense peach/pink cream and can look muddy if the wrong colours are used close to it.

Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
June 2015

Q. I have a very small fourth bedroom in my house that I want to turn into a media room. I am wanting to paint the walls quite dark. There is a large window in the room which has a fawny coloured blind and wardrobe doors that are a fawny colour. Can you suggest a complementary colour for the walls?

A. There are many types of fawn in the world and without having a sample of it in my hand for my eyes to see I don't think I would hazard a guess as to what might be a darker variant of that particular colour.

But you might use a deep but soft brown like Resene Night Owl, Resene Rough N Tumble or alternatively one of these also could be considered - Resene Half Baltic Sea, Resene Avalanche or Resene Courage. All colours in an interior - especially a small room - have the potential to look twice as dark as you might imagine so do test the colours carefully - you may find that one wall of a dark intense colour is all you can cope with.

You might - if it is all too hard to make decisions - just use a black like Resene Blackout - but it will make the fawn in the room 'pop out' at you.

Resene Night Owl
Resene Night Owl
Resene Rough N Tumble
Resene Rough N Tumble
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Avalanche
Resene Avalanche
Resene Courage
Resene Courage
Resene Blackout
Resene Blackout
June 2015

Q. Trying to put colour with Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay and Resene Half Pearl Lusta trim for accent colours and furnishings.

A. You can use reds, deep blues and slate greens as well as tans and rich browns - you have an amazing amount of possibilities. Look at colours that are similar to these ones from The Range 16 fandeck – Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Regatta, Resene Timekeeper, Resene Pendragon or Resene Sambuca.

Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay
Resene Eighth
Canterbury Clay
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
     
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Regatta
Resene Regatta
Resene Timekeeper
Resene Timekeeper
Resene Pendragon
Resene Pendragon
Resene Sambuca
Resene Sambuca
June 2015

Q. We are painting a new kitchen/living room and are planning on using Resene Half Tea for most of it. We are wanting to do one feature wall and want something that goes well but is not too extreme.

A. Perhaps you could check these neutral colours out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Double Tea, Resene Half Napa or Resene Quarter Stonehenge, or more definite colours like these ones – Resene Dusted Blue, Resene Inside Back or Resene Triple Rakaia.

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Dusted Blue
Resene Dusted Blue
Resene Inside Back
Resene Inside Back
Resene Triple Rakaia
Resene Triple Rakaia
 
June 2015

Q. I am putting up a divider in the bedroom - I want slightly greyish walls still and would like to stain the divider (hardboard) a wood colour. What colour stain and walls would you recommend go together?

A. I strongly recommend that you test interior stain colours on some offcuts of hardboard as it isn't a surface that I have used stains on as it resists absorbing stain or - conversely - absorbs it but in a patchy and over strong way. There is information available in the Resene Colorwood stain brochure about staining non-timber surfaces (MDF and particle boards) which may assist you.

I would defer colour ideas for the divider until you have chosen the wall colour - slightly greyish colours offer you a huge amount of options. The following are a few colours that you might check out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Double Black White, Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Black Haze.

Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
June 2015

Q. We have just rendered our house. The gutters are COLORBOND® Jasper. We will probably paint the roof a similar colour too. We are struggling to find a colour for the walls. We were thinking a light mushroom colour or light neutral.

A. My sample of COLORBOND® Jasper shows quite a yellow based brown. A Resene paint colour to match for the roof would be Resene Groundbreaker.

Light mushroom tones usually carry warm pink undertones which wouldn't be my first choice or even second choice as a main colour on the house.

You might look at these colours to see if they are appealing - they do harmonise well with Jasper - Resene Bison Hide, Resene Half Cougar, Resene Quarter Napa, Resene Quarter Craigieburn or Resene Tea.

COLORSTEEL® Jasper
COLORSTEEL® Jasper
Resene Groundbreaker
Resene Groundbreaker
     
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Half Cougar
Resene Half Cougar
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
June 2015

Q. We have a concrete block home with dark brown aluminium window joinery. What colours would you recommend for the roof, fascia boards and window lintel?

A. If you are repainting the roof you could try these colours – Resene Windswept (a warm earthy grey), Resene Ironsand (deep brown based charcoal) or Resene Squall (a softer earthy colour- not as brown).

For the fascia boards and lintel you could look at softer tones like these ones – Resene Climate, Resene Triple Ash or Resene Taupe Grey.

These colours merge greens, browns and stone grey colours together which (fingers crossed) will work with the blocks on the house, the brown aluminium window joinery and may be a backdrop to colourful garden plants.

Resene Windswept
Resene Windswept
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Squall
Resene Squall
Resene Climate
Resene Climate
Resene Triple Ash
Resene Triple Ash
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
June 2015

Q. I am after a light grey/beige (greige). I have tried Resene Eighth Stonehenge and Resene Eighth Friar Grey.

A. You might like to check these colours out also – Resene Truffle, Resene Cloudy or Resene Double White Pointer.

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 together it may help you to make good judgements.

Using testpots painted onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges and moved from wall to wall to ascertain how colours alter in different angles, spaces and light also may assist you. Applying testpots to already coloured walls gives a false illusion of the actual colour which may stop you seeing the reality of it.

Resene Eighth Stonehenge
Resene Eighth Stonehenge
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Cloudy
Resene Cloudy
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double White Pointer
June 2015

Q. I'm trying to find the perfect white paint to paint the whole indoor of the house in. I'm looking for a real Nordic, Scandinavian theme and the whiter the better. I was recommended the colour Resene Black White so I just wanted to check that this one would work before I committed.

A. I am not sure that a perfect white actually exists - or if it does it is the white that works perfectly in a certain situation because of the situation it is in and with what other things are in that space, and dependent upon the natural light factor - so all people who find the right white for them may think it is the only right white.

Certainly test Resene Black White to see if it works for you. At the same time please try these as well - Resene Half Sea Fog and Resene Half Wan White.

Any white used around the windows on a wall will appear more shadowy also because of light. Whites of all colours change the most in changing light situations.

Testpots are your best friend and I suggest that you apply all of the testpot/two coats onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges so your eye truly sees the tested sample of colour and then move it from wall to wall/room to room to see how it alters.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Wan White
June 2015

Q. HELP! Our place desperately needs updating but we have burgundy coloured carpet. We can't afford to replace the carpet and it's a very high quality carpet. But the colour is super hard to work with. The walls are a very creamy colour which I don't like. I'm more of a white tone person. I have done our dining room with Resene Black White and put a feature wall of photos up. But I want to change the look of the lounge. It feels dark and there are too many colours. I like plain walls in white and then to use colour in accessories.

A. I suggest you undercoat in real white all walls, ceilings and woodwork to remove any colours that are there now. This will do several other things also:

  • Show you where light and shadows are in rooms.
  • Give you a 'practice run' of a white look. You may go off the idea once you see how it looks. Some white types of colours can look grim in rooms that aren't bathed in sunlight.
  • You may see your spaces quite differently and any subsequent colours you trial will be uninfluenced by the existing wall colour so you will see them in reality.

The carpet will have a tremendous influence over what looks good as it is dominant. I get a feeling that a very pale soft grey/beige influenced colour may work. Please take your time and remember testpots are your best friend - no testing often results in lots of tears and the wrong colour.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
June 2015

Q. I have chocolate brown carpet throughout the house and quite like the grey tones for interior paint but am just wondering if these two colours will clash. I so far like Resene Merino. I like the light colours but want to pick something that all flows. The window frames and scotias are all going to be gloss white.

A. Chocolate brown carpet may make this type of colour seem a little 'whiter' than you might expect but not in detrimental way. Resene Merino is nice - it is changeable and versatile but not exactly grey - more a pebble/sand colour.

Other colours that are slightly greyer that you might look at are these ones – Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Sea Fog.

If you can pop into a Resene ColorShop to view the A4 real paint samples of these colours and compare them it may help you come to a decision about which colour suits you best. If you compare them also to real white (a sheet of printer paper) placed between them will help you see the underlying tints of colour within them.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
June 2015

Q. Our house we have just purchased is painted in Resene Canterbury Clay and we are wanting to paint the exterior of the front door. The entrance to the door is a long, poorly lit covered walkway. We were keen on a Navy Blue, but it just looks too menacing.

A. I think you may be right about Navy Blue making it a menacing front door - it is the size as well as the position in the dim light at the end of the covered walkway.

Is there are possibility of using a much brighter/warmer colour and adding extra lighting? Just a thought... I can imagine a saucy orange based red working for you - i.e Resene Bonfire or Resene Whizz Bang - these types of colour appear to advance physically toward you so they may give the impression that the walkway is shorter.

Perhaps Navy Blue could be used to accessorise - tall glazed planter pots for instance - in the walkway to make the eye 'stop' every now and again so the walk way didn't seem so long. A colour like Resene Regatta could look stunning.

Resene Canterbury Clay
Resene Canterbury Clay
Resene Bonfire
Resene Bonfire
Resene Whizz Bang
Resene Whizz Bang
Resene Regatta
Resene Regatta
June 2015

Q. I am confused about which white to use? I like Resene Black White and was planning on using this for our kitchen, lounge and dining walls and ceiling until I was told that it was a cold white and Resene Milk White was a better option. I don't like cream at all. My kitchen is going to have snow white cabinets with a super white granite bench - which is actually light grey. I was all set to go with Resene Half Milk White but I have just had a panic about whether that will look too creamy against the snow white of the cabinets where the two meet. This whole area gets full morning sun but doesn't get afternoon sun. Accent colours include yellows and I'm also looking for good tips for a soft warm grey.

A. Resene Half Milk White can throw a little cool mushroom undertone in certain qualities of light. Have you painted up a large A2 card of the colour and moved it around the walls into different situations to see how it alters with angle changes and shade and light? If you did this - leaving an unpainted white border all around the edges of the card - it may help you focus on the colour and see it in reality and also help you come to a decision. Resene Black White is a cool slightly grey white compared to the Resene Half Milk White. Both colours are quite different to each other and would need careful testing to see what their merits are in regards to which is best with the kitchen cabinets and worktops. Another alternative is to use Resene Half Sea Fog. Comparing colours and testing are the only way to ensure you know exactly how a colour looks and what types of colour changes occur with natural light. Testpots are your best friend. A2 card can be purchased cheaply from any Resene ColorShop and it does allow you to do two coats/all of the testpot and see a large enough sample to make good judgements.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Milk White
Resene Milk White
Resene Half Milk White
Resene Half Milk White
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
June 2015

Q. We are currently building a new weatherboard house. I am trying to decide on colours for the interior and exterior. I am thinking Resene Triple Concrete for the exterior but don't know whether to use Resene Black and Resene White, Resene Alabaster, Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Triple Alabaster for window frames etc? For the interior I am warming towards Resene Truffle. Again not sure of the colour for the skirtings, window frames etc. Also do you use the colour that goes on skirtings etc for the ceiling or half the colour?

A. Resene Alabaster will work well with Resene Triple Concrete and Resene Truffle. Resene Black White has a slightly grey undertone and works with Resene Triple Concrete but not so well with Resene Truffle which is a warmer colour.

For simplicity and convenience it might be a good idea to have the same 'white' on the exterior and interior. If you wanted to use the same colour for ceilings it may look slightly more shaded (matt paint on ceilings) than a semi-gloss version on the woodwork (sheen makes it look lighter) so you could drop to a half tone for the ceiling to try to get them looking similar.

Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog /
Resene Triple Alabaster
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
 
June 2015

Q. We are about to move into our new house. It's very ugly and we'd like to paint the bricks, roof, front door and garage door. Most of the window joinery has been replaced with charcoal coloured aluminium so we were thinking of painting the roof, door and garage door charcoal or black and the bricks grey (with a warm/brown base maybe, so it doesn't look too prison building-ish?). We'd also like to add a new black fence along the front of the property.

A. If the window joinery is powder coated are you able to identify the colour from a colour chart? If you could do that then perhaps the roof might be painted to match. I have a feeling it may be a very common charcoal called Grey Friars. The garage door and the house doors could be matching or darker (blacker) i.e Resene Double Cod Grey or Resene Double Foundry but I strongly recommend using a CoolColour™ reformulated version of these really dark colours to try and minimise extreme heat associated problems.

Colours that you might check out for the main house colours could be like these ones – Resene Half Stonehenge, Resene Mountain Mist or Resene Gauntlet.

With all this grey, charcoal and black the house might take on a very heavy mood - have you considered doing the bricks in a grey/white to add maximum contrast? Check out Resene Barely There, Resene House White or Resene Double Black White. They are timeless elegant whites.

Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Foundry
Resene Double Foundry
Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Barely There
Resene Barely There
Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
   
June 2015

Q. I am trying to choose paint to paint our new house. We just want white and have had a few testpots. We are leaning towards Resene Eighth Rice Cake however I really want to stay away from anything with a yellow base. Does this colour have a yellow base? Or are there any others you could recommend? We want a fairly warm white, as some areas of the house are dark, but I want it to look really white/crispy without being too cold and sterile.

A. Fairly warm whites have either yellow, green, brown or red undertones. Resene Eighth Rice Cake may have had yellow/green undertones as a full strength colour but being so reduced in strength it is left as a crisp white not a yellow/green toned white. It pays to compare colours so your eye sees and judges the different undertones.

If you compare Resene Eighth Rice Cake with Resene Pearl Lusta, Resene Quarter Bianca and Resene White (yes real White) then you may get a better idea about the reality of the colours.

The A4 real paint samples can be viewed in the Colour Library at any Resene ColorShop and there is nothing like seeing larger real paint samples to help you make decisions.

All rooms have a different quality of natural light and colour can alter a lot because of that - there is no colour that doesn't alter. I recommend painting up your testpots (two coats/all of the testpot) onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted white border all around the edges. If you move it from wall to wall/room to room this will help you to see where it works well and where it doesn't look so good.

Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene White
Resene White
June 2015

Q. Do you have any suggestions as to paler greens that would go with Resene Kakapo and paler pinks to go with Resene Sakura? They will both be feature walls with three others in the pale colour. Suggestions for ceiling colours as well would be greatly appreciated.

A. These are very distinctive colours that aren't part of a related palette. You might look at using Resene Sentimental, Resene Bridal Heath, Resene Madang or Resene Snowy Mint. They are still very strong clear colours even those that appear the lightest.

Really pale version of these really clear bright colours don't exist. I think using real White for the ceilings would be better than overloading with more colours. The wall colours will cast a coloured reflection so you may 'inherit' a subtle tint on the ceiling.

Resene Kakapo
Resene Kakapo
Resene Sakura
Resene Sakura
  Resene White
Resene White
Resene Sentimental
Resene Sentimental
Resene Bridal Heath
Resene Bridal Heath
Resene Snowy Mint
Resene Snowy Mint
Resene Madang
Resene Madang
June 2015

Q. We own a 1928 bungalow which retains all of its original features. We are looking for a pale wall colour to complement the original Rimu joinery as we have owned this house for 29 years and are loathe to be the first to paint the joinery. Those rooms not carpeted have original Matai floorboards stained a red/brown. The picture rail and ceilings are intact. A kitchen family room extension we added in 1990 has similar joinery but this is currently painted in Resene Pearl Lusta. We would like to give the house a more contemporary feel without losing its character. Most rooms get good light although the L shaped hallway can be dark. When we replace the carpeted areas we would be looking at a medium grey colour tending towards a brown or greenish hue.

A. The carpet that you choose will have a tremendous effect upon what colours will look like - just as the beautiful wood does now.

I think you may need to look at the carpet now - samples etc - to see how the ones you like at the carpet shop alter in the house so you can see what works and what doesn't. It is not about purchasing it now more about getting ideas of what enhances the woodwork and the general ambiance of the house - sometimes the carpet colour ideas you have now are not appropriate and may need to be re-thought. There are a huge range of paint colours to choose from but not a huge range of carpet colours to choose from.

If the hallway tends toward darkness - hallways are often like that - have you considered using Resene Pearl Lusta or (a half tone of this colour) to lighten the area. You already have this colour so it will link up nicely.

Colours like the following work well with the wood you have so please do check them out - Resene Half Fossil, Resene Quarter Bison Hide, Resene Half Ash, Resene Half Caraway or Resene Thorndon Cream.

Take your time to test colours within the house - yes it can be tricky and time consuming but testpots are your best friend. Don't apply test samples to already coloured walls as the existing colours will greatly influence what you see - often causing you to misjudge the colours completely. Paint onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) all of the testpot leaving an unpainted border all around the edges so your eye focuses on the reality of the colour. Move the card from wall to wall/room to room to see how the colours alter in different angles and light. Carpet will alter your perception of what the sample colour looks like so it is really important to see them together.

Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Fossil
Resene Half Fossil
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Half Ash
Resene Half Ash
Resene Half Caraway
Resene Half Caraway
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
 
June 2015

Q. We are looking for a white colour to paint throughout our home to lighten the place up. Some of the rooms can be dark with no direct sun and want to make it as light as possible. We have been looking at Resene Alabaster and considering painting walls and ceilings the same colour.

A. Resene Alabaster may be OK but may look a bit greyer/colder in rooms with no direct sun not lighter/brighter or warmer. People often think a white like Resene Alabaster will solve darkness problems but this is sometimes not the case.

I suggest you undercoat in real white all walls, ceilings and woodwork to remove any colours that are there now. This will do several other things also

  • Show you where light and shadows are in rooms.
  • Give you a 'practice run' of a white look. You may go off the idea once you see how it looks.
  • You may see your spaces quite differently and any subsequent colours you trial (if you do) will be uninfluenced by existing wall colour so you will see them in reality.

Be prepared to compromise if it doesn't look warm, light and delightful - no amount of wishing and hoping will make the wrong look right. If the white undercoat is about as friendly and wonderful as cuddling an icicle then you will know to look at warmer options – i.e. Resene Bianca or Resene Half Orchid White.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
June 2015

Q. We have painted our interior doors Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream against Resene Half Tea walls. We would like to paint the walls to match better. We have a very shadowy house with poor lighting, beige carpets, neutral drapes and the kitchen has very dark tobacco coloured cabinetry. We are also looking at painting the kitchen backsplash.

A. The interior door colour - Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream - has a slightly subdued grey/green undertone. A main colour to go with is not a problem except where other colours and dim light conspire to alter how they are seen - but these options may be worth checking out – Resene Quarter Bison Hide or Resene Eighth Napa. If they don't look different enough from the existing colour - Resene Half Tea - then two things might need to be considered - Is it the Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream that should be changed to a colour that works better with the Resene Half Tea and not the other way around? You might check out Resene Quarter Albescent White as a warmer white that may suit the beige carpets and dark tobacco kitchen cabinets to see if it makes a difference? Where rooms are in need of a lighter colour you could use this colour also as a wall colour and leave some spaces as Resene Half Tea.
Alternatively a slightly deeper variant of the door colour - i.e Resene Half Thorndon Cream - may work and be slightly lighter than the two colours I first suggested and the Resene Half Tea you have now.
Think through your options really carefully. Just a thought - perhaps increasing the lighting in the house - higher wattage bulbs, multi globe light fittings instead of single globes and mirrors positioned to 'capture' and reflect that light from all sources may go some way to solve the shadowy light in the rooms.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Eighth Napa
Resene Eighth Napa
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
 
June 2015

Q. We have a 1905 villa. Our intention is to have a neutral colour that can flow through the entire house, as we have bright colourful furniture. We really like Resene Half Ecru White, however it is slightly too light, while Resene Ecru White is too dark. We have 3 metre high ceilings and parts of our house are quite dark due to not a lot of natural light. What could you recommend along the warm sandy lines? I am more inclined towards creamy colours as they feel so much warmer and lighter. The dado rail in the lounge is to be removed but will remain in the hallway.

A. If you like Resene Half Ecru White (which has a distinct green edge to it) but you feel it is too light have you tried it in the smallest, dimmest space? There is a lot of change in a colour when seen in different spaces. If you painted all of the testpot/two coats onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted white border all around the edges and moved it from wall to wall/room to room you would see it change radically. Never paint the testpot onto a coloured surface as it will be altered by the greater expanse of colour and you will see it 'wrong'.

You may find Resene Half Ecru White looks good in some spaces and only seems too light in very large bright rooms where you can use a full strength version of the colour because it looks a bit lighter there. There is a Resene Quarter Ecru White also (if Resene Half Ecru White looks too deep in some areas) so you can vary the colour to suit the space.

Alternatives to Resene Ecru White that you might look at is Resene Double Rice Cake (and lighter variants) or Resene Villa White (and lighter variants) or Resene Half Cararra.

Seeing larger A4 real paint samples in the Colour Library at the nearest Resene ColorShop may help you see and judge the reality of the colours and then make choosing testpots easier.

Resene Half Ecru White
Resene Half Ecru White
Resene Ecru White
Resene Ecru White
Resene Quarter Ecru White
Resene Quarter Ecru White
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Half Cararra
June 2015

Q. We have recently purchased a NW-facing mid-century asbestos clad coastal home in Victoria which is need of a repaint (partially for covering exposed fibres, partially to replace the slightly bilious mustard yellow neither of us are fond of). We have eucalypt forest out the back and recently planted ti-tree and gum to grow out the front, which we would like the house to complement or offset in an engaged way.

Constraints we have are that the grey-green currently used for trim/doors may be difficult to paint over on the balustrade powder coating (though we could get rid of this and replace with a more period cast-iron rail - if we had unlimited spare time and money), and the concrete block base has been painted and I understand it would be difficult to return this to an unpainted condition which would otherwise be our preference.

After going through a range of options, what seems promising is to move toward the silvery off-white of our neighbour, though our recently installed rocks are making me question this. Would Resene Seashell be too white? For the front wall off the balcony addition we were considering a charcoal colour, as it doesn't directly heat the house in the hot summer, and is not structurally part of the house so seems like it could be treated differently. Should the concrete base follow that colour? We would also be open to considering the stronger colours that were common at the time the house was built.

I am not a fan of browns and creams or giving things which are not of the earth or flesh a veneer of earthiness or fleshiness; hoping to more accentuate the simple, cheaply-produced nature of the abode and perhaps to capture something of that era's modernist freshness, while downplaying the material toxicity and showing more sensitivity to habitat.

A. Any powder coated metal can be painted over - providing you do the correct preparation - but most people don't because of the extent of the work and prefer to work around the existing colour. Any woodwork that has been painted to match the powder coat colour can be easily changed - this would minimise the amount of green that is on the house but in turn may highlight the powder coated surfaces.

Any concrete that has been painted over is most unlikely to be able to be stripped back to bare concrete easily - it would need chemical stripping and possibly sand blasting to remove the paint residue that has imbedded into the porous concrete substrate.

The front wall of the house (timber slats) could be painted a dark colour but it would attract a lot of heat and may cause some UV related problems. I would strongly advise the use of CoolColour™ reformulated darker colours to try and minimise heat absorption - it won't stop problems but will be helpful as an aid to minimise any. The same colour painted on the concrete base of the house is a good idea as it helps to tie the bottom level of the house together instead of creating segmented blocks of different colours.

Sensitivity to habitat in regard colours may mean looking at earthy colours (could work well with the eucalyptus forest and the green powder coating) and using a paler and darker variants of the same colour - is this something that you are considering?

This is an example of what may work – Resene Triple Friar Grey (darkest colour but not charcoal) and Resene Half Friar Grey (main upper story colour) or alternatively – Resene Double Gravel (more charcoal but with a olive green undertone) and Resene Quarter Gravel.

These types of colours may not be exactly what you had in mind but they do associate well with the natural habitat.

Resene Triple Friar Grey
Resene Triple Friar Grey
Resene Half Friar Grey
Resene Half Friar Grey
Resene Double Gravel
Resene Double Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
June 2015

Q. We have Resene Double White Pointer on our weatherboards with Resene Black White on window frames. We have a Grey Friars roof and gutters. What colour could we paint a solid front door?

A. This is where you choose a colour that you absolutely adore so your front door reflects your personal taste.

If you don't like colours at all and would prefer to use neutrals then you could paint the door to match all the window joinery - Resene Black White or alternatively if the door frames match the window joinery and you want something different then you could use the same colour as the main house colour - Resene Double White Pointer or the same colour as the roof and guttering - Resene Grey Friars or a lighter variant - Resene Quarter Grey Friars.

Do think about using a fabulous colour to enhance the front door in a way uniquely your own - it is only the door but it may be the colourful element that makes you eye and heart sing whenever you arrive home.

Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
June 2015

Q. We have just had installed a new front door set in 'ash' wood. We have noticed that there are 'finger joins' in the architraves and jambs. We were going to stain the door but have been told that the finger joints will stand out. What do you suggest? Clear varnish or similar?

A. That is right - stain or any clear finish will show up the finger jointed timber. I wouldn't advise any exterior door be varnished as it won't weather well and doesn't protect the timber from sun damage. You may be wise to paint the door and architraves as that is what finger jointed timber is made to be coated with.

June 2015

Q. I will be putting a Jarrah timber benchtop in my new (small but lots of natural light) kitchen. Everyone is saying white cupboards but I think the combination is a bit stark and am inclined to go with just a hint of grey? Or green? Or grey/green? Grey/lilac? I want the timber to be the focus but not scream at me. I also want the splashback tile to look soft with the Jarrah. I am SO confused but don't want to go with white.

A. Jarrah is known for the richness of its' natural colour and consequently warmer off whites seem to like associating with it. You need to check out colours that are able to work well for you and the Jarrah and might be repeated as an anchor white colour in other spaces.

If you are going to tile the splashback area (far less options are available in tiles) you might check out what looks good with the Jarrah (and that you like) first and then choose the cabinet colour - that way you have a choice in regards to tiles.

Here is a start point for cabinet colours – Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Bianca or Resene Sea Fog. Compared to real white these colours carry all sorts of grey, green or sweet fleecy undertones.
But please remember the tiles first - colours for cabinets second and walls last.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
June 2015

Q. We have bought an existing house which has old cork tiles on the floor and a nice touch of Rimu here and there. We are changing the carpet so can get a colour to match. What colour would you suggest for the walls? It's currently cream which is nice but this one has a bit too much pink in it for my liking.

A. I think you may need to look at carpet first - compared to paint colours it is a far more limited option. This way you would have plenty of choices to tie in with the cork floors, the touches of Rimu and your existing furniture, duvets and drapes etc. After you shortlist some carpet possibilities that work well with the elements in the house then you will find choosing a wall colour much easier. If you choose a colour for the walls first it may compromise your choice of new carpet.

June 2015

Q. We are nearly ready to paint our renovated bedroom and the builder has asked me to choose a colour for the wardrobe. I was thinking about choosing a colour like Resene Triple Blanc for the walls. What colour should I ask for the wardrobe doors?

A. You might look at using Resene Half Spanish White or the same as the wall colour if you don't want the wardrobe popping out in a contrasting way. If you prefer a white (goes with any wall colour) you might consider using Resene Double Alabaster which isn't too stark a contrast.

Resene Triple Blanc
Resene Triple Blanc
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
June 2015

Q. We are about to renovate a villa and want a neutral colour palette that is warm and not bland for throughout the house. I don't want too many different colours and I am drawn to whites but find them cold - I also like warm greys but not too deep - a more neutral grey. I love the Resene Merino shade.

A. If you like warm greys and colours like Resene Merino you might like to check these ones out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Concrete, Resene Quarter Rakaia, Resene Black Haze, Resene White Pointer or Resene Sea Fog.

Colours in an interior often double in strength so it does pay to test them carefully to make sure you get exactly what you want. Testpots are your best friends in this regard - all of the testpot/two coats- applied to A2 card, available from Resene ColorShops, leaving an unpainted white border all around the edges. It allows you to focus on the reality of the colour and move from wall to wall/room to room to see how light and angles alter the colour.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
June 2015

Q. I am struggling with colours in my kitchen. The area is very open plan and we have wooden walls. I am looking at putting in a granite bench top on peacock green. I am going to put a glass splashback around the window. Please can you guide me with colours for cupboards that I can also use down the hall and around windows in the living room which is all open plan.

A. I think one colour for all the surfaces may make the open plan space look less busy and maintain a sense of harmony. This will allow the Peacock Green benchtop to be the 'best' feature colour. I think the splashback should also be a much 'lesser' feature than the granite.

You might check out these options – Resene Double Rice Cake, Resene Ecru White or Resene Half Wheatfield.

For the splashback you could use the same colour as the hall, window surrounds and the cabinets as long as it is behind crystal clear low iron oxide glass so that it matches exactly - standard float glass has a green cast to it and it alters all colour that is behind it.

Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Ecru White
Resene Ecru White
Resene Half Wheatfield
Resene Half Wheatfield
June 2015

Q. We are rebuilding eight housing units and have chosen the following colours: Exterior two storey units - Resene Quarter Napa, timber inserts under bedroom windows - Resene Stonehenge, balustrades, front doors and exterior staircases: Matt Black. Should the garage doors be Black, Ironsand or maybe Stonehenge? And I need to choose the COLORSTEEL® roof colour, fascias and downpipes. Opinions differ from Ironsand or Black.

A. Ironsand is a brown based charcoal - quite warm and earthy. If it is seen in isolation and not compared to other dark colour it may be very easy to misjudge it and think it is greyer than what it actually is. If you compare it to Grey Friars (another very popular charcoal) you will see Grey Friars is a blue steel coloured charcoal and Ironsand is browner by comparison.

If you don't like the brown edge to the colour then Black will work for you - and tie in with the balustrades, staircases and front doors. If you don't want any more Black used on the garage doors (it will be a big mass and coupled with all the other Black it could be one step too far) on the units then you could use Resene Stonehenge that you have already used and that could be a nice way to go.

Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
June 2015

Q. I was thinking of painting our whole interior Resene Black White on the walls but the ceiling/cove/skirting/door jamb, windowsills and doors Resene Half Black White. Do you colour those particular areas lighter than the wall colour or not?

Also if I was going with the Resene Black White or Resene Half Black White as my main colour could that colour be used for the entire house including cove/ceiling/door jambs/doors and skirting making the paint job a lot easier with one colour for the painters?

A. I like the idea of seeing a little clean contrast so that the wall colour is a little bit more. In answer to your second question - if you choose only one colour, it is easy for the painters, but it is always your choice because you are the client. One colour everywhere hides all woodwork into the wall colour - so no definition or contrast which is good if the skirting boards, window frames and doors are very plain and not worthy of being highlighted in any way - and the same colour on the ceiling always looks a little deeper than the walls because of the way the light throws shadow on the ceiling and the change of angle accentuates that.

The painters would still have to change the type of paint though for each surface - semi-gloss enamel/waterborne enamel on all woodwork, low sheen acrylic on walls and usually a matt acrylic for ceilings - unless it is in a laundry, bathroom or kitchen where a low sheen waterborne enamel is more appropriate - these are standard recommendations for these surfaces as they all require specific types of paint for durability and ease of cleaning.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
June 2015

Q. We are laying Norman Ellison Kaikoura (Dolphin) carpet in our house, and have curtains which are typically white/cream with bold geometric patterns (yellow interlocking hexagons, or red stars) and Rimu doors/window frames. We are looking for suitable wall colours which will match which aren't yellow (as we currently have quite a yellow cream on the walls/roof). I was thinking about Resene Alabaster or Resene Half Alabaster, but am keen to take your advice. The house was built mid-late 90s and has loads of windows. We'd probably paint the ceiling and walls the same colour to replace the existing.

A. It may pay you to check out these 'whites' to see which ones work the best with the carpet and curtains: Resene Alabaster (not Resene Half Alabaster - it may be too stark), Resene Eighth Rice Cake or Resene Quarter Bianca.

It would pay to test the colours carefully - I usually recommend painting all of the testpot (two coats) onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) and moving it around the rooms and pinning it up on the ceilings to see how it works in your light and space. It is only when you compare whites (with a sheet of white printer paper overlaying a painted sample) that you start to see their unique qualities.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
June 2015

Q. I want to paint my room. It doesn't get much sun and I was wanting to paint it blue. Is there a blue that would not make my room cold?

A. Most blues fall into the cool spectrum but if your heart is set on a blue then these ones that carry some green undertones are considered slightly warmer – Resene Half Kumutoto or Resene Glacier. Brighter colours also may be warmer – Resene Calypso or Resene Waterfront.

Resene Half Kumutoto
Resene Half Kumutoto
Resene GlacierResene Glacier
Resene Glacier
Resene Calypso
Resene Calypso
Resene Waterfront
Resene Waterfront
June 2015

Q. Our walls in our lounge/dining room are Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream and I would like a pastel feature wall, what pastel colour goes well with this?

You don't indicate what types of colours you like, or if you want the feature colour to relate and harmonise well with existing furniture, drapes and flooring so these suggestions may be a bit random but they are very nice with Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream – Resene Unwind, Resene Birdcage, Resene Sidecar, Resene Sweet Spot or Resene Guggenheim.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Unwind
Resene Unwind
Resene Birdcage
Resene Birdcage
Resene Sidecar
Resene Sidecar
Resene Sweet Spot
Resene Sweet Spot
Resene Guggenheim
Resene Guggenheim
June 2015

Q. We are building our house and have chosen the Resene Quarter Lemon Grass for the walls, with white ceilings and window sill. The window aluminium is silver pearl. What colour carpet would you recommend? Would a carpet with a tinge of green in it be too or would we be better with a two tone grey (or just something else)?

A. It may be a case of looking at every carpet sample next to large colour samples (you can order an A4 sample (called a drawdown) of Resene Quarter Lemon Grass) of the paint colours, kitchen cabinet and work top samples and any other hard flooring samples so that you can see how they all work together. This is really important because they will all react off each other and you will soon see what works in the way of carpet colours and what doesn't.

A grey tone may work with all of the above samples but equally it may be some other carpet that - at this point in time - you would never imagine would work.

Take your time - it is so important at this stage of your build that you get a good feeling about all of the elements that make up your colour palette.

Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
June 2015

Q. I have a two storey house with a New Denim Blue roof and it is a soft brown polished stone house but need a colour to paint the house. We will keep the roof colour and the windows are New Denim Blue too. I was thinking stone. I want something darker but not cold.

A. These colours are warm and have a bit of depth that you might like to try – Resene Drought, Resene Bison Hide, Resene Double Tea, Resene Truffle or Resene Cougar.

In the Colour Library at all Resene ColorShops are A4 real paint samples to view which makes choosing colours much easier as they are not small representations of colour. I do hope you call in and check these colours out.

Resene Drought
Resene Drought
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Double Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Cougar
Resene Cougar
June 2015

Q. We have a timber chalet on the coast that has dark brown upvc windows. The timber is currently painted a reddish brown which doesn't look terrible but it is altogether too much brown. Other than replacing windows with white frames, can you suggest some other colours that might go well with the brown frames? Although it is a seaside village we don't want anything too bright - we would prefer something tasteful. It is quite a large structure so there would be a lot of this colour on show if that makes sense!

A. I rather suspect you are somewhat compromised by the window joinery colour but have you considered deep earthy green tones? You might look at these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Seaweed or Resene Kereru. Alternatively you might look a deep blue tone - blues and browns work well together usually – Resene Avalanche or - a green based grey – Resene Innocence, or a or a toffee coloured tan/cream – Resene Howlin Wolf.

Resene Seaweed
Resene Seaweed
Resene Kereru
Resene Kereru
Resene Avalanche
Resene Avalanche
Resene Innocence
Resene Innocence
Resene Howlin Wolf
Resene Howlin Wolf
June 2015

Q. Our art deco house is currently painted in Resene Colins Wicket with Resene Bison Hide for window frames and sills. The boundary wall is done in Resene Alto. We are repainting just the walls of the house and not the windows. We wondered whether a more modern look would be Resene Triple Bison Hide on the walls but were concerned it may just look a bit bland.

A. The Resene Triple Bison Hide would work but I don't feel it is definite enough to add the exciting contrast that may be needed. On an exterior, sunlight often lightens off colours quite a bit which might mean that even though there appears to be plenty of contrast between the Resene Bison Hide and the Resene Triple Bison Hide they may appear much more closely related and that difference may be muted out a bit. Perhaps you might check out these two colours - work well with Resene Bison Hide but with more depth of character to them – Resene Triple Napa or Resene Sandstone.

Resene Colins Wicket
Resene Colins Wicket
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Bison Hide
Resene Alto
Resene Alto
Resene Triple Bison Hide
Resene Triple Bison Hide
Resene Triple Napa
Resene Triple Napa
Resene Sandstone
Resene Sandstone
   
June 2015

Q. We have bought a 1952 home which has lots of rimu trim. The house sits amongst a lot of trees so is naturally quite dark. I'm looking to brighten it up and am looking at Resene Rice Cake for the walls and Resene Quarter Rice Cake for the ceilings. The carpet will be a neutral colour. Do you think this is a good choice? Am keen to stay away from pinky and yellow tones. And aiming for a clean modern colour that isn't too muddy.

A. The colours that you mention sound really good but if I may make a suggestion - compare the Resene Rice Cake and Resene Quarter Rice Cake to these alternatives - Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Alabaster to see if they have less yellow/green undertones - it helps to see larger samples of the colours at the Resene ColorShop in their Colour Library. To judge the underlying tints that are in the colours place a sheet of white printer paper partially over the colour so that your eye judges the reality of the colour correctly.

Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
June 2015

Q. My lounge, dining room and kitchen and painted Resene Double Spanish White. My kitchen cupboards are Resene Quarter Spanish White. My curtains are dark brown. My carpet is brown with beige through it. I'm wanting to get away from the brown. What coloured curtains can I put with Resene Double Spanish White walls and brown carpet?

A. Colours that are very similar to the wall colour or the kitchen cupboards will work well or if you wanted a contrast you could use steel blue/greys or orange based reds. I suggest you pop into the nearest Resene ColorShop to view the Resene range of curtain fabrics - I am certain they will help you a lot and you can view large A4 samples of your paint colours from the Colour Library at the same time to see what colours co-ordinate the best.

Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
June 2015

Q. We have a cafe with the exterior plastered in Resene Kina Brown. We are wanting to paint the veranda fascia in a black which complements the Resene Kina Brown. Do you have a black that you would suggest that has some slight brown tones so that they work well together?

A. You might try looking at these ones as they meet the criteria - brown tones in a black – Resene Blackjack or Resene Blackout. And a richer warmer brown based black tone – Resene Diesel.

Resene Kina Brown
Resene Kina Brown
Resene Blackjack
Resene Blackjack
Resene Blackout
Resene Blackout
Resene Diesel
Resene Diesel
June 2015

Q. Time to paint the exterior of the house. We are stuck with the green roof and joinery. We would like a colour with depth rather than bland creamy colours.

A. The green joinery and roof is probably COLORSTEEL® Mist Green. If it is try these neutral colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Half Tapa, Resene Stonehenge, Resene Gauntlet or for something a bit different – Resene Explorer.

COLORSTEEL® Mist Green
COLORSTEEL® Mist Green
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Explorer
Resene Explorer
June 2015

Q. What colours would suit a new home that won't go out of fashion too fast?

A. There are still a lot of beige and generally brown tones around in the world of decorating. This is slowly changing to greyer tones used with white and charcoal with strong or vibrant accents. This is not for everyone but just an aside to let you know what is happening - generally.

Because this is always a big job with a lot of stress involved, I suggest that you look carefully at what you have always favoured.

It would be sad if nothing in your new home reflected your personality and didn't allow for anything that you already have in the way of furniture and possessions to be accommodated.

Carpet must be considered first as it is the major element that flows through the house and has a huge impact on how the wall colours are seen, followed by the other big $$ items – kitchens, tiles and other hard flooring. It might pay to check out what is available in carpets as there seems to be a lot of options that are fade and rot resistant and resist staining also.

Kitchens - cabinets and worktops - are often kept quite simple and timeless with perhaps a little splashback colour or tiles to add extra oomph.

As a possibility you could look at using Resene Eighth Bison Hide in the largest, sunniest rooms, Resene Bianca in the dimmest areas and Resene Quarter Bianca for all woodwork and ceilings. Look at the larger samples (A4 drawdowns) at your local Resene ColorShop so you can better appreciate their qualities. The colours are soft and warm so they will give you maximum options for the flooring and kitchen options that you will choose.

You may find that curtains and blinds and other soft furnishings - bedspreads or duvets, rugs, paintings, cushions etc need more colour impact to put the personality into the rooms. You could check out the lovely Resene range of curtains as they may offer you inspiration.

Using a little wallpaper also could zoosh up a wall – or room – and add that special something that makes your home lovely for you. If the basic colours of your home make everything you have look lovely then other people also will appreciate your décor.

In 10 years however things may need repainting as they are near the end of their 'best look' and fashions may have changed radically... as they do!

So – my best suggestion to you is to make your home somewhere you love and try not to listen to too many other people's opinions – what may be fabulous for them may not be OK for you – choose wisely and enjoy the coming years in your new home.

Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
June 2015

Q. We are choosing Resene Jumbo for the exterior Rockcote colour and LINEA® gable; our roof is Grey Friars. What would be a good colour for the window sills as a lighter option for the above colours? We don't want it too white. Do you think we should paint the fascia in Grey Friars, or go for the lighter shade we haven't yet selected to match the window sills? I assume the eaves are best painted in the 'window sill' lighter colour?

A. I suggest it may be simpler to use the same (lighter) colour for the fascia, under the eaves and the window sills.

A colour that may be worth investigating is Resene Half Mountain Mist which relates really well to Resene Jumbo and Grey Friars or paler options - Resene Silver Sand and Resene Quill Grey.

Resene Jumbo
Resene Jumbo
Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Silver Sand
Resene Silver Sand
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Quill Grey
June 2015

Q. We are renovating a house and have ripped up the bad carpet. We are eventually taking out the wall between kitchen and lounge area and laying carpet but until then we need to do something with the unsealed chipboard floor. In reading your Habitat books I've seen floors being painted. Is this an option and also was wondering about using a black stain in a varnish as an option? The walls are Resene Triple White Pointer and our furniture is all Rimu wood and reddish brown leather. Please advise as I really am lost as what to do and the flooring is leaving chips everywhere.

A. Unsealed chipboard can react to normal foot traffic a bit like weetbix underfoot. It has to be sealed - it should have been prior to the carpet being laid on top of it - as it has substances in it (glues and other chemicals) that need to be kept sealed off so that they don't emit fumes. Resene Particle Board Sealer is the product that is used - whether you re-carpet or paint or stain - this is always a given.

Painted floors are very trendy at the moment. If a tough paint, such as Resene Walk-on paving paint is good, is used that can take foot traffic and the moving of furniture it can be a fairly simple way to go. Stained floors need very careful (skilful) application to ensure you get an even coating and no paler and darker patches. Clear floor varnish is a bit easier to apply as it is flooded over the floors and rolled out with huge rollers.

You need to think about the overall look and the work that will be entailed to achieve it - sooner rather than later - because of the chips. A word to the wise - a very dark colour shows dust and fluff shockingly - and may need dry mopping every day and vacuuming twice a week to stop it annoying you. This may be why people invest in huge Persian rugs to cover their floors so the fluff isn't so noticeable. Mid toned (dusty) colours may not show the fluff and dust so much.

Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
June 2015

Q. We have textured linen/beige toned wallpaper throughout our new home. It's quite heavy, so we want to repaint. I want something different to Resene Tea shades and I don't want anything that's too like Resene Spanish White either. I would like to go for a new trending colour, since we may sell in the next couple of years. We have wooden floors that we like, and 'white' (not harsh and in warm tones) painted doors and banisters, which we also like. We currently have brownish carpet, which just manages to be acceptable enough that we don't feel compelled to change.

A. The public is fickle and sometimes dispenses with 'favourite' or 'new trend' colours after about 1 year - 18 months. At the moment grey tones and whites and charcoals are 'hot' but they may not look good with the brownish carpet. They have been rising in popularity for a year so they may disappear by next summer - or be dated.

Rather than climb aboard the trend boat why not choose a neutral (or several variants from lightest to deepest) that enhances the carpet, drapes, furniture, wooden floors and - most importantly - makes you feel good. Are you able to identify what 'white' that has been painted on the doors and banisters and find several slightly deeper versions of that?

You might strip the wallpaper off and seal the plasterboard, plaster it to a high standard and test colours slowly over this period until you find a colour that suits.

This may not be the answer that you were expecting but it is a practical solution. If your things look divine in the house - with the colour that probably won't be the latest flash trend colour but makes you feel good - it is bound to be reflected in the general ambiance and when you do go to sell the house you may be surprised by the positive response from prospective purchasers.

Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
June 2015

Q. The house is mid-70s Summerhill stone brick. We'd like to take a break from the white that it is currently and we're looking for a bit of advice. I see most houses these days are being painted grey which makes sense, but deciding on what shade is the sticking point for me. We'd want a shade that is going to contrast with the white windows. Also the roof at the front and rear of the house along with the bricks below the windows (not sure what you call them) would need to be a different colour from the main house. The brick fence would be the same colour as the house.

A. Perhaps you could look at these colours - they are greys that may also carry other undertones and are listed together with a roof and 'other trim' colour' – Resene Foggy Grey with Resene Lattitude (roof and garage door) and Resene Tapa (sills/house doors or other trim), or Resene Quarter Stonehenge with Resene Windswept) roof and garage door) and Resene Stonehenge (sills/house doors or other trim), or Resene Half Mountain Mist with Resene Grey Friars (roof and garage door) and Resene Half Mountain Mist (sills/house doors or other trim).

Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Lattitude
Resene Lattitude
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Windswept
Resene Windswept
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
 
June 2015

Q. My villa is being rebuilt. I want all white outside for the weatherboards and trim. And also all white throughout the inside to contrast with the wooden floors - with just a pop of colour on the wardrobe/kitchen doors. I am totally confused about what the 'right white' is for either! Help would be MOST appreciated!

A. Cool whites that you might look at for the main exterior and definitely would work with New Denim Blue roof – Resene Black White, Resene Wan White or Resene Black Haze. For any trim work on the exterior - whiter/brighter than the main colour on the house – Resene Eighth Black White or Resene White (real white).

Zincalume is unpainted metal. As it ages and oxides in the weather it will alter from bright metallic silver/grey to a dull metallic grey. A deeper trim colour for the exterior (if you decide that is what you want) could be one of these colours – Resene Half New Denim Blue, Resene Half Tuna or a bluer colour - apart from the ones you have indicated that you like – Resene Neutral Bay.

Whites that you might consider for the interior could be – Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Alabaster, or Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Quarter White Pointer. For ceilings and painted woodwork I suggest you use one of the brighter 'whites' suggested from the exterior suggestions.

If the Rimu that is being used is 'ordinary' (newer cuts of plantation Rimu aren't as coloured as very old heart Rimu timbers which are a rich colour) you may need to trial product/colours on offcuts to replicate the warmth of colour. Please investigate the Wood Product display in all Resene ColorShops - there are several options available to you - using Resene Danska Teak Oil to enhance the colour and grain of the wood before being overcoated with Resene Qristal Clear polyurethane may be what you need rather than a coloured stain. Please do look at A4 real paint samples of the colours that you are considering - as pops of colour or main colours - in the Colour Library at the Resene ColorShop. Larger samples show colour in reality.

Please remember all colours alter in changing light and on different angles of wall and most radically when seen next to other colours so it is really important to test them. Resene testpots are your best friends.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth
Black White
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Half New Denim Blue
Resene Half
New Denim Blue
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Neutral Bay
Resene Neutral Bay
   
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter
White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter
White Pointer
June 2015

Q. We have built a replica villa and want to keep with tradition. Bedrooms/hallway are going to be painted in Resene Half Thorndon Cream. I am searching for a true mustard colour for the lounge or a true beige colour, keeping my options open.

A. For a true mustard you might look at these colours – Resene High Noon, Resene Fleetwood or Resene Putty - this is more like a powdered mustard look. Beiges come as warm (red or yellow based) or earthy (green or brown based) and they are all considered 'true' to someone - so you could look at these ones – Resene Biscotti, Resene Half Drought, Resene Half Bison Hide or Resene Half Cougar.

Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene High Noon
Resene High Noon
Resene Fleetwood
Resene Fleetwood
Resene Putty
Resene Putty
Resene Biscotti
Resene Biscotti
Resene Half Drought
Resene Half Drought
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Half Cougar
Resene Half Cougar
June 2015

Q. I am wanting to paint a new bedroom white (maybe Resene Rice Cake) and am looking for a nice grey to be a feature wall. Do you have any recommendations?

A. Try Resene Quarter Friar Grey or lighter Resene Eighth Friar Grey, or Resene Half Taupe Grey or lighter - Resene Quarter Taupe Grey.

Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Quarte Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Taupe Grey
June 2015

Q. I am doing the bathroom up, and I am planning on using white fixtures, bath, shower and wall hanging basin. The fittings are chrome. The hallway will have Matai polished floors. What colour schemes would go with the white fittings and chrome fixtures flowing from a warm floor in the hallway to have a modern look?

A. I think a soft warm neutral colour - not too white or too cool/grey - may suit the bathroom and flow out to the hallway with the Matai flooring. Try Resene Quarter Sisal, Resene Half Sandspit Brown, Resene Double Rice Cake or Resene Thorndon Cream.

Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown
Resene Half Sandspit Brown
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
June 2015

Q. We are painting the ceiling in our house with Resene Half Alabaster. I would like the walls to be painted in a pale grey with a slightly lighter grey on doors, windows, architraves etc. Have tried testpots of Resene Black White and Resene Double Black White - too pale. Have tried Resene Double Sea Fog too - a bit yellow? Can you suggest a pale grey colour that will not be too dark or cold?

A. Greys are usually cool. If you want a warmer grey you may need to investigate some of these colours: Resene Black Haze or Resene Triple Black White.

It is often difficult to match up these colours with a lighter version - but you could use Resene Double Black White (may be too light for walls but may be OK for doors) or Resene Double Alabaster.

All colour in an interior looks a little deeper than you might imagine - changing qualities of light, close proximity of walls creating intensity and each angle of wall change how the colour looks so please take your time and test colours well.

Never apply the testpot to an already coloured wall but apply all of the testpot (two coats) to A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges so your eye focuses on the reality of the colour. Move the card from wall to wall/room to room so that you can see how it alters - and it does - often quite a lot.

Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
June 2015

Q. Can you please tell me what shade of white I could use on my windows throughout the house if we have Resene Half Bison Hide in the lounge/dining and various shades of Resene White Pointer in all the bedrooms. We would ideally like to use the same shade of white on all the windows throughout the house.

A. You could look at either of these whites to see if they appeal to you – Resene Alabaster or Resene Half Sea Fog.

Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
June 2015

Q. Our house is three storeys, white with dark green roof tiles. We want to paint the exterior another colour as we are surrounded by bush. I like the earthy tones.

A. You might like to check out these earthy pale colours to see if they are the sort of thing that appeal to you – Resene Titania, Resene Joanna, Resene Quarter Sisal, Resene Half Tea or Resene Akaroa.

Lighter and deeper variants of these colours can be viewed in Resene Whites & Neutrals palette collection as well as a huge amount of alternative options.

Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Joanna
Resene Joanna
Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Akaroa
Resene Akaroa
June 2015

Q. Which Resene colour would be the closest to the Tiffany blue (jewellery store)?

A. The RGB code for Tiffany Blue is 129, 216, 208 and the closest Resene colour (based on RGB value) is Resene Onepoto which has RGB code of 129, 211, 208.

Resene Onepoto
Resene Onepoto
June 2015

Q. I want to paint my garages but am unsure of ideas in regards to colour schemes. The house is a red brick colour and the fences are charcoal, which I like. I like the beige colour schemes and also the greys (think they are a little more modern).

A. The following colours might offer you a few options – Resene Concord (warm grey), Resene Friar Grey (earthy grey), Resene Arrowtown (mid toned brown/olive) or Resene Napa (lighter beige/grey).

Something a bit different with a little more olive/grey and beige undertone is Resene Touchstone.

Resene Concord
Resene Concord
Resene Friar Grey
Resene Friar Grey
Resene Arrowtown
Resene Arrowtown
Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Touchstone
Resene Touchstone
June 2015

Q. Please advise the closest COLORSTEEL® match to Resene Nocturnal?

A. The closest COLORSTEEL® colour is darker - it is called FlaxPod. COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars is next closest but is slightly lighter and more blue toned.

Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
June 2015

Q. I want to know what colours were white with a slight yellow undertone.

A. Any of the whites that have a colour code that starts with Y - for yellow. You might start by checking out Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Bianca.

Some whites that look a little yellow toned might also have a colour code that starts with G - i.e Resene Rice Cake but they are often slightly sour edged and sharp - that is what green does to a cream or white.

Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
June 2015

Q. What is the Resene colour that matches the current John Deere tractor green?

A. Try Resene Tree Frog. If you prefer a slightly different tone, Resene ColorShop staff can show you other similar greens.

Resene Tree Frog
Resene Tree Frog
June 2015

Q. I am thinking of using Resene Half Ash for our house colour but am a little worried it might be too pale? On the other hand I don't want the house to look too green so am wondering if Resene Ash would give this effect. Our roof and garage door are warm in colour and won’t change.

A. I am inclined to think that Resene Half Ash will take on a greyish green tone when seen close to the warm tones of the garage door. Resene Ash is a little deeper (colours do look lighter than you think they will do on an exterior because of the bright natural light) but it is a bit earthier. Compare these colours to Resene Quarter Lemon Grass which will look much greener by comparison - and it is all about comparing colours so that you can judge them better.

I like Resene Ash because it isn't too green but is mercurial and changes a lot which makes it quite unique.

If you test the colours I suggest you apply them to A2 card, available from Resene ColorShops, (two coats/all of the testpot) leaving an unpainted white border all around the edges so your eye focuses on the reality of the colour and then move it around from wall to wall so you can see how angles and light alter how the colour looks.

Resene Ash
Resene Ash
Resene Half Ash
Resene Half Ash
Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
June 2015

Q. My home is cream render with a tiled roof. I love the COLORBOND® colour Surfmist. Is there a roof paint for tiles to match the COLORBOND® Surfmist? I love the look of the Surfmist on a cream contemporary home. I am on the Gold Coast, Queensland where we get heat, sun and also torrential rain. Would you recommend a particular paint to match the Surfmist of COLORBOND®? Also an opinion on colour for the fascia and gutters.

A. COLORBOND® Surfmist is exactly the same colour as COLORSTEEL® Titania and Resene has a match colour called Resene Titania which is one of the colours in the Resene Roof paint range.

Depending upon whether you want a deeper colour to stand out or a lighter colour to blend in for the fascias and gutters you might look at these options – Resene Overland, Resene Bone White or Resene Helium.

COLORSTEEL® Titania
COLORSTEEL® Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Overland
Resene Overland
Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
Resene Helium
Resene Helium
June 2015

Q. The upper level of our home is Resene Pearl Lusta. The besser-block base is now in Resene Foundry with a very similar colour on the garage doors and capping and looks great. I am wondering about a colour other than Resene Pearl Lusta that goes with Resene Foundry.

A. Try Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Villa White or Resene Quarter Parchment. All of these colours have more underlying depth and less yellow edged brightness than Resene Pearl Lusta.

Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Quarter Parchment
Resene Quarter Parchment
June 2015

Q. We are about to paint the house exterior and need your advice. The house is a ex-state weatherboard house with dark brown roof (cement tiles). For the weatherboard we have chosen Resene Triple Merino with Resene Black White for windows. Can you please suggest a colour for the concrete base, entry stairs and front door? We are thinking Resene Code Red for the front door (or similar colour) and Resene Armadillo for the base.

A. The colours that you are considering are lovely and very well suited to work with your main house colour. If you felt you needed a slightly lighter option for the concrete base and stairs you might look at Resene Gravel or a deeper variant of this colour.


Resene Triple Merino
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Code Red
Resene Code Red
Resene Armadillo
Resene Armadillo
Resene Gravel
Resene Gravel
June 2015

Q. We have exterior walls painted Resene Gravel and deck railings painted Resene Nero. We also have some walkways painted Resene Woodsman Bark. We are wanting to paint the windows and doors but are unsure which white to use.

A. You might check out these 'whites' to see if they appeal to you – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Merino or Resene Helium. They have a little depth to them and won't appear too stark next to the Resene Gravel.

Resene Gravel
Resene Gravel
Resene Nero
Resene Nero
Resene Bark
Resene Bark
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Helium
Resene Helium
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
June 2015

Q. I have a 50s light green in the kitchen and want a light mauve for the adjoining dining area and a light yellow for the adjoining family room.

A. It very much depends on which type of green you have in the kitchen and what other colours you may have in drapes, furniture and flooring but you might look at these to see if they work for you – Resene Corn Field, Resene Moon Glow, Resene Moon Raker or Resene Blue Haze.

A word to the wise - all lemons are much brighter than you may at first think they are and can carry a sharp (green) edge. Even at their lightest tint they can appear almost fluoro bright when all four walls are painted. Resene testpots are your best friend - test colours carefully.

Resene Corn Field
Resene Corn Field
Resene Moon Glow
Resene Moon Glow
Resene Moon Raker
Resene Moon Raker
Resene Blue Haze
Resene Blue Haze
June 2015

Q. I am wanting to get colour advice for painting the exterior of my house. The property is 1960s stucco and I am wanting to paint the roof, exterior, fences and pool decking. Currently everything is painted a spearmint green colour. I would like the house to be darker with white window frames etc. However, I think black will be too dark so I would like some advice on shades of grey. I am thinking I probably need three shades of grey - darker grey (maybe charcoal) on the house and then maybe a lighter grey for the fencing and pool decking. I also need a colour for the roof. I would like to modernise the look of the house.

A. I am inclined to think that the darkest shade of grey should be used on the roof, a lighter variant on the house and a mid-toned grey on the fencing and pool decking - this would not be too serious or ominous/heavy but making the house the deepest shade may do so. Here are three palettes for you to consider to get you started: Resene Windswept, Resene Half Gravel or Resene Quarter Gravel, or Resene Atmosphere. Or Resene Grey Friars, Resene Quarter Grey Friars or Resene Grey Chateau.

Resene Windswept
Resene Windswept
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Grey Chateau
Resene Grey Chateau
 
June 2015

Q. Can you paint LINEA® board to resemble cedar coloured wood?

A. There is a product called Resene Forester (a coloured clear coat) that is applied over a basecoat of tinted Resene Sonyx 101 semi-gloss acrylic that is meant to represent wood colours.

On a smooth flat faced board (LINEA® you could get the colour but not the grain of real cedar - this product (Resene Forester) was made to be applied over Hardiplank® which has the surface that replicates the wood grain look of timber. Both the topcoat and the basecoat are a semi-gloss and because of that it may look a lot shinier than you want it to look and probably unlike the true reality of cedar. It may look fake.

Alternatively choosing a red/tan colour, such as Resene Hairy Heath or Resene Paarl - that may look like cedar made into Resene Lumbersider (low sheen) it may work when seen from a distance.

Resene Hairy Heath
Resene Hairy Heath
Resene Paarl
Resene Paarl
June 2015

Q. We have contracted a Resene painter to paint the external walls of our house. I've been pondering over colours for some weeks and I'm at the point where I need some guidance. I've sampled Resene Ottoman and Resene Paris White but am thinking they are too pastel. I'm wondering if Resene Moon Mist is a better colour for the walls? We have some eucalypt green blinds on the front and back verandas. The other question I have is should we have Resene Alabaster window trims around the clear aluminium window frames? Which colour do you recommend for the gutters? We have a COLORBOND® Surfmist roof (with a low pitch so can't see much from the front of the house). The ground floor walls will soon be corrugated iron and I am thinking of painting the same colour as the upper walls to make the house look bigger.

A. If you favour green tones then Resene Moon Mist is a good choice but you might also check out these colours so that you can compare them – Resene Bone White, Resene Linen, Resene Half Titania or Resene Triple Merino.

It is a good idea to paint the lower walls to match the upper walls. It is very simple and neat. Resene Alabaster is a lovely crisp white that would offset the windows and new exterior colour really well.

You might paint the gutters to match the roof - the Resene match to Surfmist is called Resene Titania - or you could do them to match the main house colour or the same as the window trims.

Resene Ottoman
Resene Ottoman
Resene Paris White
Resene Paris White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Moon Mist
Resene Moon Mist
Resene Linen
Resene Linen
Resene Half Titania
Resene Half Titania

Resene Triple Merino
 
June 2015

Q. I want to use Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream on our interior walls, But I would like to do the kitchen joinery in a white. Could this be achieved successfully? The ceilings would also be a white.

A. If you are wanting to achieve a very 'white on white' look I can see nothing wrong with these colours.

If you would prefer to see a little more difference between the walls and kitchen etc then by using Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream it may provide a bit more contrast but still look subtle and elegant. Colours change radically according to light and shade and the influence of flooring so it pays to check this out by pinning large painted samples on all walls/all rooms to see how the colour alters. A4 samples of all colours can be ordered through your nearest Resene ColorShop. Alternatively A2 card can be purchased from Resene ColorShops and testpots can be applied to this - this does allow a much larger sample to be viewed.

Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
June 2015

Q. If I use Resene Half Black White for trim throughout my south facing and light-challenged villa, how would Resene Half Truffle look for the walls? I only want a gentle contrast between the wall colour and the trim - but I am worried that this combination might not show up in some lights!

A. By lightening your 'white' a little more the contrast between the two colour should be more apparent.

Resene Quarter Black White may not seem all that different from Resene Half Black White but it may be just enough. Colours always alter in differing qualities of light and shade and on different angles also.

Generally speaking in an interior colours appear to have a little more depth - not just the walls but ceilings and trims as well. There is always a need to test colours really well so that there are no surprises in store - testpots are your best friend in this regard. Another way to increase the contrast between two colours that are of a similar depth is to use more of a gloss paint (increases brightness) for trims - i.e semi-gloss waterborne enamel - and a definite matt/flat paint (increases depth) for walls and ceilings.

Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
June 2015

Q. I have grey aluminium frames and am wondering what colour wooden blinds to go for?

A. If you choose a colour that only relates to the exterior colours you may be in danger of having a overly strong 'feature' at all of the windows inside which may or may not suit the interior palette. As a compromise - because of the window frames - you could use the same colour - so from the outside they merge seamlessly with the powder coated frames and then build your interior scheme around that colour.

If you are looking for a wood option then you could consider a cedar - it is very popular.

June 2015

Q. I have a typical red brick house with a black front door and trellis. The base is light creamy beige. I would love to know what colour roof paint would enhance/modernise it. Would black look too dark? I’m not keen on chocolate brown colours. The roof is quite visible as it's down a drive. What would look the most stylish?

A. A very visible (coloured) roof as well as the strong colours of the brick make choosing colours for the base of the house a little more compromised. I feel distinctly uneasy about a black as it will sit heavily upon the house and may visibly squash it. Personally I would be more inclined to look at stone grey colours that hopefully will look similar to the grout between the bricks.

You could look at a these greys that have a slightly warm or green undertone – Resene Double Friar Grey, Resene Lattitude, Resene Touchstone or Resene Windswept.

Colour is such a personal taste thing. If your heart is set on very dark or black you might also look at Resene Element.

Resene Double Friar Grey
Resene Double Friar Grey
Resene Lattitude
Resene Lattitude
Resene Touchstone
Resene Touchstone
Resene Windswept
Resene Windswept
Resene Element
Resene Element
June 2015

Q. I have just replaced my spouting with COLORSTEEL® Ironsand. I'm thinking of painting the bottom of the house the same colour. What colour would you recommend painting the main part of the house?

A. There may be a slight danger - if going too light for a main colour - that the spouting and the bottom of the house will be overly strong and draw the eyes to the horizontal dark stripe of colour top and bottom of the house. I suggest you check out mid-range colours so there is a happy merging of colours.

Try Resene Double Truffle, Resene Quarter Pravda or Resene Quarter Tapa. You might also consider doing a slightly lighter variant of Ironsand for the bottom of the house - i.e. Resene Half Ironsand to create a softer deep colour.

COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
Resene Double Truffle
Resene Double Truffle
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Half Ironsand
Resene Half Ironsand
June 2015

Q. Can you recommend a grey that is not cold (if that exists!) for us to paint our interior walls of our new house. Also, what white would you use for the trims? I am looking for a light grey wall and a white trim.

A. Warm greys usually carry red or yellow undertones. The following greys may appeal to you – Resene House White, Resene Eighth Truffle, Resene Whiteout or Resene Quarter Rakaia.

A very obliging white that works really well that you might check out is Resene Quarter Black White.

Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Whiteout
Resene Whiteout
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
June 2015

Q. We are about to renovate a home we just bought, the roof is the original green and we are leaving that untouched (budget restrictions). The rest is a range of colours. We are repainting everything else. I'd like to go a version of white on the exterior something really clean and beautiful but not too fluorescent or sharp. I like the cleaness of an all-white look but should we do all the front facade in a single white or do you accent the frames etc to a degree still? Also I was wondering what colour we should do our front door given a white on walls and the green roof?

A. After having a 'colonial' palette of five distinctive colours on the house you will notice a tremendous difference changing to a 'white' look. I suspect that once the house is completely undercoated in white it will allow you to truly see and judge the outcome of the new look. Call it a dress rehearsal before the performance. Sometimes this is needed also to see where more colour might be added to define the architectural detailing of the house.

This can be achieved in a tonal way using a palette of the main 'white' and the variants of the colour.

For example - and taking into account that you don't want too sharp or glaring a white - you might look at this as a start point – Resene Double Alabaster (main colour), Resene Half Alabaster (window sashes/under soffits), Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene Triple Sea Fog (all other trims - around door and windows etc), Resene Botanic - one solid colour for all of the doors (hopefully relating to the roof colour) or Resene Nero - alternative door colour perhaps with a little of the green on the door sill

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Botanic
Resene Botanic
Resene Nero
Resene Nero
June 2015

Q. I have a 1920s bungalow. It has black COLORSTEEL® with half round black gutters with external brackets, exposed rafters and timber weatherboards. I was thinking white on the soffits and joinery. What colour should I use for the weatherboards? I have been more leaning towards a darkish grey but is that going out of fashion?

A. It has been a fashion 'trend' but it isn't always appropriate. Older weatherboards aren't as resilient to dark colours/heat related problems even when using the CoolColour™ versions of dark colours to minimise heat absorption. If you decided on dark colours would you mind if you had to repaint more frequently or if the older weatherboards started cupping and splits appeared? Often there is a set criteria in regard colours for weatherboards - if you check out with BRANZ they recommend colours that fall in the pale to mid range of LRV - 100 - 45% with 45 LRV being the deepest in order not to void the build guarantee for the substrate.

Whenever something is a fashionable trend you find another appearing - almost as a polar opposite - and 'whites' are exceptionally popular also for the exteriors of houses - something different for you to consider perhaps?

Perhaps you might look at these two different schemes to see what appeals to you - the grey way but not too dark – Resene Half Stack (main colour), Resene Eighth Black White (soffits and joinery) and Resene Double Stack (doors), or the white way – Resene Double Black White (main colour), Resene Eighth Black White (soffits and joinery) and Resene Foundry (doors).

Resene Half Stack
Resene Half Stack
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Double Stack
Resene Double Stack
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
June 2015

Q. I have a pine deck I put down last summer that I want to stain in spring to look like Rimu to match all our indoor and outdoor furniture. What product and what colour do you recommend to get that finish?

A. You may need to test stain colours on some offcuts of pine to see how the timber absorbs the stain and what two coats (standard application) looks like. In Resene ColorShops there is a Wood Product display that shows exterior stains on both pine and cedar to give you some ideas - I definitely recommend you pop in there to check it out.

You may find that after choosing the best of the stain colours and testing carefully it gives you a similar but not exact match - will you mind that? I am of the opinion that people often choose a completely different stain colour because they are fearful that it won't look as 'real' as the other timber does. I think in this regard testpots and taking your time to get the look you want is the best advice I can give you.

June 2015

Q. We are repainting the whole interior of our home. It is north facing and is full of big, open windows so gets a lot of light. Our kitchen has glossy white cabinetry and the bathroom has glossy white wall tiles. The flooring is a light grey tile in both these areas with charcoal/dark brown coloured carpet. We are thinking of using Resene Half Tea for the walls and Resene Alabaster for the ceilings but are stuck with how we should paint the doors, frames and skirting. I’ve heard people say both darker or lighter in the same colour palette so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

A. If the frames and skirtings are very nice architecturally then you may want to highlight them in the Resene Alabaster. This will emphasise the wall colour a bit by providing contrast. The doors (if you are worried that being too 'white' may show finger marking too much) could be painted to match the walls but in a semi-gloss enamel for a tougher paint surface that is easier to clean .

If the woodwork in the house is minimal and not worth highlighting then you could use the same colour as the walls but in a semi-gloss enamel.

The carpet being a deep colour may make you want a slightly deeper colour so there is a soft merging of colour between the floor and walls - if this is the case then you could look at using Resene Tea. Going to a much deeper colour (nearly as dark as the carpet) isn't all that popular so it might be considered but only if the woodwork is really stunning as it will draw a lot of eye interest.

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
June 2015

Q. We are renovating a late 1980s home. I am having trouble choosing the right colour to match the existing COLORBOND® roof and gutters in cream. The bricks are a mixture of mainly salmon and brown. Can you please suggest colours for window, gutters and downpipes?

A. If you have COLORBOND® Classic Cream roof and gutters then you might look at either of these two options for your windows etc – Resene Quarter Spanish White or Resene Bianca. These are much lighter than the roof but may look OK. If you want an absolute match you might look at using – Resene Smooth Cream.

COLORSTEEL® Classic Cream
COLORSTEEL® Classic Cream
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Smooth Cream
Resene Smooth Cream
June 2015

Q. We are looking for a front door colour for our new home. The house is clad in black cedar and has black window frames. It has a reclaimed brick planter next to the front door and also additional reclaimed brick inside the house as feature walls. We were thinking of choosing a colour that complemented the brick and contrast (not clash or be too bold) against the black cladding. We would like the door to be interesting and creative looking but not lending particularly to a current fad.

A. These colours are clear and bright enough to be interesting but not too bold – Resene First Light, Resene Flourish or Resene Dauntless. Or if you do feel you want a bit of 'funky' then you might look at these ones – Resene Starstruck, Resene Tweet or Resene Kombi.

Resene First Light
Resene First Light
Resene Flourish
Resene Flourish
Resene Dauntless
Resene Dauntless
Resene Starstruck
Resene Starstruck
Resene Tweet
Resene Tweet
Resene Kombi
Resene Kombi
June 2015

Q. I am thinking of wall colours to complement an eight year old house with blue/grey carpet, light brown timber venetians, dark brown couches and lots of timber furniture. Existing wall colour is light cream (darker kitchen cabinets) but I am thinking of a neutral based theme for the walls with white ceilings throughout.

A. You might look at some of these neutrals to see if they appeal to you – Resene Quarter Bison Hide, Resene Eighth Napa or Resene Sandspit Brown.

Because of the carpet colour, the couches and the kitchen cabinets you may find that your choices are a little compromised - existing colours do tend to do that a bit.

Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Eighth Napa
Resene Eighth Napa
Resene Sandspit Brown
Resene Sandspit Brown
June 2015

Q. We are getting a new kitchen with alabaster cupboard doors and a jet black shiny stone bench. What colour would we paint the walls without it being too cold? The flooring tiles I am looking at are an oak colour to try and warm it up. The tiles are small and neutral with a silver tile randomly scattered throughout. Our curtains are black with a random squiggle of a beige colour and our carpet is a beige/taupe.

A. A first option would be to identify the beige tones in the carpet and the curtains and try for a lighter version of that colour. I can't offer that as I have no way of knowing what these colours look like but you could check out these colours also to see if they may appeal to you - Resene Quarter Fossil, Resene Eighth Bison Hide, Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene Sandspit Brown.

Resene Quarter Fossil
Resene Quarter Fossil
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Sandspit Brown
Resene Sandspit Brown
June 2015

Q. We are having our tile roof repainted Resene Ironsand, our exterior cedar is Resene Crowshead. Please provide guidance for the cladding. We are looking for a darker flat grey.

A. You might look at these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Quarter Ironsand or Resene Masala.

You mention 'flat' - this is more of a type of paint finish so you may need to investigate using a low sheen acrylic like Resene Lumbersider so there is far less gloss.

Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Masala
Resene Masala
June 2015

Q. We are doing a new build with polished concrete floors. There are massive windows in north facing lounge with high stud as well. What is a good warmish neutral for walls against a polished concrete floor? We were thinking of the Resene Truffle series or Resene Black White series. Were also thinking a feature wall in lounge in Resene Ziggurat or Resene Half Baked plus a splashback in this too.

A. I love the colours that you are contemplating. Of the two of the main colours that you are looking at one is cooler (Resene Black White) than the other (Resene Truffle) and it may be you need to look at large samples in all rooms and at all angles and in all qualities of light.

It is only when you see enough - at least a A2 size painted sample - that you can truly focus on the reality of the colour and see what potential it may have in your home. Colours respond to different colours seen close to them also so if you have any definite coloured furniture or soft furnishings they need to be looked at together with the samples so that you can see how they 'like' each other. The A2 sample allows you to move the colour around a lot - this is better than a small sample in one wall on one room which may be misleading.

If you are wanting another option to consider then perhaps look at Resene White Pointer and its variants.

Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Ziggurat
Resene Ziggurat
Resene Half Baked
Resene Half Baked
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
June 2015

Q. I want to paint my bathroom, everything is white - bath, shower, vanity and toilet. I am using teal as my accessories - towels, toothbrush holder etc. What is a good colour for the walls? Looking at more of a grey colour?

A.A warm grey or even a beige/grey colour may look really good - they work really well with teal and white. Perhaps you might look at these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Eighth Napa, Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene White Pointer.

Resene Eighth Napa
Resene Eighth Napa
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
June 2015

Q. We are about to reclad our house using weatherboard. The roof colour is Ironsand and the joinery will be silver pearl with Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Half Wan White - a very subtle off white with a hint of grey?

A.The colours that you mention are very pale and subtle. Because of the way natural light diffuses the strength of colours on an exterior they may appear to be like lighter/whiter versions of the colours you are considering.

If you paint up large samples of the colours on card (Resene ColorShops have A2 card available for an extremely modest cost) and move it around different facades of the house you will be better able to judge whether they look too white or slightly grey coloured.

I suggest you don't apply the testpots directly to the weatherboards as they will be primed (which is a colour - not usually white often a yellow) which will give a false 'reading' of what the colour truly looks like plus you won't see enough of it on all sides of the house to judge it. You may need to go to the full strength colour in order for it to look like the half tones you are considering.

Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Wan White
June 2015

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

 

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

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