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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 43

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. 43

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


Q. We have a single level 30 year old Lockwood with brown joinery, a Karaka roof and charcoal under the eaves. Do you have an exterior colour which may work? Not white. Wondering about a sand or something? We have a bush setting and a single level L shaped home of 148 sqm.

A. Your idea of using Resene Sand is nice - quite rich and warm. If you like that colour you might also check these ones to see if they appeal to you: Resene Spanish White, Resene Fossil, Resene Half Bison Hide or Resene Caraway.

They are all quite earthy and would work well in your environment and with the existing colours you have.

Resene Sand
Resene Sand
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Fossil
Resene Fossil
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Caraway
Resene Caraway
February 2016

Q. What colour should we paint our house? Should we keep a two tone look (on weatherboards and plaster) or stick with one colour? Does white get dirty easily? Will grey fade quickly?

A. White does get dirty but no more than any other colour but it is noticeable. Washing down the house a couple of times a year will keep it looking pristine and will make the paint last longer. Dirt of any kind on the surface does erode the paint and in some cases it shortens the life span. Grey does fade but no more than any other colour - the north and west sides of the house may show fading quicker (than the east and south) because of the sun on those areas.

Using one colour on both the weatherboards and the stucco plaster base of the house will make the house look simpler and a little more smart or modern. The gables could still be a feature colour as well as doors, sills and any other trims.

You mention white and grey so obviously you are considering those types of colours but these ones might be considered also - Resene Double Sea Fog (main) and Resene Stonehenge (gables etc), Resene Half Thorndon Cream (main) or Resene Half Tapa (gables etc) or Resene Black White (main) and Resene New Denim Blue (gables etc). These colours would still work with your roof colour and window joinery colours.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene New Denim Blue
Resene New Denim Blue
February 2016

Q. The bedroom and lounge room will be Resene Kangaroo or Resene Half Stonehenge. Please suggest a woodwork colour.

A. You might check out these colours for the woodwork – Resene Alabaster, Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Quarter Black White.

Resene Kangaroo
Resene Kangaroo
Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter
Black White
February 2016

Q. I am trying to decide on a colour for our new formal fence. We are going to have black wrought iron gates. I was looking at Resene Titania as it is the same colour as our joinery. Our house is limestone brick and the roof is Ironsand. I wasn't sure if Titania was the right white/grey colour.

A. It is the right white/grey colour - it co-ordinates with the joinery but if you wanted to check out other similar options then you might look at these colours – Resene Whitewater, Resene Quarter Ash or Resene Double Sea Fog.

Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Whitewater
Resene Whitewater
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
February 2016

Q. We have recently purchased a home that is painted entirely white inside. It has an exposed ceiling in the lounge with beams (all painted white); the other ceilings are all enclosed. We were looking at Resene Solitaire as a wall colour but would like to paint all the internal doors another complementary colour and are unsure with regards to the ceilings. The kitchen cabinetry is white (at this stage the cupboards will stay as is) with black granite bench tops.

A. Resene Solitaire is a very sweet definite peach/cream. I suggest you paint up some large A2 cards (available from Resene ColorShops) and move them around from wall to wall/room to room. That way you will be better able to judge how it responds to the differing qualities of light and any other coloured element in the rooms. It may be perfect in every room but conversely it may seem almost too coloured compared to the white that is there now. It is possible to use a half tone of the colour and still get a very warm toned white - i.e. Resene Half Solitaire.

Providing the white that has been used on the ceilings throughout is a real white - not a subtly tinted one - then the Resene Half Solitaire will work well with it and not clash.

For the doors (unless you want to make a feature of them) I suggest you stay with the same colour as the walls but in a semi-gloss enamel finish so that they blend in well. Most houses have a lot of doors and if you choose to highlight them in a definite colour then they can drag the eyes and make too much of themselves when you may not want them to.

Resene Solitaire
Resene Solitaire
Resene Half Solitaire
Resene Half Solitaire
February 2016

Q. The house is Resene Hit Grey with roof and foundation in Resene Grey Friars. Window trims are white.

Thinking Resene Gunsmoke for the front terrace. For the doors and fences reasonably conservative colours, perhaps a grey tone? Definitely against any sort of black colour for the fences. What do you suggest would look good?

A. lf you are into greys then you might like to stay within the blue/green influenced greys that are related to Resene Hit Grey the main colour on the house and not choose a yellow/green edged grey for the front terrace/porch as it could be very discordant.

You could use a mid-grey like Resene Oslo Grey which is similar to the house colour. I think the fence may look good painted in Resene Cape Cod. The front door could be Resene White like the windows or an interesting blue like Resene Explorer. These colours are conservative but provide enough contrast to create eye interest.

Resene Hit Grey
Resene Hit Grey
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Gunsmoke
Resene Gunsmoke
Resene Oslo Grey
Resene Oslo Grey
Resene Cape Cod
Resene Cape Cod
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Explorer
Resene Explorer
 
February 2016

Q. I'm currently building a new house and wanted some advice on colours. I have a concrete block base which will be coated in Resene X-200. What colours are available to paint this in?

The upper level will be clad with cedar and we'd like to use Resene Woodsman Tiri. What colours would you recommend to complement/contrast this for the block base? We're looking at something like Resene Concrete or Resene Sea Fog. For the joinery and fascia/soffits, we were thinking of Appliance White and Resene Alabaster.

The roof and gutters are likely to be COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod. The house is on quite an upward slope so you won't really see the roof. Would this all work well together?

A. If you use Resene Woodsman Tiri, COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod, Appliance White and Resene Alabaster then you can certainly use colours like Resene Sea Fog. I am not so certain about Resene Concrete as it is a bit silvery. Other options for the blockwork might be Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Merino.

So yes - your colours are all good - they work well.

Resene  Woodsman Tiri
Resene Tiri
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
   
February 2016

Q. I'd like some suggestions for green or brown tones to paint our shed/workshop/holiday accommodation in Northland. I have been drawn to Resene Limerick but when painted up there it looks too bright compared to in the city. I have also looked at Resene Citron but am unsure if this will also be too bright, and I do like the colour of the new timber on the front so think a brownish colour may work better. I do not want the shed to blend in with the environment. I would like the colour to enhance the surrounding colour and also have a tropical carefree vibe. We grow subtropical fruit at the property and the majority of the property is native forest.

A. The colours that you have tried are super fluoro bright. Even though they may appear to be very similar to the foliage of the subtropical fruit that you are growing Nature always wins when it comes to greens and it doesn't pay to compete! Perhaps you might look at interesting gold or olive toned browns and leave the greens to the garden – try Resene Timbuktu, Resene Hibernate, Resene Kakadu or lighter Resene Howlin Wolf (which may be like the new timber colour).

You could paint the roof line fascia and all of the lean-to a bit of electric colour. Because it is much smaller /narrower it won't be too much - but it will spice up the shed and make it feel carefree. Try Resene Flourish, Resene Kombi or Resene Nirvana.

Resene Limerick
Resene Limerick
Resene Citron
Resene Citron
   
Resene Timbuktu
Resene Timbuktu
Resene Hibernate
Resene Hibernate
Resene Kakadu
Resene Kakadu
Resene Howlin Wolf
Resene Howlin Wolf
Resene Flourish
Resene Flourish
Resene Kombi
Resene Kombi
Resene Nirvana
Resene Nirvana
 
February 2016

Q. I am painting a brightly lit kitchen with rimu trim. It has a skylight and currently it is wall to wall rimu panels which I am painting over. I want a clean white but not so bright that I need sunglasses and one that goes with rimu well. Any ideas?

A. You might like to check out these colours – Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Quarter Merino or Resene Rice Cake.

If you look at the A4 samples of these colours in the Resene ColorShop Colour Library books and place a sheet of white print paper alongside them you will see the subtle undertones of colour in them. This is always helpful. You may feel you want to go a little deeper or quite a different colour when you see and compare them this way.

Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
February 2016

Q. We are in the process of having a brand new roof put on, Zincalume, and new guttering in COLORBOND® Monument. We are going to paint the garage doors, front fence, front wooden doors, floor and handrails of the decks in Resene Nocturnal. My question is, due to our windows and security screens being primrose, what colour or colours would you suggest to match in and work with the other colours when we paint balustrades, the gables etc?

A. You might check out these colours - Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Half Cararra. They are warm but not too yellow but should work well with the primrose window joinery. Luckily any colour will work with Monument as it is a very dark neutral. The paint match to the COLORBOND® Monument is Resene Nocturnal.

Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Half Cararra
February 2016

Q. I have built a new house and I want to use greys. The kitchen is a charcoal with a white bench and a pearl stainless panel behind the island. The flooring is distressed oak. I'm looking at Resene Quarter Surrender but wonder if it needs to be more grey. My TV room will be a shade or half darker (likely full Resene Surrender). With bedrooms I want to carry the same through. My daughter will probably have Resene Half Beryl Green wall (one) and our room will have a darker wall (maybe full Resene Surrender feature wall with three walls of Resene Quarter Surrender or Resene Half Surrender). I worry the Resene Quarter Surrender will be too light and that it may not go with the Resene Half Beryl Green. I want a cool grey with a black base... but I want it to go with the Resene Half Beryl Green and soft pink blind in my daughter's room without changing grey tones.

A. Sometimes it is wise to paint up large samples of several different tones or types of greys and move them around from wall to wall/room to room so that you can see how they alter in regard natural light, artificial light and in close association with other colours. And they will - often quite a lot.

Colours in an interior often appear to be slightly deeper overall so it pays to check this carefully. A large A2 sized piece of cardboard (available from Resene ColorShops) allows you to use all of the testpot/two coats leaving an unpainted border all around the edges. The unpainted edges of the card help your eye to focus on the colours that are being tested. If you roll the card into a cone shape with the colour innermost and look into the cone this gives you a very good representation of how much deeper the colour will look once all four walls of a room are painted. I think that Resene Quarter Surrender would work but in order to be sure you might also trial Resene Concrete just to be on the safe side. No comparing of colours means that you may totally misjudge what a colour is really like.

Resene Half Beryl Green - because it is so very pale - looks best with a white close to it. The white enhances the colour. If you are using a pale grey for all rooms perhaps in your daughter's room you could use the same white that is on the ceiling for the other walls - is this a possibility? For the ceilings or any other woodwork colours so you might check out Resene Half Black White which makes all of the colours you like look better because it does provide clean cool contrast.

Sometimes when you are using two shades of a colour (as you want to do in your bedroom) in order to see any difference at all you need a lot more contrast. I suspect the full strength and the half tone version of the colour will just look the same. So again if you want to use a full strength version of Resene Surrender as a feature I suggest you use a white with it.

Resene Quarter Surrender
Resene Quarter Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Half Beryl Green
Resene Half Beryl Green
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
February 2016

Q. We have a plaster covered concrete fence and first storey of the house that needs a paint. A surrounding fence is charcoal. I'm wondering whether it would look good doing the wall/first storey in the same black as the fence. If not, can you please suggest a colour?

A. It certainly would tie everything together using the same charcoal. My only worry is that it will take over the house and be very dominant and hard edged. However if you aren't worried about that then it could be ok. You don't say which charcoal you have used on the surrounding fence. There may be a slightly lighter version of that colour that might give a strong but softer tone on the lower storey and concrete fence. That might be my preference.

February 2016

Q. We have a traditional brick with cedar joinery Federation-style home and we need to repaint the balustrading around the deck in a cream/white. The iron roof is painted in Resene Ironsand. What do you recommend?

A. You could look at these cream/whites - Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Cararra, Resene Quarter Wheatfield or Resene Eighth Parchment.

Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Quarter Wheatfield
Resene Quarter Wheatfield
Resene Eighth Parchment
Resene Eighth Parchment
February 2016

Q. I have a mixed construction home with brick, weatherboard and fibre cement. The joinery is bronze/brown aluminium and some wooden. The roof is a green colour. I have tried Resene Half Friar Greystone on weatherboards, but would like to go much darker, such as Resene Gravel CoolColour. Is this possible and what colour would you suggest for above the windows by the brickwork?

A. Above the windows would look good in the Resene Quarter Gravel or Resene Friar Greystone - these soft deep colours placed so close to the paler bricks and bronze joinery will look sharp and contemporary. This might be used also on the wooden windows if you don't want to use a really dark or really white colour.

An alternative dark colour might be Resene Squall - it is a little deeper though but has a similar green undertone as the Resene Gravel does. As long as you do get the reformulated Resene CoolColour™ version of all of the listed colour it should minimise the effect of the U.V. rays and the extreme heat factor that dark colours absorb. It won't stop that from happening but will modify it.

Resene Half Friar Greystone
Resene Half Friar Greystone
Resene Gravel
Resene Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Squall
Resene Squall
February 2016

Q. We want to repaint our plaster over brick home. Currently it is painted Resene Stonehenge with Ironsand joinery and roof. The fascia, garage door and entrance door are all cedar. Could you recommend a lighter colour as we find the current colour has a muddy look to it?

A. Perhaps the existing colour was chosen because it suited the powdercoat roof and joinery colour? You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you - they are lighter but still earthy - and will work with the Ironsand coloured roof and joinery: Resene Quarter Craigieburn, Resene Half Cougar, Resene Triple Thorndon Cream or Resene Double Truffle.

Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
     
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Half Cougar
Resene Half Cougar
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple
Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Truffle
Resene Double Truffle
February 2016

Q. We finished painting our living room area and entrance with Resene Merino and there was a tint of green which we liked. The same colour is painted in the hallway and now the green is stronger and we are not happy with the outcome. If we use Resene Half Merino, will the strength of green still be stronger. We are going to use Resene Quarter Merino for doors and trims and use Resene Alabaster for ceilings. Do you think we should use another colour for the hallway? Also in the bathrooms and toilet there are no windows. Which whites do you suggest will work with the ceiling and trim/doors if Resene Half Merino is not an option?

A. Hallways are not known for their natural light and because of the closeness of the walls (and all the doors) it is often a good idea to lighten the colour right off so any 'build up' of the underlying tints and tones in the colour don't take over. You certainly could use Resene Half Merino but you may also consider using Resene Quarter Merino. The only difference would be the walls would be a low sheen acrylic and the woodwork/doors would be a semi-gloss enamel. For the bathrooms and toilets you could continue with this theme. It is a subtle look but very elegant and light.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
February 2016

Q. I've noticed many people using different colours in different rooms. Is it not normal to do the whole house the same colour anymore?

If we use Resene Truffle which rooms/areas would be best for lighter shades (e.g. Resene Quarter Truffle) and which ones for the darker (Resene Half Truffle or full Resene Truffle)? Would Resene Truffle go with timber floors in a rimu type shade?

A. Fashions come and go and people like to exploit colour in a personal way rather than following where others lead. There is no normal way to do interior colour schemes - a single colour may look wonderful in several rooms but not in all rooms and to blindly persist in using a colour in all rooms if it doesn't work well, because of the shape of the rooms or the different aspect of natural light or the use of different coloured drapes and other soft furnishings, is leading to disappointment.

Hallways often need lighter versions of a main colour as this area isn't usually blessed with natural light. Plus the close proximity of the walls makes the natural tendency of any colours to appear much deeper very obvious.

Bathrooms - if they use a lot of white tiles as well as the normal white fittings - often need a lighter version of a main colour. The strong contrast of the white plus the smaller space makes the colour appear much deeper so this is another area that a lighter version might be used.

In children's rooms where the small people want bright clear colours (curtains, duvets or feature walls) the main colour may need to be lightened (sometimes to a quarter strength) so that the bright colours aren't seen beside much greyer or muddier colours.

Other rooms may also need lighter versions of the main colour if they don't get much natural light - easterly or south facing rooms often have a lot of shadow in them - or if the rooms are too bright and make the colour look far whiter than it is in reality - in this case a deeper version of the colour may be needed so you aren't having to cope with glare.

Testing the colour by painting it on large A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) allows all of the testpot/two coats to be applied leaving an unpainted border all around the edges. This can be moved from wall to wall/room to room so you can judge for yourself whether it is appropriate or not. People are often shocked at how different the colour that they love in some rooms appears in other rooms.

Personalising the room with a completely different colour allows the role of the room or the person who uses it to have a little of what they like, which is nice. There is no rule that says 'one colour only' must be used everywhere or the world will end - colour is made to be used to make rooms look lovely and for people to get enjoyment from their homes.

Rimu timber is yellowish and sometimes it can make colours like Resene Truffle look greyer by comparison. If this isn't pleasant and isn't what you want or like then the colour must be changed because the floor can't be.

Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
February 2016

Q. I have recently painted my old villa Resene Half Tapa with a Resene Ironsand roof and fencing and Resene Rice Cake windows and trim. My bathroom is Resene Rickshaw. I'm looking for a light soft grey to paint my kitchen. I have redwood floors and stark white cabinetry and white marble bench tops.

A. There are a lot of greys available but some may look too 'serious' or deep. You could look at these ones - Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Triple Black White or Resene Quarter Rakaia.

Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rickshaw
Resene Rickshaw
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Quarter Rakaia
 
February 2016

Q. I want to paint my external walls Resene Half Robin Egg Blue. I'm trying to match a darker blue to do around the window frames and was wondering if you could recommend one that also straddles the blue/green spectrum. I've tried Resene Powder Blue, Resene Clouded Blue and Resene Periglacial Blue and they are not quite right. I think Resene Clouded Blue is possibly the closest.

A. If you want the window frame colour to be subtle and grey toned and not stand out too much then the colours you mention would achieve that for you. If, however you wanted a darker blue that straddles the blue/green spectrum then you might look at these colours – Resene Innocence, Resene Scaramanga, Resene Destiny, Resene Inside Back or Resene Boulevard.

On an exterior colours are often muted by bright natural light so it pays to use definite contrasts in depth to stop all of the colours 'bleeding together' and appearing indecisive.

Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Powder Blue
Resene Powder Blue
Resene Clouded Blue
Resene Clouded Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
 
Resene Innocence
Resene Innocence
Resene Scaramanga
Resene Scaramanga
Resene Destiny
Resene Destiny
Resene Inside Back
Resene Inside Back
Resene Boulevard
Resene Boulevard
February 2016

Q. We are planning to repaint the whole house and were thinking of a mid-dark grey for the elevations and a lighter grey for the roof. Have you any suggestions as I'm not too sure what will work with our brown aluminium joinery and what will work best with the cedar garage door?

A. For the roof a grey colour that might look ok with the brown windows could be one of these - Resene Gauntlet or Resene Half Masala. For the main body of the house you could look at these colours – Resene Quarter Ironsand (for a paint finish) or if it is existing stain, Resene Woodsman Tiri.

Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Half Masala
Resene Half Masala
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene  Woodsman Tiri
Resene Tiri
February 2016

Q. I'd like some advice on exterior colours for our early 1900s villa. We are in a coastal suburb in Wellington and exposed to salty air. I've fallen in love with Resene Seachange, with a crisp white for trims and a dark grey for the front door and detailing, but I'm not sure how it will stand up to U.V. on the north and west sides. It doesn't come as a Resene CoolColour™. Would this still be OK or are we just asking for frequent repainting? What's the next best option? The colour swatches we currently have are Resene Seachange, Resene Blue Moon and Resene Quarter Powder Blue (too light).

A. You may have answered your own questions - yes you may need to repaint more frequently. North and west facing sides of the house attract the most heat and any paint colour on these sides will fade back quicker than the other sides of the house. Blues are somewhat famous for their chalking when exposed to sun and weathering.

So - where to from here? Look again at the colours you like and trial carefully. If you still gravitate to the blues you might like to think Wellington/Southern Hemisphere/wild storms and not Mediterranean/Northern Hemisphere/heavenly holidays and try some of these colours – Resene Lynchpin, Resene Nepal or Resene Escapade.

Resene Seachange
Resene Seachange
Resene Blue Moon
Resene Blue Moon
Resene Quarter Powder Blue
Resene Quarter
Powder Blue
Resene Lynchpin
Resene Lynchpin
Resene Nepal
Resene Nepal
Resene Escapade
Resene Escapade
February 2016

Q. We need help with our internal wall colour. Our window joinery will be Canvas Cloth or Titania (aluminium) and our floors are coffee bamboo. We would prefer to have light grey curtains rather than a shade of brown. Would that work, and if so what shade would you recommend for the curtains?

A. Colours for walls and curtains would be completely different depending upon what joinery colour you choose. Canvas Cloth is a deeper beige colour and leads into colours like Resene Half Cougar for walls and brown/grey based charcoal for drapes i.e. Resene Curtain Collection Diva - colour Ebony. Titania is a lighter grey/green white and leads into Resene Eighth Stonewall for walls and warm grey/silvery drapes - i.e. Resene Curtain Collection - Xpression - colour Charcoal. You may need to think through the options you have available and make a definite choice so that other interior colours can be made.

Resene Half Cougar
Resene Half Cougar
Resene Meander Voile - Stone
Resene Diva
Ebony
Resene Eighth Stonewall
Resene Eighth Stonewall
Resene Meander Voile - Stone
Resene Xpression
Charcoal
February 2016

Q. We have just put in bamboo flooring (coffee). Could you recommend a colour for our walls?

A. You have a huge amount of colour options - you might like to check out these ones as a start to see if they appeal to you: Resene Eighth Spanish White, Resene Bianca, Resene Eighth Parchment or Resene Eighth Akaroa.

There are many other options but it really depends on all the other colours that are in the house - drapes, kitchen cabinets and worktops, tiles, bed linen, upholstered furniture etc.

Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth
Spanish White
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Eighth Parchment
Resene Eighth Parchment
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Eighth Akaroa
February 2016

Q. What colour render would work best with a COLORBOND® Classic Cream garage door and gutters and window frames?

A. Because the Classic Cream is such a definite orange toned to change to a lighter colour will over emphasise the yellowness of the powder coat colour - is that what you had in mind? To go darker - browner or blue/grey - will make the Classic Cream seen less strong in its yellowness. Are you wanting a brown or a blue/grey colour? Some deep grey toned greens could work also. You might like to check out these colours to see if any of them appeal to you: Resene Pearl Lusta (lighter colour), Resene Double Drought (browner), Resene New Denim Blue (blue/grey) or Resene Inside Back (grey/green).

Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Double Drought
Resene Double Drought
Resene New Denim Blue
Resene New Denim Blue
Resene Inside Back
Resene Inside Back
February 2016

Q. We are painting the exterior of our bungalow. The windows and soffits will be white. I want to choose a grey for the weatherboards that doesn't look either blue or green or pink! The garage doors are COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey so I want to tone with them. I think I want a lighter grey than that rather than anything too dark.

A. Lighter greys that work well with white and COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey that you could try are:
Resene Black Haze, Resene Triple Black White, Resene Half Atmosphere, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey or Resene Eighth Tapa.

COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey
COLORSTEEL®
Sandstone Grey
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Half Atmosphere
Resene Half Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Eighth Tapa
February 2016

Q. I want to paint my walls a white. However, I have already put in blinds and curtains in the living area and kitchen that are a very crisp white and am worried about my choice of white walls. I think that I would need to go a bit warmer on the walls with a crisper white trim? However I don't really want to go to cream. My carpet is a creamy brown, quite light and my lounge suite is a light grey. The rest of the furniture is white with accents of blonde wood. And in the kitchen I hope to change the cupboards to white with a light timber benchtop.

A. As an interim thing to do I suggest you undercoat all surfaces in white and look again at the rooms. You will see where sunlight brightens walls and where shadows grey off the walls. Existing colours - carpet, furniture, wood and blinds and curtains will then be seen without any other colours influencing them. Any colour that you test will also be seen true to reality. This may be the only way you can judge whether it is pure white or one of the warmer whites that you need to consider.

February 2016

Q. We are doing a new build and are deciding which exterior colours to choose. We are doing a painted brick with some LINEA® board features and a COLORSTEEL® roof. We have decided to do a black and white scheme with the bricks being a black and the LINEA® and joinery a white colour. The roof colour we have chosen (already) is COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey. Also for the joinery we are tossing up between an Arctic White or Warm White Pearl Matt.

A. You may find that Warm White Pearl works better in regards to your white colour options than the grey/blue toned Arctic White does and it also works well with the COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey roof.

Whites that you might consider are these ones – Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene Double Black White.

Some blacks to look at – Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Blackjack.

Both of these are warm toned blacks. Because the COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey roof colour has a warm yellow/silver undertone I don't suggest using blue based blacks as it makes the roof look 'dirty' and not clean. Bricks look realistic when painted in a low sheen finish paint like Resene Lumbersider as it isn't too shiny.

COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey
COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Blackjack
Resene Blackjack
February 2016

Q. We want to paint our whole house white. Window trims and the stucco. With so many whites out there can you recommend an appropriate white? We want to get rid of the cream look that we have now.

A. Layering the whites from softly shaded to crisp pure white is a nice palette. Main colour - Resene Black White with trims and door frames/window sashes/surrounds - Resene Eighth Black White. Or alternatively – Resene Wan White (main colour) with trims and door frames/window sashes/surrounds - Resene White.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene White
Resene White
February 2016

Q. What would you recommend for a neutral white, soft, not too yellow and fresh for a family room?

A. You might look at these whites to see if they will work for you – Resene Alabaster, Resene Quarter Bianca or Resene Quarter Wan White.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Wan White
Resene Quarter Wan White
February 2016

Q. We are currently repainting the exterior of our house. We have Resene Stack on our plaster, Resene Bokara Grey on our blocked chimney and are looking for a soft white to go with these for our cedar board. We are currently looking at Resene Sea Fog or Resene Double Sea Fog and can't decide between the two. Could you please advise which you would recommend or suggest another alternative? Our house is shaped like an 'I' and the cedar board is inset. We don't want it to look yellow, but want to complement the other two colours.

A. You could check out these other 'whites' - and compare them with the ones you mention - to see which one appeals to you – Resene Double Black White or Resene Half Merino.

Resene Stack
Resene Stack
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
February 2016

Q. I have French Toile patterned blinds in a bedroom - inky dark blue on cream. I wanted to then paint the walls, either all one colour or one wall in a blue and the rest of the room in a complementary colour. My first attempt I used Resene Link Water on all four walls. I don't think the blue goes with the blinds though as it's too mauve. I want to repaint the room. I got a testpot of Resene Biscay, but on testing this it is way too dark for the room as it is not that big. Can you please suggest a blue that would go with the blinds, or a complementary paler colour - maybe cream?

Also, if I was to only paint one wall blue and the rest in another colour, how do you know which wall would give you the best balance or space effect?

A. If you only paint one wall in the blue - the wall opposite the windows - and the others in a pale cream/white then if the blue doesn't exactly match the blinds your eye will forgive the difference. The cream will enhance the blue in the blinds also.

You might check out Resene Rock Blue - it is not as dark as Resene Biscay and not as purple as Resene Link Water. If you use it with Resene Half Rice Cake - which may look more 'creamy' on the window walls because of the light from the windows throwing a bit of shadow onto these walls - I am hopeful it will suit you.

Resene Link Water
Resene Link Water
Resene Biscay
Resene Biscay
Resene Rock Blue
Resene Rock Blue
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
February 2016

Q. We have an existing cement drive that we intend to extend, but my question is, are we best to have the new cement already coloured and later try to colour old cement to match or the new cement raw and colour the lot at a later date?

A. Talk to the concrete people to get their opinion. Personally I would be inclined to colour the lot at a later date. Most new concrete looks really pale as it cures compared to old concrete which looks a warmer grey tone. Older concrete can be bleached and power cleaned which may make the two concretes look similar which may help when they are coloured to accept the colour equally. So rather than colouring first and possibly wishing you hadn't, I suggest you wait a while.

February 2016

Q. I need advice for a wall colour which will be used throughout our home (two living areas, hall, kitchen dining, stairway, landing and master bedroom). Our floors have just been redone and we have to use Resene Black White on the trim (skirting/doors etc). Currently looking at Resene Merino, but unsure whether this will give enough contrast. I also like Resene Sea Fog, but my husband feels it is too grey. I like grey - he doesn't. I don't want beige tones!

A. Are all the walls in the rooms that you are going to paint such a deep colour?

Resene Sea Fog is a good colour and may not look too grey to your husband if you show him another (greyer) colour - i.e. Resene Quarter Iron - it is all about comparing so the eye/brain can adjust its judgement on what the colour looks like. No you don't have to buy a testpot of this colour - just show him a sample from the colour charts and ask which of the two colours is grey.

Resene Merino is a good colour too – warmer - and it can throw green, pink, yellow and beige dependent upon the natural light and what other colours are seen close to it - the floor may influence how you see the colours quite a lot. The trim colour - Resene Black White - is quite grey toned so it too will have an influence upon what the wall colour looks like. Take your time and test the colours carefully. Testpots used the right way are your best friend.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
February 2016

Q. We have a standard Keith Hay home painted a light fawn brown. The front deck and garage door are cream to tie in with the front fence (which we have just removed). The joinery is forest green and roof steely grey blue. I want to repaint the front deck and garage door and wondered what colour you would suggest? The back of the house is the same but the deck is stained.

A. The garage door and deck could be several things:

  • It could match the joinery colour so it (the joinery) has a friend in the scheme.
  • The deck (painted) at the front and the deck (stained) are never going to match but if a paint colour was chosen that was similar to the stain colour that might be a good thing. If this was the option picked up on then the garage door might still match the joinery.
  • The deck and garage door might match the roof colour - another way of tying the colours into the overall scheme.
  • Alternatively - the deck and garage door might be a deeper version of the house colour. If you knew what that was and could let me know I could suggest deeper colour options.

All of these suggestions work on the theory that co-ordinating with what you already have is better than choosing another random colour.

February 2016

Q. I have an exterior whitewashed table that needs repainting. Do you have a chalky/lime wash finish please?

A. Resene do have a whitewash finish. It is called Resene Woodsman Whitewash. It can be applied on new or weathered timber. There are display boards showing what it looks like in the Wood Finishes display in all Resene ColorShops. If this isn't exactly what you want then it is also possible to intermix acrylic paint (testpots are good) with Resene Paint Effects Medium glaze which is an acrylic clear finish. Using this product allows you to tailor colours to your decor - some people like the idea of a soft grey or an egg shell blue rather than white.

Chalky finishes aren't the same as Limewash or Whitewash - they are much denser and less see through in their finish and have a soft easily scuffed surface unless they are waxed or clear coated.

February 2016

Q. We live in Avalon on the northern beaches. Our house is on a sloping corner block. The front appears single level and the back two storey. We are extending to the side with a granny flat under and parent retreat on top. The bottom level is rendered brick and top is vertical weatherboard. All the doors, windows, guttering and COLORBOND® roof are white. We have a lot of bifold ceiling to floor doors.

The block is surrounded by hedging, gums, palms and stands of gorgeous angophora. I would like to paint a black but with a brown base (not blue, purple or green). I'm a bit worried it might be too much but I like black. There seem to be lots of blacks out there but many seem more purple or blue in different light.

A. A black shade that has a brown base might be one of these colours – Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Blackout, Resene Ironsand or Resene Diesel.

I would definitely recommend using the Resene CoolColour™ reformulated version of these colours so less heat is absorbed into the surfaces. The buzz word is 'reflectivity' in regard very dark colours in coastal areas. It doesn't remove all the problems associated with heat and dark colours but it does help minimise them.

Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Blackout
Resene Blackout
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Diesel
Resene Diesel
February 2016

Q. My house is roughcast with red brick windowsills and exterior chimney. Windows are going to be alloy Arctic White. What colour would be good on the roughcast walls?

A. Taking into account the fact that the Artic White powder coat coloured windows are a cool blue/grey white - and quite distinctive - these are a few grey suggestions that may appeal to you: Resene Double Concrete, Resene Surrender, Resene Stack or Resene Tuna.

Other options of a more definite colour might be these ones – Resene Emerge or Resene Duck Egg Blue.

A huge amount of warmer colours - creams, beiges or taupe - can bring out an almost lilac/blue tone in the window joinery which is why I haven't suggested them.

Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Stack
Resene Stack
Resene Tuna
Resene Tuna
Resene Emerge
Resene Emerge
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
February 2016

Q. I have a 1980s woodgrain Hardiplank® house painted in a buttermilk colour with Karaka fascia board and dark brown aluminium joinery. I also have Resene Iroko on both decks and the front and side fences with a 'bitter chocolate' coloured back fence and pergola. I would like to update this and am considering Resene Tea. I am also thinking of painting the prominent garage door in Resene Triple Tea therefore decreasing the strongly featured Karaka door. What colour would suit the fascia board? The roof is unpainted corrugated iron and will remain so for the time being. I had thought of Resene Ironsand but it's VERY dark and doesn't exactly match the back fence. Wondering about Resene Stonewall or Resene Mondo?

Also, what colour would you paint the soffits? I understand it's good to go two shades lighter but want an uplift with the colour here. What colour would you paint the frame of the garage door? I am thinking the soffit colour?

A. I am unsure about using a very light colour around the garage door frame as it will - possibly - frame up and draw too much attention (by contrast) to the garage door itself. Is the garage door (in the new colour - Resene Triple Tea) an element that you want people to notice? Is the garage door frame a wide bevelled edge timber board of great architectural design and merit? Is that why you want to highlight it? Think about this. If it is skinny and somewhat nondescript in shape and style why not paint it the same colour as the garage door colour so they merge?

The fascia board could be painted in either of the two colours that you have mentioned but another alternative suggestion might be Resene Double Friar Greystone . It isn't quite as brown as the ones you have mentioned, it looks really good with Resene Tea, Resene Triple Tea and Resene Iroko and it will still work well with the dark brown aluminium joinery plus it isn't as dark as Resene Ironsand. It doesn't have to be 'best friends' with the chocolate fences but I think it will be worth checking out.

A paler colour for the under soffits might be one of these colours – Resene Sea Fog (slightly warm/stone undertone and goes with any other colour) or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream (warmer but still works with all the colours).

Resene Iroko
Resene Iroko
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Triple Tea
Resene Triple Tea
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
 
Resene Stonewall
Resene Stonewall
Resene Mondo
Resene Mondo
Resene Double Friar Greystone
Resene Double Friar Greystone
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
February 2016

Q. I have a large open plan area to paint with light and shaded spots. What colour would you recommend? Also should we paint it all one colour or have a feature wall? We want the room to be bright but not loud.

A. Do you want the new colour to work with the existing drapes, flooring, kitchen cabinets and worktops or are you replacing these things? I think paler colours of an off white nature may work and soft almost nothing beiges might as well. Is that what you have in mind? For a feature wall colour colours that may work well are orange based reds, rich browns and moody reds - to balance the very strong blue tones you have in the kitchen cabinetry and work tops.

These may give you a start – Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream or Resene Eighth Bison Hide. A whole room of colour often looks double the depth or intensity - far more that you might imagine it will.

You may not need a feature wall but if you wanted one you could look at these colours – Resene Red Red Red, Resene Night Owl or Resene Madam M.

Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Red Red Red
Resene Red Red Red
Resene Night Owl
Resene Night Owl
Resene Madam M
Resene Madam M
February 2016

Q. Please help us paint our way out of a colour complement corner! We have selected Resene Half Tapa for our weatherboards and are trying to decide on a colour for the roof, garage door and brick entrance. We are not keen on other colours from the chart such as Resene Half Gravel or anything too dark such as Resene Grey Friars. We have liked Resene Mid Grey and Resene Gauntlet but queried if these would work well. We are leaning towards a grey tone but don't want to emphasise the green within the Resene Half Tapa too much. I am very keen to use Resene Periglacial Blue as my front door colour.

A. It is no to the Resene Mid Grey but Resene Gauntlet may work - but it will seem much lighter (bright natural light strips away depth in a colour on an exterior) and that may make it look 'not right' alongside the Resene Half Tapa - that is my concern. You might check out Resene Quarter Ironsand - a little deeper than Resene Gauntlet. It is a warm toned neutral that may suit you.

I think Resene Periglacial Blue (which is more green not blue and will look like a half tone version of itself on an exterior) may be overpowered by the Resene Half Tapa - but if you used a slightly deeper colour like Resene Inside Back it will work better.

If you liked this colour for the door then there here are two other options for the garage door/roof which would enhance the door colour - does that sound good? Apologies - they are a little greener and I know you don't want green but my thought was that they could be the type of colours that stopped you noticing the green in Resene Half Tapa and thought of it instead as a sandy/warm grey. Check out these – Resene Rolling Stone (a greyed green) or Resene Balderdash.

Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Mid Grey
Resene Mid Grey
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Inside Back
Resene Inside Back
Resene Rolling Stone
Resene Rolling Stone
Resene Balderdash
Resene Balderdash
February 2016

Q. Our house is Resene CoolColour™ Black with white sills etc. What colour should we use for deck, rails and the timber fence?

A. Have you thought of using a soft grey stain like Resene Woodsman Smokey Ash or even Resene Woodsman Whitewash? Sometimes when a house is dark and dramatic, soft washy colours work well. If you can't make up your mind in regard a colour then there is always the option of 'no colour' like Resene Furniture and Decking Oil which is protective but not colourful. It will need re-coating annually however.

Resene Black
Resene Black
Resene Woodsman Smokey Ash
Resene Smokey Ash
February 2016

Q. I want to paint the nursery room for my girl and I want the French Provencal look. The first colour is Resene Quarter Spanish White with white ceiling and skirting. I'm not sure what to paint the stencils.

A. You don't say in your email what the subject of the stencils will be but you could look at soft powdery blues, egg shell grey tones and dusky pinks like these colours – Resene Dusted Blue, Resene Half Duck Egg Blue or Resene Soulmate.

Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
Resene Dusted Blue
Resene Dusted Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Soulmate
Resene Soulmate
February 2016

Q. I am having a flat rebuilt in Christchurch. The old flat had Resene Milk White interior walls which we liked very much, and I think Resene Citrine White trim/doors. I'd like a very clean light white palette, without any hint of beige. In the kitchen and bathroom, untiled walls were painted Resene Beryl Green but I wonder if a more modern clear green might be better in the new flat which will no longer have any 1940s detailing. Not too strong, but restful rather than heavy or bright, to contrast with white tiles and white bath etc.

A. The main colours that you had before and loved are still valid options - if you don't want to change them you don't have to. But you might like to view alternatives to see if it the look is better for you – Resene Merino and Resene Half Rice Cake.

For the kitchen and bathroom a slightly different type of gentle green might be one of these colours -
Resene Secrets or a half tone version - Resene Half Secrets, or a lighter Resene Beryl Green – Resene Half Beryl Green, or a soft watery green – Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue, or a soft dreamlike grey/green such as Resene Half Tasman.

Resene Milk White
Resene Milk White
Resene Citrine White
Resene Citrine White
Resene Beryl Green
Resene Beryl Green
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
Resene Half Secrets
Resene Half Secrets
Resene Half Beryl Green
Resene Half Beryl Green
Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue
Resene Quarter
Robin Egg Blue

Resene Half Tasman
Resene Half Tasman
February 2016

Q. I want to do an ensuite in Resene Half Robin Egg Blue and a half white. Which white would you suggest? I also wondered about using it in the bedroom too. I'm unsure whether to do the whole room or just a feature wall and the rest white or if we did it for a feature wall what colour would you use for the other three walls? The passage and living room opposite are going to be Resene Sea Fog. I'm just not sure which white to use in the ensuite as we have decided to do white up to midway and then Resene Half Robin Egg Blue from there up.

A. You might use Resene Alabaster - it looks lovely with Resene Half Robin Egg Blue and it is like a very much lighter version of Resene Sea Fog so there is a nice cohesive look unfolding. If the ensuite has the colour on the upper walls only then all of the main bedroom could be Resene Half Robin Egg Blue. Keeping the walls all one colour is elegant, simple and serene. You can then use gorgeous bed linen and drapes to add the 'wow' in the room.

Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
February 2016

Q. We have a new home with a terracotta roof and the brick is a neutral beige colour. We don't like the green wooden boards, or the garage door, I was thinking of painting out the green in a neutral cream and the garage door white or Resene Napa but need some advice please on what colours you suggest.

A. It may be difficult to exactly match the off white bricks but if you were to use a grey based neutral - a little deeper than the bricks so they still stand out in a 'whiter' way - then that might work. Perhaps you could check these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Truffle or Resene Double White Pointer.

The garage door could be a deeper colour - to balance the deep terracotta colour of the roof and stop it from being too dominant - and because colours on an exterior often look a lot lighter in the strong natural light – Resene Stonewall, Resene Double Stonehenge or Resene Double Napa.

Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double
White Pointer
Resene Stonewall
Resene Stonewall
Resene Double Stonehenge
Resene Double Stonehenge
Resene Double Napa
Resene Double Napa
February 2016

Q. We are opening two new retail stores (beds - mattresses, bases and frames) and would like to know the best colours to brighten a large dark space but keep it warm and inviting (bedroom orientated without using colours that may distract from mattress fabric or compete with a variety of dark to white furniture).
Also our logo is a deep red so would appear on large price cards and point of sale merchandise.
I was originally thinking either Resene Half Tea, Resene Half Napa, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Half Robin Egg Blue or Resene Duck Egg Blue.

A. Resene Half Tea is light (not as deep toned as Resene Half Napa or Resene Half Truffle and warm (not as cool/grey as Resene Duck Egg Blue) and works really well as a flexible background colour.

Resene Half Robin Egg Blue is a lot stronger and more 'coloured' than Resene Half Tea which is more neutral.

If there was a display of pillows (lots of white/white/white) it could look really good against the Resene Half Robin Egg Blue if it was used as a 'feature' wall as it is so fresh and appealing. So perhaps two colours instead of only one?

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
February 2016

Q. We are updating our entire exterior colour scheme, starting with re-roofing shortly. It is a 100 year old farm villa with sweeping verandas and rimu french doors. We are torn between a nice white fresh look with a grey roof like many city villas, or having a greener scheme that blends in with our rural setting. We have green hills in winter, but very dry brown hills in summer, with gum trees around the house. We prefer greys with greens or blues over browns. Something fresher would be nice. Also the roof is so large, we want the eye drawn to the veranda features not the roof when you drive up.

A. If it is a COLORSTEEL® roof that you are getting (or COLORBOND®) then you will already have noticed that there isn't a huge selection of colours to choose from. A green will merge into the trees and the hills behind the house so perhaps start by checking out these colours – COLORSTEEL® Mist Green (fresher mid toned yellow/green) – COLORBOND® Pale Eucalypt, or COLORSTEEL® Thunder Green (mid deep olive) – COLORBOND® Woodland Grey, or COLORSTEEL® Fern Frond (mid deep greyed green) , or COLORSTEEL® BasaltBase ( stone/grey/olive) or COLORBOND® Bushland (grey/stone olive, there is no COLORSTEEL® match to this colour), or greyer – COLORSTEEL® TernStyle (deep warm grey).

It would pay to get real metal samples from the roof company so you can get a true idea of what the colours look like. If you hold the sample at a 45 degree angle to the sun light that is how the colour on the roof will be seen. It is always much lighter (sometimes half the tone) than you might imagine.

To emphasise the veranda, all the windows and under the soffits of the veranda roof it is good to use a really crisp clean colour so there is lots of contrast to the roof and house - these might be worth considering – Resene Eighth Rice Cake (slighter sharper/warmer white) or Resene Half Alabaster (slightly cooler white).

The main house colours can be a white - but perhaps slightly more developed in tone than the veranda white – try Resene Rice Cake, Resene Half Sea Fog, or alternatively greener whites - Resene Half Joanna or Resene Merino.

These are colours that would work well in your environment and look really fresh. A word to the wise - if the roof is too light it will unbalance the look of the house so please do the trick of looking at the sample with it angled 45% to the sun when you think a colour is too deep because it may not be at all.

Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Joanna
Resene Half Joanna
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
February 2016

Q. I have Resene Half Tea. How much white do I have to add to make Resene Half Tea into Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Eighth Tea?

A. To get a quarter strength you would need to add the same quantity of white to the Resene Half Tea. So 1L of Resene Half Tea and 1L of white (well mixed) would make Resene Quarter Tea.

To make Resene Eighth Tea from Resene Quarter Tea you would need to add the same quantity of white to the Resene Quarter Tea. So 1L of Resene Quarter Tea and 1L of white (well mixed) would make Resene Eighth Tea.

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Eighth Tea
February 2016

23 Feb below here

Q. We have decided to paint the weatherboards in Resene CoolColour™ Chicago. What colour would you suggest for the fascia boards and under eaves and the veranda? We would like to keep the windows and doors stained, but may change our mind. What would you suggest as an alternative colour? Could you suggest a few charcoal colours that complement Resene Chicago weatherboards? We will use this colour for posts. Do you think these colours will be ok with the Ironstone roof? We want to make the house modern and stylish.

A. Because the roof is in danger of being alone and unrelated (in its blue/charcoal colour), I would suggest using a version of this colour to go with the Resene Chicago, rather than a deeper version of Resene Chicago. Check out Resene High Tide or Resene Mine Shaft.

However if you don't want to tie in the roof colour and would prefer to follow on with a deeper version of Resene Chicago then you might use Resene Double Gravel. A neutral that is not too 'white' for the fascias, under the eaves and the veranda could be one of these colours – Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene Double Black White or deeper – Resene Quarter Foggy Grey.

Resene Chicago
Resene Chicago
Resene High Tide
Resene High Tide
Resene Mine Shaft
Resene Mine Shaft
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
February 2016

Q. I want to smarten up an old deck previously stained but now covered up with pigmented sealer. I'd be grateful for suggestions to fit with a house painted Resene Gravel. The seating area could be a feature.

A. Pigmented sealer over an old deck (previously stained) is not the standard sealer that is recommended - usually after an extensive chemical wash down and thorough sand the recommendation is Resene Wood Primer. I have checked with the Resene Technical Expert and both he and I think you need to follow on from the pigmented sealer with Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat and two coats of either Resene Lumbersider or Resene Walk-on Paving and Deck Paint. There are no guarantees that at some time the remnants of old oil stain won't cause some adhesion problems however. I recommend a lighter colour rather than a darker one - this is to minimise heat associated problems that may also cause some adhesion problems.

You might check out these colours - Resene Quarter Gravel, Resene Double Tapa or Resene Half Masala.

You don't indicate what type of seating you plan to have but I can imagine quite bright funky colours working with these colours.

Resene Gravel
Resene Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Half Masala
Resene Half Masala
February 2016

Q. What are some good boundary fence colours to use? I prefer a dark colour maybe a green or grey. My house is stucco with Resene Triple Tea.

A. These are a few colours that you might check out - Resene Marshland, Resene Half Gravel, Resene Double Tapa or Resene Log Cabin.

Resene Triple Tea
Resene Triple Tea
Resene Marshland
Resene Marshland
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Log Cabin
Resene Log Cabin
February 2016

Q. We’re about to accept a quote to paint the outside our house, including the roof and install double glazing. We thought it would be good idea to also get colour advice. Last time we painted the house the roof colour was determined by the colour of the COLORSTEEL® roof (mist green - also used around the windows). Could you please let us know what colours you would suggest we paint the house? The house is located on a ridge and most of the houses in the surrounding area are painted white or cream, except the house next door which is bright blue.

A. Do you want to keep - or use again - the same green as the roof colour on the windows and doors? It may be time to consider using a lot less green so it frees up your main colour options. You might keep the doors in the green to tie in with the roof but if you lightened the windows it would make the whole house seem very fresh and modern. You could check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Merino (main) and Resene Quarter Merino (windows), or Resene White Pointer (main) and Resene Quarter Black White (windows), or Resene Half Wheatfield (main) and Resene Eighth Wheatfield (windows), or Resene Half Cloud (main) and Resene Half Alabaster (windows).

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter
Black White
Resene Half Wheatfield
Resene Half Wheatfield
Resene Eighth Wheatfield
Resene Eighth Wheatfield
Resene Half Cloud
Resene Half Cloud
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
February 2016

Q. We're having our roof tiles restored and need to find a COLORSTEEL® roof colour that complements our 1980s Hinuera Stone house with bronze window and door joinery. The colour choices we have are in the COLORSTEEL® range. Our stone is a rough cut, creamy/ochre colour. We would also like suggestions for our wooden front door colour.

A. These COLORSTEEL® colours might offer you some options – Ironsand, TernStyle, Thunder Grey or Lignite.

A front door often needs to be a bit special - if you have creamy/ochre stone cladding and a deep earthy roof colour you might look at these colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Half Villa White, Resene Easy Rider, Resene Groundbreaker, Resene Pohutukawa or Resene Seaweed.

Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Easy Rider
Resene Easy Rider
Resene Groundbreaker
Resene Groundbreaker
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Seaweed
Resene Seaweed
February 2016

Q. We are painting a new garage and house extension. The existing house is Resene Half Akaroa, the windows are Resene Napa and Resene Alabaster. We want to paint the extension in a black, with possible purple undertones. Can you suggest a black and/or recommend the best black to complement the existing colour palette? The roof is Grey Friars.

A. These colours may be worth checking out - Resene Bastille, Resene Revolver, Resene Jaguar or Resene Double Cod Grey.

This selection features purple undertones except the last colour which is more related to the undertones that Grey Friars has in it.

Resene Half Akaroa
Resene Half Akaroa
Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
 
Resene Bastille
Resene Bastille
Resene Revolver
Resene Revolver
Resene Jaguar
Resene Jaguar
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
February 2016

Q. I am looking to paint one wall of my 3 year old son's room in a shade of turquoise blue and was hoping for some suggestions of testpots to try. The other three walls are Resene Quarter Parchment, and I'm after a shade which isn't too bright, but fits with a marine/under the sea theme as I have a range of cute sea creature decals to apply after painting.

A. It sounds as though your son’s' room is going to look wonderful. You might check out these turquoise colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Scooter, Resene Toto, Resene Such Fun, Resene Kumutoto, Resene Onepoto or Resene Aquarius.

They all look lovely with Resene Quarter Parchment.

Resene Quarter Parchment
Resene Quarter Parchment
Resene Scooter
Resene Scooter
Resene Toto
Resene Toto
Resene Such Fun
Resene Such Fun
Resene Kumutoto
Resene Kumutoto
Resene Onepoto
Resene Onepoto
Resene Aquarius
Resene Aquarius
 
February 2016

Q. I want to paint our lounge and dining area a grey like Resene Surrender or Resene Half Surrender. The dining area is adjacent to the kitchen, which has existing cream cabinetry (which will be replaced one day), similar to Resene Triple Pearl Lusta, with rim trims. Can you recommend a medium dark wall colour to paint the walls of the kitchen that will complement the grey and the cabinetry? Or are they just too different?

A. I am unsure about using the silvery grey with the rich cream of the kitchen cabinets - yes they are very different but possibly if the kitchen was painted Resene Alabaster it would make the rich cream seem more of a definite yellow and would alter the way your eye sees the grey so it appears a stronger hue. Yellow and grey like each other - I am just not sure about cream and grey or whether a dark colour would enhance either the cream or the grey.

I suggest - as a dress rehearsal to see if you like it - you paint up very large A2 cards (available from Resene ColorShops) with the Resene Alabaster and another with the Resene Surrender and place the two cards on the wall in such a way so you can see both close to each other. I know the white will work with the grey but what you need to see if the cabinet colour, the 'white' and the grey close to each other to see how they like each other. If you were replacing the kitchen cabinetry what would you be likely to change it to? You might need to think/plan further ahead to make sure your colour ideas will work for you.

Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Triple Pearl Lusta
Resene Triple Pearl Lusta
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
February 2016

Q. I am looking for an external colour scheme for a house in the Far North. The interior has Resene Black White mostly. I am thinking of a light-mid grey roof (concrete tiles) and maybe Resene Double Black White on the main exterior with just Resene Black White for window trims. Appreciate feedback and roof colour options.

A. Resene Double Black White may need to be seen with a bit more of a contrast for the lighter colour on the window trims - perhaps Resene Quarter Black White. Colours on an exterior - in bright natural light - often merge/blend out and look exactly the same if they are too closely related. If you didn't want to see a difference between the main exterior and the trims then Resene Double Black White and Resene Black White would do that for you.

For the roof you might check out these options - Resene Mid Grey, Resene Gauntlet or Resene Half Tuna.

The angle of the roof toward the sun is often about 45 degrees so all roof colours can look a lot lighter than you might expect them to look. It pays to know this in advance rather than be disappointed later because the colour looks different and not as you want it to be. If you paint up testpot samples onto card take them outside and hold it high (at arms-length) and on a downward sloping angle so your eye can see what it will look like.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter
Black White
Resene Mid Grey
Resene Mid Grey
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Tuna
February 2016

Q. What colour could I use to refresh my TV lounge which is quite small and dark but also open plan with kitchen/dining and family rooms. I have a dark brown red wall (window wall), grey carpet and warm beige wallpaper.

A. The dark brown/red wall helps to make the room feel smaller - red colours are an advancing colour that gobble up space. Also as it is on the window wall it appears much darker. Do you want dark and small and cosy - or are you ready for a major change to - lift the look completely?

If you still want a feature wall I recommend that it be a wall with no windows on it, perhaps as a back drop to the TV screen? A warm mid toned grey might work to balance the newly upholstered chairs and tone with the carpet. You might check out these colours - Resene Friar Greystone or Resene Mountain Mist.

If you are keeping the warm beige wallpaper how does it look with the upholstery and the floor? If it is really nice is it possible to get the same wallpaper to do the window wall? If it isn't possible then you might paint these walls instead - had you considered that? You could try Resene Rice Cake.

If you have open plan living areas you may need to keep the same main wall colour throughout and just highlight the TV wall or add funky cushions, an interesting coloured throw rug on the sofa or an interesting lamp.

Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
February 2016

Q. We have a south facing bedroom that will be a child’s room. I would like to paint it a mint colour but am concerned that it may feel cold or dark? The room isn't cold but it is dark. I have been looking at Resene Riptide, Resene Mint Tulip and Resene Foam. Do you think I would be better to use a warmer colour like yellow? I just feel yellow is a bit dated. The bedroom is for a little boy.

A. Of the colours that you are considering Resene Riptide has the happy spirit and warmth that I associate with little boys - followed by Resene Mint Tulip. I feel that Resene Foam may be a bit babyish - your little boy may be small but in his heart he thinks he is a big chap. Another option to consider might be Resene Fringy Flower which has a bit more green (mintier) in it. If you are fearful that these colours may be too much (your little boy won't understand 'too much' they think colours should be bolder - like they are!), you might do one wall and use a sharp crisp neutral like Resene Quarter Rice Cake on the other walls to lift and lighten the room.

Resene Riptide
Resene Riptide
Resene Mint Tulip
Resene Mint Tulip
Resene Foam
Resene Foam
Resene Fringy Flower
Resene Fringy Flower
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
February 2016

Q. We have a 1990s pine timber kitchen and would like to paint cupboards, walls, ceiling and trims. The benchtop is a neutral coloured stone maybe closest colour is Resene Ecru White. The timber floor is a honey coloured cypress pine. With a northerly aspect the current wall colour (a warm white) looks too yellowish. I'd like a much whiter cooler look. I'm thinking maybe Resene Double Sea Fog or Resene Titania for the kitchen cupboards and walls in Resene White. Is this a harmonious colour choice? If so, would trims and ceiling be done in the same white but different strengths?

A. Any paint colour may pick up the reflection of the golden cypress flooring as well as the northerly aspect of natural light so it pays to test colour carefully. I think a whiter/cooler look may need to be 'less coloured' than the colours you have mentioned which look quite grey or green based. You might check out these ones for the cabinets - Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Merino or Resene Barely There.

Walls, ceilings, and trims could be one of these 'whites' - Resene Double Alabaster - works well with Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Barely There or Resene Quarter Merino.

Resene Ecru White
Resene Ecru White
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene White
Resene White
 
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Barely There
Resene Barely There
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
February 2016

Q. I am having trouble finding a Scandinavian blue for my kitchen cabinets. Half the cabinetry is in white oak veneer, half will be painted. Resene Periglacial Blue is OK by day but at night it washes out to a grey. Resene Halcyon is tonally right but too strong during the day, at night it is perfect. I can't seem to find anything in between the two. I have tried Resene Emerge, Resene Escape, Resene Botticelli, Resene Tasman and Resene Clouded Blue. I am definitely after a Scandinavian style blue, so want the clarity but not the intensity of Resene Halcyon. I think half would go too milky and not provide enough contrast. The benchtop is a manufactured stone in ‘arctic drift, a marbled grey-white with bit of sparkle. The veneer is white oak with a matt finish.

A. Let us look again at Resene Halcyon - it is still your favourite after checking out other options. Given that all colours in an interior double in intensity a half version of this colour may be perfect. A half version may give you the clarity but not the intensity of Resene Halcyon. Intermixing equal amounts (must be equal) of Resene White and Resene Halcyon will give you a reasonable approximation of the colour. So it is worth the exercise I think.

Colours can look lighter/brighter or deeper dependent upon the sheen of the paint that you use. If you test colours with a Resene testpot then that finish is a low sheen finish that can look matt when viewed directly front on so colours can look slightly deeper. Cupboards - in order to withstand constant touching and cleaning with strong detergents - are generally painted in a semi-gloss enamel. This adds more light or brightness to the paint colour.

Seeing enough of the colour is another way to ensure you know exactly what it looks like-so I always recommend that all of the testpot (two coats) be applied to large A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges. The unpainted edge forces your eye to focus on the reality of the colour and you judge the depth against the white border. The large size (like several cupboard doors) allows you to see more of the colour - this is really necessary - as smaller amounts of tested colour can be misleading.

To replicate how the colour will look in a semi-gloss enamel (if this is what you would choose as a finish coat sheen on cabinets) then you might cover part of the large painted sample with a sheet of clear acetate - if you don't want to purchase this every Resene fandeck of colours has one in the front -after the grey colour isolators and before the colour strips begin- so you can try that you’re your colour sample to see just how markedly different the colour looks between matt and semi-gloss. This is very helpful.

Colours react with other colours seen close to them as well as changing light - they are never ever totally static and unchanging. The best one can hope for is a colour that is lovely 80% of the time.

Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Halcyon
Resene Halcyon
Resene Emerge
Resene Emerge
Resene Escape
Resene Escape
Resene Botticelli
Resene Botticelli
Resene Tasman
Resene Tasman
Resene Clouded Blue
Resene Clouded Blue
 
February 2016

Q. We recently bought a 1970s brick home with anodised bronze windows. The roof and trim are a COLORBOND® colour, a mid tone grey (probably looks like Shale Grey or maybe Windspray). I want to render or paint the brick but am having trouble with the colour selection. Inside is newly painted white, the joinery is either gloss white or a deep charcoal grey. I have also recently tiled inside throughout with a timber-look tile that is a 'dirty' sandy colour that ties the windows, wall and the charcoal together nicely. The gloss grey reflects the earthy tones and looks earthier rather than a steel or blue grey, if that makes sense?

So my question is what render colour should I use for the outside? I have also painted all the posts and exposed rafters of the attached pergolas in a black colour (Resene Licorice I think). So now everything is tones of greys but for these bronze windows. We are also adding an extension and looking at COLORBOND®.

A. Is there any chance of you replacing the windows? If that is the main bone of contention and they stay as they are now then they will always be a bone of contention and all colour options must compromise in order to go with them.

If you have used Resene Licorice it is a dark blue/grey - it may not look that way to you but if it is a big part of the trim that does need to be considered too. Because COLORBOND® has a limited range of colours it does pay to check out what you like prior to doing anything else as (again) your colour range is compromised – i.e. not a lot to choose from, has to look good forever, has to look good with the bronze windows on the house, has to work with the existing house roof colour etc.

Resene Licorice
Resene Licorice
February 2016

Q. We are building a Nordic barn style house without eaves. The roof will be Grey Friars (to match the roof of a shed adjacent on the site). We want dark stained (black or charcoal) rough sawn vertical shiplap cladding, with sliding shutters in a warm wood like cedar. Can you suggest a good stain colour (our site is north facing and quite sunny)? We had thought black joinery would be good but have told been by the joiners that black will fade. I am not keen on using Grey Friars for the joinery but don't want it to look mismatched. Do you have any suggestions for the joinery colour? Also, would you match the flashing to the roof colour, or the joinery colour?

A. There are other options for the roof - if you don't altogether want Grey Friars - you could have COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod or TernStyle

A dark stain could be Resene Woodsman Sheer Black (softer warm toned black) or darker Resene Woodsman Bleached Cedar, or a custom coloured stain could be made for you. I definitely would recommend you get the CoolColour™ reformulated stain colour to minimise heat associated problems.

The flashing should match the roof I think - unless you think it is beautiful and want to highlight it as a feature.

Joinery - if you had wood (not powder coated metal) then it could be painted any colour. Yes I know people don't do this anymore but it is traditional and barn like and appropriate and you could attach cedar window surrounds to match the sliding shutters. The inner window sashes could be painted a lighter version of the roof colour.

If you want powder coated metal (but not like the roof colour) and still feel black might be you then the matt finish may not emphasise the fading as much.

Resene Sheer Black
Resene Sheer Black
Resene Woodsman Bleached Cedar
Resene Bleached Cedar
February 2016

Q. I currently have Resene Thorndon Cream on my walls. We are redesigning our kitchen and are re-carpeting and have gone for grey with white flecks carpet, very light grey cabinetry and a grey/white speckled benchtop. I fear these will not go with the Resene Thorndon Cream walls. If they do not, what colour could you recommend for our walls? Something that is very neutral like Resene Thorndon Cream but greyer toned.

A. Because all greys carry some colour in them it would pay you to take samples of the kitchen cabinet and benchtop colours and the carpet with you when you pop into your nearest Resene ColorShop to view the A4 real paint samples in their Colour Library. It will help seeing all of the coloured components together to judge how they respond to each other.

Some colours to try - Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Double Concrete, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice or Resene Half Surrender.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter
Silver Chalice
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
February 2016

Q. We are looking at painting our brick and rough-cast home. We have recently replaced the roof, the colour is Windsor Grey. We had a wee bit of a mix up on selecting that colour and thought it would be more 'black' than blue!! Anyway, I want to paint the windows white, and any suggestions for the rest of the house would be gratefully appreciated. I quite like the greyish colours. We will be painting the doors/garage doors Windsor Grey to match the roof, or would there be a colour that we could use on these that is very similar but would perhaps bring out more black in the roof than the blue. Look forward to hearing from you.

A. I suggest a darker (blacker) colour than Windsor Grey for the painted doors. There is no need to use the same as the roof colour if it isn't exactly right for you is there? I strongly suggest you use a CoolColour™ reformulated 'black' to minimise heat absorption on the garage and house doors. Perhaps you could check out these colours – Resene Nero or Resene All Black.

Soft toned greys for the main house colour that might suit are - Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Double Concrete, Resene Half Foggy Grey or lighter - Resene Triple Black White.

Any of these greys will work really well with Resene White and will look really smart.

Resene Nero
Resene Nero
Resene All Black
Resene All Black
 
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
February 2016

Q. I love the 'graduated' paint colours Resene offers. I thought I was sold on Resene Tea... quarter, double, triple and normal for a whole house and balancing light. I've found the Resene Quarter Tea lovely in the bathroom, but kept feeling that the colour Resene Tea itself was too plain. I've decided to go darker all the way. I've played with the double and triple and still find them wanting. I still fear going too dark. What would you recommend that is a step darker than Resene Triple Tea that still works with that 'scheme' idea... and obviously some Resene Quarter Tea, and perhaps remnants of Resene Tea, double or triple that may not be repainted right away? I don't mind going a touch more grey than brown, but definitely need to remain neutral.

A. You might test these colours to see if they are what you are after - if you read the colour codes you will see how related they are to the Tea palette but in a subtle way - Resene Craigieburn, Resene Cougar, Resene Napa or Resene Double Napa.

Painting all of the testpot (two coats) onto super large A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving an unpainted border all around the edges, pinning it in the rooms and moving it from wall to wall is the only full proof way of testing colours in the environment you want them in. It helps you find out how they alter in different lights and is large enough to make a good reality check. I strongly suggest you do this. Another good thing about the large card sample is if you roll it into a cone shape with the colour inner most and look into it you will see the colour much deeper - this is a good representation of what all four walls in a room will look like when painted. In interior spaces colours can look 2-3 times as deep as you imagine they will.

Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Triple Tea
Resene Triple Tea
Resene Craigieburn
Resene Craigieburn
Resene Cougar
Resene Cougar
Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Double Napa
Resene Double Napa
February 2016

Q. I would really appreciate some advice for colour/s to go with Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Jalapeno. I am looking for a light, fresh fun feeling. I would like to use Resene Jalapeno as the accent colour and Resene Double Alabaster either for the weatherboards or for trims. The roof and gutters and are white so I'm not sure how much of a contrast I would need. However I do need low-maintenance so am concerned about using the Resene Double Alabaster on the weatherboards as it is light and would show grime, dust, mould etc. more easily than a deeper hue, but I would be looking to keep it light and bright. I would also appreciate any suggestions you may have re colours that would coordinate for the wooden veranda flooring. It is already stained but is in need of a revamp.

A. If you felt there wasn't enough difference between Resene Double Alabaster and Resene White then you might use Resene Sea Fog (slightly grey toned white) instead. On an exterior similar colours often aren't different enough to be discernible so unless you want the trims and the main colour to look just about the same then I suggest you look for colours that have first numbers (after the alphabetical code) that are 5-10 degrees different. If you are re-staining a deck you often get a hybrid colour as the old and the new combine (because they are semi clear) to make a new colour. A grey tone could work for you - but testing stains colours over a piece of timber that has been stained with the existing deck colour would be the only way to be sure of what the colour would look like. The safe option is always to re-stain in the same colour or as close to it as you can get by careful identification.

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Jalapeno
Resene Jalapeno
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
February 2016

Q. We have chosen Resene Black White for most of the house. Please what green would you recommend to go with this as a feature wall? I was thinking of Resene Kakapo. Also, we have chosen Resene Abercrombie for the master bedroom. What colour from the violet group and what blue from the blue group would go with Resene Abercrombie? We were thinking of Resene Mesmerise, Resene Bouquet and Resene Fascinator.

A. If you like the clear bright tones of Resene Kakapo as a possible feature wall you may also like to check out Resene Koru, Resene Moxie or Resene Area 51. Large A4 real paint samples of all these colours can be viewed in the Colour Library at your local Resene ColorShop. It is only when you compare colours that you get a really good reality check as to what they are truly like.

Resene Abercrombie looks really nice with Resene Butterfly, Resene Centre Stage, Resene Stratosphere and Resene Anchor you might like to compare them with the colours you have mentioned.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Kakapo
Resene Kakapo
Resene Abercrombie
Resene Abercrombie
Resene MesmeriseResene Mesmerise
Resene Mesmerise
Resene Bouquet
Resene Bouquet
Resene Fascinator
Resene Fascinator
Resene Koru
Resene Koru
Resene Moxie
Resene Moxie
Resene Area 51
Resene Area 51
 
Resene Butterfly
Resene Butterfly
Resene Centre Stage
Resene Centre Stage
Resene Stratosphere
Resene Stratosphere
Resene Anchor
Resene Anchor
 
February 2016

Q. What is the difference between pearl white and warm pearl white please?

A. If you are referring to the powder coat colours then Pearl White is a very slightly warm white and Warm White Pearl is a creamier white with a subtle pearlescent (shimmer) sheen. If you see the metal samples the difference is very obvious. It may not be at all apparent if you were looking on line or on a print brochure.

February 2016

Q. We are in the process of repainting. We were going to paint in the same colours but decided to change. Can you suggest a colour option for our 100 year old home exterior? We would like to stay away from grey as it is used a lot and feel it would make the house too dark.

A. There are a huge amount of options but these are just a few that might appeal to you – Resene Villa White (main), Resene Half Alabaster (white trims), Resene Double Lemon Grass (coloured trims), Resene Squall (roof and base of the house) and Resene Rustic Red (doors and smallest trims), or Resene Triple Merino (main), Resene Quarter Merino (white trims), Resene Sandstone (coloured trims and base of the house), Resene Lignite (roof) and Resene Permanent Green (doors), or quite different – Resene Duck Egg Blue (main), Resene Eighth Black White (white trims), Resene Coast (roof and base of house) and Resene Pohutukawa (doors and smallest trims).

Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Double Lemon Grass
Resene Double
Lemon Grass
Resene Squall
Resene Squall
Resene Rustic Red
Resene Rustic Red

Resene Triple Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Sandstone
Resene Sandstone
Resene Lignite
Resene Lignite
Resene Permanent Green
Resene Permanent Green
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Pohutukawa
 
February 2016

Q. We are currently retiling our house and changing the wall colours. The problem I have is that we have cream COLORBOND® frames for the windows and matching cream blinds which is throwing me off choosing colours. The new tile has a light brown/grey base so we thought to try Resene Eighth Akaroa on the walls of the laundry to start. This looks great but I wonder what trim colour I should try given the cream window frames? Or should we try a different wall colour?

A. Using another colour for trims introduces a third colour which may or may not work. I think you might use the same colour as the wall - Resene Eighth Akaroa - but in a semi-gloss enamel - this way the trims will have a sheen level difference but not a colour difference. If you don't want more cream like the blinds and the windows this is a good option. It keeps it simple and understated.

Alternatively slightly deeper than the walls - Resene Quarter Akaroa - this too keeps it simple and tonally related but not radically different. If it is Classic Cream you could use Resene Half Beeswax as a main and trim colour - it will look very 'yellow' - is this what you would like?

Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Quarter Akaroa
Resene Quarter Akaroa
Resene Half Beeswax
Resene Half Beeswax
February 2016

Q. I have painted my stucco house in Resene Swamp. I am now stuck with choosing the window colour and roof and need advice. The colour looks very dark up and my painter is saying to go lighter with the roof. You can see a lot of the roof from the road as the house is down a bank and you are looking down at the house.

A. Your painter could be right in regards to lighter colours - usually it is dark to the roof and light to the house - so because you have chosen the opposite way to go perhaps look at these colours – Resene Lattitude, Resene Bone White or Resene Inside Back.

Because the house is so dark it may be a bit of a visual shock to the eyes to go too stark or white for the windows (or if you used the same as the roof colour the look might be overly heavy and ill defined) so perhaps you could look at these soft toned neutrals - they will still 'pop out' a bit (as cleaner and lighter colours do) in close association with the very black/green toned main colour – Resene Black Haze, Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, Resene Barely There or Resene Sea Fog.

I recommend that you pop into your nearest Resene ColorShop to view the A4 real paint samples of these colours in their Colour Library. If you place the colours alongside the sample of your house colour - Resene Swamp - so you can better judge the reality of the colours and their (possible) relationship with the main house colour.

Resene Swamp
Resene Swamp
Resene Lattitude
Resene Lattitude
Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
Resene Inside Back
Resene Inside Back
Resene Black Haze
Resene Black Haze
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Barely There
Resene Barely There
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
February 2016

Q. We are currently building a house with matt black windows, an Oamaru Stone exterior cladding with cedar weatherboard in a birch colour and a polished concrete floor throughout except the bedrooms and bathrooms. Can you recommend some colour options for walls, ceiling, trims, etc?

A. You don't mention what colours you favour or what other colours you are having in the house - i.e carpet, drapes, kitchen cabinets, kitchen work tops, and upholstered furniture. Your new colours will need to work with these.

You might like to try these colours – Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream (walls) and Resene Double Alabaster (ceilings and woodwork).

Alternatively the woodwork might be the same as the wall in a semi-gloss enamel finish so it is all the same.

Or you could try Resene Double Black White (walls), Resene Half Black White (ceilings) or Resene Triple Black White - woodwork slightly deeper than the walls

The first option is lighter/brighter and the second uses muted grey tones.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
February 2016

Q. Would Resene Alabaster for the ceiling look OK with walls of Resene Duck Egg Blue or should I use a warmer colour such as Resene Half Thorndon Cream?

A. It depends whether you want a clean crisp traditional contrast to Resene Duck Egg Blue - a white like Resene Alabaster or a warm muted look where the Resene Duck Egg Blue is less blue toned and favours the undertone it has (grey) because it is being used with the deeper yellow/green edged neutral - Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. N.B colours used on a ceiling often look deeper because of the way the light falls away creating shadow - so Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream may look like Resene Half Thorndon Cream.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
February 2016

Q. We are recladding with board and batten painted Diesel/Black with cedar accents and trim. What colour would you suggest for the roof?

A. Lighter, brighter or fresher colours I think to balance the darkly handsome main colour. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Settlement, Resene Gauntlet, Resene Titania or Resene Paddock.

Resene Settlement
Resene Settlement
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Paddock
Resene Paddock
February 2016

Q. We are renovating and trying to match colours from previous owners. We know they have used Resene Half Thorndon Cream is most of the house, but the lounge and entranceway are difficult to match. Using colour samples Resene Half Tana looks to match but using the testpot it is slightly too light, and Resene Tana is way too dark. Do you have any suggestions?

A. The best and most full proof way to find out is to track down the old owners and ask them. The next best way is to keep trying the testpots until you get it right.

I think the clue may be in ‘Resene Half Tana looks right but is too light and Resene Tana is too dark' - you might try Resene Double Thorndon Cream - very similar in depth to Resene Half Tana but slightly deeper.

Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Tana
Resene Half Tana
Resene Tana
Resene Tana
Resene Double Thorndon Cream
Resene Double
Thorndon Cream
February 2016

Q. My roof is concrete tile Leaf Green and so is the entire guttering etc. The bottom of the house is red brick. I don't like the green, but am stuck with it. What colours would work well with the green and the red brick? I was hoping to make the house more neutral looking.

A. Any neutrals need to carry undertones of colour that relate to the existing roof and brick colours. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Ash, Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Merino, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey or Resene Quarter Fossil.

Resene Ash
Resene Ash
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Quarte Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Fossil
Resene Quarter Fossil
February 2016

Q. Our house exterior is Resene Iron with Resene Alabaster trim. What colour/s would you recommend for our front door to complement the light grey?

A. It seems to me that you have three major ways to look at the front door:
Same as the windows - Resene Alabaster.
Deeper charcoal greys - related to Resene Iron - perhaps Resene Tuna or darker - Resene Cinder.
Bold colour - Resene Redemption Blue, Resene Madam M or Resene Smooch.

Resene Iron
Resene Iron
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Tuna
Resene Tuna
Resene Cinder
Resene Cinder
Resene Redemption Blue
Resene Redemption Blue
Resene Madam M
Resene Madam M
Resene SmoochResene Smooch
Resene Smooch
 
February 2016

Q. We need a medium colour for large rural roofs (for a two storeyed barn and a long house roof). The buildings are Resene Kangaroo with window trim in Resene Lichen (or Resene Bandicoot), roller/shed doors Resene Karaka and a roof in Resene Castle Rock. Most people like Resene Ironsand, Resene Eternity or Resene Karaka (better contrast) but which medium colour would you choose to help me decide? We have much 'green' foliage in our setting here - gardens/kiwifruit orchard and shelter belts. We do prefer a flow-on effect, but flowers/foliage adds variety.

A. Perhaps you might look at these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Climate, Resene Touchstone or Resene Squall.

These mid toned colours look good with Resene Kangaroo, Resene Lichen or Resene Bandicoot, Resene Karaka etc without adding really strong contrast colours to your palette. They still allow the lush green foliage to look much 'greener' as the colours listed are more olive/brown tones like tree bark.

Resene Kangaroo
Resene Kangaroo
Resene Lichen
Resene Lichen
Resene Bandicoot
Resene Bandicoot
Resene Karaka
Resene Karaka
Resene Castle Rock
Resene Castle Rock
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Eternity
Resene Eternity
Resene Climate
Resene Climate
Resene Touchstone
Resene Touchstone
Resene Squall
Resene Squall
February 2016

Q. We are renovating our kitchen, which has Havana white cupboards which are close to Resene Merino. We are looking at white with a fleck of fawn engineered stone benchtop. We are installing recycled rimu flooring as the main feature. My partner and I did the colour personality testpot, he was autumn and spring and I was mixed, and spring and summer. He likes Resene Verdun Green, Resene Pine Glade and Resene Peru Tan (which all seem too bold for me). I was looking for what white/neutral to use. He wants Resene Verdun Green as a feature wall and Resene Pine Glade for the rest. What is the most modern choice in an autumn hue do you recommend? The kitchen window is south facing and it’s a 80s house so the aluminium window frames are bronze, close to Resene Gargoyle but a bit lighter. The kitchen is only 3m x 3.75m. The outside is Resene Bokara Grey and the living room has a fawn fleck carpet and chocolate brown curtains.

A. Perhaps your husband might be persuaded to like Resene Saratoga as a feature splashback colour or Resene Wimbledon as they are somewhat similar colours to the ones he chose. Because it is only behind the cook top it wouldn't be too much but would add some autumn inspired spice green to the room. If the main wall colour was Resene Double Merino or Resene Half Tana - both of these are from the latest The Range Whites & Neutrals fandeck or Resene Bubble White. It might look fresh, modern and lovely with the recycled rimu flooring. The white joinery will pop out nicely as being 'whiter'. This way you both get a bit of what you like.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Verdun Green
Resene Verdun Green
Resene Pine Glade
Resene Pine Glade
Resene Peru Tan
Resene Peru Tan
Resene Gargoyle
Resene Gargoyle
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Saratoga
Resene Saratoga
Resene Wimbledon
Resene Wimbledon
Resene Double Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene Half Tana
Resene Half Tana
Resene Bubble White
Resene Bubble White
 
February 2016

Q. We have a supply of roof paint for a home that we have recently bought. Now that we are doing up a rental for sale we have decided to use it. Our problem is what colour to use for the weatherboards and windows. The roof paint is Lignite. It is a 1930s bungalow so lends itself well to the popular colours being used. However we are undecided to what would be a head turner for the Lignite roof. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Also a window sash/sill colour suggestion.

A. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Half Bison Hide with Resene Quarter Rice Cake for windows, or Resene Half Emerge with Resene Alabaster, or Resene Thorndon Cream with Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream for windows.

The front door could be a lighter version of Lignite - Resene Quarter Lignite - just to create a little visual interest.

Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Lignite
Resene Quarter Lignite
 
February 2016

Q. I have an ex state home with a brown roof and brown aluminium window frames. My double garage is situated fairly close to the house and is Titania with brown doors. I need to paint the house and would like advice on which colour would tone in with the garage and all the brown roof/frames. I also have a medium sized concrete deck at the front of the house and wonder what colour to paint this?

A. A deeper version of Titania (the garage colour) that you might like to check out for the main house colour is one of these options – Resene Bone White, or similar but with a little more yellow brown undertone – Resene Overland, or slightly deeper – Resene Double Ash.

For the concrete deck you may look at using Resene Half Titania so it is a soft transitional colour rather than a dark attention seeking feature colour.

Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
Resene Overland
Resene Overland
Resene Double Ash
Resene Double Ash
Resene Half Titania
Resene Half Titania
February 2016

Q. We are building a two storeyed Georgian style house and looking at aluminium joinery in warm pearl white. The exterior is going to be painted brick and was wondering what colours you would recommend. I was thinking about Resene Buttery White. The roof is in Estate Grey asphalt tiles.

A. Resene Buttery White is a lovely soft yellow/cream - if you like this but want to compare it to a similar but slightly less yellow colour then you might check out these colours – Resene Half Pearl Lusta, Resene Bianca or Resene Half Villa White.

Resene Buttery White
Resene Buttery White
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
February 2016

Q. Our home is currently painted in Resene Quarter Tea on the walls with Resene Half Merino on the ceiling, doors and trim. Our joinery is Ironsand and our carpet is teal green. We will look to change the carpet to a charcoal/chocolate colour. Our furniture is rimu coloured. We do not dislike our current colour theme but find it makes the house dark. Would Resene Quarter White Pointer or Resene Quarter Merino lighten our house up?

A. You may need a whiter 'white' if you want to lighten the house - all colour (especially on the ceiling) will look deeper than you think it will. You could check out Resene Alabaster as it will give the rooms a lot more light. If you aren't keen on it looking so white then you might consider Resene Quarter Merino as it is slightly cleaner than Resene Quarter White Pointer.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter
White Pointer
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
February 2016

Q. We are looking at painting our entire house. The colours I had in mind were something like a soft white on the walls (not yellowy though) with white trims and a darker grey for the doors.

A. You don't mention whether it is an interior or an exterior that you are painting. These colours might appeal to you -but if it is an exterior then the door colours may need to be a deeper version of the ones I have suggested – Resene Sea Fog (walls), Resene Half Alabaster (trims) and Resene Half Gauntlet (doors), or Resene Barely There (walls), Resene White (trims) and Resene Quarter Tapa (doors).

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Gauntlet
Resene Half Gauntlet
Resene Barely There
Resene Barely There
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
February 2016

Q. We've just had a moderately small house built and although we chose Resene Quarter Bison Hide the builder painted the walls the same colour as the ceiling – Resene Half Bianca. I don't like the nondescript wall colour but now I'm concerned that the Resene Quarter Bison Hide will be too dark. What is your expert advice?

A. Resene Quarter Bison Hide isn't too dark - though in some rooms it may appear slightly deeper dependent upon the natural light, how small the spaces are (colour intensifies in smaller rooms) or because of the colour of the carpets and drapes etc.

Why don't you paint one wall in the colour - I suggest the largest room with the most natural light - to see if you like it? That would probably be the only way to truly judge what it looks like.

There is a lighter version of the colour - Resene Eighth Bison Hide if you decide against the Resene Quarter Bison Hide. These colours will work well with your Resene Half Bianca 'white' walls and ceilings. You may find that some of your rooms look lovely as a 'white' whereas other rooms benefit by a little more colour.

Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Bison Hide
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
February 2016

Q. I am renovating our 1920s villa. We have stripped the lounge wallpaper and want to paint. It has native timber floors however we will be carpeting the lounge floors with a dark brown undertone carpet. The thick skirtings throughout the room and door frame and the door will be left wood and the ceiling and two windows (one bay window) will be painted Resene Alabaster white. I'm thinking of using Resene Quarter Sandstone on the walls as the room gets a lot of light and has a high ceiling to create a warm cosy feel however I have just received the A4 sample of the colour and I'm worried it's going to be too dark. I was thinking of either going a shade lighter of the Resene Sandstone or using Resene Truffle. I've been told the paint colour becomes lighter once applied and dry is this correct?

A. You may be right to worry about Resene Quarter Sandstone. Colour in an interior often looks twice as deep as you might imagine it will. It is only on an exterior that bright natural light mutes out colour making it appear lighter. Wet paint looks lighter - it dries deeper.

There is no official/standard Resene Eighth Sandstone in the Resene Whites & Neutrals range of colours as a testpot for you to trial but Resene Half Perfect Taupe may be worth checking out as it will have the warmth that you are looking for.

Resene Truffle is a colour of similar depth but it is more yellow based by comparison to the warm/brown tone of Resene Half Perfect Taupe.

I always suggest that a testpot be applied to A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) as this is four times as big as the A4 sample and if you apply all of the testpot leaving an narrow unpainted border all around the edges it helps by making your eyes focus on the reality of the colour. The unpainted border provides a barrier (holds the colour well away from the existing coloured walls) so that the wall colour doesn't negatively influence how you see the tested sample. The very large sample can be rolled into a cone shape with the colour innermost - if you look into this the colour appears much deeper - this is a good representation of what the whole room will look like when painted. This is very helpful.

The colour of the carpet may make the lounge appear warmer but equally (dependent upon how dark it is) it may look darker as it will have a strong influence upon all other colours in the room.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Quarter Sandstone
Resene Quarter Sandstone
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
February 2016

Q. We have a large open plan space, half living area and half dining. The dining area needs something. Maybe a feature wall and artwork but which wall? We have Resene Half Smalt Blue and Resene Maxwell Smart in the other areas.

A. The best wall to use a feature of any kind is the wall without windows on it. I do think a large scale colour/pattern/texture can be introduced in quite a distinctive way - perhaps even a bold wallpaper which is very exciting way to go.

If you decide on an art feature it would need to take up at least a quarter of the wall to have the most impact.

23 Feb above here

Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Maxwell SmartResene Maxwell Smart
Resene Maxwell Smart
February 2016

26 Feb below here

Q. I am renovating a kitchen with the flooring being terracotta tiles. Could you suggest which colours would work well with this please?

A. You might look at using colours like these ones for the walls – Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Quarter Dutch White or Resene Half Pearl Lusta. If you are doing the ceilings you could stay with a crisp white - Resene Alabaster. You don't mention the kitchen cabinets. Are they being painted? If they are you could use a rich biscuit colour like Resene Biscotti.

Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
Resene Quarter Dutch White
Resene Quarter Dutch White
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Biscotti
Resene Biscotti
February 2016

Q. We are redoing our kitchen and repainting the house. The current carpets (grey) and drapes (grey and silver) are new so will keep them with neutrals mixed through. We are thinking about a neutral warm colour that is very lightly grey with paler doors. What would you suggest?

A. You could check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Double Sea Fog and paler for the doors - Resene Double Alabaster, or Resene Double Black White and paler for the doors - Resene Half Black White, or Resene House White and paler for the doors - Resene Quarter Black White.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter
Black White
February 2016

Q. We are using Resene Half Hillary in our kitchen, dining and living area. Which white would you suggest for the remainder of the house for the walls and which white for the ceiling and doors?

A. You might look at these possibilities for the walls – Resene Quarter Ecru White, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Wheatfield, Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. For the 'white' for the ceilings and walls you could consider Resene Eighth Rice Cake or Resene Alabaster.

Resene Half Hillary
Resene Half Hillary
Resene Quarter Ecru White
Resene Quarter Ecru White
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Wheatfield
Resene Quarter Wheatfield
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
February 2016

Q. What colour goes with primrose window frames for exterior weatherboards?

A. It depends very much what style of house you have and what other colours are on it - i.e. roof or other cladding i.e. bricks. You might look at these colours to see if they work with the window frames – Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Beeswax, or if you want to really emphasise the yellowness of the windows a soft grey might work – Resene Foggy Grey.

Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Beeswax
Resene Beeswax
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
February 2016

Q. We have a large lounge painted Resene Half Tea on the walls with Resene Alabaster ceilings and doors. We have built a fireplace 1.8m x 2.4m wide to install a gas fireplace. We would like to make this a feature of the room and were wondering what colour to paint it. I have a chocolate brown lounge suite and pale carpet but the room is on the darker side so also am mindful of not wanting to make the room too dark.

A. With such a large fireplace it will always be a 'feature' won't it? Perhaps, if you think about maintaining light in a room that may be a little dark, you might check out these colours: Resene Half Napa, Resene Double Tea or Resene Quarter Pravda. These are soft toned shadowy colours so are not too dark. Or - default choice - a very large 'feature' fireplace may not need a different colour to make it more of a feature – you could try Resene Half Tea.

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Double Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Quarter Pravda
Resene Quarter Pravda
February 2016

Q. I have an old Queenslander and would like to paint the external weatherboards an olive green with grey tones. Not too green, but warmer than grey colours and not too light in colour either. The trim will be white with gloss black gutters and built under section. Can you please recommend a colour?

A. Perhaps you could check out these light - mid toned colours olive/green/grey tones to see if they are the sort of colour you had in mind – Resene Touchstone, Resene Quarter Evolution, Resene Tapa, Resene Quarter Gravel, or greener Resene Siam or Resene Kelp.

Resene Touchstone
Resene Touchstone
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Siam
Resene Siam
Resene Kelp
Resene Kelp
February 2016

Q. I recently bought a '90s house and it's time for a repaint. The house has lovely wooden timber doors and timber sarking that appears to have been previously polyurethaned or similar. I would like to lighten up the wood and I would like to put on Resene Colorwood, either Resene Rock Salt or Resene Colorwood Whitewash. What is the best way to go about this considering the existing timbers have a polyurethane or similar on them? Is it a paint stripper job? Or a lot of sanding? Or do you have another recommendation?

A. The answers to your questions are yes - stripper, yes - sanding as well. You need to totally remove all residue of old polyurethane from the timbers so that the wood is bare. Only then can you use a stain like Resene Colorwood Rock Salt on it.

But there is another option. There is a product called Resene Colorwood Whitewash, which is more like a white tinted polyurethane than a stain. It can be applied over the top of new or old polyurethaned surfaces to give a 'white' semi clear look. There is an example of this finish in each Resene ColorShop in their Woodcare display stand. If you check it out it may be the answer to your query.

Resene Rock Salt
Resene Rock Salt
February 2016

Q. I would like to change the exterior yellow colour to a more modern colour. The exterior cladding is weatherboards. The house was built in the '70s. I would like to keep the base burgundy colour. The roof is a dark grey colour but cannot be seen easily from the street. I wanted to get your advice on what more modern colour, other than the yellow colour, would look good on the house? I was thinking perhaps something more neutral or a grey?

A. Some neutral grey based colours that you might check out to see if they appeal to you are these ones – Resene Half Mountain Mist, Resene Eighth Atmosphere, Resene Rakaia, Resene Triple Sea Fog or Resene Double Concrete.

Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Atmosphere

as eighth strength
Resene Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
February 2016

Q. We are looking for a pale exterior for our new house, with a warm white interior, without going bright white, or too yellow, grey or green in tone. We are looking at Resene Triple Rice Cake or Resene Thorndon Cream for the exterior. I have been told silver (Silver Pearl) aluminium joinery goes with everything. The interior of our current house is Resene Joanna which I like but I want a slightly lighter tone and perhaps less green. Perhaps a chalky, milky off-white?

A. I think it would be misleading to say Silver Pearl joinery goes with everything - but it does work well with some colours that are slightly yellow/grey toned - like the colour Resene Quarter Tapa, which is quite similar to the joinery.

Some other pale colours that you might consider for the exterior - apart from the yellow or green edged neutrals that you have mentioned - is Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Half Truffle or Resene Double Sea Fog.

As long as you don't mind the pale colours you have mentioned making the joinery look a bit deeper/greyer than you might imagine it will be then all is well.

You mention the interior, Resene Joanna as an existing colour, and are considering a slightly lighter less green toned colour - you might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Double Merino, or lighter - Resene Merino, or Resene Double Black White, or lighter - Resene Black White.

Getting a real metal sample of the powder coat colour is probably the best way of seeing what it really looks like and also seeing how it looks with exterior and interior colours.

Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Joanna
Resene Joanna
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
     
February 2016

Q. We currently have Resene Thorndon Cream walls with Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream door sills etc. However we are now getting a Silver Strata kitchen with Okiwi Bay carpet and Greyline vinyl and I worry that the Resene Thorndon Cream won't go anymore. Could you please recommend a colour, somewhere in between Resene Thorndon Cream and grey?

A. Your new look for the kitchen sounds super smart and contemporary. Perhaps you could investigate using these sorts of colours – Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene House White or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey.

For the trims you might use a soft toned white – Resene Half Black White or Resene Quarter Black White.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter
Black White
 
February 2016

Q. Could you suggest what colours go with Woodland Grey? We think of it for our roofing, fascias and gutters. My windows will be charcoal so I'm not sure the Woodland Grey would go. Also not sure what colour to use for the garage door. Our bricks are Austral Pepper.

A. COLORBOND® Woodland Grey has a soft olive undertone which is nice with the Austral Pepper bricks. The charcoal windows are a harder edged/deeper tone so if you wanted a roof colour that was a bit darker - more like the charcoal joinery - and dark enough to contrast a bit more with bricks you might choose COLORBOND® Monument.

Colours that go with the Woodland Grey are these ones - Resene Climate or Resene Bone White. They pick up the yellow/green/earthy tone of the Woodland Grey but they may make the Pepper bricks look browner by comparison.

Most people use the same colour on their garage door as on the roof.

Take your time - always ask to see larger metal samples of any powder coat colour and ask the roofing people where it has recently been used. That way you can do a drive by to check out other houses that have used the same roof colour. It helps to see it in situ so you can truly judge what it may look like.

Resene Climate
Resene Climate
Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
February 2016

Q. We have bricks that match Resene Half Canterbury Clay. For the base painting we want this colour but slightly lighter.

A. You might check out these colours – Resene Spanish White or Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay. They are remarkably similar - look at the colour codes - but Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay has a tiny bit more warmth (orange undertone) in it.

Resene Half Canterbury Clay
Resene Half
Canterbury Clay
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay
Resene Eighth
Canterbury Clay
February 2016

Q. Which is lighter in colour on weatherboards – Resene Mission Brown or Resene Cedar?

A. There is not a lot between the two colours in depth but Resene Cedar is very slightly lighter than Resene Mission Brown.

Resene Mission Brown
Resene Mission Brown
Resene Cedar
Resene Cedar
February 2016

Q. We have an older style house which we are renovating and extending the kitchen/dining and living area. We are retaining the rimu doors and floors. What colours do you suggest for the walls and ceiling?

A. Because of the rimu doors and floors you do have many options open to you. Sometimes choosing colours is about what you like, what will work well with your existing drapes, upholstery, duvets, kitchen cabinetry and work tops. You do need to think about that so that the colours work for you and harmonise well.

You might start by looking at these colours - Resene Orchid White, Resene Eighth Sisal, Resene Eighth Tana, Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown or Resene Eighth Truffle.

Ceiling colour options range from true white - Resene White - to sharp off whites like Resene Eighth Rice Cake or slightly grey/whites like Resene Half Sea Fog.

Resene Orchid White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Eighth Sisal
Resene Eighth Sisal
Resene Eighth Tana
Resene Eighth Tana
Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown
Resene Quarter Sandspit
Brown
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
   
February 2016

Q. We have purchased an old 1950s do up. The roof was replaced with COLORSTEEL® Ironsand. The internal walls are Resene Merino with Resene Alabaster trim. We would appreciate advice on an exterior colour.

A. COLORSTEEL® Ironsand is an earthy brown influenced charcoal and following on from your interior colours you might look at these colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene White Pointer, Resene Half Napa, Resene Double Merino or Resene Sea Fog.

Or a different look - because sometimes it is nice to investigate a 'random' option – Resene Emerge.

I suggest using Resene Alabaster for all window surrounds, under the soffits etc so the exterior contrast matches the interior trims.

COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
COLORSTEEL® Ironsand
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
   
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Double Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Emerge
Resene Emerge
February 2016

Q. I have painted my walls with Resene Sisal. What would you recommend for the skirting? For other rooms I am planning Resene Half Sisal and Resene Quarter Sisal.

A. You might check out these colours - they will work with all of the Resene Sisal palette of colours that you have in the house – Resene Half Rice Cake (crisp/clean) or Resene Eighth Sisal (warm/muted). The default or alternative option is to paint the skirting boards to match the wall colour in each room but in a semi-gloss enamel finish so that there is only a sheen level difference not a colour difference.

Resene Sisal
Resene Sisal
Resene Half Sisal
Resene Half Sisal
Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Sisal
Resene Eighth Sisal
February 2016

Q. Can you please suggest exterior colours which will go with a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof and joinery? It is a new staff house for our coastal dairy farm. I was thinking a white but am open to any other ideas. There will be base boards which will need painting as well.

Any ideas on a white or off white for interior would be great too. It is a small house 125 sqm so I thought a lighter colour would go well and must go with the Grey Friars joinery.

Q. Grey Friars is a really versatile and obliging charcoal - so many colours will work with it. You might look at these to see if they appeal to you – Resene Half Concrete (main colour) and Resene Double Concrete (base of house), Resene Half Thorndon Cream (main colour) and Resene Quarter Stonehenge (base of house), or Resene Caraway (main colour) and Resene Wheatfield (base of house).

The colours can be reversed - deeper as the main/lighter as the base - also.

Interior off white colours to consider - some are cool and some are warmer – Resene Half Sea Fog, Resene Quarter Wheatfield, Resene Half Barely There or Resene Eighth Spanish White.

If you use crisp white - Resene White - for ceilings and trims it will create a clean, light filled open look.

COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars
Resene Half Concrete
Resene Half Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Caraway
Resene Caraway
Resene Wheatfield
Resene Wheatfield
     
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Wheatfield
Resene Quarter Wheatfield
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth
Spanish White
 
February 2016

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29 feb below here

Q. We have just bought a house painted throughout in Resene Black White and it has charcoal carpet. The look is very cold. What colour should we repaint it? We have lots of natural colours (rust red, teal, olive, beige) in our furniture, rugs, art etc. Do we need to do the ceilings and trims as well as the walls or can they stay as they are?

A. If your ceilings and trims are Resene Black White (as well as the walls) they may take on a cooler/greyer tone if you change to a warmer white. Would this worry you? I have a feeling it may be a complete repaint that is needed.

You could check out these 'whites' to see if they appeal to you and if they work with Resene Black White ceilings and trims – Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Sea Fog, Resene Half Merino or Resene Milk White.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Milk White
Resene Milk White
February 2016

Q. I have an older small home with a pale green roof, bronze aluminium screens and window frames. The cladding has now been painted with Resene Double Thorndon Cream. I need a matching colour for a render going over the bricks. I am thinking Resene Half Pravda. Any suggestions? The house will be sold so I need a harmonious mix but not keen on another green.

A. Resene Half Pravda and Resene Double Thorndon Cream do look good together. Another colour that you might check out is Resene Half Stonewall.

Resene Double Thorndon Cream
Resene Double
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Pravda
Resene Half Pravda
Resene Half Stonewall
Resene Half Stonewall
February 2016

Q. How can I match the colour of the current paint on my house which is 10 years old? We have owned the property for three years. I want to match the doors and skirtings.

A. All paint undergoes colour changes as it ages so even if you had a tin of the original paint colour lurking at the back of the garage and 'touched up' over top of the existing paint you may find it didn't look the same.

You might do one of these things

  • Using a razor or sharp edge of a scraper slice off some paint from the inside (hinge side) of the door frame and take it in to the nearest Resene ColorShop to see if they can 'eye' match it, or they can send to our Colour Lab to get it colour matched for you. The piece of paint would need to be at least the size of a 50c coin.
  • Take home all of the colour charts that you feel are the most similar to do your own 'eye' match and be prepared to accept similar but not an exact match in a colour.
February 2016

Q. I need an external house paint colour. It was going to be Resene Tapa but decided this was too dark and Resene Half Tapa was too light. I mixed a Resene Quarter Tapa testpot with a Resene Half Tapa testpot and the effect was a totally different colour tone (a light grey). I need a green tone (no yellow effect or brown) but a little lighter than Resene Tapa - any thoughts?

A. All colours on exteriors can look a lot lighter due to bright natural light. Altering or lightening colours gives a whole new colour - often not what is expected at all - that is part of the maddening, mercurial and mysterious magic of colour.

Resene Tapa is a green toned grey and to achieve the green it relies on a yellow colourant combined with black colourant - this is what Resene Tapa has in it. By lightening it (less tinters/more white in the colour) it equates to a colour that is less green and more grey.

You might look at these colours but they achieve their green undertone by using more yellow colourant – Resene Climate, Resene Quarter Evolution or Resene Friar Greystone .

Or you might try Resene Tapa and Resene Half Tapa again but on the brightest side of the house. Sometimes after seeing other colours you can see the original colours and judge them quite differently.

Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Climate
Resene Climate
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Quarter Evolution
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
February 2016

Q. What is the best crispest white or whites for trims, ceilings etc to go with Resene Eighth Truffle on the inside walls, and for the soffits etc to go with Resene Merino on the exterior?

A. The crispest white is Resene White - or possibly Resene Eighth Black White.

Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
February 2016

Q. I have a plaster townhouse with a colour like Resene Double Pavlova. I like the idea of a grey but want some warmth so not too light and 'concretely' and not cool.

A. Perhaps you could check out these taupe toned greys as they are warm and not too 'concretey' – Resene Eighth Masala, Resene Mountain Mist, Resene Friar Greystone or Resene Triple Truffle.

Resene Double Pavlova
Resene Double Pavlova
Resene Masala
Resene Eighth Masala
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Triple Truffle
Resene Triple Truffle
February 2016

Q. I need advice on what colour to choose for four rooms - bathroom, shower, toilet and laundry - that all have creamy floor tiles/cabinet. We thought an off white or warm white colour (Resene Eighth Spanish White) for all rooms.

A. Resene Eighth Spanish White is a lovely warm white. If you use Resene Eighth Spanish White your rooms will take on a pink/peach undertone compared to the 'white'. But if you want another off white option that has less pink/peach in it then you might check out Resene Quarter Albescent White.

29 feb above here

Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth
Spanish White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
February 2016

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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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