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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 74

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. 74

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


Q. We are in desperate need of some advice for a light exterior colour for a new weatherboard home. Our mono pitched roof, garage door and front door is COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod and our joinery is matt Sandstone Grey.

A. Generally speaking the recommendations for paint colour on a real timber weatherboard house is that the LRV (light reflectance value) is between 45-100% and the colours I have suggested do fall into this criteria.

Some colour suggestions that are slightly paler than the window joinery colour - Resene Quarter Stonehenge [LRV 48], Resene Quarter Friar Grey [LRV 46], Resene Atmosphere [LRV 49], Resene Half Foggy Grey [LRV 56].

Some slightly whiter colour suggestions that are not too stark - Resene Triple Black White [LRV 71], Resene Quarter Atmosphere [LRV 67], Resene Triple Merino [LRV 67] or Resene Triple Sea Fog [LRV 71].

Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Atmosphere
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Triple Merino
Resene Triple Merino
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
February 2018

Q. I'm building a new house. The roof is Windsor Grey and the aluminium is Warm White Pearl matt. We're looking at a grey/blue colour for the main cladding to go with Alabaster type window facings and trim.

A. Here are some blue greys for you to consider: Resene Gull Grey, Resene Dusted Blue, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Quarter Grey Chateau and Resene Surrender.

Most of these colours have extending ‘family’ members, which means they can be made darker or lighter depending on your preference.

I recommend you visit a Resene ColorShop and ask to see larger samples of each of these colours, alongside your chosen roofing/window choices to see which ones work the best together.

Resene Gull Grey
Resene Gull Grey
Resene Dusted Blue
Resene Dusted Blue
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
February 2018

Q. We are getting our three bedroom home painted and have selected the following colours, as we love simple yet sophisticated shades. Please can you advise if the combination is fine, or suggest anything else that will make our home look cool, bright and modern?

Walls – Resene Alabaster, ceilings – Resene Half Alabaster, doors of rooms and in-built wardrobe – Resene Midwinter Mist, and border/skirtings – Resene Half Alabaster.

A. I think the whites and soft grey look lovely together. It is very modern, cool and bright.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Midwinter Mist
Resene Midwinter Mist
February 2018

Q. Our roof is COLORSTEEL® Scoria. I’m toying with the idea of a pale grey for the house. Is there one that would go with Scoria and what would you suggest for the window frames?

A. You might check out these greys that are quite interesting with unique undertones of colour in them - Resene Half Mountain Mist, Resene Half Foggy Grey, Resene Double Concrete, Resene Triple Sea Fog or Resene Double House White.

You could use real white - Resene White - but if you felt it was a little too stark then one of the following may be better- Resene Half Black White or Resene Half Sea Fog.

These two colours do come as more 'coloured ' whites that are slightly deeper, so it may pay to check out those options as well.


Resene Half Mountain Mist
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Double House White
Resene Double
House White
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
   
February 2018

Q. We are looking to paint the exterior of our home and had chosen the colour Resene Mine Shaft. We have painted a test wall that we've been living with for the last month. We really like the colour but would like it to be darker. Could you please suggest an option?

A. You might check out Resene Cod Grey. It is a deeper charcoal that looks smart.

Resene Mine Shaft
Resene Mine Shaft
Resene Cod Grey
Resene Cod Grey
February 2018

Q. We are building a double storey house in Linea®, and the exterior colour is Resene Triple Sea Fog with the soffits Resene Half Sea Fog. What colours could you suggest for the roof, fascia/spouting/downpipes, joinery, front door/garage door and back door? I have Resene Quarter Sea Fog for the interior ceiling and woodwork, and Resene Milk White for the walls and doors. I was thinking of COLORSTEEL® Gull Grey or Sandstone Grey for the roof and garage doors, but I am wondering if this is too light?

A. I think the greys that you mention for the roof and garage doors may be a little too light - but it is a personal choice. All colours on an exterior look a lot lighter/brighter than you imagine they will be. Perhaps you could check out TernStyle or Grey Friars if you wanted a deeper grey. Guttering and downpipes are often the same as the roof colour or the same as the window joinery.

The window joinery - if it is going to be a powder coated metal - needs to be carefully considered. There isn't a lot to choose from but if you wanted a white, then you might use Appliance White or Warm White Pearl. If you wanted a neutral silvery colour, then you might have Silver Pearl which is a metallic or Gull Grey.

If you wanted a dark distinctive colour, then matching the roof and the garage door might be the way to go.

Some people like to have a distinctive colour on their front door - to attract attention to the entry point of the house - again this is a personal choice. If the doors are wooden, then they can be painted in any colour that particularly appeals to you.

Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Sea Fog
Resene Milk White
Resene Milk White
February 2018

Q. What colours would look good on external render with COLORBOND® Basalt window frames. I’m thinking a light grey, off white or Tea. The internal floors are Tasmanian oak which is a blonde wood, and the carpets are grey with a very slight brown hue, to soften the difference.

A. The external render might look good in one of these colours - Resene Triple Black White, Resene Concrete, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice or Resene White Pointer.

For the interior you might use a warmed off white like Resene Barely There or Resene Half House White or Resene Sea Fog.

Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter
Silver Chalice
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Barely There
Resene Barely There
Resene Half House White
Resene Half House White
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
 
February 2018

Q. I would like to create a paint effect, so the walls look like concrete.

A. Applying several greys over a textured basecoat (Resene Sandtex or a finer finish like Resene AquaShield) might be a good starting point.
If you were to use a mid-toned grey as a first coat - acrylic paint diluted with Paint Effects Medium 50:50 and damp brushed randomly over the textured base and when dry, a lighter grey acrylic paint diluted and sponged over the first coat can achieve a sandy concrete finish. To achieve a slightly 'pebbled ' finish, you might flick a wet brush over the 2nd coat before it has completely dried, which will make small 'holes' in the paint. Don't have the brush too wet otherwise you will get a trickle effect rather than a series of small holes.

The grey colour may be any that appeals to you. However if you need a few to trial, to see if they will work for you then Resene Trojan as a base and Resene Archive Grey as a second coat might work. The diluted colours allow a certain see through effect, which softens the depth of the colour.

Or you could use a colour wash effect with Resene Paint Effects and multiple greys.

Resene Trojan
Resene Trojan
Resene Archive Grey
Resene Archive Grey
February 2018

Q. We are well overdue staining the cedar weatherboards on the exterior of our house. The colour combination currently is a limey-cream stain, complemented by ‘lovely’ forest green aluminium joinery and roof. We're looking at changing that to a darkish brown stain with black/charcoal joinery and roof. Does that colour combination sound like it could work?

A. Yes, I do think your ideas are good ones.

Darkish brown stain colours like Resene Woodsman English Walnut or Resene Woodsman Banjul or Resene Woodsman Sheer Black may give you some options to consider.

I strongly advise you to use CoolColour™ modified stain, to minimise the heat that the timber will get with a dark colour.

For maximum impact, the roof and joinery could be COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod.

Resene Colorwood English Walnut
Resene English Walnut
Resene Banjul
Resene Banjul
Resene Sheer Black
Resene Sheer Black
February 2018

Q. I am looking to paint the wall behind the bed a feature colour. I’d like something that will complement the blue and white curtains and Chinese scrolls. I have no idea whether to go dark, medium or light. It is a south facing, warm, double guest bedroom with Resene Sea Fog walls and white trim.

A. I am inclined to think a light or mid blue might be best.

Lighter options - Resene Linkwater or Resene Breathless, or for mid toned options - Resene Relax or Resene Echo Blue.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Link Water
Resene Link Water
Resene Breathless
Resene Breathless
Resene Relax
Resene Relax
Resene Echo Blue
Resene Echo Blue
February 2018

Q. We have just bought a seaside cottage, which we are renovating in a big way. I would like to paint the inside a bluey grey, which is warm and not cold looking.

A. Check out these blue/greys to see if any appeal to you - Resene Breathless, Resene Oxygen, Resene Casper, Resene Tiara and Resene Half Duck Egg Blue.

They are all quite different to each other - some are greyer, some are bluer, so please do take your time and test them well to get the right colour for your bach. Some rooms may not have as much sunlight flooding into them, so the colour may look really nice in some rooms and not so good in others. Testpots are your best friend if they are tested the right way.

Resene Breathless
Resene Breathless
Resene Oxygen
Resene Oxygen
Resene Casper
Resene Casper
Resene Tiara
Resene Tiara
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
February 2018

Q. We have a kitchen with timber oak floorboards, grey tiled splashback and off white stone benchtops. I am considering using either Resene Alabaster or Resene Double Alabaster on the cabinets with Resene Double Alabaster walls.

Could you advise which is better and what to use for doors and trims?

A. I think if you used Resene Alabaster for the kitchen cabinets and for the doors and trims, it would add a tiny bit of crisp clean contrast to the room and make Resene Double Alabaster on the walls look slightly more toned and interesting.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
February 2018

Q. We have a 1950s stucco cottage - semi rural-location in the sunny Hawkes Bay. We have plenty of roses and flowers. We are repainting the exterior. These are our thoughts: exterior walls in Resene Conch, iron roof in Resene Warrior and windows/doors in Resene Alabaster.

Do you think this combination will work? Is the roof too dark? We have a front concrete porch and steps - what colour would we paint that? Should we paint the base at the bottom of the house, which is concrete?

A. I do like your choice of colours. As an alternative colour to Resene Warrior, you could consider using Resene Coast, which looks really good with Resene Conch.

A nice colour for the porch and steps might be one of these options - Resene Dark Slate or Resene Rolling Stone.

If you wanted to stay with a contrast for the concrete base of the house (a traditional 1950s look), then you could use Resene Alabaster. Or you could do it the same colour as the steps and the porch.

Resene Conch
Resene Conch
Resene Warrior
Resene Warrior
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
Resene Dark Slate
Resene Dark Slate
Resene Rolling Stone
Resene Rolling Stone
February 2018

Q. We have a Californian bungalow with weatherboards. People seem to be painting grey, but we want a different colour and something that will stand out, any ideas please?

A. The following are some suggestions which may provide a start point for you to consider.

Try Resene Quarter Lemon Grass – weatherboards, Resene Rice Cake - all concrete and stucco, Resene Eighth Rice Cake – under the soffits, barge boards, guttering fascia, window frames and sashes, door frames, fences and gates, Resene Half Gravel – roof, and Resene Spotlight – doors.

Or Resene Duck Egg Blue - weatherboards, Resene Inside Back - all concrete and stucco, Resene Chalk Dust - under the soffits, barge boards, guttering fascia, window frames and sashes, door frames, fences & gates, Resene Coast – roof and Resene Sumptuous – doors.

Or Resene Coral – weatherboards, Resene Spanish White - all concrete and stucco, Resene Quarter Spanish White - under the soffits, barge boards, guttering fascia, window frames and sashes, door frames, fences and gates, Resene Grey Friars – roof, and Resene Double Cod Grey – doors.

Resene Quarter Lemon Grass
Resene Quarter
Lemon Grass
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Half Gravel
Resene Spotlight
Resene Spotlight
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Inside Back
Resene Inside Back
Resene Chalk Dust
Resene Chalk Dust
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
Resene SumptuousResene Sumptuous
Resene Sumptuous
Resene Coral
Resene Coral
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
February 2018

Q. I am looking for a grey colour for the outside of the house, with a darker base on the house and lighter on the walls, and also a colour for the roof.

A. You mention using two tones of grey and the following are ones that you might check out - Resene Quarter Rakaia - main colour, Resene Rakaia - base of house, Resene Bokara Grey – roof, and Resene Quarter Black White - all windows, under soffits and other trims.

Or Resene Quill Grey - main colour, Resene Dusted Grey - base of house, Resene Squall – roof, and Resene Eighth Rice Cake - all windows, under soffits and other trims.

Or Resene Iron - main colour, Resene Half Grey Chateau - base of house, Resene Grey Friars – roof, and Resene Alabaster - all windows, under soffits and other trims.

These greys are all quite different to each other. If you were to compare them you could see they have unique undertones of colour in them. The base of the house colour suggestions are soft toned, mid-toned variants of the main house colour - so they are not too dark - if you wanted a darker colour, you might use the roof colour.

Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Dusted Grey
Resene Dusted Grey
Resene Squall
Resene Squall
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Iron
Resene Iron
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
February 2018

Q. We are looking to paint the exterior of our house. We currently have a faded COLORBOND® roof in Pale Eucalypt and there is a lot of it! There are also surfaces that we need to be sympathetic to, including mock sandstone block walls on the lower half of the house, along with the terracotta tiles on the front porch and a similar coloured driveway. All of the existing aluminium window frames are a pale cream colour. We are currently debating whether to paint the roof, or just work with what we have. There is too much yellow at the moment. We are thinking about a warm white for the timberwork, eaves and fascia, but the wall colour has us stumped. If we were to paint the roof, we would be looking at something similar to the COLORBOND® Woodland Grey, and the walls a warm grey colour but we are really not convinced with painting the roof.

A. I like your idea of painting the roof Woodland Grey - the Resene colour match is called Resene Squall. A main colour (warm grey) that might work with that roof colour could be Resene Half Taupe Grey. A warm but crisp off white for all the trims, might be Resene Eighth Rice Cake. It would work with the sandstone block work and terracotta.

If you decided to leave the roof colour as it is now (faded COLORBOND® roof in Pale Eucalypt) then I would be inclined to use Resene Quarter Rice Cake on the walls and real white - Resene White for all the trim work. These colours will freshen up and lighten the look of the house. But the roof will look what it is, and may make you feel that the job is only half done.

Resene Squall
Resene Squall
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Half Taupe Grey
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
Resene White
Resene White
February 2018

Q. We have a kind of brownie/peach coloured house, and we want to change the exterior colour to a grey palette. With this in mind, when we replaced windows upstairs we chose frames in Palladium Silver. We are having a really hard time finding greys to complement these frames though. Do you have any suggestions?

A. If you considered one of these colours for the roof it may help co-ordinate with the Palladiam Silver joinery - Resene Windswept or Resene Nocturnal.

One of these soft toned greys may be appealing - please check them out - Resene Triple Concrete, Resene Kensington Grey and Resene Quarter Stack.

Or alternatively, you might look at some lighter grey/neutrals - Resene Bone White or Resene Atmosphere.

Resene Windswept
Resene Windswept
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
     
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Kensington Grey
Resene Kensington Grey
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Atmosphere
February 2018

Q. I'm about to re-roof my Mt Eden 1925 transitional bungalow and can't decide whether to go with COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars which seems quite dark, or Sandstone Grey. We will need to repaint the weatherboards. Can you suggest what weatherboard colours, would go with each of these roof colours?

A. All colours seen on an exterior look a lot lighter due to bright natural light stripping back the depth of colour, so the COLORSTEEL® colours you mention may seem quite different when they are in situ. Are you able to do a drive by to view other houses that have these colours on the roofs? It may help you make a decision.

The following are some colour suggestions for you to check out to see if they appeal to you - these look nice with Grey Friars, Resene Quarter Tea, Resene Half Truffle or Resene Geyser.

These look nice with Sandstone Grey, Resene Titania, Resene Quarter Atmosphere or Resene Double Black White.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Geyser
Resene Geyser
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
February 2018

Q. We want to paint our bathroom, as it is a dark colour called Resene Double Malta. The rest of our house is in Resene Caraway. We want to lighten it and would like some colour options.

A. You might check out these colours - they would be harmonious with the Resene Caraway, which is the main colour in the rest of the house - Resene Villa White, Resene Half Evolution, Resene Ash, Resene Half Rice Cake or Resene Dusted Grey.

Resene Double Malta
Resene Double Malta
Resene Caraway
Resene Caraway
     
Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Half Evolution
Resene Half Evolution
Resene Ash
Resene Ash
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Dusted Grey
Resene Dusted Grey
February 2018

Q. We painted our previous house internally with Resene Spanish White (walls) and Resene Half Rice Cake (ceiling and trimmings). I was very happy with the colour and am considering the same colours again. I would like some alternative choices, as we are currently renovating a huge period detailed kitchen, with mantle over oven and with panel doors. I am looking at a colour for the kitchen cupboards/doors and the remainder of the house, walls, ceiling, doors, high skirting and wide architraves, for a Victorian design.

A. As you have already used Resene Spanish White and Resene Half Rice Cake, you might consider using a slightly crisper/lighter variant of the colour you have used for the ceilings etc in your previous house - Resene Quarter Rice Cake - this could be the kitchen cupboards/doors, Resene Eighth Rice Cake - ceilings and all woodwork, Resene Half Thorndon Cream and Resene Triple Merino for the walls in the house.

Resene Triple Merino has a bit of depth and might be used in very sunny or larger rooms, whereas the Resene Half Thorndon Cream is a lovely warm cream that works well in rooms that aren't so blessed with bright natural light. Both colours allow for maximum input of colourful drapes, rugs, artwork etc.

Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Merino
Resene Triple Merino
February 2018

Q. I’m not sure what colour to paint my bedroom. I have a taupe linen bedcover and brass retro lighting. I will probably go with plain linen sheers for windows. I thought maybe Resene Heathered Grey, is that too much Taupe? The carpet is either Rocky Road Kennedy Point Cavalier Bremworth, or Ecru Boston Norman Ellison. We need to finish painting before the carpet can be installed. The room is dark but has a big slider and gets afternoon sun.

A. I don't think Resene Heathered Grey is too much taupe. How does this colour look with the carpets you are considering? The carpet and the wall colour do have to have, a very harmonious relationship.

Another thing to consider is the natural light in the room. Westerly (later afternoon) light is very warm and will make a taupe look rosier (red/yellow) and more brown.

Resene Heathered Grey
Resene Heathered Grey
February 2018

Q. We have Resene Triple Parchment interior doors, skirting, window ledges and architraves. The walls are Resene Parchment but I’d like to change the walls to Resene Black White or Resene Concrete. Will that go, as I don’t want to repaint all the doors and ledges?

What other colour suggestions would you have, with my preference being whites and grey?

A. Will you mind if a white or grey on the walls doesn't look good with the Resene Triple Parchment?

You will really emphasise the rich yellow/brown colour of the Resene Triple Parchment, and the paler wall colour will draw a huge amount of attention to the woodwork.

Perhaps you could undercoat in white, all of the walls to remove the influence of Resene Parchment and that would give you a bit of a dress rehearsal to see if you like the dark woodwork trims and the white together. And the removal of the existing wall colour will allow you a good neutral wall surface to test colours on.

If you didn't go to a really pale/white colour but used a colour with a bit of depth on the walls, it might look a little better.

You could look at these colours to see if they work with the colour on the woodwork - Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene Double Black White, Resene Triple Concrete, or Resene Half Foggy Grey.

Resene Triple Parchment
Resene Triple Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
February 2018

Q. We have a single level, Spanish style house with red roof tiles and a terracotta tiled entrance. We want to repaint the exterior, which is currently cream. Could you suggest an up to date colour scheme? I was thinking about Resene Triple Sea Fog?

A. I like your idea of using Resene Triple Sea Fog. It is a nice warm toned misty grey. You might also check out Resene Quarter Ash and Resene Quarter Silver Chalice - they are a little bit coloured but still very pale.

Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter
Silver Chalice
February 2018

Q. Which white would you recommend for skirting, doors and windows with Resene Half Akaroa?

A. You might use one of these 'whites' - they both look good with Resene Half Akaroa - Resene Quarter Villa White (this is a warm white), or Resene Alabaster (this is crisper/cooler type of white compared to Resene Quarter Villa White).

Resene Half Akaroa
Resene Half Akaroa
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
February 2018

Q. I want to lighten up our walls, which are currently shades of Resene Napa, with the trims Resene Parchment. I do not want to do the trims, just the walls and was thinking of Resene Rice Cake but need some advice.

A. Resene Rice Cake will work with the existing Resene Parchment trims. They have the same type of undertone, both warm colours with hints of muddied tones. Resene Rice Cake is a great depth of colour for the walls throughout the house; you can tell there is a colour on the wall while still achieving the current trend of ‘white’ walls. The only colours that Resene Rice Cake won’t sit well with are creams and yellows, because it will make the Rice Cake look dirty.

Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Quarter Napa
Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
February 2018

Q. We are currently renovating our house and are looking for an accent colour to use on the back of the kitchen island bar and possibly a feature wall in a living area. There are rimu floorboards throughout; the interior is painted Resene Quarter Merino on the walls, ceiling and trim. The kitchen is going to have black Melteca cabinetry for overheads and Snowdrift for the island and base cabinetry. The benches are ply.

Can you recommend an earthy, olive green? Would Resene Panzano or Resene Mineral Green possibly work with those colours?

A. Resene Mineral Green has a slight blue undertone. Resene Panzano has an earthy undertone and is a nice depth of colour to use for feature areas.

Other colours you may like to consider: Resene Green Meets Blue, Resene Streetwise, Resene Middle Earth, Resene Cabbage Pont or Resene Waiouru.

Both kinds of colours would work with your chosen finishes. I suggest you pop into your local Resene store and ask the staff to show you A4 sizes of each of these colours, before purchasing testpots. Bring along your kitchen samples and also ask to see a sample of the Resene Quarter Merino, so you can view the entire palette at once.

Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Panzano
Resene Panzano
Resene Mineral Green
Resene Mineral Green
   
Resene Green Meets Blue
Resene Green Meets Blue
Resene Streetwise
Resene Streetwise
Resene Middle Earth
Resene Middle Earth
Resene Cabbage Pont
Resene Cabbage Pont
Resene Waiouru
Resene Waiouru
February 2018

Q. We are going through a rebranding and the consultant has a range of colours to use, which are Pantone.

Can you provide a Resene colour match, which I can then use when repainting buildings and spaces?

A. We have colour matches on file for most of these. You can request the paint is tinted to your chosen colour/s at your local Resene ColorShop.

February 2018

Q. We're painting the exterior of our two storey 70s stucco and Linea® board home. We have joinery in Silver Pearl, garage doors in Sandstone Grey, barge boards and front entry door in Grey Friars. I am thinking of Resene Double Concrete as the main body with a contrast of Resene Half Nocturnal or Resene Baltic Sea. The Resene Concrete sample pot we have tried seems pretty white, and although I would like some strong contrast I wonder if it's going to be too bright - we're looking for something that is modern and contemporary at the same time. We are also trying to stay away from colours that carry blues or pinks. Do you have any other suggestions?

A. All colours on an exterior look lighter or brighter due to the way natural light strips back their depth. You have mentioned all the greys you are going to use and they are all quite different in their undertones - will it worry you if they are not harmoniously related to each other?

You might look at using Resene Quill Grey as a main colour - it looks nice with Sandstone Grey and Silver Pearl, or if you wanted to pick up the subtle steel blue undertone that is in Grey Friars you might look at using Resene Surrender as it is slightly deeper than Resene Double Concrete and has less of the mauve undertone that that colour has in it. Both Resene Baltic Sea and Resene Half Nocturnal have a lot of warmth (I call it a red undertone though other people see it as a brown) and don't sit comfortably with Resene Grey Friars, Resene Sandstone Grey or Silver Pearl. Are you desperate to use these random greys together? You might look at Resene Foundry and see if it looks good with all your other greys.

Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Half Nocturnal
Resene Half Nocturnal
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
 
February 2018

Q. We are building a new house and like Resene Triple Sea Fog for the exterior plaster but it seems a bit too light. Is there a darker version? We are contrasting with Resene Quarter Ironsand on Linea® board.

A. All colours appear lighter or brighter on an exterior so even the Resene Quarter Ironsand may look more like Resene Eighth Ironsand at certain times of the day.

Slightly more shaded colours that are similar to Resene Triple Sea Fog that you might check out are these - Resene Quill Grey, Resene Half Foggy Grey or Resene Silver Sand.

Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Quill Grey
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
Resene Silver Sand
Resene Silver Sand
February 2018

Q. I would like to paint our house which is near the coast, Resene Seashell and the door Resene True Blue. The roof will be dark grey or black. What colour should I do the joinery?

A. I can imagine if you used real white - Resene White, it would look really fresh and crisply clean with your other colours. If you didn't want to enhance the Resene Seashell and Resene True Blue with a strong contrasting white then you might use a subtle grey white – Resene Black White.

Resene Seashell
Resene Seashell
Resene True Blue
Resene True Blue
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
February 2018

Q. We are building a country character Linea® home and looking to use a dark blue (almost black) exterior colour and use a white for the windows, do you have suggestions of complementary colours in these ranges? Also we have a lot of natural light inside and we like the white crisp look, not creamy or grey white more green or beige white; can you suggest a colour and something which complements it on the roof and skirtings?

A. The following colours are worth checking out to see if they are the dark blue - almost black that you are looking for - Resene Blue Charcoal, Resene Dark Side, Resene Gunmetal, Resene Double Cod Grey or Resene Jaguar.

A lot of very dark colours aren't available in 10 litre pails - only 4 litre tins. Would this be a problem?

Is your window joinery going to be powder coated metal or traditional wooden joinery? If it is metal the selection of whites may need to be viewed as powder coated metal samples - some are very cool almost blue toned like Arctic White and some are white but appear softer and not as optically challenging like Appliance White. If you are having traditional wooden joinery then one of these whites might suit your exterior colour scheme - Resene Black White or Resene Half Alabaster.

Interior colours that have little green or beige undertones to them might be one of these types of colours - Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Merino, Resene Eighth Truffle or Resene Half Albescent White.

Resene Blue Charcoal
Resene Blue Charcoal
Resene Dark Side
Resene Dark Side
Resene Gunmetal
Resene Gunmetal
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Jaguar
Resene Jaguar
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
     
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half
Albescent White
 
February 2018

Q. Our interior walls are currently painted mostly in Resene Double Tea with both white or dark grey ceilings and a dark grey feature wall in the lounge. We think the dark grey is Grey Friars. We would like to replace all of the Resene Double Tea with a lighter colour (bedroom, stairwell, lounge and kitchen) in order to brighten the house up a bit. We are thinking maybe black/white of some sort; do you have any other suggestions please? The lounge curtains are red.

A. Having a very much lighter/brighter main colour (instead of the muddy toned Resene Double Tea) will go some way to freshening up the interior. The dark coloured ceiling will continue to absorb a lot of the natural light and it will look very blue/grey charcoal when the walls are painted a white. Is that the look you want to achieve? You might need to try several different whites to see which one works best with the coloured ceiling and the feature wall.

I suggest you undercoat in white all the walls in the first instance so you can see how the walls make the spaces appear. It is easier also to test colours on a pure white background - you will see the test samples as true representations of the colour.

If the white undercoat feels wrong (too stark) it may mean that a subtle soft edged coloured white may look better. Perhaps one of these whites will suit - Resene Half House White, Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Half Barely There, Resene Double Black White or Resene Wan White.

Resene Double Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Half House White
Resene Half House White
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
February 2018

Q. We need advice on colour schemes to paint out Hardiplank® house. The roof colour is Karaka and the aluminium joinery is cream. We are not sure if we should paint the lower level (under the deck) a different colour or leave it all the same colour. Can you suggest some colours that may go with Karaka and cream windows (and an opinion on the lower level)?

A. The lower level of the house will look different to the top storey even if it is painted the same colour - due to the shadow caused by the deck. Because of that fact I would be inclined to paint all of the house the same colour and let natural light (or lack of natural light) create a slightly deeper/different look.

You might check out the following colours to see if any of them appeal to you - Resene Ash, Resene Quarter Craigieburn, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Bone White or Resene Tea.

Doing the facing boards of the deck and the posts a deeper colour may add a little extra dimension to the house - perhaps Resene Quarter Karaka to pick up the roof colour in a lighter but related look. Maintaining white trims creates a nice clean crisp contrast.

Resene Ash
Resene Ash
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarte Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Taupe Grey
Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Quarter Karaka
Resene Quarter Karaka
February 2018

Q. I would like to paint my house, and think I have decided to paint the walls white, and the roof a light grey (it gets hot upstairs) and the fascias white. I was wondering whether you think it is better to paint the walls an off white (e.g. Resene Black White or similar) so it isn't so stark and bright? Also what shade of grey would you recommend for the roof? e.g. a grey with brown or green tones, or a more neutral/cooler grey such as Resene Half Jumbo or Resene Quarter Scarpa Flow?

In terms of darkness, I was thinking of an LRV in the 40s and maybe a CoolColour or should I go lighter for less heat? I like a darker colour for contrast, but there is a tension with the increased amount of heat.

A. You could use a white like Resene Sea Fog or Resene Black White if you didn't want a very stark white. All colours seen on an exterior look a lot lighter/brighter because of bright natural light so even the 'coloured' whites may appear very white at certain times of the day. The sun leaching out the depth of colour is more definite in regard to the roof because of the 45 degree angle of the iron.

The two greys you mention in regard to the roof are both warmer greys - Resene Half Jumbo (LRV 40) is slightly lighter than Resene Quarter Scarpa Flow (LRV 42) - another light grey that you might check out is Resene Atmosphere (LRV 40) or Resene Archive Grey (LRV 41) - both of these have a yellow green undertone. In order to reduce heat build-up I definitely recommend using a CoolColour™ version of the roof colour.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Jumbo
Resene Half Jumbo
Resene Quarter Scarpa Flow
Resene Quarter
Scarpa Flow
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Archive Grey
Resene Archive Grey
February 2018

Q. I am thinking of painting my bungalow Resene Half Duck Egg with Resene Duck Egg Blue windows. What colour roof would you put with this?

A. You might check out these roof colours - Resene Grey Friars, Resene High Tide, Resene New Denim Blue or Resene Coast.

Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene High Tide
Resene High Tide
Resene New Denim Blue
Resene New Denim Blue
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
February 2018

Q. Do you have a colour Resene Triple Alabaster? If not what light colour do you suggest for a door colour when the rest of the rooms are Resene Alabaster. These are new four panel doors.

A. Yes we do have Resene Triple Alabaster it is called Resene Half Sea Fog. Your wall colour - Resene Alabaster is also known as Eighth Sea Fog. If you felt you wanted a slightly deeper white for the doors then you might check out Resene Sea Fog also.

Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
February 2018

Q. We are replacing our timber windows for aluminium and either going to have Matt Gravel or Ghost Grey. We have a Karaka roof which we will paint to suit whatever colour we decide. We want some suggestions to go with Resene Half Stonehenge as our house colour which is rough cast. We will keep the wooden trim around windows that are painted in Resene Wan White. If we go the lighter grey we may need to paint entire house, so a suggestion for that option want something modern like greys or off white if we decide to go with Ghost Grey windows.

A. If you went for the lighter window joinery - i.e. which is a unique warm toned light grey - you may need to look at greyer types of colours in order to co-ordinate well. Perhaps one of these colours may appeal to you - Resene Mountain Mist, Resene Half Scarpa Flow, or darker - Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey. And for the roof - Resene Nocturnal.

I am not 100% sure that maintaining the Resene Wan White would work - it may look too white and create a discord between the new main colour and the Ghost Grey.

If you went with the Resene Gravel - which is a simpler option because it is very dark but doesn't identify as a definite colour - then you might use one of these colours - Resene Quarter Taupe Grey or the deeper variants of this colour, or Resene Eighth Friar Grey or the deeper variants of this colour, or Resene White Pointer or deeper variants of this colour And for the roof - Resene Element. The house colour suggestions and the Resene Wan White window surrounds would work together harmoniously.

Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Half Stonehenge
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
     
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Mountain Mist
Resene Half Scarpa Flow
Resene Half Scarpa Flow
Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey
Resene Quarter
Fuscous Grey
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
 
Resene Gravel
Resene Gravel
Resene Quarte Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Taupe Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Element
Resene Element
February 2018

Q. We're painting the exterior of our bungalow and looking at a colour palette. We like blues (Resene Tiara, Resene Hermitage and Resene Bali Hai) or greens (Resene Envy, Resene Soft Apple, Resene Green Mist or Resene Soft Mint). We have a tile roof that the colour generator matches as Congo Brown. What colours would match well in a green or blue hue, with our roof? Could you use our likes as a guide and select colours for us?

A. Some of the slightly more muted blues and greens may work well with the existing roof colour - Resene Bali Hai, Resene Sorrento, Resene Envy or Resene Pewter or much paler colours - Resene Half Emerge and Resene Half Duck Egg.

If the trims are all done in real white - Resene White - the house will have the clean crisp contrast, to enhance the main house colour.

Resene Tiara
Resene Tiara
Resene Hermitage
Resene Hermitage
Resene Bali Hai
Resene Bali Hai
Resene Envy
Resene Envy
Resene Soft Apple
Resene Soft Apple
Resene Green Mist
Resene Green Mist
Resene Soft Mint
Resene Soft Mint
Resene Bali Hai
Resene Bali Hai
Resene Sorrento
Resene Sorrento
Resene Envy
Resene Envy
Resene Pewter
Resene Pewter
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene White
Resene White
February 2018

Q. I would like a very subtle apricot colour - like a very subtle sunrise hue. Would you be able to suggest some colours please?

A. You could check out these colours to see if they are the sort of sunrise inspired apricot, that you are after - Resene Island Spice, Resene Egg Sour, Resene Sazerac, Resene Karry, Resene Tuft Bush, Resene Pot Pourri, Resene Dawn Chorus, Resene Pink Terrace or Resene Sakura.

Resene Island Spice
Resene Island Spice
Resene Egg Sour
Resene Egg Sour
Resene Sazerac
Resene Sazerac
Resene Karry
Resene Karry
Resene Tuft Bush
Resene Tuft Bush
Resene Pot Pourri
Resene Pot Pourri
Resene Dawn Chorus
Resene Dawn Chorus
Resene Pink Terrace
Resene Pink Terrace
Resene Sakura
Resene Sakura
 
February 2018

Q. While away, we had requested our painter to use Resene Thorndon Cream. He has used Resene Parchment, is there a difference?

A. Yes - there is quite a bit of a difference. Resene Thorndon Cream is a green toned cream. Resene Parchment is slightly deeper yellow toned earthy beige. They are completely different, also in the ambiance they create.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
February 2018

Q. The internal walls of my home are currently Resene Quarter Iron, which reflects too much blue. I want a light grey and quite like Resene Half Concrete and Resene Half White Pointer. I would like a grey that reflects light and doesn't look shadowy - we have lots of natural light, so I'd like it to brighten rather than dull the room.

A. You mention Resene Half Concrete, which is a warm toned eel skin grey and Resene Half White Pointer, which is warm, toned grey beige. They are both good colours but it is really important that they are tested carefully. Another colour that may appeal to you is Resene Double Black White - this is a greyed white - or the lighter/brighter variant - Resene Black White.

All greys carry undertones of colour. When you test colour, it is a very good idea to paint all of the testpot onto a very large white A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops), leaving a narrow unpainted border. The unpainted border allows the eye to focus on the reality of the colour. If testpots are applied to an already coloured wall, it can make you see the colour wrong as the greater amount of wall colour, alters your perception of what the tested colour is truly like.

The A2 card can be moved from wall to wall/room to room so that you can see how changing natural light and artificial light alter the colour. They will all have a shadowy look in corners close to the floor and in rooms where there isn't a great deal of all day long sunlight on the walls.

Resene Quarter Iron
Resene Quarter Iron
Resene Half Concrete
Resene Half Concrete
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
February 2018

Q. We are painting all our interior walls with Resene Double Sea Fog, and our ceilings/trim with Resene Quarter Alabaster. We've reached the staircase, which has stained wooden bannisters, and we are thinking of painting them a very dark colour. We think Resene Black might be a step too far. Can you suggest a very dark colour that would work with Resene Double Sea Fog (and preferably Resene Quarter Alabaster as well)?

A. If you are going to the extra effort to paint over the stained wooden banisters (sand/seal/undercoat/topcoat), one of these dark charcoal colours might be worth checking out - Resene Baltic Sea or, slightly lighter Resene Half Baltic Sea, Resene Fuscous Grey or Resene Nocturnal.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
Resene Black
Resene Black
 
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
February 2018

Q. In fear of choosing the wrong grey again, I would love some advice on what colour to use in my daughter’s small bedroom. Her room is south facing and is the coldest room in the house. We have a nice new dark brown/grey mixed carpet. The testpots I have are the Resene Stack range – too dark, and the Resene Surrender range, which I used in our master bedroom being N/W facing. I loved the Resene Double Alabaster for our ceiling and would like to carry this into our daughter’s bedroom and eventually the rest of the house. I am trying to achieve a more modern clean crisp look, to our solid timber 1960s home and will be painting over all the native timber windows. Cue cries of horror. I was trying to steer away from the old faithful Resene Napa and Resene Tea look, but I feel with the carpet colour I may have to consider the ‘greige’ look if I have my heart set on beautiful greys and white accents that go with the carpet, and which will extend from the daughters room into the rest of the house eventually. Maybe something like the Resene Delta colour palette?

A. South facing rooms are not blessed with warm natural light. Often even using real white to brighten a south facing room, you end up with a cool, somewhat grim grey hue. So a small cold south facing room can be very tricky finding the right colour for. You may need to test quite a few colours to find the right one. The other factor to keep in mind, is that all colours in an interior have the potential to look deeper (or brighter depending on the colour) due to the shadowlines and close proximity of the walls intensifying the colour.

You mention the Resene Delta colour palette - this is a grey with a green undertone. Whether it will work or not depends on how you test the colour. I always recommend that all of the testpot (two coats) be applied to a very large white A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops). If you apply two coats and leave a narrow unpainted border all around the perimeter of the card, it helps you see the reality of the colour and its depth - compared to white.

If the card is moved from wall to wall, and viewed during the day (natural light) and night (artificial light), it gives you the opportunity to judge the colour. Standing it upright on the carpet so you can see how the other major colour in the room, influences how the paint sample will look, and is very important.

Some slightly warmer grey colours that you might check out are these - Resene Athens Grey, Resene Concrete, Resene Double Black White, Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene House White.

Comparing all these greys to each other is a very good way of identifying the coloured undertones that are in each colour. Pop into a Resene ColorShop to view the grey colours in their Colour Library - they are painted A4 samples, which do help with deciding on which particular testpots might be worth trialling in the room.

If finding the right grey for your daughters' room resists you, then have you considered using the 'white' that you have used on the ceilings - Resene Double Alabaster - for the walls and possibly using a grey for drapes, blinds, duvets or painted furniture. It is just another way of getting the look without the 'look' causing a problem.

Resene Stack
Resene Stack
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
   
Resene Napa
Resene Napa
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Delta
Resene Delta
   
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene House White
Resene House White
February 2018

Q. We are renovating and making the kitchen, dining and living rooms open plan. The kitchen cabinetry will be a 'country style' look in classic White Satin and the floors are restored rimu. We have selected Resene Triple Sea Fog for the walls and Resene Half Sea Fog for the ceiling. What colour would you recommend for the skirting board and window architraves? Also, would the Resene Triple Sea Fog look ok with the rimu floor?

A. Resene Triple Sea Fog is a lovely misty colour and it does look really nice with rimu.

I think I would be inclined to do either the same colour as the wall on the skirting boards and window architraves in semi-gloss enamel - it will merge in more, but the different sheen level will make it seem a little different to the walls.

Or the same colour as the ceiling, if you wanted a distinct contrast between the wall and the floor but I have a little fear that it may create a discord with the 'other white ' - the kitchen cabinet white - if they aren't exactly the same. But in saying that, you may not mind if they don't look exactly the same.

Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
February 2018

Q. I purchased a house about 15 years ago and the kitchen benchtops, cabinets and doors were all coloured a dark cream. I have had the house rented for the last eight years. The tenant is moving on and I have now decided to sell my house. I have used Resene Terracotta on the walls of the kitchen and dining room. I am eighty years of age and my wife and I wish to change Resene Terracotta to another colour but we have found it difficult to find a suitable colour to go with our kitchen cabinets. The floor in the kitchen and dining area has been replaced with a vinyl, which is a pale natural tan plank. Our lounge which leads into the kitchen is a blue grey.

A. Perhaps a softer toned colour might work as a replacement for the terracotta - Resene Double Biscotti, Resene Double Spanish White, Resene Lemon Grass, Resene Viktor or Resene Merlot.

Resene Double Biscotti
Resene Double Biscotti
Resene Double Spanish White
Resene Double
Spanish White
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Viktor
Resene Viktor
Resene Merlot
Resene Merlot
February 2018

Q. Could you please suggest some colours to paint the exterior of a 1980s plain cladded house, with brown aluminium windows? I was hoping for a fawn colour, but the testers I have tried that look fawn are grey once painted on the house - this happened with Resene Double Tea.

A. The following warm pale brown colours may be worth checking out to see if they appeal to you - Resene Double Akaroa, Resene Malta, Resene Pale Oyster and Resene Bronco.

Do you think that painting on top of the existing house colour with the Resene Double Tea testpot, may have negatively influenced how the colour looked? This can happen and sometimes it makes you pass over a colour that may be right if it is tested without being influenced by another colour.

Resene Double Tea
Resene Double Tea
Resene Double Akaroa
Resene Double Akaroa
Resene Malta
Resene Malta
Resene Pale Oyster
Resene Pale Oyster
Resene Bronco
Resene Bronco
February 2018

Q. We have bought a 1990s Monotek® house. It is currently has a white and denim blue exterior, which we want to update as it looks very old fashioned. The foundation is painted in dark blue, but it doesn’t go all the way around the house, so it looks disjointed. The house has that terrible brown aluminium joinery on the window frames that was popular in the 80s. We need help picking a colour scheme that will modernise the exterior of the house, roof and garage, whilst working with the ugly brown aluminium.

A. You could use a brown (similar to the windows) just for the timber pergola and posts - it would help to befriend the window joinery so that it wasn't the only brown. You could try Resene Lignite or Resene Sambuca. If you weren't keen on any more brown then these wooden elements could be painted to match the roof colour.

If the roof and the garage roller doors are to be painted a new colour, you could use a warm dark charcoal - Resene Ironsand or Resene Element.

Some interesting neutrals to check out for the main house colour could be one of these - Resene Linen, Resene Joanna, Resene Eighth Friar Grey, Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Half Tea.

Resene Lignite
Resene Lignite
Resene Sambuca
Resene Sambuca
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Element
Resene Element
Resene Linen
Resene Linen
Resene Joanna
Resene Joanna
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
Resene Eighth Friar Grey
 
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
 
February 2018

Q. We are going to paint the exterior of our house, which is a 1950s rough cast with a steel roof. We have white trims and want to know if Resene Half Tea on the walls, with Resene Karaka on the roof would look nice? We have new white guttering also.

A. Resene Half Tea is a very nice colour but it may look paler than you might imagine, as bright natural light strips back the depth of any colour on the exterior of a house. It could look like Resene Quarter Tea - would that be ok? If you used Resene Tea (full strength) it may look more like Resene Half Tea, apart from on the side of the house that doesn't get much sunlight. Resene Karaka will work.

Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Karaka
Resene Karaka
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
February 2018

Q. We are looking to paint inside our home, with Resene Stonehenge (and variations half, quarter etc). At the moment we have a lot of cream and ‘yellow based’ paint and want to lighten the surfaces inside as we have big rooms and small windows. Can you please tell me if Resene Stonehenge is a ‘white based’ colour, and if not whether there are any other greys that might suit?

A. Resene Stonehenge is a brown based grey which has a reasonable amount of colour/depth to it, not a colour I would classify as a ‘white based’ colours. If you like the idea of using a warm grey (one with a brown undertone rather than a blue or purple undertone) then you might like to look at these colour families: Resene White Pointer, Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Truffle or Resene Merino.

It may pay to paint the darkest areas of your house in an off-white, something like Resene Half Merino or Resene Sea Fog for instance. You could then use a deeper colour for the larger room that get a bit more natural light.

Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
 
February 2018

Q. I've just bought a new house which is right on a river with amazing water views. I would like to paint it to reflect a modern Hampton/Scandi mix of style. My kitchen is the palest mint and I have a deep teal velvet sofa in a colour similar to Resene She'll Be Right to work around. I have pale grey/blond timber flooring (very Nordic). I am after a bright cool white but not stark for most of the walls to go with these. I am also intending to tile with salmon/pink mosaics in the laundry.

A. I believe that Resene Double Alabaster is probably the kind of colour you want. This will depend on a couple of things. If you want the walls and ceilings to be the same colour (because you don’t have a scotia) then I would perhaps use Resene Alabaster for both. If you want your ceilings and walls to look different but still be ‘white’ then I suggest using a pure white, Resene White, for the ceilings and the Resene Double Alabaster on the walls. This will give you a slight difference.

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene White
Resene White
February 2018

Q. We live in a villa with lightest wooden floors. The hallway is Resene Half Rice Cake with Resene Alabaster ceiling. I want to paint the bathroom which comes off the hallway and has black and white tiled floors. We also have exposed brick chimneys in most rooms including the bathroom and light unpainted wooden doors so don’t want too much yellow. We are looking for a warm light colour in bedrooms which are carpeted light grey. Any suggestions to go with the Resene Half Rice Cake?

A. Colour suggestions for your bathroom: Resene Secrets, Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Tana or Resene Quarter Truffle (both places).

Colour suggestions for your bedrooms: Resene Cararra, Resene Albescent White or Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream.

Colours will appear darker once they are painted on all four walls, so I’ve kept this in mind when specifying depth of colour for your rooms. Blues and greens would look lovely in your bathroom alongside the brick and both work well with the Resene Half Rice Cake.

Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter Tana
Resene Quarter Tana
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Cararra
Resene Cararra
Resene Albescent White
Resene Albescent White
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
 
February 2018

Q. Would charcoal grey suit bronze aluminium joinery?

A. Resene Charcoal is fine providing your house is not timber weatherboard. Any type of charcoal would be fine to work with the aluminium, here are some suggestions: Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Zeus, Resene Quarter Ironsand, or Resene Half Fuscous Grey.

Resene Charcoal
Resene Charcoal
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Zeus
Resene Zeus
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Half Fuscous Grey
Resene Half Fuscous Grey
February 2018

Q. What colours will go with a 1988 wooden house with bronze aluminium joinery. The previous owners painted it a dark green - time for a change.

A. Perhaps one of these interesting and earthy colours that are not quite as dark as what is on the house now may appeal to you - Resene Half Lignite*, Resene Craigieburn, Resene Stonehenge*, Resene Half Masala*, Resene Tapa*, Resene Taupe Grey, Resene Jacko Bean, Resene Evolution or Resene Lisbon Brown.

The colours listed with an asterisk * are available as darker variants also. If you like a colour but want it a bit deeper you could check those versions also.

Resene Half Lignite
Resene Half Lignite
Resene Craigieburn
Resene Craigieburn
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Half Masala
Resene Half Masala
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
Resene Jacko Bean
Resene Jacko Bean
Resene Evolution
Resene Evolution
Resene Lisbon Brown
Resene Lisbon Brown
 
February 2018

Q. We have a weatherboard house with colonial windows. We've recently re-roofed and I've chosen COLORSTEEL® Scoria for the house roof and garage roof.

I've also chosen Resene Half Robin Egg Blue for the weatherboards. This is where I am a bit stuck. I'd love for you to recommend a white or light colour for the colonial windows. I'd also love a contrasting colour for the window sills. I was thinking a blue, green or red colour but happy to take other suggestions. Also, I have some Resene Walk-on in Resene Sandstone which I will probably use to paint the front steps.

A. You might check these 'white' options - Resene Half Wan White, Resene Half Black White or Resene Alabaster. These are soft toned whites that will still look clean and crisp in contrast to Resene Half Robins Egg Blue.

The following are some colours for the window sills (and possibly the doors as well) that come from the Resene Karen Walker colour range - Resene Smoky Green, Resene Sanguine Brown (it may co-ordinate with the roof colour) or Resene Shadowy Blue.

Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Sandstone
Resene Sandstone
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Smoky Green
Resene Smoky Green
Resene Sanguine Brown
Resene Sanguine Brown
Resene Shadowy Blue
Resene Shadowy Blue
   
February 2018

Q. I am trying to find a colour to complement Resene Frontier. It is for our open plan kitchen dining and living area. Currently I have two walls painted in Resene Frontier and would like to paint the rest of the space in a light white or cream tone for a modern/country style.

A. You might check out these light colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Rice Cake or whiter/lighter Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or whiter/lighter Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Villa White or whiter/lighter Resene Quarter Villa White.

Resene Frontier
Resene Frontier
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Quarter Villa White
 
February 2018

Q. We have a kitchen needing rejuvenation. We have sealed the joinery with Resene Sureseal, ready to paint it and will need to get a new bench top and floor vinyl. The walls are prepped ready to paint but we are having trouble deciding on what colour to go with. The kitchen is in the south/east corner and gets the morning sun only, so will need to have some warmth to it. Our living area next to the kitchen is painted in Resene Half Pearl Lusta on the walls and Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta on the skirtings, architraves etc. Can you please suggest a couple of colour palette options that would improve it?

A. Because you haven't chosen the new benchtop, floor vinyl, light fittings and blinds I suggest you use a very flexible pale colour so you aren't compromised when it comes to choosing all the new fittings and fixtures. The following colours are warm and will co-ordinate with the Resene Half Pearl Lusta in the dining room - Resene Cararra, or Resene Villa White, Resene Eighth Sisal or Half Spanish White.

You could use Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta - which is much lighter/whiter - for the skirtings etc in the kitchen with any of these colours.

Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Cararra
Resene Cararra
Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Eighth Sisal
Resene Eighth Sisal
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
February 2018

Q. I have a three bedroom townhouse. I’d really like to reflect more light through the three floors, as there are only windows at the front and back of the house. I’m just painting the interior. The carpet is kind of a warm mid brown. I was thinking of having it painted with Resene Quarter Merino. Do you think this will work?

A. I think Resene Quarter Merino may work really well for you. I do suggest you paint up all of a testpot on to white A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) and move it around from wall to wall/room to room and watch how changing natural light and artificial light alter it. If you apply all of the testpot (two coats) and leave a narrow unpainted border all around the perimeter it helps you to see the reality of the colour - compared to white.

You may find in some rooms it is absolutely perfect but it might look deeper or more coloured in some other rooms - and it is good to know this in advance.

Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
February 2018

Q. Does Resene Titania used on weatherboards go with an existing Grey Friar COLORBOND® roof? We want to match the weatherboard of our old villa with (potential) Titania cladding of the new 'box' extension, but I want to make sure the front weatherboard part won't throw too much green in the sun against the existing grey roof. The house is south facing at street front (north facing back yard).

A. Titania and Grey Friars do look very nice together. If you wanted to see how ReseneTitania would look on the south facing front weatherboard area of the villa, the best way would be to carefully test the colour. If you apply all of the testpot (two coats) onto very large white A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) and leave a narrow unpainted edge all around the perimeter of the card, it would help you get a better idea of what it looked like. The unpainted white card perimeter helps you focus on the reality (depth/undertone) of the colour. It is super large and can be taped to the exterior wall and viewed from close up and much further away. You can move the card around to judge how changing qualities of natural light alter how the colour is seen. Each side of the house (N/S/E/W) will show colour quite differently because of the particular type of natural light. South facing aspects often grey up colour, but not always. Sometimes it sours up colour, making the yellow in it more discernible.

If you need to see another few options to judge which one is greener or not so green (to compare them to Titania), perhaps you might test Resene Half Ash and Resene Quarter Foggy Grey. They are very similar to Resene Titania but slightly greyer in their undertone.

Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Half Ash
Resene Half Ash
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
February 2018

Q. We would like to know some colours for soffit and frieze board, deck handrail and balustrade. We have white split stone, and the guttering will be Titania. Our cedar will be replaced and stained.

A. Have you considered using Resene Titania for the frieze board (fascias) so it be-friended the guttering colour, which otherwise might be the 'odd man out'. Under the soffit and deck handrail and balustrades, could be a whiter version of the colour - Resene Quarter Titania.

If the cedar (and the deck balustrades and handrail also, if you wanted to tie them together in a co-ordinated way) was stained a deep colour (because of the window joinery which is dark) it could look very smart and stand out when seen close to the split stone - Resene Woodsman - Sheer Black might be considered.

Otherwise if you wanted to make a statement of the frieze board (fascias) like you have now, you might use one of these colours – Resene Double Tapa, Resene Coast or Resene Quarter Bokara Grey.

Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Quarter Titania
Resene Quarter Titania
Resene Sheer Black
Resene Sheer Black
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Double Tapa
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
Resene Quarter Bokara Grey
Resene Quarter
Bokara Grey
February 2018

Q. I have a new roof and gutters being installed in COLORSTEEL® New Denim Blue. I would appreciate some colour recommendations for the exterior walls. The two storey house is on a fresh water lagoon. Is there something in a lighter or darker coral or sand colour you could recommend?

A. A warm sand colour - lighter and darker - might be like these colours - Resene Quarter Foggy Grey and Resene Foggy Grey.

I am a little unsure about what the colour 'coral' is like to you. Coral is usually very bright, pretty colours - unless it is bleached out and dead. Perhaps this is a colour like dead coral - Resene Sea Fog or Resene Triple Sea Fog.

Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
February 2018

Q. I want to paint my house dark grey. I want a definite grey and not a blue or green grey please.

A. All greys carry some colour undertones. These ones don't carry blue or green in them, but may carry other influences. If you view larger A4 colour samples in the Colour Library at the Resene ColorShop it would help you get a better idea by comparing them to each other, to see which ones may be appropriate to test at your house.

Try Resene Fuscous Grey, Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Half Shark, Resene Quarter Bokara Grey or Resene Mortar.

Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Half Shark
Resene Half Shark
Resene Quarter Bokara Grey
Resene Quarter
Bokara Grey
Resene Mortar
Resene Mortar
February 2018

Q. I am intending on using the same white on walls and ceilings to complement a Scandi/Hamptons scheme that also has pops of colour. My home is right on the river/beach and I want a stand out interior with some drama, but also the above look. Following advice previously, I have decided to go with Resene Double Alabaster for the walls and ceiling in the main living areas. This should work in well with my pale mint kitchen cupboards, deep teal green velvet sofa and pale grey/blond timber floorboards.

I'm not sure what the difference to the look would be with the Resene Double Alabaster or Resene Alabaster walls.

I'm also looking at a colour to put on my main entrance door. This entry currently opens into a combination laundry, where I'm putting salmon/pink marble mosaic tiles. I am thinking about Resene Glorious or Resene Turkish Delight for the door. I am putting a barn door across my laundry sink etc to hide it when not in use and want this in a matt black or blue/black that compliments the Resene Double Alabaster white walls, salmon/pink and pale mint.

A. The difference between Resene Double Alabaster and Resene Alabaster is a slight shadowy undertone in the Resene Double Alabaster. This can help in regard to absorbing bright sun glare and adding a softer edge when using a white. It also allows the wall colour to be seen as 'slightly more' when you use a more optic stark white for trims and ceilings or kitchen cabinets etc, which a lot of people do.

If the same colour is used for both walls and ceilings, they look different to each other - the ceiling always appears to be slightly deeper toned than the wall colour. This is because of the way the light falls away from the ceiling, leaving more shadows.

A black that you might consider on the laundry door might be one of these options - Resene Double Cod Grey, Resene Double Foundry or Resene Shark.

If the laundry door is painted in a true matt finish in a standard acrylic, you may notice finger marking and bump and abrasion marks showing up. I recommend you use a low sheen finish – Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen waterborne enamel finish - or a semi-gloss enamel – Resene Lustacryl waterborne enamel - for an easier cleaned paint finish.

The front door colour needs a semi-gloss enamel finish in order to provide a tough weather resistant finish. The colours you mention - Resene Glorious and Resene Turkish Delight - are quite different to each other - one is dusty and subdued and the other is brighter and slightly frivolous in ambiance. You may need to carefully test them with a testpot to find out which one rings your bell. Perhaps you might check out Resene Rapture and Resene Rouge as well in case they appeal to you.

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Foundry
Resene Double Foundry
Resene Shark
Resene Shark
Resene Glorious
Resene Glorious
Resene Turkish Delight
Resene Turkish Delight
Resene Rapture
Resene Rapture
Resene Rouge
Resene Rouge
 
February 2018

Q. I am looking for a colour recommendation. We want to repaint the whole inside of the house, but are stuck with creamy/yellow window frames and kitchen cabinets. I am looking for a colour that will go well with these and preferably look a bit more modern.

A. If you went lighter for a wall colour, it would make the cabinets and joinery look a lot deeper - more yellowish. So that may not be a good thing to do. The following suggestions are different enough colours that they would pull the eye away from the other cabinets and joinery.

Try Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Perfect Taupe, Resene Tea, Resene Half Lemon Grass or Resene Half Foggy Grey.

If you would prefer a colour that had a similar but lighter look to the cabinets and window joinery then you could use Resene Quarter Spanish White.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
Resene Half Perfect Taupe
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Gras
Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
 
February 2018

Q. We are repainting a Victorian era brick and weatherboard house. The brick is a red/orange colour with dark cream corner feature bricks, which also surround the window. I have settled on COLORBOND® Woodland Grey for the front veranda posts and doors. Can you suggest a neutral colour for the weatherboards on the sides and rear of the house and the front veranda fretwork? Currently it is a colour similar to COLORBOND® Classic Cream, but I want to get away from the yellow. I also don't want something that is too white or reflective.

A. A few neutrals that you could check out to see if they appeal to you and - most importantly - work with all the other colours that you already have on the house – are Resene Overland, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Triple Fossil.

They are all different to each other but they all have a subtle earthy almost green edge which - hopefully - will work with the Thunder Grey and the red/orange bricks.

Resene OverlandResene Overland
Resene Overland
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Triple Fossil
Resene Triple Fossil
February 2018

Q. We have purchased a Federation Home with lots of colour and are looking to repaint. I am really struggling to pick a white! My style would be described as modern country/farmhouse (our home is on a farm). We want to refresh the home and paint all the existing dark timber, white.

I am looking for a white with a slight hint of colour but not too yellow or grey, and then looking to do the trim and ceilings in a beautiful white, lighter than what we pick for the walls. I also want to pick a colour for the office and possibly bathroom, and am looking for a soft green/grey.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, the world of whites seems endless, and as this is an older home with not a lot of natural light, it is proving difficult to judge what will be the best white to choose. There are also internal red brick walls which we will retain.

A. Sometimes when you have a property of extremely unique style and it has a lot of colour in it then it may be wise to remove the colours - so they don't unduly influence your eye. If you were to undercoat (real white) all of the areas that you plan to paint, it allows you to see how the rooms look without colour. And it also allows you to test colour on a real white background - which is the only way to truly judge it. You may find - after using the white undercoat - that a white for the walls etc is not what you want. It gives you a dress rehearsal which may be a good thing.

Some whites to test - Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream or a paler variant - Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream or Resene Merino or a paler variant - Resene Quarter Merino or Resene Sea Fog or a paler variant - Resene Quarter Sea Fog (this is also known as Resene Double Alabaster).

A soft grey/green might be one of these colours - Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, Resene Half Emerge or Resene Secrets.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
 
February 2018

Q. I would like to paint the exterior of our house with Resene Iron. The property is two stories, upper part weatherboard and lower part concrete. I would like to do two tones, what would you suggest? I am thinking of using Resene Black White for the windows and trims.

A. The following are some options for the lower part of the house that look good with Resene Iron. Resene Half Grey Chateau (aka Resene Triple Iron) or deeper - Resene Half Raven or paler Resene Quarter Iron.

Resene Black White may be a little too 'coloured' to work to the best advantage with Resene Iron. A paler colour - Resene Quarter Iron, Resene Quarter Black White or Resene Eighth Black White will create a nice clean contrast with Resene Iron.

Resene Iron
Resene Iron
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Raven
Resene Half Raven
Resene Quarter Iron
Resene Quarter Iron
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
 
February 2018

Q. Our new house is going to be built with COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod. There are some walls we will paint and are thinking of either Resene Element or Resene Nero. We got a testpot of Resene Element and it looks quite greyish. Will Resene Nero give a subtle contrast and work? We are also wondering if we were to paint the front door, whether it should be a completely different colour to break up the dark exterior.

A. Resene Element is the exact match to FlaxPod but if you wanted a blacker colour, then Resene Nero may be better. Or possibly Resene All Black.

It could be nice to have a different colour on the front door - it adds a bit of wow to a very staunch black look on the exterior and it means that you can choose a colour that really excites you.

Resene Element
Resene Element
Resene Nero
Resene Nero
Resene All Black
Resene All Black
February 2018

Q. We want to paint our inside timber walls white. We don’t have a lot of light inside and we live in the bush. What is a good white for interior walls?

A. Perhaps one of these bright/warm/light reflecting whites may appeal to you - Resene Quarter Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Bianca or a slightly cooler grey/white - Resene Half Black White.

All whites alter during the day (natural light) and night (artificial light) and with other colours seen close to them. It would be wise to carefully test the colours to see how they look in reality.

Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
February 2018

Q. I need a fun, accent colour to paint our interior front door. The kitchen walls are Resene Quarter Tea, the trims are Resene Black White and the ceiling is Resene Half Black White. These colours have been used through the lounge and hallway. I’m thinking of a dusky French pastel that is elegant and liveable for my husband. I like colours such as Resene High Tea, Resene Wafer and Resene Duck Egg Blue, but it needs to work with Resene Quarter Tea.

A. I like your colour ideas, but I think that Resene Wafer is too flesh toned and Resene High Tea is too muddy to use with Resene Quarter Tea.

If you are able to pop into a Resene ColorShop to view the large A4 sheets of real painted colour in their Colour Library and to compare them (to each other) and alongside Resene Quarter Tea and Resene Black White, it will help you come to a decision.

These are a few that work really well with Resene Quarter Tea - Resene Kidman, Resene Balance, Resene Half Dusted Blue, Resene Emerge or Resene Quarter Regent Grey.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene High Tea
Resene High Tea
Resene Wafer
Resene Wafer
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Kidman
Resene Kidman
Resene Balance
Resene Balance
Resene Half Dusted Blue
Resene Half Dusted Blue
Resene Emerge
Resene Emerge
Resene Quarter Regent Grey
Resene Quarter
Regent Grey
 
February 2018

Q. I am painting my son’s bedroom with Resene Quarter Tea. He has black curtains with grey sheets and a navy duvet. I want to repaint his wardrobe door and entry door. Which white shade would go well with Resene Quarter Tea for this?

A. You could use one of these whites - Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Half Black White.

Or alternatively, you could use the same colour as the walls but in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss enamel. It would merge the doors in and make the room seem larger.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
February 2018

Q. I am repainting a 1930s Californian Bungalow. We are getting a new Karaka Green roof and would like to update the house colours. Currently we have a light house colour, Resene Sage around the windows and Resene Karaka on the trim. We have red bricks as pillars. I am thinking a fresher, brighter modern look, like a whiter/cream weatherboard and white windows?

A. For a more modern approach to the weatherboard colour, you might want to look at Resene Rice Cake or Resene Sea Fog. Resene Rice Cake is warmer but not a pure yellow (like Resene Pearl Lusta) and Resene Sea Fog is a warm grey, both will give you that off-white look.

Certainly the trend at the moment is to have a whole ‘white’ window instead of sash or frames picked out. I’d suggest you either use Resene White or Resene Alabaster to gain the most amount of contrast possible.

I’d look to highlight a couple of features using a light or mid tone grey. A colour that sits really well with Resene Karaka and Resene Rice Cake is Resene Tapa. It’s a warm grey with an earthy undertone. Use Resene Tapa on the foundation and Resene Quarter Tapa for the handrail and balustrade at the front. I’d also paint the concrete on top of the brick and the decorative nodules in Resene Quarter Tapa. If you wanted to add some colour to the window, you could use Resene Tapa just on the bottom sill.

The front door would look great in either a green or blue. Alternatively, you could use a darker version of the house colour – Resene Paddock, Resene Wishlist or Resene Seachange.

Resene stores stock folders with A4 sizes of each of our colours and these are great to look at before deciding on your final colour. Ask one of our staff to show you the larger samples before purchasing a Resene testpot or paint. You may need to carefully test colours to see how they respond to light and shadow, because colours will look about half a shade lighter once they are outside in the sunlight.

Resene Sage
Resene Sage
Resene Karaka
Resene Karaka
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Paddock
Resene Paddock
Resene Wishlist
Resene Wishlist
Resene Seachange
Resene Seachange
 
February 2018

Q. We have an old cottage to paint and I would like a whole scheme for it. I thought about a light grey/silver roof. I was thinking about a cream cottage with white windows and will change the deck colour too? It's in the country and I want it to look fresh and bright!

A. There are a couple of different ways to achieve that fresh and bright look: You can paint the cladding in off-white, or you can accent with white – which is what I’m going to focus on.

I would paint all trim/windows/foundation/corrugated iron/corner boards in a white or off white, the same as your previous house. Except in this case, everything that is not a roof/decking or cladding will become white. This is going to give you an instant fresh and bright feeling, having all the clean white lines on show.

The roof could be something similar to Resene Gauntlet which is a mid-tone grey. Roofs often appear much lighter because of the angle they reflect light and colour – so this will end up looking more like a light grey at certain times of the day.

The cladding I have several options for you: Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Secrets, Resene Half Inside Back or Resene Dusted Blue.

The decking (tread) I would probably match to the roof colour – or use a half version to ensure it’s not too hot to walk on. This colour will depend on your main cladding colour though, so choose this last.

Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
Resene Half Inside Back
Resene Half Inside Back
Resene Dusted Blue
Resene Dusted Blue
February 2018

Q. We have ripped all the plasterboard out of our lounge and put Pink Batts in and redone the plasterboard. I want to paint it white, but a warm white. I am after suggestions on colours. I am thinking Resene Double Alabaster. Can you please give me a few suggestions on colours? I am looking at going for the mid-century, modern look. Also, do you think we would need to do an undercoat or other treatment?

A. I’ll answer the technical part of your question first; you need to use a plasterboard sealer like Resene Broadwall Sealer on the bare plasterboard first, then you can topcoat using Resene Zylone Sheen or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen, applying two coats. You do not need an undercoat in between the sealer and topcoats.

In regards to colour, here are some options of warm off-whites: Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Merino or Resene Quarter Albescent White.

All of these colours can be made darker if they are a bit too light, but the mid-century look does have quite white walls. Colours inside will look darker once painted on all the walls because the colour is reflected off the walls and bounces around the room.

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
February 2018

Q. What are good interior colours for a new house?

A. There are a lot of decisions to be made when a new house is being planned. The paint colour or colours is often the last on the list - flooring - hard and soft - kitchen cabinets and work tops, drapes and blinds etc often come first because they are more expensive and offer less options.

But if you have no thoughts in that regard the following colours are pale and neutral enough to accommodate many other coloured elements in the house: Cooler colours - walls - Resene Black White, ceilings - Resene Quarter Black White, and woodwork and doors - Resene Double Black White, or warmer colours - walls - Resene Rice Cake, ceilings - Resene Eighth Rice Cake and woodwork and doors - Resene Double Rice Cake.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth
Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
February 2018

Q. We are renovating a two storey beachfront home. The garage door is Surfmist (Titania) with Surfmist guttering and fascia. We are using Resene Half Titania on the house render and seek colour advice for a courtyard wall which faces the street and the front door. We were thinking of perhaps two greys (deeper on the door) like Resene Double Stack and Resene Half Stack.

A. I really like your choices - Resene Double Stack and Resene Half Stack. I feel that the greys should be definite and staunch rather than modest and self-effacing as bright natural sunlight strips them of their depth.

Is the door very sheltered from direct sunlight? If it is exposed the door colour may need to be lighter so heat damage and deterioration doesn't occur.

You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Possessed, Resene Half Chicago, Resene Charade or Resene Nevada.

Resene Half Titania
Resene Half Titania
Resene Double Stack
Resene Double Stack
Resene Half Stack
Resene Half Stack
 
Resene Possessed
Resene Possessed
Resene Half Chicago
Resene Half Chicago
Resene Charade
Resene Charade
Resene Nevada
Resene Nevada
February 2018

Q. Just looking for advice for a colour match: new denim blue roof and joinery, and I’m looking for a green/grey to paint plywood cladding. Any hints of how to co-ordinate?

A. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Half Copyrite, Resene Half Ash, Resene Quarter Atmosphere or Resene Tasman.

Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Half Copyrite
Resene Half Copyrite
Resene Half Ash
Resene Half Ash
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Tasman
Resene Tasman
February 2018

Q. We are looking at painting the interior walls of our house Resene Merino and the doors Resene Double Merino. Would it be alright if the ceiling was painted Resene Quarter Merino or should we use another colour such as white?

A. Resene Quarter Merino may look a little deeper (more like Resene Half Merino) on the ceiling as all coloured ceilings look a little more shaded because of the way the light falls away. Do you want the ceiling to look a definite colour or a little more whitish?

If you would prefer a whiter colour you might consider Resene Quarter Black White or even Resene Eighth Black White - either would work well with your other colours.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
February 2018

Q. I am looking at a COLORSTEEL® roof FlaxPod with Silver Pearl aluminium joinery. I have oblique linear weatherboards horizontally and a small portion of vertical linear. I am looking at a greyish colour scheme. We are overlooking the beach. Any suggestions on colours please.

A. Perhaps you might check out these grey colours – Resene Half Silver Chalice, Resene Quarter Stack, Resene Quarter Delta, Resene Double Concrete or Resene Half Foggy Grey.

If you find a colour appealing but want a lighter or deeper colour, these have other variations that might be worth looking at.

Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
February 2018

Q. I love Resene Atomic, but I would like the equivalent colour in green and something deep and dark. Can you recommend some options please?

A. Perhaps one of these deep and mysterious greens might appeal to you - Resene Oracle, Resene Firefly, Resene Dark Slate, Resene Middle Earth or Resene Mangrove.

It can depend upon the size of the room and the amount of natural light the room gets, as to how deep the colour can look. All colours in an interior have the potential to look a lot deeper (or brighter depending on the type of colour it is) than you might think they will do. It is really important to carefully test the colour by painting all of the testpot (two coats) onto large white A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops), so you can view a large enough sample. The card can be moved from wall to wall so you can see how light; shade and angles alter how the colour is seen.

Resene Atomic
Resene Atomic
Resene Oracle
Resene Oracle
Resene Firefly
Resene Firefly
Resene Dark Slate
Resene Dark Slate
Resene Middle Earth
Resene Middle Earth
Resene Mangrove
Resene Mangrove
March 2018

Q. We are looking to use Resene Avalanche as a secondary colour in our lounge and kitchen area. I see that Resene recommends Resene Quarter Bianca as a matching colour. Could you recommend another colour that is less creamy and whiter?

A. If you want a less warm type of white, then one of the following may appeal to you - Resene Alabaster, Resene Half Black White, Resene Half Wan White or Resene Half Barely There.

Trim on house - Resene Bianca.

Resene Avalanche
Resene Avalanche
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
 
March 2018

Q. I want to paint an exterior wall with black or dark grey as a feature. We have lots of trees, what colour would best complement the greenery?

A. Black is a great colour to use on fences or places where you’ll have plants in front because it gives such a beautiful contrast and really makes the plants stand out. Here are some other colours that will work on the house or fence: Resene Bokara Grey, Resene Zeus, Resene Gravel, Resene Element or Resene Gumboot.

Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Zeus
Resene Zeus
Resene Gravel
Resene Gravel
Resene Element
Resene Element
Resene Gumboot
Resene Gumboot
March 2018

Q. We have a COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey roof, and Appliance White joinery. We are looking for ideas for colour for the weatherboards please.

A. Some colour ideas to get you started: Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Triple White Pointer, Resene Eighth Arrowtown, Resene Eighth Tapa, Resene Foggy Grey and Resene Half Friar Grey.

Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Triple White Pointer
Resene Eighth Arrowtown
Resene Eighth Arrowtown
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Half Friar Grey
Resene Half Friar Grey
March 2018

Q. We have built a small cottage with a wrap around veranda, which we intend to build on to in the next few years. Colours we used, which we love, are: Roof – COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars, cladding - board and batten stained in Resene Pitch Black, joinery - Pearl White and veranda posts - Resene White Pointer.

We are having a corrugated steel barn/lifestyle shed/garage with attached sleepout built and I think we should stick with the Grey Friars corrugated roof and white joinery to tie it in to the house. The question is what colour corrugated cladding should we use? We like darker colours but I am scared Ebony may be too black for the Resene Pitch Black stain but also that Grey Friars all over will be too light. What do you think?

A. COLORSTEEL® have a colour called ‘Windsor Grey’ which sits in between Grey Friars and Ebony (black) and is a really nice charcoal, not too brown or blue. This is probably going to be your best bet, however if you wanted a slightly different look you could use ‘Dark Grey’ or ‘Gravel’ which have bluish undertones.

Resene Pitch Black
Resene Pitch Black
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
March 2018

Q. After completing our interior renovations, I am due to start updating the exterior of my 1970s home. The new roof and spouting are Sandstone Grey and I plan to paint the house with Resene Double Sea Fog.

Would it look out of place to paint the boundary fence with Resene Double Sea Fog? The builder is going to attach a board to get rid of gaps in the top of the fence. The back boundary fences are painted Resene Jaguar, which is great on the iron but I have found it went too blue on another old wooden fence.

A. Using Resene Double Sea Fog on both places would be fine.

If you wanted to, you could look at the tonal version of Resene Double Sea Fog, something like Resene Quarter Foggy Grey which I would use on the new top railing, then use Resene Double Sea Fog on the existing fence. This just creates a little bit of interest without having to use two very different colours and it keeps it subtle and sophisticated.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Jaguar
Resene Jaguar
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
March 2018

Q. What colours would you recommend for us to paint our house that we are relocating? The section is across the road from houses with a direct, elevated estuary view. We get glimpses of the estuary between the houses. It is somewhat coastal, but not beach front. The house was built in the 80s and is styled as a Californian Bungalow. At present it is white, with forest green trim. It has some shingles which we are thinking of either replacing with weatherboard (like the rest of the house) or painting over.

A. I’ve made a couple of different colour schemes for you; I’ve used a paint colour for the weatherboard and stain for everything else. I understand that stain is more work to maintain, however it will give you a ‘coastal’ natural feeling, with the timber coming through as opposed to a glossy painted surface.
Scheme 1: Weatherboards – Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, shingles and posts – Resene Waterborne Woodsman Banjul, or steps/balustrade/handrails/decking – Resene Waterborne Woodsman Iroko.

Scheme 2: Weatherboards – Resene Breeze, shingles/steps/decking – Resene Waterborne Woodsman Bleached Cedar and posts/balustrade/handrails – Resene Waterborne Woodsman Tiri.

You may want to use an off-white paint for the soffit, or alternatively use Resene Woodsman Whitewash on the timber beams underneath, to lighten that area.

I suggest you pop into your local Resene ColorShop and ask to see samples of both the paint colours and the stain options, so you get an idea of what the entire scheme looks like when used together. If you have left over timber lying around, then I would use this to test the stain on before applying to the house.

Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Banjul
Resene Banjul
Resene Iroko
Resene Iroko
Resene Breeze
Resene Breeze
Resene Woodsman Bleached Cedar
Resene Bleached Cedar
Resene  Woodsman Tiri
Resene Tiri
March 2018

Q. We have an ex 1940s state house that we are doing up and would like to go for either Resene Surrender or Resene Half Grey Chateau for the weatherboards. Which of these is darker? Our neighbour has Resene Half Silver Chalice and we want something a little darker than that.

We have chosen Grey Friars for the roof, white for the joinery and Resene Nero in gloss for the door.

We also have the concrete base at the bottom of the house, and wondered if we paint this the same as the weatherboards or do we choose something darker?

A. Of the two colours - Resene Surrender and Resene Half Grey Chateau - the Resene Half Grey Chateau is slightly deeper and more lilac/blue than the other colour.

All colours appear lighter on an exterior, due to bright natural light modifying their depth and washing it out. Neither of these colours is definitely deeper however to that which the neighbour has used - Resene Half Silver Chalice. If you wanted to see your house colour look deeper, then you might have to look at colours like Resene Half Stack, Resene Grey Chateau or Resene Transmission or Resene Revolution.

The concrete base of the house and possibly the steps and porch floor, might be slightly darker than the main house colour - but not too dark - so there is a little contrast to lift the house. You might choose a lighter variant of the roof colour - i.e. Resene Quarter Grey Friars or a similar but bluer edged grey like Resene Half Tuna. if you would prefer a simpler look, you certainly can paint the base the same colour as the house but you might consider still using one of the mentioned colours for the porch and steps.

Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Nero
Resene Nero
 
Resene Half Stack
Resene Half Stack
Resene Transmission
Resene Transmission
Resene Revolution
Resene Revolution
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Tuna
March 2018

Q. Could you help me in choosing the colour for a COLORSTEEL® roof that will go well with the Resene colours already used on our house? I'm thinking of one that is closest to Resene Cod Grey.

We have weatherboards and front concrete steps in Resene Silver Chalice. The trims and sill fronts are Resene Cod Grey and the edges and window frames are Resene Alabaster. The front door is a high gloss Resene black (can’t remember the exact colour).

A. You might consider COLORSTEEL® Ebony, COLORSTEEL® Slate or COLORSTEEL® Windsor Grey. The roofing people will be able to show you real metal powder coat samples, which will make decision making a lot easier.

Resene Cod Grey
Resene Cod Grey
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
March 2018

Q. Could you please help me choose an exterior colour for my house? I don't mind much darker colours but wonder if it would look bach-like? It's in a rural environment, so I would like it to blend in nicely.

A. A fresh new look might be like one of the following schemes:

Scheme 1 - Main colour - Resene Double Ash, deck/balustrades - Resene Woodsman Iroko, fascia around roof line/veranda posts and handrails - Resene Quarter Ash.

Scheme 2 - Main colour - Resene Taupe Grey, deck/balustrades - Resene Woodsman Treehouse, fascia around roof line/veranda posts and handrails - Resene Triple Sea Fog.

Scheme 3 - Main colour - Resene Cobblestone, deck/balustrades - Resene Woodsman Nutmeg, fascia around roof line/veranda posts and handrails - Resene Thorndon Cream.

Scheme 4 - Main colour - Resene Triple Rice Cake, deck/balustrades - Resene Woodsman Limed Gum, fascia around roof line/veranda posts and handrails - Resene Rice Cake.

All of the suggested colours work well in a rural environment. The first and second option uses grey/beige/green edged main colours. The third option has a bit of depth to the main colour but isn't ominous. The fourth option is the lightest/freshest.

You might also consider just doing the deck floor a stain, but painting all of the balustrades the same colour as the fascia, posts and handrails.

Resene Double Ash
Resene Double Ash
Resene Iroko
Resene Iroko
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Quarter Ash
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
Resene Treehouse
Resene Treehouse
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Cobblestone
Resene Cobblestone
Resene Nutmeg
Resene Nutmeg
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Limed Gum
Resene Limed Gum
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
March 2018

Q. We are painting our timber windows, frames and sills Resene Villa White inside and out and would like some colour recommendations for the weatherboards of our house to complement this colour. We would like the weatherboards to be a very light colour. Can you please advise a range of very light colours that you think would complement the Resene Villa White well?

A. Resene Villa White is quite a strong rich cream so a light colour would have to be deeper than that is so there is a nice balance and co-ordination between trims and weatherboards.

You might look at these colours to see if there is any that appeal to you – Resene Cloudy, Resene Caraway, Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Half Dusted Blue, Resene Quarter Regent Grey or Resene Truffle.

Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Cloudy
Resene Cloudy
Resene Caraway
Resene Caraway
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Gras
Resene Half Dusted Blue
Resene Half Dusted Blue
Resene Quarter Regent Grey
Resene Quarter
Regent Grey
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
 
March 2018

Q. We are putting in new kitchen units in Melamine Arctic grey with a Formica bench in Elemental concrete. The tiles and carpet are dark grey. The curtains in the dining room are dark grey with a red wavy line. One wall is medium cream. I would like a paint suggestion for a wall, either a grey or cream. Also in the kitchen I thought of having a red glass splashback with red wall around it, but now I am losing my nerve!

A. I am not 100% sure about having both a red splashback (gorgeous!) and a red wall. The splashback is the feature - do you need two features? The glass over a red area may make it look different to the unglassed part of the wall - would this worry you? It is a personal choice however.

Some creams to consider – Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Bianca.

Some greys to consider are Resene Concrete, Resene Athens Grey or Resene Double Black White.

Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
March 2018

Q. I have a darkish kitchen. I would like to paint my walls Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay but I am not sure what complementary colours for my cupboards (I like soft greens) and the window sill and door frames.

A. If your kitchen is darkish the colour you are considering using on the walls may look twice as deep (more like Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay as you might imagine it will do. Is that ok?

If you want something slightly lighter but similar to that colour that you have set your heart on you might check out Resene Half Spanish White.

Soft greens to consider for the cupboards might be one of these – Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Bud, Resene Green Spring or Resene Rainee.

Resene Eighth Canterbury Clay
Resene Eighth
Canterbury Clay
Resene Quarter Canterbury Clay
Resene Quarter
Canterbury Clay
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
 
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Bud
Resene Bud
Resene Green Spring
Resene Green Spring
Resene Rainee
Resene Rainee
March 2018

Q. I am painting walls Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Half Tea. Which white goes well with these two colours for the ceilings and woodwork?

A. Either of these whites will work well with the wall colour – Resene Alabaster or Resene Half Black White.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
March 2018

Q. Do you have any suggestions for a house exterior? The home is plaster and Linea® roof is Ironsand and the windows are silver grey. The house is sitting in park like surroundings in the middle of a vineyard.

A. If you’re looking to modernise then I would be painting the plaster in a lighter off-white colour and perhaps consider bringing a tonal version of the roof colour down onto the Linea® board or a colour with a grey undertone to it. Here are some colours for you to look at:

Plaster: Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene Double White Pointer, Resene Eighth Lemon Grass or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey.

Linea®: Resene Quarter Ironsand, Resene Scarpa Flow, Resene Clouded Blue or Resene Double Periglacial Blue.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double
White Pointer
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Scarpa Flow
Resene Scarpa Flow
Resene Clouded Blue
Resene Clouded Blue
 
March 2018

Q. My son's bedroom is south facing with a sloping ceiling so it is quite dark. I'm wanting to paint three walls white and a feature wall a light blue/grey. I've tried Resene Spindle and Resene Oxygen testpots but are concerned these may be too grey. Can you suggest any other colours please?

A. These colours are all bluer than the colours you have been viewing, less grey. I hope there is something in here that works: Resene Quarter Frozen, Resene Half Escape, Resene Pattens Blue, Resene Onahau or Resene Nauti.

Resene Spindle
Resene Spindle
Resene Oxygen
Resene Oxygen
Resene Quarter Frozen
Resene Quarter Frozen
Resene Half Escape
Resene Half Escape
Resene Pattens Blue
Resene Pattens Blue
Resene Onahau
Resene Onahau
Resene Nauti
Resene Nauti
 
March 2018

Q. We want to change the interior colour of our house to an off white colour but can't work out what best goes with Titania aluminium joinery. Do you have some suggestions?

A. Titania has a grey-green undertone and can actually be quite tricky to match with internal colours. Two colours that work quite well are the Resene Thorndon Cream and Resene Rice Cake family range. Try using quarter or eighth versions of these for your walls to give you an off-white look.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Double Thorndon Cream
Resene Double
Thorndon Cream
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Half Rice Cake
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth
Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
March 2018

Q. Do you have any suggestions for a roof and garage door colour for a house that is white and has bronze/lignite window joinery? I am concerned that a lignite roof may attract too much heat and look a bit dated.

A. Dark colours onto an iron roof are absolutely fine. Deeper tones are certainly on trend right now and would give you a modern look. Try using Resene Ironsand which is a brown charcoal or something with a blue undertone would look great too: Resene Half New Denim Blue, Resene Regent Grey or Resene Bluff.

Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Half New Denim Blue
Resene Half New
Denim Blue
Resene Regent Grey
Resene Regent Grey
Resene Bluff
Resene Bluff
March 2018

Q. What is the best white for painting the outside of a house? Is Resene Black White a good choice? I am looking to paint the house Resene Black White, with Resene Steel Grey on Linea® and a roof in Resene Element.

A. The thing to remember about colours used outside is that they will always look about half a shade lighter, so Resene Black White will look like Resene Half Black White in the sunshine. If you want quite a white looking contrast, then Resene Black White is a good option. If you wanted a soft grey look, then you’ll need to use a deeper shade of Resene Black White or another colour altogether.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Steel Grey
Resene Steel Grey
Resene Element
Resene Element
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
March 2018

Q. I am using Appliance White for my windows and doors and wanted to know which Resene colour would match this for my facings and sills etc?

A. A version of this powder coat colour is available tinted into Resene paints using Resene tinters and formulations. All you have to do is give the staff the colour name information and ask for however much paint that you require.

March 2018

Q. We are repainting a 1911 bungalow. The roof is iron in permanent green, and will not be painted. We want to keep the trims, windows, door and veranda balustrades in white. What are some ideas for the wall colour?

A. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Ecru White, Resene Quarter Stonewall, Resene Quarter Malta, Resene Double Truffle, Resene Drought, or Resene Spanish White

Resene Ecru White
Resene Ecru White
Resene Quarter Stonewall
Resene Quarter Stonewall
Resene Quarter Malta
Resene Quarter Malta
Resene Double Truffle
Resene Double Truffle
Resene Drought
Resene Drought
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
March 2018

Q. We want to do an exterior paint of our home. We have settled on Resene Half Thorndon Cream as this is a wonderful warm colour which is complementary to the lush green garden.

We would like advice on a complementary colour that we could paint on the bottom of the house (currently a crimson red), soffit fronts (under the gutter) and the fronts of the exterior window sills and doors? We would also hope that this colour would be able to tie into the garage as well.

A. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you - and look good with the colours on the garage and Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Pravda, Resene Half Karaka, Resene Raptor, Resene Triple Thorndon Cream or Resene Half Grey Olive.

Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Pravda
Resene Pravda
Resene Half Karaka
Resene Half Karaka
Resene Raptor
Resene Raptor
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Grey Olive
Resene Half Grey Olive
March 2018

Q. We are repainting the exterior of a small, plain three bedroom house. It is an oblong shape, with gable ends and has dark brown aluminium window and door joinery.

The weatherboards are currently white, and the roof silver, but we'd like to give it a more modern look with a bit of colour, but keep it subtle - no dark colours on the weatherboards.

Although I like the pale grey look with white trim, I didn't think a grey colour would go well with the brown joinery. We're not keen on brown tones, but quite like some of the greenish tones like Resene Delta Grey. Have you any suggestions for the weatherboards, roof and fence colours please?

A. Sometimes when one element on an exterior (windows) is a very definite colour, it can compromise what might work with it - a lot. If either the roof and the fence (or both) were a deep brown based charcoal, that may help tie in the colour of the window joinery - it doesn't need to be the same colour just a 'friendly co-ordinate' so the window joinery isn't much more noticeable because it is the only brown based colour. Had you thought of doing that? The following are a couple of colours that you might check out - Resene Ironsand or Resene Bokara Grey.

As well as the colour you have mentioned - Resene Delta Grey - some warmer greys to consider for the main house colour might be like these - Resene Quarter Friar Grey, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Quarter Stonehenge.

The gables might be a bit deeper - Resene Concord, Resene Stonehenge or Resene Friar Grey.

Resene Delta Grey
Resene Delta Grey
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Concord
Resene Concord
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Friar Grey
Resene Friar Grey
March 2018

Q. What is a grey lighter than Resene Half Athens Grey that could be used on ceilings? Resene Half Rakaia is on our walls and we have tried Resene Quarter Rakaia but again, not light enough as it's looks darker once on the ceiling. That's when I thought Resene Half Athens Grey or Resene Quarter Athens Grey would be good. We don't want boring white ceilings. We want the coving to be a blend between the ceiling colour and the wall colour and no white trim, so it must also look fresh but not cold.

A. The main problem - as I see it - is that all colours on a ceiling look deeper - even real white looks greyish at certain times of the day or night.

The warmth of your wall colour and its mauve/grey undertone wants to be with a warm whiter/lighter colour, but you have found out it isn't that easy. Here are some colours to try - please test the colour carefully and pin it up a large painted sample on the ceiling so you can see how changing light alters it - Resene Eighth Blanc, Resene Half Vista White and Resene Quarter Milk White.

If you find these suggestions look too coloured or too deep, you do have other options. Some colours that you may think are too white, may in fact pick up reflected colour from the walls, so perhaps you could look at these - Resene Black White or Resene Half Black White.

Resene Half Athens Grey
Resene Half Athens Grey
Resene Half Rakaia
Resene Half Rakaia
Resene Quarter Rakaia
Resene Quarter Rakaia
   
Resene Eighth Blanc
Resene Eighth Blanc
Resene Half Vista White
Resene Half Vista White
Resene Quarter Milk White
Resene Quarter Milk White
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
March 2018

Q. I want to paint the wood panelling in my bathroom. I thought of colour matching the small tiles on the splashback, because I like the aqua colours.

A. Perhaps you could check out these colours to see if one appeals to you - Resene Jet Stream, Resene Half Opal, Resene Nebula, Resene Zumthor or Resene Breeze.

If none of these is quite right, then the alternative option is to use a white to allow any aqua accessories to be the feature of the bathroom - Resene Black White or Resene Half Sea Fog.

Resene Jet Stream
Resene Jet Stream
Resene Half Opal
Resene Half Opal
Resene Nebula
Resene Nebula
Resene Zumthor
Resene Zumthor
Resene Breeze
Resene Breeze
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
 
March 2018

Q. I am looking for a colour for our new fourth bedroom, which has one large south facing window. All other bedrooms (which face north or west) are painted Resene Eighth Lemon Grass but I think this will feel dull/cold in this room come winter. The entry way is Resene Sea Fog, the living room is Resene Periglacial Blue, and everything else (including the hallway leading to all bedrooms) is Resene Wan White. I've tried testpots of Resene Double Rice Cake (I like it but not sure it goes with other colours of the house) and Resene Eighth Truffle. I'm considering trying Resene Sandspit Brown (Resene Half Sandspit Brown or Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown) next as it's on the same Karen Walker fandeck page as the blue and white.

A. I am inclined to agree with you in regard Resene Double Rice Cake or any of the Resene Rice Cake palette - they could look somewhat sour compared to the gentleness of the colours you have used in the rest of the house. Perhaps you might carefully test these options to see how they look within the room - Resene Half Albescent White or Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown.

I suggest you paint up all of the Resene testpot (two coats) onto white A2 sized card (available from Resene ColorShops). If you leave a narrow unpainted border all around the perimeter, it will help you focus on the reality of the colour. The card is super large and can be moved from wall to wall, so you can see how changing angles (as well as changing natural and artificial light) alter how the colour is seen. If you roll the card into a cone of tube shape with the colour innermost, and look into it, you will see the colour deeper. This is a very good indication of what four walls of the colour will look like. Colours in an interior can double in their depth (or brightness depending on the type of colour) and it helps to see that before you choose a colour. The room could have bed linen, drapes or accessories in soft grey/green or watery blues to co-ordinate with the colours you have used in the other rooms.

Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Periglacial Blue
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Double Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Sandspit Brown
Resene Sandspit Brown
Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown
Resene Half Sandspit Brown
Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown
Resene Quarter
Sandspit Brown
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half
Albescent White
March 2018

Q. We are getting the exterior of our house painted soon and we are having problems figuring out what colours will work. We are currently thinking of using Resene Thorndon Cream on the weatherboards and Resene Half Alabaster on the window frames. We are having trouble with what colour to do, for the plaster around the bottom of the house (plus the front steps and front door).

A. I note that you don't mention changing the colour of the roof or painting over the brick porch wall, so the following colours have been chosen to harmonize with them. You might check out the colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Eighth Stonewall or Resene Half Friar Grey.

They are warm, stone grey colours with undertones of yellow/green in them, which could work well with Resene Thorndon Cream.

The wrought iron balustrades and the edge of the steps create a lovely light contrast/shape, which might be painted in the Resene Half Alabaster to co-ordinate with the window frames.

The door (all the doors including the garage doors) could be one of these colours - Resene Viktor, Resene Baltic Sea or Resene Seaweed.

The floor of the porch and the steps themselves could be Resene Quarter Baltic Sea.

Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Stonewall
Resene Eighth Stonewall
Resene Half Friar Grey
Resene Half Friar Grey
Resene Viktor
Resene Viktor
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Seaweed
Resene Seaweed
Resene Quarter Baltic Sea
Resene Quarter Baltic Sea
 
March 2018

Q. We have painted our villa Resene Black White with the trim, Resene Alabaster. What would be a nice colour for the roof and door/doorstep?

A. If you would like a crisp and modern look, then I suggest using something like Resene Grey Friars or Resene Nocturnal. This gives you a grey charcoal, which could also be used on the step, or a lighter version of the same colour. Resene Gauntlet or Resene Atmosphere are lighter greys that also look great, and could be used as accent colours.

Warmer options include Resene Ironsand, Resene Settlement or Resene Half Masala, these all have brown undertones.

It depends what kind of look you are after as to which colour direction to follow. We have a great brochure available called ‘Resene Roof Colour Systems’ which has many options available for you.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
 
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Settlement
Resene Settlement
Resene Half Masala
Resene Half Masala
March 2018

Q. We are painting a big area in Resene Quarter Tea and are looking to do a small area in another colour. Do you have any suggestions please?

A. The colours that you might use may be related to whether it is an interior or an exterior - or whether there are other colours in furniture, drapes, flooring that may offer inspiration.

The following are some very random colours that may work - they all look nice with Resene Quarter Tea - Resene Templestone, Resene Whirlwind, Resene Sumptuous, Resene Coffee Break, Resene Steam Roller or Resene Half Napa.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Templestone
Resene Templestone
Resene Whirlwind
Resene Whirlwind
Resene SumptuousResene Sumptuous
Resene Sumptuous
Resene
Resene Coffee Break
Resene Steam Roller
Resene Steam Roller
Resene Half Napa
Resene Half Napa
 
March 2018

Q. We have a green roof, can you please advise on what colour would be best as a house colour? We have a bungalow and had white and grey trim, and mustard and white trim. Now we would like grey but everyone has grey. Not sure how it would go with a green roof.

A. It probably depends on what particular green the roof is. The following are some different types of grey which might work - Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Dusted Grey, Resene Quill Grey, Resene Double Barely There or Resene Triple Black White.

Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarte Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Taupe Grey
Resene Dusted Grey
Resene Dusted Grey
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Double Barely There
Resene Double
Barely There
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
March 2018

Q. We are having Karaka coloured window frames. What colours would go with them for the exterior of our house?

A. You might check out these colours to see what suits the house and the window joinery the best - Resene Spanish White, Resene Tea, Resene Triple Rice Cake or Resene Ash.

Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Triple Rice Cake
Resene Ash
Resene Ash
March 2018

Q. Our walls are Resene Quarter Sisal and we are having our kitchen cabinetry repainted. We think we would like a warm neutral/white. Our whiteware is stainless steel. Do you have any suggestions?

A. The following colours would look good with Resene Quarter Sisal - Resene Half Villa White, Resene Half Cararra and Resene Half Titania or Resene Half Pearl Lusta.

Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Quarter Sisal
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Half Titania
Resene Half Titania
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
March 2018

Q. I have painted two Cape Cod chairs in Resene Ecstasy. Can you help me choose a suitable colour for my other two?

A. There are a huge amount of possibilities colour wise - perhaps you could look at these colours to see if there is something that rings your bell - Resene Optimist, Resene Dali, Resene Barometer, Resene Kudos, Resene Buttercup or Resene Tiki Tour.

Resene Ecstasy
Resene Ecstasy
Resene Optimist
Resene Optimist
Resene Dali
Resene Dali
Resene Barometer
Resene Barometer
Resene Kudos
Resene Kudos
Resene Buttercup
Resene Buttercup
Resene Tiki Tour
Resene Tiki Tour
 
March 2018

Q. I want to paint the fence and bricks on our unit a shade of darker grey. I would like some advice on paint samples to try out and also paint for garage/front door. Do we paint the fence and brick the same colour grey or perhaps black?

A. The fences could be different (blacker) than the bricks. You might check out the following colours - Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Double Cod Grey. Colours that may appeal to you for the bricks - Resene Quarter Bokara Grey or Resene Grey Friars.

Both the garage door and the front door could be the same colour to tie them together neatly – for bold/exciting colours - Resene Salsa, Resene Grass Hopper or Resene Wimbledon, or a modest neutral - Resene Half Stack.

Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Quarter Bokara Grey
Resene Quarter
Bokara Grey
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Salsa
Resene Salsa
Resene Grass Hopper
Resene Grass Hopper
Resene Wimbledon
Resene Wimbledon
Resene Half Stack
Resene Half Stack
March 2018

Q. I'm trying to choose a colour for our weatherboards, trellis screens and fence. Our white garage door has been replaced with Ironsand, which matches the gutters. The darker colour has made our front property look much smaller. I also want to minimise the brown tint to the Ironsand. Would Resene Gauntlet on the screen trellis, bring out the grey tones of the garage door, complement the grey in the brick and elongate the front section? We are undecided on black, grey or white for the perimeter fence to the left of the property. We are thinking of Resene Alabaster for the weatherboards over the garage and windows.

A. The colours you mention may achieve what you want, but you will only know if you carefully test it. If you paint all of the testpot (two coats) onto super large A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops), leaving a narrow unpainted border all around the perimeter and tape it up to the screen and view it from close up and much further away, it will confirm the 'rightness' of the colour.

An alternative option would be to use the Resene Alabaster on the screen, to tie in with the weatherboard over the garage and the windows.

I am not 100% sure about using white or black for the fence - those colours may be too optically challenging (seen on such a large expanse) compared to the house colours, dark roof and darker garage door.

Perhaps a lighter version of Ironsand may work better i.e. Resene Eighth Ironsand or possibly Resene Gauntlet - it is certainly worth carefully testing them the same way as already mentioned.

Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
March 2018

Q. I'm looking for a French inspired soft green/grey for my kitchen cabinets, with a solid timber island top and Resene Half Sea Fog walls in a vaulted ceiling farmhouse.

A. One of these may be the right colour for you - Resene Emerge (or paler - Resene Half Emerge), Resene Edward, Resene Nebula, Resene Bel Air, Resene Tasman or Resene Harp.

Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Emerge
Resene Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Edward
Resene Edward
Resene Nebula
Resene Nebula
Resene Bel Air
Resene Bel Air
Resene Tasman
Resene Tasman
Resene Harp
Resene Harp
March 2018

Q. I have painted our bach, Resene Rasputin with Resene Rice Cake. I hate the colour I chose for the deck and have decided to go with painting the deck. I was thinking beachy or grey, or would love to have some suggestions.

A. Some greys that you might check out to see if they appeal - Resene Half Jumbo, Resene Salt Box, Resene Monsoon, Resene Rakaia or Resene Flotsam.

Not so sure about 'beachy' - but that might be the pumice, sea grasses, driftwood and shell accessories that you 'dress' the deck with. Or Cape Cod deck chairs painted in Resene Rice Cake that you sit on in the evening, watching the sunset.

Resene Rasputin
Resene Rasputin
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Jumbo
Resene Half Jumbo
Resene Salt Box
Resene Salt Box
Resene Monsoon
Resene Monsoon
Resene Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Flotsam
Resene Flotsam
 
March 2018

Q. We have a Grey Friars roof and want to paint an older style villa, but are not sure what colour would look good with it. Could you suggest some colours please?

A. Grey Friars is a charcoal that can cast a steel blue undertone. Warmer whites, creams and beiges work well with it.

You might check out the following colours to see if anything appeals to you - Resene Sea Fog, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Bianca, Resene Quarter Fossil, Resene Eighth Bison Hide and Resene Quarter Truffle.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Quarter Fossil
Resene Quarter Fossil
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
March 2018

Page 74

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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