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Answers to your questions from our colour experts, p. 78

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. 78

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


Q. I am painting a bathroom with a high stud. Can you suggest a colour to get me started? I really have no idea but the blue I have tried makes the bathroom very cold!

A. The first thing I think of is adding a dado rail because of the height you have. One colour on that wall could either be very strong or very bland. If you added a rail, a simple flat piece of timber even, it would allow you to have a colour on the bottom and a neutral on the top. You could decide on the height of the rail, it may be determined by the colour you have below.

People are using Resene Duck Egg Blue type colours for bathrooms at the moment, but you need to choose a colour you absolutely love. Or find some new towels and be guided by their colour. If you find bright towels, you might want an off-white wall. If you find black and white geometric towels, a colour would be in order.

Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
August 2018

Q. I painted the texture coating on my house Resene Double Ironsand, but I’m having second thoughts, as it looks dark and doesn’t seem to go with the brown joinery. I’m also considering glassing the balustrades. If I was to change the Ironsand colour, what would you suggest? I could keep it as a feature on the eaves and bits that stick out, as it matches my garage doors. I’d also like to paint the front door in a gloss enamel... any ideas?

A. Had you considered using a slightly brighter dark colour with a bit more yellow in it like the window joinery – try Resene Double Masala, softer toned Resene Masala, or Resene Nest Egg. Or a lighter version of Ironsand – Resene Half Ironsand.

The front door in a full gloss enamel will look striking. You don't mention any particular favourite colours so my only thought is to add a bright colour. Everything else is so sombre and dark so a 'surprise' in a fresh bright colour at the front door might be very appealing.

Resene Double Masala
Resene Double Masala
Resene Masala
Resene Masala
Resene Nest Egg
Resene Nest Egg
Resene Half Ironsand
Resene Half Ironsand
August 2018

Q. We are renovating a 100 year old villa and have Resene Quarter Silver Chalice as the exterior weatherboard colour with Resene Alabaster for the window trim and Grey Friars as the brand new roof.

I have started painting the trim on the inside Resene Alabaster as well but need help choosing a wall colour for the interior. The floor is either wooden or brown/taupe throughout the house and I've been wanting to do a fresh white/grey or duck egg colour on the walls - not cream. I've been looking at all sorts of greys and duck egg blue but cannot find a white with a hint of blue in it without going too dark. These old houses really need a lift!

A. The following are a few colours that are worth checking out – Resene Snowdrift, Resene Designer White, Resene Zircon, Resene Solitude, Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue or Resene Mystic.

Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter
Silver Chalice
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Snow Drift
Resene Snow Drift
Resene Designer White
Resene Designer White
Resene Zircon
Resene Zircon
Resene Solitude
Resene Solitude
Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter
Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue
Resene Quarter
Periglacial Blue
Resene Mystic
Resene Mystic
 
August 2018

Q. We are renovating our villa to add an open plan kitchen, dining room and lounge. It is west facing with big sliding doors. We are trying to decide on paint colours at the moment. The kitchen cabinetry is a black white and the floors are matai with a quite a rich dark stain. At the moment I’m thinking Resene Half Truffle on the walls and Resene Alabaster on the ceiling and trims. I would have gone for Resene Black White but we have Resene Alabaster on the exterior of the sliding doors so figure it might be easier to just carry it through. Will these colours all work together ok? Do you have other suggestions similar to Resene Half Truffle that might work? I like the grey tone of this but also the warmth of it.

A. I think the colours will work well for you. You may notice that Resene Alabaster is a brighter type of white (less grey in it) than Resene Black White. I really like Resene Half Truffle but you might also check out Resene Double White Pointer and Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe just to compare them and to make absolutely sure that Resene Half Truffle is the perfect colour for you.

Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double
White Pointer
Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe
Resene Quarter
Perfect Taupe
August 2018

Q. I need help with choosing the exterior colours for our 77 square metre house/bach. We live about 400 metres from the ocean so it gets hit pretty hard with the west coast weather. The inside walls are painted with Resene Alabaster and have timber (mainly rimu) and black/grey tones with furnishings etc. We painted the roof Resene Half Tuna. I was thinking of painting the exterior black and tried Resene All Black and Resene Element yesterday but was not convinced.

I like the Karen Walker Paints colours (and this helps to limit the choice too) and am thinking maybe along the pastel lines. I like Resene Blanched Pink for the front door with maybe Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Half Washed Green, Resene Half Periglacial Blue, Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue, Resene Beryl Green and a white (not cream) for the windows, maybe Resene Buttery White, Resene Milk White, or Resene Wan White and thinking of adding (or not) Resene Quarter Crisp Green or Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue or Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue for the trim.

A. I am inclined to agree with you that black on the exterior as the main colour may be too hard edged and ominous. As you have already chosen the roof colour - Resene Half Tuna the following Karen Walker colours may make the bach look pastel/retro and rather delightful – Resene Half Beryl Green, Resene Half Wan White, Resene Blanched Pink and Resene Gumboot.

Or for a slightly more fun colour scheme – try Resene Quarter Crisp Green - main colour, Resene Half Wan White - window sashes and door frames, Resene Smoky Green - front door or Resene Fuscous Grey for the back door and trims.

By lightening the white (Resene Half Wan White instead of the slightly grey edged full strength Resene Wan White) on the windows and door frames it enhances the main house colour and the door colours.Using a deep grey for smaller trim areas helps to link in the roof colour and not leave it unloved and unrelated to anything else on the house.

All of the Karen Walker colours are interesting. But using more colours (than five - this includes the roof colour) may work or it may make the house look undecided and bitty. But you could paint deck furniture in some of the other Karen Walker Paints colours to make a striped lollipop 'fun in the sun' look.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Tuna
Resene All Black
Resene All Black
Resene Element
Resene Element
Resene Blanched Pink
Resene Blanched Pink
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Half Washed Green
Resene Half Washed Green
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Quarter Periglacial Blue
Resene Quarter
Periglacial Blue
Resene Beryl Green
Resene Beryl Green
Resene Buttery White
Resene Buttery White
Resene Milk White
Resene Milk White
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene Quarter Crisp Green
Resene Quarter
Crisp Green
Resene Quarter Robin Egg Blue
Resene Quarter
Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Tuna
Resene Half Beryl Green
Resene Half Beryl Green
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Blanched Pink
Resene Blanched Pink
Resene Gumboot
Resene Gumboot
Resene Quarter Crisp Green
Resene Quarter
Crisp Green
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Half Wan White
Resene Smoky Green
Resene Smoky Green
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Fuscous Grey
 
August 2018

Q. My wife and I are doing a new build. We have found a brick we really like, but are looking for a good colour with which to paint the weatherboards.

A. I recommend that you choose the roof colour and the powder coated window joinery first - so you have complete freedom of choice.

The paint colour needs to tie together the brick colour and the joinery and roof colours and is usually chosen last. If you choose the paint colour first it may compromise what colour options you can use for the roof and joinery.

August 2018

Q. I am after an exterior colour scheme for a modern house with a mono pitch roof. I like the warm/grey/green colours. I have chosen COLORSTEEL® BasaltBase for the roof and possibly Sandstone Grey for joinery. I am undecided on whether I should go light or dark on the joinery, and Resene Half Tapa or Resene Quarter Tapa for walls.

I also need a red for the main entrance door (perhaps Resene Scoria?) which could be used on the barge boards as well, to give the house a bit of lift.

A. I think Resene Half Tapa may be better as the main colour. The Resene Quarter Tapa may look more like Resene Eighth Tapa because of the brightness of natural light and it may be too light. I like the Sandstone Grey for the joinery - it is deeper than Resene Half Tapa so it pops a little bit but not in a stark or heavy way. A lighter colour for the joinery may look too 'different' compared to the harmonious tonal palette of mid toned earthy colours.

You could use Resene Scoria for the entrance door - it will be a lovely entry feature but I am not 100% certain about the red being used on the barge boards - it isn't a modern approach to use such a specific colour on them. If you used Resene Touchstone to provide the dark edge to lift the eyes upwards it might work better. Plus it adds a neat tie in to the roof colour.

Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Scoria
Resene Scoria
Resene Touchstone
Resene Touchstone
August 2018

Q. We are getting started on a new build architecturally designed house in a rural setting. It is next to our new large pole shed clad in COLORSTEEL® Thunder Grey. The house will have a COLORSTEEL® Thunder Grey roof, some cedar cladding, and a portion of corten steel cladding on one wall and the rest of cladding painted Stria. I had it in mind to paint the Stria in Thunder Grey as well but house designer thought it might look too much?

A. It could look too much and certainly would have a much lesser impact than you might think the house deserves. You could go darker – Resene Zeus or Resene Karaka, or lighter Resene Tapa or Resene Quarter Gravel. Or much paler – Resene Bone White or Resene Quarter Taupe Grey.

Resene Zeus
Resene Zeus
Resene Karaka
Resene Karaka
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Quarter Gravel
Resene Bone White
Resene Bone White
Resene Quarte Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Taupe Grey
   
August 2018

Q. I'm after an exterior option in French navy for a contrasting colour then a lighter colour to go with a navy blue. Our windows frames will be silver.

A. You might look at these navy colours to see whether they appeal to you – Resene Zinzan, Resene Midnight Express or Resene Licorice.

Some lighter colours that work well with silver window joinery – Resene Half Delta, Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Quarter Atmosphere.

Resene Zinzan
Resene Zinzan
Resene Midnight Express
Resene Midnight Express
Resene Licorice
Resene Licorice
Resene Half Delta
Resene Half Delta
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
August 2018

Q. We have a 1930s bungalow in Auckland. The exterior is weatherboard painted in Resene Quarter Delta. The exterior trim is Resene Half Alabaster. Inside the ceiling and all trim/architraves/doors etc are also Resene Half Alabaster. We are planning on featuring Resene Double Foundry in our entrance.

Currently, the internal walls are Resene Half Tea but I'm wondering if you have any other suggestions for the internal walls that might move more towards the soft, cool grey of Resene Quarter Delta?

A. You could check out the following greys to see if they appeal to you and work well with all other colours you may have in your interior - Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, Resene Athens Grey, Resene Quarter Atmosphere or Resene Triple Black White.

Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Double Foundry
Resene Double Foundry
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter
Silver Chalice
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
August 2018

Q. We are building a white weatherboard home in the coastal town of Torquay. I am deliberating over which white to use on the walls throughout the house - our builder recommended Resene Black White as that's what they use in their showrooms, however I am beginning to think it's a little too stark. I want the rooms to feel bright, light and airy; we have wooden flooring in the main rooms and darker carpets in the bedrooms. We will be doing all of the walls throughout the house in the same colour. I have seen that Resene Alabaster is quite a popular choice; would this be a better colour to add a little warmth to the rooms without going with a creamy white? Would you still use Resene Black White for the ceilings?

A. You would get a soft, slightly warmer white if you used Resene Alabaster or even Resene Double Alabaster.

I would be inclined to use Resene Half Alabaster for the ceilings, as it is better related to the Resene Alabaster main colour and is a less cool white than Resene Black White.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
August 2018

Q. We are currently building and I need help with our interior colours. We are putting Resene Surrender and Resene Black White as our exterior colours, however we are undecided if having Resene Concrete as our interior colour will create what we want. We want the Hampton style or the farm style. Our flooring is Quickstep Laminate Impressive Classic Oak Brown and our carpet is Irvine Empire Zinc. I want a light grey colour if possible and would appreciate it if someone could guide us.

A. Apart from the colour you mention - Resene Concrete - the following are a few alternatives that may appeal to you - Resene Half Surrender, Resene Double Black White or Resene Athens Grey.

If you use a slightly lighter 'white' for the trims and ceilings then that would make the pale grey on the walls look a little bit more of a definite milky grey - Resene Half Black White or Resene Quarter Black White.

If you were able to pop into the Resene ColorShop nearest to you, with samples of the flooring and kitchen cabinets/worktops to view (and compare) the greys and white colours, you may find it much easier to see what will work well for you.

Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
 
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
August 2018

Q. We are currently planning to renovate a 1901 Queenslander in Brisbane and I have decided I would like a white interior. The ceilings are 3.2m high, with lots of natural light and a North East orientation. At this stage, the floor will be white oak, with a natural matte finish. Resene Alabaster seems to be a suitable colour option (but happy for other suggestions). Could you please advise on the best strength for ceilings, VJ walls, trims, fretwork, internal doors, etc? We are also having hand painted joinery/cabinetry throughout - would this be the same strength and finish as the walls or doors/trim?

A. If you did use Resene Alabaster for the walls and you wanted a related but crisper white for ceilings, all wooden trims/doors and VJ walls, fretwork etc. you could use Resene Quarter Alabaster. The hand painted joinery/cabinetry would be the same white as that used on the ceiling and all wooden trims as mentioned previously - Resene Quarter Alabaster.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
August 2018

Q. I have a pink and grey brick house with wooden panel accents, which are currently painted olive green. I need to replace my roof and would like to repaint the wood accents at the same time with a new colour that will give a more modern look.

A. Grey tones seem to be a modern trend. If your new roof is to be a COLORSTEEL® powder coated one, there are fewer colour options to choose from but the following are some options you might check out - TernStyle, BasaltBase, Grey Friars or Sandstone Grey.

The garage door could be painted to match the roof - the following are Resene versions of COLORSTEEL® roof colours listed to correspond with the roof colours - Resene Windswept, Resene Touchstone, Resene Grey Friars or Resene Gauntlet.

The wooden panelling might be lighter but related to the roof and garage door colours – try Resene Half Baltic Sea, Resene Half Tapa, Resene Quarter Grey Friars or Resene Atmosphere.

Resene Windswept
Resene Windswept
Resene Touchstone
Resene Touchstone
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Half Tapa
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Atmosphere
Resene Atmosphere
August 2018

Q. I want to paint some furniture grey, but want a soft grey with hints of blue and green to make them French/shabby chic. There are Karen Walker colours which I think would work. My walls are white and the carpet is grey, so I don't want a block grey colour.

A. The following colours are greyed blues or greyed greens that are very French inspired - Resene Half Grey Chateau, Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Half Dusted Blue, Resene Half Robin Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Powder Blue or Resene Half Periglacial Blue.

You might use matt waterbased enamel – Resene SpaceCote Flat - if you want a soft, chalky looking shabby chic look to your furniture.

Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Dusted Blue
Resene Half Dusted Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Half Robin Egg Blue
Resene Quarter Powder Blue
Resene Quarter
Powder Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
Resene Half Periglacial Blue
August 2018

Q. I need a white colour for trim, doors and wooden cabinets that I can carry through from the dining room and through a 12 metre long hall to all of the bedrooms. The house is a 1905 villa and cold, so I would like a trim colour that is warm. I need to paint over the rimu doors, trim and the floor in the hall. I also need to do the dining room, which is kauri. I am thinking of using Resene Half Spanish White in the bedroom, Resene Pearl Lusta in the hall (and maybe Resene Sea Fog in the dining room, which is a north west facing room and gets lots of light). Will I need a product to cover the rimu trim and doors before I paint over? In the 12 metre long hall, which is very dark, there is a dado rail halfway up. Is it best to paint the lower half of the wall a lighter or darker colour? I was thinking variant shades of Resene Pearl Lusta. I need to inject light and warmth, into a cold house.

A. Various tints, tones and shades of Resene Pearl Lusta would work well to lighten and lift the look of the colder/dim spaces.

Using a deeper tone on the lower wall under the dado is practical and it will emphasise the lighter colour on the upper walls. Resene Double Pearl Lusta is a good 'deeper' colour as it adds rich warmth. Resene Half Pearl Lusta is much lighter (but not too white) for the upper part of the walls.

Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta can be used for all the doors, door frames, skirting boards, window frames and dado rails - it will work with Resene Half Spanish White in the bedroom. As a trim colour it won't work very well with Resene Sea Fog but would work well with Resene Double Sea Fog.

Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Double Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half
Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter
Pearl Lusta
Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta
Resene Eighth
Pearl Lusta
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
August 2018

Q. I have a bedroom painted in Resene Surrender and I want to add a yellow feature wall. What shade would you suggest?

A. One of these yellows may appeal to you - Resene Half Beeswax or stronger in hue - Resene Beeswax, Resene Sidecar,
Resene Melting Moment or Resene Moonbeam.

Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Half Beeswax
Resene Half Beeswax
Resene Beeswax
Resene Beeswax
Resene Sidecar
Resene Sidecar
Resene Melting Moment
Resene Melting Moment
Resene Moonbeam
Resene Moonbeam
August 2018

Q. My door and window colour is Matt Warm White Pearl. Will Resene Alabaster or Resene White Pointer on the window sills go with that colour? The main wall colour is Resene Tea or Resene Half Tea.

A. Neither of these colours are a match. Resene Alabaster is too cool/white and Resene White Pointer is too grey/beige compared to the yellowy undertone of the Warm White Pearl.

If you want a colour match to the powder coated joinery, you could ask at the Resene ColorShop for Warm White Pearl/Computer formula/match, as the powder coat colours have been matched in the Resene Colour Lab.

If you don’t want a match to the joinery, then I suggest you use a lighter variant of the wall colour - i.e. Resene Quarter Tea - so they associate well with the main colour in the interior of the house.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Tea
Resene Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
August 2018

Q. We have painted our rooms Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, with the trimmings Resene Alabaster. We were thinking of painting the hallway and lounge/kitchen lighter - either Resene Black White or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. What would your recommendation be? Can we still continue with our standard ceiling paint? We will continue with Resene Alabaster for our trimmings.

A. If you wanted a cooler coloured white with grey undertones, then Resene Black White might work. It isn't lighter however - it is the same depth of colour as Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream.

A lighter - but related colour - for the hallway could be Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream.

Resene Alabaster would look very good for trims (and ceilings) with either of the colours you have mentioned. If you have used a standard ceiling paint in white for the ceilings, then it will work with any colours.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
August 2018

Q. I was all ready to paint the bedroom Resene Black White and the helpful Resene guy gave me the card with 'top 20' whites. Got home and after looking at the hall which is cream wallpaper and the lounge which is soft white wallpaper, I think having the bedroom Resene Black White, is going to look too crisp and sharp and be out of place. So I'm now thinking a warm white. What would be some good options please? I have Resene Spanish White in kitchen and want something different.

A. It isn't just choosing a warm white that needs to be done but finding one that looks good with your flooring, drapes, duvet etc. and in the natural aspect of light you have in the bedroom as well. You may need to carefully test several in order to see how they respond to these other things.

You might check out the following warm whites - Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Quarter Albescent White, Resene Eighth Biscotti, Resene Quarter Solitaire, Resene Half Pearl Lusta, Resene Bianca or Resene White Linen.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half
Pearl Lusta
Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene White Linen
Resene White Linen
 
August 2018

Q. We are currently building and I want to do Resene Alabaster on the walls, in the hallway, living and lounge - should I also do Resene Alabaster on the ceilings or go for a slightly different variation of the colour, as I read you should have the ceiling colour lighter than the walls.

A. You might use Resene Quarter Alabaster for the ceilings. You could do all the wood trims - i.e. doors, door frames, window frames, skirting boards etc. lighter as well if you want to see a subtle contrast between them and the wall colour. Or you might decide to just use the same colour as the walls but in a Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss enamel finish, so it is just a sheen difference not a colour difference.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
August 2018

Q. We have tested Resene Akaroa and Resene Double Akaroa in a space we want to paint. The Resene Akaroa is a bit cold and grey. The Resene Double Akaroa is nice, but a little dark. Can you suggest something that has a little more warmth in it please?

A. You might check out the following - Resene Parchment, Resene Double Parchment, Resene Fossil or Resene Double Fossil.

They are lighter and warmer than the Resene Akaroa palette.

Colours always appear deeper in an interior - often doubling in depth - so it is very important to carefully test colours. They alter a lot with changing natural and artificial light as well.

Resene Akaroa
Resene Akaroa
Resene Double Akaroa
Resene Double Akaroa
Resene Double Parchment
Resene Double Parchment
Resene Fossil
Resene Fossil
Resene Double Fossil
Resene Double Fossil
August 2018

Q. I want pink as a background wall, for a painting. The aim is to make the painting pop, while not being too strong as it’s in a bedroom. It’s important it doesn’t have a blue tint but more of a chalky quality. The current pink is not right as it is too dull.

A. You might check out the following colours to see how they respond to being close to the painting, and how they may change during daylight hours and under artificial light at night. If you paint all of the testpot [2 coats] onto white A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) and pin it on the wall and move it around a little bit from wall to wall, it may help you judge the reality of the colours. If you leave a narrow border all around the edge of the sample card, it will help you judge the depth of the colour as well as act as a barrier, so that the existing wall colour won't negatively affect how the tested paint sample looks.

Try Resene Sentimental, Resene Pink Terrace, Resene Tuft Bush, Resene Cosmos or Resene Pot Pourri.

Colours in an interior, always look deeper (or brighter depending on the type of colour) when a whole room is painted, so it pays to test colours very carefully. The A2 card I mentioned when painted, can be rolled into a tube with the colour inner most. When you look into the tube the colour looks deeper - this is a very good indication of what a whole room will look like when painted.

Resene Sentimental
Resene Sentimental
Resene Pink Terrace
Resene Pink Terrace
Resene Tuft Bush
Resene Tuft Bush
Resene Cosmos
Resene Cosmos
Resene Pot Pourri
Resene Pot Pourri
August 2018

Q. I want to paint my walls Resene Double White Pointer. What shall I paint my doors and trim? Should it be Resene White Pointer? Or will that be too similar to notice a difference? I am also confused about a ceiling colour.

A. You are right in thinking that Resene White Pointer may not give enough contrast with the Resene Double White Pointer.

You could check out Resene Half White Pointer or Resene Quarter White Pointer for the trims and doors.

If you wanted a 'coloured ' ceiling then you might use Resene Quarter White Pointer but if you would prefer a whiter ceiling, then you could use Resene Quarter Black White.

Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double
White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter
White Pointer
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
August 2018

Q. We have a bathroom and toilet room, which we are currently upgrading and would like a suggestion for a wall colour please. The bathroom is 3m x 3m and the toilet is 3m x 2m. I want to use the same colour in both rooms.

Both rooms are on the shady side of the house and the ceilings are newly painted in Resene Alabaster. The window frames, skirting, door frames, doors, vanity cabinets and mirror surrounds are rimu.

The shower is frameless glass, with a white tray and white tile walls and the bath and basins are white. Tile splashbacks are an off white and subdued mustard mix. The door handles are brushed chrome. Flooring is new and is Polyfloor vinyl tile in Dark Concrete.

A. Small rooms or rooms that aren't blessed with sunshine and warmth may need a colour that lifts the light factor in the room. Bathrooms and toilets have a lot of ceramic white in them, so they can look chilly. But in your case, your rooms have some nice rimu trims, coloured tiles and a deep coloured floor. You might check out the following suggestions to see if they appeal to you and look good in the rooms - Resene Half Villa White, Resene Orchid White or Resene Double Bianca.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Half Villa White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Double Bianca
Resene Double Bianca
August 2018

Q. I’m looking for a colour for a feature wall in the bedroom - walls will have new GIB® due to poor condition but the tongue and groove ceiling will remain. I was thinking Resene Armadillo for the headboard wall.

I’m also looking for a colour for the bathroom walls. I want warmth to the colour, as it is on the dark side of the house. The ceiling will be tongue and groove and the walls GIB®.

For the remaining interior, I was thinking of painting Resene Black White or maybe Resene Half Black White trims and Resene Double Black White walls.

A. I like your idea of using Resene Black White and Resene Half Black White for the interior - but more of a crisp contrast might be Resene Quarter Black White for the trims and ceilings, and this may look better.

I recommend you paint up a large sample of Resene Armadillo (all of the testpot/two coats on an A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) and tape it up on the wall and watch it during the changing daylight hours and also under electric light, so you can see how the colour alters.

The bathroom walls (on the dark side of the house) may need to be a complete colour departure from the main house colours, as greyed whites or crisp whites can look quite grim if the aspect of natural light isn't kind.

Perhaps a delicate green edged neutral colour like Resene Quarter Linen or a pale taupe like Resene Quarter Truffle, or a delicate cream like Resene Quarter Villa White may provide a light/warm look.

Resene Armadillo
Resene Armadillo
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Linen
Resene Quarter Linen
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Villa White
Resene Quarter Villa White
   
August 2018

Q. I am looking for a feature colour for exterior doors for our cottage and studio. We have relocated the cottage and are currently renovating.

The current plan for exterior colour scheme is: roof – COLORSTEEL® Sandstone Grey (recently re-roofed in this colour), weatherboards – Resene Silver Chalice, baseboards – Resene Armadillo, trims/windows – Resene Black White (or Resene Half Black White or Resene Quarter Black White if you think that would prove a better contrast?). Not sure about guttering yet whether to match to roof or trims, or go darker again. I don't like Jet Stream for the doors, which is a recommended complementary colour. I was wondering about going for a very dark colour on the front door (needs to be >10 LRV to meet warrantee conditions) and the rear doors and painting the studio in something more creative (and to link the cottage with the studio).

A. If it is a guttering that is to be painted, then a white like the windows is a possibility. Or you might consider using the same colour as the roof for the guttering if you are considering a powder coated metal guttering, so it merges in. But a darker colour would make a feature of the guttering. Is that what you want to achieve? Is it a feature worthy of highlighting?

A lighter white will give you a definite crisp contrast - perhaps Resene Half Black White instead of full strength Resene Black White.

I am surprised that a LRV of 10 is considered appropriate to meet warrantee conditions, as it is very, very dark and will attract a huge amount of heat which can jeopardise wooden surfaces.

If however, the doors are totally sheltered (by a very deep veranda roof line or porch) and never get the direct sun on them, then a colour like Resene Armadillo or Resene Half Nocturnal would meet the LRV criteria.

Alternatively you might use a rich deep toned red - Resene Red It or Resene Pioneer Red, as this can be very effective.

Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Armadillo
Resene Armadillo
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Half Nocturnal
Resene Half Nocturnal
Resene Red It
Resene Red It
Resene Pioneer Red
Resene Pioneer Red
   
August 2018

Q. Our build has a pale grey roof with some colour guttering and spouting. The exterior will be mainly LINEA® weatherboard with sections of Axon® board which have an appearance of vertical lines. More horizontal than vertical.

We thought Resene Double Cod Grey for the horizontal boards with something like Resene Quarter Stack for the Axon boards. The window joinery will be white. The garage door will be the same as the roof. What would your thoughts be as to the colours?

A. I like the colours you have mentioned. My only concern is that you may see Resene Quarter Stack looking quite a bit lighter than you may envisage it will do. Colours often look lighter when seen in bright natural light. If this is a problem then perhaps using Resene Half Stack may be more appropriate.

Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Half Stack
Resene Half Stack
August 2018

Q. We are building a new house and currently picking paint colours. We are thinking of kitchen cabinetry in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, and therefore thought a natural match for the walls would be Resene Thorndon Cream.

Is there a green that would go with Resene Thorndon Cream that we could use for the lounge? We are thinking of painting the entire room a different colour. The lounge is visible from the dining and main living area, but also slightly separate.

A. There are quite a few greens that look good close to Resene Thorndon Cream and Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. You might check out these options to see if they appeal to you - Resene Triple Thorndon Cream, Resene Double Ash, Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Templestone or Resene Castle Rock.

You do need to carefully test the colours as a different quality of changing light and spatial dimensions plus any distinctive colours
(flooring/drapes/upholstery etc) can influence greatly how the colours are seen.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Templestone
Resene Templestone
Resene Castle Rock
Resene Castle Rock
August 2018

Q. I need help choosing an exterior colour combination. The stone feature wall will be Piha Black Schist, so will be the outer fence. The top floor cladding is cedar and ground floor cladding is weather board. To start with, I need help on what colour combination we should go with for the claddings, window frames are black. We were thinking either cedar (natural look) with clear stain or dark oak stain, then what would match the ground floor weatherboard? We don’t want to go with black cedar stain.

A. If you used Resene Woodsman Natural Wood on the top floor cedar it would give you a very natural look - but still enough protection unlike a clear which offers none. If you went with Resene Woodsman Dark Oak it is a darker more definite colour compared to the Natural. If you want to paint the weatherboards (if they are pine) it is always tricky trying to find a paint that is the same as the stain - they may look similar at first but the paint always looks more coloured (than stain) and they age differently so over time don't look similar.

The weatherboards (if they are pine) could be stained in the same product as the cedar but the stain won't look the same because cedar is a darker timber and picks up stain in a different way to the pine. If you used Resene Woodsman Natural on the pine weatherboards and a deep (but not black) colour on the cedar it could look very interesting - possibly Resene Woodsman Sheer Black which is a warm brown/black and isn't too stark a contrast and would work with the joinery and the schist.

Resene Natural
Resene Natural
Resene Colorwood Dark Oak
Resene Dark Oak
Resene Sheer Black
Resene Sheer Black
August 2018

Q. We need to decide the interior colour for a new house in the next couple of days. The original option is Resene Sea Fog on the walls and Resene Double Alabaster on trims and all woodwork. We found Resene Sea Fog might be a bit stark as there will be a lot of windows and natural light. We tried Resene Double Sea Fog but the tone didn't feel right. Resene Double Black White seemed better. Would Resene Double Black White work well with Resene Double Alabaster?

A. Resene Double Black White and Double Alabaster are lovely together.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
August 2018

Q. We are getting our house painted and I was wondering whether to stick to the current colours Resene Black White and Resene Ironsand or to change to a greyer palette. Please advise suitable colours for this type of house. The garage doors are Ironsand and I don’t know if they can be changed.

A. You might choose to change your main colour in a subtle way so it feels 'new' and still works with the Resene Ironsand. Perhaps one of these colours is worth checking out - Resene House White, Resene Barely There, Resene Quarter Truffle, Resene White Pointer or Resene Eighth Tea.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
     
Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Barely There
Resene Barely There
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Eighth Tea
August 2018

Q. I am renovating our house and going for a contemporary modern house. I have chosen Resene Black White. Should the ceilings, architrave, door be the same colour or would you suggest you go with more strength?

A. If you want a very modern look where nothing is emphasised and all elements merge together then you might achieve that look if only one colour (same as the walls) was used on everything. The only difference might be the sheen used on each surface - i.e. matt on the ceilings, low sheen on walls and semi-gloss on the woodwork/doors. But if you want to see some visual contrast then you could still achieve a modern look with a lighter variant of the wall colour on the ceiling and wood work - Resene Quarter Black White. It is a personal choice. Some people like to see the wall colour in a slightly more definite way which is why they use a lighter contrast. Some people don't want to emphasise any surface.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
August 2018

Q. I’m looking for an exterior colour for painting on LINEA® board. The existing colours are Shale Grey window frames and Monument garage door and walls. There is a natural stone feature wall leading to a Rosewood front door. The roof is Wallaby, and would prefer to keep in darker tones to blend in to existing bushland.

A. You might check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Gunsmoke, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey, Resene Windswept, Resene Nocturnal or Resene Element.

Resene Gunsmoke
Resene Gunsmoke
Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey
Resene Quarter
Fuscous Grey
Resene Windswept
Resene Windswept
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Element
Resene Element
August 2018

Q. We’re seeking help to find a classic colour for the walls, trims and ceilings of our entrance way, kitchen and dining room. We have recently updated the curtains (replaced pink), but we need to embrace the pink carpet, lino and green kitchen, which won’t be going anywhere for now. The pink tile splashback will get replaced though.

This is a minister’s country retreat house, so needs to be classic/homestead. The previous managers had a thing for pink - the wallpaper is also pink!

A. It can be tricky when distinctive coloured elements are in the house and aren't being changed. They control what might be used - a lot!

Try these warm neutral colours - Resene Eighth Spanish White, Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Eighth Fossil.

If the trims and ceilings were the same colour in a much lighter/whiter colour, it would lift the look and slightly emphasise the wall colour - Resene Quarter Bianca.

All colours in an interior have the potential to look deeper than you might imagine they will do - often doubling in depth when all four walls are painted. Because of this happening, my suggestions are quite light but will not appear as pale on the walls.

Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth
Spanish White
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
August 2018

Q. I am doing up our 1970's home. The inside of the home is painted mostly in Resene Surrender. I have come to the kitchen which has cabinets which I will be keeping, as they are in great nick. They are Resene Pearl Lusta. The plan was to continue Resene Surrender through to the kitchen too, but it makes the cabinets look very yellow. I thought perhaps I could paint the walls Resene Pearl Lusta and somehow accent a grey or perhaps a green. What do you think of Resene Rainee?

A. You definitely could do the walls the same as the cabinets. But perhaps you might consider a lighter variant, as it is more flexible and 'allows' other accent colours to be used, as it is less yellow/dominant.

Resene Half Pearl Lusta or Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta will work with the existing Pearl Lusta cabinetry and the following colour suggestions - Resene Duck Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Regent Grey, Resene Paris White, Resene Nebula or Resene Harp.

You mention Resene Rainee - that is a nice option as well.

Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Half Pearl Lusta
Resene Half
Pearl Lusta
Resene Rainee
Resene Rainee
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Quarter Pearl Lusta
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter Regent Grey
Resene Quarter
Regent Grey
Resene Paris White
Resene Paris White
Resene Nebula
Resene Nebula
Resene Harp
Resene Harp
August 2018

Q. What we want to do is to actually paint a new colour on the cement blocks (downstairs) and also on the cement/timber board (upstairs). So we can go with any colour that goes with the roof and gutter colour. We wanted to go with a tannish colour such as – Resene Triple Spanish White, Resene Double Biscotti, Resene Desert Sand, Resene Bowman, Resene Okey Dokey or Resene Sour Dough. What would you recommend in the tans (could be light or dark) and white range that would match the terracotta roof and tiling on the upper deck?

For the garage doors, upstairs and downstairs - could they be in the white range or a colour? It is hard to know what to work with to work with a reddish roof.

A. You appear to have very carefully checked out quite a lot of possibilities. If you have tested the colours that you mention by painting up large A2 cards (available from Resene ColorShops) as samples and placed them close to the terracotta tiling on the upper deck, you may find that one colour is more harmonious than another. It is also handy to tape them up and then move them around all of the sides of the house, so you can see just how much the different light aspects alter how the colours are seen.

If they are all lovely with the tiles and the roof colour and you really can't make a decision then you might play the 'Like it Least' game. This is when you look at large painted samples of all the colours and say 'which one do I like least' and you remove it from the group of colours. You keep doing this exercise until there is only one colour left - and that is the best one/the colour you like the most.

I like Resene Double Biscotti, as it is quite a warm tawny tan (and it has less yellow in it) and there is another colour worth checking out - Resene Bone - this one carries a little more warmth/orange in its undertone and a deeper tan worth looking at is Resene Sandal. It is only when you compare large samples of colours with each other that you recognise just how they differ from each other and what the subtle undertones of colour are in each one.

If you want to use a warmed white to work with the new main colour on the house, you might look at one of these colours - Resene Eighth Spanish White, Resene Eighth Biscotti or Resene Half Bianca.

Yes, you could use it for the garage doors as well if you weren't keen on using a definitely different contrasting colour.

Resene Doeskin
Resene Doeskin
Resene Half Doeskin
Resene Half Doeskin
 
Resene Triple Spanish White
Resene Triple
Spanish White
Resene Double Biscotti
Resene Double Biscotti
Resene Desert Sand
Resene Desert Sand
Resene Bowman
Resene Bowman
Resene Okey Dokey
Resene Okey Dokey
Resene Sour Dough
Resene Sour Dough
Resene Bone
Resene Bone
Resene Sandal
Resene Sandal
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth
Spanish White
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
 
August 2018

Q. We are hoping to get some suggestions with regards to what colours to paint the interior of our home. We were very happy with the colour suggestion for the outside of our home to paint it Resene Masala a few years ago. We are now ready to paint the inside. The interior furniture will be replaced to suit the new interior scheme. The kitchen has grey glass splashback and the rest is white so is quite neutral. The house mainly has white walls at the moment and feels quite cold and so we wanted to maybe add some warmth while looking modern.

A. There are a huge amount of possibilities to choose from. You mention changing the furniture to suit the new wall colour but the flooring and drapes may not be replaced and it is these elements that a new colour has to work with. These options are a start point - Resene Merino, Resene Half Cararra, Resene Eighth Fossil, Resene Eighth Truffle, Resene Eighth Tea or Resene Half Albescent White.

If you did decide to change flooring and drapes it is always wise to choose these first, furniture second and paint last of all to tie everything together - that way you have flexibility and optimum choices.

Resene Masala
Resene Masala
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half
Albescent White
 
August 2018

Q. We have a weatherboard Queenslander style house. We have a COLORSTEEL® Karaka roof and Karaka aluminium joinery. We are looking for a colour for the weatherboards and wonder if you can help with suggestions. We prefer a light to mid tone.

A. The following are a few colours to check out to see if they appeal to you - Resene Double Merino, Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Fossil, Resene Truffle, Resene Eighth Arrowtown or Resene Ash.

Resene Double Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Fossil
Resene Fossil
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Eighth Arrowtown
Resene Eighth Arrowtown
Resene Ash
Resene Ash
August 2018

Q. My house has rimu joinery. The living area was painted 11 years ago in Resene Pristine Lavender. This area needs to be lightened up as it doesn't get a lot of sun, and I would like to paint it a shade of white. I have brown carpet and taupe drapes, which will not be changed. Which shade of white should I use?

A. You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you and most importantly work with your existing flooring and drapes - Resene Sea Fog, Resene Quarter Albescent White, Resene Eighth Blanc or very slightly deeper Resene Quarter Blanc, Resene Quarter White Pointer or Resene Eighth Truffle.

Resene Pristine Lavender
Resene Pristine Lavender
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
Resene Eighth Blanc
Resene Eighth Blanc
Resene Quarter Blanc
Resene Quarter Blanc
Resene Quarter White Pointer
Resene Quarter
White Pointer
Resene Eighth Truffle
Resene Eighth Truffle
 
August 2018

Q. We are building a new home and are painting the walls Resene White Pointer and the ceiling Resene Alabaster. What do you suggest for the door/window frames, doors and skirting? Resene White Pointer or another colour?

A. Sometimes with new builds the skirting boards, door frames and window surrounds are very slim line/minimal. They are not like in a colonial style house where these wooden trims are larger and ornate. If they are slim line/minimal then you might want to merge them into the wall colour rather than try and make a feature of them by using a definite other colour. It is your choice however.

The doors present as a larger mass and they might be colour highlighted if desired. They could be the same as the ceiling - Resene Alabaster or alternatively they might be a slightly deeper version of the wall colour - i.e. Resene Double White Pointer in a semi-gloss enamel paint finish. The slightly deeper option is sometimes chosen because it offers a colour that may disguise constant finger marking and bump abrasion from constant touching.

Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Double White Pointer
Resene Double
White Pointer
August 2018

Q. I am choosing external colours for a coastal house in Queensland. I love the Resene Streetwise walls. Resene Truffle works well also, on the lower level walls. But my third choice Resene Taupe Grey is looking too khaki, beside the Resene Streetwise, on the top floor, at higher levels.

A. You might check out these colours to see if they work with Resene Truffle and Resene Streetwise - Resene Quarter Sandstone, Resene Quarter Mondo or Resene Friar Greystone . I deliberately didn't suggest deeper versions of Resene Truffle as they pick up more yellow/brown undertones and I thought they may be too khaki.

Resene Streetwise
Resene Streetwise
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
Resene Quarter Sandstone
Resene Quarter Sandstone
Resene Quarter Mondo
Resene Quarter Mondo
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
August 2018

Q. We are currently looking for a dark charcoal grey feature wall in our kitchen and wondered if you could advise of any suitable greys?

A. You might check out these dark greys to see if they appeal to you and look good with the colours you already have in the kitchen - Resene Quarter Ironsand, Resene Half Baltic Sea, Resene Half Fuscous Grey or Resene Quarter Bokara Grey.

You might also check out the deeper versions of these colours also to see if you want much darker shades.

Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Quarter Ironsand
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Fuscous Grey
Resene Half Fuscous Grey
Resene Quarter Bokara Grey
Resene Quarter
Bokara Grey
August 2018

Q. I have a large villa with good natural light and want to paint feature walls of the lounge and dining Resene Fuscous Grey. I’ve selected Resene Quarter Black White for ceilings, scotias and skirtings to match white shutters. My question is what colour should I paint the walls? I’d like a little bit of contrast and tried Resene Concrete but it has hints of blue that I don’t like. Would Resene Sea Fog work - or maybe Resene Quarter Concrete or Resene Eighth Concrete?

A. Resene Sea Fog and Resene Quarter Concrete are good colours - but you might also check out Resene Wan White and Resene Black White. If you compare them you will see that they are all slightly different to each other and you may need to carefully test them by painting large samples on A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) so that you can move them around from wall to wall and watch how changing natural light influences how they look at different times of the day.

Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Concrete
Resene Quarter Concrete
Resene Wan White
Resene Wan White
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
 
August 2018

Q. I am painting my lounge and kitchen in Resene Jumbo. What is the best warm white to put with it?

A. Here are several different undertones of ‘warm’ whites for you to choose from: Resene Rice Cake – yellow/grey mix, Resene Half Spanish White – yellow/beige, Resene Quarter Biscotti – pinky browny or Resene Eighth Sisal – sandy yellow.

These are all different looking colours and different depths too. I wasn’t too sure how much colour you wanted to see on the walls. Most of these colours will come in lighter and darker versions.

I suggest you pop into your local Resene ColorShop and ask to see samples of each of these colours, along with a Resene Jumbo sample, then grab a couple of testpots of your favourites to take home to try.

Resene Jumbo
Resene Jumbo
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Quarter Biscotti
Resene Quarter Biscotti
Resene Eighth Sisal
Resene Eighth Sisal
August 2018

Q. We are painting an urban 1920s bungalow and are thinking about exterior paint colours. Are you able to suggest a few popular colour schemes - perhaps a grey based scheme and a cream based scheme? We have Grey Friars on the roof.

A. You might check out these palettes of colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Half Grey Chateau – main, Resene Half Black White - all the white trims, under the soffits, door and window frames etc.

For doors, window sills or any other details on the house try Resene Quarter Grey Friars (a lighter variant of the roof colour) or a distinctive contrast colour - Resene Red It.

Or Resene Half Thorndon Cream – main with Resene Eighth Rice Cake - all the white trims, under the soffits, door and window frames etc, and for doors, window sills or any other details on the house, Resene Steam Roller (a bluer but somewhat related colour to the Grey Friars roof) or a distinctive contrast colour - Resene Pohutukawa.

Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Grey Chateau
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Quarter Grey Friars
Resene Red It
Resene Red It
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Steam Roller
Resene Steam Roller
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Pohutukawa
August 2018

Q. I am having a commercial premise painted and updated. It's a basic showroom/office space, back kitchen and toilet area in a 1920s building with high ceilings. I am not sure what type of tenant yet but there has been a jeweller and barber recently. I am having the walls painted in Resene Rice Cake, but I like a bit of colour too, so was considering the wall in the kitchen behind the bench, and also the toilets, to have some colour. I'm thinking about a warm mustardy colour for the kitchen (it's a high ceiling area at back of the building with one wall of windows) but your 'mustard' colour looks a bit muddy/green. Would you have any suggestions there? Or some other type of colour that is popular at the moment but nothing that is too strong. For the toilets, I want something clean but warm, maybe a nice grey/green e.g. Resene Half Emerge, or something crisper e.g. Resene Willow Brook - or maybe a warm colour.

A. Perhaps a sweeter mustard type of colour may appeal to you. Check out these colours - Resene Half Putty or slightly deeper toned Resene Putty. These are like Colmans Mustard powder mixed with cream.

A nice grey/green type of colour for you to consider - Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Tiara or a fresh green - Resene Quarter Coriander, Resene Secrets or Resene Half Beryl Green.

Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Willow Brook
Resene Willow Brook
Resene Half Putty
Resene Half Putty
Resene Putty
Resene Putty
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Tiara
Resene Tiara
Resene Quarter Coriander
Resene Quarter Coriander
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
Resene Half Beryl Green
Resene Half Beryl Green
August 2018

Q. Are you able to help me with colour selection for the exterior of my 1930s Queenslander? I would like to paint the gutters, breadloaf on the balcony and window sills, a very dark navy blue (possibly Resene Bunting or Resene Cove Grey) as we need to cover a dark maroon that is currently there. I was thinking that Resene Quarter Tea may be nice for the weatherboards (I don't want a white that will look yellow or cream) and then for other trims/fence, potentially using Resene Alabaster or Resene Black White. I would like a muted/soft look on the main part of the house. Could you please let me know if I am on the right track or if you have any other complementary colour suggestions, so that I can achieve the look I am after?

A. I really like your colour ideas of Resene Quarter Tea and Resene Alabaster used with a dark navy - Resene Bunting. You are definitely on the right track with your choices.

Resene Bunting
Resene Bunting
Resene Cove Grey
Resene Cove Grey
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
August 2018

Q. Our master bedroom overlooks rolling hills on one side and harbour views on the other. I'd like to consider this when redecorating and I am open to all colour ideas that take this into account. It is currently rich gold.

A. If your bedroom gets all day sun and is a glorious warm bright room, you could use calming greens or blues to balance the bright light and warmth. If your bedroom only gets sunlight for a lesser part of the day and has shadows on the walls and a cooler aspect, then you could use light/bright reflective colours.

With rich gold on the walls that might make it very tricky when it comes to testing colours to see what they are truly like. You may need to use a white undercoat, so that you see the reality of any colours that you test.

Choosing a whole new look depends upon so much more than what you favour. The shape of the room and the aspect of natural light plus existing drapes and the bed linen control your options. You may find your colour choices are more limited.

So what you have to decide is, are the drapes staying - or are they being changed? Likewise the linen on the bed - if you are considering changing, it may pay you to go looking with both your eyes and your heart - so you have the best of all possible choices. If you choose the wall colour first and then go to find drapes and linen, you may find that what looks best in the room with the walls is not at all what you would have chosen if you had freedom of choice.

August 2018

Q. What would work well with Resene Half Emerge? I am looking for a darker colour to use as a feature wall.

A. One of the following colours may appeal to you - Resene Half Innocence (or the full strength version) - Resene Innocence or Resene Dark Slate, Resene Elephant, Resene Cod Grey, Resene Stonehenge, Resene Wanted or Resene Zinzan.

Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Emerge
Resene Half Innocence
Resene Half Innocence
Resene Innocence
Resene Innocence
Resene Dark Slate
Resene Dark Slate
Resene Elephant
Resene Elephant
Resene Cod Grey
Resene Cod Grey
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Wanted
Resene Wanted
Resene Zinzan
Resene Zinzan
 
August 2018

Q. I have a COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod roof and nearly black joinery on a 1930s bungalow we are renovating. I would like grey weatherboards, white fascia and facing boards etc. What would you suggest for the grey and the white with this roof colour?

A. One of these combos might appeal to you - Resene Half Friar Greystone and Resene Half Barely There, Resene Eighth Masala and Resene Sea Fog or Resene Gauntlet and Resene Black White.

Resene Half Friar Greystone
Resene Half Friar Greystone
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Masala
Resene Eighth Masala
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Gauntlet
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
   
August 2018

Q. We have Resene Parchment on the walls in our hallway and stairwell, as well as on the skirting and door frames. We would like a lighter colour for the walls (keeping the skirting and door frames as Resene Parchment). Can you please suggest a lighter colour that would go with existing Resene Parchment? We are also putting in a new splashback in the kitchen as we want to replace the existing stainless steel splashback. The wall colour is Resene Alto. Could you please suggest a colour for the splashback?

A. Because Resene Parchment is such a definite colour; I think you need to take care in choosing a lighter wall colour. Too light a colour will emphasise the Resene Parchment a lot, so it is not only deeper but a dirtier type of colour. The following are a few options that would work - Resene Half Parchment, Resene Quarter Parchment or Resene Half Thorndon Cream.

Some splashback colour suggestions that may appeal to you are these - Resene Rhino, Resene Trouble or Resene Steam Roller.

Or as an alternative, you could use crystal clear low iron oxide glass directly over your wall paint. Crystal clear low iron oxide glass is totally clear, so it doesn't take on a greenish cast like standard float glass does and alter how the paint colour behind it looks.

Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Alto
Resene Alto
Resene Half Parchment
Resene Half Parchment
Resene Quarter Parchment
Resene Quarter Parchment
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Rhino
Resene Rhino
Resene Trouble
Resene Trouble
Resene Steam Roller
Resene Steam Roller
   
August 2018

Q. I am seeking advice for a shade of white, for the ceiling of my one room bach. The walls are painted Resene Linen. There's plenty of light but the ceiling is quite low. I want it to look crisp. Would you have any ideas please?

A. If you are after a ‘crisp’ white, you’ll want to use Resene Alabaster. This is a very standard choice for ceilings and trim. It will however, make your walls look greyer and darker, because of how ‘white’ it is. If this doesn’t appeal, just use a colour that is slightly greyer, like Resene Black White.

Resene Linen
Resene Linen
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
August 2018

Q. We have done an extension to our lounge/kitchen (open plan) and are repainting the whole area. The kitchen will have white gloss cupboards and a black stone benchtop. It will also have a fireplace with grey schist. I want a grey colour to complement this. I looked at Resene Concrete but it seemed a bit ‘pinky’. Resene Quarter Stack was suggested to me but could you please suggest a grey colour? Am I better to go with Resene Black White or Resene Alabaster for the ceiling/trims etc?

A. The Resene Concrete family does have a tendency to look pink/purple and feels much ‘cooler’ than other grey colours. Here are a few warmer type grey colours that work with most other colours/furnishings - Resene Athens Grey, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey or Resene Quarter Delta.

You’ll just need to grab samples of these colours and test them against the grey of the fireplace schist; this is what will determine what undertone you have. Colours inside will always look darker once painted on the walls too, keep this in mind while testing. All the colours above come in varying depths, some darker and some lighter. You can view A4 swatches of them at your local Resene ColorShop.

As for the ‘white’ for trim, I always go with Resene Alabaster. It’s just so universal and never looks bad. Use for ceilings, doors, trim etc.

Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
 
August 2018

Q. Our bathrooms and mud room, in our new build in the country, will be having Interno Mud tiles on the floor and Interno Pearl tiles halfway up the walls. The vanities are rimu. What colour paint do you recommend for the walls above the Pearl tiles? I was considering Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Quill Grey. The rooms are all on the south side of the house. The main colour for the living area is Resene Spanish White, with Resene Quarter Spanish White for doors and trims. However I am considering toning down these colours, to Resene Half Spanish White and Resene Eighth Spanish White.

A. My small concern is that grey colours in a south facing room will look grim. The south aspect is not known for its warmth. The other concern I have, is that using a grey wall colour may make the floor tiles look much browner than they appear now.

If you are keen on using a grey, please test the colours very well by painting up large A2 cards (available from Resene ColorShops) with all of the testpot/two coats leaving an unpainted white card border all around the perimeter. The white card border helps you judge the reality of the colour and its true depth in comparison to white. The card can be moved from wall to wall so you can see how the colour alters with different angles. You can also see what changing natural light and artificial light do to the colour as well. If you roll the painted card into a cone shape, with the colour innermost and look into it, you see the colour deeper. This is a very good indicator of what four walls of colour will look like. Colour is always deeper in an interior than you might imagine it will be.

A few other warm greys for you to check out might be these ones - Resene Triple Sea Fog and Resene Quarter Foggy Grey.

Lightening the main wall and trim colours will add a brighter look to the interior. Please test Resene Eighth Spanish White in case it is too peachy to go with the other variants of Resene Spanish White. As an alternative, if a lighter/whiter colour is required for the trims, you might check out Resene Quarter Spanish White.

Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Quill Grey
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
Resene Half Spanish White
Resene Half
Spanish White
Resene Eighth Spanish White
Resene Eighth
Spanish White
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
August 2018

Q. I have Fesene Merino walls but wish to go ‘whiter’ with furniture. Would this work?

A. Yes, it can work very well. Much whiter furniture will make the Resene Merino seem a little more coloured, or slightly warm in hue.

Resene Merino
Resene Merino
August 2018

Q. I am looking for some advice on a warm dove grey colour to use on the exterior of our house. Have been looking at Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Athens Grey and Resene Rakaia - am not sure whether these are considered warm greys? I don’t want to go too brown. I am looking at pairing with Resene Black White on the trims. Can you also please recommend a warm black/charcoal that I can use for the door, roof etc?

A. Resene Silver Chalice is a stony pewter grey, Resene Athens Grey is a soft pearl grey which can flash a little warm violet sometimes depending on the changing aspects of natural light and Resene Rakaia is a warmed shale grey. Any of them would work well with Resene Black White.

Have you painted up large samples of the colours to see how they respond to the natural light aspect on your exterior? Colours can change radically with natural light so it is helpful to see this happening.

The following are a few warm black/charcoals that you could look at for the roof and door – Resene Element, Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Nocturnal.

Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Rakaia
Resene Rakaia
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Element
Resene Element
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
 
August 2018

Q. Thinking of a COLORBOND® Surfmist roof. We are painting over an exterior of rough sand coloured bricks. What are the best whites to complement the roof? We want an all white house. I have seen Resene Half White Pointer and I am impressed. I don't really want it to look grey so that worries me a bit. Anything else along those lines you can suggest would be helpful. The front faces south and back north.

A. Resene Half White Pointer is a lovely grey/beige.

If you wanted a few other options to check out that have the same or similar undertone to them like the Surfmist roof you might look at these colours – Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Merino, Resene Quarter Ecru White, Resene Sea Fog or Resene Quarter Titania.

Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
       
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Merino
Resene Half Merino
Resene Quarter Ecru White
Resene Quarter Ecru White
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Titania
Resene Quarter Titania
August 2018

Q. What is the best colour for kitchen walls with Resene Black White on the ceiling and a bench top white fleck?

A. You are very fortunate as the ceiling colour and bench top don't stop you from choosing almost any Resene paint colour. Did you have any favourite colours or ideas in your mind? If you didn't then you could check out the following to see if they appeal to you - Resene Double Black White (slightly more than the ceiling colour), Resene Half Linen, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, Resene Quarter Tea or Resene White Pointer.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Double Black White
Resene Half Linen
Resene Half Linen
Resene Quarter Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter
Silver Chalice
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Half Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
August 2018

Q. We have our large kitchen, dining, living room painted in Resene Alabaster and our kitchen cabinetry is white with a Frosty Carrina bench top. Our carpet is brown/grey as are our kitchen floor tiles. We are finding this all very cold looking/bland and would like you to suggest a warm colour for the walls and splashback. We are not opposed to one wall being a different colour.

A. If the kitchen/dining/lounge are all open plan is it possible to use a stunning wallpaper on one wall in the lounge/dining area and pick out a colour from it for the splashback in the kitchen? This would allow you to keep the Resene Alabaster as the main colour and add eye interest for the more formal part of the room(s).

Alternatively you could swap the Resene Alabaster for a warm neutral like one of these colours: Resene Eighth Bison Hide or Resene Quarter Truffle. The splashback could be one of these options: Resene Coffee Break, Resene Alcatraz, Resene Half Baltic Sea or Resene Seachange.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Eighth Bison Hide,
Resene Eighth Bison Hide
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
 
Resene
Resene Coffee Break
Resene Alcatraz
Resene Alcatraz
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Seachange
Resene Seachange
August 2018

Q. We are preparing our 100 year old house for resale. The kitchen and living room is one open space with a wide bench separating the two areas. The kitchen is fairly new and finished in Arctic White. What colour do you suggest for the lounge area? As it's for sale I would think a fairly neutral colour.

A. Arctic White is a very cool almost blue edged white and it is important that you don't choose a yellow or beige based colour as the kitchen cabinets could look chilly. You might look at some of these neutrals to see if they appeal to you – Resene Athens Grey, Resene Half Surrender, Resene Half Rakaia or Resene Half Mountain Mist.

Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Surrender
Resene Half Rakaia
Resene Half Rakaia

Resene Half Mountain Mist
August 2018

Q. We are building new and looking to use Sandstone Grey for the roofing. We are having all LINEA® cladding and are looking to paint it white along with using a white aluminium window. At the moment I am tossing up between Matt Appliance White and Matt Titania windows. The Matt Titania seems a little too cream perhaps. Which of these two do you think would look the closest in colour to Resene Black White on the LINEA®? Or do you have any other ideas? I do not want the windows to stand out dramatically but if they had to be a shade lighter or darker than the paint on the LINEA® I would prefer lighter.

A. You are right in thinking that the Titania is a much more of a colour than Appliance White. I think Appliance White may look better with Resene Black White. It is very very slightly whiter than Resene Black White.

Resene Black White
Resene Black White
August 2018

Q. I would like to achieve a soft silver grey weatherboard, with crisp white trims. I am looking for Hampton’s style. I am leaning toward Resene Double Concrete or Resene Triple Concrete, but can’t decide - what would you suggest? I am planning to paint our front door in Resene Indian Ink. Also what white do you suggest? I don’t want it to be cream/yellow undertone. Lastly, for our front stairs do you suggest going with the concrete colour to match the weatherboards - or does it come in a darker strength than triple, to cover up dirt on the treads.

A. The colours you mention as possibilities for the main house colours are very nice. Colours often appear much lighter on the exterior due to bright sunlight stripping back the depth of the colour. You may need to paint up large samples of both colours on to an A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) and tape them up on the exterior to see how they look during the day. The card can be moved around each side of the house so you can see how different angles and aspects of light (N/S/E/W) alter how the colours are seen.

If you used a real white - Resene White - you would get the cleanest, crispest contrast with the very soft light grey you favour. If you wanted a subtle coloured white (with no cream/yellow undertone) you could check out any of the lightest Resene Black White palette of colours - i.e. Resene Eighth Black White or Resene Quarter Black White.

The concrete steps could be painted in any of the following options - Resene Triple Concrete (there is nothing deeper in this palette of colours) or a deeper grey that sits well with your warm toned main house colour – try Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Half Baltic Sea.

Resene Double Concrete
Resene Double Concrete
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Triple Concrete
Resene Indian Ink
Resene Indian Ink
Resene White
Resene White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Eighth Black White
Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey
Resene Quarter
Fuscous Grey
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
August 2018

Q. The outside walls for my house are cream colour and the windows and the fascia at the moment are dark green. I want to repaint the windows and the fascia and the fence. Which colour would be the best match?

A. If you had a match it would be exactly the same as the cream on the house. But if it isn't a match you want but a harmonious well co-coordinated contrasting colour then you might look at the following colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Grey Friars (a classical charcoal), Resene Lignite (a warm brown), Resene Coast (an interesting deep blue) or Resene Red Planet (a deep red based terracotta).

Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Lignite
Resene Lignite
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
Resene Red Planet
Resene Red Planet
August 2018

Q. We have American white oak window and French door joinery and we are finding it difficult to find the right white to work with the tones of oak. The oak is similar to Resene Alamo, Resene Kalgoorie Sands, Resene Porsche and also Resene Calico but is not an exact match to any of them. It has salmon, pink, orange and yellow tones. Some whites we have tested make the oak appear dirty such as Resene Spanish White and Resene Albescent White. Resene Pearl Lusta is too yellow. The Resene Merino family seem too clean for the farmhouse French look we like. Other furnishing colours we have are in tones like Resene Nebula, Resene Carefree, Resene Grey Friars and a dusty mauve somewhere between Resene Strikemaster and Resene Vintage. The dining room is in Resene Half Tana. We would be grateful if you could recommend some white and palest grey options as well as the best ceiling options.

A. Have you looked at very pale colours? Try Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Quarter Solitaire, Resene Half Bianca, Resene Eighth Fossil or Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream.

If these warmer coloured whites don't work then you may have to bite the bullet and have a cool crisp white - i.e. Resene Half Alabaster. However that would make the wood look really strong in colour by comparison which may not be what you want but it would work with all the other colours you have. Pale greys may be a bit tricky unless they are warm grey/beige colours. Perhaps you could look at these ones - Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene Half White Pointer.

Resene Alamo
Resene Alamo
Resene Kalgoorie Sands
Resene Kalgoorie Sands
Resene Porsche
Resene Porsche
Resene Calico
Resene Calico
Resene Spanish White
Resene Spanish White
Resene Albescent White
Resene Albescent White
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Nebula
Resene Nebula
Resene Carefree
Resene Carefree
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Grey Friars
Resene Half Tana
Resene Half Tana
Resene Quarter Spanish White
Resene Quarter
Spanish White
Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Fossil
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
August 2018

Q. We want to paint all our interiors in Resene Half Sea Fog. In the living room we have no edging and the current ceiling and wall paint appear to be the same. We would like to repeat this - can we use Resene Half Sea Fog on the ceiling? Our bedrooms do have a trim around the top of the walls. Would you recommend using a different colour for ceilings in the bedroom - like Resene Alabaster?

A. The same colour on the ceiling (as the walls) can look slightly more shaded as the light casts shadows on the ceiling - more so that on the walls. They may not look alike because of this factor.

You could use Resene Alabaster for all ceilings. Had you considered doing that?

Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
August 2018

Q. My lounge has purple flowered curtains that were there when I bought it but the children scribbled on the wall. I'm considering Resene Bianca with Resene Orchid White trim but would that look ok together? The other thing I thought of was Resene Half Orchid White on the walls and Resene Orchid White on the trim or maybe Resene Alabaster on the walls. I really want to use Resene Orchid White as the window sill trim in all the other rooms, but I need something plain for the walls in the lounge because of the pink and purple curtains.

A. Perhaps Resene Half Orchid White would work as a wall colour with the slightly more coloured woodwork in Resene Orchid White. Or you could use the same colour for both the walls and the woodwork trims. It is a simple look.

If you wanted to use Resene Alabaster on the walls it would look very white compared to the more yellowy/cream Resene Orchid White so the woodwork would pop a bit. Is this the look you want to achieve?

Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Orchid White
Resene Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
August 2018

Q. We are building new home and cladding the home with LINEA® weatherboards and want to paint it either Resene Black or Resene Chimney Sweep but are at a loss as to choose the right colour roof? Due to the position of the home, the roof is the first thing you see from the driveway so wanting to create visual impact with the ColorCote roofing.

A. The powder coat range of roof colours isn't huge. If you have already checked out the ColorCote brochure and can't see anything that immediately appeals to you I think what you might consider is just how much of the roof is visible. That is more about the architectural design. If the roof isn't seen a lot then you could choose a lighter grey like Resene Gull Grey which will not be a dominating factor compared to the Resene Black on the LINEA® but being a neutral will work well. I am wary of suggesting that you use a very black colour for the roof - it may be too much black and present as a very hard edged statement.

Have you decided on what colour the window joinery will be? It may be possible to use the same colour on the roof depending upon what has been chosen.

Resene Black
Resene Black
Resene Chimney Sweep
Resene Chimney Sweep
Resene Gull Grey
Resene Gull Grey
August 2018

Q. I would like some advice on colour choice to repaint the exterior of our house. The railings on the decks are painted Resene Villa White which is a close match with the joinery, the colour of which I don’t know. The roof and garage door are Resene Ironsand and the front door is Resene Pohutukawa (awaiting another coat). I'm thinking along grey lines and maybe even two shades of grey! There is also a stained pergola over the front deck - some advice on what to do with that as well, would be appreciated.

A. Due to the warmer tones of the windows and the use of Ironsand, I have put together a list of greys that have a slight brown or green undertone. This will continue that feeling of warmth, rather than a cooler feeling blue or purple grey.

Here are the family of colours to look at – these all have different depths, but you need to decide if you like the type of colours first: Resene Truffle, Resene Friar Greystone , Resene Tapa, Resene Delta, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Stack, Resene Taupe Grey or Resene Foggy Grey.

Another idea is to use a ‘colour’ that has a grey undertone. For instance, I’ve just put these colours together and they look great: Resene Bounty, Resene Half Delta or Resene Ironsand.

Resene Bounty is a grey-blue which works particularly well with the Resene Ironsand. I’ve chosen a lighter grey to off-set the blue, so that both colours aren’t competing with each other and you can see a contrast.

Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Pohutukawa
Resene Truffle
Resene Truffle
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Delta
Resene Delta
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Silver Chalice
Resene Stack
Resene Stack
Resene Half Grey
Resene Taupe Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Bounty
Resene Bounty
Resene Half Delta
Resene Half Delta
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
 
August 2018

Q. I'm after a mid-tone grey to go in my coastal theme ensuite. I don't want it to be too heavy as it is internal with very little natural light. I have used Resene Half Concrete through the rest of the house and put Resene St Kilda on a feature wall in my bedroom with gold accents. I may use the Resene Concrete but am interested in your thoughts on an alternative. I tried samples of Resene Foundry which was way too dark.

A. Here are some greys you might like. I’ve chosen a few different undertones, but all of them will go with the Resene Half Concrete if that is also going to be used in the ensuite: Resene Half Raven, Resene Bluff, Resene Regent Grey, Resene Half Innocence or Resene Quarter Baltic Sea.

Resene Half Concrete
Resene Half Concrete
Resene St Kilda
Resene St Kilda
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
 
Resene Half Raven
Resene Half Raven
Resene Bluff
Resene Bluff
Resene Regent Grey
Resene Regent Grey
Resene Half Innocence
Resene Half Innocence
Resene Quarter Baltic Sea
Resene Quarter Baltic Sea
August 2018

Q. I’ve chosen Resene Sea Fog for the walls, but want the space to be a crisp clean white and on the warm side, I think the ceiling needs to be lighter so the space doesn’t become too dark. What do you recommend for the ceiling? Just Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Quarter Sea Fog or would you change the colour to a different white?

A. I think that you might consider using Resene Alabaster (Resene Eighth Sea Fog).This would give you a clean crisp contrast and would lift the light factor in the room. If you felt it might be too much of a contrast then using Resene Double Alabaster (Resene Quarter Sea Fog) would be the alternative option.

Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
August 2018

Q. Would you have any suggestions for a good neutral colour for our house please? We want to lighten up the colour from the current one. We have no intention of changing the kitchen cabinetry at this point. The colour would be for all bedrooms and living areas. Our house doesn't get morning sun but gets plenty in the afternoon. I would paint the ceilings white. I like lighter greys; my husband is okay with grey but wants warmth as well. Also, would you paint the window sills and skirting boards white, or the same colour as the wall?

A. It is a personal choice as to whether you paint the window sills and skirting boards white, or the same colour as the walls. If you were to undercoat these elements in white and then paint the walls in the colour that you have chosen, you would have a dress rehearsal as to what the trims would look like in white. If you didn't like the look, it is an easy thing to topcoat in the same colour as the walls but in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

Lighter, warm toned greys for you to check out, might be these colours - Resene Quarter Truffle, Resene Half Cloud, Resene Triple Black White, Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene Whiteout or Resene Eighth Friar Greystone .

Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Half Cloud
Resene Half Cloud
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Whiteout
Resene Whiteout
Resene Eighth Friar Greystone
Resene Eighth Friar Greystone
August 2018

Q. I am looking for a wood stain to use for a project currently at the working drawing stage. It is a house which will be mainly clad in COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod corrugated steel, with windows and spouting to match, but will have some moderately large areas with recesses clad in Shadowclad® plywood. The setting is rural. I am looking for a colour that has a warm natural pine or slightly browner undertone, but is greyed and muted. Can the Resene Woodsman stains be mixed to provide a different colour?

A. Yes, Resene Woodsman stains can be intermixed. It is relatively simple to use a 50:50 mix of two colours, but it is very experimental and test samples would need to be done in order to see an approximation of what the adjusted colour would look like. There is no way of knowing in advance, exactly what an intermix is likely to look like. In the interests of experimentation, you could use Resene Woodsman Equilibrium and Resene Woodsman Uluru to see if it achieves the look you want. It may look slightly greener than you imagine it will do, as that is the result that can occur when a yellow/pine colour is mixed with a greyed/muted colour.

Resene Equilibrium
Resene Equilibrium
Resene Equilibrium
Resene Uluru
August 2018

Q. I need help choosing an exterior colour scheme for our home. We have a Windspray roof and Woodland Grey window frames. What would you suggest for the render, gutters and eaves? The interior is timber floors with white walls and ceilings.

A. You might look at the following colours to see if they appeal: Resene Titania for the rendered surfaces and the eaves Resene Lattitude, (Resene version of Windspray) for the guttering.

Or Resene Half Delta for the rendered surfaces and the eaves, Resene Squall CC (Resene version of Woodland Grey) for the guttering.

Or Resene Double Sea Fog for the rendered surfaces and the eaves and Resene Half Sea Fog for the guttering.

Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Lattitude
Resene Lattitude
Resene Half Delta
Resene Half Delta
Resene Squall
Resene Squall
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
Resene Half Sea Fog
   
August 2018

Q. I’m currently choosing colours for the exterior of my house. It will be two colours, one for the Hegel part and another for the LINEA® board. I’m thinking Resene Double Sea Fog for the Hebel and Resene Double Cod Grey for the LINEA® board. Will they work together well or do you have another recommendation?

A. The colours you mention are very nice. Another recommendation would be to use Resene Athens Grey for the Hebel and Resene Double Foundry for the LINEA® board.

If you have the opportunity to pop into a Resene ColorShop to view the A4 real paint samples in their Colour Library and compare them, it would help you see the subtle differences in the colours and make a decision.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Double Cod Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Double Foundry
Resene Double Foundry
August 2018

Q. Could you please suggest a colour for a feature wall? My kitchen across from the wall is blue. We also have a blue fence and want to use a different colour than blue tones. I would prefer a soft colour to a bright one.

A. You might consider one of these colours - they are somewhat random but they may offer you options - Resene Half Drought, Resene Half Bison Hide, Resene Half Perfect Taupe, Resene Half Lemon Grass, Resene Alpaca, Resene Blank Canvas or Resene Bone.

Resene Half Drought
Resene Half Drought
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Half Bison Hide
Resene Perfect Taupe
Resene Perfect Taupe
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Half Lemon Grass
Resene Alpaca
Resene Alpaca
Resene Blank Canvas
Resene Blank Canvas
Resene Bone
Resene Bone
 
August 2018

Q. We are nearly finished a bungalow renovation. As the living and dining is south facing and a little dark, I’d like to use Resene Double Alabaster on the walls and thought Resene Half Alabaster on the ceilings, scotia, picture rail and skirting boards. Do you think this will give enough of a contrast to these features, which are original and very ornate? Or could you suggest an alternative solution?

A. It should provide enough contrast. If you carefully test both colours by painting testpots (two coats) on to large A2 cards (available from Resene ColorShops) and by pinning them up on the wall and looking at them under changing natural and artificial light, you see too little contrast then that would indicate you may need to consider using Resene Quarter Alabaster.

Using semi-gloss or full gloss enamel for the wood trims in the room would also help to emphasise the original ornate features in the room. Ceilings are generally a matt finish, and the walls a low sheen finish, so the glossier finish on the trims highlights the detailing.

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
Resene Quarter Alabaster
August 2018

Q. Recently we have moved, and are planning on completely repainting both the interior and exterior of our new house.

I am well experienced in painting, having painted our last house completely with Resene paints, due to their quality and great service.

In the new house, we plan on retrofitting white powder coated Rylock window joinery, with a matching white garage door. We would like the reveals, exterior wooden window trim, interior architraves etc. to match the Rylock White. This must be relatively common so - can you recommend which Resene white would be suitable?

A. Resene has versions of all the popular powder coat colours. Rylock is the name of the manufacturer of the windows and doors. If you were able to find out which particular powder coat range of paint their joinery was coated with, and the name of the colour, then you could ask at the Resene ColorShop for a paint to tint the particular 'white' that you have chosen.

August 2018

Q. We have a stucco home and Grey Friar on the roof. Which colours would you suggest for painting the house? We like the greys.

A. Grey Friars works with pretty much every grey. Here are some greys with different undertones to help you decide: Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Surrender, Resene Grey Chateau, Resene Athens Grey, Resene Concrete, Resene Tapa or Resene Lemon Grass.

Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Foggy Grey
Resene Surrender
Resene Surrender
Resene Grey Chateau
Resene Grey Chateau
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Athens Grey
Resene Concrete
Resene Concrete
Resene Tapa
Resene Tapa
Resene Lemon Grass
Resene Lemon Grass
 
August 2018

Q. We have a circa 1960 house. It is still quite retro internally including rimu floors and window and door frames in most rooms. Can you recommend the best tones of white to complement the wood?

A. Perhaps one of the warmer whites may work best. You could check these ones out to see if they appeal to you – Resene Rice Cake, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Quarter Merino, Resene Quarter Albescent White or Resene Sea Fog.

It is not just the rimu in the house but other coloured elements that need to be taken into account, you will also need to see how the colours work with the drapes, upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinetry and worktops etc.

Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Merino
Resene Quarter Albescent White
Resene Quarter
Albescent White
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
August 2018

Q. We want to paint a feature wall in our lounge that has Resene Quarter Tea on the surrounding walls. We also have a glossy black fire place and surrounding bricks, and black curtains on the wall we are wanting to paint. I like greens pinks and blues, can you suggest some colours for this scenario?

A. The following muted colours may give you some inspiration – Resene Smoky Green, Resene Half Smalt Blue, Resene Turkish Delight, or because you have accents of black bolder colours like these ones may appeal to you - Resene Deep Sea, Resene Lochmara or Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Quarter Tea
Resene Smoky Green
Resene Smoky Green
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Half Smalt Blue
Resene Turkish Delight
Resene Turkish Delight
Resene Deep Sea
Resene Deep Sea
Resene Lochmara
Resene Lochmara
Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous
Resene Drop Dead Gorgeous
 
August 2018

Q. When looking at Interior personality and colours that give the ‘wow’ response, what should I consider?

A. Balance and proportion - the size of the area will determine how much of your colour choice to use, if too much of the colour is used, the space can feel saturated and dominate everything else around it, this can create an unsettled feeling. If not enough of the colour it can tip the scales the opposite way, and can equally give that same feeling of something doesn’t feel right, it’s not balanced. Generally speaking if the area is large in size then there’s more opportunity to use more of a colour. If the area is small then you would pull the amount of colour back. In tiny spaces colour can be used in cushions or a throw or Artwork while keeping the walls in an off white such as Resene Alabaster N96 006 099 or Resene Half Black White N94 004 096.

With interior spaces increasingly commonly open plan, ‘zoning’ a wall is a great way to showcase colour and at the same time giving areas its own identity.

Choosing the right tone of colour is crucial to the success of a good looking room. Colours have different undertones, so to make sure you nail it we always recommend, after you’ve looked at the colour palettes choose two or three, then try them out using a Resene testpot.

The colour choice needs to work with what’s fixed. Fixed means existing flooring, existing window dressings, existing furniture etc, things that are staying that have to be included with the new colour choice.

The product and the finish - the correct product and the desired finish are equally important for the best results. Most homeowners prefer a low sheen finish on interior walls, such as Resene Zylone Low Sheen, and in wet areas this would be Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom.

Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Half Black White
Resene Half Black White
August 2018

Q. What are popular colour options at present?

A. A favourite right now for exteriors is the softer palette of the Cape Cod look with soft contrasting neutral colour schemes slightly understated, using colours such as Resene Double Alabaster, with Resene Double Sea Fog and Resene Eighth Tapa. The look is timeless and modern and works for a wide range of homes.

For interiors a popular option is Resene Half White Pointer for walls with Resene Alabaster for ceilings, doors and trim etc, Resene Half White Pointer is modern shadow of grey, white and taupe, genteel and well mannered. It works with the fashion trend colour palettes happening right now - soft pinks, warm mid greys, to the darker deep blues and charcoals. Resene Half White Pointer has a warmth to it, which is why it’s one of the more popular Interior colour choices.

Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Half White Pointer
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
August 2018

Q. We would like to paint the exterior in a similar white and grey. The surface is plaster over direct fix polystyrene and has a rough finish. Could you please suggest colours?

A. You might check out these whites and soft toned charcoal greys - Resene Half Barely There or Resene Fuscous Grey. Or alternatively - Resene Black White or Resene Half Baltic Sea.

Some of the darker greys may not be approved for application over polystyrene. You may need to check what the recommendation is for darker colours on polystyrene cladding.

Resene Half Barely There
Resene Half Barely There
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Fuscous Grey
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Half Baltic Sea
Resene Half Baltic Sea
August 2018

Q. We are building beachfront accommodation and have painted the walls and high ceilings in Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. What colours do you recommend for the window trims and skirting please? Also, we have some cavity slider internal doors - colour ideas please? We are also thinking about using a feature colour for two of the studio living areas. The outdoor area is native bush, with some sea views. A colour recommendation would be helpful.

A. I think you need to consider whether you want the window trims and skirting boards to blend in or act as a contrast.

If it is the blend in scenario, then you can use the same colour as the walls and ceilings for the trims but in semi-gloss waterborne enamel Resene Lustacryl. This sheen level difference allows the trims to be scrubbed when they get dusty and because the paint is tougher than the wall and ceiling acrylic paint, it withstands constant bumps and abrasions.

If you want a contrast then you could use a slightly lighter variant of the wall colour - Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream - or an alternative that would also work well - Resene Eighth Rice Cake. The same type of paint as previously recommended – Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel.

The cavity slider doors need to be considered in the same way as the window trims and skirting boards - are they merging into the walls or providing a contrast?

With a new build, there will be the option of harmoniously coordinating flooring, furniture, drapes and accessories and then considering what the main focus of the studio rooms will be and who will be using them. Feature wall colours may evolve after the rooms are furnished.

Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth
Thorndon Cream
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
Resene Eighth Rice Cake
August 2018

Q. We are doing up our bathroom. The floor has dusky pink carpet (1980s style) and a white vanity. We previously had wallpaper but want to paint the walls and I am thinking of a soft white, with maybe a slight dusky (blackish toned pink) tinge. In general terms, green and yellow both look terrible in our house because of the colour of the carpet. Blackish toned blues and plum reds look good against the carpet but I would like a light (but slightly warm) colour in the bathroom. Can you help?

A. You may need to carefully test several colours before you find the exact right one to look good with the carpet.

You might check out these colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Quarter Blanc, Resene Vista White, Resene Eighth Tea, Resene Quarter Concrete and slightly more coloured options - Resene Bon Jour or Resene Swiss Coffee.

Resene Quarter Blanc
Resene Quarter Blanc
Resene Vista White
Resene Vista White
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Eighth Tea
Resene Quarter Concrete
Resene Quarter Concrete
Resene Bon Jour
Resene Bon Jour
Resene Swiss Coffee
Resene Swiss Coffee
August 2018

Q. We are in a block of six townhouses clad in monolithic cladding, close to the harbour. The joinery colour is Pacific Blue (Explorer) and was built in 2000. We want to paint it grey, with a darker grey accent. Could you suggest the best greys to go with the joinery please?

A. You might check out these suggestions as the main colour on the townhouses - Resene Gull Grey, Resene Half Raven, Resene Regent Grey, Resene Hit Grey, Resene Tiara or Resene Quarter Stack.

If the darker grey accent is a very particular blue shaded grey, it may help the joinery colour appear more integrated instead of being 'the odd man out'. Perhaps you might consider one of these colours - Resene Elephant, Resene Coast or Resene Blue Bark.

Resene Gull Grey
Resene Gull Grey
Resene Half Raven
Resene Half Raven
Resene Regent Grey
Resene Regent Grey
Resene Hit Grey
Resene Hit Grey
Resene Tiara
Resene Tiara
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Elephant
Resene Elephant
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
Resene Blue Bark
Resene Blue Bark
August 2018

Q. We are using Melteca® Mist for new kitchen pantry and cupboards. We are looking for a wall colour to use, thinking of Resene Akaroa. The floor is rimu with floating shelves and as island bar the same as the floor. The bench is stainless and the kitchen has lots of natural light and is open plan. Should the wall colour be darker than the cabinetry and could you suggest any other wall paint colours?

A. I have looked at the Resene Akaroa palette of colours and because they have a warm yellow/brown undertone they tend to make the Melteca® Mist take on a duller grey/green/yellow undertone. You might check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you - there are lighter and deeper options that look really nice with Melteca® Mist – Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Triple Thorndon Cream, Resene Quarter Craigieburn, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Double Truffle, Resene Merino or Resene Triple Merino.

Resene Akaroa
Resene Akaroa
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Thorndon Cream
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Quarter Craigieburn
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Double Truffle
Resene Double Truffle
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Merino

Resene Triple Merino
 
August 2018

Q. We are painting our children’s bedrooms and attached hallway in Resene Half Orchid White walls with Resene Half Alabaster ceiling, door frames and architrave as we had left over paint to use (we are at the end of extensive renovations). We have two new doors to paint which are plain, budget doors. We thought painting them in a different colour may help them to look more expensive or add some interest. Something contrasting perhaps and/or in a neutral spectrum?

A. A neutral colour is a safe option - perhaps a deeper version of the wall colour?

But a contrast - even if it is only in a small detailed way - can be exciting. A small detailed way may be getting the children to choose a favourite colour and stencilling their name on the door in a little frame. Or you could paint a rainbow on the door. This may add a bit of exciting eye interest also if the doors are very plain.

Looking for something different in the way of a door knob is a finishing touch. Someone very clever that I knew super glued a small toy metal airplane to the knob - obviously the child was into planes. You are only limited by your imagination.

You might paint Resene Blackboard Paint in a small panel for reminder messages 'Swimming tomorrow' etc. Blackboard paint isn't always black - you can get a range of Resene colours in a blackboard paint style finish.

Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Orchid White
Resene Half Alabaster
Resene Half Alabaster
August 2018

Q. I am looking for recommendations from your designers for modernising two storey brick and tile flats. They sit below the road and don’t get much sun until midday. The weatherboard front is a beige colour currently and the back has a yellow base and brick which is quite red. I was wondering about a smoky blue/grey with matching off white trim for the front and a version for the base. Or I could go fresh cream to lighten it all up. Overall it needs a fresh alive feel, they feel tired.

A. Blue is a great choice to work in with the brick. All of the claddings on these apartments can have darker colours, so we don’t need to worry about timber weatherboard and having light colours only. I’ve put together a few different combinations for you to look at below: option 1 - top cladding in Resene Bounty, bottom cladding in Resene Blue Bayoux and windows/trim in Resene Half Thorndon Cream; option 2 – top cladding in Resene Emerge, bottom cladding in Resene Coast and windows/trim in Resene Sea Fog; option 3 – top cladding in Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, bottom cladding in Resene Kensington Grey and windows/trim in Resene Alabaster; option 4 – top cladding in Resene Rice Cake, bottom cladding in Resene Secrets and windows/trims in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.

The best thing to do would be to pop into your local Resene ColorShop and ask to see the A4 colour library swatches of these combinations and tweak from there if required.

Resene Bounty
Resene Bounty
Resene Blue Bayoux
Resene Blue Bayoux
Resene Half Thorndon Cream
Resene Half
Thorndon Cream
Resene Emerge
Resene Emerge
Resene Coast
Resene Coast
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
Resene Quarter Rice Cake
Resene Quarter
Rice Cake
August 2018

Q. We are building a house using Rockcote plaster and I'm looking for a nice exterior colour which is a light grey that will go nicely with white joinery. Could you please suggest some colours for the roof, front door and garage door as well?

A. The easiest way to choose colours for a new build is to pick the roof and aluminium first, because there is less choice. However, if you know you want a light grey cladding colour, I would assume you’re also going to want a charcoal roof? So the options for your roof are: Black/Ebony, Grey Friars or FlaxPod.

Generally the garage door matches your roof. Most of the time your front door is the same too.

Joinery – Do you want a simple looking scheme, or do you like a lot of contrast? If simple, then use the same colour as your roof. If you are a little more traditional or like a bit of contrast, white is the way to go. There are a couple of different whites available, but you could try Appliance White.

As for your cladding, here are some colours you may like: Resene Half Foggy Grey, Resene Quarter Friar Greystone , Resene Quarter Tapa, Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Quarter Stack.

Resene HalfFoggy Grey
Resene Half Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Greystone
Resene Quarter Friar Greystone
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Quarter Tapa
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Half Silver Chalice
Resene Quarter Stack
Resene Quarter Stack
August 2018

Q. We have a 1920s villa located in a quiet urban setting surrounded by native trees. The roof is a maroon/burgundy red and the entrance door is painted in Resene Retreat. The interior paintwork is a mixture of Resene Half Joss and Resene Half Biscotti with Resene Half Bianca trim. Could you please provide some suggestions on exterior paint colours that would complement the existing colour scheme? We want to steer clear of yellow hues.

A. I get the sense you are looking for softer tones, nothing too deep or bright for the exterior. Below are a list of neutrals that each have a slightly different undertone. This will help you decide what look you’re after, some of these should speak to you more than others. I suggest you pop into your Resene ColorShop and ask to see larger samples of these colours to give you a better idea of what they look like.

Try Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Parchment, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Half Tea, Resene Eighth Lemon Grass, Resene Eighth Tapa or Resene Perfect Taupe.

I’ve also included a couple of colours that work with the Resene Retreat, as another option: Resene Secrets or Resene Duck Egg Blue.

Resene Retreat
Resene Retreat
Resene Half  Joss
Resene Half Joss
Resene Half Biscotti
Resene Half Biscotti
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
 
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Parchment
Resene Parchment
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
 
Resene Eighth Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth
Lemon Grass
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Eighth Tapa
Resene Perfect Taupe
Resene Perfect Taupe
Resene Secrets
Resene Secrets
Resene Duck Egg Blue
Resene Duck Egg Blue
August 2018

Q. We have painted a feature wall of Resene Whiskey Sour in our kitchen. Just wondering what colour paint few should use for contrasting walls, and also what colour paint for the skirting boards, trims and farmhouse furniture upgrades?

A. If you’re wanting another colour for the walls, then blue is a perfect choice. You could have something light enough to be considered a ‘neutral’ or a deeper navy, both would work. Here are some examples below: Resene Nepal, Resene Tarawera, Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue, Resene Cut Glass, Resene Hemisphere or Resene Blue Moon.

As for your skirting boards etc, my first advice is to keep it the same throughout the house. The best colour for this would be something like Resene Double Alabaster because it works with every other colour. If you want different looks for each space, then I would use Resene Rice Cake for the skirting and trim in the kitchen. You could also use Resene Thorndon Cream for the furniture which is a deeper version of the Resene Rice Cake. Then everything ties in.

Resene Whiskey Sour
Resene Whiskey Sour
Resene Nepal
Resene Nepal
Resene Tarawera
Resene Tarawera
Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue
Resene Quarter
Duck Egg Blue
Resene Cut Glass
Resene Cut Glass
Resene Hemisphere
Resene Hemisphere
Resene Blue Moon
Resene Blue Moon
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Double Alabaster
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
August 2018

Q. We have Resene Double Sea Fog walls and want to paint the surrounds of a gas fire in a dark charcoal colour. I need to know what dark colour match goes with Resene Sea Fog.

A. These charcoals all have slightly different undertones, but will all work with the Resene Double Sea Fog walls: Resene Baltic Sea, Resene Foundry, Resene Ironsand or Resene Blackjack.

Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Double Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
   
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Baltic Sea
Resene Foundry
Resene Foundry
Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Blackjack
Resene Blackjack
August 2018

Q. I am about to get the exterior of my house painted. My roof colour is Karaka and I want to choose something that will complement that. The house is 1940s (with the upstairs built in the 2000s). It is currently white with a dark green (looks almost black) on the bottom sills of the windows, just beneath the roof, and the shutters. I'm planning to remove the shutters though. I'd like the house to still be a light colour but maybe more interesting than the white - can you suggest something?

A. You might consider using a white on the sills to make the greater portion of the white window surrounds and sashes look larger and also on the fascia beneath the roof so the eye isn't drawn to the hard dark straight line.

If you did that you could look at using one of the following colours as the main house colour - Resene Tana, Resene Titania, Resene Half Parchment, Resene Half Cararra or Resene Triple Black White.

Resene Tana
Resene Tana
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Half Parchment
Resene Half Parchment
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Half Cararra
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
August 2018

Q. We have a 1957 two storey house with a stucco bottom storey and weather board second. We are looking at a palette of Resene Nocturnal or similar for roof and highlights, Resene Alabaster for windows and fascia. The house colour we were wondering if your ideas for a soft grey or green grey would work. We thought of Resene Triple Sea Fog or Resene Quarter Delta. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

A. Some other options to check out might be these ones - Resene Triple Black White, Resene House White, Resene Quarter Atmosphere, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey, Resene Titania or Resene Half Ash.

Resene Nocturnal
Resene Nocturnal
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Quarter Delta
Resene Triple Black White
Resene Triple Black White
Resene House White
Resene House White
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
Resene Quarter Atmosphere
 
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Quarter Foggy Grey
Resene Titania
Resene Titania
Resene Half Ash
Resene Half Ash
 
August 2018

Q. I want to paint the walls of the kitchen Resene Eighth Akaroa. The architect suggested painting the ceiling a slightly darker colour. Can you suggest something that would go well with the Resene Eighth Akaroa?

A. Did your architect suggest a slightly deeper colour for the ceiling because you live in an older style house with a much, much higher ceiling than in more modern houses so it would look lower in height?

If this is the case then you might look at using Resene Quarter Akaroa but it must be noted that because of the way the light falls away from the ceiling leaving it shadowy it may look deeper again - more like Resene Half Akaroa. Are you wanting to have a 'feature' colour on the ceiling that draws attention to itself? If you have a hugely high ceiling it can look stunning in a deeper colour.

If you have a standard height ceiling and you don't want it to look lower again then I would suggest you use either the same colour as the walls (which will look slightly different/deeper than the walls) or even a lighter colour like Resene Half Bianca that isn't as stark as a real white but casts a lovely warm glow in the room.

Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Quarter Akaroa
Resene Quarter Akaroa
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
August 2018

Q. We are building and currently in the process of deciding on exterior colours. We really like Resene Bokara Grey for the walls, which is LINEA® weatherboard, and need to select the roof colour. Through the company we are using, their only roof colour option in the dark/black tones is Black, otherwise the roof has to be a grey tone like Grey Friars.

Essentially we want the black-on-black look with white trims, but our concern is that it will be a noticeable colour difference between the Black roof and Resene Bokara Grey walls. Especially when the sun is directly on the house.

Do you think it will be an obvious difference between the two colours together? Would it be better to paint the walls Resene Element which has a cooler undertone?

A. I would avoid using COLORSTEEL® Ebony/Black as the roof with Resene Bokara Grey for the cladding. The difference is so subtle that it looks wrong.

There are a couple of combinations that would work however: Ironsand/ Resene Bokara Grey – This will give you a contrast but the roof will be lighter, or Black/Resene Element – This will give you the black on black look. Slightly cooler but definitely not ‘cold’.

Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Element
Resene Element
August 2018

Q. We have purchased a house with a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof and lichen green aluminium windows. The exterior walls are raw plaster at the moment which I would like to paint preferably in a dark colour but am open to a lighter colour if it is a better match. I’m struggling to find a colour that goes well with both the roof and window colours.

A. I can understand your dilemma - you are trapped between the steel blue/grey of the Grey Friars and the very olive/yellow of the Lichen. The wrong darker colour may emphasise and brighten the Lichen colour a lot.

You might check these out to see is any of them appeals to you – Resene Double Stonehenge or Resene Double Friar Greystone . These are trying to merge with the Lichen so it doesn't pop out at you.

Or try Resene Half Grey Friars or Resene Tuna - these deep greys are related to the roof colour. They may not appear as steel blue in tone because they aren't angled to the sun at 45 degrees like the roof.

Resene Double Stonehenge
Resene Double Stonehenge
Resene Double Friar Greystone
Resene Double Friar Greystone
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Half Grey Friars
Resene Tuna
Resene Tuna
August 2018

Q. What colour would you recommend for exterior walls and roof to go with bottle green aluminium?

A. You could check out these colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Double Merino, Resene Half Truffle, Resene Quarter Stonehenge, Resene Eighth Arrowtown, Resene Half Tea or Resene Villa White.

Resene Double Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Half Truffle
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Quarter Stonehenge
Resene Eighth Arrowtown
Resene Eighth Arrowtown
Resene Half Tea
Resene Half Tea
Resene Villa White
Resene Villa White
August 2018

Q. When painting walls Resene Bianca, what shade of Resene Bianca do you make the trims and ceiling? Quarter or half?

A. This will depend on how you want the room to look, and how much contrast you like to see. If you are wanting to create a simple and soft looking space, you’ll either use Resene Bianca or Resene Half Bianca in a semi-gloss finish.

If you like a bit of contrast, but nothing too stark, then use Resene Quarter Bianca. If you want the most amount of contrast possible, which will make your walls look deeper, use Resene Alabaster.

Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Quarter Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Half Bianca
Resene Alabaster
Resene Alabaster
August 2018

Q. We are about to paint our house and need help choosing colours to work with our brown joinery. Currently have we have brown Hardiplank® and a forest green roof/base of house/deck posts and railings. We are in the country. After reading earlier posts it looks like we should do the roof Resene Ironsand or Resene Bokara Grey and the Hardiplank something along the lines of Resene Quarter Friar Greystone ? Do we paint the base of the house/ garage doors/ deck railings and posts the same colour as the roof or introduce a third colour? Also, what colour should we paint the gables? They are currently white.

A. Yes you could definitely use a deep olive/brown charcoal Resene Ironsand or a warmed brown charcoal Resene Bokara Grey or possibly even a rich dark brown Resene Coffee Bean but please do look at samples of these colours before making a decision.

In every Resene ColorShop all colours can be seen as A4 real paint samples in their ColorShop. Seeing is believing as they say and certainly looking at the colours this way is tremendously helpful.

At the same time it may pay to check out Resene Quarter Friar Greystone - you may find that you prefer a slightly deeper or different colour. It is a good idea to compare colours so that you have a better idea of what they are truly like.

Perhaps you could check out one of these colours - Resene Friar Greystone , Resene Stonehenge or Resene Evolution.

The garage door could be painted the same colour as the roof. The base of the house could be painted the same as the main house colour or the same as the roof and garage door colour.

If the gables are small they could be painted the same colour as the under soffits and the fascia that the guttering is attached to and possibly the handrails and posts at the entry. Not too stark/white but a lighter colour like one of these options could be a nice contrast - Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Double Merino or Resene White Pointer.

Resene Ironsand
Resene Ironsand
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Bokara Grey
Resene Quarter Friar Greystone
Resene Quarter Friar Greystone
Resene Coffee Bean
Resene Coffee Bean
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Friar Greystone
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Stonehenge
Resene Evolution
Resene Evolution
   
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Thorndon Cream
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Triple Sea Fog
Resene Double Merino
Resene Double Merino
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
 
August 2018

Q. Hi there, we are updating our bathroom and want to primarily use white, with a feature wall. We were wondering if there's a white you'd recommend for bathrooms? Feature wall colours are yet to be chosen.

A. The colours you select for the bathroom will depend on the other finishes within the space, flooring, tiles etc. Your ‘white’ will either be warm or cool. So there isn’t ‘one’ I can recommend without seeing your other choices, however, here are some popular whites: Resene Bianca, Resene Sea Fog, Resene Black White, Resene Rice Cake, Resene Merino and Resene Half Athens Grey.

Resene Bianca
Resene Bianca
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Sea Fog
Resene Black White
Resene Black White
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Rice Cake
Resene Merino
Resene Merino
Resene Half Athens Grey
Resene Half Athens Grey
August 2018

Q. I am looking for a warm/soft white, with a hint of dusky pink or peach to paint my daughter’s room. It is small and SW facing, with sloping attic ceilings. We painted it (walls and ceiling) Resene Ebb a few years ago but this is too strong and appears almost mauve in low light. I'm still keen on something slightly pink, but something much whiter and warmer. I am thinking of maybe Resene Quarter Solitaire or Resene Half Blanc - but the Resene Quarter Solitaire seems quite yellow and I’m worried the Resene Blanc will look grey/purple. What do you think?

A. Rooms that face toward the south can have a cool or greyish quality of natural light which may be why colours like Resene Ebb and Resene Half Blanc, which are cooler pink tones, can take on more of a mushroom or mauve/grey undertone. You may need to look at the warmer colours like the following – Resene Eighth Biscotti, Resene Quarter Solitaire, Resene Spring Wood, Resene Half Pot Pourri, Resene Cest La Vie, Resene Sauvignon or Resene Half Albescent White.

Resene Ebb
Resene Ebb
Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Quarter Solitaire
Resene Half Blanc
Resene Half Blanc
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Eighth Biscotti
Resene Spring Wood
Resene Spring Wood
Resene Cest La Vie
Resene Cest La Vie
Resene Sauvignon
Resene Sauvignon
Resene Half Albescent White
Resene Half
Albescent White
August 2018

Q. I have a 1980 home with New Denim Blue aluminium windows and doors and a COLORSTEEL® roof with white LINEA® cladding. I want to repaint inside. At present the colour scheme is white ceilings, all trim in New Denim Blue with soft pink walls and a shade deeper pink on the doors. I would love a colour scheme which works with the aluminium colour. All rooms have natural light except the hall which is quite dark.

A. If you like the look of the trims being the New Denim Blue - as a dominant attention seeking feature in the house - then leave them as they are now.

But for a completely new look you could use white undercoat on all the trims that are in New Denim Blue and you would be better able to envisage what a simple 'non highlighted' look would be. It gives you a 'dress rehearsal' and it is a nice modern approach to the interior trims. They could be painted to match the wall colour so they merged or painted a white to add a crisp clean contrast to whatever wall colour you choose.

Soft toned beiges and grey/taupe look really smart and might be considered for the walls in the house to replace the pink. Perhaps one of these colours might appeal to you – Resene Eighth Akaroa, Resene Eighth Drought, Resene Quarter Truffle or Resene White Pointer. The doors could be a slightly deeper version of the wall colour.

Using the Resene New Denim Blue or a slightly lighter version of this colour - Resene Half New Denim Blue as a feature wall in a room that is large and sunny could be a way of relating the powder coated joinery colour but making it take on a modern look in the house.

Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Eighth Akaroa
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Eighth Drought
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene Quarter Truffle
Resene White Pointer
Resene White Pointer
Resene Half New Denim Blue
Resene Half
New Denim Blue
August 2018

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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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