Here's a taste of some of the Colour Expert questions and answers to help you with your own colour scheme.
If you would like more colour advice for your project, please ask our Colour Expert for help or come in and see our staff at your local Resene ColorShop or Reseller.
Colours are a representation only. Please refer to the actual paint or product sample. Resene colour charts, testpots and samples are available for ordering online.
Q. We have a COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars roof, our joinery is Silver pearl and the louvre is Titania. Can you please recommend an exterior house colour that will complement the above colour scheme, ideally with a grey tone? I was thinking along the lines of Resene Half Concrete or Resene Quarter Concrete. Would that work? A. Resene Half Concrete or Resene Quarter Concrete definitely does work with your colour scheme. They are quite light, almost a greyed white so if that is the look you are going for then either of them would work perfectly. However I would probably lean towards Resene Half Concrete just for a bit more depth.
October 2019
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Q. We're building a hut on the edge of our bush and would like it to fade away into the environment. I'd like suggestions for stain or paint colour. If it is stain, can I use it on the floor of the interior with some sort of hardening product over the top? We're on a tight budget hence the flooring question also. A. You may find a paint rather than a stain more economical for the exterior. Stains usually require recoating after two summers. Paint usually needs re-coating after 7-10 years depending upon the weathering on the surfaces. If you used a low sheen finish, such as Resene Lumbersider, it would give you a natural rustic look. Resene Lumbersider can also be used in an interior. It is used on deck timbers so it might also be used on interior floors - if that was what you wanted. A few rugs on the floor would be practical and stop a wear pattern from showing in the paint from the constant traffic areas. One of the following colours may appeal to you – Resene Half Grey Olive, Resene Quarter Arrowtown, Resene Double Truffle or Resene Triple Thorndon Cream.
October 2019
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Q. We are trying to decide on a colour palette for our 1970s home that is still sporting its original yellow and green combo. We have installed a new garage door which is Grey Friars so looking for colours that will compliment this. We're also unsure if we should paint all one colour, or use different colours on the different cladding styles (weatherboards vs vertical panels). The house is rather imposing from the street so just looking for ways to make it a bit less of an eyesore! A. If you used one colour on the exterior it may serve to simplify the structure and give it a bit of elegance to go with its imposing presence. I am not 100% certain that using two colours on different types of cladding would achieve a desired effect - it may over-emphasise the differences. Are you planning on painting the roof at any time? If so you use Resene Grey Friars to connect it to the garage door colour. Some colour ideas to get you started – Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Double Truffle or Resene Triple White Pointer. Using a clean white for the window joinery, the doors, under the soffits, the guttering fascias and the deck fascias, posts and rails will create a crisp detail to offset the main house colour – try Resene Quarter Black White. If there is an unpainted concrete base of the house you could paint it to make it merge instead of calling attention to itself. Or it could have a lattice attached to support a planting scheme - i.e. roses?
October 2019
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Q. We are renovating our small beach home with new Linea® weatherboards, new roof and joinery. The roof is Titania and the joinery Arctic White. I am stuck on a colour for the weatherboards. I would like something with a beachy look, i.e. soft greys, but unsure whether this would look okay with the roof colour? Alternatively, we could go with a darker colour on the weatherboards, i.e. Resene Quarter Ironsand. A. I like your idea of going for a soft grey to create a beachy, coastal look, probably more so than darker colours. You could try Resene Atmosphere or Resene Silver Chalice, or for more of a mid-tone grey, Resene Half Gunsmoke.
October 2019
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Q. We're planning to use Resene Eighth Truffle on the square stopped walls of our small northwest facing bathroom. The painter suggests continuing onto the ceiling but I'm concerned it will look darker there with no direct light hitting it. I also like that the contrast of a white ceiling would ‘show’ there is a subtle colour on the walls. What are your thoughts and/or can you suggest a suitable white for the ceiling, trim and door, please? A. I would definitely paint your ceiling a shade of white to create a contrast. I wouldn't continue Resene Eighth Truffle onto the ceiling, it'll shadow and end up looking like your ceiling is darker than your walls. Some suggestions for you to try for the ceiling, Resene Alabaster or Resene Quarter Wan White.
October 2019
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Q. I'm building a house in which is at framing stage. I am planning to paint the rendered exterior of the house Resene Triple Black White. The roof is terracotta. The garage door timber is stained cedar. The gutters are COLORBOND® Surf Mist. I want advice on a contrast colour for the corbels and walls of a covered courtyard. I would like something that is like Resene Pravda or a warm grey. Can you suggest a colour please? A. Surf Mist is a yellow/grey/green neutral colour. Were you planning on having it as a feature? It will look a bit different to the main house colour - Resene Triple Black White. If you wanted a colour that was a little more colour related to the Surf Mist you might check out Resene Half Titania and compare them to see which appeals more to you. A few warm greys to create a bit of interesting contrast might be like the following colours – Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Foggy Grey, Resene Quarter Friar Greystone , Resene Grey Area or Resene Half Tapa. All of these work well with your other colours but aren't as brown toned as the Resene Pravda.
October 2019
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Q. We are painting our exterior weatherboard Resene Periglacial Blue and the roof Resene Grey Friars. Would Resene Quarter Black White be suitable for the windows and trims? We have uPVC double glazing inserts, so keen to have the wooden frames very closely match the uPVC. A. As long as the Resene Quarter Black White and the uPVC match well then the Resene Quarter Black White will definitely look good with the Resene Periglacial Blue.
October 2019
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Q. We are looking at painting our house. We got some samples of Resene Grey Chateau and Resene Raven. We think we might go with the Resene Raven now but not sure what other colour would suit to go with it for the main house and porch area. We have silver aluminium windows. A. You could use a deeper colour for the roof and garage door - perhaps one of these ones – Resene Bastille or Resene Black Rock. Both of these colours have a strong indigo undertone which looks well with Resene Raven. Alternatively you might prefer a deep charcoal with a steel blue undertone - Resene Grey Friars. In the porch area (three walls) you could use a lighter/whiter colour so that the porch furniture pops more using a colour like Resene Quarter Grey Chateau.
October 2019
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Q. We have an entrance wall, which is viewed through an archway of Resene Ziggurat. We’re thinking of a dark blue feature wall? What do you recommend? A. You could try Resene Nile Blue or Resene Prussian Blue from the BS5252 collection - both of these are lovely and deep/rich tones but they do have a brightness in them. Or a really deep blue – Resene Bunting or a lovely maritime blue Resene Wishing Well.
October 2019
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Q. My son really wants us to paint our door yellow. Can you recommend a shade that would match a Resene Aspiring coloured villa with Resene White and Resene Raptor trim? The door surround is Resene Raptor and the door is currently black. A. I love that he wants a yellow door and that you’re open to it. I think it could look really good. You could try Resene Thumbs Up or Resene Pizza.
October 2019
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Q. We have rimu floors and cedar bi-fold doors in our north-facing family room. We are looking for a white. Which white would you recommend? We were thinking of Resene Double Alabaster but it has grey hues - maybe a warmer white. A. I think you’re right, a warmer white would be well suited. You could try Resene Rice Cake or Resene Half Albescent White.
October 2019
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Q. We need a colour to go with Ironsand roof and windows. We were hoping for a darker colour. A. You don't mention how dark a colour you are considering so the following are a selection of possibilities to try – Resene Quarter Napa, Resene Half Craigieburn, Resene Double Tea, Resene Triple Spanish White, Resene Half Sandstone, Resene Friar Greystone or Resene Gauntlet. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to view the A4 real paint samples of all these colours in their Colour Library.
October 2019
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Q. I initially settled on Resene Eighth Malta as a wall colour and love Resene Smokescreen as an accent wall colour, however, my rooms are a little on the dark side, and the two together just make the Resene Eighth Malta seem too dark. However, I love the tone of it, it has an almost milk chocolate/milo type of feel to it. Which colour can I test next that will be lighter than Resene Eighth Malta, but still have that creamy chocolate/light milo kind of feel to it? I really want to keep smokescreen if I can as an accent room. I really like that colour and I don’t want to replace all my light fittings to increase artificial light at this point in time. A. It's a little bit tricky finding a colour that is lighter than that to still appear to have that creamy chocolate/light milo feel to it as once you go lighter you lose that depth which makes those colours seem milo like. You could try Resene Blanc or Resene Half Sandspit Brown.
October 2019
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Q. We are building a house and have selected COLORSTEEL® Grey Friars for our roofing and external joinery. Can you please tell me what shade of white would best match with this for our external plaster? A. Some shades of white for you to try are – Resene Double Black White, Resene Sea Fog or Resene Wan White.
October 2019
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Q. I am choosing a paint for my exterior, which is currently a wood grain fibrolite weatherboard. Previously it was a tan colour, which is faded. I like the bright personality of the house and would like a colour similar to Resene Chelsey Gem, but perhaps a shade deeper, more towards a nut brown. A. You could try Resene Korma, Resene Cinnamon or Resene Moccasin.
October 2019
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Q. Which Resene reds go well with the Resene Spanish White range? It is for the walls of a room which opens onto a hallway painted Resene Half Spanish White. A. Resene Half Spanish White is such a great colour because it works with so many other colours. Some reds for you to try are Resene Pohutukawa, Resene Code Red or for a softer red – Resene Quarter Pohutukawa.
October 2019
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Q. I have Resene Quarter Blanc on the ceiling and am looking for some advice on what would be a good colour for the walls. I currently have Resene Double Tea but want to go lighter to modernise the house. .A. You could try Resene Half Thorndon Cream, Resene Double Merino or Resene Quarter Truffle.
October 2019
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Q. We have bought an old bungalow with a very traditional colour scheme. The walls are Resene Double Spanish White and the roof is green. Can you suggest a colour for the windows to update the look and get rid of the green accent colours? We would love to paint the front door too. It would be great to give it a fresh look without changing the weatherboard colour, a big job. A. Are you going to paint the roof as well? A soft toned dark colour option for the roof could be Resene Windswept or darker – Resene Nocturnal. To replace the green on the house you might check out these deep greys – Resene Half Fuscous Grey, Resene Half Gravel or Resene Eighth Bokara Grey. Sometimes making a statement of the front door adds a bit of wow - is that what you were thinking of? If that is the case then the following colours might inspire you – Resene Swiss Caramel or Resene Smoulder. Alternatively a near black might also be an option, such as Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Double Gravel.
October 2019
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Q. We want to redo our hallway and are looking at doing tongue and groove panels halfway up and want a different colour top and bottom. I like Resene Concrete, would Resene Sea Fog go with this? Would this be too dark for a hallway? And would you have the darker colour on the bottom? A. I like the sound of what you are doing. Resene Concrete and Resene Sea Fog work well together. Another soft grey which may be give a little more contrast but is very similar is Resene Quarter Silver Chalice. And yes, I would do the darker colour on the tongue and groove and lighter on the walls.
October 2019
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Q. I need a colour suggestion for a Mediterranean house. The walls will be Resene Triple Black White, the windows, gutters and downpipes will be COLORBOND® Surf Mist. I need a subtle grey to contrast for trims and to complement the terracotta tiled roof and timber garage door. .A. Try these greys to see if they work with the terracotta – Resene Half Taupe Grey, Resene Half Friar Greystone or Resene Half Foggy Grey. The full strength versions of these colours may also be worth checking out.
October 2019
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Q. What colour would you suggest for walls throughout the house and a matching white for the kitchen cabinets? It needs to be a very gentle warming grey that suits natural wood. We also have a quite darkish house hence the light grey tone. The house is just over a 100 years old. I am going for a semi modern - semi traditional look which is still sympathetic to the old house i.e. wood trims around doors and doors as well as floors etc kept wood. I am finding it hard to find a grey and white which will work for this. A. You don't mention whether you have already tested a few greys. So - hopefully - the suggestions I offer will be appropriate. Warm greys carry a yellow, green or beige undertone – you could try – Resene Quill Grey, Resene Triple Black White, Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene House White or Resene Barely There. Some whites for the kitchen cabinetry might be one of these ones – Resene Quarter Black White, Resene Alabaster, Resene Quarter Wan White or Resene White. Pop into your Resene ColorShop to view the large A4 real paint colour samples in their Colour Library. You will still need to carefully test colours in your house in order to see how changing natural and artificial light in your rooms alters how the colours are seen. I always recommend that the best way to test colours is to paint up all of the testpot (two coats) onto very large A2 white card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving a narrow unpainted border all around the perimeter. This helps your eyes focus on the reality (depth and undertones) of the colour. The card can be moved from wall to wall/room to room.
October 2019
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Q. I want to paint large horizontal stripes for our tiny toilet room. We have a cream suite. What two tones would you recommend? I want it to be as light and bright as it can. We are painting window trim, doors and ceilings white. A. I love that you’re doing something different. Try these options: Resene Triple Rice Cake and Resene Rice Cake. Or Resene Sandspit Brown and Resene Quarter Sandspit Brown.
October 2019
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Q. I’ve just painted my lounge Resene Half Surrender a change from Resene Half Tea which was there prior. I’m finding this colour a bit blue and wondering if I should change it to a slightly warmer grey. I am planning to remove carpet soon to expose natural matai flooring and hoped the wall colour would enhance this look. A. I would actually hold off and wait to see once the matai flooring has been exposed. Colours reflect off each other, especially lighter colours. The matai floors will be really warm and you may just be quite surprised how much they may change your wall colours.
October 2019
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Q. I want to paint the exterior of my 1920s bungalow. It has a FlaxPod roof and I want the windows to be a crisp white. I'm thinking of grey for the weatherboards but am having trouble choosing one. I want the house to look fresh with a clean light grey if this makes sense. Nothing too murky or cold. I quite like the look of Resene Surrender but am not sure about the blue undertone and I like the tone of Resene Half Gauntlet but am worried it's too dark. I know FlaxPod has a warm tone to it so I'm wondering how the cooler greys would look. The roof is not very prominent due to the style of house. A. You could try joinery and architraves in Resene Quarter Wan White with weatherboards in Resene Half Foggy Grey. Or joinery and architraves in Resene Alabaster with weatherboards in Resene Half Silver Chalice.
October 2019
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Q. We are painting a new home and have chosen Resene Alabaster for the ceilings and architraves/skirting and Resene White Pointer for the walls and doors. We really want to do a colour feature wall in each of the three bedrooms and were looking at something like Resene Seachange or a green/blue that would work with the rest of the house. We also thought of doing a feature wall in the open plan lounge/dining. We have dark timber laminate floors throughout the lounge/dining/kitchen/hallway and charcoal carpet in the bedrooms. A. Resene Seachange is a beautiful colour. Some other colours similar to this you could try are Resene Half Smalt Blue or Resene Artemis.
October 2019
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Q. My interior walls are Resene Eighth Napa. Which colour would you recommend painting the internal doors? A. Resene Eighth Napa is great in that it works with many other colours. You could either go for an off white, using something like Resene Half Sea Fog. Or you could try going a couple of shades darker which would be Resene Half Napa. It just depends on which look you prefer.
October 2019
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Q. We have recently purchased a roughcast 1920s bungalow. We have decided to paint the exterior Resene Grey Friars for the base (to go with the COLORSTEEL® roof), Resene Lemon Grass for the walls and Resene Joanna for all weatherboards and windows. I’m looking for exterior door colour suggestions, I’m leaning towards Resene Mighty - what do you think? A. This sounds perfect for a 1920s bungalow. Deep reds work great with Resene Lemon Grass so I think Resene Mighty would look stunning. Another deep red that is really nice is Resene Salsa. It has a bit more warmth to it and will make a statement. Either would work though.
October 2019
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Q. My house walls are painted in Resene Half Blanc and the ceiling is Resene Eighth Blanc. I am redoing some of the door and window frames which are possibly Resene Half Black White (colour used before walls were painted Resene Blanc). I see Resene Black White or Resene Half Black White are a good colour with Resene Half Blanc. Or do you have some other suggestions please? A. I would definitely lean towards Resene Half Black White as opposed to Resene Black White as it provides a bit more contrast with Resene Half Blanc. Another option for you to consider would be doing Resene Eighth Blanc on the architraves and doors. There isn't a lot of difference between Resene Half Black White and Resene Eighth Blanc and being that it is already on the ceiling it may be best to continue with the same white using Resene Eighth Blanc. Either would work though.
October 2019
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Q. We are about to paint the exterior of our 1950s weatherboard house. Last year we painted the iron roof in Resene Grey Friars. We had picked out Resene Half Concrete for the weatherboards and Resene Quarter Black White for the window trims. We are thinking of using Resene Grey Friars around the base of the house on the concrete fibreboard. Are these complementary grey tones? I'm having trouble seeing it all together. A. This all works great together. My only hesitation would be the contrast between Resene Half Concrete and Resene Quarter Black White. There isn't much of a contrast between the two so I’m wondering whether you would be better trying something slightly darker for the weatherboards. You could look at Resene Concrete for the weatherboards or another option you could consider would be Resene Triple Black White. They will still be a nice soft grey but just with a bit more depth. Everything else is perfect.
October 2019
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Q. I want to paint the wood floors in my lounge and bedroom a light grey. The walls and ceilings are Resene Quarter Alabaster. Both rooms are very light and airy though small. Could you suggest a couple of greys? I have tried Resene Half Silver Chalice and Resene Double Concrete and they are ok but possibly not grey enough. A. Try these greys to see if they work for you – Resene Double Silver Chalice, Resene Triple Concrete, Resene Surrender, Resene Delta or Resene Quarter Tapa.
October 2019
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Q. We have a grey brick house with a block concrete base. It has, in the past, been painted in Resene Westar. Do you have a colour a little darker? I have tried cool greys on the base but they do not look good. A. One of the following colours may work well for you – Resene Half Truffle, Resene Quarter Perfect Taupe, Resene Quarter Napa or Resene Pale Slate.
October 2019
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Q. I am looking for a warm white paint to paint inside my house. I don't want grey undertones. A. I recommend you try one of these options - Resene Rice Cake or Resene Bianca.
October 2019
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Q. We have moved into a home that is painted throughout the inside either Resene Parchment or Resene Half Parchment including the joinery etc. We would like to update the open-plan living areas, as while it looks nice, our preference would be more blue/grey. We don't want to repaint the kitchen as the cupboards are a sea foam colour that works well with the walls as they are. What colour(s) will work in the dining room, which opens through from the kitchen? Happy to go with a darker colour. A. You could try one of these colours - Resene Balderdash, Resene Bluff or Resene Clouded Blue.
October 2019
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Q. We are painting the interior of our house and struggling a bit. Our east facing lounge is currently in some yellowy creamy shade. I would like it to be a bit more modern/cleaner/Scandi - a warm pale grey with no blue or green undertones or yellow/creamish ones. Rather something cleaner - but warm. What would you recommend? In our TV room we want to go dark - what dark greys/blacks would you recommend that actually have a bit of colour - towards blue or petrel (teal) tones? We potentially will also paint our bedroom in this colour (east facing). For our daughter's bedroom - I'm looking for a pale dusky pink. A. For the lounge, are you painting the ceilings, architraves etc? If not whatever they are may make a difference in determining what would be the best tone/depth of colour in here. You could try Resene Half Concrete or Resene Triple Black White. For the TV room, try Resene Double Cod Grey or Resene Cinder. For your daughter's room try Resene Dust Storm or Resene Dawn Chorus (not quite as light but a beautiful dusty pink).
October 2019
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Q. I am doing a white interior and love the Resene Alabaster range. Which strength is best for walls and which for ceilings and woodwork? A. You have choices. You could use exactly the same colour for all surfaces only changing the sheen of the product - matt for ceilings, semi-gloss for all trim work and low sheen for the walls. Or you can 'play' the colour in different areas to create a tonal look with eye interest and a subtle contrast as well as the sheen level changing for each surface. You could use Resene Alabaster or Resene Double Alabaster for the walls - very large, very bright rooms might look nice in the Resene Double Alabaster whereas Resene Alabaster would suit other rooms where natural light was not so beneficial. You could use Resene Quarter Alabaster for ceilings and possibly the trim work - this would show as a crisp contrast. If you want some of the woodwork, such as perhaps doors, slightly deeper tonally, so finger marking doesn't show as much, you might use Resene Half Sea Fog. This might be considered also for all of the trim work.
October 2019
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Q. What is the best ceiling colour to go with Resene Half Albescent White walls and do I use Resene Quarter Albescent White on the trims? Or is there a better choice of colour for walls instead. I do have a huge amount of window light in a normal ceiling height 1970 home. A. If you wanted a lighter ceiling colour, related to your wall colour, you might use Resene Quarter Albescent White. Alternatively a whiter colour might be used - this would make the wall colour seem a little bit more coloured – for a warmed white try Resene Quarter Bianca, or for a cooler white try Resene Half Alabaster. You have three options to consider for the trims:
October 2019
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Q. My living room is Resene Cha Cha. The trim and ceiling down to picture rail are in Resene Eighth Blanc. I'm going to keep a feature wall in Resene Cha Cha but would like some options for a neutral for the other thee walls. The walls are old with imperfections and I have three mucky boys on a farm, so something forgiving! A. I love that you have used such a bold colour and completely understand about wanting something forgiving for a neutral. You could try Resene Half Truffle or Resene Quarter Pravda.
October 2019
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Q. I'm having difficulty deciding on a white for our interior. We have New Denim Blue aluminium joinery, slate floor tiles in the kitchen, rimu skirting and window trims, and will be replacing existing carpet with laminate flooring (still not sure what to do here; whether to get a colour as close to rimu as we can or a contrasting light oak). The house is surrounded by natural bush, with large windows. I'm swaying towards Resene Half Merino or Resene Quarter Merino. Advice also on ceiling and doors would be great. A. The Resene Merino family of colours are beautiful whites. You could try walls in Resene Half Merino with the ceiling and doors in Resene Half Alabaster. Or main walls in Resene Milk White with the ceiling and doors in Resene Quarter Milk White.
October 2019
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Q. What is a good grey to use for kitchen cupboards when the walls are painted in Resene Double Black White? There are no high cupboards but there is an integrated fridge and freezer with large doors. A. Two good options to try are Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Foggy Grey.
October 2019
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Q. We have an early 1960s brick house. It was painted by the previous owners and we want to repaint it with a lighter, neutral colour. It has a new Ironsand roof and guttering with 80s dark brown aluminium windows. We have used Resene Merino and Resene Double Merino inside the house - could you give some advice on several neutrals that may work on the outside? A. You could try one of these options - Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey or Resene Quarter Silver Chalice.
October 2019
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Q. We're renovating and as part of the renovation, changing the exterior paint and replacing our roof. The house is two levels. The new roof colour is Ironsand and we've chosen Resene Triple Truffle for the upper level. Our ground floor is made of concrete and few Hardiboard® as external cladding. Can you please suggest what colour we can use on the ground floor that will complement? A. I would suggest going lighter on the ground floor concrete. You could try Resene Triple Sea Fog or Resene Half Truffle. For the Hardiboard® I would suggest painting them either the same as your roof (Resene Ironsand) or Resene Triple Truffle, either of these would work well.
October 2019
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Q. I am painting my salon and am trying to find a super pale blush tone that isn't too pink or too apricot to go with the already wallpapered wall that is a light bronze and a feature wall and beams that are being painted in Resene Double Foundry. A. I recommend you try Resene Wafer or Resene Shabby Chic.
October 2019
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Q. We are looking for a colour to paint our house exterior. We have a COLORSTEEL® roof in New Denim Blue and aluminium joinery in Matt Titania. It's a recently renovated 60s house with weatherboard siding. A. You do need to consider how the Titania window joinery will influence what colours will harmonise well. You could try: Resene Helium or Resene Bone White. These two are lighter and slightly deeper related colours to Titania. Or for other options try Resene Half Friar Greystone , Resene Quarter Taupe Grey or Resene Rice Cake.
October 2019
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Q. We are renovating a villa front porch, fretwork and a square bay window (so not as much window detail as a normal bay window). For the exterior, we are looking for a pale grey without any blue, green, purple or brown undertones. We are considering Resene Quarter Stack, Resene Half Silver Chalice or Resene Double Concrete. We are using Resene Alabaster for the trims and fretwork. For the roof, we are looking for a true charcoal grey colour to tie in with the exterior paint. We are then wanting a dark colour (maybe Resene Steel Grey) for the front door (and perhaps the porch as well?). Can you please provide a few colour schemes that would work well together and match what we're looking for? If there are other colours that you think would be better than the ones we've noted above then we are open to alternatives also! A. It can be tricky looking for greys that have no undertones of other colours within them as they all do. The colours you mention all have different undertones. You may find it much easier to judge the colours if you are able to pop into a Resene ColorShop to view the A4 colour samples in their Colour Library. Seeing very large samples that have real paint on them is very helpful. The following may give you some ideas of what might work for you – Resene Steel Grey for the roof, Resene Atmosphere for the main colour, or a much paler grey – Resene Quarter Atmosphere. A very dark colour for the front door might be Resene Gumboot.
October 2019
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Q. We have a white bathroom with matte black accents, with cool lighting and a wooden floor. Which colour/shade paint would be best for the walls? A. You could try Resene Sea Fog for an off white, Resene Rice Cake for a warm white or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey for a very soft grey.
October 2019
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Q. We are about to paint our townhouse a more modern colour. It has been Resene Concord for 10 years. I like Resene Half Stack. The aluminium joinery is Silver Pearl. A. I think Resene Half Stack would work really well, it works perfectly with Silver Pearl joinery. You could also try Resene Silver Chalice or Resene Delta.
October 2019
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Q. Our roof will be Grey Friars and I'm thinking either Resene Tiara or Resene Loblolly for the roughcast, white windows and woodwork but am not sure about the lower portion of the walls, which are smooth concrete and currently grey. Maybe Resene Rolling Stone? A. Resene Rolling Stone may be just a little too green to work with Resene Loblolly. It looks nice with Resene Tiara though. Resene Loblolly looks really nice with colours like Resene Regent Grey and Resene Half Mako.
September 2019
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Q. I really like the Karaka colour for our new roof and gutters and fascia but I can't work out what's a good colour for the exterior walls. I'd prefer not brown or cream. Something that looks modern would be good. A. The following are some modern colours that look quite smart with Resene Karaka. Resene Quarter Taupe Grey, Resene Half Foggy Grey, Resene Silver Chalice, Resene Half Delta, Resene Eighth Friar Greystone or Resene Triple Black White. All of the listed colours have other variants(lighter or deeper tones) that you might also check out.
September 2019
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Q. I am looking for a very light grey. I will have white trim and want to just barely be able to tell that the walls next to it are grey. I got a testpot of Resene Surrender as that looked light, but it is way too dark on the walls. I want that type of grey, rather than a light blue/grey but just a lot lighter. A. You may need to carefully test many colours before you find the right one to use. All colours in an interior have the potential to look much deeper (double their depth or brightness) and the exact opposite is true on an exterior. These grey/whites are worth checking out Resene Quarter Surrender, Resene Black Haze, Resene Double Black White or Resene Quarter Concrete.
September 2019
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Q. We are building a home and the main portion of the house is COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod. We have been advised to complement this with a white tone for the Linea® weatherboard. Can you please give us some options for an exterior white to go with the FlaxPod? A. Do you want a very strong look with a starker type of white to contrast with your dark colour? Or do you want a softer toned look? Two whiter/brighter options to consider are Resene Black White or Resene Quarter Rice Cake. Or two softer tones Resene Double Merino or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey.
September 2019
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Q. I'm going to paint two farmhouses and I have decided on Resene Gordons Green for the roof and need an off white, not yellow or brilliant white, that blends in without being too bright. A. The following are 'blending in' types of off whites Resene Eighth Truffle, Resene Merino, Resene Barely There or Resene Double Black White.
September 2019
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Q. I've got a painted kitchen servery with bar stools. The kids kick it with their shoes and it has become chipped so I thought I would be smart and wallpaper it. It looks really good but it still marks. Is there some way I can seal the wallpaper or is there a product available to achieve the same result but harder wearing? A. If the paint or wallpaper was behind glass or Perspex it may be protected more. Alternatively you can clear finish the wallpaper but it may still show scuffing from footwear. If the children were able to remove their shoes, socks would be less damaging. September 2019
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Q. I have cream aluminium window frames and interior doors. What pale colour can I paint the interior walls? I tried Resene Clotted Cream, but found it too yellow. I tried Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream and found it too white. Prefer something with a hint of brown not yellow or grey. A. A pale colour that isn't closely related may make the windows and interior doors look to be a stronger cream - would that worry you? Seeing that you are definite in your request for a non-yellow or grey influenced pale colour the following suggestions may be worth checking out Resene Eighth Drought, Resene Eighth Akaroa, Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream, Resene Quarter Fossil, Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Half Titania.
September 2019
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Q. I have just had my lounge, hall and bedrooms painted in Resene Half Tea - which colours work well with this colour? My lounge suite is a leather burgundy red colour. A. The following are a few of the many colours that harmonise well with Resene Half Tea, Resene Double Tea, Resene King Tide, Resene Smoulder, Resene Atlas and Resene Triple Duck Egg Blue.
September 2019
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Q. Our bedroom is currently painted in a tea like colour and has a dark purple feature wall on the south side of the room. For a quick change I am keen to paint over the feature wall and am tossing up whether I cover it with Resene Foundry or Resene Nocturnal. Or the other option is I just continue on with the main bedroom colour. Would a charcoal as a feature wall be okay in a bedroom? A. I like the idea of a charcoal feature wall. Resene Foundry has a slight edge as it is softer edged and it is warmer. Resene Nocturnal has an almost olive undertone but the choice is yours.
September 2019
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Q. Would Resene Galliano work as a feature wall with Resene Eighth Truffle on the majority of walls and Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey on another wall? A. It will look very vibrant, bold and exciting as a feature wall with the colours that are also being used in the room.
September 2019
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Q. Could you please recommend an exterior colour scheme to complement a Resene Undercurrent roof on a 1920s bungalow? A. The following colours look really lovely with Resene Undercurrent Resene Merino (main colour) with Resene Triple Merino. Or Resene Athens Grey (main colour) with Resene Double Silver Chalice. Or Resene Quarter Spanish White (main colour) with Resene Navigate. This option uses a similar but deeper version of Undercurrent to add more depth to the overall palette of colours.
September 2019
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Q. We have our exterior windows painted in Resene Buttery White and we are now putting in aluminium windows. What is the best match for this - Matt Appliance White or Matt Warm White Pearl? A. Possibly Warm White Pearl is the better option to go with but it isn't as yellow toned as the Resene Buttery White which is a rich colour.
September 2019
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Q. I want to paint a very old small bedroom. I have maroon drapes and Resene Haven walls. Can you advise another colour please that will go with these? I tend to like earthy natural look. A. You might check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you and work with the other colours in the room Resene Quarter Parchment, Resene Quarter Tea or Resene Quarter Fossil.
September 2019
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Q. I'd like to paint the walls of my house a warmish but light white which will go with my new kitchen cabinetry in a modern extension but also work in with the older original bungalow part of the house. I like Resene Half Bianca and was thinking of Resene Alabaster for the ceilings, doors and trim - do you think that combination will work, or is there a better choice than Resene Alabaster with Resene Half Bianca? A. Resene Half Bianca definitely is a nice warm light white. Resene Alabaster is the same depth of colour as Resene Half Bianca and it is best to have a contrast otherwise one white will end up looking dirty next to the other. I would suggest using Resene Quarter Alabaster. This complements Resene Half Bianca really well.
September 2019
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Q. I have a Linea® weatherboard house with a small portion of Titan® board on one side. The roof is Grey Friars, but it can't really be seen from the road as it is a parapet roof and the joinery and garage door are matt Appliance White. I'm thinking of painting the Linea® in Resene New Denim Blue and the Titan® and trim Resene Sea Fog. Can you please let me know how you think these colours will come together and how dark the Resene New Denim Blue weatherboards will appear in natural light? A. Resene Sea Fog works perfectly with all of this. It is a nice neutral white but still gives enough of a contrast to the Appliance White. My only concern is the Resene New Denim Blue. This is a similar depth of colour to Grey Friars but they are different in the fact that Grey Friars has a neutral charcoal undertone and Resene New Denim Blue has a blue undertone. I know you said that you don't really see the roof but if there is an area where you do see it then it could look like you've 'matched up but mucked up' if that makes sense. Do you like the idea of using a blue tone on the Linea®? If you're not phased about the blue tone then my suggestion would be to look at Resene Quarter Grey Friars. If you want a blue tone then perhaps you could look at Resene Half New Denim Blue.
September 2019
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Q. We have a 1920s villa that has a Sandstone grey roof and garage door. Which lighter colour would you recommend for the exterior? A. I'd recommend you try these colours Resene Triple Sea Fog, Resene Foggy Grey or Resene Double Black White.
September 2019
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Q. I'm planning to repaint the lounge and bedroom of my apartment. My furniture is a deep colour, and the rooms are quite bright with sunlight coming into the rooms most of the day. I want to use white with some sort of colour hint. My dilemma is that if I use a cooler hint, it may not match my furniture, but a warm hint may make the room feel hotter. A. Some options for you to try (all neutral whites that aren't cold or too warm) are Resene Rice Cake, Resene Sea Fog or Resene Half Milk White.
September 2019
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Q. What is the most popular colour for exterior paint for a Rockcote render to go with a Grey Friar roof and Ghost Grey joinery? A. These whites are very popular with the Grey Friars (charcoal with a steel blue undertone) and the Ghost Grey joinery (mid grey with a warm lilac undertone) - and they are timeless and elegant. Try Resene Athens Grey, Resene Quarter Grey Chateau, Resene Black White, Resene Half Thorndon Cream or Resene Rice Cake.
September 2019
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Q. Are Resene Duck Egg Blue and its half strength considered warm colours? A. I think of it as a warm colour. But it is all relative - if you compare Resene Duck Egg Blue with another colour like Resene Breathless or Resene Solitude then the answer is definitely yes. But if Resene Duck Egg Blue was in a cooler south facing room that always felt as though you needed a heater on in it make it feel cosy or in a room with no natural light like a hallway then it may appear greyer and cooler. It is all about carefully testing a colour to see how it responds to the particular room you want to use it in - the natural light, the other colours in the room etc will influence how a colour is seen. Colours alter constantly and without testing them you can find that you still love the colour but it doesn't love the room you want to put it into.
September 2019
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Q. I have always used white for ceilings and trim but I am wondering if that is now an old fashioned idea. My lounge walls will be Resene Eighth Friar Greystone so should my ceiling and trim be a modern variation type white such as Resene Sea Fog or similar rather than pure white? A. It is a personal choice as to what 'white' is right. If you were to opt for a tinted white it pays to remember that it will always look a little deeper because of the way the light (natural and artificial) throws shadow across the ceiling. It can look a little more 'coloured' than you might imagine it will do - even as much as double the value. Perhaps one of these whites might be considered Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Half Black White.
September 2019
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Q. I am looking to paint my laundry, bathroom and toilet a grey/blue/green colour. The hallway leading to these rooms is painted with Resene Marzipan and we also have Resene Sahara and Resene Rob Roy in other rooms. Our general colour scheme is warm oranges/yellows. I am wondering if you can suggest a grey blue/green tone for the laundry and bathrooms that will not clash too much with the rest of the house. A. You might check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you Resene Triple Duck Egg Blue, Resene Helix, Resene Sorrento, Resene Bluff, Resene Bounty or Resene Dusted Blue. These suggestions have a wee bit of depth and interesting undertones of colour in them. They look really nice in association with Resene Marzipan.
September 2019
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Q. I am painting my ensuite walls Resene Quarter Black White. Do I paint the square-stopped ceiling the same colour? Also what would you use on the floor skirtings? A. I would be inclined to use the same colour as the walls for the ceiling. It keeps it simple. I would also be inclined to use the same colour on the floor, skirting and door architraves but in Resene Lustacryl semi-gloss waterborne enamel. The doors could be the same. The walls and ceilings could be Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom formula. Ensuite rooms are not generally known for their vast area so by using the same colour - but in different sheen levels - makes spaces seem larger.
September 2019
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Q. I have Resene Half Iron on my wall. What colour should my ceiling be? A. You could use one of the following suggestions - Resene Quarter Iron (this may look slightly deeper in tone), Resene Poured Milk (which is the same as Resene Eighth Iron), Resene Eighth Black White or 'real white' - Resene White. The last three colours are crisp and will provide a lovely contrast to the wall colour.
September 2019
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Q. We are about to paint the exterior of our house. The house street side is south facing so doesn't get a huge amount of direct sun. We've decided we like Resene Double Sea Fog for the weatherboards but I'm not sure on the white to use for the trim. I don't want it too look stark or cool but I do want a contrast and for the trim to look white. A. You might check out the following whites - they look really nice with Resene Double Sea Fog – Resene Eighth Rice Cake, Resene Half Alabaster or Resene Eighth Black White. These suggestions are white enough to get a nice contrast with your main house colour. If they were any more 'coloured' the difference between them and the main house colour would be less obvious.
September 2019
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Q. I have painted the exterior of our board-and-batten beach house in Resene Diesel and am very happy with the colour. We have a deck running along the front to the house that I need to re-stain. I'd like some advice on colours that would complement the new wall colour - bold rather than conservative! A. There are not a lot of colours available in stains. And even less that are bold. You might check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Woodsman Earthsong, Resene Woodsman Skywater, Resene Woodsman Heartwood, Resene Woodsman Jacaranda or Resene Woodsman Totem Pole. They are the colours not often chosen for decks as they aren't natural enough for most people who prefer a conservative type of stain colour.
September 2019
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Q. I am looking for a light warm white to go with an ivory kitchen and ivory lounge suite, chocolate carpet and chocolate curtains. I was thinking Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream. What about Resene Black White? On the walls at the moment is Resene Tea but I want to brighten up the area as there is not a lot of light. A. Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream is a beautiful warm white. It would work great with ivory as it has a warm undertone. Resene Black White may be a bit too cool in tone. However, another one I would suggest looking at is Resene Rice Cake. This is a really lovely warm white that tends to work with almost anything.
September 2019
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Q. We are thinking of painting a new house Resene Half Bianca with ceilings Resene Quarter Bianca with some accent walls in Resene Triple Rakaia. Carpets are dark grey/black and other flooring a concrete grey tile. Are we on the right track? The Resene Half Bianca isn't too yellow? A. I don't think Resene Half Bianca and Resene Quarter Bianca are too yellow. Perhaps - to put you mind at ease - you might compare the colours with Resene Half Pearl Lusta and Resene Orchid White to see how they look. Sometimes it is only by comparing colours we can see what they are truly like in reality.
September 2019
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Q. I'd like an exterior paint for my house. The roof is unpainted silver and we will likely keep it that way, and we cannot remove the brown aluminium windows or the weird reddish brown guttering, I want something fresh looking maybe in blues or greens if they will even go with what we have? Our house gets a LOT of sun and it is often very hot so that's why I'm wanting cooler colours. Otherwise neutrals and greys are fine, anything other than the hideous yellow we currently have! A. It is possible to paint over powder coated guttering which would help you to move away from the reddish brown, bronze brown and solid yellows that you have on the house now. Had you considered doing that? You might even decide to re-colour the windows as well. The following are some options for you to consider - Main colour - Resene Half Duck Egg Blue, wooden base of the house and trellised fences - Resene Triple Duck Egg Blue and guttering - Resene Grey Friars. Or main colour - Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, wooden base of the house and trellised fences - Resene Tapa and guttering - Resene Double Tapa. Or main colour - Resene Triple Sea Fog, wooden base of the house and trellised fences - Resene Half Sea Fog and guttering - Resene Half Taupe Grey.
September 2019
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Q. How well would a Grey Friars roof complement an all-weatherboard house in Resene Jaguar? A. Resene Grey Friars has a steel blue undertone and Resene Jaguar is a black/blue with an almost purple undertone. They both look good.
September 2019
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Q. We would like to paint our house exterior grey but are unsure if we should go a light (concrete) grey or darker (charcoal). Is there another colour we should also think about also? Our colour palette is neutral. A. Some very pale greys can look like unpainted concrete. This may not be the look you want. Some darker charcoals - as long as they aren't too black - can look very smart. Perhaps a mid-toned grey may work for you. You may need to test a few colours in order to get a bit more of an idea about what appeals to you. The following are a few options for you to start thinking about – Resene Quarter Baltic Sea, Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Quarter Gravel. All greys carry complex undertones of colour. I recommend you visit your local Resene ColorShop to view the large A4 colour samples in their Colour Library. Being able to see larger samples and comparing colours makes it easier to judge the reality of the colours.
September 2019
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Q. We are repainting a 1990s stucco two storey townhouse. It has dark green window frames and a terracotta tiled roof. Do you have any recommendations for the exterior repaint? A. My personal favourite for terracotta tiled stucco homes like yours is to go for an off white or a very light neutral. It allows the terracotta to be the pop of colour and also doesn't take away from what it is. You could try Resene Double Sea Fog, Resene Thorndon Cream or Resene Half Parchment.
September 2019
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Q. I am looking for a light and bright neutral for my unusually shaped dining/living/kitchen in my seaside mid-century cottage. I was keen on a light grey with white trim like Resene Half Sea Fog, but wonder if I should go for more of a soft off white with warm undertones. I don't want a cream or yellow look. A. Resene Half Sea Fog for the walls is quite a light off white. I think it would look beautiful and it still actually has a warm tone to it. It's definitely not cream or yellow. Here are a couple of others you could try: ceilings in Resene Quarter Wan White and walls in Resene Wan White. Or ceilings in Resene Eighth Rice Cake and walls in Resene Half Rice Cake.
September 2019
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Q. We are planning on installing a classic white kitchen. I quite like the colour Resene Truffle for the walls. The benchtop looks like a natural stone grey. Can you suggest any other colours to look at please? A. Some other warm neutrals that you could check out - and compare with Resene Truffle - might be one of these colours – Resene Double White Pointer, Resene Eighth Arrowtown or Resene Eighth Friar Greystone . Without comparing colours and placing them with samples of cabinets, benchtops and flooring it is easy to misjudge what undertones of colour are in each one. It is important also to see them on site so you can judge how they alter during day in natural light and at night with artificial light as that can have a strong bearing on what you ultimately choose.
September 2019
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Q. We are looking to repaint a concrete block home with brown aluminium windows. The colour Resene Bison Hide with Resene Stonewall trim has been suggested to me. What would you think of this? A. Rather than using these two colours which are slightly unrelated to each other and not best friends I think it may be wiser to stay with one palette of colours. Perhaps you might look at pairing these colours together – Resene Quarter Bison Hide and Resene Double Bison Hide, or Resene Eighth Stonewall and Resene Stonewall, or Resene Eighth Arrowtown and Resene Arrowtown. To add a bit of visual excitement you could use a bold or deep statement colour for the doors, such as Resene Dynamite, Resene Family Tree or Resene King Tide.
September 2019
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Q. I am wondering about colour matches for our home which is Oamaru stone and has gable ends painted in Resene Bokara Grey. The aluminium joinery and roof are not going to be changed anytime soon. We are wanting to paint the soffits which are currently a light creamy white, paired with the yellows in the Oamaru stone it's all a bit much. We are also wanting to paint some outdoor pots for our entranceway and the fences and gates that surround the property and are wondering about colours that would complement the Resene Bokara Grey for these. A. The combination of the very yellow Oamaru stone, the bronze brown joinery and the blacker colour on the gables are all really strong colours that don't create a well co-ordinated or balanced look. I have reservations about the outdoor pots and possibly the fences and gates matching the gables in Resene Bokara Grey - because that could be an overly strong look. But they could be a lighter variant of that colour for a softer - less optically challenging - look like Resene Quarter Bokara Grey. If the soffits were painted a white they would work with any other colours – you could use Resene Alabaster.
September 2019
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Q. We have a small room with low ceilings and poor light and want it to look larger and be as airy as possible. Not sure if we should use colour on the walls and a white on the ceiling and skirting or are we better to paint everything in one colour? A. If the ceiling is low I recommend that you use one colour only. The eye could be fooled to believe that the ceiling was higher if there was no changes of colour making each element - skirting, walls, and ceiling - draw attention to where those changes segmented the room. Keeping the space light, bright and airy is a simple look that still allows soft furnishings, flooring and drapes etc to be more coloured or patterned if that was what you wanted. A slightly coloured white like one of the following might be considered – Resene Half Sea Fog, Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta, Resene Quarter Merino, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream or Resene Quarter Albescent White.
September 2019
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Q. We are renovating our timber panelled bedroom. We have already painted another bedroom in Resene Rice Cake (plasterboard walls) and would like to use the Resene Rice Cake on the top section of our own bedroom which is plasterboard lined. My question is, do you have any suggestions for painting the timber panelling? We would like the room to be light and airy. A. The following colours are those that feel light and airy to me and hopefully they also appeal to you – Resene Triple Rice Cake, Resene Quarter Lemon Grass, Resene Duck Egg Blue or Resene Quarter Atmosphere. The first suggestion is a tonally related colour and the others are restful receding colours.
September 2019
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Q. I am currently painting two downstairs bedrooms and installing a mid-dark grey carpet in both rooms. I am looking for a warm, light grey if there is such a thing. Probably similar tone and lightness to Resene Half Tea, but with more of a grey tone rather than a brown tone. A. There sure is such a thing, it is now called 'greige'. You could try Resene Half Truffle, Resene Quarter Foggy Grey or Resene Triple Sea Fog.
August 2019
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Q. We have chosen to use Resene Indian Ink on two walls in our bedroom. Can you please tell me what neutral colour would work well on other two walls? A. Resene Indian Ink actually works with many colours, it's such a stunning and versatile colour. Some options to try are Resene Wan White, Resene Double Black White or Resene Quarter Foggy Grey.
August 2019
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Q. We have found a colour we like. It was actually in a spec home we visited. Unfortunately the test samples do not look as good in our house and looks different in different lights and rooms. Is there a particular time of the day we should view the sample? Or should we be looking for another colour? A. Colours are part of the light spectrum so every change of light (both natural light during the day and artificial light at night) makes the colours take on a different look. If you used the same colour in every room it will look different in every room - sometimes each wall looks different as well depending upon light and shade, wall angles and especially when other colours are seen close to it. Colour is a very tricky thing. I think you need to look for other colours. This may take a while and you do need to carefully test it so you know exactly how it looks at your place, in your light and most importantly with your things. I always suggest that people that they do these things:
The thing to take on board though is that at some time of the day or night the colour may not look as perfect as you would like but if you aim for a colour that looks good 90% of the time in your light, with your things etc then that is probably the best you can hope for. The colour you eventually choose may not be the one you might ever had considered but it looks great at your place. It is so often not about what you like but more about what colour likes your rooms, your light, your furniture etc. August 2019
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Q. I have two walls that I am not happy with the colour of but am not sure what to do. Two adjacent walls in Resene Half Coriander look too cool with Resene Finch in the background. I may go Resene Half Rice Cake like the rest of the walls. The front door is going to be Resene Bardot. It is currently pale blue so that may change things. The front door is opposite the light green wall. I like a warm airy feel. A. The two greens you have used and the walls they are painted on are influenced by natural and artificial light and when seen in close proximity aren't the best of friends. If you are keen on achieving a warm airy feel and have used Resene Half Rice Cake as a main colour the feature wall that doesn't work is Resene Finch as it is dense, earthy and shadowy. You might change the fresh sweet lighter yellow/green - Resene Half Coriander - to a slightly different green - i.e. Resene Aspiring. The main colour in the rooms (Resene half Rice Cake) works because it doesn't conflict or irritate the Resene Finch. Resene Bardot for the front door is a delicious bold yellow and will make a bright statement.
August 2019
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Q. We have a new house build about to start. We are planning on doing all interior walls white including the kitchen (with one row of middle cupboards in a birch ply) but the kitchen island is black. So I need some assistance in picking which white/black to go for – Resene Black White or Resene Alabaster. We will have polished concrete floors - natural light grey colour and the ceiling in living areas is pale birch ply with black negative detail. The joinery is black metal. A. Resene Black White, Resene Double Alabaster, Resene Half Sea Fog or Resene Half Barely There are whites that work well especially if you plan on having natural light grey polished concrete and pale birch ply and black details. If you can visit your nearest Resene ColorShop to view the large A4 colour samples in their Colour Library you can compare them with each other and a true white - i.e. a sheet of white printer paper it may give you a much better idea of what these coloured whites truly look like. To create a more crisp clean contrast you might decide to have the white kitchen cabinets whiter than the walls - perhaps even a pure white - Resene White.
August 2019
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Q. I have Resene Half Truffle in my entrance way. The wall has decorative panelling and rail to halfway up and I want to paint this a darker grey that will look great with the Resene Half Truffle. There are timber doors and windows also, so needs to go with them. Any suggestions for a warm charcoal to go with timber and Resene Half Truffle? A. You could try these greys – Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Quarter Baltic Sea.
August 2019
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Q. I have finished my house in Resene Black White, some full strength some half. We have a lot of unpainted exposed concrete blocks in the house and I'd like to paint one wall darker in the kitchen that will go with both paint and blocks. The kitchen is white with a raw concrete bench. A. Some colours to try as your feature wall are: Resene Steel Grey, Resene Half Shark or Resene Baltic Sea.
August 2019
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Q. I am getting a new kitchen and I am thinking of painting the walls either Resene Squirrel or Resene Masala. I want the kitchen cabinets to be black. The splashback and benchtop are going to be brass. Which black do you think will look best with either of these colours? A. You might check out the following blacks – Resene All Black, Resene Blackjack, Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Element.
August 2019
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Q. We are building a home and my question is what colour would you use as a neutral for hallways and bathrooms etc that will go with Resene Pavlova in the large main living rooms and Resene Sail in the three bedrooms? A. Perhaps one of the following neutral colours may appeal to you – Resene Eighth Pearl Lusta, Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream, Resene Half Rice Cake, Resene Half Sea Fog, Resene Black White or Resene Half Merino.
August 2019
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Q. We would like some advice on painting the exterior of our 1960s brick bungalow. It is currently painted a beige colour, but we want to have it painted light grey with dark grey trim. The timber joinery we would keep white - I think it is currently Resene Alabaster. The new roof is COLORSTEEL® Slate. The interior walls are Resene Half Sea Fog. I have two key questions. What colour combos would you suggest? (That is, a white, a light grey and dark grey to match the slate roof). Where should we put the dark grey contrast? We want white timber joinery, gutters, soffits and deck balustrade and light grey on the bricks and front fence. We are thinking dark grey on the timber fences either side of the property, on the fascias and on the bottom sill of the timber joinery (which sits on the brick block sill). We also wondered if we should paint the carport timber cladding in dark grey to provide contrast. We have also seen that many 1960s brick bungalows have been painted so that the concrete block foundation is a contrasting colour... often darker, so we are wondering if we should have this dark also. Or if we should keep this the same colour as our brick as it is currently? It's not noticeable from the roadside as our property slopes to the back so the back of our property is two level and this is where most of the concrete level is visible. A. You might check out these light greys to see if they appeal to you - Resene Triple Black White, Resene Concrete, Resene Quarter Delta or Resene Eighth Friar Greystone . Some darker greys to consider - Resene Half Baltic Sea, Resene Steel Grey, Resene Fuscous Grey, Resene Porter or Resene Quarter Bokara Grey. I think it may be wise to use just the one colour on the house in case the deeper colour on the base of the house makes it look like a sandwich in layers. Deep grey on the fences might be the darker variants of the grey if you decided you wanted a tonal variation - slightly softer in tone on the house and darker for the fence. Otherwise just the one deep grey on house and fences. August 2019
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Q. I have Resene Quarter Akaroa walls and have had to repaint my ceiling. I used Resene Alabaster but it looks too stark. Which ‘off white' ceiling colour would you suggest that would work better with the Resene Quarter Akaroa? A. I would suggest trying Resene Black White N93-005-100. It is commonly put with Resene Quarter Akaroa and definitely won't appear stark.
August 2019
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Q. I have a 12 year old house and the stucco exterior needs repainting. It has New Denim Blue roofing and window frames. I will use Resene X-200. The exterior is currently is a pale pink/purple tinted cream colour. I would like it to look more modern, so thinking about a crisp white look. Which of the whites/neutrals look good with New Denim Blue, given the colour is now potentially not as bright/new looking as when installed new 12 years ago? A. New Denim Blue is still a colour that works with many whites to make it look more modern I would suggest going for a cool white. Try Resene Half Wan White or Resene Half Sea Fog.
August 2019
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Q. I have a house with Palisade® Smooth Cream walls and Mist Green/Paddock windows, both of which I can't afford to replace but I am painting the roof and want some advice which colour would improve the look and make it look less dated? A. I think going for something darker and neutral would help modernise your home. A charcoal tone is what first comes to mind for me. Try Resene Nocturnal or Resene Ironsand. I recommend you use the Resene CoolColour™ version of the colour.
August 2019
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Q. We're building a house and have come up with an interior colour scheme but are struggling to decide on a complementary white. At this point the ceilings, trim and some of the walls will be pine ply, the doors and some accents will be either Resene Gravel or Resene Double Gravel, and there will be accents of Resene Galliano. Which shade of white would you recommend for the remaining walls? A. This sounds like an amazing combination of colours, it'll look stunning. I've got a couple of options for you - Resene Rice Cake - this is a warm white but not cream, it works perfectly with ply, or Resene Black White - this is a beautiful white that works well with anything. It is a bit cooler than Resene Rice Cake.
August 2019
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Q. I am loving Resene Jewelled Yellow and I am wondering if it will work in our north facing master bedroom? We would use it as a feature wall behind the bed. The headboard and curtains are a light colour and our carpet is grey. The bed is orientated north, facing the window. Do you think this would work and which colour/s would you suggest using on the remaining walls? Options from whites to darks would be considered. A. Resene Jewelled Yellow is a rather gorgeous, lush metallic colour. It is recommended that a base of (similar) standard acrylic colour be applied first for the best result. The best finish is a sprayed one but a fine nap roller can give a nice finish - but not quite as smoothly perfect. The other walls might be painted in a grey similar to the carpet or a pale neutral similar to the curtains so that no other colour competes for attention compared to the gold metallic.
August 2019
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Q. I'm looking for a warm rich ochre/mustard yellow for an Indian themed bedroom for my student daughter. The room doesn't get much natural light and can feel it quite cold and dark. I was looking at Resene Starstruck and Resene Galliano, but I wasn't sure whether they would be too yellow. A. They may both be too bright a yellow. All yellows look a lot brighter than you might imagine they will do - often appearing to be double the depth or brightness. You may need to carefully test several ochre/mustard colours before you get the right one. Perhaps the following colours may appeal – Resene Celebrate, Resene Thumbs Up or Resene Pizza. Or slightly softer tones – Resene Apache or Resene Essential Cream.
August 2019
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Q. We've chosen a dark charcoal/black brick and will paint the Linea® above the windows Resene Element on so that it blends in. All joinery/fascia/roof/spouting is FlaxPod (Resene Element). Our problem is the soffits - we wanted to use a half strength of Resene Element but I was told at the store that this can't be done due to the dark base. We definitely want the soffits dark, but can't find another colour that works in with Resene Element. At this stage the only solution we can see is to paint the soffits Resene Element as well, but I'm worried it might be too dark since it's in shadow. Is there a colour you can suggest please? A. You might check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you - Resene Quarter Fuscous Grey or Resene Half Baltic Sea. Yes they will look deeper underneath the soffits - the angle and shadow always influences the colour.
August 2019
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Q. I have just bought a rundown little rental shoebox and am looking at painting the entire place. I like white warm colours for the walls and pure white matt for the ceilings or should be that the same as walls. I do like a little contrast for the door, window frame and door frame but I do not like yellow tinges. What would you recommend please? A. Perhaps one of these warm colours may appeal to you – Resene Sea Fog, Resene Merino, Resene Eighth Truffle or Resene Eighth Tea. They are not creamy/yellow toned and would work well with pure matt white - Resene White. The real white for the ceilings will lift and lighten the rooms. You could use the same colour as the walls for skirting boards, architraves, window frames etc in a semi-gloss enamel - it is a modern look that people are keen on. But if you wanted more contrast then they - and the doors - could be a deeper version of the wall colour if that was a look you favoured.
August 2019
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Q. We are looking at painting our weatherboard house Resene Silver Chalice and Resene White around windows and trim. Would a COLORSTEEL® roof in Ebony work? I have been told that Resene All Black is the same colour. I want crisp clean colours. It is a large bungalow with a modern touch. A. I think an Ebony roof all work perfectly. It will be a stunning combination and will definitely create a crisp clean contrast between colours. Resene Silver Chalice is a beautiful grey, not too cold and not too warm, it's just right.
August 2019
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Q. I am struggling to find the right shade for a client's bathroom. We are looking for a soft warm pink but the colours I have so far found/suggested are a little too cool/clear/white toned. I think something with a little more brown might be better? Preferred colour at this point is Resene Pot Pourri, but it is just not quite right. I have seen Resene Soothe profiled in a magazine but have not yet seen a drawdown (ordered). Please can you suggest suitable alternatives for consideration? A. Thank you for your enquiry. I'm not sure if you've tried any of these but here following are some options for you: Resene Dust Storm, Resene Wafer O81-020-046 or Resene Blanched Pink.
August 2019
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Q. We have just built an airy, well-lit two bedroom flat. We have painted the open plan kitchen lounge Resene Black White, the kitchen has a black granite benchtop and the cupboards are white. We intend to use Resene Black White throughout the flat, the bathroom is Resene Half Black White. Which colour should we paint the interior doors? A. Good options to try would be Resene Eighth Black White or Resene Half Alabaster.
August 2019
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Q. I am after a soft grey to paint the doors of my bungalow (used for business purposes). I am using Resene Half Rice Cake for the walls. I have kauri floorboards and a similar colour wooden feature on the wall. We have a black bench seat in the hall with forest green cushions. I would also be interested in a high gloss white recommendation for the architraves. A. For the doors, you could try Resene Half Foggy Grey or Resene Half Delta. For the architraves you could try Resene Eighth Rice Cake in Resene Enamacryl – a gloss finish.
August 2019
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Q. I am choosing colours for my kitchen. The units are likely to be Resene Half Merino or Resene Quarter Merino and I want a soft blue for the island. The bench tops are a whitish stone fleck and I feel it would be too white without a colour for the island units to break it up. The kitchen is 4m x 4m and it is being fitted to a traditional 1910 villa, so a strong colour is likely to be too much. I was thinking a French blue perhaps? A. Some beautiful blues to try are Resene Half Powder Blue or Resene Half Dusted Blue.
August 2019
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Q. We are redecorating our two years old daughter's room and we are wanting to do a feature wall with the colour Resene Princess. We have a character home and her room faces west. I want to know which shade of white you would recommend for the rest of the walls. A. Some options to go with Resene Princess are Resene Half Sea Fog and Resene Rice Cake.
August 2019
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Q. I am looking for a neutral tone with a slight purple or pink edge to it. It is for my daughter's bedroom which is small and dimly lit. I prefer the muted/dusty/mushroom tones to bright or pastel. I've looked at Resene Spring Wood, Resene Bon Jour, Resene Ebb, Resene Cest La Vie. A. If your daughter's room is small and has low light any pale colour could take on a lot more grey undertone depending on the quality of natural light. Have you carefully tested the colours you have mentioned and watched how they alter over a period of time? If you want a more muted colour then perhaps one of the following may appeal to you – Resene Urbane, Resene Ethereal or Resene Swiss Coffee.
August 2019
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Q. I have chosen Resene Avenger (purple) and want a colour that will go with it that is still warm. The room has an 18 metre wall of glass so light isn't a problem. I like the warmth In Resene East Side but would like to go one shade or two shades lighter. What would be name of these colours so that I can get some swatches ordered through my designer? She sent me Resene Poet, Resene Abbey Road and Resene Sonique but they seemed colder in the electric light at night. A. All colours alter considerably during the day (natural light) and at night (artificial light) so perhaps finding the right colour that looks good at night may mean it isn't so good by day. Would that worry you? Sometimes there is the need to compromise as the best scenario is a 90% right colour - never a 100% right colour - because of its relationship with changing light. The following colours have a redder undertone so hopefully they will work better for you at night – Resene Prelude, Resene Prim, Resene Dreamtime, Resene Fog, Resene Divine, Resene Zappo or Resene Lola.
August 2019
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Q. Do you produce and supply a metallic colour (e.g. metallic silver) that can be used to paint a restored and primed corrugated iron roof? A. On the Resene Roof Colour System chart there are two that you might check out – Resene Sword and Resene Aluminium.
August 2019
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Q. In a long narrow hallway we have Resene Double Alabaster as our main colour in a low sheen and Resene Alabaster for the doors. We have this also throughout the living areas. However in the master and guest bedrooms we have Resene Breathless on the walls with Resene Double Alabaster trim. It is just finished and looks great. We are thinking of a warm grey for tongue-and-groove panelling (yet to be done) on the lower 900mm of the wall. We thought this may make the hall appear wider and/or, certainly more interesting. We don't want to go to more than a pale intensity. Not even as intense as the Resene Breathless we have used elsewhere. Our furnishing style is country/Hamptons blue and white. We have installed two solar-tubes in this hallway which has helped. The house is 10 years old. A. Some blue/greys that you might consider for the tongue-and-groove panelling are Resene Freestyling, Resene Longitude, Resene Casper, Resene Half Dusted Blue or some warm greys – Resene Half Gull Grey, Resene Triple Concrete, Resene Half Grey Chateau or Resene Surrender. August 2019
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Q. I have a south facing bedroom in a 1935 character house which has two single windows and a small leadlight window. I'd like a colour that would warm it up. A. The colours will need to work with your existing flooring, drapes, bed linen etc? Or are you planning on getting everything new to co-ordinate with the new wall colour? Some neutral colour suggestions to check out – Resene Half Spanish White, Resene Quarter Biscotti, Resene Eighth Drought or Resene Quarter Fossil. Some definite warm colours to check out – Resene Shabby Chic, Resene Soulful, Resene Cashmere, Resene Apple Blossom or Resene Half Coriander.
August 2019
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Q. I like Resene Half Black White for the interior of my new build - can I do the whole interior the same colour or do I need to do doors and trims in a different shade to keep lightness? If so, what? And what are the pros and cons of the same colour? A. If you wanted to see a difference between the wall colour (Resene Half Black White) and the trims and ceilings you could use Resene Eighth Black White to keep the brightness and contrast. If you used Resene Half Black White on all surfaces the slight grey base undertone would be more apparent - especially on the ceiling as it has more shadow on it so it would look slightly deeper than (exactly) the same colour on the walls. Using the same colour on all surfaces removes any contrast/eye interest and merges all elements together.
August 2019
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Q. We are currently repainting our house and are looking at Resene Quarter Iron in the office and master bedroom/ensuite with white trim, but we want a warmer white (but not yellow) throughout the rest of the house. We are looking at Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Eighth Rice Cake, but I'm wondering if there is a more modern white to use. We also want a Resene Indian Ink feature wall in the lounge (it has high ceilings), but don't want the whole room to look purple! Our lounge is very sunny, but the hallways are darker. Also, we are painting a dado in Resene Ethereal in our daughter's bedroom, would that work with the top half being Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Eighth Rice Cake? A. Resene Eighth Rice Cake may look a wee bit white in larger, sunnier in some spaces - it is hard to say for sure. It might not seem that different to real white (if you were using that) on the trims. But if you were planning on using it for walls/ceilings and trim it would be ok. A Resene Indian Ink feature wall would be very striking - in some lights a very dark blue/black and at other times of the day or night showing a little more warmth with a very subtle purple undertone. It would work well with Resene Eighth Rice Cake. Resene Ethereal would also. Another warmer white that you might check out to compare with the Resene Eighth Rice Cake could be Resene Eighth Thorndon Cream. It is all about testing colours very carefully to see how they respond to light and other colours seen close by.
August 2019
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Q. We have a character house that we are painting soon and want to use a warm white on the walls with a brighter white on the trim so that they 'pop'. We were thinking of going for either a Resene Quarter Rice Cake or Resene Half Rice Cake for the walls and then white for the skirtings etc. Can I please get advice on whether these colours would work and which we should go for? A. If you used Resene Half Rice Cake and real white - Resene White - there would be enough 'pop' to add a nice contrast. Using a lighter version for the walls (Resene Quarter Rice Cake) you may see much less contrast. Using one of the palest versions of Resene Rice Cake as a white the look would not be quite so clean or crisp.
August 2019
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Q. I'm unsure what colours will match with old brown aluminium windows and light brickwork. We are about to replace the old gutters and white columns so now is my chance to update the house from the 70s. I may keep the new wooden posts a natural colour but I have no idea! A. Perhaps a warmer white may soften and modernise the look of the exterior. Check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Quarter Spanish White, Resene Eighth Parchment, Resene Quarter Ecru White, Resene Half Villa White or Resene Quarter Solitaire.
August 2019
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Q. I want to know what the most popular colours are for NZ home exteriors? A. The Resene Whites & Neutral range of colours are very popular - the whites, taupes, green edged beiges and silvery greys are being used a lot. All types of mid - deep greys and blacks are popular as well but sometimes that depends upon the surface cladding of the house. In some areas - primarily close to the seaside - coastal inspired blues, lilacs and aquas are popular. Essentially it is a case of what you personally like, what type of mood or ambiance are you striving for and making sure that if you do find a colour that rings your bell that it isn't exactly the same as the closest neighbours' houses. This could make relationships awkward. August 2019
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Q. I want to paint my lounge but after purchasing testpots I can't find the right colour. My bathroom and laundry is Resene Black White with Resene Half Black White trim. We want the colours to be cohesive throughout the communal areas. I want to have grey, white and accents of red. The carpet and curtains will be grey and the soft furnishings and art is red and grey. The coffee table, TV unit, skirting and doors are white. I'm unsure if I should paint the walls a white with a hint of grey or just grey? My spare room is Resene Quarter Stack and I love it but it's too dark for the living areas. A. You don't mention which testpots you have already checked out and it may be that I inadvertently suggest colours that you don't like. But hopefully one of the following may work well for you – Resene Double Black White, Resene Triple Black White, Resene Quarter Silver Chalice or Resene Athens Grey. Take your time carefully testing colours. Please don't apply the testpots directly to the existing wall colour because it will have negative effect upon how the sample colours looks. I recommend that you paint all of the testpot (two coats) onto A2 card (available from Resene ColorShops) leaving a narrow unpainted white card border all around the perimeter. This unpainted border does two things:
The large A2 card is a generous size that can be moved from wall to wall and viewed over a 24 hour period of time so you can judge how it looks as the light changes. Ideally by choosing the carpet and drapes first (so you have freedom of choice in that regard) and then choosing the wall colour to coordinate with them you may find it much easier to harmonise.
August 2019
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Q. Please can you suggest a colour for our front concrete porch? We have recently painted our front door Resene Bush (suggested by you, thanks we love it). There are three decorative poles by the front door. We were thinking of painting them Resene Bush too. I'm not sure about the concrete porch. Maybe a grey to tie in with the concrete/pebble path? We aren't a fan of brown. Our roof is painted red but we would like to change that one day, maybe to a dark green. The gutters are unpainted copper and will stay that way. It's visible from the lounge (recently painted Resene Quarter Rice Cake, also suggested by you, it looks great!). A. The concrete porch and steps could look very smart as a mid-toned grey. Perhaps one of the following greys might appeal to you – Resene Gunsmoke, Resene Quarter Gravel, Resene Quarter Masala, Resene Lattitude or Resene Gauntlet.
August 2019
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Q. I was wondering do you think Resene Triple Rakaia rendered walls would go with an Ironstone roof. We also have a lot of white windows and was thinking maybe a Surfmist or Shale Grey fascia. Or will it be too dark? A. I think Resene Triple Rakaia works well with COLORBOND® Ironstone. No I don't think it is too dark. It is a lovely warm grey with a mauve/taupe undertone. I am unsure about introducing another very random and unrelated grey (Shale Grey) or yellow/green beige (Surfmist) as the fascia colour. If you were keen on using one of those colours as a fascia have you considered using a grey that might work a little better as the main house colour - i.e. Resene Half Friar Greystone looks lovely with Ironstone and Shale Grey and Resene Foggy Grey looks lovely with Ironstone and Surfmist.
August 2019
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Q. I have a dark green roof and would like a suggestion for two other colours, the main colour being neutral and a suggestion for the window sills and base of house. A. You might check out the following colours to see if they appeal to you – Resene Thorndon Cream, Resene Eighth Friar Greystone , Resene Double Merino or Resene Half Tea. Any of the above suggested colours would work well with the following colours for the window sills and base of the house – Resene Condor, Resene Double Stonehenge, Resene Half Gravel or Resene Tapa.
August 2019
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Q. What colour should I paint my roof? The exterior is Resene Stack with white aluminium windows, Resene Element base boards and the gable ends are white with battens painted in Resene Element. A. Your default choice for the roof would be to use Resene Element, which is a Resene version of COLORSTEEL® FlaxPod. If you weren't keen on a very dark roof you might consider using Resene Double Stack which is slightly deeper toned than the main house colour. Or for a mid/deep colour you could use Resene Windswept.
August 2019
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