Magma magic

When seasoned professionals come together and combine their skills and expertise, the results can be truly remarkable. That was certainly the case with a recent collaboration between a design expert and a seasoned trade painter, which has given this Melbourne home’s exterior a striking new look with dramatic paint details that set it apart.

Prior to the update, the south-facing home was obscured by dense foliage that cast a dreary shadow on its dated, beige façade. Over recent years, other properties along the tree-lined street have been renovated or replaced with sensitively designed homes that add to the overall aesthetic appeal. Designer Mem Shoppee of Mem Butler Interiors aimed to do the same. With her keen eye for detail and colour, she selected a new Resene colour palette that set the tone for the home’s new era of modern elegance – but with a dazzling twist.

It was the first render, showing a refreshed colour palette in Resene Black White and Resene Licorice, which initiated the look. While the contrasting combination of blackened white and deep blue worked well with the sandy tone of the existing travertine paving, the existing colours of the front door, pedestrian gate, driveway gates and garage door presented a challenge. In search of a colour that would add warmth and lift, Mem found inspiration in the sunset at the end of the street, the copper brown seen on the bottom of magnolia leaves and the copper hardware on the home’s newly installed cabinetry. After a trip to her local Resene ColorShop, Mem decided to transform the entry points to the home with a unique metallic finish in Resene Magma and entrusted Shay Whitman to apply it.

Shay has been running Melbourne Painting Company since 2012, but his journey in the trade began much earlier. As a teenager, he joined a painting crew and put in time working after school and on weekends to earn money while he was still a student. With more than 25 years under his belt, he’s never been afraid of experimenting to find the perfect products to meet his clients’ briefs.

Next to each colour name on the Resene Metallic and special effects colour chart, you’ll find another Resene colour name in brackets. This indicates the colour that should be used as the basecoat if you are looking to create an effect that looks identical to what you see on the colour chart. However, if you are after a unique look, you can use any Resene colour for your basecoat. For this project, a custom Resene colour was created to get the exact look the designer was after.

“Mem went to her Resene ColorShop and spoke to the staff there, who were extremely helpful. They created some custom colour samples and she made her decision on the colour and finish to be used. Then, I contacted my Resene representative who referred me to a Resene expert who guided me through the best method for using these products,” Shay explains.

While this was Shay’s first experience using Resene FX Metallic paint, he says he’s looking forward to using it again on future projects. “I would recommend for others to experiment with different base colours as the background colour as it definitely expands the options for what metallic effects can be achieved. One of the best things about Resene is that they produce highly durable, waterborne exterior-grade paints suitable for all surfaces – even steel.”

Shay says the doors were heavy-duty, constructed with a 5mm aluminium face and precoated with a two-pack finish, and special attention had to be paid to the various hardware components to ensure the paint job wouldn’t adversely affect them. “After exploring various multi-pack options, we decided to go with the Resene FX Metallic paint system, as it offered the solution and finish we were after. First, Resene adhesion primer was applied directly on the existing two-pack coatings. Then, a basecoat in Resene Lustacryl tinted to a custom Resene colour was applied before finishing with topcoats of Resene FX Metallic paint in Resene Magma applied with an HVLP (high volume low pressure) system.”

“The decision to use Resene waterborne products is what made this project possible. Every other option we considered would have been impractical to execute on site,” Shay adds.

Mem says that it was Shay’s preparation and expertise in application that showcased the product at its best. “It is an extraordinary paint! It has a three-dimensional appearance when the metallic fleck catches the light, be it headlights or sunlight. The copper colour and its variegated blue and green flecks give the finish the most extraordinary depth and movement as the surrounding environmental conditions change with the seasons.”

“The outcome is remarkable. Each door and gate were deliberately finished slightly different to give each a unique effect. This product has so much depth and play to it, it’s simply artwork,” Shay says.

Since completing this project, Shay has come to understand the diversity and range of primers that Resene offers. “There is a range of completely different primers that work for all surfaces, which is game changing compared to what we are used to in Australia. We initially planned to resurface these doors with two-pack industrial coatings, which would have been a very expensive process,” Shay explains.

“So far, I have loved every Resene product I’ve used – and I truly mean that. I believe they are ahead of the game. Resene’s advice and support are consistently reliable. I first came across the Resene website over ten years ago while searching online for technical data on a product and I was blown away by how structured and detailed it was. Since then, it has become my go-to source for information.”

Over the past two years, Shay has become a frequent user of Resene Zincilate 11, Resene Galvo-Prime, Resene Lustacryl and Resene Enamacryl. “These are all products I absolutely love. I’m eager to try Resene FX Paint Effects Medium and Resene FX Pearl Shimmer in the future, but I’m especially looking forward to using Resene FX Metallic paint again as it’s a durable and enjoyable product to work with,” he says.

And as this project shows, if you’re open to experimentation, Resene FX Metallic could be the missing piece of the puzzle for a unique look that leaves a lasting impression.

Colours mentioned in this article...

Products mentioned in this article...

Colour selection: Mem Butler Interiors
Painting: Melbourne Painting Company
Images: Lisa Atkinson

BlackWhite magazine

This is a magazine created for the industry, by the industry and with the industry – and a publication like this is only possible because of New Zealand and Australia's remarkably talented and loyal Resene specifiers and users.

If you have a project finished in Resene paints, wood stains or coatings, whether it is strikingly colourful, beautifully tonal, a haven of natural stained and clear finishes, wonderfully unique or anything in between, we'd love to see it and have the opportunity to showcase it. Submit your projects online or email editor@blackwhitemag.com. You're welcome to share as many projects as you would like, whenever it suits. We look forward to seeing what you've been busy creating.

Earn CPD reading this magazine – If you're a specifier, earn ADNZ or NZRAB CPD points by reading BlackWhite magazine. Once you've read an issue request your CPD points via the CPD portal for ADNZ (for NZ architectural designers) or NZRAB (for NZ architects).