Colour courage

Queenstown-based Isis Winter is a project manager and interior designer who buys and renovates property. Her most recent project won the NZ Property Investors Federation and Resene Renovation of the Year – a proud milestone for her team.

Why do you love working with Resene colour?

Resene is a no-brainer for paint in New Zealand. The range of colours is comprehensive, the quality is excellent and the teams at Resene really know their stuff.

What effect does paint colour have on an interior?

Too often in New Zealand we’re afraid of colour but it’s colour that adds interest, warmth and personality to a home. The days of the “beige brigade” are officially over and I’m more than happy to see them gone.

Do you have any advice on using colour?

Stop painting everything white. White has its place – brightening dark spaces or making small rooms feel bigger – but if your space isn’t dark or small, push yourself to use colour instead. If you’re nervous, start with varying strengths of the same hue for subtle depth.

Pair panelling with paint – it’s a cost-effective way to give a space that “designer” finish.

Test the Resene paint colour properly: paint a large sample on card and move it around the room. Check it in different lights to avoid post-paint regret.

What are your three current favourite Resene colours?

This changes constantly, but as I’m renovating my own home right now, I’m drawing inspiration from the Central Otago landscape. Resene Quarter Napa, a calming neutral. Resene Route 66, a dense red-dirt brown. Resene Artemis, a muted slate blue-green.

These colours sit opposite each other on the colour wheel, with Resene Quarter Napa acting as a grounding, calm base for the richness of Resene Route 66 and Resene Artemis.

Photographs by Marina Mathews.