From BlackWhite magazine - issue 08, colourful outlook
Six Resene Total Colour Award winners share favourite paint colours, top projects, dream dinner dates and colour trend predictions.
Which are your current favourite Resene colours and what do you like about them?
Resene Half Alabaster, as it’s a great base colour to enable feature colour and materials to shine; Resene Transcend, a subtle green which looks great with timber flooring; and Resene Forty Six, as it’s an interesting charcoal grey.
Dan Eves
Etch Architecture
What’s been your favourite painting, wallpapering or staining project that you have completed to date and what did you like best about the outcome?
The large decorative sliding screens designed in collaboration with artist Pokau Kato Te Ahuru for Te Tūhunga Rau – Strathmore Community Centre, which was featured in BlackWhite issue 07. Big bold colours were used, which draw you into the building. I love how this feature adds lots of personality to the neighbourhood.
Would you consider yourself a ‘DIY perfectionist’ or ‘do you leave it to the professionals’?
A DIY perfectionist who knows when to talk to the professionals.
What is your favourite place to find inspiration for your projects?
Cape Palliser. The range of colour and tone depending on the conditions is stunning.
What has proven to be the most valuable piece of industry advice you’ve received so far during your career?
Don’t frame it as a problem, but rather see it as a challenge. Perspective is important.
If you were to splurge on any one home renovation project or décor item right now, what would it be and why?
I would invest in a retractable sunshade and new outdoor furniture to better enjoy hot summer evenings.
If you could have dinner with any architect, designer, artist or historical figure from the past or present, who would it be and what might you talk about?
An architect who I have learnt about recently, Richard Leplastrier. His houses respond richly to the site, they have movable roofs and walls and are beautifully crafted with timber. He camps out on his client’s site to really understand the context and environment. A real character, a craftsman with a passion for the outdoors and someone who I’m sure would have plenty of good stories to share over a dinner.
If you could magically invent something that does not exist, what would it be and why?
Surf at Lyall Bay beach.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
The ability to not need sleep. I need my sleep, but there are so many things I would rather be doing!
Which colours do you predict will be key trends over the coming months and how do you envisage they will be used?
I think we will continue to see lots of bold colours being used, in particular darker tones such as deep regal blues like Resene Ocean Waves, rich aubergines like Resene Half Aubergine and burgundy reds like Resene Incarnadine. I think these colours will be popular in both residential homes and in hospitality settings.
Which are your current favourite Resene colours and what do you like about them?
Resene Alabaster, which I love as a basic white to complement other hues (just like your closet, basics are necessary); Resene Coconut Ice, because it’s a colour that embraces the Barbies, the fairies and wedding themes that dot throughout our lives; Resene Wayfarer, because it’s classic and a nod to the elegance of French blues; Resene Galliano, which reminds me of a warm holiday full of sunshine – but no sunglasses required; and Resene Boris, which is a delicious charcoal and a favourite because I am an architect, after all!
Lien Bui
Pynenburg & Collins Architects
What’s been your favourite painting, wallpapering or staining project that you have completed to date and what did you like best about the outcome?
Kākāriki Coffee in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington is my favourite painting project currently. The interior design embraces a creative use of paint and an unlimited amount of lush, vibrant colours. The colour scheme paired with the hand-painted murals produces a green oasis and a pretty place to dine. The café has thrived since opening and the café’s owner, our client, is very happy with his space.
Would you consider yourself a ‘DIY perfectionist’ or ‘do you leave it to the professionals’?
I leave it to the professionals. They are a wealth of knowledge and are great to bounce ideas off.
What is your favourite place to find inspiration for your projects?
Fashion, shoes and food are what I gravitate towards, as they all have the same elements to draw inspiration from. Features like composition, materials, textures and trends are forever changing and are constant sources of inspiration. I also can’t help but look to the old masters like Corbusier’s designs, Aalto’s materiality, Jacobsen’s furniture and Hadid’s paintings.
What has proven to be the most valuable piece of industry advice you’ve received so far during your career?
As my old boss would say, “keep your clients happy and you’ll never get sued”.
If you were to splurge on any one home renovation project or décor item right now, what would it be and why?
I’m obsessed with Axolotl doors, so I’d want to do a grand entry door collab with them.
If you could have dinner with any architect, designer, artist or historical figure from the past or present, who would it be and what might you talk about?
For sure Alexander McQueen. I would ask him about his innovative designs and the subject of re-thinking past and present. I’d want to pick his brain about robots painting dresses and if he thinks genius is nature or nurture.
If you could magically invent something that does not exist, what would it be and why?
Invisible sky hooks. Do away with seismic constraints!
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Mind control… *evil laugh*
Which colours do you predict will be key trends over the coming months and how do you envisage they will be used?
With lots of greys on the runway, hues like Resene Solstice could become popular and pairing that with a smooth green like Resene Smashed Avocado could truly bring a space to life. Our team loves Barbie and her influence on colour palettes last year, but Barbie’s co-star could share some of the spotlight, too. Ken is a professional in ‘beach’, so this summer, vibrant colours like Resene Island Time or Resene Key Largo would stand out and are perfect nods to Ken.
Which are your current favourite Resene colours and what do you like about them?
I’ve been particularly drawn to marigold yellows like Resene West Side recently. I love this colour for its saturation and it works particularly well in smaller doses alongside softer muted greens. It’s a 70s throwback that feels fresh and happy. I also love deep reds like Resene Lonestar. It’s sophisticated and works in nicely with off-whites, blacks and natural oak. Resene Hot August is another that has been on my mind, an earthy red suitable for contemporary and traditional interiors. It reminds me of faded red pigments. A long-time favourite for me is Resene Torea Bay, a classic intense blue with lots of energy that’s arty and edgy.
Natalie Glucina
Kanat Studio
What’s been your favourite painting, wallpapering or staining project that you have completed to date and what did you like best about the outcome?
Cherrywood to colour cork sheet a deep red hue. I used Resene Colorwood Pitch Black on a previous project to apply a light wash of black stain to amplify the patterning of a very textured cork. Cork is so versatile in its application opportunities and being able to customise the colour really opens up your options aesthetically.
Would you consider yourself a ‘DIY perfectionist’ or ‘do you leave it to the professionals’?
I’m a DIY perfectionist when on a budget otherwise I prefer to leave it to the professionals, for sure!
What is your favourite place to find inspiration for your projects?
I find inspiration in our clients, their stories and their lives. It’s so important spaces align with them and this gives authenticity to the design.
Orsini Atelier Space by Kanat Studio received a Resene Total Colour Neutrals Colour Maestro Award. The space features Resene Alabaster and Resene Quarter Caraway. Shopfitting by Gulf Projects. Image by Ben Rowsell.
If you were to splurge on any one home renovation project or décor item right now, what would it be and why?
My kitchen/living/dining area is in dire need of renovation! I’d love to get into this and step into something a little unexpected.
If you could have dinner with any architect, designer, artist or historical figure from the past or present, who would it be and what might you talk about?
I feel like I should be picking a designer here, but for a long time, I’ve wanted to sit at a table with Stephen Fry. I have no questions for him, but it’d be great to be amongst the laughter with him and his friends. I recently sat with artist Finn Ferrier and was so creatively inspired by him. I’d love to sit around a table with a whole number of true creatives and hear their insights, thoughts and perspectives.
If you could magically invent something that does not exist, what would it be and why?
I feel I have most of what I need and what I really want already exists but not enough. I’d love us to all have a greater appreciation for quality in product and design and purchase for life rather than the moment.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
To time travel. I’d love to be able to explore the world in time, to revisit my own memories and to meet younger versions of my siblings, parents and grandparents and ask them questions about themselves and their lives.
Which colours do you predict will be key trends over the coming months and how do you envisage they will be used?
I feel there is more interest than ever in individuality, and colour is a key contributor to achieving this, so I think there will be a perspective that there are more colour options to choose from when selecting for interiors as well as exteriors. White is a mainstay for walls, but rather than the bright stark whites, we are looking at options that become part of the interior or which will beautifully highlight texture or architectural details. They’re a little darker and with a hint of colour. Resene Thorndon Cream is a good example that brings warmth into the home and provides a great backdrop to art and helps create a more interesting palette when adding additional colour into the space. Exteriors are also shifting. Black, grey and white are no longer the only options. Colour is becoming more relevant and context will be important in its selection. For example, character villas embracing hues from the Resene Heritage colour chart and using multiple colours to highlight fretwork or sills. Our preferred colours will be getting more saturated and cleaner in general. Greens and blues are still so popular however, I see these becoming fresher versions like Resene Killarney or Resene Wedgewood. They have a sense of heritage about them so they work nicely in older homes on walls and kitchen or bathroom cabinetry. We’ll also be seeing muted yellows and greens coming through. They’re an understated way to bring colour in without it dominating. As they lean towards timber in tone, they come across as neutral. Resene Chino and Resene Putty are examples that work well with most metallics and timbers so they will look especially good in kitchens and bathrooms.
Which are your current favourite Resene colours and what do you like about them?
Right now, I’m enjoying the blue-black and blue-green hues like Resene Cinder, Resene Free Spirit, Resene Hullabaloo and Resene Juniper. I find they work well with a wide palette of timbers, concrete and whites and still allow space for touches of bolder colours to be incorporated, too.
Sam Martin
Foundation Architects
What’s been your favourite painting, wallpapering or staining project that you have completed to date and what did you like best about the outcome?
It’s easily 191 Cuba Street. It was great to have been given the scope to revitalise a prominent urban exterior.
Would you consider yourself a ‘DIY perfectionist’ or ‘do you leave it to the professionals’?
I’ve done a lot of DIY, but as life changes and we’ve become increasingly time poor, I’m definitely in the ‘professionals’ camp as much as possible.
What is your favourite place to find inspiration for your projects?
Listening to predominantly instrumental music is my key source, though it’s not project specific. I find that the fact that it is non-visual prompts an analogous contemplation of how architectural elements may come together and affect us.
What has proven to be the most valuable piece of industry advice you’ve received so far during your career?
When I graduated from Architecture School, one of the faculty members – Julieanna Preston – said something like, “Hold onto what drives and inspires you. You might not be able to action it for 10 or more years, but in time, you will be able to revisit it.”
If you were to splurge on any one home renovation project or décor item right now, what would it be and why?
I have a long overdue outdoor area project to resolve. The existing surfaces are falling apart and plus we need some cover and shelter elements to increase the number of conditions where we can enjoy our perch overlooking Te Awa Kairangi.
If you could have dinner with any architect, designer, artist or historical figure from the past or present, who would it be and what might you talk about?
I’d like to take the musician Thurston Moore out to dinner and talk about the transposition of musical and architecture aesthetics.
If you could magically invent something that does not exist, what would it be and why?
Cures for the ills of the world aside, it would be some sort of goggles that could see underground into a site’s exact ground conditions. Getting any new build out of the ground has such uncertainty.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
The power to deliver projects without variations! I guess that would be a mixture of telepathy, time travel and faultless documentation.
Which colours do you predict will be key trends over the coming months and how do you envisage they will be used?
My take on it is that we will see more attention to paint finish and texture, with painterly effects being used rather than focusing solely on colourways – like what’s possible with Karen Walker Chalk Colour and the Resene Special Effects range, for example. Artisanal finishes applied by skilled painters that have more life, depth and character will enhance the use of colour in both residential and boutique commercial spaces alike.
Which are your current favourite Resene colours and what do you like about them?
My favourite colours change from project to project, just like your mood changes throughout the day. I’m constantly being inspired and pushed by my clients and love exploring new colour combinations. Tones I’m into at the moment are Resene Biscotti because I love that it’s a warm, peachy neutral for something a bit more whimsical, Resene Double Foundry is a great go-to deep tone for interiors or exteriors, Resene Thorndon Cream is a character classic and Resene Half Pravda is a great tone for adding depth in a neutral space without polarising its ambience.
Stacy Middleton
Studio Reno
What’s been your favourite painting, wallpapering or staining project that you have completed to date and what did you like best about the outcome?
I have to be biased and say my own kitchen we completed in House 02 on The Block NZ. I hand-painted the cabinetry in Resene Triple Thorndon Cream and paired it with a busy, veined benchtop and it looked incredible. I love the contrast of the cabinets with the brass handles and the intricacy of the benchtop.
Would you consider yourself a ‘DIY perfectionist’ or ‘do you leave it to the professionals’?
I quite often do both! I think as you learn from professionals, you can begin to slowly takeover some DIY jobs yourself, like painting or plastering. However, some jobs are definitely best completed by a professional – especially if it is something deeper than surface-level decorating that could cause issues down the line.
What is your favourite place to find inspiration for your projects?
I recently took my first trip to Europe and I have to say the Louvre provided ample inspiration – likely for years to come – in a single day trip. I think that decorating is such an art, and it has almost always been a part of human history, so you can learn a lot from those who have pored a lot of time, dedication and research into the craft. We visited Napoleon’s Apartment and not only did my eyes tear up imagining the poor soul who painted the incredible intricacy of the detailed scotias, coving and panelling, the colour combinations were so interesting. It’s a great way to re-envisage colour language, which I suppose is constantly developing and changing. It was refreshing going ‘back in time’ to see how tones and combinations developed.
The Orewa Townhouse by Studio Reno NZ received a Resene Total Colour Neutrals Award. The project features Resene Double Merino, Resene Eighth Pravda, Resene Gunmetal, Resene Quarter Bianca, Resene Quarter Truffle, Resene Truffle and Resene wallpaper. Build by DC Build. Image by Helen Bankers.
What has proven to be the most valuable piece of industry advice you’ve received so far during your career?
“No one will ever care as much as you do about the project”. I think this is really valuable advice for when it comes to the physical side of construction. As a designer, you could spend six to 12 months working with a client, creating their dream space. Once the design is out of the way, the construction is a much faster and shorter portion of time. Accidents and mistakes can happen on site in the blink of an eye, and if you aren’t there to catch them, you could be looking at a sub-par space – and your six to 12 months of work down the drain.
If you were to splurge on any one home renovation project or décor item right now, what would it be and why?
This is a hard one! It would likely be a large modular sofa for our living room. I would want something that had washable, removable covers, a textured fabric (like bouclé) and was deep enough to fit two humans and two dogs. I’ve had my eye on some Nick Scali pieces for a while. However, we have a beautiful white bouclé sofa at the moment, so it’s not justified. I’m just waiting until someone spills red wine on it!
If you could have dinner with any architect, designer, artist or historical figure from the past or present, who would it be and what might you talk about?
Kelly Wearstler, without a doubt. I love that she has reinvented the wheel, taken maximalism to the max – and now has her own furniture and décor line.
If you could magically invent something that does not exist, what would it be and why?
A machine that masks walls for you. Imagine if there was something that turned on, and it just laser-line rolled the tape across your wall and dropped a plastic sheet down from it. Prep is the biggest faff when it comes to decorating, so eliminating any time there would be a dream.
Which colours do you predict will be key trends over the coming months and how do you envisage they will be used?
I think we’re making the move towards more emphatic neutrals. Instead of Resene Quarter Rice Cake, people are going the whole hog and using Resene Double Rice Cake or Resene Triple Rice Cake. Done are the days of ‘all white everything’, I think, and even monotone grey and white paint pairings, much like black grout and white tiles, has truly done its dash. People are gravitating towards warm shades in their homes because they provide a cosy, inviting ambience. Warm tones, such as earthy neutrals like Resene Half Pravda, soft yellows and warm greys, evoke a sense of comfort and intimacy, promoting a welcoming atmosphere. Additionally, warm colours are known to enhance natural light, making spaces feel brighter and more cheerful.
Which are your current favourite Resene colours and what do you like about them?
My current favourites are Resene Viktor, Resene Palm Leaf, Resene Blanched Pink and, of course, Resene Rose Of Sharon. We’ve specified them recently and they strike a balance somewhere between a good bushwalk and a trip to your favourite café.
Tim Gittos
Spacecraft Architects
What’s been your favourite painting, wallpapering or staining project that you have completed to date and what did you like best about the outcome?
It would have to be our Block Party project, as colour was a large part of individualising the houses.
Would you consider yourself a ‘DIY perfectionist’ or ‘do you leave it to the professionals’?
I’m a definite DIY enthusiast (and sometimes perfectionist). I love putting things together that I’ve designed.
What is your favourite place to find inspiration for your projects?
Hiking, biking or swimming in the sea are all activities that give me the mental space to mull over whatever I’m working on at the time.
What has proven to be the most valuable piece of industry advice you’ve received so far during your career?
“Only do the work you want more of, be prepared to hold out for it”. Great advice from an architect friend while I was studying.
Block Party by Spacecraft Architects received a Resene Total Colour Residential Interior Award. The project features Resene Half Merino, Resene Ayers Rock, Resene Green Meets Blue, Resene Viktor, Resene Blanched Pink, Resene Laurel, Resene Robin Egg Blue, Resene Rose Of Sharon, Resene St Kilda, Resene Hot August, Resene Palm Leaf, Resene Red Red Red, Resene Tulip Tree, Resene Double Canterbury Clay, Resene Kalgoorie Sands and Resene Kelp. Build by Southcoast Construction. Image by David Straight.
If you were to splurge on any one home renovation project or décor item right now, what would it be and why?
Can I include tools? A thicknesser would be really handy right about now...
If you could have dinner with any architect, designer, artist or historical figure from the past or present, who would it be and what might you talk about?
Arundhati Roy, who is an amazing author, social justice activist and one-time architect. I’m pretty sure we could cover all those bases.
If you could magically invent something that does not exist, what would it be and why?
High-quality affordable housing in New Zealand. The need is so great and the market is incapable of providing this.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
The ability to run an architecture practice and a small restaurant at the same time. This is a clearly a very bad idea (thus needing a superpower), but it has always been a daydream of mine.
Which colours do you predict will be key trends over the coming months and how do you envisage they will be used?
I expect white will continue to be very popular, with many sleepless nights lost to wondering which white. Also, Resene Pink Ribbon.
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