Welcome — When your canvas is literally as big as a house, you want to ensure you get the paint colours right.
It can be a daunting task deciding on a scheme for the exterior, especially given the cost of materials and labour. There are also a surprising number of exterior features to consider when compiling a colour scheme – walls, windows, the roof, the front door, verandas etc.
Which is why we’ve devised this helpful booklet to let you see how different styles of exteriors – from ultra modern to classic heritage – look in various colour schemes. We’ve taken an existing house, then virtually painted it with alternative schemes to show you the difference that paint colours can make. There’s a good mix of contemporary and traditional schemes… as well as some more challenging combinations.
We also step out into the garden to show you how different courtyards and landscaping features look in different colour schemes, using both paint and exterior stains from the Resene Woodsman range.
So before you give up in frustration and just paint everything off-white, turn the page and find the right scheme for your home. Happy decorating!
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Sit back, relax and enjoy all the articles from Habitat plus booklet - simply click on the story below of interest and read the full article or use the search function for a particular topic.
Creating a scheme for the outside of your home is often harder than doing the same job on the inside. For a start, there’s a lot of cladding, acres of roof, and fiddly bits to trip you up.... more
Front doors are an important part of your exterior scheme.They signify the entry, welcome visitors and are often the most cheerful component of your home’s exterior – like a smile on your face... more
Our love affair with the sun, smaller sections and desire for good access to outdoor living spaces can sometimes lead to a clash of purpose.... more
Creating tension, in a good way, the forceful forms of this architect-designed home play off against each other. The soaring lighthouse-like shape and tall strip of window on the central block offset the more anchored, sturdy shapes of the lower plaster blocks on either side..... more
The strong lines, sculptural layering and heightened sense of drama seen in contemporary residential architecture often doesn’t need the help of a complex colour scheme... more
Contrary to some popular belief, modern architecture can open the creative floodgates in terms of colour. With the various strong planes created by the plaster exterior of this house... more
With their beautiful character fretwork and corbels, villas are a dream when it comes to devising a colour scheme... more
This heritage cottage fits comfortably within its environment and acts as a gentle backdrop to cheerful garden displays.... more
A large house can require a lot of thought when it comes to painting, but it also provides a template on which you can mix and match a number of colours... more
It’s a fact of life that many of our older homes have been changed during the years, some split into flats, losing lovely original features in the process... more
With its fluid forms, motifs, parapet roofs and bold colours, Art Deco architecture is very distinctive. Today, many people associate Art Deco colours with soft pastel and gelato tones – pink, yellow, sky blue and minty green... more
The distinctive architectural styles of the Mediterranean are understandably popular here. We have much in common with that warm, sunny region where fruit ripens in the hot sun... more
With modern architects aware of the need to design new buildings that integrate seamlessly with their surroundings... more
In a land of mostly horizontal weatherboard houses, those finished with vertical boards have a sharp designer look... more
Long gone are the days when the typical home had simply a front door and a back door. The latter a narrow portal opening straight out onto the path or lawn... more
The most popular innovation in recent years to extend the use of our outdoor living spaces is the increasing range of electronic louvred pergolas.... more
With an increasing emphasis on the concept of outdoor rooms, most of us now have at least one space that qualifies for this description.... more
In a rural setting, nothing beats the languor and romance of an old colonial villa surrounded by deep verandas. After a hard day’s work, to be able to sit with a beer or a cuppa and look out over the land... more
With its clean-cut lines and minimalist decoration, the roughcast finish on an original Art Deco style dwelling is the perfect canvas for showcasing colour.... more
Creating a place of either quiet sanctuary or a place for entertaining is as important in a garden as it is inside your house... more
Creating a place of either quiet sanctuary or a place for entertaining is as important in a garden as it is inside your house... more
The fence that separates your property from the street or other public spaces really sets the scene. Often an extension of the style of the house, it can be built from a vast array of materials ... more
A handsome mix of panelled vehicle gate, plaster columns and weatherboard panels, this design could herald any style of home modern - traditional or anything in between... more
If you have an idea, project or story that you think would suit habitat plus, we’d love to hear from you. Please drop us an email with your details and include photos if submitting a project.
habitat plus are not mailed directly. They are available free from Resene ColorShops and resellers while stocks last and available for viewing online.
› View all habitat plus booklets › View all habitat magazines
› Choose colour with confidence and creativity › View seasonal colour trends
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