27 Mar 2025
The exterior of your home is the first thing people see, making it an important canvas to showcase style and personality. Whether you’re drawn to timeless neutrals, rich earthy tones…
27 Feb 2025
When Ryan and Nadine first laid eyes on their future home, it was more of a time capsule than a house – except the time capsule had been left open…
15 Jan 2025
Painting or staining your home’s exterior might seem like an enormous task but there’s nothing quite like the street appeal of a freshly painted or stained house or the sense…
08 Jan 2025
Once a derelict student flat teetering on the edge of demolition, this Kingsland villa has been transformed into a luxurious family home, thanks to the vision and expertise of Jess…
13 Nov 2024
Your home’s exterior is the first impression it makes, setting the tone for what lies within. From breezy coastal vibes to rich, earthy palettes, the right Resene paint colours and…
07 Nov 2024
If you’ve always wanted to make your home unique, and do it on a budget, then this one is for you. This house uses pops of Resene colour and charming…
23 Oct 2024
Tucked among a grove of large trees on a generous 2200m² site, this French country home, originally built in the late 1930s as a farm cottage, boasts unique character and…
09 Oct 2024
Nestled into the side of a Wellington hill, this stunning multilevel home offers a bold and inviting retreat for its owners, who moved from Sydney and wanted to bring a…
02 Oct 2024
When it comes to creating the perfect first impression, the exterior of your home speaks volumes. Whether you’re looking to evoke modern sophistication, vintage charm or classic appeal, the right…
26 Jun 2024
Amidst the sleek lines of new apartments in Ōtautahi, Christchurch's rebuilt central city, a charming heritage-listed worker's home stands as a proud reminder of the city's early settlers. Thanks to…
05 Feb 2024
When it comes to exteriors, colour scheme plays a pivotal role in defining the aesthetic appeal and overall ambiance of your home. Let’s take a look at some classic and…
31 Jan 2024
As we begin the new year and get back into our busy lives it’s important to ensure we have a space that is comfortable and enjoyable to live in. Leave…
31 Jan 2024
A traditional villa with a striking modern extension has found harmony through its combination of Resene greens and whites.
The owners of this serene Auckland villa are hardworking professionals with two…
10 Jan 2024
This interior designer with a love of animals and a master’s in art curated a beautiful palette of Resene whites and neutrals to turn a rambling rural property into a…
13 Dec 2023
This stunning holiday retreat is a delightful story to end the year on. Crafted by the talented team at Studio2 Architects, this dwelling seamlessly integrates into the local architecture while…
14 Nov 2023
In the picturesque region of Victoria, a remarkable transformation has taken place, breathing new life into a 1980s brown-brick farmhouse that once turned its back on the stunning views the…
10 Oct 2023
They say first impressions matter, and when it comes to your home, its curb appeal sets the stage for what lies beyond. The exterior of your house is the first…
08 Aug 2023
If you love a villa makeover as much as we do, this charming 1910 villa is sure to catch your eye. Painted in stunning Resene neutrals, this home is a…
25 Jul 2023
In the pursuit of creating a harmonious living space for two families residing under one roof, interior designers and husband and wife duo, Madushin and Tehani Amarasekera, embarked on a…
13 Jun 2023
If there was ever a home with a story to tell, it’s this one! Situated in Clarks Beach, Hayley and Chris love their 640 square metre Victorian beauty that sits…
07 Jun 2023
Nestled in the picturesque town of Riverhead, a stunning home designed by Hoxha Bailey Architects, in collaboration with clients Denise and Brett, stands as a testament to the couple’s shared…
30 May 2023
Amber and John’s Christchurch home has a youthful glow. The 114-year-old double-bay villa is resplendent with thistle-detailed cornices and blooming ceiling roses, a timeless quality not lost on the couple,…
19 Apr 2023
As with many older homes, especially those that haven’t been renovated in over 50 years, there are often unforeseen hurdles. Interior designer, Katie Scott, doesn’t let this stop her creating…
22 Mar 2023
Built in 1993 to what was a standard design at the time, this Lockwood home in Napier was in desperate need of a makeover. Owners, Tracey and Kevin Richardson loved…
08 Mar 2023
Nestled in a quiet suburb in Dunedin, this home stands tall and proud looking out over the valley it sits upon. Saved from the brink of disrepair, interior designer Rachel…
02 Mar 2023
When David and Kirsty Wraight built their 1910-style Marlborough villa, they wanted it to exude old-world charm with hints of modern design. Resene Kensington Grey was chosen for the exterior,…
19 Dec 2022
There’s a pocket on the eastern-most coast of Auckland where the weather is a law unto itself. Rain can be pummelling the farmland two kilometres away, while these coastal residents…
18 Dec 2022
Happy-ever-after stories aren’t just reserved for fairy tales. These exterior home transformations show that even grand old dames can become belles of the ball with a touch of Resene colour.
Fit…
10 Nov 2022
This bach in Pauanui is definitely a surfer’s paradise. When Danny purchased the small two-bedroom cottage located near the sea and the golf course he knew it had the potential…
27 Oct 2022
When Kelly and Travis first put a formal offer in on a damp former rental home in Christchurch, they immediately got cold feet. Renovating the 1952 weatherboard and concrete tile…
12 Oct 2022
Nestled in a lush avocado orchard in the rural Bay of Plenty is a modern and energy efficient home with clever technology and Resene colour at its heart.
“We were…
06 Oct 2022
What do you do when your home of 40 years isn’t ticking your boxes anymore?
If you’re like homeowners Stewart and Tricia, you build your own boxes, and then start ticking…
08 Sep 2022
The potential of this 1970s former state house in Wellington’s Hutt Valley was immediately obvious to Liam and Taylor Archibald when they first laid eyes on it in 2020. “When…
10 Aug 2022
A bold Resene Galliano yellow door greets roadside passers-by at Holly and Brett’s home in Taupō, and hints at playful colour use inside. The couple signed on the dotted line…
21 Jul 2022
When Sarah moved into her Tauranga ex-rental home, it was a little on the neglected side. Despite its worn carpets and some interesting colour choices (one room a frightening deep…
29 Jun 2022
Once upon a time Ian and Georgia’s Auckland home would have likely been adorned with macrame and shag rugs. The home was designed by renowned architect Marshall Cook in the…
23 Jun 2022
The winners of the Habitat by Resene Teeny House Competition show that size doesn’t matter when it comes to creativity and style. Decorators young and old entered the competition which…
02 Jun 2022
Sometimes small changes can make a huge difference, especially when it comes to choosing neutral paint colours. The theme of this Auckland villa’s facelift was light, bright and modern, achieved…
26 May 2022
It’s hard not to smile when you see Tanya’s front door. Resene New York Pink brings a slice of the Big Apple to Whangarei which hints at further colour to…
19 May 2022
There’s nothing that sets a mood in a room like blue does. An incredibly versatile colour, blue can be refreshing, tranquil or moody. Its numerous shades can work as a…
13 Apr 2022
When Bridget and Tom bought their grand old villa on top of a sunny hill in Whanganui it was never intended to be their forever home. Instead, they planned to…
30 Mar 2022
Small cabin solutions with SheShed
Beachy keen
When Lea decided to create a garden studio which could also double as a sleepout for her teenage daughter, she pulled out all the stops…
23 Mar 2022
Jenny’s painter thought she was crazy when she told him she was painting her Auckland bungalow’s living room a steely charcoal. Thankfully, the end result in Resene Half Foundry sings…
24 Mar 2022
Cromwell in Central Otago is a town rich in history and surrounded by dazzling scenery. It’s because of this that the town has been chosen again as a location for…
02 Mar 2022
It was the elegant character of its street frontage that made Malcolm and Gay fall in love with their house in Devonport on Auckland’s North Shore back in 2015. Using…
19 Jan 2022
One of the country’s oldest homes is looking good for another century in fresh coats of Resene paint inside and out. Kohukohu Villa in historic Hokianga, Northland was built as…
15 Dec 2021
When Chrissie and Tony Kavanagh moved to Cambridge with their two daughters, they loved the heritage feel of the Waikato town. They found their dream house in a hundred-year-old bungalow…
25 Nov 2021
It would be natural to assume that white would be the best wall colour choice for a home brimming with art. A neutral backdrop to allow the works to be…
18 Nov 2021
Tindalls Cottage in Berry was once the home of the town’s first mayor, James Wilson. But while it started its life in 1862 as the pride of the small village…
11 Nov 2021
An empty paddock was the beginning of the build of a lifetime for couple Brad and Melissa. With several home builds under their belt, the couple decided to take matters…
27 Oct 2021
It’s a big, intimidating task, but painting your home’s exterior can instantly boost its resale value and has a huge effect on the way you feel about your home. First…
21 Oct 2021
For homeowners Maria and Roger, renovating their century-old Brisbane Queenslander helped them fall in love with the features of their heritage home. With a dark, dated interior and tired yellow…
23 Dec 2021
Time flies when it comes to the latest trends in interior design. With daring décor and new colour palettes to be discovered around every corner, take a moment to embrace…
19 Aug 2021
Looking at it today, it’s difficult to believe that Vaughan and Noel’s vivacious and sophisticated home started its life as a cottage back in 1912. The couple purchased the house in Auckland’s…
13 Aug 2021
When Meg calls her Hurunui home a “do-up”, she just might be making the understatement of the year. When she and her husband, Tom, moved in 30 years ago, the…
15 Jul 2021
Shanon and Shelley packed up their city life and shipped out– literally. The couple chased their dream of living in a shipping container to a place you’d least expect; the…
05 Nov 2021
The hottest paint colours right now are both grounding and ground-breaking. The focus this season is on renewal and nurturing with colours that are going back to nature with interior…
15 Jul 2021
The renovation of Huntly House has more drama than a reality TV show. Homeowners Hayley and Chris embarked on an incredible adventure when they restored their triple storey, seven bedroom…
01 Jul 2021
There’s nothing better than cosying up on the couch with a hot cuppa and listening to the rain pattering on the roof. Make your living room winter worthy with a…
24 Jun 2021
On 17 May Kiwis were glued to the screen, watching in shock as Chris Warner’s house went up in smoke. Shortland Street’s drastic cliff-hanger saw the beautiful beige home of…
24 Jun 2021
The environment is at the heart of Joe and Peta’s stunning home in Mangere Bridge, Auckland — from the upcycled building materials used in construction to the interior and exterior…
17 Jun 2021
When Louise and Eugene bought their home in Onehunga, Auckland in 2009 their four-bedroom house was squeezed into only 112 square metres. More than a decade and two kids later…
10 Jun 2021
Juggling five kids and a French bulldog called Frank while undergoing a renovation during a lockdown is no mean feat. When Rachel and Jarrad, who are parents to Milla (18),…
27 May 2021
The Hamptons are a long way from Canterbury - 15,000km away to be precise – but homeowners Nick and Sarah combined the best of both and gave the classic coastal…
20 May 2021
Roseberry Villa got more than a makeover when Interior Designer Abbey Lang moved in – it got a new lease on life. Old and new collided in this 110-year-old villa…
13 May 2021
Chessa Stevens realised her childhood dream when she restored this century-old villa. As a young girl, Chessa remembers driving past the dilapidated house in her hometown of Carterton and wishing…
05 May 2021
When the chance of turning a new house into a home is presented to an interior designer, there is a desire to bring style and design. For Trace Beaumont Orr…
30 Mar 2021
Whether you’re building new or repairing an existing home, you want to make sure that your roof a choice will not only look great but will also stand the test…
24 Mar 2021
As the natural world blazes with the rich reds and oranges of autumn, find your indoor oasis with Resene’s wide range of revitalising greens. From a small splash of paint…
04 Mar 2021
The serene feeling in the luxury hotel, The Marlborough, comes from both its exquisite colour palette as well as the building's divine history. The lodge in Rapaura began its life as…
25 Feb 2021
All Black legend Sir John Kirwan and his wife Fiorella have a long connection with Waihi Beach so when they came to creating their dream bach they wanted to get…
27 Jan 2021
Colour is a key driver when choosing your new roof, but the profile also plays an equally important role in achieving the look and style you want.
With a wide range…
11 Feb 2021
This Christchurch home has new street appeal with a fresh coat of Resene Element and zesty Resene Hot Toddy on the garage door
7 unbelievable reader house exterior makeovers – plus…
28 Jan 2021
Add street appeal with a yellow front door. The door on this villa is painted in Resene Turbo with Resene White on the trim and weatherboards in Resene Triple Concrete.…
16 Dec 2020
Old world charm and colourful contemporary character meet at Rachel and Steven’s 1930s Auckland bungalow, which they share with their two children, Elias and Ivy. While open plan living may…
03 Nov 2020
How to pick the right colour for your new roof
If you’re living under a quality, well-constructed roof, chances are you don’t give it much thought day-to-day. It’s only when…
21 Oct 2020
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” So said British poet, novelist, translator and textile doyen William Morris. It’s a…
22 Jul 2020
Ask Emma what the best decision she made during the renovation of her 1950s earthquake-damaged Christchurch home was and her answer is immediate; “the green doors.” The soft olive hue…
01 Jul 2020
Painting the house, inside or out, is something that usually sits on that endless list of home renovation or maintenance jobs earmarked for spring and summer – or worse, the…
24 Jun 2020
For most, a shed is a basic garden structure where we might keep our lawnmower, potting mix or general outdoor bits and bobs. But, for these three creatives, a shed…
08 Jun 2020
When Hannah and Tim first set eyes on, what was at the time, the worst house on one of Wellington’s most well-known streets, they knew they could restore it to…
04 Jun 2020
The end of spring marks the beginning of a trying time for homeowners. Thanks to our favourable climate, many of us don’t have to worry about the ground freezing or…
15 Apr 2020
In late 2007, needing more space for their growing family, Emma and Peter purchased an arts and crafts bungalow in Auckland’s Mt Albert neighbourhood. “Even though the house needed work,…
13 Aug 2015
A grand old home is the perfect canvas for strong Resene colour… but has posed a few problems for its sustainability-aware owners. How do you, after all, make a draughty, energy-sapping heritage home…
08 Oct 2014
In her just-released book, Green Modern, Claire McCall visits houses built for sustainability, including this Coromandel hideaway that uses VOC-free Resene paint. We have a copy of Green Modern to give…
04 Dec 2014
Over the years DIYers have kindly sent in lots of tips and ideas to make decorating easier. Here’s a selection for your education… and amusement.
Note that these tips have not…
19 Feb 2015
Take a magnificent site, adventurous homeowners, an architect known for his edgy thinking, and a palette of Resene colours… and the result is a stunning home with surprise elements perfectly…
23 Apr 2015
As with many things, house exteriors are subject to changing tastes and fashions. Unlike the inside of your house, however, repainting the outside of your house is a lot more…
08 May 2015
Modern men can be both bachelors and fathers and this granny flat conversion needed to satisfy this man’s multi-faceted roles. As a home of a single professional man, it also…
13 May 2015
Light, bright and breezy with a subtle palette of Resene colours, the Wardlaw house from TVNZ’s Our First Home is a relaxing place to be. Mick and Kathy Wardlaw teamed…
14 Dec 2015
One kiwi icon met another when Tracy Murphy transformed her ex Lockwood showhome with Resene paint. Both Lockwood and Resene are New Zealand companies born mid last century… and both are…
31 Dec 2015
What is it about our psyche that as soon as we have a higher-than-18-degrees sunny day, we look out the window and think: “Got to get the garden sorted.”
During winter…
12 Dec 2015
Once upon a time, there was a couple who wanted a renovation challenge. They found it in Ashfield, a house built in 1913 for a country doctor to reside and…
07 Dec 2015
Let’s be up-front and honest – this house is a show home. Surprised? So were we when we saw it. The assumptions we carry about show homes is that they…
31 Dec 2015
Gary and Phil’s sensational sizzling garden
Indoor/outdoor flow – it’s the catch-cry of every real estate advert and something we’re all told we should strive for.
One Auckland architect and his partner…
25 Feb 2016
Adding a birdhouse to the garden is a win-win – you’re supporting local bird life and gaining a slug and bug buster.
You will need
Tools and equipment (all available to hire…
01 Feb 2016
Designing a home that's both grand and tasteful is an act usually reserved for architects and experienced interior designers. Emma is neither – but that didn’t stop her from taking full…
16 Feb 2016
It’s often the last colour decision you make for an exterior – the roof. Just because the roof is the finishing touch to a house it doesn’t mean it should…
16 Aug 2016
Designer Hayley French of Crush Interior Design loves white. She’s used Resene Black White and Resene White Pointer to transform a 1980s kitset cottage north of Auckland into a calming…
15 Mar 2016
Decor, colour, houses and furniture have been Jill Gibbs' life for years, advising clients through a variety of retail outlets. After-hours she plays havoc at home with a palette of…
09 Jun 2016
Getting the feel and feature of a rural lifestyle property with only a typical-sized suburban plot to play with – that was the challenge facing designer Steve Birkhead of Integrating…
20 Jul 2016
“I don’t do neutral. I love colour.” Traci Stanbury’s new house certainly supports that declaration, resplendent as it is in bold Resene colour. She and husband Nick bought their dream…
14 Oct 2015
When Greg and Sandra decided to downsize, they gave their new home their own take on ‘neutral’. Given that the previous house had been painted in red and purple, ‘neutral’…
30 Jul 2016
When Colin and Wendy planned a house to replace their old 1950s Mangawhai Heads bach, they had a very clear vision from the outset. The new house would be pure…
11 Nov 2016
When Richard purchased this run-down Ponsonby villa 14 years ago, he knew it needed some serious love (and money) to get it back to its former glory. Jo agreed when…
19 Dec 2016
So many of our city suburbs and small towns were populated in the middle of last century. We needed houses to live in, and new styles were emerging. We no…
16 Mar 2017
When Ian and Sharon first saw their house, it had lumpy plaster cladding, dark rooms and multiple levels. It was retro 70s… but not in a good way. Today, it…
30 Mar 2017
South Africa, England, Hong Kong... and finally, New Zealand. Gwen and Lloyd Bryce have lived in a fair few countries, but it's among the hills of the Waikato where they've decided to…
13 Apr 2017
When well-known garden photographer Sally Tagg was deciding on the right colour for her walled garden and home exterior, it’s no surprise that she saw it with an artist’s eye.…
04 May 2017
There’s something about a dark house exterior that seems to connect with us. Maybe it looks more grounded, stronger and more distinctive, or just out-and-out eye-catching.
A dark exterior paint job…
20 Jul 2017
With sweeping views above the tree tops, and sitting privately between a park and the beach, there was inspiration aplenty for Kate Alexander when asked to update this character bungalow…
21 Sep 2017
When Steve bought this 1920s bungalow seven years ago, it had seen a fair few renovations through its life time. The most recent was a glasshouse extension built in the…
05 Oct 2017
Garden and house tours are the perfect opportunity to release your inner voyeur, be inspired by the work our clever local designers and homeowners, and to imagine transporting the ideas…
09 Nov 2017
Hidden beneath bush-clad hills, this striking modernist home manages to look right at home in its surroundings – thanks to the clear vision of its homeowners Tony Stoddard and Amber Bill.
The couple spent…
01 Mar 2018
When Casey and Luke Muraahi first moved into their 1930s stucco bungalow, Casey imagined repainting the interior in lots of bright colours.
Instead, they went the opposite route, painting the walls…
08 Mar 2018
The term ‘Kiwi classic’ is at risk of being over-used, but this old-timer bach on Auckland’s rugged west coast is just that. Built in the 1920s when Piha would have…
12 Apr 2018
With walls swimming in vibrant Resene blues and jewel-toned greens to reflect the views of the Wellington harbour, the colour palette of this home is a world away from its…
27 Jun 2018
At first glimpse, Corrine and Emanuel’s Wellington home, freshened up in Resene Eighth Friar Grey, looks like another neutral-infused bungalow. Take a second look and the yellow letter box and…
19 Jul 2018
When the bones of your new home are so strikingly strong, there’s one colour that will do it justice – clean, pure white. Shane and Nic Burnett found that two…
04 Jul 2018
Dark colours can be a little intimidating for home decorators. Nobody wants to be left with a gloomy, depressing or unwelcoming room. But to avoid dark colours completely is to…
09 Aug 2018
With a contemporary design and walls freshly painted in Resene Black White, this Christchurch home is already full of appeal. But its seamless looks hide a wonderful secret – it’s…
13 Sep 2018
Zane and Suzanne Raphael knew the renovation of their rundown villa in Auckland’s Greenhithe would be epic. What they didn’t expect is that through the 12-month project they’d catch the…
25 Oct 2018
Using a colour consultant helped the owners of this new build in Kapiti decorate their home in a way that reflects its wetland surroundings, which complements their environmentally sustainable approach.…
01 Nov 2018
The day after Lara Bui and Isaac Weston bought their 1970s home in Matua, Bay of Plenty, in 2010 they launched into a renovation with gusto. It would turn out…
05 Dec 2018
Homeowners Krissy and Stefan faced a very familiar story when it came to renovating their 1920s bungalow in the character-filled suburb of Westmere, Auckland. The house had great bones but…
17 Jan 2019
With a seven-year-old boy and six-year-old twins, life for Cushla and Richard Waites is as busy as you’d imagine, but they still took on the task of renovating their Tauranga…
20 Dec 2018
Many of us dream of living the bach holiday lifestyle all year round, but few of us have the opportunity to actually do so. Tim and Angela Kinnersley are the…
31 Jan 2019
It’s colour and more colour for Dion and Rebecca’s Cambridge home, which has seen itself transform into the beauty it is today after 10 years of renovations – with the…
06 Mar 2019
Situated in Ardgowan, just west of Oamaru, this jaw-dropping house has a spectacular vista overlooking farmland and the Kakanui mountain range. The hardworking couple who own it are in their…
28 Feb 2019
Adam Harris, Graphic Designer and Managing Director for NZ Digital, bought this sunny 1950s brick and tile home in 2014.
Set on a completely flat section atop Napier’s Bluff Hill, the…
14 Feb 2019
After doing some research on Sunday drives, Lisa knew that she wanted to go grey to update the exterior of her 1947 Wellington home. The tricky part was deciding which…
28 Mar 2019
Before Jonathan Smith of Matter Architects came around, this home in Auckland’s posh Ponsonby neighbourhood looked like any other worker’s cottage typical of the area and era: symmetrical façade, central…
11 Jul 2019
On what was an unoccupied and solitary patch of land in the alpine mountains now sits an uncomplicated cabin, positioned effortlessly among nature. It’s the creation of Maurice Regeer and…
15 Aug 2019
Choosing a location to purchase a property is often a challenge. But for Sarah Chapman, husband Riki and their three children, relocating to Sarah’s home town was an easy choice.…
15 Aug 2019
If you’ve found a home you plan to stay in for quite some time, it’s a smart idea to make sure it not only meets the needs of today but…