Take control of the clock with these clever Resene products

28 Jul 2023

There are few things less inspiring to someone on the lookout for a new place to live or start a business than browsing real estate listings only to find a sea of characterless cookie-cutter developments, where one space looks virtually the same as the next. While newer buildings are often seen as carrying less risk for surprise repairs, they can leave a lot to be desired for clients on the hunt for character and cosiness. Being part of the ‘new world’, the vast majority of our architecture is less than 150 years old – so even if you’re helping your client redevelop an older property, an authentic ancient patina is awfully hard to come by.

Luckily, there are a range of Resene products readily available that can be used to create a customised, lived-in look regardless of whether the space you’re designing is old or new. Not only can these products be applied to a wide range of surfaces and substrates, but each of these aged effects can generally be achieved in less than a day. And while these formulas and techniques might add the look of decades or centuries of patina to your project, rest assured that these on trend ideas are anything but stuck in the past.

Use Resene FX Paint Effects to emulate the look of concrete

When it comes to the variety of different decorative effects that you can achieve with a single Resene product, nothing really compares to the flexibility of Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. Depending on what paint colours you opt for and how you choose to apply it, the options for the looks you can create are practically limitless. Plus, it can be blended with a number of different Resene formulas to create paint effects on walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, joinery and more.

If the idea of applying a decorative paint effect triggers traumatic flashbacks to the 80s and 90s, trust us when we say that the key to keeping paint effects from looking dated lies firmly in your colour selection. One of our favourite contemporary paint effects involves layering warm and cool Resene neutrals to emulate the look of concrete. Whether you’re designing a restaurant, salon or patio space, adding a faux aged concrete paint effect on walls or flooring can be made to look clean and contemporary or edgy and industrial.

Although most think of concrete as just being grey, it actually contains quite a bit of brown colouring. So, to create a convincing concrete paint effect, we recommend starting with a soft taupe brown like Resene Half Tapa for your basecoat then applying one or more Resene greys on top that have been mixed with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, such as Resene Half Atmosphere. Use a wide, soft bristled brush to apply it in a criss-cross motion and use a clean, dry rag to blend the effect. Work quickly in small sections to apply the product in thin coats, adding subsequent layers to intensify the effect. For even more depth and ‘age’, add a final layer of slightly darker Resene Atmosphere. If the effect appears too strong or uneven, simply use another dry, clean rag to rub in a little bit of your basecoat colour to reduce the intensity of those areas.

Wall, floor and planter box in Resene Half Tapa with weathered concrete effect created with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium coloured with Resene Half Atmosphere, table in Resene Half Blanc, plant pot in Resene Half Bokara Grey with brushed top edge in Resene Half Blanc and tealight holder in Resene Half Bokara Grey. Umbrella, rug and mirror from Briscoes, lights from Mitre 10, outdoor floor cushions from Freedom.

Infuse a space with old world charm by adding a limewashed effect 

Softly mottled limewashed looks have been hugely popular for interiors thanks to their highly liveable earthy appeal. Like the concrete effect we explained above, limewashed effects can also be achieved with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium. However, it is worth noting that one of the most common mistakes that designers make when specifying colours for this type of paint effect is choosing colours with too much contrast – which often leads to a more dated look. Instead, you’ll want to opt for subtlety.

For a natural, contemporary look, choose two hues from the same Resene colour palette card or two different strengths of the same hue – such as Resene Duck Egg Blue and Resene Quarter Duck Egg Blue. While there is no hard and fast rule, even selected two swatches that are right next to one another can still be perceivably different when layered together in a paint effect. It’s also wise to keep in mind that the order you apply your paint colours (darker over lighter vs lighter over darker) will have an impact on the final paint effect, so we recommend creating a sample panel on a piece of MDF or wood before you and your client decide on the final colour combination and application order. This panel can also be referenced by your applicator when it comes time to paint.

Wall painted in Resene Biscotti with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream applied on top, floor in Resene Biscotti, table in Resene Quarter Doeskin, large vase in Resene Thorndon Cream, small vases in Resene Cement and Resene Oilskin, bowl in Resene Colins Wicket, basket in Resene Cement and coat rack stained in Resene Colorwood Ironbark with rocks sealed in Resene Concrete Clear gloss.

Mimic marble or granite with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium

There’s no denying that marble and granite are pricey luxury materials. They also generally need to be special ordered, have huge lead times and mining has significant environmental impacts. A marbled paint effect can be taken across walls, floors and more, but we think it’s particularly effective as part of retail or gallery displays, where décor tends to change more frequently than other project typologies and the cost of the real thing makes it prohibitive.

Creating a painted marble or granite look effectively may take a little more time and talent than other paint effects, but these efforts will be evident in the results. We recommend finding a photo reference to show your specialist or artistic painter and getting their advice on colours before finalising your selections as it can often take two to four hues in combination with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium for a convincing look.

Walls in Resene Cashmere, floor in Resene Quarter Rakaia, painted ‘marble’ plinths in Resene Alabaster with veining in Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Half Stack and small vase and book (on shelf) in Resene Nero. Chaise from David Shaw, black metal crescent sculpture and rug from Bo Concept, wire wall shelving and Gideon Bing ceramic sculpture from Good Form, candelabra from Slow Store.

Wall painted in Resene Half Blanc, floor in Resene Eighth Blanc, painted ‘granite’ side table in Resene Eighth Blanc with Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Blanc and Resene Double Blanc applied on top, plant pot in Resene Blanc, vase in Resene Triple Blanc and DIY artwork in Resene Eighth Blanc with frame in Resene Double Blanc and ‘pearls’ topcoated in Resene FX Pearl Shimmer. Resene Echelon Curtain in Earth from the Resene Curtain Collection, chair and rug from Danske Møbler, coffee table from Soren Liv, lamp from Lighting Plus, cushion and throw from Furtex, clam shell bowl from Father Rabbit.

Get complex depth and texture with Resene FX Crackle effect

Among those looking for a truly unique look, there has been renewed popularity for crackle finishes. While the ingredients in Resene FX Crackle effect do most of the hard work for you in terms of creating the physical texture, there are a number of ways that this bespoke finish can be further customised. For a basic crackle effect, you’ll want to choose a topcoat colour and a basecoat colour at minimum – keeping in mind that the basecoat colour is what will show through the cracks. But for a more complex look, you can choose multiple basecoat colours and apply one colour across the full wall before using a dry brush to apply loose, random brushstrokes of additional colours over top. Next comes a coat of Resene FX Crackle effect, followed by your final topcoat colour – which will become the dominant visible hue. Once dry, your artistically applied variegated basecoat will show through the cracks.

Back wall painted in Resene Bright Spark and Resene Rusty Nail with Resene FX Crackle effect applied on top followed by a topcoat of Resene Oasis, timber wall (left) stained in Resene Colorwood Pitch Black, floor in Resene Walk-on tinted to Resene Half Gin Fizz, cabinet in Resene Lustacryl tinted to Resene Blackout, vases (from left to right) in Resene Half Gin Fizz and Resene Blackout, lamp base in Resene Rusty Nail and artwork created with Resene Oasis, Resene Half Gin Fizz, Resene Blackout and Resene Nero. Chair from Good Form, rug from Baya, cabinet from Mocka.

Replicate the look of rust with Resene FX Faux Rust Effect

Something that makes Resene FX Faux Rust Effect so special – and what many people find surprising – is the breadth of substrates it can be applied to both indoors and outside. Rather than simply metal, Resene FX Rust Effect can also be applied to blockwork, concrete, fibreboard, MDF, timber, plaster, plastic and more. Keep in mind, however, that this paint effect is intended to be looked at rather than touched so it should only be used for non-contact surfaces to avoid colour transfer. Try it on light fixtures, ceilings, retaining walls, garden screens, plant pots and small décor.

Back wall painted in Resene Half Splash, left wall in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect, tabletop and 'sun' in Resene Sunshade, plinths in Resene Karry (tops) and Resene Volcano (sides), balls and leaning rectangle in Resene Wild Thing and leaf in Resene Volcano.

For even more flexibility with faux finishes, look to the Resene Wallpaper Collection where you’ll find dozens of designs that imitate the look of aged materials like concrete, brick, timber and more. Visit your local Resene ColorShop to check out what’s currently available or see a sampling of the latest releases on the Resene website.

projects Amber Armitage, Laura Lynn Johnston, Vanessa Nouwens, Melle Van Sambeek

images Bryce Carleton, Wendy Fenwick

Published: 28 Jul 2023