Tips to choose the right fence paint

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Make the first right impression… with your fence.

When it comes to making your home shine, look further than the house itself. A well-maintained fence surrounding your property can be the magic touch that allows your home to stand out from the neighbour’s.

A fence with personality doesn’t mean you have to go overboard with bright colour; an elegant, subtle shade can bring equal amounts of wow factor and street appeal.

There comes a time when our garden fences start to look worn and dated, paint becomes chipped and peeling, requiring a fresh coat of paint. Painting it will not only make it look stylish but maintain its quality too.

When you’re ready to paint, consider how you want your fence to work for your property. Do you want it to appear unnoticed compared with your house? Or would you prefer it to ooze character, popping out in personality? Expand your thinking from simple whites and explore the possibilities of other colour options. The right choice will certainly ensure visual appeal to those passing by.

When considering your colour, take into account a few points. Whatever shade you choose, even if it is a bold, contrasting hue, it needs to complement your landscaping and home. Ensure it relates to your exterior; consistency is key for a cohesive look throughout your property. After all, your fence is the setting for your outdoor space.

COLOURS

The classic white picket fence painted in Resene White or Resene Alabaster complements most styles of homes, but particularly those of a heritage fashion. A safe option is to go with a colour that echoes your house shade, such as a vintage-style cream or warm neutral.

For visual interest, coordinate your fence with the colour used on your home’s trim, such as a pale grey or a soft dusky blue. This will bring an attractive edge to the traditional fences that surround older homes. Throw in a surprise element by painting your posts a different colour for contrast, be it a gentle tone or a bright hue.

For an elegant hint of colour, navy blue is a subtle tone that brings character to a fence and garden. It beautifully suits against homes in white or soft gentle colours.

If you want attention drawn away from your fence, preferring it to recede, a dark charcoal grey, like Resene Charcoal, is best. This contrasts with any foliage you have growing, focusing on such greenery. The dark tones will encourage the eye to zone in on the plants’ colour, not the fence itself.

Black, such as Resene All Black, may seem like a scary choice to some, but it is less noticeable than you might think. It’s a sophisticated choice that suits a contemporary home, or a villa that has been renovated with a modern extension. To soften this dark tone, guide vertical planting, such as climbers, to extend your garden upwards, bringing lush greenery to your setting. When you’re choosing a dark colour outside, choose the Resene CoolColour version to help reflect more heat than a normal version of the colour.

An easy choice for a fence colour is to use the same colour as your home’s exterior. If your front door is in a bold, vibrant colour, you can bring this accent to your fence too – be it on your letterbox or the fence posts.

COMBINE NATURAL ELEMENTS

Take your cue from the plants in your garden when they’re in bloom. You may have the fire-orange from a bird of paradise plant growing in your garden, which you could bring onto a statement feature wall in your back patio. Just as you might have an accent wall in your interior, consider this as the same but outside.

Coloured feature walls are always beneficial in winter, when the summer blooms have died down, and there is less colour in the garden itself. A bright hue on a feature wall allows for character through all of the seasons. Choose a pastel hue or an earthy warm colour for an inviting setting. Such a feature creates an intimate space when combined with white outdoor furniture and lush planting, zoning certain areas. Use a neutral paint colour or Resene wood stain on the remainder of your fence to let your feature wall shine.

Let the natural grain of your wooden fence resonate, apply an exterior stain, such as Resene Waterborne Woodsman. You can find your ideal shade from a range of colours in the Resene Exterior Woodcare chart – your stain will need to be reapplied every few years to keep your fence looking great. Existing stains and weathering will show through a wood stain finish – for an old weathered and stained fence always clean it first with Resene Timber and Deck Wash before staining for the best result.

Take into account whether your interior has natural timber features on the flooring and joinery, or on your home’s exterior cladding. Echo this in the same way, applying a simple stain to let the natural wood hold its own.

Get creative with the layout of your slatting on timber fences, choosing to lay them horizontally can provide a streamlined look. Paint the top half a dark colour, such as Resene Woodsman Pitch Black timber stain, leaving the bottom half in a more natural look with Resene Woodsman Natural timber stain, for interest.

If you can see your back fence from your home’s living area, consider how you create a seamless flow in this regard. Black-framed bi-folds may grace your modern home, so why not repeat this accent with a black fence around your garden? The visual continuity will be pleasing to the eye.

If your home has a basic material combination of warm wood, fresh white and a dark accent colour, repeat this in your fence. You might have a stained timber posts with white weatherboards connecting them.

Combining various surfaces can work together in favour of your home and are ideal for those who love pattern and print. Exterior tiles in colourways that blend in with your house are a way to bring interest to your outdoor setting, be it an outdoor courtyard with a garden or a pool area with tropical planting. Tile one part of your fenced area, then pick a colour from these tiles and paint your surrounding fences in the same colour in Resene paint.

By getting creative with your fence, whether it’s in a subtle fashion or a bold manner, you’ll guarantee instant street appeal and, more importantly, better longevity of your fence, especially if you honour the style and aesthetic of your house in your choice of paint.

Contact us for a colour consultation and a free quote for your exterior project.

Thanks to RESENE for the information & inspiration.

Credits: https://www.resene.co.nz/

Popular Interior Trends for 2021

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Express your style through the interior of your home.

TRADICIONAL

Traditional interior schemes are decadent and timeless.    To create your traditional ambiance, select your favorite antiques, classic artwork and use sophisticated, deeper colors as the perfect backdrop.

With a color palette of deeper hues of blues, rich claret and burgundy reds, burnished orange and deep greens as well as olive and ginger you can make the traditional scheme bolder in your home.

 

Hamptons

Soft blues and greens, neutral grey, sand and warm whites, creates a beautiful Hamptons feel.

For a New Zealand “Hamptons” twist, Dulux Cardrona or Opononi Quarter with Dulux Southern Alps trims. For a soft blue try Dulux Waikanae or for a soft green try Dulux Kohukonui.

For an elegant Hamptons style, keep your decorating simple and effective, however not too minimalist – it’s all about balance. The layering of textiles and textural objects will create a beautiful, elegant look. For a warm grey try Dulux Te Kaha or Manorburn.

 

 

Rustic

The rustic style is alluring in rich and deep reds, warm browns and golds as well as tans and beige.

Deep greens can be used for accent as well as mustards and rich blues.

To create a Rustic style layer warmer colors, such as terracotta, rich natural timber and showcase solid furniture.

 

Scandi

Whites are a great place to start for a “Scandi” style.

Use timeless warm whites like Dulux Okarito, Dulux Cardona or Manorburn Quarter. Then add layered raw and natural textiles with antiqued objects and Scandi timbers.

For a bolder Scandi look, use darker and natural colours in furnishings and layered textiles to add to the overall design. Dulux The Remarkable is a gorgeous charcoal with a subtle blush undertone, which is striking against these soft whites such as Hakataramea.

 

 

Modern

The Modern style has a colour palette of subtle and dark greys, brighter block colours mixed with the cooler most loved Dulux Whites.

Try Dulux Okarito or Dulux Hakataramea along with cooler greys such as Dulux Mt Hikurangi or Grey Lynn. Use a bright white on trims such as Dulux Southern Alps.

To bring your Modern look to life keep your decoration simple with clean lines. Colour schemes should be simplistic and elegant. Using pops of bright colour with a classic white will give your home a modern, yet timeless look.

BY: Dulux.co.nz

10 Eco-Friendly Landscaping Ideas

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Homeowners want to have the perfect yard. It should be filled with shrubs and trees organized in a visually appealing manner. However, landscaping not only tends to be costly but also harmful to the environment — but this shouldn’t be the case. We encourage you to take note of nature as you create and maintain your yard. With this in mind, here are 10 eco-friendly landscaping ideas.

1. Practice Xeriscaping

The idea of xeriscaping dates back to 1981. Basically, it refers to a landscaping practice that focuses on surviving drought. Your area doesn’t need to be exposed to drought for you to consider xeriscaping — the point is for homeowners to reduce the need for watering. Thus, it’s a way to save on your water bills.

One simple form of xeriscaping is to place plants with the same water requirements together for an efficient irrigation. Likewise, you can replace some of the grasses in your property for drought-resistant variants. These include  feather grass, blue oat grass, purple fountain grass, and the yellow pampas grass. Similarly, succulents such as agave, aeonium, sedum, and crassula plants are ideal choices.

2. Install a Sprinkler System

Irrigation is an important activity in any landscaping project. After all, you must maintain the lush and green appearance of your shrubs and trees. Nobody wants to have discolored and wilting foliage. Even though you cannot completely eliminate the need for water in your yard, you can always do it more efficiently.

Instead of doing it manually with a garden hose, why not install a sprinkler system? This eliminates the need to do it all on your own. Plus, you get to set the time and application rate. In addition, a drip irrigation system should work best for garden beds. This saves water by targeting the root systems instead of the foliage. Water them deeply to encourage deep root establishment that makes plants better equipped to combat strong winds and diseases.

3. Understand Your Area

Whether you’re moving to a new area or you’ve stayed in the same residence for years, you should know the pros and cons of being there. For example, areas that are prone to strong winds would mean using more water. A house that resides in an uneven area should be prepared for soil erosion and runoff. This way, you’ll know early on where to install protective barriers and implement a design that resists erosion — saving you from high repair costs in the long run.

Likewise, you can take advantage of the sunlight. If you live in a cold region, you can have south-facing windows to welcome warmth in your home. Your property can also be designed in such a way that your front yard and driveway receive adequate sunlight. This makes it easier to manage the accumulation of ice and snow during winter.

4. Use Synthetic Grass

This might sound like it’s directly opposite to the goal of an eco-friendly yard, but this will save you resources in the future. Synthetic or artificial grass resembles your lawn grass without requiring much maintenance. You don’t have to buy any chemical fertilizer, pesticide, or herbicide that can lead to water pollution.

Water is also unnecessary in keeping the vivid appearance. No matter how many times your kids and pets run around, the grass won’t suffer from heavy foot traffic. There’s also no need to get a lawnmower that could release toxic fumes into the atmosphere. Furthermore, your local area might even provide a rebate if you switch to synthetic grass.

5. Replace a Section of Your Lawn

A huge lawn containing natural grass will be costly to maintain. If you don’t want to use artificial grass, you should at least consider cutting back on the size of your lawn. For example, beardtongue plants only need a yearly trimming as they provide colorful flowers throughout summer and fall. In addition, the Santa Barbara daisy works great as a vibrant edging plant.

In addition, you can develop a patio and a pathway to guide your visitors around your yard. There are many eco-friendly backyard pathway ideas you can choose from — some people cover their walkways with wood chips or mulch. A fallen or broken log can be cut to create wooden pallets for a pathway as well.

6. Get a Green Roof

The landscape isn’t limited to your yard. Instead of having a conventional roof, you can turn it into an eco-friendly roof that could significantly reduce your energy bills. Apart from reducing the heat inside your home or even providing insulation when needed, a green roof will also minimize water runoff. Of course, it also feels nice to relax on one’s own green roof.

Basically, your roof will be covered with lush vegetation. Local authorities encourage this type of sustainable roof construction — and it will surely improve the value of your property. It can effectively reduce noise pollution while also serving as the haven of plants and birds

7. Have a Green Wall

Also known as a living wall, this landscaping idea turns your wall into a garden of its own. You can easily grow herbs and flowers here using containers and planters. Apart from serving as an area for more plants, it also improves the appearance of your yard. Privacy is also improved since a living wall serves a barrier to prevent strangers from peering into your property.

8. Included Exterior Lighting

Installing some lights in your yard ensures that it will be appealing even at night. Furthermore, external lighting provides a sense of security due to the increased visibility. A smart way to get lighting without spending more is to buy a solar-powered variant. Essentially, these lights will generate power throughout the day before they illuminate at night. Get some lights with motion sensors as well if you want them to be activated only when someone’s around.

9. Use Mulch

We previously mentioned that pathways can be covered with mulching material. Well, a layer of mulch should also be used in other areas. Placing mulch around your shrubs prevents weeds from spreading. In addition, it keeps the temperature cool for the root systems.

Moisture is also better retained with a layer of mulch. While organic mulch can be bought in your local garden, it can also be made using coconut fibers or bark. The mulch eventually decomposes to feed the soil, so you don’t have to pay attention to it after the application.

10. Get Reusable Landscaping Materials

Reusing materials is not only good for the planet but also for your wallet. A popular reusable material is a natural stone, which looks great and durable at the same time. Decorative natural stones can be placed anywhere you like. For example, they look great at the side of your pathway. Stones can also be used to surround a flower bed or a beautiful tree. They can be moved around whenever you want and they will definitely last a lifetime.

Overall, landscaping doesn’t mean you have to harm the environment. Looking for environmentally friendly options can be as simple as having an efficient irrigation system and looking for materials to recycle or reuse. Similarly, it helps to take advantage of the geography. Creating a green roof or wall should also be considered.

We hope that our guide inspired you to practice eco-friendly landscaping. If you have any questions, feel free to send us a comment.

By: Conserve Energy Future

The Best Paint Sheen for Your Kitchen

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Choosing paint for a kitchen is especially important because of the nature of the space and how it is used. In addition to choosing a pleasing color for this room in which you’ll spend a considerable amount of time, you also need to choose a paint that will hold up to use, and that is readily washable. The basic “scrub-ability” factor is determined by the paint’s sheen.

Continue reading “The Best Paint Sheen for Your Kitchen” →

Tips for Choosing Interior Paint Colors

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The easiest way to choose the best interior paint colors is to start with colors you love. When you start with the colors you love, you are not bound by the traditional color schemes for a particular decorating style. Using your own favorite color as your base color, you can use it to create a color scheme around it. Your favorite colors can be the perfect inspiration for your new color palette.Here’s how to find out what your favorite color means, and how you can decorate with it.

 

Find Paint Color Inspiration

Magazines and catalogs have always been the staple of decorating inspiration. We’re lucky that now we have thousands of pages of inspiration on the internet. Retailer sites can be inspiring with their room vignettes, paint company sites can also show you ways to use color in your home. Social media sites like Pinterest and Instagram offer color inspiration that is refreshed in real time. Pinterest is great for creating inspiration boards for your favorite ideas, so you can keep all your ideas in one spot.Stunning teal living room from Shades of Light.

 

Use Color Theory to Create a Color Scheme

You don’t have to study color theory to get great ideas from a little color wheel. These inexpensive color tools can generate color scheme ideas quickly. With a turn of the wheel, you can see how colors might relate to each other, and learn the basics of color theory. While you probably won’t be painting your home in the exact colors you see on the wheel, you can choose shades of those colors at your favorite paint store.

It’s easy to use a color wheel to create a color scheme once you learn a few easy concepts.

 

Get Creative With Neutral Paint Colors

Just because you choose neutral paint colors doesn’t mean they have to be laid back. You can rev up your neutral color palette by being creative with how the colors are used. A striped wall in neutral colors adds tons of style but still keeps the room looking relaxed. Neutral wall color with a pastel ceiling is a sneaky way to add color without losing the soothing vibe of the space.

 

Pull Your Paint Color From a Print

One of the easiest ways to choose interior paint color is to start with a print fabric. Throw pillows, bedding, and even table linens can provide you with paint color ideas. If you’re creating an accent wall, look to the boldest colors in the print. If you would like to choose a paint color that is more subtle or for a larger space, look at the color in the small details of your print fabric. Take a fabric swatch to the paint store so you can choose paint strips to view at home.

 

Look Outside for Ideas

Bringing the outside in is a popular inspiration for color schemes. Whether you choose foliage green or the laid-back blues of the beach, exterior-inspired colors schemes are meant to be restful and relaxing. Be sure to sample your favorite paint colors at all times of the day and night, and with the window treatments closed and open to get the most realistic view of your possible choices.

If you’re going to use your landscape as inspiration, you’ll need to know the dos and don’ts of decorating with green.

 

Find You Paint Color in Artwork

An interior designer’s secret is choosing colors from artwork in your home. Most artists are masters of color and light,  creating their own color schemes for their pieces. You can benefit from their insight by choosing colors from a favorite piece of art. You can also choose complimentary colors from the same work of art, to create a color scheme.

 

Try a Lighter or Darker Shade

Sometimes all you need is a little adjustment to find the right interior paint color. Before you abandon your paint color choice too quickly, consider a lighter or darker shade of the same color. Many paint colors appear on a paint strip in gradual shades, but you can also ask your paint store to customize it by percentages of light or dark shades.

 

How to Use Undertones to Find Your Perfect Paint Colors

You can be unpleasantly surprised by the undertones when choosing interior paint colors. Simply explained, undertones are the colors lurking beneath your favorite paint color. A simple beige may not be all that simple if it has a strong green undertone. The only way to accurately read how an undertone will appear in your home is to sample the color. Undertones from other surfaces in your room can also change the way your paint appears due to reflection, so sampling is essential.

Learn how undertones work, and why it matters when you’re choosing interior paint colors.

 

How to Flow Color Throughout Your Home

If you’re decorating a small home, flowing paint color throughout the rooms can give the illusion of a larger space. Flowing paint color through your home can also create a relaxing vibe. The most stunning way to use flowing color is to choose a neutral paint color that will be your signature hue for your home. Each room can have its own accent colors, or you can use the same accent colors in different amounts in each room. Keep flooring similar from room to room, and consider molding to tie everything together.