Reader roundup: Playful bins, public art and a duck egg blue exterior

05 Aug 2025

We’re back with a great roundup of projects from our readers using Resene paints! From a magical power box to a painted fridge and a train station mural, you’re sure to find some inspiration here! Remember we love to see your finished projects, so please email us some photos and the Resene colours and/or Resene wallpapers you’ve used to [email protected].  

Dannika Tukua’s art has always exuded a special kind of energy. Inspired by her childhood memories, her love for our natural environment and the unique creatures that dwell within it, it’s easy to stop and find yourself staring as you get caught up in the beauty of it. A recent power box she painted for Horizon, located in Whakatāne, is one of beauty and whimsy painted in Resene Princess, Resene Azure, Resene Half Shark, Resene Wild Thing, Resene Glorious, Resene Pattens Blue, Resene Citrus and Resene Seance.

See more of Dannika’s art online at Art by Dannika Tukua.

Colourcraft Decorating, based in Manawatū, recently completed this stunning exterior for a transportable home. Painted in a dreamy combo of Resene Duck Egg Blue on weatherboards and Resene Alabaster on the window trims and soffits, it’s a timeless colour palette and ready for its new life.

Check out more stunning paint jobs from the team at Colourcraft Decorating here.

The Resene ColorShop team in Cambridge have been busy freshening the store. You wouldn’t often think of your fridge, or bins (below), when it comes to ‘doing-up’ a space, but sometimes it’s these little touches that make all the difference!

This fridge was given a new lease on life by Kerry Mason, who used Resene Waterborne Sureseal as a base primer and Resene Enamacryl gloss in the shade Resene Seaweed. “The fridge felt outdated and we decided with the greens being in it was a great colour to add into our lunch area,” says Nicola from the Cambridge ColorShop.

These playful bins were painted by Nicola O'Neill. “The bins were old and grubby and we decided to pick characters that would fit the shape of the bins and really brighten up the area,” says Nicola. “The yellow minion bin can be seen from the retail area and really puts a smile on people’s faces when they see it.”

The Minion bin is painted in Resene Turbo and Resene Tarawera, and R2D2 was painted in Resene Half Black White, Resene Space Cadet, Resene Stack and Resene Black with Resene Aquaclear semi-gloss applied over the top to protect the fantastic paint job.

Artist Ana Armillas painted a vibrant mural at Ashburton Railway Station in Melbourne as part of the Urban Canvas festival. A once dull space is now alive in colour, painted in Resene Gold Drop, Resene Touche, Resene Sazerac, Resene Paper Doll, Resene Digeridoo, Resene Roadster, Resene Sassy, Resene Float, Resene Torea Bay, Resene White, Resene Tuscany and Resene Hairy Heath.

“I like to get inspiration in nature and see how much I can relate to some of the processes,” she says. “The theme was ‘belonging’ and after researching the main migratory groups in Boroondara I started to intertwine symbolic flowers of those countries with native species, creating a dialogue about what it means to belong to a place when you have grown with different conditions and settings. Some Mediterranean touches, Bougainvillea flowers are one of my favourites. Intertwined with a few eucalyptus leaves.”

To see more of Ana’s work visit her Instagram page @anarmillas

Published: 05 Aug 2025