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Living room in Resene Black White
Living room in Resene Black White. For a similar look on timber, use Resene Colorwood Meranti.
Bedroom walls in Resene Black White, ceiling in Quarter Black White. Use Colorwood in shade Meranti for timber.
Weatherboards in Resene Double Concrete, trims in Quarter Black White, front door in Baltic Sea and porch and stairs in Resene Walk-on in shade Quarter Baltic Sea.
The Resene Black White refresh that brought this villa back to life
When Amy and Ashton, two young lawyers, bought their Birkenhead home two years ago, they knew they were getting something special. The house was an old villa, with “beautiful artistic features such as the arched doorways and ceiling detail, but it also definitely needed some TLC”, as Theresa from Leo D Painters explains.
“They weren’t happy with the colour and also there was a few aesthetic details that needing fixing such as cracks in the ceiling, so they asked us to come in and refresh the place.”
The brief was simple and practical. “They asked for a colour change, to fix cracks and minor imperfections, and give the house a fresh look.” The homeowners were recommended Resene for a lasting finish, and organised a colour consultant which was able to provide the painting team a full list of specifications.
Living room painted in Resene Black White.
Living room in Resene Black White. For a similar look on timber, use Resene Colorwood Meranti.
A cohesive palette of neutrals was chosen throughout, which pair beautifully with the exposed timber. Inside, Resene Black White adorns the main walls, adding brightness and clarity, while different strengths such as Half Black White and Quarter Black White were used in the bathroom and on the ceiling and trims.
Hallway in Resene Black White, ceiling and trims in Quarter Black White.
Bathroom walls in Resene Half Black White.
“The client wanted to brighten up the house, but still keep the authenticity of the villa,” says Theresa. “And since we specialise in villas, we were able to help with their ideas to support this.”
Bedroom walls in Resene Black White, ceiling in Quarter Black White. Use Colorwood in shade Meranti for timber.
Bedrooms walls in Resene Black White, ceiling and trims in Quarter Black White.
Working on a villa always comes with its own set of challenges, especially when the details are part of what makes it so beautiful. “The house’s beautiful high ceilings had a lot of detail, which we had to carefully work around to make sure we didn’t lose the character of. We used a special painting technique with a brush and roller, applying primer and fixing cracks to get a beautiful finish.”
There was also one nerve-wracking detail to protect, the carpet, which was a vintage style that can no longer be bought in stores. Luckily, the team at Leo D Painters were able to cover it so it remained completely unscathed.
Exterior weatherboards in Resene Double Concrete, trims in Quarter Black White.
The neutral palette was extended to the exterior for a cohesive look and was chosen to keep the home looking fresh while still honouring its original style. Resene Double Concrete was chosen for the weatherboards with a slight contrast on the trims, soffits and fascia in Quarter Black White.
For an even bigger contrast, and added depth and dimension, Baltic Sea was chosen for the front door and Quarter Baltic Sea for the porch and stairs using Resene Walk-on paint.
Weatherboards in Resene Double Concrete, trims in Quarter Black White, front door in Baltic Sea and porch and stairs in Resene Walk-on in shade Quarter Baltic Sea.
By the end, the transformation was exactly what the homeowners had hoped for, and their review said it all: “The painting and work on the exterior and interior of our bungalow was immaculate and completely transformed the house.”
For Leo that all-in approach comes from years of experience and pride in the craft. “Leo started painting with his father in Peru, it truly is a family business!” Theresa says. “He came over to New Zealand and launched Leo D Painters, which has been running for over 14 years. He loves painting, fixing things and a tidy site. Customer happiness is really important to him which is why the team focuses on clean, careful finishes.”
Leo’s moto stands true: “to refresh homes without compromising traditional features like those in a villa, character is everything!”
design and imagesLeo D Painters
Top tip: Thinking white for your home but don’t know where to start? Pick up some testpots of different whites and test them out on A2 cardboards to see how they react to room lighting, as light changes the undertones. Move the samples around at different times of the day to see how they look. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but a general rule to go by is to select warmer whites (yellow/brown base) for south-facing, cooler rooms, and cooler whites (green/grey base) to balance bright north-facing, sunny rooms.
Published: 29 Jan 2026
Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].
Resene Half Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Double Concrete
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
Resene Half Black White
Resene Quarter Black White
Resene Double Concrete
the look
If you're stuck on what
colour to use or need colour
advice, try out the Resene
Ask a Colour Expert service.
