Masterstroke with Clint Roberts

07 Mar 2025

Radio to reno

Radio star Clint Roberts opens the door to his passion for design and renovation.

Can you share a little about your background and how you got into radio?

I studied radio at the New Zealand Broadcasting School way back in 2005 and I've been jabbering away ever since. I love it and feel very lucky to have had such a long and varied career in a crazy fun industry.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work that inspire your creativity?

As a dad of young girls all my spare time goes back into the family, but that also looks like making sure our home is as nice as we can make it. We love a reno for both functional and aesthetic reasons. Trawling Instagram, Tiktok, YouTube and magazines for cool ideas that we can integrate into our whare (home) is a big thing for us.

What inspired you to start this home renovation project?

We bought our forever home in the Waitākere ranges just after covid. It's big with, as the saying goes – “great bones". It's a 1970's kooky, architectural pole house which we feel has so much potential. We love the overall feel of the house but want to modernise it while restoring and retaining her era-specific vibe. It's now our sanctuary, and the more we renovate and personalise it, the more it feels like our home.

Did you have a specific vision or style in mind for your home?

Absolutely – mid-century is the overarching theme.

How did you incorporate Resene paints into your renovation?

Each space we do we speak with the experts at our local Resene – for us that's the superstars at the New Lynn Resene ColorShop. We largely come up with the colour inspo ourselves, then defer to them to find the best colours from the Resene range. They are also a huge help picking the paint type and application process – we are learning as we go!

Do you have a favourite Resene colour?

Call me a basic millennial but I can't go past Resene Forest Green.

What advice would you give to others planning a renovation?

Take your time! Do not renovate as soon as you move in. Live with your space for at least a year to learn how you use it, and what you really need. Then get a few opinions on what can be done. It's amazing how much concepts will vary.

Clint’s home projects: A bathroom refresh and cosy reading nook.

 
Clint kicked his home transformation off by using Resene Wallpaper Collection 101077036 to update his guest bathroom. “It became obvious that we had different visions for the space but, as I do, I deferred to the superior style vision of my wife – and I’m glad I did!” Clint laughs. The ceiling and doors are painted in Resene Quarter Rice Cake.

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Giving purpose to an unused corner was the aim of this DIY project. After applying two coats of Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene White as a basecoat, Clint mixed a testpot of Resene Quarter Crisp Green in with the transparent Resene FX Paint Effects Medium, which was used to create a limewashing effect. He used a paintbrush to create a criss-cross pattern across the walls, then used a rag to drag over the finish for an authentic textured effect. “Getting the texture right took some trial and error. The irregularity of the brushstrokes takes some getting used to, and the ragging process is also a skill. But once I got it, it was a lot of fun!” 

On the advice of Resene Paint Expert Jay Sharples, Clint tried four primers on his wooden ceiling, before settling on Resene Enamel Undercoat as it gave the whitest base, which he topcoated in Resene Quarter Rice Cake. "The wood was nice, but made the space seem dark and small. We were told painting the ceiling white would be like turning on a light. It was.”

Published: 07 Mar 2025