Exotic vs understated

From BlackWhite magazine - issue 08, wallpaper

From bold and adventurous to chic and subtle, set the tone you’re after with these transformative recent releases from the Resene Wallpaper Collection.

Lucky luxe

Cranes are a symbol of good fortune, longevity and peace for many Eastern cultures, which is why they have long been a popular motif in decorating. Resene Wallpaper Collection 2311-174-04 exudes the grace of these enchanting creatures as part of a delicate design that draws inspiration from Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints and Chinese ink paintings. If approachable opulence is the vibe you’re after, combine it with gilded accents, adjacent walls in Resene Rainee, joinery in Resene Domino, flooring in Resene Open Sesame and accessories in Resene Japonica to pull hues from the wallpaper design out into the rest of your space. For contrast, complete your colour scheme with fixtures and furnishings in a warm white like Resene Rice Cake.

Polished peonies

For clients that are after a new-meets-old or East-meets-West look, blending an exotic antique-style wallpaper design with contemporary furnishings is a great solution. However, in order to give your eclectic scheme fresh appeal, you’ll want to select a design that boasts on-trend colours. Evocative of elegant vintage silk, Resene Wallpaper Collection 2311-170-03 blooms with refined grandeur. But what sets it apart is the design’s colour palette – which leverages some of today’s hottest hues. Pair it with colours like Resene Vantage Point, Resene Green Days and Resene Dawn Glow on the other major surfaces of your design to unify your paint and wallpaper palette then layer in brass, marble and warm wood accents stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Rimu for variety and texture.

Weave in warmth

If you’re trying to impart a global look but in a more muted colour palette, Resene Wallpaper Collection 38824- 1 hits the sweet spot. Warmly exotic yet unobtrusively monochromatic, its design – which evokes handwoven textiles and ikat-style dye work – is bold enough to be a standout feature without being shouty. Go for adjacent walls and a ceiling in Resene Stepping Stone and whitewashed timber flooring finished in Resene Colorwood Whitewash for levity. Introduce wood accents stained in Resene Colorwood Meranti for contrast and select accessories in creamy Resene Spanish White and a deep burnt brown like Resene Sepia for a laidback but refined scheme that would work beautifully in a retail, restaurant or hotel setting.

Give me moor

Countries that are heavily influenced by Moorish design such as Morocco and Portugal are known for their ornately decorative tilework. Resene Wallpaper Collection IF4-069 instantly transports the onlooker to these far-flung locales with a variegated tile design that seems to have cosiness baked right in. Crisp porcelain whites like Resene Sea Fog and Resene Alabaster are excellent companions, as are blue hues that echo the wallpaper’s tones, such as Resene Carpe Noctem, Resene Unite and Resene Morning Haze. Use it as a statement anywhere that needs a hefty dose of warmth, whimsy and charm, like kitchens, bathrooms and residential or commercial dining spaces.

Turned to stone

If you’re working on a space where you aren’t able to make structural changes but want to mix up the materiality of your major surfaces, the terrazzo-style design of Resene Wallpaper Collection IF4-064 is an excellent option. Thanks to its understated and neutral colour palette, the options for accent colours that will work with it are practically endless and the light-coloured background hue keeps it from feeling heavy. Plus, it has plenty of visual texture which will bring interest to a pared-back look. Try it with mossy green and earthy brown accents like Resene Tic Tac Toe and Resene Outlaw and adjacent walls, ceiling and trims in a bright white like Resene Half Alabaster, then round out your palette with statement furniture in a powdery green blue like Resene Infused and timber flooring stained in Resene Colorwood Dark Rimu for a soothing, balanced scheme.

Bureau of bliss

When you’re designing a commercial office, it takes a thoughtful approach to create the right balance. Often, clients want a space that will impress their customers and guests, but they also need an atmosphere where their employees will feel at ease. Thanks to its warm and welcoming colour palette, Resene Wallpaper Collection IF3-039’s cloudlike mural design brings soothing yet stylish energy that is just as suitable for a boardroom as it is in a breakroom. Pair it with equally calming colours like Resene Truffle on adjacent walls, Resene Quarter Tea on the ceiling, Resene Half Fossil on the floor and bring in touches of Resene Soul Searcher, Resene Courtyard and Resene Kia Kaha through furniture and accessories for gentle contrast.

Tonal texture

In pared-back spaces with minimal furnishings and a restrained colour palette, it’s hugely important to ensure that you look for ways to incorporate texture. Thanks to its raised tactile design in mottled tonal hues, Resene Wallpaper Collection L856-07 is fantastic at breaking up the monotony of a spacious plan that aims to keep furniture and colours simple. The beauty of this greige design is that it can work wonderfully with both warm and cool colour combinations, but we recommend sticking to warmer pairings for the most welcoming space, such as timber surfaces stained in Resene Colorwood Rock Salt and Resene Colorwood Teak, soft furnishings in biscuit beiges like Resene Foundation and olive tones like Resene Saratoga, with hints of a green-edged taupe such as Resene Cargo and a charcoal black like Resene Thunderstorm brought in through select accents and accessories to round out the scheme.

Colours mentioned in this article...

Whatever style, taste or vibe you’re looking to emulate through your design, the Resene Wallpaper Collection has got you covered. With thousands of eye-catching options to choose from, you and your clients are sure to find perfect wallpaper selections to fit your project.

Wallpaper is best viewed in person to appreciate the colour, texture and design. View the full collection at your local Resene ColorShop or get a taste of some of the options available online, www.resene.com/wallpaper.

BlackWhite magazine

This is a magazine created for the industry, by the industry and with the industry – and a publication like this is only possible because of New Zealand and Australia's remarkably talented and loyal Resene specifiers and users.

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