Against the grain: wood-stained timber and bold paint join forces

Layer timber stains with bold pops of structured colour and you’ve got a unique interior moment, pronto.

In association with Resene.

When we think about interior walls, it’s usually in only one finish, one material, one colour. Yet the potential for interesting outcomes opens up when you consider not just choosing timber or paint in isolation, but both together.
Here, we’ve stained a simple, no-frills plywood-panelled wall in a single coat of Resene Colorwood in Resene Meranti. We then concealed the joins with battens painted Resene Illuminate, and added extra to form a visually pleasing grid. The result? A wall treatment that’s a totally unique combination — one that works with the plywood panels, not against them.

Against the grain: wood-stained timber and bold paint join forces
Alluding to the great outdoors, pale green Resene Nirvana plays it cool underfoot, while on the ceiling and doorway into the space, Resene Sail Away channels the perfect blue sky. Meanwhile, the dining scene has us dreaming of warm weather and impromptu gatherings, helped along by furniture (much of it outdoor-friendly) and easygoing pieces that are as appropriate for everyday use as they are for entertaining.
It’s a look that sets the tone for the relaxed hosting energy that we hope will define summer days ahead.

PAINTED ITEMS Timber walls in Resene Colorwood in Resene Meranti; battens in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Illuminate; foreground ceiling and walls in Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen in Resene Sail Away; floor in Resene Walk-on tinted to Resene Nirvana, resene.co.nz/colorshops. DÉCOR ITEMS Classic linen Oyster fabric (used as a curtain), $105/m, marthas.co.nz. Balcony chairs by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Hay, $555 each, cultdesign.co.nz. Cancún outdoor dining table, from $2768, boconcept.com. Bit stool by Simon Legald for Normann Copenhagen, $495, backhousenz.com. Lens wall sconce minor, $2070, snellingstudio.com. Torchière standard lamp by Walter Von Nessen, $1250, mrbigglesworthy.co.nz. Sahara napkins by Studio Ford, $49 each; Taza glasses by Ogaard, $60 each; stoneware chalice cup by Dryburgh pottery, $83; Sequoia tablecloth by Studio Ford, $549, handcraftedmodern.co. Walnut end-grain chopping board by Courtney Petley, $440, petley.store. Raku vase, $385, flowstudioceramics.com. Side bowl in cornflower by Softedge, $125; Everything bowl in lilac by Softedge, $215, infinitedefinite.com. Flowers from isadia.co.nz.

Stylist’s tip
Before applying Resene Colorwood stains, always test a patch on a sample piece to determine the number of coats needed for your desired effect. For this look, just one coat was sufficient.

Against the grain: wood-stained timber and bold paint join forces