welcome
From habitat magazine - issue 39, editorial
And hello! Taking the reins of such a beloved publication was never going to be a simple gear change, but jumping in with our amazing team of talented and dedicated decorators has made the transition that much smoother and I’ve loved every part of it.
A few months before I joined the habitat team, I was living at Muriwai Beach when Cyclone Gabrielle hit. It was a crazy, scary time that brought a close-knit community even closer together. While rebuilding at Muriwai is still far from a resolution, the people of this wild, west coast beach are sticking together through the tough times. Not long after the cyclone, I was lucky enough to find a beautiful home in the city and then this amazing job. So, while the first part of the year was a rollercoaster to be sure, it has also shown me, more clearly than ever, how important our homes are, not just as places of refuge but also of inspiration.
It’s been busy at habitat too. We’ve been creating a new podcast series ‘If these walls could talk’ with tips and tricks from a whole host of colour and decorating experts that we can’t wait to share with you, offering inspiration and ideas to help you make the most of your home.
Now summer is on the horizon and it’s one of my favourite times of the year, filled with holiday anticipation, joy and hopefully great weather! And plenty of time to paint of course! While we’re not all able to jet off to lands far and wide, there are so many ways to bring your dream holiday destination into your home so you can enjoy it year-round.
In this issue, we revisit whites and neutrals and invite you to try the more saturated ‘new neutrals’ from Resene. We also explore the trend of clashing colours and how to make this work in your home.
I’m thrilled to be sharing this issue of habitat with you and look forward to hearing from you about your decorating plans and projects throughout the months ahead.
Enjoy!
Katrina Hobbs editor
Over the years, we have spent a lot of time working on paint formulas looking for ways to make them greener, from introducing the first waterborne paints to joining the Eco Choice programme 27 years ago. There have been so many weird and wonderful ideas we have tried over the years and many more that are still being worked on.
A recent favourite is plant based paints and stains with products like Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain. Our team have their green thumbs busy working on more of these plant based products that we look forward to sharing with you soon.
But as green as we can make the paint, the best way that paints can be ‘eco’, is what they do for the surface beneath them. Paints and stains are like good looking suntan lotion or moisturiser, which protect and enhance your home. While they make your home look better, they also do the most important job of looking after what is underneath them, so that your timber, concrete or plasterboard lasts so you don’t have to replace it too soon.
Though it can be tempting to leave surfaces natural, you’re sacrificing them to the weather and everyday wear and tear without any protection. It’s so much easier and cheaper to restain or repaint than to replace resource intensive surfaces that have failed early. With the huge range of Resene natural look finishes, you can easily protect the surface and make it easier to clean while keeping its natural good looks.
When you’re thinking of replacing something, take a second look. Could you refresh it or reinvent it with paints and stains instead of sending it to the landfill? If you’re choosing new hard-to-replace surfaces, remember you’ll likely want to refresh them down the track, so choose options that are easy to paint or stain so you don’t limit your future decorating choices.
Happy decorating!
the Resene team
Three of my favourite colours from the Resene The Range fashion colours
Image: Belinda Merrie