NZ Experts Reveal: 4 Perfect Pairings for Facades & Outdoor Areas

Four NZ design experts share their go-to colour and material combinations for exteriors and alfresco areas

Georgia Madden 21 May 2022

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If you’ve been thinking about sprucing up your exterior or outdoor area, you’ve come to the right place. We asked four NZ design experts to reveal their favourite colour and material pairings for facades and alfresco zones. These combos are guaranteed to help you make a great first impression and wow your guests next time you take dinner outdoors.

Mason & Wales Architects

Image: Simon Devitt.

1. Hamish Muir, architect and director at Mason & Wales Architects

Perfect pairing: Sheet steel and concrete.

I love this combination because it’s highly durable, slightly industrial in feel, and can be used to create an appealing contrast with the interior and other exterior finishes in a dwelling.

A sheet steel and concrete combo would suit most, if not all, architectural styles if carefully combined to contrast with the other elements of the home. It creates a strong, permanent and no-fuss look.

Mason & Wales Architects

Image: Simon Devitt.

How would you use this combo?
In a non-combustible area, such as around an outdoor fireplace.

What’s good to know?
There are a multitude of options in surface treatments to choose from, allowing you to create a unique look outdoors.

Looking to repaint your facade? Find a painter near you on Houzz

Four Walls Architecture

2. Amy Hendry, architect at Four Walls Architecture

Perfect pairing: White timber boards and pale grey joinery.

In an age where heavier, darker materials are fashionable, I love the grace of this pairing. It’s light, fresh and suits many applications.

It’s a great combination for a bungalow extension or a new beach house or bach. For bungalows, the materials complement the existing timber weatherboards, but the colours and lines don’t fight with it. For beach houses, it’s a low-key, beachy combination.

Four Walls Architecture

When it’s used in the inner-city, it feels honest and sophisticated, without being pretentious. By the beach it feels relaxed.

It’s a classic look that won’t date.

How would you use this combo?
We use this combination on extensions to old houses and new beach houses.

What’s good to know?
Aluminium joinery is great for longevity. Weatherboards will require painting, but because they’re white, they stand up to harsh New Zealand light really well.

Resene

3. Brenda Ngatai, North Shore Colour Consultant at Resene

Perfect pairing: Pairing a natural brick facade with painted or stained woodwork and trims in a soft black, such as Resene Element [a warm charcoal paint colour], Resene Woodsman Stain Crowshead [a charcoal stain], or Resene Woodsman Stain Shadow Match [a black stain with a hint of brown].

The soft blacks complement the natural brick and create a super stylish and timeless look.

Resene

How would you use this combo?
For gardens and outdoor entertaining areas, a lovely combination is using Resene Karaka [a muddy, rainforest green] as a backdrop, with metal garden furniture finished in Resene FX Faux Rust Effect, and timber elements, such as a decking or posts in Resene Woodsman Stain Driftwood [a bleached brown].

Browse more beautiful images of NZ outdoor areas on Houzz

Milieu: Architecture + Design

4. Kate Beilby, architect and director at Milieu: Architecture + Design

Perfect pairing: We love pairing masonry with timber, and have used it in various combinations on projects. Combinations include aged red-brick paired with crisp, white-painted shiplap, bagged concrete block paired with dark band-sawn timber, and plastered block paired with lightly stained cedar.

Combining these materials allows us to play with texture, colour and pattern. The masonry creates a rough or earthy texture and the timber adds warmth, crispness and fine detailing.

This pairing can suit everything from contemporary, urban homes to ones in rural and coastal settings – it all comes down to choosing the right combination of materials for the surroundings.

Milieu: Architecture + Design

How would you use this combo?
Our designs often feature the masonry element on the lower level, as this grounds the home and provides a robust base. The timber elements are generally used on the upper level to create a sense of lightness.

Elements such as screening and balustrading add texture and finer detail. We also love bringing these materials into internal spaces to create a fluid connection between inside and out.

Milieu: Architecture + Design

What’s good to know?
Masonry products are low-maintenance, which is great for busy homeowners. Timber requires more upkeep and we always advise our clients to consider how much time and money they are willing to spend on maintenance for their desired cladding material.

Cedar, for example, will require staining every few years, whereas a painted finish can be recoated every 10 years.

You also need to consider the shade of the stain or paint carefully – not all species of timber cladding can have a dark finish as it absorbs more heat and can warp the timber.

Your turn
What’s your favourite pairing for a facade? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.

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Interested in seeing designers’ perfect pairings for bathrooms? Don’t miss these Perfect Pairings for Bathrooms: 5 Top Picks From NZ Designers