Aalto New Zealand Historic Colours
The Colours identified in this range are the result of extensive research and explorative paint scrapings throughout New Zealand by Ian Bowman, conservation architect and advisor to the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Aalto Colour worked closely with the trust to formulate a palette to help re-establish the colours for use by contempory restorers.
A 5% donation of all purchases from Aalto Historic Colours range will be given by Aalto to the Trust to assist in its mission of recognising, protecting and promoting New Zealand built heritage places.
History of Paint Manufacture in New Zealand
Brett’s Colonists’ guide advised new colonists to New Zealand how to use paint while the first paint manufactured in New Zealand was in the early 1870s by T.B. Louisson and Daniel Johnston in the Parapara area of Golden Bay.
Paints were traditionally made from white lead and ground natural pigments such as umber, oxides, ochres and carbon using oil and turpentine as binders. Varnishes were mixed from kauri gum and solvents while shellacs, similar to varnishes, were made from insect resins and methylated spirits. Alkyd resins replaced linseed oil in the late 1920s. Acrylic and lead free paints were developed after WW2 with improved drying times, gloss levels and sustainability.
Colour Schemes
Architectural styles influenced the use of colour
1830s- 1850s
The early colonial period saw simple one or two toned colour schemes, with early timber buildings often not painted at all. Early wall colours tended to imitate the colour of stone with the use of creams, fawns, buffs, and greys. While white was not common, early evidence shows that when it was used, it was often for window sashes. Corrugated steel roofs were either left unpainted or painted red oxide.
Victorian
Generally a three colour exterior scheme was applied, with popular dark colours being greens and reds.
Base colours tended to imitate the colour of stone – creams to dark buffs e.g. Aalto Boss, Aalto Prismatic and Aalto Piecrust.
Trim work was commonly painted a dark colour with a different deep base colour for doors and windows, for example Aalto Register and Aalto Celtic.
White was used but, not commonly, for sashes and trim of houses but not on commercial buildings.
Other less common schemes saw weatherboards painted darker colours, such as Aalto Wage with a lighter trim colour and dark doors and windows.
In the interior, patterned wallpapers were used for colour and the timberwork was varnished.
The use of a dado was common and grained timberwork popular in the larger houses and especially in Otago.
Match lining in living areas was varnished.
Work areas were painted a light colour.
Edwardian
Edwardian exterior colour schemes demonstrated greater experimentation.
New styles such as Eastlake and Queen Anne were highlighted with greater detail.
Some two storeyed houses featured a dark bottom storey with a lighter upper floor, although an entire house could be one colour such as red. Black and white schemes were used on Tudor styled houses.
Verandas could be painted in alternating light and dark stripes.
A fourth colour was often used especially for decorative elements such as veranda, valences, brackets and balustrading.
In the interior a greater use of colour was introduced.
Pressed metal ceilings could be painted four or five colours in the larger houses.
Wallpaper still provided most of the colour on the walls.
Floor and timber elements were usually varnished. However floors could also be painted a dark brown or black to provide a perimeter around the carpet.
Victorian and Edwardian:
Lease
Vault
Acanthus
Motto
Prismatic
Hourglass
Boss
Cameo
Interest
Reformist
Lunette
Conscript
Chevron
Plinth
Wage
Welfare
Orders
Piecrust
Concession
Komai
Register
Inscription
Bluedash
Celtic
Console
Freehold
Inter-war
The inter war years were characterised by a great range of architectural styles.
The commercial availability of an increased range of colours enabled designers to experiment with colour ideas.
Georgian revival:
The exteriors were painted pastel, white or cream with blue, green or red shutters.
Grey corrugated steel roofing, grey slate or Marseille tile.
White or cream windows were predominant with a different colour for doors eg black, green or blue.
Bungalow:
White or buff weatherboards with a dark green or brown trim, white windows and doors; alternatively the whole house was creosoted or painted dark browns.
Arts and crafts:
White, cream or buff walls, dark trim consisted of dark reds, browns, black stain.
Art Deco
This modern period incorporated light colours with similar colours for windows, often whites, creams, pinks and light greens.
Doors were painted a different colour, eg red.
Between the wars
1915-1940
Trade
Nymph
Bustle
Sovereign
Florin
Crown
Butler
Vogel
Erewhon
Speculator
Union
Pension
Coalition
Dole
Budget
Savage
Redcoat
New Ustler
Post war
From the Modern Movement, whites and creams for walls and windows continued to be used.
Bay area styles used dark stained/creosoted weatherboards.
Doors were often a different colour such as bright red or black.
Roofs were fern (chromium oxide), red oxide, mid grey or tangerine.
Post War
1940s-1960s
Treaty
Musket
Weekend
Wakefield
King Dick
Kingmaker
Dominion
National Bank Building, Paparoa
Colours Chosen by Ian Bowman, Conservation Architect
Aalto Acanthus, Aalto Prismatic, Aalto Register, Aalto Plinth
The Former National Bank Building in Paparoa is now operating as sahara Restaurant, a culinary oasis in the Kaipara Harbour. The building has a New Zealand Historic Places Trust Catrgory One Classification, and was built between 1912- 1914. The colours were chosen from the New Zealand Historic Colour Range, the aim being to use authentic colours to restore the building to its former glory. To give the building a ' light and shadow' effect, Aalto Acanthus was selected as the main colour, with a darker ochre, Aalto Prismatic, highlighting the decorative relief detail and window joinery. Darker, contrasting colours were chosen to pick out other features of the building. A strong red Aalto Register, is seen on the horizontal relief and doors, making these elements a feature. The base and steps are treated in a charcoal colour, Aalto Plinth, grounding the whole structure. No more than four colours were chosen for the scheme, which keeps it from becoming too busy. It is simple and strong treatment, allowing the beautiful architecture to speak for itself.
Sahara Restaurant, Corner Main & Franklin Roads, Paparoa, Maungaturoto
Bay Villa 1890s - 1910s
- Flying gable eaves bracket and decoration Aalto Acanthus
- Bargeboard, finial (actually in this case a pendant as it hangs down) and main gable framing Aalto Hourglass
- Fretted pannels between gable framing Aalto Acanthus
- corrugated steel roofing Aalto Inscription
- Eaves brackets and mouldings Aalto Hourglass
- Veranda brackets and mouldings Aalto Acanthus
- Veranda post Aalto Hourglass
- Baseboards Aalto Hourglass
- Door Frame, side lights and toplights Aalto Hourglass
- Door Aalto Inscription
- Bolection moulding to door Aalto Acanthus
- Weatherboards Aalto Welfare
- Windows sills and Architraves Aalto Hourglass
- Corner coverboards Aalto Hourglass
- Window sashes Aalto Inscription
California Bungalow 1920s -1940s
- Splayed bargeboards to gable Aalto Trade
- Shingles in gable Aalto Celtic
- Corrugated steel roofing Aalto Celtic
- Gutter board Aalto Trade
- Porch beam Aalto Celtic
- Porch piers and caps Aalto Hourglass
- natural coloured bricks to porch and belcast peice
- Roughcast stucco Aalto Hourglass
- Sills, window frames and architraves Aalto trade
- Fanlight and window sashes Aalto Celtic
Moderne 1940s - 1950s
- Roof (hidden behind parapets) Aalto King Dick
- Window shutter, window sills, frames and sashes Aalto King Dick
- Door frame and door Aalto King Dick
- Stucco walls, chimney, string course, other rendered detail Aalto Erewhon
Caution: Attempts to duplicate Aalto Colours by eye or by electronic means may give the illusion of a match but on the walls the resulting colours will lack the depth, subtlety and complexity of the original. Combinations of such colours will not 'work' in a colour scheme.
Copyright 2001 Aalto Colours Limited
The colours and colour names contained in Aalto New Zealand Historic Colours range are the subject of copyright and may not be copied or adapted without prior consent of the copyright holder. The formulations for the induvidual colours are also the property of the copyright holder and are not available from other manufacturers or retailers.