Porters Paints has news! They’ve teamed up with Guthrie Bowron and have a new home at 47 The Strand in Parnell.
This is great news for Porters fans because our choices just got broader with a one-stop-shop for an extensive range of exquisite wallpaper, flooring, upholstery fabrics, curtains, blinds and, of course, the beautiful paints and finishes Porters is known for along with well-known brand, Dulux.
A love for colour saw Dani Pike and Grant Gibbs start the New Zealand branch of Porters Paints 17 years ago. Known for its low VOC and range of finishes Porters Paints has built up a loyal following. “The actual base is excellent quality, and they’re not smelly so you can be in the same room as them as they’re drying,” says Dani. “They also have a very good depth of colour — not too primary looking. Sometimes when you get paint on the wall it can look harsh but Porters Paints don’t, as they’re quite flat. The flatter the sheen the more natural it looks. We have wonderful finishes too. Metallics like rust, copper, gold and chalk, milk and concrete paints for metal finishes, distempers, lime washing and aged looks. Created by Peter Lewis in Sydney, Porters Paints point of difference is that it’s artistic. It’s fun. It’s not just about colour; it’s about texture too. Plus it’s all hand mixed and tinted.”
When Peter sold the brand to Dulux, Dani and Grant felt it made sense for them to team up with Dulux and Guthrie Bowron. They’re excited about the new partnership although Dani says it’s been a big learning curve going from a boutique business to being part of a big name. “It’s a bit like going from a dairy to a supermarket — Guthrie Bowron have been amazingly supportive,” she says.
The marriage is — to coin a cliché — made in heaven. Porters has its boutique range of paints, wallpaper and engineered flooring, and Guthrie Bowron has Dulux paints and huge ranges of wallpaper, carpet and curtains which means the new store holds a plethora of choices for trade, individuals and designers alike.
“We have a large collection of beautiful quality wallpapers,” says Dani. From $30-1,000 per roll, there’s something for all budgets and tastes including the stunning designs of Anna Spiro and Greg Natale. A multitude of colours, patterns and textures are on offer including glass beaded, woven, glittered and embossed. “A lot of people are using wallpaper now,” says Dani. “People may use them just as a feature wall or all over. One lady came in and bought a brick-like pattern to cover the bad walls of her bach. Wallpaper can hide a lot of sins.”
Take Porters Paints, add the dependability of the quality and volume of Dulux paints and Guthrie Bowron and mix them with Dani and Grant’s knowledge, expertise and experience and you’ve got a world of resources under one roof.
“Custom colour is a lot of our work; we also do colour consultancy,” says Dani. “I notice people are liking a lot of darker colours right now. Black walls are amazing, they can make things pop. A dark blue charcoal’s quite popular at the moment too.” And it’s not just walls; people paint their concrete floors and tiles as well. “With the paints we have available anything’s paintable these days,” says Dani.
Dani and Grant are looking forward to welcoming you to their new venture. We suggest putting aside a few hours if you can.
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Words: Jenna Moore
Guthrie Bowron
guthriebowron.co.nz
47 The Strand, Parnell
09 377 6008
