design buzz

text mavis ang

photos akzonobel

Huenew
Who decides colour trends for
homes? Get an inside look from
the experts at one of the largest
global paint companies.

above & inset: Being

an ambiguous shade,
teal sits well with both
dark and light colours.

Paint and coatings company Akzonobel (producer of Dulux

paint) has announced that its Colour of the Year 2014 is teal,
which perfectly combines the natural harmony of green
with the tranquillity of blue. Now you might ask, out of all
the colours of the rainbow, how was this decided?
The Colour of the Year is a pivotal part of an annual
collection of five colour trends that Akzonobel puts out
annually; in fact, it ties the trends together. Called Colour
Futures, this inspiring collection of trends is supposed to
reflect and evoke the mood of the modern world. In the
forecast for 2014, complex shades that hover between
primary colour families take centre stage. We tell you what
hues our homes will be wearing next year and break down
the process to tell you why.

Vivid Storytelling
To kick off the colour forecasts, Akzonobel
gathers a global group of independent designers,
architects, and colourists from various fields.
Together with the members of its Aesthetics
Centre, they put together a large mood board
of images and words of things and events that
represent worldwide social, economic and design
trends. A general colour palette will start to
emerge, and we build on that, says Heleen van
Gent, manager of Akzonobels Global Aesthetics
Centre. This year, we saw a lot of question marks
and exclamation marks, which led us to the idea
of Unlocking Potential as the main theme. And
teal, due to its versatility and ability to enhance
a wide range of other colours, was chosen to
represent this notion of discovering possibilities.
Predicting colour trends might seem like a
flighty affair to some, but architect and designer
Per Nimer, who is a member of the Aesthetic
Centre, shares that it is only through substantial
research that allows them to represent social
trends accurately with wall colour concepts.
For example, rich, folk-inspired tones such as
burgundy and mustard yellow are pegged with
the increasing need to discover our roots; and
high-energy colours such as bright emerald
green and fiery orange are used to express the
do it now culture of start-up companies among
the younger generation. If we made up these
trends, people wont be able to recognise them.
What we have in-house is colour knowledge, so
we also translate emotions attached to these
trends into colours, he states.

The Do it Now
colour trend includes
high-energy colours to
reflect the optimism
and audacity of the
new wave of young
entrepreneurs.

paint has the power

57

to create the largest

impact at a low cost.

Get Inspired!
With the Colour Futures 2014 palette, Heleen
hopes to get across that colour doesnt
always have to say bold. Inspired by the
proliferation of quieter, more introverted
designs in the industry, a subtle and
sophisticated variety of neutrals are included
in the colour stories. Pointing to hues such as
tinted whites and smoky greys, Per adds that
such a palette might prove useful for people
who look to their homes as a refuge from the
growing connectivity of the world.
At the other end of the spectrum is a
cluster of vivacious colours that characterises
the changing attitude towards paint. Unlike
previous generations, young people now
paint because they want to, not because they
have to, says Per. Because paint is now seen
as a temporary rather than irreversible
accessory for the home, he foresees brighter,
more flamboyant colours being used to
enhance homes. In the realm of a home,
paint is the most inexpensive element that has
the biggest impact, he reminds us. So, whats
holding you back?
Visit www.colourfutures.com to learn more
about Akzonobels Colour Futures 2014.

Neutrals reflect the

need for urban dwellers
to create a restful home
to retreat from the
city life. above Folkinspired colours signify
the movement towards
rediscovering our roots.

take teal on

A refined shade that lingers between blue and green, teal has a
complexity that keeps it stimulating a vital characteristic for a
wall colour that keeps it from becoming stale too soon. These tips
from the experts will tell you how to use it in your home.

It has a powdery softness that pairs

beautifully with hard materials like
wood, concrete, and stone.
Heleen van Gent, manager of
Akzonobels Global Aesthetics Centre

Teal that has a lot of white in it

is soft, elegant and calm lovely
in a bedroom. I personally think
that it isnt a food colour and
doesnt look good in the dining
area or on flatware. I also love teal
with chartreuse as the two greens
together are very interesting.
Jenny Lewis, director of Bode
Fabrics & Furnishings

58

Using different tones of teal

together lends a nice effect, as
compared to pairing it with a white
wall, which can be too contrasting.
Teal accessories can also lend a nice
contrast to natural finishes such as
oak or mix them up with bronze
accessories. Soft teal tones on a
larger scale can soften the mood of a
room, while small splashes of bright
teals will accent a room.
Jefery Kurniadidjaja, co-founder
of Grafunkt

Pairing teal with bursts of hot

pink and neon lime is very intrend. Teal also complements
cream and black for a more
understated look.
Rima Srivastava, founder
of Shiva Designs

Teal goes well with many colours

as it is already a mixture of green,
blue, and grey. Use the colour
only on one wall or one piece of
furniture, and mix it with light grey
(with a green or blue undertone)
or off-whites (greyish whites
or again with a green or blue
undertone). Since the colour is
already a medium tone, be careful
to mix it with darker or lighter
shades so it will still stand out.
Barbara Fritschy, owner of
Make Room

Combine teal with wood and

industrial finishes. White makes
the teal more bright and light,
while woody shades make it dark
and cosy.
Maria Kleist, marketing executive
at Galanga Living