Free magazine for color lovers

The 2018 color palette — Artist Klaus Haapaniemi: Rusty reds are extremely interesting
64 pages of ideas for your home — How to choose the perfect shade of gray
Designer Nina Bruun shares her visions on interior trends — Paint yourself a new kitchen
COLOR NOW 2018 | 1
 COLOR

Be inspired by colors
and painting tips:
#colornow2018
tikkurila.fi/colornow

INSTAGRAM #colornow2018
YOUTUBE youtube.com/TikkurilaCom

2 | COLOR NOW 2018

 Trust your color instinct
Using colors and paints gives us the opportunity to
change and improve our own environment. Dipping
the brush into the paint and seeing the result of your
own work is rewarding and relaxing. Getting back to
basics is a great antidote to our hectic everyday lives.
Searching for peace and doing something with
your hands were something we, too, thought about
when putting together our 2018 Color Now color
collection. The range of authentic colors was inspired
by nature and the different natural elements – air and
earth. The color of the year, N405 Terracotta, is all
about tradition, craftsmanship and character, and it
gives any space a beautiful warm glow.
Finding your own personal color palette starts
from the courage to experiment. Klaus Haapaniemi,
the renowned illustrator and designer, shows how
intuition and curiosity to test new things can lead to
stunning and unique color choices. He shows how
you can pick up the most surprising and unexpected
things and use them as inspiration for your home décor.
Trust your color instinct. You can completely
change the ambience of your home in a few easy steps
with paint, without creating a heap of unwanted clutter.
We associate colors with memories and emotions, so a
choice of color is also a matter of the heart. Start with
one wall and see what colors can do for you.

Marika Raike
Tikkurila
Design Manager

4 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 5

 CONTENT EDITORIAL
HIGHLIGHTS TEAM

The jury selecting the 2018 Color of the Year

8 14
THREE HOMES
38
HOW TO CREATE
WITH NEW COLORS DEPTH FOR
THE 2018 COLOR YOUR WALLS
COLLECTION Designers painted
their homes using Interior designer
The Tikkurila Color the 2018 color palette. Susanna Vento chose
of the Year and Color 5 trendy ideas for
Collection are based accent walls.
on deep mineral
tones.

44
INTERIOR
48 NINA BRUUN
Trend Analyst and Designer
The Danish Nina Bruun is a well-
known design trendsetter and an
MARIKA RAIKE
Tikkurila Design Manager
Marika Raike, Design Manager
at Tikkurila, is a real virtuoso of
PÄIVI HÄIKIÖ
Creative Director, Agency Leroy
Päivi Häikiö is a graphic designer
who has created the visual identity of
ARCHITECT’S NINA BRUUN: award-winning color and trend analyst. color and the mastermind behind all numerous Finnish design brands.
CHOICE SERENDIPITY Tikkurila color materials.
OF COLOR
Laura Räihä shares Editors
her secrets on how to The Danish trend
achieve harmonious analyst predicts
coloring in the hall interior design
and bedroom. megatrends.

52
EASY DIY
74
KLAUS HAAPANIEMI:
THE MASTER OF
Read our step-by-step RICH COLORS
instructions on how to MINNA AVELLAN NINA KAIJASILTA IRINA HANHISALO SUSANNA VENTO
add color to your kitchen Artist Klaus Haapaniemi Managing Editor Managing Editor Color Designer Interior Designer
cabinets, turn storage reveals his most important
into an eye-catching colors of the moment.
feature, and set off your
decorative objects.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PUBLISHER
Tikkurila Oyj
Marika Raike / Tikkurila Oyj
MANAGING EDITORS HEADQUARTERS
Minna Avellan / Tikkurila Oyj Switchboard: +358 20 191 2000
Nina Kaijasilta / Tikkurila Oyj E-mail: firstname.lastname@tikkurila.com
CONTENTS Mailing address: PO Box 53, 01301 Vantaa, Finland
Tikkurila Oyj, Vapa Media and Agency Leroy Visiting address: Kuninkaalantie 1, 01300 Vantaa, Finland

ART DIRECTOR A L L C O N TA C T D E TA I L S LAURA RÄIHÄ RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI MATILDA KIVELÄ EVELIINA SALOMAA
Päivi Häikiö / Agency Leroy http://tikkurilagroup.com/contacts
Interior Architect Photographer Writer Content Designer

6 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 7

 Terracotta IS THE COLOR OF THE YEAR

The Color of the Year, Terracotta N405, carries

echoes of craftsmanship, European architecture and
cliffs by the seaside warmed by the sun. With this
color, you can give your home instant hominess.

Text: EVELIINA SALOMAA

Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI
Set Design: PÄIVI HÄIKIÖ

Think of peacefulness, traditional handicrafts, nature A great idea is to paint a signature piece of fur-
and home. The jury selecting the 2018 Color of the niture in a room Terracotta and see how it creates a
Year, trend analyst Nina Bruun, Tikkurila Design whole new focus in the room. Terracotta is not a bright
Manager Marika Raike and Creative Designer Päivi shade, so it is never too overpowering against lighter
Häikiö were inspired by current global color trends. surfaces around it. Try with a color chip how the
Reminiscent of red clay, the Color of the Year N405 color works for you at home in the real environment.
represents the earthy, rich shades of the 2018 collec-
tion. It is a tactile shade that invites you to pursue your
inspiration and be in the moment. PLAY WITH RICH COLORS
The strong Terracotta is made up of pigments
that reflect warm light. On a south-facing surface, If you want to create a sumptuously warm atmosphere,
the yellow-shaded natural light will light up the red be bold and combine Terracotta with other earthy
pigments and make it the focus of attention. The cool- tones. Greens will look greener next to Terracotta as
er northern light will bring the more serene brown they are complementary colors. Large house plants in
shades to the fore. Terracotta containers are a classic example of this com-
Play with the light and use different Terracotta bination. Paint weathered flower pots with Terracotta
color combinations and bring warmth to any type of to test the suitability of the color in your own home.
interior design. Reddish shades paired with Terracotta create a
glowingly warm atmosphere. Experiment with shades
such as H456 Straw and M425 Beetroot and see the im-
WHY TERRACOTTA? pact they create together with the Color of the Year.

Current design trends are all about warm tones. Bring

a dollop of life to the cool and collected Scandinavian Terracotta N405 is included in Tikkurila Feel the Color collection.
décor with the Color of the Year. Pairing Terracotta
with pale neutrals creates a prestigious and classy com-
bination. Merino Y458, for example, is a sophisticated,
sandy shade that complements Terracotta perfectly.

8 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 9

 Minerals
– this is how the 2018 collection was created

Tikkurila 2018 color collection Minerals is the fruit of

the collaborative effort of Marika Raike, Nina Bruun and
Päivi Häikiö. A pale, neutral décor can be given masses of
character with deeper tones of minerals and stones.

Text: EVELIINA SALOMAA

Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI

“Scandinavian style is gradually moving towards a “The calming tones are almost like a protest
more European, earthy palette. Different textures against the constant noise and bustle that surrounds us
and gloss grades add a whole new dimension to color in our daily lives. The neutral, natural colors breathe
combinations”, says Nina Bruun, describing the ideas calm and serenity”, Marika Raike says, describing the
behind the 2018 collection. sources of their inspiration.
The Minerals collection brings together the clas- Broken reds with brown shades, pale sand, all the
sical elements of air and earth. It leads one’s thoughts shades of blue and dark grey fit together perfectly, as
to a seaside at dawn, where the water gently hugs the they do in nature. Each color has a delicate grey un-
reddish cliffs and washes over pebbles honed soft by dertone, which makes it easy to combine the different
the elements over time. The designers have played colors without any one color stealing the show. The
with rich tones glowing with warmth. colors of this harmonious collection pair effortlessly
with natural materials such as wood and stone.

Terracotta Etruscan Merino Serpentine Straw Wrought Iron

N405 S471 Y458 V447 H456 Y500

Rooibos Beetroot Driftwood Piazza Secret Ink

M476 M425 V484 Y487 X438 M350

Try Tikkurila ColorUP app at colorup.tikkurila.com/en and find your own favorites. The colors are indicative.
Please check the colors against the real color samples in the Feel the Color collection.

10 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 11

The walls are painted with full-matt Harmony Interior Paint in the Colour of the year, N405 Terracotta,
and S471 Etruscan. The screen is painted with matt Helmi Furniture Paint in Y487 Piazza.

COLOR NOW 2018 | 13

 Three homes
with new colors
Three design specialists gave their homes a facelift with
their personal favorites from the Color Now 2018 collection.
See how trend analyst Nina Bruun, stylist Susanna Vento and
interior architect Laura Räihä transformed their homes.

Nina Bruun chose N405

Terracotta, the Color of
the Year, for the accent wall
in her living room. The walls
were painted with full-matt
Harmony Interior Paint.
14 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 15
 At home with Nina
Definition and
surprising details
Text: NINA BRUUN
Photos: MIKKEL MORTENSEN

The bedroom walls

give a gentle start to
the day, painted with
Harmony Interior Paint
in Y487 Piazza.
The graphic identity of
the dining area was created
with Y500 Wrought Iron
together with the light gray
dining table. The paint
used is Luja 7 Matt.
16 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 17
 A
s a designer, I am constantly working with colors,
so it only felt natural to go with anything but white
walls. The shades of Minerals color collection work
together seamlessly and I could have picked any
color from the palette and it still would have made a beautiful
constellation. In the end, I chose N405 Terracotta, the Color of
the Year, Y500 Wrought Iron, V447 Serpentine and Y487 Piazza.
The colors I’ve chosen for my apartment all give some
character and personal style to the rooms. Colors bring edge
to a space and choosing a color rather than just white says a
lot about a person as it takes courage to do so. Combining
dark and light or cool and warm shades was endless fun and
helped me create a bold expression.
Before painting, I gave a serious thought to the different
functions of the rooms. Each color should represent something
in the room they’re in. I decided to put the light green Serpen-
tine in my bathroom as the room itself represents something
fresh and the color matched that feeling. It just brings some
character to an otherwise sterile white room and for a wet
space, the matt, splash-proof Luja 7 paint was the best choice.
Choosing the colors for my bedroom was fairly easy. How
I wake up in the morning can have a large impact on the rest
of my day, so I chose the warm light gray Piazza, which has
the nicest soothing effect on me. The walls were painted with
full-matt Harmony Interior Paint.
The subtle shades in the bathroom and bedroom craved
contrast and drama. The living room and dining area benefit
from plenty of natural light, so they could accommodate dark,
saturated colors on the walls. I chose matt Luja paint in the
intensely dark Y500 Wrought Iron for the dining area. My
light grey dining table in front of the dark wall just creates
something graphical to the room that I love. It’s fun to see
how the color almost changes between grey, black and dark
blue depending on the light.
The Tikkurila Color of the Year, the earthy orange of
N405 Terracotta, I chose to a specific wall so it could stand
out like an art piece. By giving the orange color a smaller but
concentrated space it somehow becomes a big and important
detail in the room. And I actually love that you don’t see the
wall right away - it kinds of takes you by surprises when en-
tering the living room.
I can’t describe how pleased I am with the finished result.
My apartment feels so much more like a home - my home
after the renewal. It reflects me as a person in a stronger way
than before. It’s neither a costly nor time-consuming process;
it doesn’t take that long to paint a wall. My advice is to invest
in long lasting furniture and be bolder with colored walls.”

Nina Bruun, Trend Analyst and Designer

colors

N405 Terracotta,Y487 Piazza,V447 Serpentine and Y500 Wrought Iron

The colors are indicative. Please check the colors against the real Tikkurila color samples.
Painting the backwall with Luja 7 Matt in greenish V447 Serpentine
pa i n t s freshens up the entire bathroom.
Full-matt Harmony Interior Paint and Luja 7 Matt wall paint

18 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 19

 At home with Susanna
A piece of Paris
Styling and text: SUSANNA VENTO
Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI

The walls of the dining The kitchen was painted

area, skirting boards and with Luja wall paint,
doors were painted in Y487 which can be wiped clean,
Piazza. The walls were color Y487 Piazza. 
painted with full-matt
Harmony Interior Paint
and the doors and skirting
boards with Helmi Furniture
Paint. The dark green wall
was painted earlier in K444
(Symphony).
20 | COLOR NOW 2017 COLOR NOW 2018 | 21
 I
fell in love with the sophisticated tones of the Minerals
collection. I used six colors, Y487 Piazza, M476 Rooibos,
V484 Driftwood, H456 Straw, Y500 Wrought Iron and V447
Serpentine, to create a stylish and soft new look for my home.
My home was previously painted entirely white, and it
needed a new coat of paint and, more importantly, a color
update. The original white-on-white concept made the space
look airy and spacious, but I was longing for something slightly
softer and more welcoming. My family loves France and it shows
in our home, too. The Minerals collection offered a brilliant
selection of earthy shades and elegant background colors.
The dining room saw the biggest transformation. All
the walls, doors, skirting boards and built-in cabinets were
painted with Harmony Interior Paint and Helmi Furniture
Paint in the light gray Y487 Piazza. Piazza is a warm shade
of gray that still manages to keep the space light and airy. We
left a distinct white stripe between the ceiling and the wall to
increase the sense of height and to create a contrast between
the soft gray and pure white..
The parquet floors were repainted with Betolux akva Floor
Paint in V484 Driftwood, a gray with brownish undertones.
The door thresholds were accentuated with the reddish-brown
M476 Rooibos. 
The walls in the children’s room were painted with the
easy-clean Joker wall paint in the yellow H456 Straw to com-
plement the white and wooden surfaces. The skirting boards
were painted with Helmi Furniture Paint in the same shade.
The master bedroom already had a wall in grayish green K444,
which I had painted earlier. It was now paired with the lighter
green of V447 Serpentine.
Other shades from the color card are used in the rest of
the interior. An eye-catching feature on the living room wall
is the photograph by Rune Johansen, På vei til himmelen. It
has the same shade of blue that shade X438 Secret does. The
tanned leather items, red clay objects and linen fabrics repeat
the tones of N405 Terracotta, S471 Etruscan and Y458 Merino.”

Susanna Vento, Interior Stylist

The shades form a beautiful narrative from room to room. colors

V484 Driftwood on the floors and M476 Rooibos on the thresholds Y487 Piazza, M476 Rooibos,V484 Driftwood,V447 Serpentine,
finish the look. The floors were painted with Betolux Akva. H456 Straw and Y500 Wrought Iron
The colors are indicative. Please check the colors against the real Tikkurila color samples.

pa i n t s

Full-matt Harmony Interior Paint, Luja 7 Matt wall paint Betolux Akva floor paint
and matt Helmi 10 furniture paint

22 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 23

The wall with the door The vintage safari chair
in the children’s room was was also given a fresh coat
brightened up with Joker of paint. The wooden
paint in H456 Straw. parts that had previously
been painted red, were
repainted with Helmi
Furniture Paint in
Y500 Wrought Iron.

COLOR NOW 2018 | 25

At home with Laura
Dark minerals
Text: LAURA RÄIHÄ
Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI The dark pieces of furniture are
painted in M425 Beetroot and
Y500 Wrought Iron, which come
into their own against Harmony
Interior Paint in V484 Driftwood.
The bouquet of flowers draws all
the colors of the interior together.
The Beetroot cabinet and the
Wrought Iron velvet curtains create
a controlled contrast in the space.
 T
he lovely, dark and earthy shades of the Minerals
collection were an easy choice for my home. Our
previous home was strictly black and white, so now
we were ready for colors with warmth and character.
The previous owners had chosen light gray on the walls,
which felt too cold and pale. The idea for using darker shades
came to us during our recent trip to Italy, where our eyes
were drawn to sumptuous reds and stone and marble surfaces
that are very popular in Italy. We chose the strong but elegant
V484 Driftwood, Y500 Wrought Iron, M425 Beetroot and S471
Etruscan from the Minerals collection.
The large living room was made more intimate with full-
matt Harmony Interior Paint in the warm, gray Driftwood.
The neutral base forms a calm background for more accentuated
furniture. Driftwood looked quite dark in the color card, but
since we have natural light flooding in from three directions,
we didn’t hesitate with our choice. The fairly dark walls are
complemented by the brown tone of the floor, and the white
skirting boards and ceiling freshen up the overall impact.
The old white cabinet was also given a makeover with a
new coat of paint in Beetroot. The dark purple tone is beau-
tifully contrasted by Driftwood. The doors were primed with
Otex Akva Adhesion Primer, which made the application of
the top coat using a small, short-pile roller easy. The aim was
to achieve as matt a surface as possible with the cabinet and
therefore it was decided to try Liitu Blackboard Paint. The
experiment paid off and the end result is exactly as planned, a
slightly coarse matt surface.
This particular color palette emphasizes the importance
of lighting conditions in different seasons and at different
times of day. The subtle, broken shades are clearly affected by
the surrounding amount and quality of light. Therefore, it
has been so interesting to notice how at certain times of the
day, the Beetroot looks almost brown while the Driftwood
is almost green.

Laura Räihä, Interior Architect

colors

V484 Driftwood, M425 Beetroot, S471 Etruscan and Y500 Wrought Iron
The colors are indicative. Please check the colors against the real Tikkurila color samples. The work station desk and the panel behind the desk were painted with
matt Helmi 10 Furniture Paint in Y500 Wrought Iron. The Drop chairs
pa i n t s and Natuzzi table lamp are from Vepsäläinen store and match effortlessly
Full-matt Harmony Interior Paint, with Y500 Wrought Iron and V484 Driftwood, as they are very
matt Helmi 10 Furniture Paint and Liitu Blackboard Paint. similar in color to M425 Beetroot.

28 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 29

 1 Fair, warm natural
materials are given Rug, Finarte
added subtlety when Chair, Nikari
placed against a dark Pot, Sami Ruotsalainen
backdrop. The wall
is painted in M476
Rooibos and the panel
screen in N405
Terracotta.
2

Dark does not

necessarily mean Dog, Kay Bojensen
gloomy. When paired Toolbox, Vitra
with bright colors,
Add character to your deep colors keep
dinner party with dark the overall scheme
tableware. The delicate Y415 interesting.
Carnosa on the walls creates
balanced contrast.
Easy chair, Gubi
Aalto vase, Kartio tumblers Aalto vase, Iittala
and Taika plates, Iittala Lamp, Menu
Cushion, Anno
Tea trolley, Artek

Jump in at 3
the deep end
Dark colors are often avoided for no good reason –
they certainly don’t deserve their difficult reputation.
Many deeper shades give the much-needed shape
and definition to colorless wooden surfaces and
understated Scandinavian decor.They bring bright
colors to life and live happily side by side with pale
neutrals. Choose your favorite shade and jump right
in at the deep end! Play with different grades shades

Editor: CHRISTA BJÖRKSTAM of gloss. Shades seem deeper X454 Rice, X501 Aubergine, N405 Terracotta
or softer, depending on The colors are indicative. Please check the colors
the texture of the surface. against the real Tikkurila color samples.
Matt ceramics and cotton
velvet look stunning against furniture and products

polished stone. Vepsäläinen, Iittala, Finarte, Anno, Harmony Interior Paint

30 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 31

 A dream house
like no other
Blue and green colors, rich and deep. When the Svanberg Sköld family
started planning the renovation of their dream house, it was clear
from the beginning that they wanted to paint all the walls, doors and
furnishings. The builders arrived the day after the deal on the house was
concluded, and in less than a year, the overhaul was complete. The family
chose unassuming, harmonious colors throughout the house, and have
created exactly the atmosphere they all wanted for their home.

Text: SANDRA TROEDSON

Photos: KLAUS SJÖBERG

Fannydal in Nacka is only ten minutes from the center of work themselves. To find the perfect colors, they
Stockholm. The family’s house with a yellow rendered painted large sheets of paper to hang in each room.
façade is located by a quiet one-way street. Behind the The swatches stayed on the walls throughout the major
garden, there is Lake Järlasjö and forests full of wild building work before the painting could begin. The
mushrooms for picking. This is where Matilde, Marcus blue kitchen, which was originally supposed to be at
and their two children, Lizzie, 5, and Arthur, 3, live. the back of the house, is now in the center of the house.
The family bought the house just before Christmas The kitchen furniture is painted a slightly darker blue,
2014 and spent the best part of the following year ren- complementing the walls beautifully.
ovating the house to their exacting standards. First the To create a home to meet the needs of their fam-
house was almost completely gutted, which took a few ily, Matilde and Marcus decided to dedicate a room
months. Then the new floor plan began to take shape. upstairs exclusively to watching films and relaxing
− “What I love best about our house is the large together. The center piece of the room is a large, grey
living room and that we could open up the ceiling sofa, and the walls are painted dark blue, making the
to create double-height, which is fantastic. I’m also room an invitingly cozy nook.
happy that we came up with broken color shades that − “We love to watch films and television and to
don’t make the house look too murky,” says Matilde. read, so it is great to have a room that is designed for
The atmosphere is serene and the downtoned that very purpose, where we can all relax and watch
colors make for a harmonious overall appearance. television or simply spend time together. We wanted
“The greyish green on the living room walls is an the walls to be blackish blue but still not too dark. We
absolute winner. were really successful with this color, says Matilde.
− “I love how the colors are similar but not the Marcus and Matilde work as commercial film
same. We started from our favorite colors, green and directors in their own advertising agency, and this also
blue, and used blue upstairs and greens downstairs.” shows in their home decoration. The house is adorned
Matilde and Marcus designed everything together with carefully selected unusual objects that the couple
for the entire project, including the smallest of details. have collected on their business trips around the world.
Before the work began in earnest, they consulted an A great example is the three tiny wooden statuettes
architect, but eventually decided to do all the design on the shelf in the television room. They come from a

32 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 33

 secret industrial space in Madrid, and they were used
in one of Almodóvar’s films.
− “Marcus always returns from his travels with Residents
heavy baggage and I’m exactly the same. We fill our Matilde, her husband Marcus and children
bags with various flea market finds and foods that are Lizzy, 5, and Arthur, 3.
not available in our shops”.
Although the family has not lived in their house House
for long, it already has that lovely lived-in feel and a A 1958 Functionalist house in Storängen,
unique character that reflects the family’s taste and 10 minutes from the center of Stockholm.
inspirations.
Profession
Matilde has served as the editor of Elle
MATILDE’S TIPS FOR A COLORFUL HOME Decoration, Plaza Magazine and DN
Kultur. She and her husband are currently
• Even if you want to use a lot of color in your directors of commercials at Standart.
home, keep to one central theme. I matched the
colors on the walls, floors, strips and cabinet doors
in each room.

• I also limited my choices to two colors, blue and

green.

• Choose colors that have always been your favorites.

This will help you avoid falling for a fad and
painting the entire house, for example, a fashionable
yellow, although you used to hate the color.

• Shading colors with black tones them down and

gives a beautiful harmony to the outcome.

• Buy objects on your travels. Ask the locals where

the best street markets, car boot sales and Sunday
markets are and venture out to shops outside the
tourist areas.

Use Luja finishing paint for

bathroom walls. The green
S440 Silk Road looks beautiful The blue color palette of the kitchen can be recreated with Tikkurila Luja for walls,
next to white tiles shade X438 Secret, and Helmi Furniture Paint, shade J490 Rain

34 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 35

 The beautiful ambience of
the living room can be recreated
with Harmony Interior Paint,
shade V447 Serpentine
36 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 37
 ON T H E S U R FAC E

How to
create
depth for
your walls
Moldings, strips, panels and paint can bring smooth
wall surfaces to life. Simple DIY and paint ideas
will give a final touch to your interior.

Text: SUSANNA VENTO

Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI AND MIKKO RYHÄNEN

Different paint effects and patterns have been used Create a stylish grid pattern on your wall using rec-
to enliven walls throughout history. Today’s trend is tangular wood strips. Saw the strips into the desired
to take redecorating your walls a step further and be length and prime with Otex Akva. Fasten the strips
inspired by the architecture of the building. Different onto the wall with nails, screws or glue, depending on
moldings are ideal in old townhouse apartments and the wall material. If necessary, tidy up gaps between the
traditional and country-style houses. The sleek walls of wall and the strips with filler. Apply one or two coats
new houses and modern 1960s homes are best adorned of Harmony Interior Paint, depending on the shade.
with stylish strips and panels. The pictured color was created at Tikkurila Color
Service according to Susanna Vento’s specifications,
color code 194J.

Pictured opposite. Botanic shelf, Adea / Vepsäläinen

watering can Cilla’s.
Color 194J, Harmony Interior Paint

38 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 39

 The focal point on the Both walls were painted
inviting kitchen interior is using Harmony Interi-
the window wall, paint- or Paint. The intimate
ed with the dark Deco atmosphere is perfected
Grey shade 1969. The by Tunto Hieno (Fine)
wall next to it was paint- Textured Coating.
ed with V503 Winter.

Create an elegant style by depending on the wall

using cover strips to cre- material. If necessary, tidy
ate an eye-catching relief. up the gaps between the
Prime the strips cut to the wall and the strips with
desired length and mit- filler. Depending on the
er with an undercoating shade, apply one or two
suitable for the material, coats of Harmony Interior
such as Otex Akva. Fasten Paint. Shade: X487 Plaster
the strips onto the wall
with nails, screws or glue, Picture: Timberwise

The untreated horizontal paneling was coated with

Paneeli-Ässä Lacquer, shade 3466 Vanilla. Paneeli-Ässä
is a water-borne acrylate lacquer for indoor wall and
Look at the different spaces color code for the room ceiling panels
of your home as an enti- in the front is Fen V446
ty and bravely combine from the Feel the Color
different color palettes. collection. Pair your matt
The back wall of the black wall surface with doors
kitchen was painted with and doorframes painted Rattan table, Ikea,
Harmony Interior Paint, with the high-gloss Helmi Urna vase, Marimekko
shade 1969 on the Deco Furniture Paint 80, shade
Grey color card and the F497 Paper.

40 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 41

 MASTERCLASS

The marriage
of color
and light
Light is the physical prerequisite for color. It is only because of light that
we see colors. When choosing the color for a room, it is important to
study the light in the room at different times of day, morning and night.
The atmosphere of a space is the sum of the light and the colors.

Text: EVELIINA SALOMAA

Photo: AGENCY LEROY

Strong midday light makes walls glow in almost making the final decision, so that you can be sure how shades come into their own in warm light. coolness of the light.
orange shades. The evening sun makes the color even the light changes in the space through the day. The ability of a light source to reveal color is – “We have relatively little natural light here in
deeper and warmer. In artificial light, however, the – “Use a small portion of the wall for testing indicated by the color rendering index, or the Ra the north. We need to use artificial lighting almost
same wall may seem sand-colored instead. Each indi- colors or attach color chips next to each other on the value. The higher the Ra value on the label, the more throughout the year”.
vidual perception of a color is real. Different lighting wall. How do the shades evolve during the day? Look natural the colors will appear with the light source. How we perceive color is always a subjective
conditions bring out different shades. at the colors on a cloudy day and in bright sunshine. In addition to the color rendering index, the color experience. There is no right or wrong way to perceive
– “The color of a paint is the result of a combination Do the colors look very different at midday compared temperature affects the quality of light. The unit of color. The pigment composition of a paint determines
of pigments. Each pigment reflects certain wavelengths to the evening? Does artificial light bring out a less measurement expressing color temperature is Kelvin. its color, but not the observer’s experience.
of light. If a paint has pigments that reflect cold light, attractive shade? The higher the Kelvin value on the label, the colder – “How we experience a color is equally impor-
the shade of the paint is cold”, Irina Hanhisalo, Color Artificial lighting can be easily changed, but if the color of the light of that particular light source. tant as how it appears”.
Designer at Tikkurila explains. the colors don’t look becoming in natural light, you When adjusting your lighting, the desired am-
Light and color can be used to support each should change the color.” When choosing the color, bience is the key factor to go by. Cool light opens up
other, or to bring out new dimensions from each other. consider what kind of atmosphere you want to achieve. the space, while warm light makes the space more THE QUALITY OF PAINT AFFECTS HOW WE PERCEIVE
When choosing a new color for a space, consider the – “How you intend to use the room is really cozy and inviting. COLOR
natural light, but also all other sources of light used important. Is it a place for relaxation or work? What – “Sometimes you want to use light that does not
in the space. kind of feel are you looking for in the particular space?” repeat the wavelengths of warm colors, and sometimes Make sure when choosing paints at the store that your
Hanhisalo asks. you do want to bring out the warm colors. There are paint is tinted to Tikkurila interior wall paint. This is
no straightforward rules saying what is right or wrong”. the only way to guarantee that the shade is exactly the
SEE WHAT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIGHT DO TO USE LIGHT TO EMPHASIZE OR TONE DOWN SHADES same as in the Tikkurila Feel the Color chip.
A COLOR The Feel the Color chips are produced using the
Pay attention to the different shades of a color, because TRUST YOUR OWN INSTINCT unique color card paint of Tikkurila. The chips are
Before committing to a color, bring home a color chip. they change according to the time of day and the tinted using the same system as is used in stores to tint
– “A visual perception is always a sum of many season. You can emphasize the beauty of a color with How we experience color also depends on the amount the Tikkurila paint of your choice, and the shades are
things. We always see a color in dialogue with its light and with different lighting solutions, you can of light. In the northern hemisphere, the winters are always verified under different light sources before
surroundings. Pale shades, in particular, are affected discover new shades from the same paint or completely long and dark. Colors are perceived in a complete- finalizing the color card.
by surrounding colors. Fabrics, furniture and other transform the atmosphere of a space. ly different manner in the north than in the south,
surface materials have an impact on the behavior of – “The paint contains different pigments and they because natural light is so very different.
the light but also on how a wall shade appears. all react to the wavelengths of light in a different way. In the north, daylight is mainly cool in tem-
Therefore, the wall color should be tested before Cool colors stand out in cool light and, similarly, warm perature. However, we use lots of artificial lighting
systems, which help us balance out and soften the

42 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 43

 IN COLOR NOW

Colors:
an interior
architect’s choice
The shades selected this year for the Tikkurila Color Now 2018
collection are easy to work into an interior of any type or style.
The shades include sultry spicy as well as elegant and cool tones,
all balanced with light neutrals. Learn to combine colors in a new
way and give your home a cozy makeover with trendy colors.

Style and text: LAURA RÄIHÄ

Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI

SUMPTUOUSLY SPICY AND EARTHY REDS USE COLOR TO EMPHASIZE STRUCTURES

Freshen up the earthy and vigorous shades M476 Rooibos, The entrance hall is the first thing your guests see of
N405 Terracotta and S471 Etruscan with light and neutral your home and gives the ever-important first impres-
Y458 Merino, Y487 Piazza and V484 Driftwood. Light sion. Therefore, it is a great idea to create a unique
colors tame the fiery reds from being too overpower- and memorable atmosphere in the entranceway. The
ing. Surfaces in red tones are ideally paired with cool owners decided to keep their vestibule light in color and
brown wood on, for example, the floor. A touch of chose semi-matt Remontti-Ässä, as it is easy to keep
Y500 Wrought Iron and black in selected details create clean. The shade is Y487 Piazza from the Tikkurila
contrast and sharpen up the look. V447 Serpentine has a Color Now 2018 collection. This warm light gray
greenish undertone so it matches reddish, spicy colors, was combined with the trendy, warm S471 Etruscan.
its complementary colors, perfectly. These shades bring The entrance hall was coated with a semi-matt paint.
out different structures beautifully. The aim was to clearly separate the vestibule and
hall visually and to emphasize the beautiful arches of the
See the moodboard on the following page. hall. The shape of the arch stands out against the white
vestibule. The entrance hall is a small walk-through
space, so to give it added interest and personality, it
was crucial to select a color that, together with the
structural features, shows off the character of the space.

Terracotta Etruscan Rooibos Beetroot The deep wood color of the Botanic Shelf
N405 S471 M476 M425 by Adea pairs up beautifully with the
dark-stained floor. The round, tinted
mirror of the entrance hall repeats the shade
The colors are indicative. Please check the colors against
the real Tikkurila color samples.
of S471 Etruscan. The arches of the hall
were brought into relief by painting the
44 | COLOR NOW 2018
walls with Remontti-Ässä in Etruscan COLOR NOW 2018 | 45
 IN COLOR NOW

POWERFUL BLUES FROM WALL TO THE CEILING

The blue shades M350 Ink and X438 Secret are boosted When giving the bedroom a fresh, new look, even
by brass details and the yellow H456 Straw, blue and the ceiling was given its own characterful color. The
yellow being complementary colors. Use different shades Tikkurila Minerals shades Y458 Merino and X438
of blue to create layers and a sense of depth. These Secret proved to be a serene and calming choice. The
shades work best on even surfaces with clean graphic warm white tone together with pale blue create an
shapes and lines. Neutral oak is slightly yellow, which airy and peaceful atmosphere. The linen sheets that
is why it goes so well with blues. The dark Wrought are almost exactly the color of Wrought Iron support the
Iron and light shades rein in the striking blue tones. color palette, with the pillow in Driftwood color. The
wall behind the bed was painted with matt Harmony
Interior Paint and the same shade continues on the
ceiling. Secret is reminiscent of a hazy blue sky and has
an immediately calming effect, making it particularly
suitable for a bedroom. On large surfaces, Secret acts
as a discreet backdrop while Ink is a bold choice, and
even more so when used for a whole room.
In this bedroom, the remaining walls are paint-
ed with the warm white Merino, which brings the
sunshine in even on a cloudy day. Using two tones
and painting the ceiling sky blue are an elegant and
understated way to give a room distinct character.

The dark linen sheets and pillowcases match the Y458 Merino and X438 Secret
shades of the walls perfectly. The pale sky blue on the ceiling gives the room an unusual,
calm atmosphere; the paint used was the full-matt Harmony.

46 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 47

 Serendipity
of color
Nina Bruun sees beauty in a moldy lemon and pastel-colored blocks of flats.
The renowned trend analyst and designer talks about her path from being
the daughter of an artist and a graphic designer to being one of the leading
experts in Nordic design – and about the beauty of the unexpected.

Text: MATILDA KIVELÄ

Photos: MIKKEL MORTENSEN

Other photos:
Muuto – roof terrace: Nina Bruun
Teapot: Pia Winther / Yellows
Statue: Nina Bruun

48 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 49

 to as a project manager to MOULDY LEMONS AND MILAN FASHION
coordinate colors and col-
lections. Four years later, Nina can be inspired by a piece of fruit forgotten on
Nina was hungry for new the kitchen table for too long, just as much as by a
challenges and decided to major Picasso exhibition. Nina laughs as she confesses
go out on her own again. that one of the most inspiring sights for her is a moldy
And since then, her small lemon. “This may sound a bit odd, but I love seeing
design consultancy in concrete changes taking place in the art works of na-
Copenhagen has had no ture!” Occasionally Nina carefully observes a lemon
shortage of customers. Her for a long period of time, how the bright yellow turns
popularity is based on her a dark green and eventually into a shriveled, blue fruit,
famous sixth sense when almost unrecognizable as a lemon.
it comes to trends The most inspiring objects and phenomena may
While trends and be closer than you think. Nina sees ideas in a pretty
their mysterious ways may can of beans at the supermarket or the rapidly changing
seem incomprehensible and colors of the sky in spring. While she uses a wealth of
random to an outsider, different locations and items for inspiration, depending
trend analysts are apt to on the project, often the inspiration can be found in
pick up the most interesting people she is with. “I am motivated by other creatives.
ones from the multitude I absorb energy from the strengths and success stories
of international tastes and of others”, she says, adding, “I work constantly to
“Everyone around me assumed that I would choose phenomena. When researching for the next trend in improve my skills and to find new interesting domains
a creative career, so the first thing I did was go and interior design, Nina often follows fashion and selects and styles.” In her native Copenhagen, Nina especially
study economics, just to prove that there was more to the most intriguing trends in the clothing industry. enjoys the colors used in the architecture: the color
me than that!” Nina Bruun says, eyes sparkling with “Fashion is always a step ahead of interior design,” palettes of entire streets, ranging from red to orange,
her contagious laughter. Her happy and humorous she says. While Nina has years of solid experience yellow and delicate pink. When traveling, she pays
personality and great creative talent has won over in trend forecasting, it does include an element of attention to the colors used in each location, what
the design world. Nina’s career trajectory from being mysticism even for professionals. Ultimately, it is a the surrounding nature is like and how the people are
the offspring of a creative family to being the design matter of intuition. “There is no recipe for predicting dressed. “In Milan, I can’t stop admiring the richness
manager of the iconic Danish design brand Muuto trends”, she opines. of color that women wear”, Bruun says.
and then the director of her own studio is very much She pauses for a moment when asked about the
like herself – interesting, diverse, uncompromising next mega trend in interior design, as if she was scan-
and incredibly fast. ning through a host of potential directions. “I notice AMBITIOUS FIVE-YEAR PLAN
Nina’s family background is saturated with cre- that people are more and more keen to choose color,”
atives – her grandfather was an architect and her Nina finally says, explaining why she thinks the next Nina’s road from being the child of a creative family
grandmother an artist, her mother is an architect and major trend is all about bold colors. She feels that the to becoming a leading figure in the world of design
father a graphic designer. Nina inherited the creativity domination of grey and white is finally coming to has had its twists and turns. And she is not planning
of her family, but settling for a familiar choice seemed an end, and designers throughout the Nordic coun- on resting on her laurels quite yet, although she is
initially like the easy way out. Instead, she decided tries are moving away from the pale palette towards positive that she is on the right track. If the design Nina is assisting the Danish
to enter the world of finance and banking, where she more personal and unique use of color. “Colors are guru now gives off an air of self-assured confidence, Thorvaldsen Museum in
built a career for four years, until she began to feel again becoming a tool for self-expression”, she says. this was not always the case. “If I could go back in creating a visual story line.
the lack of creativity suffocating. “I reached a point Nina finds that colors are a sign of globalization. In time, I would trust myself a bit more”, she muses. She was also part of the team
where I felt like all my creativity had been squeezed addition to the traditional sources, inspiration is also “I would love to give an injection of self-confidence developing the design and
out of me,” she says. Leaving the world of banking being sought from social media, which has brought to every creative person, without forgetting that all visual identity for VIVA
behind, she enrolled in the Royal Danish Academy of Mediterranean and Southern European colors to the success comes with hard work.” When asked where she Scandinavia, a design company
Design, which felt like coming home. “When I first North in a completely new way. sees herself in five years’ time, Nina laughs; she is far specialising in teaware.
started my studies at the academy, I practically lived too busy to make such plans. Six months after setting
there. I was there from morning till night and loved up her own consultancy, Nina is unwilling to dream
every second of it”, Nina says. about the future. Who knows – it can be something
unbelievably big or completely unexpected. For Nina, ”Colors are
again becoming
creativity is a life force forever in motion, and it may
PREDICTING TRENDS ON INTUITION one day turn her into, for example, a painter. With
a background in finance, she measures her success

a tool for self-

Despite her young age, Nina, who is now 33, has in a currency completely different from material or
already achieved things that she hardly dared dream superficial assets. “Ultimately, it is never about mon-
of. After graduating from the design academy and ey, it is about being able to do what I love...that’s my
having first tested her wings as a freelance designer,
she was headhunted to the Danish design brand Muu-
five-year plan!”
expression.”
Watch a video about Nina Bruun and the selection of
the Color of the Year: youtube.com/TikkurilaCom

50 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 51

 EASY

R M
AK
EOVE

Give your
kitchen a facelift
We are in a leafy suburb of Helsinki and the home to one of
the architectural gems of the city – rows of apartment blocks in
the purest of 1960s style. We are witnessing the makeover of a kitchen in
an apartment in one of the famous apartment blocks of Pihlajamäki.

Style and text: SUSANNA VENTO

Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI

The aim was to refurbish the kitchen The new owners wanted to restore The high-gloss laminate doors were
to match the original architectural the 1960s character, but remov- removed and cleaned, after which
style of the building, which represents ing perfectly good kitchen units they were sanded and given a com-
some of the best of Finnish archi- felt wasteful. Yet, the dark color pletely new look with the greenish
tecture of its decade. The kitchen, scheme made the low ceiling height grey Symphony K497 and the deter-
which has sweeping views through typical of the era feel even lower, gent-resistant Helmi 30 Furniture
its panorama windows and is closed and something lighter was required Paint. The kitchen saw a complete
off by sliding doors, had been reno- instead. Pure white seemed the ob- overhaul in only three days. The
vated some time ago, and the original vious choice for the kitchen units, owners also fitted continuous plinth
kitchen units had been disposed of but the owners wanted something panels to cover the gaps between
by the previous owner. The new more unusual, so they opted for a units, appliances and the floor and
high-gloss black kitchen seemed pale grey with greenish shade, which to give the space a finished look.
awkwardly at odds with the original appears equally bright and as fresh The dishwasher was replaced by an
atmosphere of the building. as white. integrated model, now neatly hidden
by a beautiful cabinet door.

Painting the kitchen was easy

because none of the cabinet
frames or cover strips and pan-
els needed painting. Only the
visible part of the white frame
between base cabinets and
the counter top was painted in
the same shade as the doors.

Linen fabrics, Ikea

vase and watering can, AYTM

52 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 53

 Y497 Toro X497 Lava

The fail-safe guide to painting

your kitchen cabinet doors
1. CLEAN 3. PAINT

Clean the surfaces with Tikkurila Apply one or two coats of Helmi
Kalustepesu (Cleaning Agent) to 30 Furniture Paint. To achieve an
remove all grease and dirt. even finish, use a paint sprayer or
sponge paint roller.
2. PRIME

If necessary, fill any dents and

holes with Helmi Renovation
Filler. Sand gently and apply
one coat of Otex Akva
Adhesion Primer.

PAINT KITCHEN CABINETS IN A NEW SHADE

The large white kitchen tiles

were in good condition and
suitable for the desired style.
Toro If you want to repaint your
Kaolin Symphony Symphony Deco Grey Lava
K497 H486 Y460 1905 X497 Y497 tiles, watch the Tikkurila
instruction video: youtube.
com/TikkurilaCom.
The colors are indicative.
Please check the colors against real Tikkurila color samples. Glasses and carafe, AYTM
Vetimet, Honkola
54 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 55
 EASY

R M
AK
EOVE

Storage
savvy
3 ideas on how to give your storage a new look
Turn practicality into beauty and turn your storage solutions into
a visual feature. Paint an old glass cabinet into an eye-catcher
or create a stylish look for your fitted cabinets with colors that
match your unique interiors. It only takes a weekend to turn
a dull piece of old furniture into a focal point of the house.

Text: NINA KAIJASILTA

Photos: TIMO KIRKKALA, MAIJU SAHA AND PINJA ROUGER

1. Paint your display cabinet inside-out

Don’t limit yourself to the exterior of your display

cabinet: you can also use your favorite shade inside.
Helena Valtonen, the House for Two blogger, gave a
new lease of life to her cabinet with Helmi 10 Furni-
ture Paint in S302 Grapefruit. The cabinet was a flea
market find that also received a new coat of paint on
the outside with the gray H495 Tuft. The contrast is
stunning, and the sunny spot of color makes Helena
smile every morning.

56 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 57

 2. ADD CHARACTER TO PLAIN CABINET DOORS 3. SPIRITED PASTELS FOR THE CHESTS OF DRAWERS THREE STEPS OF PAINTING FURNITURE
WITH STRIPS
Why not go a bit wild and use several colors? The 1. CLEAN AND SAND 3. PAINT
Create a calm space and hide away clutter in fitted overall impact will still be harmonious when you stick
cabinets. Maiju Saha, the Maiju Saw blogger, used to pastels. Pinja Rouger, the Pinjacolada blogger, paint- Clean the surface of the piece with Apply one or two coats of Helmi Furniture
IKEA’s affordable kitchen cabinets to create a practical ed the white IKEA chest of drawers in her bedroom Tikkurila Kalustepesu (Cleaning Agent) Paint. Helmi comes in three gloss grades:
storage unit in her living room and added strips to cre- with the semi-matt Helmi 30 Furniture Paint and the and allow it to dry. Make sure you follow matt, semi-matt and gloss. Use a synthetic
ate a panel door effect. She chose Helmi 10 Furniture delectable pastels from the Feel the Color collection: the instructions on the package. Sand brush and furniture paint roller.
Paint in beige-tinted gray, shade 1943, from the Deco V431 Sandman, X438 Secret, Y411 Milkshake, H417 any former coatings to a matt surface and
Grey color card. You can create the trendy framed Mezeron and S302 Grapefruit. The color scheme was remove the dust.
door easily at low cost with a few dozen meters of balanced out with a popular gray, X487 Plaster, and white,
wood strip and paint that matches your interior. The G503 Calla. Also notice the knobs painted in different
row of cabinets became a harmonious element in the colors – paint one half or a whole knob in a candy shade. 2. PRIME
living room, hiding unsightly clutter and providing a
surface for displaying art objects. Pictured opposite. Apply one coat of Helmi Primer.
If you are painting Melamine or MDF,
we recommend you use Otex Akva
Adhesion Primer.

58 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 59

 EASY

R M
AK
EOVE

Add a bit of bling

to your home
Bring a touch of luxury into your home with metallic paint. Turn a rescued
piece of furniture into a treasure with Taika Pearl Paint. What would
work best for you: bright pearlescent or warm coppery tones?

Text: NINA KAIJASILTA

Photos: VIENA-LEENA JURVELIN
AND ANNIKA MEDER-LIIKANEN

WARM COPPER SHINY PAINT ON ART OBJECTS

Blogger Viena-Leena Jurvelin decided to give an 1. CLEAN

old floor lamp found in a recycling center one more
chance. With a coat of Taika Pearl Paint, shade Copper Clean the surface of the piece with Tikkurila Kalustepesu
KM 2034, the lamp fits perfectly in the earthy color (Cleaning Agent) and allow it to dry. Make sure you
scheme of the rest of the interior. follow the instructions on the package.

FRESH SILVER 2. PAINT

Annika Meder-Liikanen, a Finnish blogger, painted a Apply one or two coats of Taika Pearl Paint.
number of weaved textures with the edgy Taika Pearl
Paint shade Luna HM 2703 and Silver HM. Weaved
bags and a hat were given a new, surprising look.
The metallic sheen looks simply divine in natural light.

Pictured opposite.

60 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 61

 EASY

R M
AK
EOVE

Accentuate
your garden with
a touch of black
Pitch black elements are a great way to spice up your garden. Paint a fence,
a piece of outdoor furniture, decking or a section of the façade with a
trendy dark shade. Keep the overall appearance fresh by combining black
with natural materials, pale surfaces and surround it with lush greenery.

Style and text: NINA KAIJASILTA

Photos: PETER CARLSSON, CECILIA NORDSTRAND, KLAS SJÖBERG,
MARJA WICKMAN AND JUTTA KARIHTALA

1. C
 REATE YOUR OWN 3–4. PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL decking with dainty outdoor fur-
GARDEN OASIS niture in shades of grey, white and
Outdoor furniture painted black green for a fresh look.
Build your own secluded cocoon is a great way to accentuate your
using a black fence. Paint the board garden. An old wicker table was 5. GIVE YOUR FAÇADE BOLD
fence with Valtti Opaque (shade given a new lease on life with Unica PRESENCE
564X), which leaves the wood grain Akva Paint in black brown Y497
beautifully on display. Pair the black Toro. Other wicker furnishings were A brave choice is to paint your façade
fence with light-colored paving slabs painted in the green-tinted white black. The outcome need not be
and a wooden footpath. F390 Horseradish. The pitch black murky, if you keep your outdoor
swing creates a beautiful contrast spaces, such as terraces light-shade.
2. IMPRESS WITH THE ENTRANCE with the surrounding greenery. The When selecting the exterior color,
beautiful translucent surface was consider the different shades of dark
White, rendered façade can be given created with Unica Akva Lacquer colors, because even the black pig-
added prestige with stairs oiled black. in 5089 Piki (Pitch). ment always comes with a subtle
The wooden stairs will withstand shade. Typically, the shades are blue-
even tough weather conditions when 4. ADD WARMTH TO YOUR ish, but if this is not your desired
you treat it with the ready-to-use BALCONY DÉCOR look, the blue tone can be removed
black Valtti Plus Terrace Oil. The by adding another pigment, such as
impressive entrance is given a stylish Cover the cool, concrete balcony red or yellow.
finish with pots that you can paint floor with black wooden decking
with the color of your choice with and feel the warm surface under The greyer the shade, the more sa-

1
Yki Sokkelimaali, Socle Paint. your feet. Blogger Marja Wickman lient the underlying shade is. Finn-
has treated her balcony decking with ish blogger Jutta Karihtala had her
black Valtti Plus Terrace Oil, which cottage painted black with Ultra
gives the material superior weather Classic House Paint in 564X from
performance compared to ordinary the Wooden Facades color card.
wood oils. Combine black balcony
See the ideas on the following page.

64 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 65

 3 4

5 6
66 | COLOR NOW 2018
2 COLOR NOW 2018 | 67
 C O L O R G U R U S AY S

How to choose
the perfect shade
of grey
Silver tabby kittens, cliffs smoothed by the sea, a soft ball of wool. Nature is full
of diverse and rich shades of grey. When choosing grey for your home interior,
it is important to examine the shades a single color can actually reflect.

Text: EVELIINA SALOMAA

Style: MAIJU SAHA, GREEN HOME BOOK
Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI

There is an extremely wide range of greys to play and 1. Consider what you personally like
experiment with. The different shades work beauti-
fully with other colors, adding a calming effect to the “What works in somebody else’s home may be com-
composition. Finding the right shade of grey for your pletely wrong for yours. Think of the type of atmos-
home may seem a daunting task. The earthy colors phere you want to achieve. Warm or cool tones, airy or
in the Feel the Color card make choosing the right cozy? What colors are currently in use in your interior? 3. Use grey to emphasize or tone down other colors 4. Don’t forget the ceiling and floor
shade easy. If you wish to pull out all the stops and If you like warm colors, go for the warm end of
create a fully grey palette for your home, Tikkurila the Deco Grey color card. Consider, for example, the The different shades of grey calm down other shades, When choosing grey wall color, take into considera-
Deco Grey color card includes as many as 94 different yellowish grey 1909 or V487 Valamo from the Feel the so a grey wall may be an effective way to create tion skirting boards and edgings. Skirting boards and
greys, from opaque colors to translucent and pearlescent Color collection.” harmony in a room. The vibrancy of bright colors doors are usually painted in a warm shade of white.
alternatives. Among the dozens of opaque greys, you is suitably reined in by a backdrop of a grey wall. A Match the color of skirting boards and doors by using
can choose anything between cold and warm shades. shaded gray can also be used to emphasize your favorite a warm shade of grey.
The safest option may seem to be going for a 2. Read the light color. A great cool option in the Feel the Color card
neutral grey. “There is no such thing as a neutral grey is the beautiful K499 Granite and, for a warmer shade,
pigment, because light and the presence of other colors “Light creates the color on a grey surface. Take notice of choose, for example, K487 Calcite. If you are looking THE TRENDY GREYS IN THE COLOR NOW 2018
always affect how grey is perceived and what appears the direction of the light in a room: does it come from to accentuate browns or blues, Deco Grey has great COLOR COLLECTION:
neutral”, says Tikkurila Design Manager Marika Raike. the sunny south or shady north; do your light fittings options in the brownish 1916 and blue-tinted 1938.
For example, the shade 1952 in Tikkurila Deco give out cool or warm light? Cool light emphasizes
Grey color card is a neutral grey. It is the go-to color for the blue tones in a grey, while warm light eliminates
those looking for a grey that has a minimum amount the blue. Create a test patch or place the color chip
of additional tones. However, shade 1931 has a slightly on the wall and observe how the color interacts with
yellowish tone, but often comes out more neutral in the light. The richness of grey is in its many shades.” Driftwood Piazza Wrought iron
use. The wide spectrum of greys is worth exploring V484 Y487 Y500
with an open mind. Even the subtlest tone can make
a grey shade the perfect one for your specific project.
Raike has a few tips up her sleeve for how to find the The colors are indicative. Please check the colors
perfect greys for your home. against real Tikkurila color samples.

68 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 69

 Blue is
the royalty
of colors
Blue is associated with majesty: we see it in the
corridors of Versailles, the portraits of the aristocracy
and in the deep blue sea. It is a color whose story is
a mixture of divinity, power and regal elegance.

Text: MATILDA KIVELÄ

Photos: RIIKKA KANTINKOSKI
Set Design: PÄIVI HÄIKIÖ & TUIKE RANTANEN

Reverie Forget me not Secret Delft Daydream Ink Symphony

V353 H353 X438 S431 J354 M350 L354

The colors are indicative. Please check the colors against real Tikkurila color samples.
 B
lue is the color of possibilities. It ranges MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD
between the harmonious blue of Gustavian
design to the dramatic thundercloud blue, and After becoming the favorite color of the nobility, the
from the sublime royal blue to the romantic price of blue pigments shot through the roof. As the
lavender. It can be the fluorescent Mediterranean blue most sacred and prestigious of all colors, its brightest
or the greenish blue seen on the sandy beaches of the forms were immeasurably valuable. Ultramarine was also
Baltic coast. Blue is the most classic of colors and yet deeply admired by e.g. Michelangelo, who, according
extremely versatile: a few brush strokes can take the to legend, left his masterpiece Deposizione di Cristo nel
mood from stormy and menacing to calm and enchant- sepolcro unfinished, because the young poor artist could
ing. Blue is what connects us to our environment – the not afford any more ultramarine.
unpredictable sea and the boundless skies. Its history The radiant ultramarine became the most
is as many-faceted as its color scale and full of twists sought-after color in the 14th and 15th centuries. Its
and turns and royal connections. price kept rising: when the Florentine artist Andrea
del Sarto was commissioned to paint a picture in
HOW BLUE BECAME ROYAL 1515, with the Virgin Mary as the central motif, the
customer gave special instructions regarding the blue:
By the Middle Ages, the color of the sky and the sea was the cloak of the Virgin Mary was to be painted with
beginning to attract more acceptance, and once dyeing ultramarine that cost no less than five florins – two
techniques improved considerably in the 12th century, hundred euros – per ounce. Owing to its scarcity, long
the color blue gained a whole new status. Colors could distances of transport and dangerous trading routes,
now be reproduced as bright or dark, light and strong, it was an exclusive luxury and therefore the favorite
and artists began to explore the different meanings color among the aristocracy and the church.
behind the different shades and to look for new inter- For a time, it was more precious than gold. The
pretations of sacred colors. Technical development also price increase finally came to a halt in 1824, when
brought with it ultramarine, which literally means a Societé d’encouragement, a French society whose aim
color from “beyond the seas.” The blue pigment made was to promote the role of France in the industrial
from lapis lazuli, a rock extracted from the steep and revolution, offered 6,000 francs to anyone who could
precarious mountainsides in Afghanistan, could now invent a method of synthetically producing ultramarine.
be used in art, and the expensive color gradually be- A French chemist and a German professor came up
came the color used in the holiest of paintings. Soon with a solution almost simultaneously, but the French
the nobility thought to associate themselves with the committee gave the prize to the French chemist. The
holiest of colors, whose depth symbolized abstract new pigment was thus named the French ultramarine.
power, celestial infinity and nearly mystical potency. The formerly unattainable color had finally come
The royal status of blue was finally sealed when within the reach of ordinary people. However, by then
king Louis IX of France took to wearing deep shades its symbolic meaning had already been established.
of blue in the early 13th century and also recreated Today, the most important color of all is equally at
the French coat of arms with ultramarine background. home on the walls of an apartment in a tower block
The role given to blue by Louis IX was the Midas and a royal palace.
touch that made it more and more popular among
royalty. By the 15th century, members of the nobility
liked to be portrayed wearing dark vestments against
a deep blue background, and the inner order of shades
was completely overhauled color by color. It became
impossible for just anyone to wear the celestial color;
for example, in France in the Middle Ages, dyeing
fabric blue required permission from the State and
the Crown. Over time, more and more shades of blue
became the sole property of the nobility. The Royal
Blue was created when George III of Great Britain held
a nationwide competition in the mid-18th century to
find a shade of blue suitable for the monarchy. The last
queen of France, Marie Antoinette, had a light-blue
room in Versailles and she was often depicted wearing
dazzlingly blue dresses.

72 | COLOR NOW 2018

 The master
of dark
colors
Artist Klaus Haapaniemi tells us how to come to terms with
colors you hate, why he is fascinated by the dark waters of
Finnish lakes and how he feels about the color pink.

Text: MATILDA KIVELÄ

Photos: KLAUS HAAPANIEMI & CO

74 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 75

 London’s vibrant artistic life and rich cultural offering, he finds himself avoiding a certain color, he makes a
the eclectic mix of world cuisines, the people and the point of delving into the world of that very color, like
sheer energy of the city – in Haapaniemi’s own words, an explorer, to figure out why it bothers him. “I want
“in everything.” He feels there is a unique kind of en- to keep my mind open to all colors,” Haapaniemi says.
ergy in a city of this size, and says that some of that has But if I had to choose one, it would be a warm gray
inevitably filtered into his work. His works certainly pink of the porcelainflower. “Perhaps not the most
are as fascinating as the streets of the big city; they are conventional choice,” he chuckles.
like windows into magical worlds where wild beasts Although Haapaniemi is known for his eye for
and birds of paradise blaze in glorious colors against color as well as his mystical imagery, his own home is
a dark backdrop. serene and neutral, a harmonious escape from visual
While Haapaniemi’s color scheme is often dark, noise. In his first London home, built in old converted
his works are far from Gothic or somber. In reality, he stables, the previous owners had left behind a mis-
carefully and meticulously balances dark tones with matched potpourri of colors and materials with a pink,
bright playful colors. Instead of gloominess, the imagery gray and purple room and slivers of wallpaper and the
is warm and spirited, ablaze with intense fireworks of carpet clashing with each other. Haapaniemi started
Klaus Haapaniemi smiles as he describes the house colors. Haapaniemi is not keen on overanalyzing his by stripping off every single bit of the former interior.
that he is currently planning to renovate. The wood- choice of colors because he does not want to disturb “It was such an ordeal to remove everything,” he says.
en house is an impressive 70 years old and located in or break the intuitive process that goes into selecting Finally, when all the surfaces were back to white, he
Tampere, where the mother of the Helsinki-born artist them. “It’s best to keep the colors a mystery even to could breathe freely again. Haapaniemi likes to keep
is from. Haapaniemi will be managing the project myself,” he says. He never creates color palettes be- his environment free of stimulation and aims to keep
from a distance, as the house is some 2,400 km from forehand, and instead he allows himself to be led by his home like a “blank paper” that leaves space for
Haapaniemi’s home near the verdant Victoria Park in feeling. As soon as he realizes he keeps going for the thought and helps him calm down and concentrate.
East London. His Victorian house is his refuge where same color time after time, he forces himself away from In his own words, his opulent artistic style comes
he creates his magical art, inspired by the things he sees it, and if he catches himself resorting to a choice that from a space where imagination has room to go wild.
on the streets of the magnificent metropolis. is the slightest bit habitual or routine, he might start “If my physical surroundings were visually cluttered,
Haapaniemi has collaborated with the Finnish the whole process again from scratch. my imagery would most likely be very different,”
design legends Iittala and Marimekko and the iconic Colors play a key role in Haapaniemi’s creative he muses. However, he is planning to make his new
fashion labels Cacharel, Diesel, Levi’s as well as Dolce work and new ideas often begin with experiments wooden house more colorful than has been his taste
& Gabbana while building his international career with colors and palettes. His love for color is nondis- so far, although he knows he will be changing his

”New ideas
over nearly two decades. Haapaniemi’s mysterious criminatory and a question about his favorite color mind many times over before the work is complete.
owls, sensuous deer and sly foxes have been featured makes him wriggle in his seat. “I don’t allow myself At the moment, he sees his kitchen as nephrite green,
on the stage of the Finnish National Opera as well as favorite colors,” he says. He thinks the notion of favorite a color that gains more and more depth every time
London bards, and there seems to be no end to their
success. The artist is modest about his work, describ-
colors is undemocratic – if one color is given priority,
other colors will inevitably be neglected. Whenever
you look at it. “There is something quite enigmatic
about nephrite,” he says. often begin with
experiments
ing it as functional self-expression, but an outsider When asked where he f inds his inspiration,
will see in them an infinite realm of dusky warmth, Haapaniemi’s answer is a vague “everything.” Basi-
peppered with bright colors and a completely unique cally, he can be inspired by anything, and his attention
atmosphere formed by a convergence of current global
trends and ancient Finnish mythology. Haapaniemi’s
is drawn by a multitude of little details, depending on
the day and the mood. “Right now I’m loving lakes,” with colors
and palettes.”
unique idiom has won hearts both internationally and he says, but cannot really elaborate as to why. “Perhaps
in his native Finland, and his business, Haapaniemi the most captivating thing about them is their deep
& Co., which he runs with his wife, Mia Wallenius, green mysticism and the microcosms they hide – that it
has kept the couple busy ever since it was first estab- is impossible to know what’s in them,” he muses. Apart
lished in 2010. The company has had its base in the from lakes, Haapaniemi is fascinated and motivated
trendy Redchurch Street in London since 2013, with in his creative work by all natural phenomena. When
Haapaniemi’s mystical creatures living side-by-side back home in Finland, Haapaniemi often gets on his
with international top brands on this famous design bike and heads for the nearest forest, swamp or some
shopping street. other piece of wild nature. He cannot single out any
Haapaniemi has lived a major part of his life abroad. particular place that would be more significant than
His expat existence began when he first established a others, because all natural environments are unique
home in a small town near the Italian Alps, and has and therefore equally fantastic. Be it as it may, the main
continued in London for the last 15 years. His time thing is to go where it all started.
in Italy left him with lasting memories of delicious
cuisine, beautiful nature and a slow pace of life, but
even if he thoroughly enjoyed the inspiring way of
life in Southern Europe, he decided to switch it for
life in the dynamic metropolis of London in 2002.
He quickly discovered new sources of inspiration in

76 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 77

 Share your picture
#colornow2018

KLAUS HAAPANIEMI: THE COLORS OF MY LIFE

Do you see Color Now 2018 colors around you?
What is your favorite in the collection?
Share your picture on Instagram. Use the
hashtag #colornow2018 and be our
color ambassador.
Joy Nephrite Cayenne Carnosa Curry
H303 N494 M419 Y415 L395

The colors are indicative. Please check the colors against real Tikkurila color samples.

JOY CAYENNE

I have never used this type of egg yolk yellow, but I’m Rusty reds are extremely interesting. They represent
intrigued by it. I have often wondered why I avoid a bold departure from traditional interior colors.
yellow – for some reason I find it a disruptive color. Cayenne definitely belongs to the color palette of a
I’m constantly coaxing myself into using more of it. person with panache.

NEPHRITE CARNOSA

I have just returned from Los Angeles, where my hotel If I allowed myself a favorite color, this would be it.
room in the Chateau Marmont, which is a place out I like earthy pinks, although I seldom use them my-
of this world, had a wall exactly this color. Nephrite self. Pink blended with a touch of black is a beautiful
is an enigmatic green that does not reveal its nuances shade for decoration. 
in one go and that is very much on my mind at the
moment. This is the shade I want to use for my kitchen
in the new house. CURRY 

Mustard has elegance and prestige and is a very popular

interior color in Britain. I wish Finnish consumers
would warm up to mustard – in Finland it is considered
ugly, although I see great potential in it.
78 | COLOR NOW 2018 COLOR NOW 2018 | 79
Colors that make you fall in love with your home again.