Nine colors for the Asian home
E very year, Nippon Paint gathers a group of architects, designers and people in related fields to discuss something very important: the color trends for the home. Unlike in fashion and other fleeting commodities where you can hide it if you don’t like it, you just can’t change the color of your walls as easy as that.
Nippon Paint Malaysia group general manager Gladys Goh says that the color forecasting workshop for 2015, held for two days in Kuala Lumpur, was participated in by design practitioners from Asia Pacific. “The colors were chosen by Asians for Asians,” she says.
“Choosing the correct colors for your house is very important because it doesn’t just add beauty to your surroundings, it also improves your mood,” says Gladys at the launch in Manila, an event attended by design practitioners and industry players such as home store owners and suppliers.
Three color stories were presented — anchored by different influences — which are represented by nine different colors.
The first is Sacred Love, influenced by sustainability and love for earth and the awareness of its diminishing resources. Second is Just Me, which is influenced by individualism and passion. Third is Revo-Evolution, which is about connecting with the younger generation and asks the question “How old is old?”
For Sacred Love, Nippon Paint has lined up Persian Blue, Dinosaur Gray and Esparina. The nature-loving Persian Blue is cool to the eye and very easy to work around with using accessories for a fun setting. It’s “inspired by the best gifts of nature, offering us a sense of renewal and reassuring us that whatever we need will be provided.”
Dinosaur Gray is “a color of intellect and beauty… of saying no to destruction and saying yes to all that heals.”
Ahmad Djuhara of Djuhara + Djuhara Architects in Indonesia describes this color as having “a timeless and classic quality that suits any architectural or interior project. The color matches with any man-made and natural materials on buildings. It gives off an elegant appeal as a background color but it also works as a foreground color when used with appropriate forms and shapes.”
Esparina, a dark green color, brings a touch of nature to one’s interiors and “represents a natural ambience.” Some colors that complement Esparina are gray, yellow, gold and orange.
For the Just Me storyline, there’s yellow jasmine, that’s about standing out, having a positive attitude to being who you are. It creates a bright, happy environment, which a designer describes as “exemplifying a culture where we work hard but also strive to stay healthy.”
Pretty Box, despite it revolving around the universally loved color pink and blended with purple, is not too feminine, but in fact can be used in spaces that need toning down with a softer color.
Carrothead, as the name suggests, is a bold orange that declares to visitors to your house that you — the homeowner — are “energetic and inviting” and have an appetite for life.
For Revo-Evolution, Blue Award has that “ability to pull spaces together and works well in large rooms.” Personally I love blue as a background to white furniture pieces — it’s simple and chic and fun.
The deep chocolate color Painted Frame, depending how you use it, can both be bold ( like when used for for expansive walls) and low- key as “a color accent to much brighter shades.”
Olde Rose, which is light pink as Nippon Paint interprets it, “represents our search for admiration and respect.” Designed for maximum coziness, it works well in bedrooms and family rooms.
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