Every now and then we get questions about the colour “Stockholm-White”. Is it called Stockholm white because all homes in Stockholm are painted white or is it actually a colour? Both alternatives are correct :) I wrote about it in this post, about a year ago, when investigating the Stockholm interior style on my hunt for an apartment to buy. Now there is no absolute agreement on the colour code, but many paint sellers hold it is NCS 0502-Y. A standard colour in Sweden or simply a broken white, with a bit of yellow added. A warmer white. Also called Antique White. To be even more specific the suggested colour is 5% black, 2% yellow and 93 % pure white. To summarize the debate on the perfect wall-white, some holds Stockholm-white to be too yellow, and call it “chain smoker-white”. However, most Swedes agree a straight white is too cold, it’s like living in a snow-hut.

The product sample? Well, take any real estate ad from Stockholm City really. There’s lots to choose from. I closed my eyes and picked this kitchen from an attic apt listed for sale at Mäklarhuset.

…and you know Henen, she’s decorating – or rather refurbishing -  her new London house right now and hasn’t sorted the internet connection out yet so I need to tell you this. She took the Stockholm White colour code to a British paint seller last week and made them break it for her. They had never heard of this colour…! Oh dear. Now she happily carried 10 L of Stockholm white home, tried it out and guess what happened?

I have nooooo idea! But she says it’s tooo yellow. So now she’s bought a huge bucket of snow hut white to mix it with. She might end up with the perfect wall-white now. We’ll see when she reports next. And of course, a bunch of fresh trendey home pics are coming your way soon.

Grey is definitely one of my top favourite wall colours at the moment. Below are rooms decorated in a mix of styles, all with a gorgeous shade of blue-ish grey in common. 

[pic sources: 1-Marie Claire Maison, 2-unknown, 3-Selina Lake, 4-Paul Massey, 5 and 6-vtwonen]

Swedish paint company Alcro is set to launch their 10th collection of the interior design paint series ad (alcro designers). This time, Alcro has engaged Dutch trend forecaster Li Edelkoort. As expected, there is a ultra-high sensitivity to trends in her choices. The new colour collection, ad.10, consists of 7 families with 4 colours in each, plus three complementary colours. Li Edelkkort has derived inspiration from the bird society. Here’s the first example, rural birds. With names such as Rooster crest, Chicken coop, Brown hen och Guinea fowl these paint colours are inspired by farm birds and rural culture.

Regarding the ad.10 colour collection Li Edelkoort states the end has come to the era of individualism. We rely more on each other, network and collaborate. Inspired by the doves we flock together in dark, grey spaces. Green, blue and purple accents give life to the base colour. Concrete grey becomes a key colour in interior design. In other words, this is another nail in the coffin for white. Darker interiors eat white like the hungry bird is munching seed. Next up,

…is a successful colour combination. I think it looks both fresh and calming and I love how the deep and lush shade of teal (or dark turquoise) makes the white pop out. Red and yellow accents completes the look.

[pic: Living Etc]

[Right: Andy Warhol Butterflies print, 100 GBP at Heals Left: pic from Promove]

Today, the Swedish paint manufacturer Beckers launched their AW 09/10 paint collections. Inspiration is derived from three parallel trends: Eco, that connotes to the environmental awareness with beige colours in earthy tones, white and some yellow and green hues. The colorful geometry that communicates art and freedom, with sporty and happy hues preferably with metallic luster and graphical expressions. Last but not least (rather most!) is the focus on new luxury, nouveau riche. The new luxury paint has an unconcerned saturated approach, inspired by the newly rich countries’ (read Russia, China, India..s’) “carefree” attitude and fearlessness of colours. Here we find deep, bold and sophisticated colours accented by luxurious metals such as copper, gold and bronze. They also call it shabby chic, with a slogan that goes “just do it nice enough”.