Story & photos by Rodel Ambas Jr.
“WE use colors to change how people feel about a space,” said noted Filipino Arch. Rebecca Plaza, managing partner of boutique architectural firm Plaza+Partners.
Color is also so integral in the design of a space that its proper use brings out furniture pieces into a whole new light, added Stephanie Kienle-Gonzalez, vice president and COO of furniture retailer Philux.
Not only that, the use of colors—specifically paint colors—is perhaps the cheapest way to change the look of a room, enthused Cat Arambulo-Antonio, interior designer and the first Filipino judge on the hit reality show The Apartment. “It totally changes a room and it allows people to be more experimental, because if you’re not happy with how it turns out, you can change it anytime.”
It is not surprising that color is fast becoming a topic of interest to homeowners and more Filipinos are coming to appreciate aesthetics and interior design. In line with this, Dulux—a UK paint brand acquired by Dutch company AkzoNobel in 2008—gathered three of the aforementioned design experts for a dialogue on how color can truly transform spaces and create more inspiring livable experiences. They were joined by AkzoNobel’s managing director for Southeast and South Asia and the Middle East Jeremy Rowe.
Following the official launch of its professional line in 2016, AkzoNobel now offers Filipino homeowners to be more experimental with home colors with the introduction of the retail line of Dulux Decorative Paints. Distributed in the Philippines by Firefly Electric & Lighting Corp., Dulux products will soon become available in more than 200 stores nationwide.
The business of color
AkzoNobel has been in the paints and coatings business for over 350 years. It has presence in over 80 countries globally, and its clout is such that its products have been used on some of the world’s most famous structures, including London’s The Shard, the CCTV headquarters in Beijing, and the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi.
In the Philippines AkzoNobel recently introduced new product lines under the Dulux brand that are easily accessible to homeowners. Under the exterior decorative paints category, the company introduced Weathershield Powerflexx, a paint that offers superior protection for a home’s exterior walls. According to Rowe, this product line has elastomeric properties and abilities that cover hairline cracks on walls. It also reflects UV rays, which helps reduce the temperature of exterior-wall surfaces by up to 5 degrees Celsius.
Under the interior decorative paints category, Dulux carries the new Dulux Easy Clean Plus and Dulux Inspire, both of which have water-repellant and stain-resistant coating that prevent stains from penetrating into the paint film, and a feature that allows colors to look brighter longer.
As one of the judges on the last season of The Apartment, Arambulo-Antonio shares how her experience critiquing challenges deepened her appreciation of color as an effective way to emphasize the aesthetics of interior design. But what got her very excited about Dulux’s product line is that they are odorless and can be applied even when another person is in the room. “The product is also quick-drying that you can sleep in the newly painted room that same night once you’re done,” Arambulo-Antonio shared.
According to Rowe, this is because each of AkzoNobel’s products is designed to be of the highest quality. They carry the Singapore Green Label certification and the company is also No.1 on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (in the Chemicals Industry group).
“This is only the beginning for Dulux in the Philippines,” Rowe added. “As we continue to grow our business here, we hope to be able to bring out more of the Philippines’s colorful culture, and inspire others to create more vibrant, livable experiences together.”
Image credits: AkzoNobel