Here: Why should we use heritage colours on old buildings?

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Joanna Theodore: Colour can contribute to the authentic reading of a heritage building. While authenticity can’t be replaced once it is gone, presenting something in a manner that is closer to the original – be it form, materiality, colour scheme etc – helps us to more easily imagine that building in a former existence.

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People used to say we were a bit afraid of colour in this country. What do you think?

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Davina Harper: I think the opposite is true – we are becoming braver with our colour choices as people embrace the power it has to transform a space, help define rooms and evoke certain moods and atmospheres. We’re also seeing a trend towards people wanting to personalise their space and express their personality with colour.

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The original schemes are often long gone – where do you suggest people start?

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DH: Scraping back paint layers, reviewing historical photos, or looking at similar heritage buildings. Where there may not be evidence of the original colour scheme, this is where our Heritage Collection can be used to provide inspiration and guidance for creating a beautiful and harmonious colour scheme.

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The collections still feel really fresh and contemporary – how did you achieve that?

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JT: We focussed on the emotions and feelings captured by each landscape. Using the landscapes to express the qualities gave us so many creative references. There is inherently a freshness to every landscape – that’s what we tried to capture.

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