The special collection was launched last year, making it possible to tint and mix Crown Trade’s key interior finishes in meticulously researched, historically accurate colours drawn from significant periods in British architecture and design. Not surprisingly, property developers were one of the key target audiences for the Historic Colours initiative, alongside interior designers and discerning homeowners keen to recreate the style and ambience of a bygone era.
Juliet Crosland is a director of a Wirral based property development company Crosland & Sons Ltd that specialises in restoring and refurbishing ‘homes with character’. A keen convert to the Historic Colours collection she has started using the various colour palettes on her renovation projects and also in her own Edwardian family home which she is gradually restoring, “when time, energy levels and business and family commitments allow!”
“I’m really pleased to have discovered Crown Trade’s Historic Colours,“ says Juliet, “There are a hundred and twenty paint colours to choose from, brought together in eight individual palettes, each depicting colour themes that were prevalent in different periods in history. When I’m deciding how to decorate the interior of a property that I’m working on, it’s inspiring, and at the same time reassuring, to be able to select from the palettes, knowing that they have all been carefully researched for authenticity.”
Like many other experienced developers, Juliet believes in retaining and renovating original features wherever practicable, and insists on redecorating her properties ‘sympathetically’, taking into account the character of the building.
“We find that period properties that have been restored and refurbished to a high standard and have been carefully redecorated in keeping with their heritage are always in great demand. In the main we concentrate on large detached and semis that were built before the end of the 1950’s. They tend to have more character than homes built in the second half of the 20th century and we very rarely have any problem selling them at a reasonable profit, even in these difficult economic times.”
She adds, “Having the Historic Colours collection to depend on makes all my interior decorating decisions so much easier, both in my work and at home. Because these colour recipes can be used to tint and mix all the different Crown Trade finishes I could possibly need, I have no problems matching or co-ordinating wall, ceiling and trim colours, or following a particular colour scheme from one room to another. I select my colours from the same palette, and then have ‘testpots’ mixed to make absolutely sure I’ve made the right decision. Because the pots hold plenty of paint, once I’ve painted patches on the wall I’ll often have enough left to paint up boards that I can take from room to room, to see how the colours look in different settings. When I’ve made my final colour choices I’m happy to hand over to my decorator Anthony Randles and let him get on with the hard work.”
Whilst colour is a key concern for Juliet, so is the decorative finish itself: “Obviously I want prospective buyers to be impressed by the standard of finish in my properties so the quality of workmanship and the quality of the materials that my team of tradesmen use is critical. I might want historically accurate colour schemes but I don’t want traditionally formulated paint, thank you! I want all the benefits technology can offer – low odour coatings, total consistency, colourfast pigments, tough durable surfaces that can withstand a knock or two.”
“My decorator swears by Crown Trade because he says its great quality paint and he’s never had a problem with any of the coatings in the range. He always seems to achieve a flawless finish whether he’s working on site or in my own house, so Crown Trade gets my vote too. The introduction of the Historic Colours collection has definitely made my life easier and has only reinforced my positive opinions.”
For further information please contact your local Crown Trade stockist or telephone the Crown Trade Customer Relations Team on 0845 389 9583
- Ends-
