EDITORIAL Coatings & Paint
Paintsmiths passion for the environment reflected
in eco-friendly & non-toxic paint ranges When it comes to selecting paint for your home or office, there is so much choice that making the final decision can be difficult. Paintsmiths is known for pushing the boundaries in product development and has made significant gains in environmentally conscious technology and the aesthetics of its coatings offerings. We talked to Elna Wessels from Paintsmiths who offers some insights.
Paintsmiths offers a full range of eco-friendly, non-toxic paints, not only for finishing top coats, but a full range of primers too. These products fall under the Midas Envirolite range. All top coats in this range, for example, Midafelt 225 (matt finish) and Midalux 240 (satin sheen finish), have zero VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and contain no lead.
Matthew Macloud from Paintsmiths St Francis and Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and Mark Joubert from Paintsmiths Longbeach, agree that Greys still play a dominating role in terms of palettes for 2022. Popular greys include Millstone, Nguni, Hello Grey, Filament, Arniston White and Almost There. 'Dirty' pastels are also gaining popularity.
Paintsmiths also have an entire range of specialised textures and finishes that have these qualities. These paints fall under the Earthcote range, with products like Pandomo, Limestone, Granite, and Worn Leather, to name a few.
Sasi Paton from Paintsmiths eThekwini (formerly Durban) says that in her region, she can summarise the colour palette in three words – Ocean, Bush and Sand. Examples of this for neutrals include Almost There, Bleach Washed Table, Arniston White and Millstone. Accent colours include Hoop Iron, Scaffold Plank, Mystique and Peppercorn.
Choosing an eco-friendly and non-toxic paint
Wessels emphasises that it is vital to look at the level of VOCs in the paint and to get as close to zero VOCs as possible, as these are the ingredients (e.g. Formaldehyde and Glycol) in paints and other materials that have an adverse effect on human and animal health.
Paintsmiths stores are located throughout South Africa and each store is privately owned and managed. ■
All Midas Envirolite products are approved by the Green Building Council and are used in 5-star Green Buildings.
Interior paint colour trends for 2022
According to Wessels, for 2022 colours, comfort is key. In a countrywide survey conducted by Paintsmiths at the end of 2021, it was revealed that the most popular colours fit into two categories across all regions – calm neutrals and bold accents. (select from www.tsmiths.co.za/colourpicker) Geneve from Paintsmiths Kramerville recommends Almost There for a comforting neutral palette, complimented by Fruit Brown – inviting nature into the home and office environment. Add a pop of colour with Mystique and Peppercorn for that forward-looking local resilience. Carl Bruckner, owner of Paintsmiths Kramerville, Sandton advises that Intense Teal is the colour to keep an eye on.
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