A community housing complex has received an extensive makeover with safety and style as key priorities, thanks to a collaboration between Crown Paints’ colour experts and residents. The calming and muted colour palette of flame-retardant Crown Trade Timonox paints has transformed Coast and Country Housing’s Raithwaite House complex in Guisborough, East Cleveland.

The complex of 38 one-bedroomed flats is home to residents ranging from 55 to 90-years-old and the collaboration ensured tenants were involved at every stage of the renovation project. Crown Paints’ Specification Manager Dan Anderson explained: “For Coast and Country the priorities were clearly to ensure a safe environment for residents but one which did not compromise on style. “Our colour specialist Jemma Saunders from Crown Paints’ Colour Services team worked with the residents to find the ideal bespoke solution – creating a number of modern colour palettes to choose from, using their flame retardant coating Crown Trade Timonox.

Applied on the walls and ceilings of corridors, stairwells and other communal areas that form part of a circulation area or fire escape route, Crown Trade Timonox can help provide additional time for a building to be safely evacuated. It works by limiting the oxygen around the flames through the release of non-combustible gases, and by using a formulation that provides a barrier to the flammable paint layers beneath.

Diane Kemp, Residents’ Liaison Officer added: “The residents loved being involved. Crown provided four or five different colourway options and everyone went with the majority vote". Resident Mrs Doreen Ash, aged 84, has lived at Raithwaite House for 20 years and added: “The peach walls and green floor looked a bit dated and I think it’s lovely now – very nice and bright. We all enjoyed having a say in what the new colours would be.”