In 2020, Thea founded COULEUR as a result of a growing urge to fulfill her creative mission. With a passion for creating meaningful experiences in physical environments, the mission of her company is to practice color theory combined with interior and design. "The circumstances of the pandemic gave me the time and space to explore something new. Over the years, my friends consistently nudged me in this direction, recognizing my passion for colors even more than I did myself. Initially, I never envisioned this as a full-time pursuit, but life has its twists and turns, and here I am."
Studio Visit - Thea Fremo Amundsen
With a background in retail design and concept development, Thea discovered her true calling when she realized her exceptional eye for colors. In the endless combinations, she seeks to translate the essence of a space, with the people living in it, into a color, creating truly unique and special environments.
Photos by Julianne Leikanger
Thea has always had a fascination for colors. During her studies, she also discovered something called synesthesia, and while reading about it, she quickly realized it was something she could relate to. Synesthesia is a phenomenon where the brain routes sensory information through multiple unrelated senses at the same time. "It's like an ongoing process within me that operates on so many different levels, enhancing my perception of colors, light, and the feeling of a space when approaching a new project. Engaging in conversations with clients, my aim is to create something along a greater narrative that transcends aesthetics, resonating with both space and personal preferences, seeking to create an immersive and meaningful experience."
When working with her clients, they begin by walking through the space they will work on together and then sit down for a creative workshop. In search of a palette that will harmonize with their use of the space and complement the potential of the architecture, she also enjoys pushing the boundaries of the clients' thoughts on colors. "I always start with the people who are using the space, and from there, I aim for the right balance between their comfortable color choices and the absolute limit."
The possibilities existing within the world of colors are an endless source of inspiration. "There are more than ten million shades of color. It’s neither new nor dangerous. For me, this is a never-ending enthusiasm that has no limits. There’s no right or wrong, and I don’t think I’ll ever be fully educated on this topic."
"My aim is to create something along a greater narrative that transcends aesthetics, resonating with both space and personal preferences, seeking to create an immersive and meaningful experience."
Even with a great variety of tasks and different clients every day, Thea admits the job has more administrative work than she anticipated. "As the owner of my company, I get to find my own ways, and one aspect I love to put a lot of energy into is talking about color, whether it’s in a lecture or on a podcast. But usually, I spend half of my working day in meetings with new clients or in workshops. Then I bring my fresh material back to the office and work on it for days, sometimes weeks, just perfecting it."
At the office, where she spends most of her time in front of the computer, she sits on a Thatsit™ in a bright pink color. Being as aware of her surroundings as Thea, having a task chair she finds comfortable while also blending nicely in the room is what made her choose this exact one. “Thatsit™ is definitely the opposite of the black gaming chair that I usually see around typical office spaces. I love how calming and soft it looks.”