Inspiration
In an exciting development for the iconic Elmonordic collection, renowned colour expert Tekla Evelina Severin—better known as Teklan—has thoughtfully curated and revitalised its colour palette. Known for her bold gestures and masterful sense of colour, Teklan has analysed the existing 30 hues, carefully updating 20 while retaining a foundation of ten timeless neutrals, primarily within greys, beiges, and browns.
Images by Björn Ceder.
Teklan’s approach to this refresh was deliberate and vibrant. “I wanted to turn up the colour volume—adding a more contemporary feel with a touch of optimism,” she explains. The revised collection now achieves a dynamic balance across various colour segments, introducing refreshed greens, yellows, blues, and reds. “Within the blue hues, the collection lacked an airy sky blue, as well as a few neutrals. As for the reds, I adjusted several tones, particularly warming one that was too cool, creating a more orange-red. Overall, I aimed to make the collection feel contemporary.”
“Within the blue hues, the collection lacked an airy sky blue, as well as a few neutrals. As for the reds, I adjusted several tones, particularly warming one that was too cool, creating a more orange-red. Overall, I aimed to make the collection feel contemporary.”
For Teklan, ‘contemporary’ goes beyond trendiness—it’s a sensation, a personal interpretation of what she observes across the creative landscape. “I often describe it as flirty and dirty, capturing my affinity for gentle pastels that still possess an edge,” she elaborates.
Central to the new Elmonordic collection is the concept of colour blocking, a hallmark of Teklan’s style and the brand she’s cultivated around her unique talent for colour combinations and spatial experiences. Beyond the palette, Teklan was asked to illustrate the potential of the new colours by creating four distinct spatial scenes—an imaginative showroom of sorts—featuring Sancal furniture upholstered in Elmonordic leather.
“There’s a lot of conformity in design, and I strive to disrupt that by introducing new perspectives and combinations. New light allows us to discover new things—light itself is energy.”
In striking compositions influenced by Edward Hopper, yet infused with a hint of psychedelic fantasy achieved through sharp lighting and deliberate colour blocking, Teklan invites us into her inner world. Here, she showcases leather in fresh, unexpected ways—from delicate kitchen chairs to geometric sofas and plush armchairs—all sourced from the Spanish brand Sancal.
Teklan reflects on her early days, stating: “Just like when I first started out with my camera in hand, I want to shine a light on things we don’t see enough of. There’s a lot of conformity in design, and I strive to disrupt that by introducing new perspectives and combinations. New light allows us to discover new things—light itself is energy.”
With this vibrant renewal of Elmonordic, Teklan also seeks to challenge conventional notions of what constitutes Scandinavian design. She reflects that, over recent decades, much of the colour and handcrafted richness traditionally associated with Scandinavian aesthetics has been pared down, resulting in minimalism largely driven by industry and production efficiency.
However, Teklan sees a promising shift on the horizon. Many companies, designers, and producers are once again embracing colour, individuality, and eclecticism—perhaps echoing Hopper’s compelling visual narratives. With the updated Elmonordic collection, Teklan and Elmo confidently step into this optimistic future, championing a return to colour, personality, and creative expression.
