Restaurant renovation with quality and sustainability

Restaurant Nolla in Helsinki recently underwent a renovation that beautifully blends traditional and modern aesthetics, all while staying true to its core values. As part of the transformation, the white walls were painted green, and more space was created for the restaurant’s customers.

Nolla has always been guided by its commitment to both quality and sustainability, continuously improving its food, service and facilities over the years. "We aim to minimise waste while still using the best possible ingredients," Carlos Henriques, the restaurant’s owner shares.  According to Henriques, their eco-conscious philosophy is now more widely understood and appreciated.

Beyond the restaurant’s own practices, it’s also crucial for Nolla to work with partners who share their environmental values. When it came to the renovation, Nolla made sure that their choices supported their green principles. 

The renovation, completed in just three weeks in the summer of 2024, was no small update of the look, but a real transformation. Partitions were removed to create more space for customers and the microbrewery that previously operated on site was closed. The design agency KOKO3 was responsible for the design of the renovation. 
“We repainted practically everything – the walls, the chairs and the bar counter,” shares Henriques. "The entire colour palette was updated."
 

Since moving to its current location five years ago, Nolla has emphasised its zero-waste mission and strong connection to nature. This vision is now reflected in the restaurant’s new look, with the homely green walls representing both their environmental values and a sense of joy. The look of the ceilings and floors reflect the building's history, evoking the classic Kynsilauka restaurant, which used to be on the site.

The renovation didn’t affect the level of service offered by the restaurant, but it did improve the overall experience for customers. Removing the microbrewery freed up additional space, and the new open kitchen layout fosters a sense of community, allowing diners to watch their meals being prepared right in front of them.
“We want to share the space with our customers and give them insight into our process,” Henriques explains.
 

Restaurant surfaces are constantly exposed to extreme conditions, so selecting durable and high-quality products for the renovation was essential. 
“We clean the kitchen walls multiple times a week. They’re exposed to heat, steam and splashes from cooking,” shares Henriques.
For the kitchen, Tikkurila Luja series paints suitable for damp spaces were selected: Luja 7 for the walls and Luja 20 for the ceiling. The highly durable Luja topcoat has exceptional resistance to chemicals and wear. The product has a low volatile organic content (VOC), is M1 classified and has been awarded both the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and the EU Ecolabel. Luja Ceramic Tiles paint was used on the tile surfaces.

Read more about Luja range

Ässä 7 renovation paint, known for its durability and resistance to washing, was selected for the restaurant’s interior walls. Like Luja, Ässä 7 has both the Nordic Swan Ecolabel and M1 classification.