Posted by frenchicfinland Admin
Work placement in Tampere at Frenchic Paint® Finland
Read about my work placement experience in the world of Frenchic
Hi, I'm Milja, a student of the Vocational Qualification in Business, and at the end of 2023 I completed a marketing communications work placement at Frenchic Paint® Finland.
Working with Frenchic was creative, inspiring, and rewarding. I got to do lots of different things, and what stands out most in my memory is filming and editing videos. Maybe that's because it became my favorite thing to do! I got to use my creativity and create lots of content in my own style.
My supervisor Minna and I hit it off right from the start, and I was really inspired by her. Minna came up with the idea, and I brought it to life in my own style. One thing I particularly value about the work placement is that I was able to work a lot in my own style and didn't have to fit into a certain mold. I was also able to let my creativity flourish. A big thank you for that.
I've learned an incredible amount during this short but all the more valuable journey. And that's what we're all doing here: learning all the time. I got to develop the skills that mattered to me, but I also had to step outside my comfort zone; without that, you can't grow.
Exploring a new hobby
The work placement also encouraged me to be braver, and through it I also found myself a new hobby: painting!
Children's high chair painting project
So I got excited about trying painting myself, and repainted the children's high chairs. A worn and shabby chair turned out just like new! I also gave the chair a unique color that you can't find in ready-made furniture. I was also pleasantly surprised by how smooth a finish the paint gave. I had already read reviews and customer feedback on the website, of course, but I was still amazed when I got to try it myself. The paint also had really good coverage.
The children's high chairs I painted were originally black and white, but despite the big difference in the base colors, both got a beautiful, even finish, and I only needed 3 coats of paint.
Since these were children's dining chairs, paint quality plays a big role, and it needs to withstand scrubbing and wiping. After several weeks of use, I can say that the quality is really good!
How much did the paint cost?
I used the Trim Paint range by Frenchic on the children's chairs, and a 500 ml tin cost less than 30 euros. For three coats on two chairs, I used just 250 ml of paint!
The paint went an incredible long way. I thought I'd use the remaining paint to paint a small chest of drawers in the kitchen used for craft supplies, so the leftover paint wouldn't go to waste.
I was completely swept up in it. I realized how easy it was to paint furniture, and started looking at our whole home with fresh eyes. I used to think that old, repainted furniture didn't suit modern interiors, but was more suited to old houses. It soon became clear that this was a very mistaken belief.
New colors for my home and observations on interior design
Our home used to be dominated by black, white, and gray, so I started longing for color.
At first, I thought about smaller projects, like a bedside table, and soon I wanted to add color to the walls too. Our home found its way to the absolutely lovely yellow Honeycombe, fresh green Irish Dance, and dark green Black Forest. Frenchic's color range is wide, so we found the perfect shade for every room.
It didn't take long before simply looking around my own home wasn't enough. I started browsing online marketplaces for tables, chairs, and sideboards to paint.
I realized that furniture didn't need to be thrown away when its paint wore off. With a little effort, an old chest of drawers could be transformed into something absolutely beautiful, and above all, recycling is a choice.
The whole family also got excited about using colors and helped with whatever projects I came up with.
For a family with young children, odorless, quick-drying, water-based paint that is suitable for children's toys and furniture is a really important feature. As a mother of young children, I appreciate these qualities in paint, along with its durability.
My painting list already seems endless, and next I'd love to revamp the children's play kitchen, the bunk bed we're about to get, and the living room walls. The kitchen cabinet doors are also on the list and could use a new color instead of black and white.
I've started using colors more boldly in my home decor and realized how much the walls also affect the overall look of a room.
I used to think white walls were the easiest option for decorating, but that was not true at all. The room immediately took on a different feel when the walls came to life with a fresh coat of paint.
I get lots of inspiration from Frenchic communities, where I find loads of ideas and see different colors in practice.
Check out my social media!
During my internship, I also created my own Instagram portfolio, which you can follow here and check out my painting projects in video form, among other things!
