Schotten & Hansen specialising in exclusive wood surfaces for interiors. Founded in the 1980s, Schotten & Hansen has developed a unique, natural approach to wood treatment and colouring. Together with CEO Bernhard Heinloth, Founder Torben Hansen has shaped a business where craftsmanship, aesthetics, and sustainability go hand in hand. Torben and Bernhard share their experiences with colour, material, and design – and how the Natural Colour System (NCS) has become an indispensable tool in their work of creating wood surfaces that both feel and function just right, in projects across the globe.
About Schotten & Hansen
Schotten & Hansen is based in Peiting, Germany, and has produced exclusive wood interiors for more than 40 years. Their portfolio includes flooring, staircases, doors, panels and acoustic elements, each adapted to the client’s needs. Surfaces are treated with natural oils, waxes and resins, making them durable, healthy and aligned with sustainable design principles.
From its origins in antique furniture restoration, the company has grown into an internationally recognised manufacturer, delivering customised solutions for private homes, hotels, offices, galleries and luxury yachts. A showroom in Munich allows architects, designers and clients to explore materials and colour palettes. Schotten & Hansen’s philosophy is to refine wood in a way that preserves its natural character while fitting seamlessly into contemporary interiors.
Bernhard Heinloth, CEO
Bernhard joined Schotten & Hansen after a long career as a supplier to the company. Having worked with Torben for over 30 years, he became co-owner and CEO around a decade ago. His leadership builds on a deep understanding of materials and markets, with a focus on strengthening Schotten & Hansen’s role as a trusted partner for architects and designers across the globe.
Favourite colour: Blue
Torben Hansen, CEO & Founder
Originally from Denmark, Torben moved to southern Germany in the early 1980s and began working with antique furniture restoration. In 1984, he established Schotten & Hansen, which grew rapidly from furniture production to creating tailored wood interiors. Today, Torben continues to lead innovation in surface treatment, combining traditional methods with modern design requirements.
Favorite colour: Indigo, Purple, Blue
Schotten & Hansen on why colour matters – and how NCS brings it to life
With colour as a foundation
At Schotten & Hansen, colour is central to the entire design and production process. Projects often begin with a vision developed by architects or designers, which is then translated into wood surfaces that combine material integrity with precise colour expression. The NCS System provides the foundation for this process. It allows the team to define and reproduce colours with accuracy, even on textured wood surfaces where grain remains visible. This precision is crucial in international projects, where architects and manufacturers must coordinate across different markets and supply chains.
For Schotten & Hansen, this ability to align colour with material is central to their role in international design and architecture projects. It ensures that wood surfaces support the creative vision while maintaining the quality and integrity of the material.
“For us here in the production, it's way easier. It's way faster, now that we get the right information to produce, let’s say, samples in harmony with the ideas of the architects. From the Middle East to the UK, from the superyacht designers to the guys in Switzerland, everyone accepts this system."
– Bernhard Heinloth, CEO at Schotten & Hansen
Colour and wood in harmony
Schotten & Hansen’s philosophy is that colour should enhance, not conceal, the natural character of wood. By using the NCS System, they can create customised hues that respect the material while fitting precisely into a project’s overall design concept. Where earlier approaches often meant choosing from a limited range of options, NCS now allows for tailored colour development that matches specific material combinations and spatial requirements. This flexibility empowers architects and designers to work with wood in the exact tone needed, without compromising the authenticity of the surface.
A language for colour
For Torben and Bernhard, discovering NCS marked a turning point in their work with colour. “Before, we talked about colour like ‘a bit more yellow’ or ‘a cooler pink,’” says Torben. “It was frustrating, and you started to lose trust in your own judgment. I think NCS is the most fantastic language you can get. It is a way to communicate.”
Today, the language of NCS allows Schotten & Hansen to collaborate with architects, designers and clients across the world. The system ensures that colour references are clear, reliable and universally understood. This not only improves efficiency but also strengthens confidence between design and manufacturing partners.
I feel really confident to work with my amazing scanner here and the app from NCS, and to describe, together with the architects and designers, the colours and to start in the right way – to speak one language that everyone understands.
– Bernhard Heinloth, CEO at Schotten & Hansen
A digital colour workflow
Schotten & Hansen’s workflow combines the systematic precision of NCS with digital measurement and integration tools. With the NCS Colourpin, colours can be scanned directly on-site and shared instantly with design and production teams, and the NCS+ platform creates efficiency, reduces miscommunication and aligns production with design intent. This approach bridges design and production.
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