Seasons in Colour

A warm, enveloping hue and seductive tone, leading North American paint brand Benjamin Moore has revealed Caliente AF-290 as its highly anticipated Colour of the Year 2018. Unveiled alongside a corresponding palette consisting of 22 enlivening hues, this vibrant and charismatic shade of red is a bold yet soothing contemporary colour that oozes confidence. Following a year-long research journey taking inspiration from the arts, design, architecture, pop culture, fashion, hom

“Color is life; for a world without color appears to us as dead… Colors are the children of light, and light of their mother”. So said Johannes Itten, a top colour theorist and artist belonging to the famous Bauhaus movement. Together with Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Josef Albers he helped form much of what we understand today as colour theory. Born in 1888, Itten taught foundation courses at the Bauhaus from 1919 until 1922 and was the first to make the link between co

The updated Little Greene palette comprises 184 shades: 170 individual colours 14 of which are repeated in varying strengths as ‘Colour Scales’. New for Spring 2017, the colours are playful, sophisticated and in tune with modern life and today’s interior design aesthetics. #colour

Perfectly timed for the upcoming DIY weekends (apparently May and June are the top months for DIY), paint and wallpaper company Little Greene has launched a much anticipated update of its colour cards. The updated palette is extensive. It comprises 184 shades: 170 individual colours 14 of which are repeated in varying strengths as ‘Colour Scales’. The card spans over 300 years of historic interior design and includes many authentic 18th, 19th and 20th century shades, which ar

I'll go right on and say it. When I was in year 6, my dad would take me out of school on the odd weekday (shock horror) and we'd drive up to the nearest ski resort for a day of skiing delight. I was only too happy to oblige as you can imagine. The teachers didn't even blink when supposedly a "sick student" I would return the next day with a suspicious tan on my face from where the ski goggles would normally sit. These days, skiing is only on school holidays and there's more s

There's something about cotton candy and dusty pink colours, like Farrow & Ball's Calamine that feel superbly girly but can work superbly with other, more grown up colours, like green greys and inky blues to elevate your interiors to a whole other level. Here's how you can use pink around your home. 1/ MURALS - The good thing about murals is that they are meant to be for one wall only so don't feel guilty about not papering entire rooms. Murals also come in a variety of sizes

Move along grey here comes green. Said nobody, ever. Or did they? Green was Pantone's colour of the year in 2013 (in its emerald hue) and it is a colour that influences hotels of the moment and is strong in accessories, paint and wallpaper. Today I am looking at greens that are less "enchanted forest" and more "mystery lake" meaning moody green blues or green greys (because, simply put, grey is still big in our lives and we cannot just banish it). The psychology of green colo

I was browsing through paint photos by the Paint & Paper Library the other day and that's where I got my inspiration for today's post. The title is a dead giveaway I know. Painting the walls, doors and trimmings the same colour. Risky, you might say. Try it, I will retort, for this is a short life and risks must be taken if you want to go forth and get oohs and aaaahs from your friends and relatives when they come visiting you home this Christmas. Above: Blueblood by Paint &

With a crazy packed daily schedule it's easy to forget that your mind and body need some time-off, so I am going to give you a big tip. If you're a blogger or entrepreneur you'll probably think I am crazy but hear me out ok? This advice will not change your life and it's probably not something you have not heard before but here it is: WEEKENDS SHOULD BE SOCIAL MEDIA-FREE ZONES I repeat (clearer this time): weekends* should be time dedicated to you and your family (if you have

This week with Decorex being in full swing, I thought it would be great to talk about introducing colour in your home through textiles. For some people, adding any colour on the wall other than the very obvious white/beige does not come naturally and for those who are brave enough to embrace something more adventurous than taupe, there's the challenge of which one of the hundreds of hues of the same colour to use. The solution is easy: use textiles to introduce colour into a

It is always with great sadness when I write a piece about a designer who has passed away. More so because I struggle sometimes to keep up with the new and upcoming designers, whereas those 'old school' ones have been household names for so long, you would recognise their style instantly, anywhere. So it is the great Sonia Rykiel on the blog today - her colourful stripes could not be mistaken for someone else's. Ever. With designs for real women (you know, curves and all) Ryk

When Hotel Baccarat opened its doors in New York in March 2015, it became the flagship hotel bearing the French crystal maker's brand name with more hotels in development in Doha, Dubai and Rabat. With a 251-year-old history, Baccarat became one more luxury brand that ventured into the world of high end hotel accommodation and even if your taste is, let's say, a little more 'minimal' (I know, I know), this hotel can definitely not leave you indifferent. For starters there's a

Next season will see the tribal trend having a major come-back, so get ready for organic materials, rustic luxury and a dose of free-spiritedness, as if interiors have been transferred to places far away. Folklore patterns, diamond shaped Ben Ourain rugs and yes, even animal skulls will somehow creep back into our everyday lives. There has never been a better time to delve into the tribal trend. Here are 3 ways to get ahead of everyone else and key pieces to invest in (photo

It is always exciting to have a new palette released - will never tire of this. This time, Benjamin Moore which is a real hit in the States has released new colours for AW16 with a number of darker shades, of which the green one is my favourite. Green is going to get bigger this year (I love Stoke Forest green above) so see some inspirational shots from their team. Founded in 1883, Benjamin Moore is North America’s favourite paint, colour and coatings brand. A leading manufac

Sometimes I feel I need to find a little hideout to escape, you know, family life. This used to be my office but, hey, the little man likes to come running in here to show me his latest Lego invention plus my Eames chairs are lovely but not so comfy for seating back and relaxing to read a book. I am thinking of turning the she-shed into such a little hideout, maybe install a wood burning stove in there as well. Wouldn't that be just fabulous. So reading nooks in my own little