TRENDS: COLOUR
“ALL WE ARE SAYING...IS GIVE COLOUR A CHANCE.”
Natalie Portman in Hotel Chevalier directed by Wes Anderson
YELLOW
WHAT IS IT?: The overlooked, much maligned and disregarded colour.
COLOURS: Mustard, lemon-lime, banana, medallion etc.
SUITABILITY: As substantial accents (curtains, cushions etc), furniture and full room colour. Let the sunshine in!
I’ve recently realised I always incorporate yellow into my devious interior schemes (MUAHAHAHA)! Regardless, I believe that yellow is the forgotten colour that will significantly come into its own. And no, not because I just painted an apartment's walls AND ceiling in Farrow and Ball’s “Pale Hound” I didn’t even realise what I was doing...I just had to). Nor because I’ve always used it as a showstopper textile in recent works.
(left) Interiors: Studio L, London, photo. Nick Rochowski | (top right) Hackney Sofa by Hay | (bottom right) Interiors: Katie Ridder, photo. Eric Piasecki
Recently, I had a gorgeously funny, incredibly versatile and knowledgeable textile supplier come in. What she doesn’t know, I don’t know. She surprised me with archives and new collections from Brunschwig & Fils and Oscar de La Renta and relayed that she doesn’t normally show these because the temperature of interiors isn’t there yet and would be a waste of time. Well, hellllllooooo yellow! Regardless of the various colourways, I kept pulling the yellows. I stated that it’s an underrated colour, I use it all the time and recently bit the bullet and painted an entire room. I think yellow will and should come into its own as a respected and used colour in 2018. That it has negative dated connotations because everyone and their mother (especially developers) used to paint their rooms “Magnolia” (to this day...don’t do it. It will never be acceptable). She told me I was on to something...what does she know that I don’t? Apparently everything!
Interiors: Dimore Studio for Hotel Saint Marc, Paris. Photo: Philippe Servent
RUST
WHAT IS IT?: The version of orange for any interior!
COLOURS: Burnt Orange, Chutney, Terracotta etc.
SUITABILITY: Upholstery, carpeting, wallpaper, basically, anywhere that is appropriate!
Chateau Marmont, Los Angeles
When you see one of the hippest design collective starting to upholster their furniture line for George Smith (Commune), you know it’s a thing. I personally fell in love with this colour again as it immediately brought back memories of two of my favourite places growing up; the sunken reading pit in our school library which was carpeted in a bright rust colour and The American Museum of Natural History Hall of Meteorites; which had brightly panelled walls of burnt orange showcasing meteorites that fell from our solar system. It’s also why I love The Barbican centre so much. Not just for its Brutalist architecture but for this special version of orange that covers the walls and flooring of the centre.
If the colour is good enough for Andre Balazs to cover to the floor with wall to wall carpet for the entire sitting area of Chateau Marmont (one of LA’s most historic and enduring hotels) then it should be good for just about anyone.
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