Palette play - Lee Suckling

colour workshop
Paletteplay
Four new colour schemes
come to life on perfectly
crafted paper sets
STYLING & production VANESSA COLYER TAY
WORDS Lee Suckling Photographs Craig Wall
papercraft Benja Harney
Benja Harney, paperform.wordpress.com
What worksBack wall Wash & Wear
Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Wahoo, $39.90 per 1L,
from Dulux..Long rectangular shelf Interior
design i.d. in Blue Grace, from $28.90 per 1L, from
Wattyl. Left square box Wash & Wear Advanced
101 Low Sheen in Sunny Green, $41.37 per 1L, from
Dulux. Middle shelf Interior design i.d. in Cool
Mirage, $28.90 per 1L, from Wattyl..Right square
box Wash & Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Powick,
$39.90 per 1L, from Dulux. Chair Wash & Wear
Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Tumeric, $35.64 per 1L,
from Dulux.. Floor Interior design i.d. in Smokey
Wisp Grey, from $28.90 per 1L, from Wattyl. >
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colour workshop
What works Ceiling and sofa Ultra Flat Acrylic in Snow White, $31.30 per 1L, from Porter’s Paints. Wallpaper ‘Winter’ in Silver
by Bowie Wong, $206 per 10m roll, from Porter’s Paints. Back wall Wash & Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Tristan, $39.90 per 1L, from
Dulux. Bookshelf Murowash in Leaf (light green), $34 per 1L, from Murobond; Wash & Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Milton Moon (grey),
$35.64 per 1L, from Dulux. Vases and inner lampshade Wash & Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Sunny Green, $41.37 per 1L, from
Dulux. Lamp, bottom of sofa, table and chair frameLow Sheen For Interior in Berger Octavius Oak, $45.95 per 2L, from Inspirations
Paint & Colour. Chair upholsteryMurowash in Gum, $34 per 1L, from Murobond. FloorWash & Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Milton
Moon, $35.64 per 1L, from Dulux. Cushion on sofa‘Arturo’ 48% polyester/42% viscose/10% polyamide in Wasabi, POA, from Marco Fabrics.
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Set the tone
Colour is not only one of the biggest decorating decisions you’ll make, it
also lays the foundation for styling success throughout every room in your
house. “It’s what forms a relationship between what’s on the walls and what’s
in a room,” says Peter Lewis, founder of Porter’s Paints. A strong neutral base,
explains Edwina Hirst, educator from the International School of Colour
and Design and director of consulting business Colourmatters, is your first
point of call. “Neutrals should be used as an overall ‘theme’; a canvas that
will endure,” she says. In using muted tones for the large, expensive or more
permanent materials in our homes – such as flooring and walls – a consistent
scheme is created that is soothing and very easy to live with. “We can then
add our ‘layers’ – starting with the large furniture items that emphasise our
style and personality and then bringing everything together by introducing
titbits of ‘trend’ that we can change.”
Develop your taste
A neutral palette can be inspired by the environment at home. “People
think deciding which neutral base to begin with is a difficult challenge, but
it’s delightfully easy,” says Edwina. “Just bring the outside in by looking to
nature, be it the colours of the sand, the stone in the surrounding buildings
or the bark from nearby trees. Look out the window to find a starting point.”
There are other approaches for selecting shades that suit – a glance at
your clothing is a good first step, says director of Architects EAT Albert Mo.
“If you look at your wardrobe, you’ll find you have a natural tendency towards
a certain colour range, which you’ll inherently enjoy in your surroundings.”
Wattyl colour spokesperson Lucy Sutherland suggests trawling through
as many interior and fashion magazines as possible. “Tear out anything you
like, but don’t think about why you like it at first,” she says. “When you start
gathering things, you’ll become attuned to what inspires you, because you’ll
instinctively keep pulling out things with the same colours.”
Further inspiration can be found by collecting items you are drawn to;
postcards are a favourite for Edwina. “Go to art-gallery shops and buy cards
of the artworks you’ve always loved,” she says. “Then look for the colour
within [the artwork] that pops out at you.” >
001A (behind) ‘Akita’ 85% polyester/15% silk in Starfruit, POA, from Marco
Fabrics. 001B (front) ‘La Vita’ 80% wool/20% polyamide in 451 Light Grey,
$195. 80 per metre, from Fabric Pavilion. 002 ‘Stresa’ 80% wool/20% polyamide
in 1 Charcoal, $209 per metre, from Fabric Pavilion. 003 Linda Barker ‘Serenity’
wallpaper in Black/Slate, $149 per 10m roll, from Graham & Brown. 004 ‘Arturo’
48% polyester/42% viscose/10% polyamide in Alpine, POA, from Marco Fabrics.
005 ‘Velours de Luxe’ viscose pile with antique finish in Platinum, POA, from
Westbury Textiles. 006A (behind) Uber in 98/28, $35 per 1L, from Bauwerk.
006B (front) Easycoat in Grey Attitude, $53.30 per 4L, from Taubmans.
007A (behind) Easycoat in Steel Dust, $53.30 per 4L, from Taubmans. 007B
(front) Easycoat in Char Grey, $53.30 per 4L, from Taubmans. 008 ‘Châtelet’
60% viscose/30% cotton/10% polyester in Gin Fizz, from $280 per metre, from
Mokum. 009 ‘Neo’ wallpaper in Colour 43862, $114.50 per 10m roll, from Hoad.
010A (behind) Eijffinger Bindi ‘Bohemian Damask’ wallpaper in Colour 397823,
$198 per 10m roll, from Verve Designer Collections. 010B (front) ‘Vienna’ 85%
cotton/10% polyester/5% viscose in Peppermint, POA, from Marco Fabrics. 011A
(behind) Meridian ‘Avani’ velvet (Pile: 100% polyester. Ground: 53% viscose/
47% polyester) in Seafoam, from $130 per metre, from Mokum. 011B (front)
‘Marchmount’ 36% acrylic/35% viscose/29% polyester in Kelp, POA, from Marco
Fabrics. 012 ‘Vintage’ linen with vintage finish in Aloe, POA, from Westbury
Textiles. 013 Hooked On Walls ‘Liquid Fantasy’ in Colour 25201, POA, from Unique
Fabrics. 014 ‘Neo’ wallpaper in Colour 43807, $114.50 per 10m roll, from Hoad.
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colour workshop
Colour editing
“Colour is powerful, and so people expect a rule book. The most important
thing to work out is the mood that you’re trying to create in any particular
space, and which neutral colours evoke that mood for you,” says Edwina.
When selecting your background tones, take time to think about how
you use a room, the time of day you’re mostly there, and its main source
of light. Even pale neutrals respond differently to the orientation of a room
and the amount of light that enters it.
“Vivid, truly natural whites are perfect for morning rooms – such
as the kitchen – because they are freshened and enlivened with the sun,”
says Albert. “Evening rooms need neutrals with yellow tones – colours
that give off warmth and cosiness with artificial light.”
Muted shades often attract the stigma of ‘bland’, even when layered in
varied textures and materials, such as paint, fabric and wallpaper. Be careful
not to confuse subtle softness with repetitive tonal safety, which leaves
a space without personality. “Building palettes with neutral hues is often
‘very safe’ if you stay within the same family colour spectrum,” says interior
designer David Hicks. “There is nothing as boring as a fabric that somewhat
matches a paint colour, that somewhat matches the wallpaper.”
This can be remedied by adding a ‘surprise’ tone. “By introducing a new
colour, a ‘bland’ room is given a character,” says Lucy. “As soon as you overlay
neutral space with an accent, the room takes on a personality of its own.”
The accenting element
Accents should be introduced to a room in unequal proportions. “You can
get the most power out of your accent by pulling a colour out of a painting,
then using it in one rug, a single chair, cushioning trim or in small lamps
or vases,” says Edwina. “If the proportions are too similar (such as a long
wall with a large couch), that powerful accent will become overbearing.”
Lucy believes such shades should be used to bring life to “dead areas”.
“Rather than painting a large feature wall, wallpaper the back of a bookcase >
001 Jab ‘Macapa’ 51% wool/27% cotton/10% poly acrylic/7% polyamide/5%
polyester in Colour 177, POA, from Seneca Textiles. 002A (behind) ‘Menotti’
70% viscose/30% linen in Camel, POA, from Marco Fabrics. 002B (front)
‘Arlara’ 50% cotton/40% acrylic/10% other fibres in 1 Parchment, $107.80, from
Fabric Pavilion. 003 Harlequin ‘Azara’ 56% cotton/25% polyester/19% viscose
in Colour 1263, POA, from Domestic Textiles. 004 ‘Tamara’ silk in Oyster, $187
per metre, from Warwick. 005 ‘Breeze’ 80% wool/20% polyamide in 6186 Oyster,
$242 per metre, from Fabric Pavilion. 006 Jab ‘Hudson’ velvet (Pile: 100%
viscose. Ground: 76% polyester/24% polyacrylic) in Colour 279, POA, from
Seneca Textiles. 007A(behind) Ultra Flat Acrylic in Braidwood, $31.30 per
1L, from Porter’s Paints.007B (middle)Ultra Flat Acrylic in Himalaya,
$31.30 per 1L, from Porter’s Paints. 007C (front) Wash & Wear Advanced
101 Low Sheen in Bleached Bare, $35.64 per 1L, from Dulux. 008A (behind)
‘Husk’ 37% viscose/21% cotton/24% polyester/18% linen in Husk, $99 per metre,
from Warwick. 008B (front) Jab ‘Air’ 98% cotton/2% polyamide in Colour 279,
POA, from Seneca Textiles. 009A (behind) Interior paint in Onyx Lustre,
$57.90 per 4L, from British Paints. 009B(front) Interior paint in Delicate
Lace, $52.90 per 4L, from British Paints. 010 ‘Laced’ wallpaper in Silver On
White, $278 per 10m roll, from Publisher Textiles. 011 ‘Shattered’ 55% cotton/
45% linen in Sand, $42 per metre, from Publisher Textiles. 012A (behind)
Eijffinger ‘Gracia’ wallpaper in Colour 301230, $498 per 10m roll, from Verve
Designer Collections. 012B (front) ‘Arturo’ 48% polyester/42% viscose/10%
polyamide in Rice Paper, POA, from Marco Fabrics. 013 ‘Lugano’ 76% viscose/
24% poly in Sterling, POA, from Westbury Textiles. 014 Hooked On Walls
‘Jealous Walls’ wallpaper in Colour 77110, POA, from Unique Fabrics.
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colour workshop
What works Ceiling Mud in 13/67,
$31 per 1L, from Bauwerk. Roof beams Wash
& Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Antique
White USA, $35.64 per 1L, from Dulux.Left
wall Bauwerk in 12/20, $33 per 1L, from
Bauwerk. Artwork Karen Polder postcard,
stylist’s own. Right wall ‘Bugsey’ wallpaper
in White-And-Sand, $302 per 10m roll, from
Publisher Textiles. Hanging lights,sofa
frame and bottle Easycoat in Flat Black,
$56.37 per 4L, from Taubmans. Sofa Pure Low
Sheen in Bone, $33 per 1L, from Murobond.
Front tabletop and inner bowl Wash
& Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Blind Date,
$35.64 per 1L, from Dulux. Outer bowl Wash
& Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Tristan,
$39.90 per 1L, from Dulux. Rug Zimmer +
Rohde ‘Alluvia’ 93% silk/7% cotton in Colour
101, from $460 per metre, from Mokum. Back
tabletop Ultra Flat Acrylic in Icelandic Stone,
$31.30 per 1L, from Porter’s Paints. Floor
Wash & Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in
Antique White USA, $63.90 per 4L, from Dulux.
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colour workshop
What worksBack wall ‘Neo’ wallpaper in Colour
43821, $114.50 per 10m roll,
from Hoad. Left column Wash & Wear Advanced 101 Low Sheen in Blind Date, $35.64 per 1L,
from Dulux. Dividing wall on right Uber in 103/04, $29 per 1L, from Bauwerk. Coat stand
and lightEasycoat in Flat Black, $56.37 per 4L, from Taubmans. Coathanger and belt
Incolour in Watermelon Fizz, $57.90 per 4L, from British Paints. Skirt Uber in 103/58, $31 per 1L,
from Bauwerk. Cabinet Mud in 19/16 (taupe), $31 per 1L, from Bauwerk; Incolour in Custard Bake
(yellow), $52.90 per 4L, from British Paints. RugJab ‘Air’ 98% cotton/2% polyamide, POA, from
Seneca Textiles. Floor Murowash in Aspen, $34 per 1L, from Murobond.
036 / Inside Out
colour workshop
in an accent colour and paint a small, ‘quiet’ wall,” she says. “You don’t want
the eye to be drawn to one area, you want the accent to transform the space.
It should carry the eye throughout the room by drawing attention to the
details – the areas you’d normally never look at.”
Accent tones need to be intense, saturated tints – a fire-truck red, for
example. “Accent colours are trend colours; a reflection of what has been
going on in our lives,” says Edwina. “Mimosa (Pantone Colour 2009:
‘Mimosa’ 14-0848) is on trend this season, as an antidote to the GFC.”
An inspiration for accent palettes this year is The Memphis Group, a
design movement from the 1980s that offered bright sculptural pieces with
humour. “‘Pop’ colours [inspired by the the Memphis movement] including
fluorescent yellows, bright purples, electric blues and chartreuse greens are
very popular,” adds Lucy. “Interior accent colours very much follow fashion,
and if you look at what’s going on in Europe on the runways, you’ll see
these ‘pop’ colours keep coming up. This year, it’s all about optimism.”
Applying the rules
It’s crucial to test your neutral palette before applying it properly. “Paint
a one-metre-square colour sample onto paper, stick it to the wall for at
least one day, and watch how it changes with the different light and the
surrounding objects,” says Lucy.Your colour sample needs to be big enough
to avoid any reflection from what’s around it, advises Peter. “And make sure
you move the painted paper around the room, so you can see how the
colour reacts with your flooring, drapes and furniture,” adds Lucy.
“People think there are traditional rules to follow: ‘you can’t match cool
colours, with warm colours’ for example,” Lucy says. “While you have to
be careful sometimes – it’s extremely difficult to mix cool whites with warm
whites – cool and warm colours from some neutral families (such as a steely
blue/grey with a mocha brown/grey) can work beautifully. Colour combinations
are completely subjective.You just need to test them together in a room and
make sure you’re happy with the feel they create when they are combined.”
Once satisfied with a neutral palette, go with your instinct and revel
in the accent colour you love, rather than laboriously trying to test it out.
“Remember, it’s just an accent – it can be a short-lived bit of fun or fashion,”
says Albert. “If you get tired of it, it’s the easiest thing to change.” C
001A(behind) ‘Cosmic Flare’ cotton in Neon Orange, POA, from Roylston House.
001B(front) Lelièvre ‘Constantine 3576-04’ 80% cotton/20% polyamide in Corail
by Kenzo, POA, from South Pacific Fabrics. 002 ‘Villandry’ 89% cotton/11% rayon
in Blush, $99, from Warwick.003 Marburg ‘76861’ wallpaper, POA, from South
Pacific Fabrics. 004A(behind) ‘Trieste’ linen in Marzipan, POA, from Marco
Fabrics. 004B(front) Vivaldi ‘Idra’ polyester in Colour 11, POA, from South Pacific
Fabrics. 005A(behind) Easycoat in Ash Brown, $56.37 per 4L, from Taubmans.
5B(front) Interior design i.d. in Fantasia from $28.90 per 1L, from Wattyl. 006
Harlequin ‘Aviary’ cotton in Colour 7948, POA, from Domestic Textiles. 007 ‘Petit
Trianon’ 80% linen/20% rayon in Red Coral, from $280 per metre, from Mokum.
008 Marburg ‘76843’ wallpaper, POA, from South Pacific Fabrics. 009A(behind)
Interior paint in Pillow Talk, $52.90 per 4L, from British Paints. 009B(middle)
Interior design i.d. in Orangina, from $28.90 per 1L, from Wattyl. 009C(front)
Interior design i.d. in Vanuatu, from $28.90 per 1L., from Wattyl. 010 Sahco
‘Breithorn 2177-03’, POA, from South Pacific Fabrics. 011 Perennials Outdoor
Fabrics ‘Sunflower 192-103’ solution-dyed acrylic in Dune, POA, from South Pacific
Fabrics.012A(behind) ‘Loft’ cotton in Granite, $50.60 per metre, from Warwick.
012B(front) Jab ‘Air’ 98% cotton/2% polyamide in Colour 121, POA, from Seneca
Textiles. 013 Lelièvre ‘Wax 3558-02’ 80% cotton/ 20% polyamide in Corail by Kenzo,
POA, from South Pacific Fabrics. 014 Lizzo ‘E09202’ 40% linen/50% cotton/10%
viscose in Colour 1, POA, from Westbury Textiles. ADDRESS BOOK page 185
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