ASK THE DESIGNER: Dreaming in Colour

May 14, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Jean Bisnaire
Niche Decor

“I’m redecorating my bedroom and I want to get away from beige. How can I choose a fun colour scheme? Where should I start?”

Feel free to send me your comments or questions to askjean@nichedecor.ca

Colour introduces personality wherever it goes – the bedroom is no exception. I believe the bedroom is a place to get creative! We’re seeing a shift away from monotonous neutrals such as beige and taupe, and more and more people are taking the plunge into colour. Be bold. Go sexy. Make an Impact.
A great place to find colour inspiration is in fabric. High-end fabric companies such as Brunschwig and Fils, Kravet, and Robert Allen, specialize in putting beautifully coordinated colour palettes together and marrying different shades and accent colours. Come in to our showroom, or visit Designers Walk in Toronto.
Wander around fabric stores and find something that speaks to you. Be inspired by pattern, colour and texture. Once you’ve found something that you love, order a couple of yards of it and take it home to see it in varying light at different times of day.
People commonly pull out the strongest colour in the fabric and choose that for a wall colour. I personally prefer to pull out the least common colour and play on that. After you’ve chosen the colour you like best, you can use the extra few yards of fabric to make toss cushions or pullbacks for drapes.
When changing the colour scheme of a room, I tell my clients to choose the wall colour last because it’s the least expensive way to add colour but it’s easy to tweak and creates huge impact.
Wallpaper can also be used to spice up a room, or even to create a feature wall. Farrow & Ball use their own paint and handcraft their own wallpaper, allowing for seamless, sophisticated and custom looks.
Here are some carefully selected Farrow & Ball colour schemes and finishes from that I love right now:

Blues
Blues create a gentle, tranquil scheme. Subtle, natural colours are strongly contrasted with inky blues. For a soft, watery palette defined by the elements, try Pale Powder No. 204 teamed with Dix Blue and underpinned by Hague Blue. Adding glass pieces and mirrors will create a stunning aquatic look featuring freshwater tones.

Purples
While shades of violet can be a big change from neutrals like white and beige, more muted tones are easy to live with and mix beautifully with blues, greens, golds and other neutrals, so you’ll have plenty of options for decorating. Farrow & Ball has a new style of wallpaper called Ocelot. It’s fun and quirky, having a modern take on classic leopard print. Their purple version of this print goes perfectly with their colours: Calluna, Brassica, and for a deep contrasting shade of plum, Pelt.

Multi-Colour
With an increase in the number of condos and lofts going up, people want more of a more metropolitan look. I recently had a younger client looking for an edgy and unpredictable colour scheme. This look features bold and graphic colours but with an urban vibe. To create the look, team dark dramatic colours, such as Gun metal grey and black together for some drama and play around with colour for a real statement. Try using a full-gloss paint to create a high-shine surface and add hints of bright and funky colours like sea foam or a yellow for added impact!
The bedroom doesn’t just have to be a place to sleep. Some people have a deck off the master and bring guests through this space on the regular. Others have seating areas or reading nooks in their rooms. The bedroom should be an oasis. It should be a space where you are happiest. Pick a hue you love and you’ll be dreaming in colour in no time!
To learn more about Farrow & Ball’s luxury paints, visit their website www.farrow-ball.com.