THE COLOUR EXPERT
Colour is at the heart of Wellington architect John Mills’ work
Colour is a fundamental part of the design process for architect John Mills (see johmillsarchitects.co.nz). “Colour is another part of your arsenal to create something special,” he says.
How do you choose colours with your clients? Thinking about colour starts at the beginning, when I ask my clients to write a wish-list, which includes the tone and mood of the home. But we don’t choose the final colours until we’re looking at the plastered walls, about a week before we want to start painting. A bit of pressure can be a good thing! If people can’t agree that’s when you need a live debate on site. Don’t try to do it through words or looking at colours on your computer.
What works for you colour-wise? I like dark colours. People often say they like a colour and then they get a bit nervous and go for a lighter shade. I’m the opposite. I pick a colour and then go a shade darker. The darker the colour, the more it changes during different times of day and in different lights.
Why do rich colours work in this living room? This room is flooded with sunlight and so if we’d gone for a light colour it could look very harsh. It’s also a very warm room, so blue works well. The tongue and groove ceiling references Mt Victoria’s heritage and we thought a purple or violet would go well with the blue. I also like the way the dark colours work with the dark oak floors.
Thoughts on choosing a neutral to go with rich hues like these? We chose Resene ‘Double Black White’ which is just a little bit darker than some neutrals. It’s got no amber or warm colours in it, so it goes well with blues and purples.