DEBBIE TRAVIS,
Berry pinks are full of energy, soft pinks suggest genteel surroundings
Dear Debbie: For years, I have steered away from the beigepink walls that were all the rage and throughout my house when I was growing up.
Maybe it was because the whole house gave off a kind of blah, cool aura. Lately, however, I have been drawn to pink. It started with a pretty blouse, then a rose jacket. Now I’m thinking pink for my living room. What are your thoughts?
Amanda Our colour sense does evolve as we grow up and experience more diverse settings. We are presented with annual changes in clothing fashions, with last year’s popular styles and colours being eclipsed by a new round of shapes and shades.
The same goes for home decor. And while it isn’t practical to change your sofa or carpeting as quickly as you can buy that pink blouse with the high collar and funky shaped sleeves, you can paint a wall or two in the latest hue.
And you can also decide on a colour that you never thought you would look at again.
Pink is a wonderful colour. It has many personalities and can be as subtle or as robust as you choose.
Berry pinks are saturated and full of energy; soft pinks are delicate and suggest genteel surroundings. Bright pinks are fun, youthful and inspiring.
You can find pink as a beautiful shade of faded red, at home on traditional walls and furnishings. Pink and red are a natural duo, one cool and the other warm.
When you pair pink with white, it’s fresh and positive. Alongside grey, the same shade becomes more sophisticated.
The sunny bed/sitting room shown here evokes the pinks of a summer garden. The paint is from Benjamin Moore’s 2018 palette, Pleasant Pink in Natura eggshell shimmers on the walls, and its freshness is heightened by the Dreamy Cloud semi-gloss trim.
A weathered dresser and teak chairs would be just as at home outside on a wood deck.
A black and white carpet grounds the room, the stripes adding texture and depth.
Peek into the bathroom for a splash of Texas Rose from the Bath and Spa Collection with a matte finish.
The deeper tone balances the setting with a warm glow.
A final note — pink makes everyone look good, casting a healthy glow. Bedroom, bathroom and dining room are all great places to try out a rosecoloured shade. Dear Debbie: My favourite colour is red. I don’t think I’m a flashy person, but when I’m shopping, I always gravitate toward anything that has some kind of red detail.
I’ve always been afraid to go big with red in my home. Is it too daring? Will I tire of it?
Anon. I have a friend who wrestled with the same thoughts as you have about buying a bright raspberry-red sofa for her new condo. She couldn’t stop thinking about it, picturing it radiating its cheerful, inviting aura in the room.
When it arrived, she knew it was perfect. Rather than being too much colour, it brought other colours and details in her room alive.
The black and grey carpet and the white and grey curtains produced a quiet balance against the rich tones of the sofa.
Don’t be afraid to invest in a colour that you love. It brings out the personal side of decorating, and will make you happy, which is the fundamental goal of feathering your nest. Written by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Email decorating questions to house2home@debbietravis.com. Follow Debbie at instagram.com/debbie_travis, facebook.com/thedebbietravis, debbietravis.com.