CANADIAN DESIGNERS SEE FOREST FOR THE GREEN
Tired of minimalist whites and blacks? These rich, deep shades have a retro feel and can make any space feel more in touch with nature
Nature, along with wellness and well-being, will continue to influence home decor and furnishings this fall, and Canadian designers say we see it particularly in the colour green, which is dominating furniture, textiles and paint.
“It’s organic, it’s rich and warm and really inviting,” says Victoria Lambert, president of The Fat Paint Company in New Westminster, describing the “updated version of ’90s forest green” she sees trending everywhere. Her company has responded by releasing its new shade, Cascadia, in honour of Fat Paint’s fifth anniversary.
Cascadia is a “deep, rich green, bigger and bolder than other shades that dominated colour trends in 2017,” and complements wood, metallics, traditional neutrals and colour, she says.
“I knew that I wanted to bring this colour on to the palette,” she says. “And then I drove to Calgary a month ago and as we drove through Hope at around 7 o’clock in the evening, all the trees around me were the colour that we wanted this colour to be.”
This particular green differs from the ’90s forest green in that it’s deeper and richer, says Lambert, who finds the ’90s version a little more “washed out.” Unlike some colours that are often suited to one particular design style, this rich foresty green goes with many, she says.
“I think it’s going to segue quite nicely into a lot of different decor styles,” she says. “Whereas some colours are very distinctly geared towards one particular style, it’s got legs.”
Lambert says it will pair well with neutrals like off-whites, and yellows if you’re after a more Tuscan feel, along with certain shades of orange (because it goes so well with wood) as well as dark, moody colours like black.
“When I think of the boho look, I’m really imagining it could be used on a vintage dresser with a bit of a shabby corner, but it could also be a mid-century modern piece,” Lambert says.
The mother of chalk paint, Annie Sloan, has a deep green on her palette, Amsterdam green, that also reflects this trend.
“This strong, deep green takes inspiration from the painted shutters and doors of Amsterdam,” Sloan says.
“It works particularly well with whites and creams and botanical imagery and plants, as well as looking brilliant with earthy yellows and reds.”
Montreal-based custom furnishings company Mobilia has embraced the colour in its new Mobilia Velour Collection, which features an emerald green velour.
“The colour green evokes tropical plants used in interiors that are echoing the 1920s era,” Mobilia president Johannes Kau says. “It is also a reference to nature, and the whole wellness trend that every industry is moving towards.
“With the influence of greys that we have seen now for some time, we are trying to inject some colour into our interiors that can work with a base palette that complements it well. These jewel-tone colours, particularly the emerald green, gives a punch, all the while complementing the other colours that are being used in home decors today.”
Combining the colour with a velour fabric gives the colour an even richer dimension, Kau says.
“In contrast with the very minimalistic Scandinavian trend that we have been seeing in home decor for the past couple years, velour accents rendered in deep jewel tones and rich hues, complemented with metallic touches, brings glamour and a festive, luxurious feel to our contemporary settings,” he says. “To make velour fresh and new, we render these pieces in matte fabrics versus the crushed and shiny velour from the past.”
Kau says Mobilia chose to collaborate with interior designer Gillian Segal on this new collection because they liked the “modern, chic, yet warm atmosphere” she creates for her clients.
“When it was time to think about someone to collaborate with us to present our velour collection in Vancouver this fall, we thought she would be a great match,” he says.
“We asked her to design two sets with products from our new velour collection, and the result is absolutely perfect. She was able to create looks that have her glamour signature, but still represent our brand … the perfect way to introduce Mobilia to Vancouver.”