Against a colourful backdrop
Colette describes the décor in her home as “cheap and cheerful versus steep and fearful” with plenty of upcycled (or “pre-loved” as she calls them) items mixed with a few newer finds.
“Like a lot of other people, I went through a French phase a while ago: all pale colours and rustic pieces. But that didn’t last long!” she says with a laugh. “It just wasn’t us. Now, we buy things we truly love, no matter the style. And it all comes together, usually after a lick of paint!”
One of the most dominant décor features in this home is artwork on the walls. Colette and Joe have been collecting pieces for as long as they can remember. “I choose art the way I choose paint colours: it depends on how they make me feel when I look at them. It’s usually a case of love at first sight. Wall colours and art set the mood I want to create in a room and I hope that visitors are impacted by that as I am,” she says.
Colette plans each gallery wall using a variety of frames in different colours and sizes. “I always try to hang a large frame off-centre with smaller frames to fill the surrounding space,” she says. The gallery walls are a visual feast and often feature a combination of framed oil and acrylic paintings, photos from old books, unframed pieces and something three-dimensional.
“Photography is my favourite form of art and I have a strong preference for Mexican-style skulls and skeletons. But if something speaks to me, I just go for it – especially if it’s visually arresting and has a punchy colour that makes a statement against our painted walls,” she adds. >>