A TRADITIONAL PALETTE

Enduring style brings to mind pale, receding tones that provide a calm background for the furniture and fabrics which are, one might think, the main event in a room. It’s true that one is unlikely to tire of subtle shades, but deeper, bolder colours can have lasting value too. ‘ The classic English style takes huge inspiration from France,’ says paint and colour expert Annie Sloan. ‘But I think the English version perhaps uses a little more colour, adding tones of pale duck egg and blues to creams and soft pale ochres.’ As well as these mid tones, Annie’s own collection of paints includes dramatic hues such as ‘Amsterdam Green’ and ‘Aubusson Blue’, which allow the brighter tones of furnishings and objects to sing.

Main wall and skirting in ‘Squid Ink’; back wall and door in ‘Moleskin’. Walls in Architects Matt Emulsion, £ 52 per 2.5l; woodwork in Architects Eggshell, £ 26 per 750ml, all Paint & Paper Library

ABOVE LEFT ‘Brick’ emulsion, £ 45 per 2.5l, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint LEFT Walls in ‘Arts Club’ Marble Matt Emulsion, £ 44 per 2.5l; woodwork in ‘Pure White’ Wood & Metal Eggshell, £ 27 per litre, Mylands RIGHT Walls in ‘Down Pipe’ Estate Emulsion, £...