DECORATING WITH BOLD COLOUR

Ra a Doggard talks us through her love of vibrant decorating schemes and explains how her travels have guided her home

How have your travels inspired the vivid shades of your home?

The colours in the house map our travels in India, Pakistan, Iran, Morocco and the Far East. The warm hues of the spice markets and the brightness of Rajasthani saris inspired ‘ The Red Bedroom’ – I think the wallpaper is even named a !er one of the north Indian cities. The ochre of the drawing room is taken from the desert landscapes of Jaipur and Jodhpur, while ‘ The Blue Bedroom’ harks back to the wonderful Moroccan city of Chefchaouen with its azure buildings. The only English colour reference is in the green library!

Do you have any tips for combining colourful interiors with antiques?

Dark marquetry furniture looks great against ochre as it really brings out the inlay, and red is a great foil for oak and lacquer. I also love displaying art against strong colours.

What would be your advice to anyone who’s nervous of using bold colours?

When deciding which colour to go for in a certain room of the house, I’m totally instinctive – I "nd that when I’m in the room, it suddenly calls for a certain style. But I would say, don’t be scared to do your own thing. If you’re in need of some inspiration, go travelling and see what gives you a buzz. For me, it’s warm, comforting colours and, luckily, the proportions of this home suit them well.

FROM LEFT ‘The Red Bedroom’ was inspired by the colours of north India; Raffa was drawn to this wallpaper because it reminds her of the Blue City in Morocco; the yellow walls of the master bedroom are contrasted with accents of red, provided by the curtains.