CREATING A COHESIVE PALETTE

Choosing your colours

Often, a colour palette can be inspired by something you see in nature, the colours you enjoy the most and love the most. Put those colours together, then add in a colour that you wouldn’t normally think about. Inject some contradictory colours into the mix so that your palette doesn’t fall flat. There really are no hard and fast rules. When decorating with colour, make sure you always use a grounding colour in the mix so

that it doesn’t feel too tutti frutti. Inject some brown or caramel into the palette, which will settle all the colour down and make it feel really fabulous and connected. If you feel it is

not coming together cohesively, try to find a multi-coloured fabric to use on the upholstery that joins the dots, so to speak. Add in neutral, contradictory elements, such as a sisal rug or a piece of antique furniture that will ground the brightness.

Where to find inspiration

From an interesting colour palette in a streetscape, to a wonderful old wallpaper or luxuriously patterned vintage dress, inspiration is all around – you just need to open your eyes to it. Take photos of the combinations you see, make a note of those you are most drawn to, and use these as the starting point for putting together an interesting colour

and pattern palette for your home.

What about neutrals?

We often use white on trims to break the colour. The climate dictates our choice of neutral colours. For example, in Queensland homes we opt for a brighter white and in Melbourne, or homes in colder climates, we use a warmer

white. For our projects, we tend to use a low sheen on walls and either a semi or full gloss on trims, architraves and cabinetry (see page 177 for tips on testing colours). >