COLOUR OF THE MONTH A beautiful blue-green grey that’s bold and cocooning

A grey that straddles the boundaries between blue, green and grey can be many things: front and centre or a background to show off art and objects. Easy to live with, it looks beautiful in west- or south-facing rooms while being suitably moody in spaces

‘Plume by Atelier Ellis is incredibly comfortable on kitchen cabinets: it’s not too blue for food and it really likes being near a garden. When I made the colour, I wanted it to be almost magical. It contains no black, but instead uses oxides and umber to make a colour that I think will bring a lot of people joy.’ CASSANDRA ELLIS, founder, Atelier Ellis ‘I’ve worked with Farrow & Ball to create a new eponymous colour, which is a blue-grey-green hue that works really well on its own as a standalone colour for a whole room, or as an accent to highlight a special piece of furniture, favourite artwork or a room’s statement architectural detailing such as architraves, doors or windows.’

CLARA EWART, head of design, Kitesgrove ‘Darker tones tend to work particularly well when combined with pops of strong colour. I think this colour really complements cobalt blue, bold reds or bright yellow due to its warmth and fairly neutral tone. It’s also a great backdrop for strong artwork and antique gilt frames.’

HENRIETTE VON STOCKHAUSEN, creative director,

VSP Interiors ‘I love using this sort of colour on walls as it allows paintings and portraits to really sing out. It feels both calming and quiet and also works as the ideal backdrop for a range of rich textiles, decorative antique rugs and furniture.’

ANNA HAINES, founder, Anna Haines Design ‘Using dark hues on the walls can be extremely effective in a room, particularly if you use lighter colours in the hallway approaching it. In a room that lends itself to evening use, or wintry days in front of the fire, curled up with a book, you want to create an enveloping feel and this can then be enhanced through the use of heavier-weight fabrics like linens and wools.’

CAROLINE INCHYRA, founder, Inchyra

This uplifting blue-grey colour has an enchanting quality that will set off any room. Wall in Plume true matt emulsion, £49 for 2.5ltr, Atelier Ellis

STAND OUT Punch up the contrast by pairing dark tones with a bolt of citrus. Here, a grey-blue cocoons this reading nook and contrasts with an orange cushion, in a scheme by De Rosee Sa. Walls and joinery in Morph, Colour Makes People Happy. Bespoke reading light, A Shade Above

CALM AND COLLECTED In the back hall of this project by Henriette von Stockhausen of VSP Interiors, the deep mid-grey background is broken up with a rich damask upholstery fabric and elegant antiques. Walls in Worsted by Farrow & Ball. Wall sconces by Vaughan. Carpet by Stark Carpet

COLOUR AND TEXTURE Interior decorator Anna Haines conjured this perfect serene reading space by using a grey-blue backdrop, which acts as a perfect foil for the characterful portraits and raspberry chair. Walls in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue. Chair in a Lewis & Wood cotton velvet. Cushion by Susan Deliss