Create a cohesive colour scheme
ARCHITECT JOSH PIDDOCK OF STUDIO MERLIN EXPLAINS HOW TO DEVISE A CONSIDERED PALETTE
Colour is a very personal subject, so the most important thing to remember is that there is no right or wrong answer. For me, the main rule is to create a specific ‘colour syntax’ that fits with your chosen concept. I create two piles within a palette; the ‘always colours’ and the ‘temporary colours’. You need a mix of each to come up with a unique scheme. I then create a set of rules about where each type can be applied and how much of each is the right amount for a space – it’s like syntax in linguistics.
Within a home there are always going to be different areas where colours can or should be applied. For example, shop-finished joinery – I’d recommend picking an ‘always colour’. This might be something you’ve liked for a while and know you’ll continue to like. You can be bold with ‘temporary colours’, but rest safe in the knowledge that if you stick to the syntax and apply them to plastered surfaces they can be easily changed as your tastes do.
In small spaces like apartments, I tend to use warm colours and introduce multiple colourways to divide surfaces, making them feel bigger. Another trick is to select a washed colour effect instead of solid block colours. Having variation in the wall finish itself will, again, make a space feel larger.
For our Maison Pour Dodo project [an apartment set over two floors, shown here] we chose a ‘Pastel Franco’ material palette to meet the concept of ‘warm minimalism’ for the French client. The key ingredient is pastel pink, with white and a deep blue playing supporting roles. On the stairs, Inchyra Blue creates a fresh, forestlike feel; the bathroom colour palette was devised to be a mirror of that, creating a soothing environment in which to bathe.