All posts tagged: colours

We have paint

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve had an exciting delivery this week, even the Fedex guy mentioned how “posh” these paints are. It’s not for me mind, it’s for the Masonic Villas project. I’ve never worked with Farrow and Ball paints before and have heard so much about it; how the natural pigments enhance the colours, making them richer, deeper and more complex, subtly changing in tone throughout the day. Am really looking forward to the next few weeks. Time to see F&B, up on some walls, doing its thing. And as it’s arrived, I thought it was only fair of me to share what colours we’ve chosen for all three spaces. A re-cap. The living room: The hallway, stairs and landing: And the office space (aka. The Pod) Farrow and Ball provided us with the most perfect palette for these three rooms. Including a whopping four from their nine new colours announced and released earlier this year. So let me take you on the colour palette tour…. For the living room: Farrow and Ball’s Off Black and Shadow White We …

Sherwood Forest – Progress Report

Published by Karen Knox

So where were we? That’s right. We were here. Room all emptied and ready for the walls to get their green on. Ta-Da! The decorator is doing a sterling job. The ceiling has had its two coats of Valspar’s “Gentle Shadows” which is warm off white. It actually has a smidge of green in, so it contrast beautifully. It’s a huge space, about 5m by 12m long, so there is a lot of work to do here. Especially with the amount of woodwork that needs sanding, caulking, priming and painting. The dining room walls are now fully initiated into their new role in “Sherwood Forest.” The creams and magnolias of before actually made the space feel cold and a little soul-less. The colour’s added so much warmth and depth to the room. The wood and metal work have been primed ready for their dark green gloss finish. I decided on gloss to add a textural contrast to the room and traditionally, a gentleman’s club would have been soaked in gloss (and nicotine stains, but we’ll be …

Midtown Magic Bedroom

Published by Karen Knox

My bedroom. As it was a few months ago anyway. It was lovely. Light, bright, clean and simple. Good enough for a magazine shoot might I add… but it never really floated my boat. I’ve been itching to get this room more up my street for over a year now, but every time I even mentioned it to the OH, he would wince. a) It’s a big job to sell all that furniture b) and BLOODY expensive to replace it all. Wardrobes were always the sticking point. The ones I liked were always upwards of £600. And we needed two. So there’s £1200 straight away before i’ve even got all creative with my shizzle. During a quick evening session on Gumtree (am always on there hunting down furniture and decor finds for local pick up, don’t forget those 1930’s chest of drawers I picked up for £10), I came across a brand new in box, never built or even opened, LEDGER wardrobe from Made.com. RRP £600. It was on Gumtree for £300. And it was four …

Ode to Tretchikoff

Published by Karen Knox

Did I tell you i’m re-doing my bedroom? Well I am. None of it needed doing, I just fancied a change. A big one. Part of the complete re-design included some new art. Blue Lady, Attasit Pokpong I wrote a piece a month or so ago about some new artist discoveries i’d made. One in particular by Thai artist, Attasit Pokpong had the kind of inky teal tones I wanted my new room to be covered in. Well, after extensive research that particular piece wasn’t available as a print and the original was also enormous. And sold. **sigh**. So the search continued. I started looking for something like the classic 1952 painting, The Chinese Girl by Vladimir Tretchikoff. Also affectionately known as The Green Lady. You’ll all have seen this one doing the rounds in charity shops for the last 20 years or so. Well now it’s considered a bit of a cult classic and this one above was for sale at The Vintage Home Show a couple of weeks ago in Leeds. I was very tempted …

20YY 36/370 (aka Cherished Gold)

Published by Karen Knox

2016 Colour Palette (COTY = Colour of the Year) So, Dulux have announced their Colour of the Year for 2016. Oh right, that’s good, what is it?  Cherished Gold was chosen to be “The Special” by AkzoNobel’s Global Aesthetic Center. Who’s that? A specially selected group of experts and international trend watchers from various design backgrounds: Architecture, textiles, product design, graphics and research. They’re all invited to discuss predictions for worldwide social and design trends. “This process allows us to nominate a number of trends, with one overriding idea that captures the mood of the moment; and then consider how this will influence the consumer.” Fancy eh? These trends and concepts are developed further, resulting in unique visual content that aims to engage and inspire us, the customers and consumers. “Our imagery communicates the latest trends and inspires the use of paint in interior design and architecture. It is a process that ensures our research and forecasting is firmly connected to relevant, modern-day trends.”  Colour Palette of the Year, 2016. Think of these as Cherished Gold’s BFF’s. Let’s see some …

Crown Colour Influences A/W 2015

Published by Karen Knox

Crown have released their colour influences for A/W 2015 and I have to say, i’m a huge fan of the three very distinctive colour palettes. It’s not surprising I already have several of these paint colours as testers from my own projects and other client’s. Business and pleasure testers. Let’s have a look-see. Faded Simplicity  “As its name suggests, this trend is all about a simple form. The palette is pared down on colour but rich in texture. Chalky matt, rough surfaces are beautifully combined with light reflective finishes and metal embellishments.” Justyna Korczynska – Crown Design Studio “Muted neutral tones fade and blend into each other to create a light and natural palette. The bringing together of opposites – rough edges complement jewelled embellishments. Metallic finishes work next to chalky matt.” Stitch “An appreciation of past skills and crafts. A synthesis of unexpected hues in modern patchworks and bold coloured weave. Bringing together the best of old and new offset by natural architecture and materials.” Stitch Exterior “Some of the most modern and prolific furniture …

Habitat Paint

Published by Karen Knox

I’ve become a little obsessed with Habitat paints. I do a lot of decorating. You can pretty much guarantee there’ll be a roller or a brush in the sink 94% of the time. Am getting to know my paints quite well now, depth of colour, finish, ease of application. Habitat paint is actually really good. And their range is simple too. A good overall range and family of colours without being bombarded with 19 options of grey. One finish. A matt finish, but not that super chalky matt that shows marks if you even look at it funny. The finish is matt but durable and can take a bit of a wipe. Perfik. Habitat 30 colours. Some neutral. Some pop. But all completely workable into most spaces. Habitat say their paints are suitable for walls, wood and metal. Nice. So far, i’ve used it on walls, woodwork and what I like to call “a bit of furniture rescuing.” Here are some of my projects where Habitat paint has featured. Habitat Slate – A lovely simple grey, with hardly any …