Bold Brush Strokes

INTERIORS

Bold Brush Strokes

Interior designer Emily Smoor on why we should get playful with paint

Geo shapes at Jean Christophe Aumas’ Paris apartment

For years, we have been stuck in a paint rut. We agonize for days over wall colours then, without a moment’s thought, slap Pure Brilliant White all over the ceiling and woodwork. People have been doing it for centuries and for good reason. Traditionally, the well to-do showed off their wealth by installing ornate cornicing on their ceilings and elaborate wood detailing around doors and windows. Painting these details white, highlighted them, making them stand out against the traditional deeper shades of the walls. However, these days there are not many of us who live in grand houses with detailed cornicing and woodwork, so the custom of painting them white is somewhat obsolete. At the other end of the scale is the minimalistic fashion for painting everything white. This looks fantastic in magazines featuring beautifully designed houses, where the plain white walls allow the focus to be on the building’s architectural merits. But how many of us live in houses like that? Exactly.

So what am I getting at? Forget what you know, or what you thought you knew. It’s time to ride the new wave of colour, where gloss is cool, white is for wusses and if you think Elephant’s Breath is a medical condition, you’ve failed.

MONOCHROME

I am a die-hard fan of the all-over colour. Painting your walls, ceilings and woodwork all the same shade has the unexpected effect of making your spaces feel much larger. There is no end, no beginning, just colour. It is also incredibly restful as your eyes are not being interrupted by contrasting shades cutting through the room, making this look the perfect strategy for a bedroom. Porcelain V is a mainstay at Fantoush, a grey-blue with lavender undertones by The Paint and Paper Library, this shade looks heavenly on any surface.

TONE ON TONE

If you like the idea of a monochrome scheme, but still want to add definition to your woodwork, consider using varying shades of the same colour. Most paint companies’ layout their swatches in colour families, to help you marry matching tones. If you want a foolproof range – Little Greene offer a selection of their colours in Pale, Mid and Deep tones, while The Paint and Paper Library’s range, includes 19 colours, each in five different numbered shades for you to choose from, making tone on tone as easy as painting by number.

Pink all over, Photo photo by Terence Phantoush Chin

Steven Gambrel

TOP TIP

Gloss and satin paints highlight imperfections in your walls. Make sure your plasterwork is in tip-top condition, before going for a high sheen finish. A skim coat by a plasterer will get your walls in perfect shape and ready to shine.

Cortney Bishop

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INTERIORS

Dulux

TOP TIP

If a steady hand is not your super power, fear not. Frog Tape is a painting tape specifically designed for creating sharp, neat lines, making colour blocking achievable for even the most cack handed of DIY amateurs.

Craig and Rose

SPECIAL EFFECTS

With ever changing technology comes innovation and paint is no different. Edinburgh born company, Craig and Roserecently released a new Photo range by Camilla of specialist Wahala paints, allowing you to recreate walls in concrete, aged bronze and stone to name a few. These products are perfect if you want to introduce patina and depth to a wall without the expensive price tag of concrete or polished plaster. Sound interesting? Head to their showroom in Stockbridge for a demonstration, they might even let you have a go.

SHAPE UP

Forget hanging a painting, make the walls your canvas with bold geometric shapes of colour. Take inspiration from the artist Camilla Wahala, whose bold, pop graphics have graced the walls of galleries and buildings across the globe. Her simple yet striking designs are the perfect inspiration for creating blocks of colour at home.

STILL SCARED?

If I haven’t yet convinced you to go boldly into the paint aisles, why not have a go in secret? Paint the inside of a cupboard or a set of drawers in an interesting shade, helping you to gain colour confidence and an unexpected surprise to brighten your day. Try Farrow & Ball ‘Yellow Cake’ for a little ray of sunshine in your sock drawer.

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For more from interior designer and stylist Emily Smoor, see fantoush.com or follow her on Instagram @miss_fantoush for projects, diy tips and tutorials.