Sims Hilditch, Radlett Family HomeContemporary Living Room, Gloucestershire
Polly Eltes
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Here’s another take on pinky-grey. The shade on this shelving is paler – an ultra-sophisticated blush – but like other more mauvey tones, it creates gentle and appealing heat.
Bring out its pink…Dulux’s Heart Wood is a versatile colour, and it can be warmed up or cooled down. Want to know how? This room will show you. Here, the gentle putty colour used on the floor-to-ceiling shelving provides a neutral backdrop – but what you put next to neutrals can really alter the colour they appear to be. See this in action: use your hand to cover half your screen, taking out those pink chairs and the sofa, and suddenly the backdrop is a blank canvas, neither warm nor cool. The seating really heats things up and pinkens the colour of the shelves rather than enhancing its grey tones. Charcoal or pale grey sofas with more blue than red in the mix would have the opposite effect and cool things down.
Paint the woodworkWho says woodwork has to be painted white? No one, actually, and these muted bookshelves show how well a softer shade than white can work with grey tones. Another interesting design idea here is the patterned wallpaper – the overall effect is grey, but with added interest.
…or try a trioSometimes, having everything arranged in twos can be a little stilted – it really depends on the room and available accessories. If you find this is the case, the designer’s favourite rule of three offers an alternative approach to symmetry. However, to maintain a sense of balance and order, try linking your trio of objects, furniture, lighting or artworks by theme, colour or shape. In this space, the main furniture (the sofa and two armchairs) are a trio, as are the cushions, and a number of the accessories on the shelves behind. Mixing trios of objects with others in pairs, or other even configurations, will still give you a sense of order in a way that lots of disparate, lone objects with no visual connection probably won’t.Why three is the magic number in design
Team with other neutralsA soothing shade of pink brings colour while also perfectly balancing existing neutral undertones. Here, blush pink is teamed with other muted shades for an harmonious, easy-to-live-with look.
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