Category: home tones

Home Tones: Dry Rose

Loft apartment with Dry Rose recesses and armchairscredit

I’ve just discovered something called, ‘Colorstrology’. It’s like astrology… but instead of it being your star sign, it’s your colour. You can read all about it in Michele Bernhardt’s book, Colorstrology: What Your Birthday Color Says About You. Apparently, if you’re born on my birthday – November 24th – your colour is Pantone’s ‘Dry Rose’. You’re also meant to be, “Profound | Exotic | Committed”. Justin’s colour – 14th of April – is ‘Hibiscus‘. It goes on to describe me further…

Pantone 'Dry Rose' colour swatchYou have a giving nature and at times you may feel like you are not appreciated. Try to remember that you are loved and that not everyone knows how to or has the capacity to go the distance the way you do. You are highly creative and understanding. Many people will come to you for support. Your personal color protects your energy. Wearing, meditating or surrounding yourself with Dry Rose supports the compassionate side of you, but doesn’t allow responsibilities to run you down.

I don’t know if I believe in Colorstrology… any more than I believe in horoscopes. Although the favourite colour of a Sagittarius is meant to be purple, we love to travel and we sometimes speak before we think – all correct facts about me!

My favourite shade of purple is violet, but this Dry Rose has grown on me whilst writing this post. I’ve chosen images below of a few homes where the colour’s been used very successfully.

Bathroom sink console with dry rose coloured towelscredit

Wall stencilled in Dry Rose shades of pinkcredit

Purple painted house exteriorcredit

Modern kitchen with purple painted walls and matching Kitchenaid food processorcredit

Corridor with purple painted feature wallcredit

Bedroom with purple painted wallscredit

Modern kitchen with Dry Rose painted splash backscredit

Home Tones: Malachite

Malachite kitchen wall splash backcredit

Malachite is a naturally occurring mineral from which copper is smelted. It has been in use for thousands of years, often being ground into a powder and used as a pigment in paint, although this powder has now been replaced with verditer, a synthetic substitute. The mineral itself and malachite paint effects can still be used with stunning results.

It had its heyday, especially in Russia, during the 18th & 19 centuries when it was used in decorative objects and again in the Art Deco era when it was regularly used in jewellery.

Used across a large expanse such as in the bathroom pictured below, it creates a bold, dramatic effect. If you don’t feel that adventurous, you can use it in small quantities as done in the images of the bathroom taps, wall tiles and printed chair upholstery, curtains and cushions.

Bathroom with malachite wall tiles, concrete bath and black chandeliercredit

Shoe & handbag cabinet with glass shelves and lined with malachitecredit

Silver coloured bath taps inset with malachitecredit

Sitting room with white painted walls and malachite patterned curtainscredit

Malachite bathroom tilescredit

Eclectic sitting room with malachite print cushions on an L-shaped sofacredit

Double bedroom with malachite printed sliding doors on a built-in wardrobecredit

Home Tones: Tiffany Blue

Picture gallery on a Tiffany blue painted wallcredit

One of the few things I regret about our one and only trip to New York over a decade ago was not popping into Tiffany’s. We walked right past it, along 5th Avenue, peeking through the door as we drew alongside. I don’t know why we didn’t go inside!

Tiffany Blue is such a distinctive shade. The shop’s little boxes and bags with their white ribbon and rope are instantly recognisable.

According to Tiffany & Co:

“Also referred to as robin’s-egg blue or forget-me-not blue, this distinctive color may have been chosen because of the popularity of the turquoise gemstone in 19th-century jewelry. Turquoise was also a favorite of Victorian brides who gave their attendants a dove-shaped brooch of turquoise as a wedding day memento.“

The colour is perfect teamed with brilliant white and soft grey – or, for a touch of drama, try combining it with charcoal or black.

Tiffany Blue painted front doorcredit

Kitchen cupboards and door painted in Tiffany Bluecredit

Tiffany Blue clothes cupboard and drawers in a dressing roomcredit

Black and Tiffany Blue decorated teen bedroomcredit

Baby's nursery with Tiffany Blue bedding and cushionscredit

Shower enclosure with Tiffany Blue tiled floorcredit

Twin Tiffany Blue bathroom sinkscredit

Home Tones: Neon

Neon-lit corridorcredit

Neon has made a big comeback in recent years. It’s not just the preserve of 50s-style diners, cocktail bars and nightclubs. Neon can be used very successfully in the home environment, in any room of the house.

Many of us can’t wait to purchase a unique LED neon sign to enhance our home décor, mainly because they make our places feel warmer and more welcoming. Also, keep in mind that you can get them personalised to suit your already existing decoration or to fit the new additions of a room you may be remodelling; and with cheap neon lights, this is easier than ever. They give your home a modern vibe, with an uncommon item of decoration that is also affordable, giving any room an original look.

My favourite application is in the bathroom; it helps set a relaxing atmosphere when enjoying a long soak with soft music and glass of wine.

Neon isn’t only about signs – although I love them, especially when they’re personalised with your name or favourite saying. Strips or tracks of neon lighting can lead the way between rooms or up and down stairs – especially at night when overhead lights may be turned off.

'Boo' neon sign in a gold cabinet cocktail barcredit

neon-lit shower rosecredit

Red 'hotel' neon sign in vintage industrial decorated bathroomcredit

neon under-lit stairwaycredit

Red 'undress yourself' neon sign above the entrance to a walk-in wardrobecredit

'You only live once' neon sign above a sofa in a sitting roomcredit

Neon house numberscredit