Here at Atelier we love dark colours – in fact we are on a mission to make the deepest darkest sludgies the new pastels. To me greys, blacks in fact anything dark is the essence of fabulousness, chic, super sexy and timeless. So if you are thinking about giving your room a personality lift – paint it black.
Now I know many people will totally disagree (try not to) dark colours are my idea of heaven, enveloping a space with cosiness.
Over the Christmas break the store had a bit of a makeover and went from smoky grey to smouldering black – yes even the ceilings!
Fabulous for highlighting unexpected contrasts black brings a new definition to elegance; products now literally pop out from the shelves creating a beautiful bold effect. Classy, versatile and unexpected. Just remember that because the walls are dark you will need to punch up the colour in your accessories– so say a mix of pieces with splurges of colour and you’ve got yourself a fabulous new look. AND its slimming– you look way slimmer in dark rooms than you do in a neutral one!
Need any more convincing?
I didn’t think so
Hi, I think that your decorating style is very cool. Dark colours are wonderful if paired with “pop” ones, as shown in the photos of your projects, but how they look in a small flat? I’m starting the renovation of my flat (only 75 mq2), and I fear that using dark colours it will look smaller than how it really is… I was thinking about using neutral and brilliant colours, such as white and oyster grey, to catch the light… what do you think about that?
Marina
It’s a big old conundrum that a lot of people deliberate over – dark colours in small spaces and the fear that they will make them look even tinier than they really are. I say go with what you really love – colour is so personal. Personally dark colours are my idea of heaven as they cosy up a space like nothing else giving it instant style kudos and sophistication. The big old key to making it work is to use plenty of saturated brights and plenty of different levels of lighting. Your choice of oyster grey is a fabulous one (super sexy with Chinese yellow) – and neutrals and brights will not fail to work – the key when choosing colour is to follow your heart.
I love your choice of colors. There’s something so dreamy and surreal with your dark (blue?) walls and white bedding. I am in awe. Can you tell me where you get your color inspiration, or where you get your paint colors? Thanks!
Thank you. Dark colours are my idea of heaven – I started off with one small wall and then got braver and braver and decorated the whole place. The braver I got the more I experimented. From experience Farrow & Ball are fabulous for paints – more expensive but the strong pigmentation makes walls look luxuriously velvety! Down pipe and blue black are my staples – I use them time and time again and in different lights and different countries they continue to surprise and delight me.
I am temporarily in Melbourne and I love the colour palette in and on the houses. There are lots of moody greys and blacks – these Aussies are not scared to experiment. Even the whites have a touch of ash! I was keen to use these colours in my house back in the UK but thought that it would be a bit cold and depressing given the northern climate?
Whats it live to live in, as opposed to work in?
Thank you for your response and I am delighted to dispell this myth. The light we have here in the UK is incredibly soft and works well with these colours. My house is top to bottom deepest darkest grey. The key to making it work is to use large pops of colour that will zing out from this palette and look magical. That and numerous different lights – floor, ceiling, side all creating soft pools of light. The result is quite magical.
Hi Abigail
Thanks for your inspiring blog! Please can you tell me what paint you used for the hot pink colour that the coffee table (on the front of your book) is painted? Many thanks x
I have painted many a thing barbie esq pink this particular table however has 12 layers of lacquer over it and is not something i have done. However designers guild do an almost exact similar colour its the brightest pink they have and many of my tables at home are sprayed in it x
I just love the dark colours you use! Have seen in a Norwegian interior magazine (Bonytt, 12/2010) how you decorated your sister’s flat. Just love it! Long to do something similar but am nervous about getting the colour/hue wrong. Am going to the UK in a few weeks and am contemplating getting the paint whilst I am there … May I ask which paint you have used in the room with a fire place please, it seems to be a gorgeous smokey grey/green/slate but is difficult to tell from the picture. And where can I find it?
Many many thanks!
Thank you very much indeed. The inky grey in the photograph you are talking about is down pipe by farrow and ball. In the day it takes on a lilacish hue and in the evening inky inky blue – adore it.
Super stronka. Szczęścia.