Pop of Colour

Pop art is an art movement that began in the 1950s in Britain and United states. The movement was inspired by the pop of colours in print media such as advertisements and comic books challenging the traditions of fine art. Artists such as Andy Warhol demonstrate this in their famous pieces Portraits of Marilyn Monroe and Portrait of Mao Zedong.

Pop art picked up in other areas such as Interior design and fashion.

In Interior design, Pop art is considered to be very emotional and energetic and so is particularly close to young people who are ready to live in perpetual motion. The style is characterized by use of bright and contrasting colours. Different textures can also be used to bring out contrast.

 

With good use of balance, contrasting colours do not necessarily have to clash.  

Pop the Main Entrance

In modern interior design, main entrance pop has become quite common. Use of bright coloured doors against white or black walls on entry makes the entry pop. Solid wood doors with bright laminate finish and view glass panels can be used. To highlight this feature, one can also use a different coloured frame. This type of design works well in duplex developments or gated community estates where homes are generally the same design and colour. Having pop of colour on the different doors brings character. The colour can be picked based on the users’ personal interest or from surrounding elements such as flowers, furniture, rugs etc. or in signage as in the case below. Use of blue colour on doors and windows is largely observed in hotels in Greece, Santorini.

Pop the Entry way

The entry way is always the main point for meet and great. A while back, entryways were just a hall to walk through to the lounge but nowadays, they are a huge point of interest. They also serve an enormous role in final touch up and dressing before getting out of the house and also undressing while getting into the house. Hall tables have been designed specifically for this area. Hall benches can also be used for one to sit while prepping. To create interest, one can use a brightly coloured painting against a bold coloured wall with a black or white frame to highlight the art piece. Large patterns on the rug or carpet can also be used picking the same colour element as in the painting.

Pop the Staircase

The staircase is always one of the most difficult areas to design in the home. Its main function is like that of a corridor; to go through. In hospitality design, staircases are designed as features rather that a stump of concrete sitting in the middle of the reception. Decorative balustrades and marble or tile treads are used to make it stand out. In residential design, pop of colour on paint can be used. Patterned wall paper can also be used to accent one wall and create an interesting feature. A staircase carpet runner with bright colours makes a good feature as you walk up and down.

Pop the Lounge Area

The lounge area is one of the spaces where people spend most time in. Modern interior design appreciates pop art. However in spaces like this, toned down pop of colour is preferred as opposed to bright colours. The lounge area is used for entertainment, conversation or relaxation and therefore good choice of colour is very critical. Colours used should create an interesting set-up but should also prevent colour noise to serve its purpose adequately. Blue and mustard is always a winning combination. For balance, one should use bright colours on one item and tone down on the rest.

Pop the Kitchen

Interesting enough, the kitchen is one area people like to keep bright and exciting. Pop of colour can be used on paint colours, cabinet finish or back splash tiles. High gloss ceramic tiles are quite common and in fact is a current trend at the moment. Wall paper and paint are the easiest element to pop because they are the easiest to change when one gets tired of the colour. Toned down counter top and cabinet door finish should be used to keep the colours toned down. Decorative vases, mugs and crockery can be placed on open shelves to add interest.

Pop the Bathroom

Invention of water proof wall paper may be one of the most genius developments. Designers are now not limited to tiles and paint. Interesting dreamy wallpaper designs have come up to keep the bathroom interesting. Currently, tiles are only used within the shower cubicle and with proper extraction, paint and wall paper used on other walls.  With wall paper, ideas are limitless. Lining wall paper with texture is also a good option as one can paint their preferred colour on top.

Inspiration pour le Journee

A dull front hall gets a fresh update with paint!

Stylist Reiko Caron shares quick and easy tips on how to make a front entryway pop. Reiko instantly updated the space by painting the interior of the front door with Sherwin-Williams Refuge (SW 6228) — a grey-blue that’s traditional with a hint of country. The casual, laid-back shade brightened the space. Reiko also painted a large console table in Sherwin-Williams Nugget (SW 6697) — a sunny citrus hue — for a vibrant accent. An Aztec-inspired runner, greenery and a large painting completes the look.

Designing with patterns

Patterns are created when one or more elements of design such as lines, shapes etc are repeated.  Fabrics form one of the largest components in Interior Design. Together with rugs, they are considered as softs. Fabrics may be Synthetic or Natural depending on their raw materials. Natural fabrics are made from plant and animal-based fibres. These fabrics are silk, cotton, bamboo, linen and wool. Synthetic fabrics also referred to as “man-made” fabrics are made from chemical-based fibres. Such fabrics include nylon polyester spandex etc. To read more on this, check out my blog Fabric and its application “Fabric and its application “

 

Over 20 types of fabric patterns exist. These patterns can be floral, geometric or abstract.

Patterns on Window treatments

Windows and doors form a big part of the Architecture. More often than not, these elements are selected and decided by the Architect as they form part of the building structure. As interior designers, our job is to decide on the framing or the treatment to be done. For residential houses, the most common type of window treatment is curtains. In most cases, curtains are used together with sheers but sometimes can be used alone. Sheers also can be used alone depending on the type of design style one wants to achieve. As windows can be large, curtains are a strong feature and therefore need to be carefully selected. Beautiful patterned curtains can greatly improve the Interior Design of the home.

Patterns on Furniture

Fabric pattern and design can also be appreciated on furniture. Most of the time, designers run away from patterns when selecting upholstery fabric. This is because, patterns easily become outdated and will be difficult to change if upholstered to a sofa. Plains are always more practical and if desired, patterns can be brought in on other elements such as scatter cushions.  However, in certain styles of design such as African and Victorian, patterns can be used because they form part of the design elements and will never become outdated.

Patterns on scatter cushions

Scatter cushions are the easiest elements to implement when using patterns. They are smaller, more geometric and can be moved around. Rectangle, square and diamond are the most common shapes however bolsters and round pillows are sometimes used. Scatter cushions can be used on the couch, armchair, sofa bench, hallway bench, bed, and even on outdoor chairs. The size of scatter cushion can determine the size fabric pattern. Fabrics such as Ikat have big patterns and therefore look better in larger scatter cushions such as 600mmx600mm as opposed to 200mmx600mm or 450mmx450mm cushions.

Patterns on Throws (Throw blankets)

Throws are ideally the “cherry on top" when designing and styling homes. Throws can be decorative or functional. On brightly coloured sofas, throws are used to protect the headrest area from dirt brought about by hair oils. They can also be placed on the arms to protect them from food spills . Throws can be woollen, satin or even cotton. In luxury homes, fur is considered. Fur is by far one of the most expensive fabrics in Interior Design. Throws are also used on the bed as a design element or as a spare cover for cold nights. 

Patterns on Rugs

Rugs come in both large and small pieces and can practically be used in every part of the house. The beauty of rugs is that they can be used to decorate the empty spaces in the home such as corridors and entry halls. Rugs are used both indoors and outdoors. As in the case of scatter cushions, rugs can easily be changed if need be or can be moved from room to room if the style changes. One can also easily get rid of them and bring in new to uplift the ambience of the space.

Patterns on Wall art

Canvas paintings and photo frames are the most common type of wall art used. As creativity has no boundaries, beautiful fabrics have sometimes been used in photo frames or wrapped on frames and mounted as wall art. The beauty about these types of wall art is that they are limitless and can be used as very large pieces. The variety of patterns, prints and fabric composition also brings diversity. In bedrooms, one can use large fabric mounts as headboards for box beds.

Inspiration pour le Journee 

Textile designers enjoy coming up with new patterns. World trends influence patterns; the reverse is also true. Fabrics are one of the first things that interior designer Anne-Marie Barton uses to see what her clients like and to help decipher their design style. Watch as Anne-Marie gives you a tour of her own home and client projects, sharing her favourite fabric selections and the three elements that she always keeps in mind: colour harmony, texture and pattern rapport.

The Neutral Charm

Neutral colours are sometimes associated with minimalism. To some degree, minimalism helped promote use of neutral colours by  reducing  use of bold popping colours. There has been a development of colour trends throughout the century as published countless times  in design blogs and magazines. However, there is a general colour palette that is observed around  different regions and countries in the world. This palette is picked from  the culture of the people; artifacts, fabrics, dyes etc, the flora and fauna, food, spices and colour of the landscapes. 

Southern parts of America have warm wet climates and  rich cultures. This translates to their designs which are colourful, bold, exciting and vibrant. Antarctica is characterised by snow with cold weather and no sun. Design therefore have taken up a calm look and feel with greys, whites and stone as the main colours. African designs and colours richly borrow from from the savanna landscape . Deep oranges, browns, greens,maroons and yellows are a main characteristic.  In France, natural neutral colours are a common factor borrowed from their love of bread, cheese and  coffee.

Neutral colours can be used in any style of design.

1.The Modern Neutral Charm

In this day and age where countless colours have been invented, bright colours may be too much. In study of colour psychology, different colours create different moods. Orange for instance denotes energy and warmth. After a while, this may start feeling overwhelming.  White creates a mood of calm and therefore works well in homes located in busy environments.  White also denotes elegance and sophistication and therefore is a good colour to use in luxury apartments. It s a common colour in modern style of design

2. The Boho Chic  Neutral Charm

Boho chic is a melting pot of colour, texture and pattern. Boho is denoted from Bohemian style which emerged from Central and Eastern European decent. This style generated from people who lived unconventional lives, richly artistic and nomadic. They travelled a lot taking with them collectibles and souvenirs which they used as art and decor in their home. This style became common in 1960’s and 1970s. Boho style has variants based on where items were collected from

3. The Beach Neutral Charm

Beach style interior design colours, patterns , prints and textures are adapted from the beach environment. Sand, water, stones, shells, and flora are some of the elements that influence these colours and therefore Beige, white and grey become colours mostly used. Sometimes, surrounding communities contribute to some of the elements used in different areas. Swahili community around the Kenyan-Tanzanian coast influence the coastal design in this area. Marsala and  maroon colours with brass/bronze metal therefore become part of the coastal design in these areas.

4. The Farmhouse Neutral Charm

Farmhouse Interior design is characterised by use of wicker and rattan for the furniture, slip cover on the couch and armchairs as is casual and practical, vintage furniture pieces, Belfast sink in white ceramic or copper, butcher block counters on dining tables or island, exposed wood beams, reclaimed barn wood and pellets. One of the most important element is the weathered look on wood ; floor wall and ceiling finishes or on furniture. Farmhouse colours are subtle with minimal pattern.

5. The Scandinavian Neutral Charm

Scandinavian style as per the name originated from  Scandinavia by the Nordic people . This style leans towards the contemporary style of designs with a minimalist characteristic. In this style of design, light wood finishes are used on floors and furniture,  wall to wall carpets are replaced with simple rugs, light muted colours on walls and fabrics, clean lines, de-cluttered spaces ,  simple decor and art and lots of natural light. Black White and Grey hues are quite common .

Inspiration pour le Journee

Margie wanted the aesthetic to reflect her client’s personality so she went for a fresh, playful look. She chose pinks, greys and taupe's that all have the same undertone to achieve an airy feel, and layered on quiet patterns and texture for visual interest. The kitchen is made for entertaining with a large island that divides it from the adjacent family room. A large, comfortable sofa adds a relaxed vibe to the space, while built-ins showcase thoughtful accessories. Moldings detailed with cashmere grass cloth wallpaper add depth to the dining room.

Check out video below by House and Home for inspiration.