Design/Build Expert: Grey, Beige or BOLD?

topic of the articles

by Brendan Charters

This year, the colour experts encourage you to introduce some playful and dramatic hues to interiors

As a design-builder, the colour of things matters less to us than the functionality and durability of the spaces that we create for our clients does. In every project we build however, we witness the trends come and go quite rapidly, since the individual homeowner (and/or their interior designer) dictates the colours that will be installed on that particular wall, window, door, trim or cabinet element. Given we rarely build to sell a home ourselves, we are not usually concerned about choosing colours that will appeal to the masses. Like I mentioned, we are usually installing preselected colours instead of spending time selecting them. Something we are more comfortable with anyway.

GOT THE BLUES? HC-155 Newburyport Blue from Benjamin Moore is a bright blue, which pops on this island and fireplace surround against the white cabinets and honey-brown floors and shelves. Photography: Will Fournier Photography

THE OTHER SIDE OF NEUTRAL

“Builder Beige” became the boring norm that everyone used to describe the tract development palette of the ’90s. Through the turn of the Millennium, no one dared use much of it at all. Greys became the dominant neutral of all things tile, furnishings, decor elements and accent walls in the decade that followed. Recently, things have been getting a bit more dramatic, colours such as “Hale Navy,” for example, a deep-blue colour, has been finding its way onto kitchen islands to offset the typical white kitchen that has become so commonplace. We have painted fireplace accent walls and even front doors with this colour in the past few years.

COLOUR-RICH YEAR

There are a number of colour expert companies that release their projected “Colour of the Year.” 2017 saw Pantone cite “Greenery” as the leading shade while Benjamin Moore nominated “Shadow”—an allusive and enigmatic shade, which they describe as the “master of ambiance.” The description alone makes me want to paint my den in this shade! So many of these new bright, rich and bold colour options are a far cry from the beige and grey we are used to. “Night Sky,” a softer blue-grey hue almost appears to be a blend of the three of these colours. “Honey Glow,” a vibrant mustard is Dunn-Edwards Paint’s Colour of the Year and is said to be the perfect pair for accessorizing either of these blues or greens. No matter which way you stray from beige or grey, one sure trend has been to keep it to the fringes, accent pieces and feature walls give people a taste of their playful side, without being overpowering.

Shadow 2117-30 is Benjamin Moore's 2017 Colour of the Year.

MIX IT UP

A splash of colour is what makes our spaces stand out from our neighbours, and helps define a room’s desired intent. A red dining room was said to stimulate appetite while a blue room offers a calming effect. There is a real psychology to our perceptions of colour. It provides for interesting methodology when deciding what paint or colour choices you inject into your decor. Ask yourself what mood you want the room to create so you can attain the desired effect. Our recommendation when injecting colour into your space is to start small and don’t overdo it. Grey and white look nice, but not if you see that colour combination everywhere, in every room, in every home. Paint is relatively low cost. Powder rooms, dens and nurseries are typically small, enclosed spaces where you can experiment with your personal flair. No matter how you decide to inject some life into your decor, you typically get what you pay for, no matter what colour it is. If you plan to own it for the long term, reach for quality in both product and workmanship.