The importance of Colour

'Remember, colour is not just colour, but mood, temperature and structure' Van Day Truex, Interiors, Character, and Colour. 

Welcome to the weekend! And its a lovely long weekend here in Australia as we celebrate Australia Day. Its unfortunate that we are currently experiencing torrential rain here in Brisbane. It just keeps coming and shows no sign of stopping. Which means I am locked up in the house with a puppy who has cabin fever because he cant exert his energy outside. As I sit here writing this post I am having a pork roll (dog treat) thrust in my face as he begs me to play with him. But we are here to focus on more important things, so lets get to it!

Today I want to talk about colour and the importance of colour in interiors. The use of colour in interior design is an essential element in design. The role of colour serves not only an aesthetic purpose but it also has a huge impact on our moods and how we feel in a particular space.

I have always been well known for my neutral palette. It wasn't until I started designing that I have realised the colours that I am drawn to. From a fashion perspective I like my colours bright (and I mean bright!). Being a typical summer girl my wardrobe consists of hundreds of hues of orange, coral, yellows, aqua's and mauves. But, give me a home or room to decorate and (to my great surprise) I will be whipping out samples and swatches in whites, greys, blacks, taupes and beige. Why?? I am most comfortable and relaxed in a neutral and monochromatic colour scheme - for me, a neutral colour scheme creates a feeling of comfort, coolness, consistency, and ultimately a feeling of 'classicness' . In any of my homes you will find white walls, dark stained furniture and hints of taupe and charcoal greys. Colour is used to add interest and oomph on a restricted basis. But this is me. When consulting with clients I need to understand the colours that they are drawn to and what colours they could live with on a daily basis.

Psychological and aesthetic elements aside, it is also important to keep practicality in mind. For a household with young children or pets it may not be advisable to upholster a lounge in light shades such as white or cream. I on the other hand chose to overlook this and constantly battle with keeping our lovely taupe lounge clean from muddy puppy paw prints on a daily basis. Was this a practical decision - no? But could I imagine my lounge room in any other colour? Nope. We just make it work!

When choosing colour for your home whether it be the wall colour or furnishings you choose, it is important to select colours that not only compliment each other aesthetically but that you are comfortable with. If white walls feel to clinical to you, why not go for a light grey to strengthen the room. Or if you are really brave you cant go wrong charcoal or near black walls. It really brings a room into a whole other dimension.

I now need to run off to a birthday lunch so am off to get ready (and clean the couch of some disturbing (yet cute) paw prints). Enjoy your Australia Day Australianites!

I will leave you with some images from a few designers who I admire for their use of colour.

Kelly Hoppen: The queen of the neutral palette and taupe. People either love it or hate it. I love, love, love it.

Maria Barros: This woman isn't afraid of colour and knows how to use it well. How could you not feel happy in either of these spaces?

Greg Natale: I admire Greg's subtle use of colour in the homes he designs. The use of textures and bold patterns help add strength and a sense of boldness to his spaces.

Introducing a new series to the blog

Since starting this blog late last year we have covered many posts from design inspiration to client jobs and industry news updates. This morning I was thinking - how can we make this blog better? In addition to the things we have already covered,  how else can we add value to our clients? What is it they want to hear? What do they want to get out of reading this blog?

I have a few ideas up my sleeve for the blog in 2013 however I thought it would be a great start to kick off by taking a detailed look at all things design. Yep, it sounds very broad but we are going to break it down into easy-peasy posts that are concise, relevant and (I hope) inspirational. Each week we will look at a certain element of design, a room in the house, styling tips etc. Think of it as your weekly tutorial and dose of inspiration on all things design. From learning the secrets of the design industry to practical tips and tricks to help you create your own amazing place. Let us share with you our practical know-how, for free!

I am really looking forward to this new series of which the first will begin very shortly. On another note, if you have any thoughts on what you would like to see covered on the blog please don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me here.

Here's a sneak peak at just a few things this series will cover....

Till next time.....

image source: 1/ 2 / 3

A wonderful year ahead

Just over two weeks into the year and I am feeling recharged, rejuvenated and ready for what is set to be an exhilarating and jam-packed year. 

We have so much planned this year and I cant wait to share it with you. We have some exciting design jobs coming up with some amazing clients over the next few months. I'm also excited to announce that Wink & Co will be undergoing a complete re-brand including a new website and a new look for the blog (stay tuned). We have booked in a few trips this year to ensure we squeeze in a little R&R - I'm particularly looking forward to visiting Bali again for some tropical inspiration in a few months time. . And as usual we will be pottering around our home - re-decorating here and there and adding a few more projects to our casa. 

2013 is shaping up to be a stella year and I hope it is full of inspiration and great things for all of you.

Wow - how hot has it been lately? This sunny weather of late has been the perfect excuse for us to escape to the beach over the holiday break. Yesterday we took a trip to the beach with Luca. Luca loves the beach  - if he's not splashing in the water or digging holes to bury his head he is running halfway down the beach with us in tow. Gotta love him.

This sweltering heat has got me thinking of beach houses. From gorgeous beach shacks to the modern day home perched on the water's edge. Here is some beach house inspiration to get you through this heat! Enjoy.

Via 1, 2, 3, 4 - unknown, 5 - unknown, 6.

And the winner is...

After much research and many delightful hours trawling the net looking for villas, we have finally booked our villa for our trip. The Puro Blanco villas will be our home during our time in Bali - heaven!

From the white decor, to the outdoor tropical shower and sparkling lap pool - this little haven will provide us with the quiet and sophisticated space we need to relax and unwind. Cant wait!

images via Puro Blanco

The Siam hotel

We all know that first impressions are everything - especially when arriving at a hotel. 

If I were to ever walk through the doors to The Siam, Bangkok I think my first impressions of this hotel would be held with the highest regard. The interior is bold and sophisticated. It is modern yet still has a nod to Thai history and architecture. 

There are many elements that I am coveting - the somewhat monochromatic colour scheme used throughout, the subway tiles in the bathrooms, the wall panelling, graphic print rugs, and the hanging ferns used throughout the courtyard.

Pure stylishness at its best.

images via the siam hotel

Flamboyant flamingo

Pink flamingos, with their elegant shapes and array of hues from soft salmons to hot pinks seem to be popping up everywhere. Have you noticed? From fabrics to wallpapers, cushions to homewares. Is this trend here to stay? I think not. At least not for the long haul. 

But, I am still loving these gorgeous animals and daydream about the perfect opportunity to decorate with them. Given that it is a trend that wont be around to stand the test of time, I think the perfect room to decorate with these gorgeous prints would be a nursery. Here is what I am thinking.... what do you think?

Wallpaper ; mirror; fabric; curtains - custom made; basket; cot; cushion; armchair; pouf; sheepskin; buffet; artwork.

Villa Inspiration

This holiday break has given me plenty of time to research villas for our Bali trip next year. With so many stunning places to stay it is hard to pick just one or two. Here is another villa that caught my eye.

This sophisticated villa, named after a meeting place for the gods, would unquestionably provide a luxurious stay.

images via villa samuan

Holiday happiness

How was your Christmas day blog readers? We spent the day travelling between families, opening lots of beautifully wrapped presents and eating more food than I can ever remember eating in my life. Now that the craziness and hype of Christmas has passed we are slowly winding down and switching into holiday mode.  Catching up with family and friends, taking the dog for long walks, and catching up on some much needed R&R. 

Good news also - Steven has begun building the day bed in our sun room and I am very much looking forward to seeing the finished result. Now to get in touch with our upholsterer to have the cushions made up, pot up some nice greenery and select a mirror to set the whole room off. I will post some photos once complete. In the meantime enjoy the holidays if you are lucky enough to have some time off. Will leave you with some inspiring images to enjoy over your break.

Images via elle decor; le Royal Monceau; VT Interiors; Domayne; unknown.

Carlos Aparicio's Florida Home

I recently came across these images of Architect and antiques dealer Carlos Aparicio's Florida home in Elle Decor. I am coveting the design which combines Parisian flaire and Miami cool - a lovely blend of traditional and modern. The perfect holiday home for a weekend retreat don't you think?

images via Elle Decor

Brisbane Kitchen

The year is wrapping up and I am pleased to announce that so are some of our design jobs (hooray)! A little while ago I posted a colour scheme for a kitchen we were designing for one of our lovely clients. Well, the install is now complete and the results speak for themselves. I have included a before photo for added effect.  Love it when a job goes according to plan and we have such amazing clients to work with!

p.s. excuse the dodgy photos (professional shots to come in the new year) - still needs a lot of styling but its beginning to take shape.

Island Dreaming

We are planning a trip back to Bali next year and I honestly cannot wait. It is almost a yearly event that we make the  journey across to this to-die-for island. I couldn’t be more delighted at the thought that we will soon be back there for a relaxing few weeks. I have been doing some research on villas and accommodation and there are just so many gorgeous places to stay.

I can definitely see myself relaxing on this day bed with a good book and cool drink in hand.

I will include some more Bali villa inspiration over the coming weeks. If you have any recommendations I would love to hear them.