Hello everyone. I hope the sun is shining warmly wherever you are. Welcome to another week at Madhouse. And first, the news that the trip to Italy is sold out. I would appreciate it if anyone who wanted to come managed to get a ticket. There may be a waiting list for those who miss it. If the list is long, you may consider another trip to another location, or a repeat of this trip. Either way, let’s keep in touch. Of course, you can also subscribe to never miss any news or updates.
angry at italian house
Speaking of updates, last week I made a surprise visit to a house in Italy to work out a lighting plan. The wiring in the house had to be completely redone and it hadn’t been done since the 60’s, so I had to make sense of the insane number of sockets and switches that had been added or left out over the years. Most of the budget will be spent here. And yes, the bottom is a little damp. Noted and on the list.
One thing we noticed, which may or may not be unique to this house, is that every bedroom has an internal switch for the landing or hall lights. I think this means that if you turn on the light in your room when you need to go to the bathroom at night, you won’t have to worry about stumbling in a dark hallway. It’s an interesting idea, but I’d go with a more conventional approach, especially since it would reduce the amount of rewiring and parts required. Perhaps an Italian reader can tell me if this is standard practice or is peculiar to old houses that have been reconfigured over the years (some of which date back to his 1700s).
Italian houses don’t have light switches in hallways
Builders are expected to break ground this week, and work is expected to continue until Christmas as they will have to work on the plumbing once the lights are complete. Decorating is a long way off, but I’ve already planned and planned out the color scheme. In the meantime, let’s take a look at this week’s inspiration.
is the design of Nicola Harding (One of House & Garden) top 100 interior designers)
First of all, I wanted to take a closer look at this image by the amazing designer Nicola Harding, who is a regular on the “Top 100 House & Garden Interior Designers” list. I’ve talked a lot here and in my books and magazine columns about how to mix colors and patterns, but there’s one thing that many people still wonder, and that while it’s not an exact science, it’s the one to follow. I know there are guidelines. With a tight color palette and muted patterns, this seemed like a pretty good one to start with. Starting with something like this allows you to maximize your maximalist riot (if you want to) and develop an intuition about what works and what doesn’t.
I think the first point is that the colors are basically red and green riffs, versions of orange and blue, diametrically opposed on the color wheel and complementary colors. Once you’ve chosen your preferred shade variation, in this case pinkish red and sage blue, the depth can be slid up and down from dark to light, giving you a lot of tonal versatility while still being within a narrow palette. It can be obtained. .
If you examine this, you’ll find everything from orange to the palest pink, with barely visible yellow flecks on the rug. The blues and greens all remain on the pale end of the spectrum, leaving only the tiniest dark leaves of wallpaper. Imagining the colors as a sliding scale makes it much easier to move them up and down with varying intensities without having to worry about adding the wrong notes. Of course, you can add an element of disharmony, but it takes more confidence. As for the disruptor colors – not really here – emerald green or cobalt blue – a single strong note – imagine the crash of cymbals – but here the dark metal table legs and the lamps are just that. playing a role. for you.
Finally there is the pattern. The curtains and wallpaper have similar diamond shapes. The rugs have chevrons that are part of a diamond and the cushions have lots of stripes. It’s not all hard edges, as the armchairs have curves and the geometric patterns on the walls and fabrics are slightly rounded.
Think of this as a basic recipe. Swap and shuffle elements here, and once you’re comfortable with the idea, you can remove some of these ingredients and start adding your own. I know the metaphor extends from music to cooking, but I’m neither a musician nor a cook, so my analogy only goes so far. I understand.
Designed by Hannah Pemberton Wanderlust
Staying on the color wheel for a while, purple and yellow are also opposites and therefore complementary, so as long as you pick your preferred version, you’re pretty much safe. Again, for starters, I recommend combining cold yellow with cold lilac rather than mixing hot and cold. It works, but it’s prone to failure, so I just make life easier for myself while I’m keeping an eye on it.
For example, the painting on the wall contains a very warm yellow, but leaves a yellow that is close to orange. It works well when paired with lilac, but the combination can be more chaotic and make the room less relaxing than it was intended to be.
Again the contrast is provided by rich dark woods that are softer than using black, but still have the same effect of grounding the scheme. The color is also reflected in the rug. And speaking of lilac, this is a color that is becoming more and more talked about. It’s not mainstream yet, so it’s still early adopters using it, but it’s going to be mainstream eventually. That being said, it can take about 3 years, so if you like it and use it and don’t panic, it will still work for a while so it won’t expire (that should be a factor) . And if you’re starting to look, I’ll come right over and say, I’m considering it for one of my bedrooms in Italy and my favorite shade is this one right now. lavender garden By Mylands. I probably don’t dare to go with yellow, but I prefer olive green and cream. What is cream if not super pale yellow. So we’re still on that color wheel.
kitchen design bird and bone
Speaking of super pale yellow, it leads to this kitchen from Bird & Bone Interiors. The founder of this company will be better known to many as Leanne. Good Bones London This was her first kitchen project. This gentle yellow is just a little more dynamic than the classic cream color, so it’s not too intimidating to choose, but it also helps make this traditional Shaker-style kitchen a little more modern. Marble backsplashes and countertops are a nice (albeit budget-friendly) way to keep materials to a minimum, and the brass accents on the wall lights and brackets add metallic, vintage, and undercoating to this soft, pale palette. is bringing
Styling by Hannah Franklin for otto tile Photo: Felix Speller (@felixspeller)
Now, I have to say that this is an idea that I bring to Italy. I don’t see why it can’t be done in the UK, but it’s not immediately suitable for modern urban semiconductors. The main reason for the need is an opening without a door. If you like border ideas and have a door, consider a wallpaper border. I am recovering a bit now.
However, for an entryway without a door, this can be very effective at adding character and pattern. I currently have curtains in the doorway for warmth (takes up less space than the door), but if drafts aren’t an issue, this is a very imaginative way to divide the space. is. All you have to do is select a tile.
Finish off with a muted floral pattern. No clashes of patterns or bright colors, just faded florals and gentle stripes on textured rugs. Are you ready for next week? Go…
