Since our debut issue is themed around colour, who better to seek advice on the topic than prestigious UK interior designer, Abigail Ahern.
While we adore her eclectic design sensibility, it’s her passion for the darker, inky hues and how she uses them that has us enamoured.
Who else can paint a house kitchen black and make it work or coat a bedroom in ebony shades for a looks that glam not grim?
We asked the maven of raven to give us a few tips on working with bold colour; her most dynamic use of colour; and top 5 colour predictions for 2014/15.
Designer, style maven and author Abigail Ahern is recognised among design aficionados and devotees alike for her enchanting take on interiors. Heralded as ‘style spotter-extraordinaire’ by The Times newspaper she has established her position at the front of the design trail with her original interpretation of trends, unique sense of style and individual approach to interiors. Her commissions include accessorising a 42,000 square foot Grand Spa for the Ritz Carlton in Palm Beach, Florida; re-styling and branding a chain of hotels in the Middle East as well as numerous residential and commercial projects. Abigail’s London store has been voted one of the coolest places to shop in the UK by Elle Decoration magazine.
Colour can be tricky to work with and many interior designers are cautious with bold colour – you are continually pushing boundaries with bold colour choices in your work – what advice do you have for decorating with colour? Are there any fail proof rules to stick to? Or is it just a case of trial and error?
I think when you push the boundaries with colour and take risks there are no fail-proof rules to work with. Obviously you have to love the palette you are using, but until it’s up there there is no real trick. I’ve been in the biz a long time and I still go wrong every now and again with colour, swatching it on the wall is never the same as painting a whole room out in it. The biggest piece of advice is go for colours that really resonate with the soul, forget what’s in or out, what orientation the room is, whether you live in hot climates or cold climates – just try and follow your heart!
You are known for choosing dark and moody colour palettes – what are some of your favourite colours to work with? ones that you reach for time and time again?
I am obsessed with bottom of the lake type hues, dark browns, blacks, inky greys and blues, deep olives, rich taupes – they are my all time faves and ones that always always work no matter where the client lives from Australia to NYC.
What are some new colours you are working with at the moment? How are you using them? by painting feature walls or placing bold furniture/accessories in a room?
I’ve recently stumbled across a deep grey with undertones of lavender which sounds weird but it’s a hue that literally stopped me in my tracks. Also in Paris recently on a buying trip I came across a black paint with a huge shot of brown in it so it looks something like a chocolate pudding if that makes any sense.
I’m really interested in colours that have lots of hidden depths so they appear grey or black, but look further and you see colours within colours. For me I rarely paint a feature wall, I go the whole hog and paint the whole thing. I then ramp it up one step further by accessorising with shots of colour that are bold, burnt orange, saffron, pink that sort of thing.
What’s your advice for those who are afraid of colour? or afraid of getting it wrong?
Start off in a small area, an alcove, the loo the hallway somewhere that won’t take all day to paint and if it goes wrong it’s only paint and you can pretty much change it back the same day. Choosing bold colours is scary stuff, but you won’t get interiors that make your heart skip a beat if you go down the beige haze route!
In your catalogue of work, what has been the most dynamic use of colour you’ve ever done? Can you explain what the brief was and how you made it work?
Painting a kitchen black (see above) the client my sister (hardest client in the world since we are related) has a very small kitchen and was scared about it going too dark in case in made it feel too small. It didn’t, it made it super snug. What’s more the room was north facing so there was a lot of going back and forth, and worrying on her side, about us using a dark black paint in a north facing room.
What are your top 5 colour predictions for 2014/15?
Fern green is pretty big – that sort of mid tone green that is strong and looks fabulous partnered with pale tones or dark tones.
Blue bold strong blue is huge, as is saffron and of course there is a real trend for the dark hues which I adore from deepest chocolate to brown. Blush a pale pinkish rose is big (but I’m not the biggest fan of pastels) but again colour is so personal, so don’t follow what someone tells you to, follow what you love.
For more on Abigail’s decorating style, tips and interior insights, visit her blog, abigailahern.wordpress.com
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