Colour trending: mono goes ethnic

Black and white has been a classic interior colour combo for… well, forever. Now stylist Gem Adams takes this ultra versatile monochromatic palette and gives it a twist for today. It brings in an eclectic mix of ethnic accessories, some touch-me texture and teams the black and white with soft warm browns for a look that’s a little bit masculine and hugely appealing.

There’s an underlying ethnic theme – the African-style print, the potted palm, the fish-pot pendant light, the eastern-style stool and the Moroccan table. Together, they make this room look like it’s been plucked out of colonial times when good Victorian men did the Grand Tour and came back bearing collectibles from distant shores.

Gem started her paint choices with a wall in Resene Baltic Sea. She chose to use Resene SpaceCote Flat (rather than Low Sheen) to give this dark delicious colour a velvety look.

You could use the darker colours on all of the walls for a dramatic room, but Gem has used it as a feature only. The other walls are in Resene Ditto, an unusual white with a pink undertone. 

She’s then pulled in a variety of mid-toned stony and tea-stained neutrals like Resene Stonewashed for the fireplace, Resene Triple Napa for the legs of the brass-topped table, Resene Quarter Napa for the plant pot and Resene Oilskin for the vase. In our second photo, she’s also used Resene Triple Tea for the rustic stool. Floorboards stained in Resene Colorwood Smokey Ash anchor the scheme.

A monochromatic scheme like this is brought to life with texture – the open weave of a basket, the roughness of the plant pot, the fish-pot style pendant light and the coursely woven linen cushion. You can also go to the other extreme and include glossy surfaces, like the beaten brass tumbler and brass top on the coffee table. 

Why it works
·       Extremely bright and glare-y rooms may benefit from a flat (matt) paint finish. Very dim rooms, and hallways, may benefit from low sheen or higher sheen paint finishes.

·       Good proportions – how much black to use versus white.

·       Introducing a family of secondary colour in warm mid-toned neutrals.

·       Lots of texture – mostly rough but some glossy.

·       An underlying theme of eclectic ethnic touches.

Published: 31 Dec 2015

Do you have a home full of wonderful Resene paint and colour? Send us some snaps by emailing [email protected].

Plant from Palmers Remuera. Albert Occasional Chair from Danske Mobler. Black and white print, vase, light, cushion, candle, bamboo tray, hand towel, soap dish, rameikin, brass cup, jug and cowhide rug from Indie Home Collective. Parrot print and blanket from Father Rabbit.

All other pieces, stylist’s own.

pictures

Melanie Jenkins.