With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning some DIY projects around home, and there is no easier, more effective way to transform an interior than by repainting. The three tonal palettes in the Dulux Colour Forecast 2021 convey reassurance and comfort, whilst reflecting our desire for a brighter future. To show what a huge impact colour can have on the look and feel of a space – and how little time and effort it takes – stylist Bree Leech introduced bold colour to a predominantly white 1970s home.
Colours: Dulux Woods Creen and Mt Aspiring Half
Vintage chair, Glass Vase, Artwork (left) by Ria Green and Artwork (right) by Taj Alexander - Modern Times; Rug - Fenton&Fenton; Vintage Sofa - Castorina and Co; Side Table - Dean Norton; Cup - Lightly; Bowl - L&M Home; Vases and Planter (Right) - Maker's Market; Planter and Green Vase - Capra Designs; Lamp - Angelucci 20th Century
Before
Choosing bright, uplifting colours from the Reset palette for her room makeovers, Bree says “I wanted to show how you can create an entirely new look with little more than a paintbrush. The colours in the Reset palette have a fun, retro feel that’s perfect for this 70s family home.”
A light-filled house brimming with character, it has beautiful arched doorways, and a pitched timber-lined ceiling. "Whilst the all-white interior was neutral and unassuming, adding colour helped highlight the home’s best features and really brought the rooms to life!” Bree says. “Using the new wall colours as inspiration I added a few decor items to complete the colour story, such as accessories, stools, sofa and rugs. I loved the warmth of the timber detailing and selected colours to complement it."
For the living room Bree gave the space an injection of colour, but to create a relaxing and casual feel, she used a gentler hue as the feature. "The shelving unit is the hero of the space, so I highlighted it by painting the wall behind in subtle green, Dulux Wash&Wear in Woods Creek. I then dressed it up with a combination of artwork and vessels in tonal shades of peach and terracotta, with pops of red and green that relate back to the dining room palette."
Colours: Dulux Cook Strait and Mt Aspiring Half
Hall painting by Elle Burguez and Print by Stacey Rees - Modern times; Bench Seat - Fenton&Fenton; Cushion - Kip & Co; Rug - The Rug Collection
Colours: Dulux Cook Strait and Mt Aspiring Half
Glass - House of Orange; Vases - Dean Toepfer; Planter - Maker's Markt
Before
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To give the dining room a distinct mood and enrich the space, Bree chose a beautiful deep blue-green, Dulux Wash&Wear in Cook Strait. The inner part of the arch is painted in a neutral white, Dulux Wash&Wear in Mt Aspiring Half, to further accentuate the curve.
Colours: Dulux Prebbleton, Halfway Bluff and Mt Aspiring Half
Bowl - Lightly; Vase - Capra Desigs; Artwork (left) by mark Alsweiler; Sculpture - Modern Times' Artwork (right) by Ju AtkinsonDunn - Studio Home; planter, Bowl - Maker's Markt; Plate, Teapot and Glassware - House of Orange; Stools - Biasol
Before
Seeing the kitchen as an inviting place for the family to gather Bree selected a warm palette, giving it a different mood to the adjacent rooms. With its remarkable high ceilings and warm timber cabinetry, the feature brick wall painted in Dulux Wash&Wear Halfway Bluff has provided extra warmth without taking away from the vibrant chilli-red oven. The shelving has been painted to match the wall and displays an eclectic curation of artwork and vessels in tonal shades. The rangehood has been painted in a gentle blush - Dulux Wash&Wear in Prebbleton to soften the contrast between the feature wall and the white in the room.
When the world outside is challenging, let your home tell a different story. “Colour and mood are intimately connected so it’s important to surround yourself with colours that help you feel positive,” says Davina Harper, Dulux Colour Specialist. “Changing the colour of your walls might seem like a fairly insignificant thing, however it’s all part of self-care and surrounding yourself in uplifting hues to help you feel secure and comfortable during difficult times. And remember, there are no rules - just follow your instincts!"
Styling by Bree Leech / Photography by Lisa Cohen