03 Dec 18

Colour crush: Ultramarine

I’m not just currently crushing on this hue; I’ve been having a yearlong love affair with this all things Ultra marine, Lapis, Lazuli and Cobalt. It was the basis of my bed linen collection for The Secret Linen Store, that I launched earlier this year, it’s popping up everywhere in my home. The good news is I’m now seeing it being touted by the trend forecasters as the colour that will supersede its rather sombre cousin Navy. So be prepared to daub over all those Hague blue walls in favour of a colour with more warmth and vitality. Because that what we all need right now, some warmth and positivity in our homes and this vibrant colour is the ultimate pick me up, whilst also being soothing. How does it do that, I don’t know it really is that clever! Colour experts know that blue is calming but this particular shade also has an energy to it. I’ve just decorated my home in Lazuli by Zoffany and it’s an absolutely off-the-hook marvellous hue! For my hallway it creates just the right amount of ‘Wow!’ that you want the entrance of you home to make, whilst retaining an air of sophistication. (My love of bright colour means I walk the fine line between sheer sophistication and Mr Tumbles house). It’s deep rich and expensive looking and everyone who see’s it adores it. And it absolutely sings with my colourful collection of artwork. I’m so thrilled with how it’s working and is the perfect linking colour to all the other areas in my home. That’s one of the things I love most about this colour, it sits so well with so many other hues. It looks perky with pinks, deep and moody with forest greens, fresh and alive with white, and joyful and vital against its playmate yellow. Consider it a truly versatile colour and something really worth experimenting with. Blue is universally the globes favourite colour, and so it shows no sign of going out of fashion any time soon. One of my favourite pieces of jewellery is a lapis lazuli ring that I inherited from my Grandma. And my school jumper was a very bright cobalt blue. (I loved it and hated the grey skirt we had to wear with it!) Make sure you sign up to my newsletter to be one of the first to see the final hallway reveal in this  particularly delicious shade… But will it be ready by Christmas is the big question in this household right now!

Luca bed by 2LG Studio and Love Your Home collaboration. Photography Megan Taylor

The new furniture collection from 2LG studio is absolutely to die for. Always at the forefront of trends the boys have designed their Luca bed in a deep and sexy Electric blue velvet. Velvet is the perfect fabric for this colour as it really saturates the colour and soaks up the light.

A bold plain rug will add a strong focal point to a room, Rossolo cobalt rug, Designers Guild 

For the faint hearted consider packing a punch of colour on the floor instead. I love this deep pile rug from designers Guild that ties in nicely with the patterned wallpaper, helping the room to feel cohesive.

Nara twelve piece dinner set, Made.com

Blue has always been a classic colour for tableware but this colour drenched range from Made.com looks incredible. I think teaming it with gold cutlery is genius. Brass or old gold would be the perfect accent colour to this cool rich colour, so think of using it for lights, furniture and acccessories.

Zoffany boutique Serpentine Malachite carpet, Alternative Flooring.

The new range of Zoffany designed carpets at Alternative flooring had me stop in my tracks at London design week. Amongst all the acres of beige was this incredible colour soaked malachite design. I adore deep and dark coloured carpets for adding real luxey drama to a scheme.

Atlantic scalloped porcelain tiles in Ultramarine by Ca Pietra

These scalloped shaped tiles are so on trend. Imagine diving into a bathroom tiles head to toe in this gorgeous sea deep colour. It might seem a cliche to decorate your bathroom in blue but it brings with it all the soothing feelings of the vastness of the ocean. I think it would work particularly well in a small bathroom on all four walls.

Kitchen by Naked Kitchens, finished in Marine Blue by Little Greene. Intenso parquet floor by Quickstep. Gold splash back by Quirky Interiors, table and butterfly chairs by Ercol, Blind fabric by Kitty McCall. Pendant lights by Habitat.

I keep banging on about it but it’s true – colourful kitchens are going to be the next big thing. I was thrilled to work with Naked Kitchens earlier this year to design this kitchen and what I loved about the process is that I got to choose whatever colour I wanted! If I was designing this kitchen again, I’d pump up the colour even more! I just love the way it sings against the gold accessories.

The 100% linen range in Dazzling blue that I designed for my collection at The Secret Linen Store

This is the bedding I have on my own bed. Its called dazzling blue by Secret linen and isn’t it just that! Like taking a deep dive into sleep every night. The powers of blue to relax and calm are not to be underestimated, but go for this rich tone and it never feels cold, just purely luxurious.

Beth has created a limited-edition print for COS, which you can buy there for a short time only.

I’m deeply moved by artist Beth Partridge‘s work. She has an incredible depth and movement to her work and is a master of colour. Her love of deep indigos and marine blues often pop up in her work and I think choosing a bold piece of artwork for your walls is one of the best ways to add colour and personality. Beth has a show on at COS in the achingly cool Coal Drops Yard in Kings Cross, London at the moment which is really worth a visit. Work remains until February 2019. You can find out more here.

TOP IMAGE CREDIT:  Walls in Smalt by Little Greene. Pom Pom coral bedlinen and 100% Dazzling blue linen sheet, Coral frilled linen cushions, all by Sophie Robinson at The Secret Linen Store. Kubrick cushion by Kit Miles.