Jessica Waks
Design Editor
Style at Home Magazine
www.styleathome.com

Paint Provided by:
www.dulux.ca
Universal Grey OONN 62/000

Jessica's All-time Favourite Neutrals
 

Beauti-tone Paint: Style at Home Palette
http://www.homehardware.ca/en/index/beauti-tone.htm
Elephant SD002
Patina SD039
Felted SD030

Items on Jessica's Design Board:
Wallcoverings: Philip Jeffries available at Crown Wallpaper
www.crownwallpaper.com

Solid Fabric
Maxwell and Pindler and Pindler available at Tessuti Uno
416-922-0126

Patterned Fabric
Schumacher available at Bilbrough & Co.
www.bilbroughs.com

Jessica’s Design Tips:

Where do we start when it comes to creating a neutral palette in our homes?

Start with the big things- the basics in your home that you may not be changing if redecorating, such as the stain on your wood floor, the colour of stone in your kitchen etc. – the key to working with greys is choosing the right tonality for your space. Because grey can go in so many directions, you want to choose either warm or cool to work within your existing finishes or to suit the look you’re going for. For example, if you have super red cherry floors and like things a little cozier and country, maybe a blue-based silver isn’t the best shade- try more of a taupey grey which will complement the warmer tones and work up from there. Once you decide which family works, build out a palette in different strengths of grey, from dark charcoal to soft dove, layer in pattern to keep it interesting, and use a nice mix of textures to keep it dynamic. 

What colours are considered the new neutrals?

Grey is the new go-to neutral and because there are so many tones of grey to choose, there are so many great favourite neutrals, like mauvey-grey, silvery blues and warm mushrooms. Grey looks so fresh and instantly modernizes a space. A bathroom or kitchen done in Carrera marble looks so much more current then one done in a crema marfil, which is the typical beige marble you see in a lot of new builds, or brown granite.

Why does everyone love neutrals?

Neutrals are calming and soothing. We live in such a crazy world where we are constantly over-stimulated with colourful images and noise, so at the end of a day it is nice to come home to a soothing neutral space. People also go for neutrals because they’re scared of picking the wrong colour combination or getting sick of a bold colour choice, so it’s just an easy avenue to take when decorating.

What you don’t see in the magazine.
 
A lot of decorators who use colour in their work actually come home to neutral spaces or work in neutral spaces. When your job is to surround yourself with paint swatches and fabric samples all day, you often need a quieter palette to live in and work in or you’ll just get sensory overload and your system will crash. Another insider fact is that decorators are also often asked to create more neutral schemes for clients with serious art collections. They like their art to make the boldest statement in the room and choose neutral colours for their fabrics and paint so they don’t compete for attention.
 

Jessica’s Tips on Creating a Neutral Palette

• Tension keeps a space interesting and the eye moving; whether you’re contrasting furniture styles and periods, such as mixing French moderne tub chairs with French provincial architectural detailing, or mixing metals, such as nickel on the table with barss sconces, the eclectic mix keeps a room from falling flat
• Interesting shapes and a mix of materials also keep the eye engaged- a sculptural chair in a neutral palette or a cocktail table in an unusual materials such as nickel and lucite will keep a neutral space exciting
• Texture is key to making a neutral room feel rich and dynamic so think beyond paint when it comes to your walls. Using a warm grey grasscloth really makes this family room feel extra cozy and inviting
• Liven up neutral furniture with decorator details, such as nailheads on this sectional sofa, which add extra polish and keep the eyes moving along the lines of the large scale piece
• Even though the palette is monochromatic, this space still feels very rich because there is a beautiful printed fabric to draw your eye in and catch your attention. The dining chairs stand out with their luxe cut velvet damask fabric on the back, which really pops in the room and acts as a focal point.
• This is a great designer lesson when choosing fabrics for your dining chairs: choose something solid and hardworking on the inside back and seat, such as an indoor/outdoor fabric or a vinyl, and a fabulous more precious fabric on the outside back for the best of both worlds. This saves money and keeps you from worrying every time a guest sits down.

FURNITURE PROVIDED BY:
ELTE
www.elte.com
Accessory - 111452006000
ANT MERCURY GLASS BOWL
$65.00
 
Accessory - 104692003000
BLK ORCHID COV CANDY DISH
$195.00
 
Accessory - 100683541050
WOOD GRAIN PILLOW 20X20 GREY
$195.00
 
Rug - 101044049050
IKAT BAMBOO SILVER 8X10
$5285.00
 
Accessory - 103302005000
JULIA OVAL TRAY HAM METAL
$395.00
 
Accessory - 103343009250
DUPIONI PILLOW 22X22 STEEL BLUE
$95.00
 
Accessory - 106483002050
MOHAIR THROW GREY
$125.00
 
Accessory - 109543017250
PETAL FLOWERS PILLOW 16X16
$295.00
 
Accessory - 109583585050
SILK DUP PILLOW 22X22 CARBON
$265.00
 
Accent Table - 109632003000
EMPORIA ACCENT TABLE
$675.00
 
Cocktail Table - 109632010000
DORADO COCKTAIL TABLE
$1185.00
http://www.elte.com/product.php?sku=109632010000
 
End Table - 105672033000
BARDOT END TABLE
$2185.00
http://www.elte.com/product.php?sku=105672033000
 
Chair - 105891146000
CARA TALL BACK CHAIR/SSIP
$1535.00
 
Ottoman - 105891359000
ROCCO ROUND XL OTTOMAN/SSIP
$1085.00
 
Sofa - 107681105000
CARSEN SOFA
$2395.00
 
Table Lamp - 108373061984
BALUSTRADE RND TABLE LAMP
$865.00
http://www.elte.com/product.php?sku=108373061984
 
Accessory - 107872117000
LITHOHGRAPH PRINT MARIUS
$375.00
 
Accessory - 107872118000
LITHOGRAPH PRINT MARCUS AGRIPP
$375.00
 
Accessory - 107872119000
LITHOGRAPH PRINT AGUSTUS
$375.00
 
Accessory - 107872120000
LITHOGRAPH PRINT CLEOPATRA
$375.00
 
Accessory - 107872122000
LITHOGRAPH PRINT MARK ANTHONY
$375.00
 
Accessory - 107872124000
LITHOGRAPH PRINT OCTAVIA
$375.00