A history of colour in the home - part 4
with EDWARD BULMER
Lesson 6 of 24
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Edward breaks down the concepts of ‘tonality’ and ‘weight’, and explains how successfully using both to create a comfortable, balanced scheme requires an understanding of how they were used in the past.
From the Lesson Workbook
A History of Colour in the Home - Part 4
With a better understanding of the historical context of paint and colour, what learnings can we take into our own decorating schemes?
What to Learn from History
Understanding and engaging with the grammar of these pigments is the key to creating a scheme of materials that feels harmonious and balanced. We will be going deeper into these pigments later in the course.
Focus on Tonality of Colour
- Achieved by the addition and prevalence of earth pigment within a colour.
- Paints with dominant earth pigments are quiet, they feel established and easy to live with.
- These tones are comfortable to our eye, and come with a historic relevance.
- They form an aesthetic memory that has been passed from generation to generation.
Consider the Weight of Colour
- Fundamental to the balance of a scheme.
- Strong or striking colour can throw the balance off, whereas lighter pale to mid tones feel gentler.
- Historically, strong colour was prohibitively expensive and as a result, we are not so used to it.
- Bold accent colours, in my opinion, are often better done through upholstery rather than on the walls.
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Your Instructor
Edward Bulmer
Award-winning interior designer, architectural historian, paint expert. House & Garden Top 100.
Edward Bulmer is one of the UK’s leading interior designers and architectural historians, specialising in the restoration and decoration of historic buildings. After studying History of Art at university, Edward trained under legendary designer David Mlinaric CBE, as well as working for Alec Cobbe, and Gervase Jackson-Stops OBE, who was architectural advisor to the National Trust. Alongside running his own paint company, Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, Edward has led a highly successful design team for over 30 years, working on some of England’s greatest country houses as well as a range of private and commercial projects including Goodwood, the Tower of London, Chequers and the Arts Club.
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