A Guide to Pigments, Paints & Palettes

Understanding the role colour has played in our history is an essential part of using it successfully today. Edward begins by encouraging you to see colour as a language, and explains that by understanding the fundamental set of pigments that have steered our experience of colour for thousands of years you begin to see the ‘grammar’ that governs how different colours work together.

In this lesson Edward breaks down the 12 pigments that have made up the human palette for thousands of years, dividing them into earth pigments and mineral pigments.

Throughout the course Edward takes you through his home, The Court of Noke, breaking down how he’s used colour in various different rooms and situations. We begin in the music room, and Edward explains how his starting place was a grand piano.

You continue on your journey through the history of colour, with Edward explaining how the availability of the various pigments and materials dictated what colour we used in our homes, and how the memory of those limitations still influences our interiors today.

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.

We finish our journey through the history of colour with Edward explaining the role that science has played in how we see it.

Edward demonstrates how earth pigments are the essential ‘salt and pepper’ of all colour, and shows you how combining different colours well depends on understanding which of these earth pigments they share.

Edward walks you through his master bathroom, and explains how a very soft pink in a sample can feel a lot more impactful when applied to walls.

Understanding which type of paint is needed for different parts of your project can be confusing. Edward walks you through all the factors you need to consider.

Based on your knowledge of the history of colour and the 12 essential pigments, Edward breaks down some of the core theory he uses to choose colour.

In this lesson, we learn how the colour wheel came into being and how we can use it to create successful decorating schemes.

Dive deeper into tonality and weight as Edward explains how by balancing tonality - the shared pigments across different colours - you’ll be able to choose colours that balance perfectly together.

Edward explores metamerism (how light impacts the way colour is seen) and encourages you that ultimately colour is a choice.

In this lesson Edward walks you through his primary bedroom, breaking down how he balanced the incredibly ornate wallpaper with colour and fabric that helped the room not be visually loud.

Edward leads you through the second half of his scheming process, explaining how to balance light and dark and how to bring fabric into your scheme.

Edward walks you through a scheme for one of the smaller rooms in the house, explaining how to bring a sense of light and space through your schemes.

Edward answers some of the more burning questions when it comes to colour, including ‘How to find the perfect off-white?’ and ‘What colour shall I use in a small space?’

The Hallway in Edward’s home is a perfectly balanced room, with the paint colours working alongside the materials in the room. Edward walks you through, and explains his process.

Edward continues to cover more commonly asked questions.

Bright green can be a difficult colour to get right. In this walk through Edward explains how he made it work in this peaceful bathroom.

Get ready to take an interactive tour through Edward Bulmer’s country home from the comfort of your own device. You’ll be able to explore every curated detail of Edward’s home and experience it as if you were physically there. To get started, click on the image above then use your finger or mouse to move around within each room. Swipe left, right, up, or down to navigate around his home. To zoom in on an area or object, pinch your screen or use the zoom controls provided. This will allow you to get a closer look at details or specific features that catch your attention. Discover the beauty and functionality of this remarkable property from every angle.