One can speak poetry just by arranging colours well
Vincent van Gogh
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Colour
Colour is part of who we are. It shapes us, reflects us, and reveals us. To show your true colours is, quite literally, to be seen. In my work as an interior designer, colour is an expression of the soul. Each project has its own palette, drawn from place, memory, heritage, and the soul of the people who live there. Still, I often return to shades that resonate deeply: the enveloping warmth of burned orange, or the joyful optimism of yellow. Of all the facets of my work, colour flows most effortlessly. It surprises me how often people shy away from it—especially bold, expressive hues. Yet when embraced with confidence, colour has the power to awaken a space, to let it breathe and speak in its own voice.
Whether in art, fashion or interiors, the choice of colour is never incidental. It is a decision, a conscious act that defines the identity and emotion of an object or space. Take the exquisite layered lilac dress and cobalt pants I’m wearing, created by Dutch fashion designer David Laporte, a dear friend I truly admire. His colour choice shapes our perception of this piece of wearable art. In interior design, colour imbues a project with meaning. It tells stories, creates connections, and communicates who we are without the need for words.
Colour is also deeply subjective, a personal affair. A single hue can trigger a flood of emotion, recall a memory, or awaken a forgotten feeling. It is this emotional depth that makes colour such an essential and expressive tool in design. Understanding this, a thoughtful designer doesn’t just select colours: they curate them, balancing intuition with intention.
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The power of colour lies not only in the hues themselves, but in their relationships. I often speak of the ‘holy trinity’: using three contrasting yet complementary colours, working together in different shapes, textures, and patterns. Two colours can feel static or predictable; four can quickly overwhelm the eye. But three, when balanced thoughtfully, create a rhythm and richness that feels both grounded and vibrant. Sometimes, when the boundaries of conventional colour combinations are pushed, magic happens. Colours that may seem incompatible on paper can work miracles in real life when used in the right proportion or with the right materials. The gloss level of a surface, the weave of a fabric, the texture of a rug—these elements all influence how colour is perceived. A shiny surface can amplify a tone, making it leap from its background, while a matt finish softens and grounds it.
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When the boundaries of conventional colour combinations are pushed, allowing space for juxtaposition: that is where the magic happens.
I often draw from what I call a ‘visual notebook’ in the back of my mind—a mental archive filled with colours and combinations I’ve encountered on my travels. Deep saffron hues from India, sun-washed terracottas from Marrakech, rich earth tones from South Africa—they live within me, and when a project asks for them, they rise effortlessly from the subconscious. Colour becomes a dialogue between place, memory, and emotion.
Every interior has a spirit. As Van Gogh wrote in his letters and expressed in his paintings, true comfort can be found in colour. His famous observation that ‘there is no blue without yellow and without orange’ speaks to the power of complementary colours. They enhance one another, each making the other sing more vividly.
Understanding colour in design means seeing it not just as decoration, but as reflection—a mirror of what we value, both individually and culturally. It generates atmosphere and reveals identity. When used with intention and curiosity, colour becomes more than just pigment: it becomes the soul of a space.
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