Decorating inspiration for Autumn-Winter 2024

COLOUR INSPIRATION FOR AUTUMN WINTER 2024

By Guest Editor ' Ali Attenborough, Interior Stylist and Founder of The Style Counsel

Ali is considered an industry expert in styling and spatial design; sought after for the inimitable finesse she adds to any space. Having worked for over 17 years both in-house and freelance for the UK's leading homes and interiors magazines, her knowledge of design and how to make a space both look and feel great is unmatched. Ali produces creative interiors concepting, set design, and styling for a range of commercial clients and provides residential interior design services through her business - The Style Counsel.

"Colour is a universal language, one that we can all speak. Instantaneously it conveys a story or emotion, an instruction or a meaning, connecting us all beyond cultural and spoken barriers. Colour can change how you feel, and that's the anchor of how I design room schemes for interior magazines, brands and clients. The concept of 'play' typically disappears when you grow up. For me, playing with colour is like returning to being a child, where creativity and autonomy are unbridled, like a child in a sweet shop."

Walls and Woodwork : Tranquil Blue 2051-50. Ceiling : White Ice OC-58

Let's dive into the key trends for AW24 and how we brought them to life.

INTRODUCING COLOUR COUPLING

Many people start redecorating with a colour they just love, but they tend to get stuck here. This season 'colour coupling' introduces a go-to recipe for pairing your favourite colours in unexpected but memorable ways, embracing full immersion without reverting to white ceilings and woodwork.

The colour palette of this room is an inspirational take on how to make unexpected pairings seamless and harmonious.

To add playfulness and bring the look to life I injected a rough roller edge instead of a straight line where the two colours meet ' it's easier to achieve and much more fun to do. To complement the striking paint design, I chose sculptural furniture in neutral hues and accentuated this with pops of red in decorative accessories.

Upper Wall: Golden Retriever 2165-30. Lower Wall: B ella Blue 720

PAINT AS A FOIL

Paint can act as a beautiful backdrop to silhouette and enhance, resulting in a finessed designer feel. This look is all about creating a quiet luxury moment with dark paint against light furnishings, beautiful handmade accessories and serene artwork. Instead of one flat colour all over, two similar tones create gentle depth and interest on the walls.

Working with rich brown Metropolis CC-546 to hide the alcove shelves and a harmonious deep olive Mortar CC-574 on the chimney wall, the treasured ceramics, art, furniture and architectural detailing come to the fore.

To achieve an effortless sense of luxury I selected textural handmade ceramics, marble patterned fabrics and contemporary art, all with sculptural details or designs that would whisper sophistication and mirror the room's stunning architectural details.

Chimney: Mortar CC-574

Alcove Shelves: Metropolis CC-546

DESIGN ADVICE FOR NORTH FACING ROOMS

A perennial problem. But paint has the answer.

As we look to create a feeling of warmth and comfort in our homes for the winter ahead it's important to pay special attention to rooms that naturally feel cooler or less inviting. When it comes to painting a north facing room the key to combatting the cold light entering the space is picking a warm tone paint such as a terracotta and enhancing it with contrasting hues.

To bring this colour story to life I matched the hero Pilgrimage Foliage 2175-20 with the warm toned Salzburg Blue 755, positioning the latter towards the middle of the house rather than the window's cool light.

My chosen styling elements evoked a tailored Halston-inspired 1970s design, with reflective retro tiles, cosy velvets and heavy woven textiles offering a much more flattering space for its occupants.

Portal Wall & Outer Ceiling: S alzburg Blue 755

Ceiling: P ilgrimage Foliage 2175-20

MAGIC PORTALS

Portals are a clever interior design device that divides your space or frames your view. The idea is to paint the recess of a structural element or the entry to a room to differentiate between spaces without the need for a closed doorway. They can add architectural interest to a home that has none and allow light to flow through.

Portals can be purely technical and frame a gorgeous vista from one room to another, or it can transport the occupant into another state of mind with decorative effects and patterns. For AW24 one of the hero portal trends is theatrical and bohemian. To bring this to life I hand painted Bloomsbury style motifs in stage curtain red (Maple Leaf Red 2084-20), buff pink (Odessa Pink HC-59) and a purple toned black (Witching Hour 2120-30) to encapsulate a feeling of being whisked away to a magical place!

Left Wall: Glacier White OC-37
Portal Mural: Witching Hour 2120-30,
Maple Leaf Red 2084-20 & Odessa Pink HC-59

Walls & Ceiling: Glacier White OC-37,
Portal: Witching Hour 2120-30,
Panelling: Celery Salt OC-136

A NEW NEUTRAL

While neutrals are a mainstay of interior design, they need not be boring and Benjamin Moore's AW24 Colour Spotlight, Summerdale Gold HC-17 proves just that.

This 'new neutral' is both confident and calming and shows how neutrals can evolve with depth, texture and materiality combining to create schemes that are earthy yet energetic.

To bring to life the magic of this hue I paired it with Creamy White OC-7 for a quiet contrast and designed this bedroom to be loaded with texture. Of course, natural wicker materials feature, but also tonal abstract patterns, painterly surfaces and tufted or quilted textiles. A perfect new neutral palette to rebalance and re-boot your home.

Walls: Summerdale Gold HC-17. Skirting & Window Frames: Creamy White OC-7