The Power of the Palette
Choosing a colour in anything can be challenging, especially when it comes to your home. We want to make sure we feel comfortable and love how our home looks, after all, it is where we spend a lot of our time! The decision making behind choosing which colour to paint your walls and decorate with goes a lot more in-depth than personal preference. Colours can influence the overall mood of the space, create illusions and enhance certain aesthetics. Sydney Kitchen and Bathroom’s, Gemma Thomas, sits down with Charbel Khoury, owner and manager of Pink Box Design Renovations, to explore the importance of colour in kitchen and bathroom design and examine how different colour schemes can influence mood and functionality.
Pink Box Design specialises in renovating existing houses and apartments. Coming from a family of builders, Charbel Khoury has grown into the building industry from a very early age, along with his keen interest in design. “I established Pink Box Design as a way of bringing these two skillsets together. I love codesigning spaces with my clients and working with them to transform their homes,” Khoury states. There is nothing more satisfying than a fresh coat of paint that enhances an old space and makes it feel brand new again; Pink Box Design can guarantee that exact satisfaction with your entire home, “Unlike a new build each property comes with a unique history and canvas. I love the creativity and challenges that this brings and being able to bring my client’s dream home to life,” explains Khoury. So, before the paint brush is picked up, dive into the deeper reasons of colour choice.
COLOUR CONSIDERATIONS
“The kitchen and bathroom are often considered the most important parts of a house so colour choices in these spaces are naturally important,” Khoury states. The design of a lounge room or bedroom is generally catered more towards a cosy feel or solely personal preference, whereas kitchens and bathrooms serve multiple purposes and different colours can completely make the energy of the rooms. “There is a lot to consider in choosing colours. The environment and how light plays in the space plays a big role, as well as your own style and preferences. Are you looking for something timeless or something a little more unique? A neutral or statement space? There are so many great finishes and shades available now regardless of which direction you take,” Khoury adds.
With so many colours and finishes available, the choices can feel overwhelming. “We are seeing a reincorporation of timber finishes in lots of bathrooms and kitchens. Neutral palettes with an injection of bold colour such as a navy blue or dark green are also making an appearance,” Khoury states. “I think these combinations are a great way for people to balance neutrality with a bit of personality.”
THE RIGHT HUE FOR YOU
If you’re not exactly sold on a certain colour palette, it can be tricky to settle down and choose the right shade. Khoury advises, “A palette of light, earthy and neutral tones is often a winner. If you are renovating for the long run and a potential sale in the future, this palette often appeals to the largest market and is timeless. Adding statement pieces like unique lighting and quality hardware bring it all together.” When it comes to specific design styles, pairings of different materials and shades can create certain looks. “Timber flooring, earthy stone benches and light cabinetry create a lovely warm home environment. Ambient lighting in select locations such as niches also helps create a relaxing space. But, if you would rather something sleek and modern, you could opt for a range of grey and monotone hues and choose materials such as large format Italian porcelain slabs which come in very thin sleek options and allow you to build with minimal join lines,” Khoury explains. The type of material can be just as important as the colour, with textures and finishes giving extra detail in the design.
If you are feeling daring in terms of colour, Khoury says, “Bathrooms are a great space to be a little more adventurous with colour and pattern.” Being one of the smaller rooms of a house, there’s less risk on choosing a unique colour, but a high reward of a charming space. Khoury loves the entire transformation process of a home and wants to ensure clients feel empowered with their decisions. “When working through colour and design with clients I offer lots of practical advice and samples to help them in their decisions. During a home consultation we bring supplier samples and also look at any inspiration that our client has collected. Once we have narrowed the options down, we provide a graphic render to visualise and confirm choices,” Khoury explains. Pink Box Design is there to guarantee assistance with creating your dream home, down to each detail.
PAINT IT BOLD
There can be many reasons to choose a colour other than just liking how it looks. Colours can be especially helpful in creating illusions for depth. “One way you can make a bathroom appear larger is by keeping the colour consistent throughout. Light colours are best for smaller bathrooms coupled with a few other strategies that trick the eye such as tile direction, tile size, mirror size, skylights and floating vanities,” Khoury explains. Choosing a shade that isn’t neutral can feel risky, but Khoury encourages clients to consider the uncommon. “Sometimes clients are concerned that dark or bold colours may be too strong or gloomy, but they can really bring a space to life if done the right way. It’s all about finding overall balance in the design of your space. Dark colours can often elevate a space and create a perfect backdrop for other components of the room,” Khoury states.
Pink Box Design places design as a forefront and considers exactly what the client’s visions are in every step of renovation. Khoury shares a favourite renovation, “We transformed a dated neutral space and created a bright sunny and bold space that truly reflects our client and the apartment’s heritage. The colour choices included green and brown for the kitchen and pink for the bathrooms.” Whether, it’s a bold colour choice or something playful and subtle, take careful consideration when choosing your kitchen and bathroom palette as it can transform not just the aesthetic, but the mood of you and your home.
Images courtesy of Pink Box Design Renovations