Porter's Paints new Capsule Collection
Article originally posted on Female
Introducing colour on to your walls is an exciting first step for any DIY-er who wants to add a feeling of warmth, character and depth to their home. However, choosing the right colour can be a challenging undertaking. Interior designer stylist Jono Fleming shows you how to get colour confident with a transformative living room makeover using the new Porter's Paints Capsule Collection.
When Fleming originally designed his family's farmhouse, every decision centered around the fireplace with the intention of creating a timeless space. All walls were painted white, acting like a blank canvas to create a feeling of grandness, magnified with the cathedral pitched ceiling and exposed timber beams.
But in a room so expansive and white, the space felt cold and sterile despite the softness and textures in the furniture and décor. For inspiration, Fleming reviewed Porter's Paints Capsule Collection – choosing a classic, deep and moody navy, Porter's Yacht Race, to help make the living room feel more grounded, without downplaying the grandness of the room.
"It's all about small steps when it comes to using colour throughout the home, I recommend starting with the main colour you'd like to introduce and build out from there," says Fleming. "I used the dark kitchen and red Persian rugs that had deep blue patterning as my starting point for building the palette and was drawn to Porter's Yacht Race, because navy acts as a great neutral. It's a statement without being too loud; and the existing design elements in the living room were complemented by the colour, making the choice feel intentional and not an afterthought.
"Blue hues are fantastic to use in living areas," he says. "They provide a feeling of comfort and understated elegance, plus there are endless colour pairings. Painting an entire wall navy might seem like a big jump from white, but when the rest of the decor and furniture are complementary the colour is considered. "Most importantly, with Porter's Yacht Race on the wall, the living room still has a timeless quality that I had originally set out to achieve when designing the space.
"When putting final touches to the space, I chose an abstract artwork filled with deep blues, blacks and greys, which tonally works with the wall colour, the navy in the Persian rugs and polished concrete floors; and to add some drama, we used natural ceramics and an abundance of luscious greenery."
The result is a living room full of character and style that shows the incredible power of colour. "I had always gone with the mindset that white walls are safe, timeless and anything else might date the space - but there was always something that felt missing. By painting the wall with Porter's Yacht Race, I've entirely changed the feeling of the space and demarcated living zones, in what was once an expansive open plan room," Fleming says.
Porter's Paints has taken the hard choice out of the colour selection process with its new Capsule Collection – the curated range of 32 colours has been skillfully designed to stand alone or team elegantly together. "Porter's Paints has created an essential collection. All you have to do is find a colour or palette you love, and you can successfully transform your space by working within the tonal confines," Fleming says. Each colour in the Capsule Collection, now available in Bunnings, is mixed inhouse by Porter's Paints experts and designed using a unique blend of pigments in order to create richness and depth. The colours come in Porter's signature Eggshell Finish – a high opacity matte finish, adding character and complexity to any wall, both interior and exterior.
Jono's styling tips:
When choosing colours, think about what mood you want to create in the space. I wanted the living room to feel cosy and grounded and was therefore drawn to the moodiness of Porter's Yacht Race. It's a timeless navy, suits all architectural styles and will add character to any room.
Start with a rug or artwork. Take your colour cues from a key painting or rug to give your room's scheme an intentional feel – work within this palette. Also, choose colours you love and that are liveable to you!
Open plan spaces can be 'zoned' using colour. Approach the wall you're considering adding colour to as less of a feature, but more of which wall will help ground and delineate the space –choose to paint the wall that all the attention is already around.
There are endless colour combinations with navy. I paired Yacht Race with red, sage greens, polished concrete, white and blonde timber. The blues in the Capsule Collection, particularly Porter's Yacht Race, also work beautifully with ochre and mustard tones. Don't forget that you can also use Porter's Yacht Race successfully on the exterior, particularly on a coastal home's façade, paired with white trims.
Don't forget your trims. In addition to the stunning 32 colours available in Porter's Eggshell Finish, The Capsule Collection also includes four Porter's Aquasatin Finish paints that are specifically designed for doors and trims.
Have fun and experiment. Remember, if you change your mind about a colour, you can always paint over it. To feel confident with your choice, always start with using sample pots, painting large swatches in designated areas so you can live with the colour for a few days and see how it performs under ever-changing light conditions.
To learn more about Porter's Paint's Capsule Collection which is available in Bunnings and Porter's Paints stores nationally, visit:
WWW.PORTERSPAINTS.COM