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Green - it just grows on you
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| Large Liberty sofa, priced £859 from Multiyork |
JUST as the shoots of green leaves and buds are appearing outdoors and transforming the landscape so green shades are taking root, blooming and refreshing our homes.
You're sadly out of date if you've dismissed green as the standard colour for boring things like school uniform or the dreary paintwork choice for public buildings and institutions.
Suddenly green is enjoying a new lease of life in our rooms as well as our wardrobes.
The trend for a fresh palette indoors reflects not just our heightened awareness of Nature and the environment but also a desire for a softer, warmer atmosphere for our rooms and a move away from cool, chilly neutrals.
Sarah Cole, director of paint specialists Farrow & Ball said: "Whether on painted or wallpapered wall, green has been the most popular colour family since colour first started appearing properly in our interiors some 350 years ago."
"Today there are so many choices of green from the more 'drab' historical greens before Prussian blue was introduced to the paint in the 18th century, through to the later bright greens and also hugely popular blue greens.
"Green remains a most versatile colour suitable for any room."
If the choices are overwhelming - and a sea of green makes you feel a little queasy - be guided by interior design consultant Morwenna Brett.
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| C.P Hart Lime Green Vanity bathroom units. Prices start from £2,350 including the matching top |
She's joined the 'green gang' - in good company with a host of leading designers - and welcomes the palette's revival. She says: "Green's always refreshing to look at and restful for tired eyes. It combines perfectly with neutrals and natural materials, especially stones."
Morwenna, author of a new book, The Home Decorator's Tile Sourcebook which is an invaluable guide to colour as well as tiles, believes the key to a successful interpretation of green for today's rooms is "using fresh, warm tones of Spring green rather than the forest or dark ivy greens.
"Modern greens are those that are softer in paler Spring-like shades or heading towards the citrus or chartreuse shades which have a crispness about them.
"These greens look brilliant teamed either with pale, creamy neutrals or the chic choice paired with dark, earthy colours like coffee, leather brown, and cocoa brown."
Wary of going green all over? Morwenna suggests instead adding accents of green to a monochrome scheme. "Black and white can look a little stark, but adding some brilliant green accessories, a picture or a rug will give a scheme instant vitality and verve."
Go for green by following our guide to the look.
GREEN ROOMS
Nature's green colours and floral-inspired patterns have traditionally featured on classic papers for traditional and period rooms and now they've been given a chic twist for contemporary ranges.
Mockie Harrison, Design Manager at John Lewis Home said: "Green has become the colour we associate most strongly with a natural approach to living and decorating, and our fresh yet calming palette features Wasabi Green, Pollen Yellow and Duck Egg Blue."
Its wallpaper collections take a pretty Eastern theme, with delicate florals in stylised designs.
Laura Ashley's wallpaper and paint collections burst with subtle green shades such as Eau de Nil, Sea Green and Teal.
Farrow & Ball features two super shades amongst its extensive range of greens - the new Tunsgate green, a pale, yellowish green which works well with a strong white or as an interesting neutral against darker colours
GREEN AND FIT
True converts to the green brigade could opt for bathroom or kitchen units in green.
Morwenna Brett said: "Dark jungle greens can appear rich and mysterious, and they look good combined with the sparkle of glass and the sheen of chrome or other metallic finishes.
"Clear fresh white is another partner for dark green, giving it a lift away from the 'institutional' cream and green."
Green also makes a link between a garden and living spaces, she points out, and a simple green accent tile in terracotta flooring could form a link between inside and outside.
Magnet's Urban Citrique kitchen is a sophisticated urban smart blend of green door fronts and walnut frames. It costs from £266.00 for a 600mm based unit. Alternatively, conjure a country look with John Lewis of Hungerford's Cool kitchen in green. It starts from £15,000.
GRAND & GREEN
Flaunt green passion with green Napolene Drawers, classic in style but with a modern twist, from Conran Shop, £2,450.
A sofa is a major block of colour in a room so choose your shade carefully. Most companies offer choices of green fabrics or leathers but some of the best are Sofa Workshop's Alfie II corner group, £2,214, Ligne Roset's sleek Citta sofa and MultiYork's Large Liberty, £859.
GREEN LIGHT
Switch on to green with green lamps and shades. Designer, Philippe Starck's Miss K table lamp for Flos is in a citrus yellow/green with a see-through base and cylindrical shade. It costs £125 from Flos.net
Cast a green glow in a home office with Habitat's functional green Bobby desk lamp, £25, or pick Next's green shades and lamps starting from £10.
DREAM GREEN
Soothing green shades are an ideal choice for a tranquil bedroom. House of Fraser's pale green Linea Dragonfly collection starts from £12 for a pillowcase, and £65 for a double duvet, while Debenhams has a light green Margarita bedlinen range, which starts from £15 for a pillowcase and a Mosaic throw and cushion range starting from £15.
GREEN ACCESSORIES
Experimenting with green accessories if you just want to reflect the colour for a season, but be warned green grows on you.
Scatter Dwell's Forest Cushions in lime £10.95 each and hang a Green Leaf print framed in silver, £39.95.
Wake up to green with a witty Morning Set - two ceramic mugs labelled 'too hot' and 'too cold' and an alarm clock with a 'too late' message. Set £23 from Posh Prezzies..
Go green and celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight (February 25-March 9) with an ethical 'green' homeware.
A Vietnamese Fairtrade co-operative produces Green Glaze Rectangle Platters, £12, two Green Glaze Cups and saucers, £12 from Traidcraft.
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