Colour Consultancy Case Study With Colour Expert Emma Bulmer

With a project of this scale, Tony and Alex felt overwhelmed by the endless possibilities, lacking confidence in choosing the right colour and hue.

‘On the day we received our colour chart, we decided to email the office to enquire about the Colour Consultancy,’ said Tony. A few days later, Emma Bulmer, director and expert colour consultant went to spend the day with Tony and Alex.

Emma started her day by asking Tony and Alex a few questions in order to truly understand what the pair wanted to achieve but also to gain an understanding of their favourite colours. She then spent some time on her own, wandering from room to room to get a feel for the house, leaving various colour cards in each room. When choosing colours you have to make sure you understand the function of each room and the number of people who will normally be in it and of course the light and aspect of the rooms. Emma then walked through the house with Tony and Alex choosing the colours.

The same week as Emma’s visit, the pair received their detailed decoration & paint schedule with the colour swatches and the exact quantities they’d need so they could  confidently buy their paint and primers. The visit from Emma was not just about choosing the right colours, as Tony and Alex of Severnside Press also learned that cocooning (painting the ceiling the same colour as the walls) in the bedrooms upstairs, created a restful and calming space affording a wrap-around feeling of relaxation. They were also encouraged to use dark paint in their darkest room (the dining room on the ground floor) providing an element of surprise in an otherwise light and bright home. All things they had not thought of.

The former printing shop in Newnham-on-Severn was a far cry from the chic and comfortable bed and breakfast it now is when Tony and Alex first set eyes on it. Time-worn, battled-scarred from its years as an industrial hub and suffering from damp, it was a building that was in need of care and attention. While the pair had recognised its handsome late Georgian features, generous amounts of space and enormous potential for hospitality, they were the first to admit they felt somewhat daunted after swapping it with their beautiful Tudor property in Lyme Regis in which they’d previously lived.

Having moved from Dorset, they lived in the house while renovating it  – which was a challenge in itself. The list of tasks was endless: rewiring the whole property, plumbing – the house wasn’t even connected to the water mains – replacing crumbling plaster, rotten wood and so forth. Fortunately, the pair weren’t alone in their mission to transform the property, having enlisted the services of respected local builder John Morris, before they had even completed the purchase.

Jock’s expertise, together with Tony and Alex’s sympathetic treatment of the interior space, love of colour and inspired decorative touches, would go on to prove a winning combination, breathing new life into a building that remains a key part of the village streetscape.

Over the months, they have enhanced period features such as cast iron fireplaces and elm and oak floorboards, and replaced sash windows. They’ve introduced modern comforts such as en-suite bathrooms to all guest bedrooms and the underfloor heating in the kitchen, again adding to the property’s appeal to visitors looking for a luxurious place to stay while enjoying the delights of the River Severn, the Royal Forest of Dean, the Cotswolds and the surrounding countryside.

Emma also chose stunning colour combinations for each floor of the house and picked the best off-white colour for the Severnside Press – Spanish White, something both Tony and Alex had struggled with before meeting Emma. Her advice helped the pair to create an interior that is cohesive with an accent on the colours that perfectly suit the period property.

Both Tony and Alex are passionate about colour, but also really mindful of the impact any renovation has on the environment, seeking ways to be as sustainable as possible. Finding plastic free paint with a contemporary colour scheme was their aim, and the Edward Bulmer Natural Paint Company was the only choice for the pair. All the walls in their late Georgian house are lime plaster and required paint that is both durable and breathable. Having learnt that Edward Bulmer Natural Paint are all microporous, allowing walls and woodwork to breathe naturally, merely confirmed the pair’s choice. While painting each room, they also discovered that the colours are alive with natural pigments, providing each room with an extraordinary depth when responding to light – something that is impossible to achieve with synthetic pigments.

Thank you Tony and Alex for choosing our colour consultancy service with our colour expert Emma Bulmer – a complete transformation triumph.

Choosing and using colour is one of the most important parts when decorating your home, creating clever colour combinations can be the secret ingredients to creating a tonally, beautiful and healthy home.

Click below and take a look at our colour consultancy services. Our experts have been taught by the best, Edward always emphasizes the importance of mastering the way we use natural pigments to create our colours and this specialist knowledge gives our experts a unique understanding of our colours.

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