Decorating a house is no mean feat. Decorating a dolls house looks not much simpler, but has been done so spectacularly by Lucy Clayton, founder of The Kensington Dollshouse Company. In recent years after a huge resurgence in not only dollshouses but pre-loved furniture and homewares, decorating sustainably and with the planet in mind is at the forefront of homeowners mind, dolls and humans alike it seems. This one of a kind replica, championing the iconic mid-century feel that Vinterior are known for, decorated in a curated selection of timeless pieces, is not only homely, but has the attention to detail and fine tuning from Lucy that transports you back to childhood but with a much more eclectic and well thought out palette and furnishings. When Vinterior and Lucy approached Edward Bulmer Natural Paint and asked us to be involved, suppling natural paint in our miniature 60ml sample pots for the project, we of course said yes! A mini-colour consultation took place in our London showroom, fabrics were shown, ideas were shared and Lucy went away with a concise and fun tonal palette to get to work with. Our bright yet earthy library of pigment rich colours immediately came to Lucy’s mind when imagining the house, pop’s of colour to accompany swatches of wallpaper from re-used samples, handmade pieces and essence of pre-loved magic. A wonderful way to use our sample pots and any leftover paint you might have! So come with us as we take you on a tour… The Kitchen Starting in the heart of the home. With walls painted in ‘Pea Green’ from the dado rail upwards and very 1960’s/70’s inspired wallpaper, Formica table and sweet gingham curtain on the cabinets. Green is a colour that has many connotations, wisdom, nature and the outdoors, a perfect and serene colour for activities such as cooking to gathering with friends around the table. The fresh hue ‘Pea Green’ brings the joy of the garden indoors and was a must have green in the 18th century. Nature is what we are constantly inspired by, our plant-based recipe is centered around protecting the planets’ finite resources. Pea Green is a great background for artwork, from pictures to textiles. clearly a must have green in the 18th century The bright orange contrast of the AGA, lighting and table and chairs works perfectly with this almost minty green, try ‘Malahide’ or ‘Dutch Orange’. Sometimes a colour that is so full of energy it takes over a room is exactly what’s called for and a pop of colour is always a bold statement, however choosing a harmonious scheme can be a drawn-out process. When using our plant based paints from a base of 12 pigments, it allows you to stay true to your vision with a palette that is derived from nature. No matter how wild your choices, you will find all the colours just work tonally and create flow from room to room. An ornate tea set and mix and match ceramics give a really homely and welcoming look. Painting the walls and shelves in the same colour is a great idea to keep the flow of a room in full swing and creates an elegant and cohesive interior. Get the look! Pea Green Order a Sample Malahide Order a Sample Turquoise Order a Sample The Bedroom We love this bedroom with ‘Naples Yellow’ on the woodwork…sunshine in a tin! Perfect to pair with tobacco hue’s and we love the transition from yellow bedroom to the pink in the room next door. The mid century dresser really completes this look, along with the heavily pattered wallpaper! Edward describes our sunshine yellow packed with pigment as ‘an eruption of colour – literally as this name came about through a belief that it originated in the volcanic area around Naples! It is a strong colour for those brave enough to couple it with other gutsy colour tones and individually designed pieces. It will wake up the senses and lift the spirits, appealing to the architect designer as well as the confident home owner.’ Our yellows really do bring the sunshine in and whether you prefer mellow to bold we will have the perfect colour for you. Our paints are also completely breathable: we know exactly what goes into each tin, how it’s made and where it is sourced from. We know that no harmful toxins or fossil fuel derived plastics and plastic microbeads go into our wall paint. We use plant-based ingredients as well as earth and mineral pigments and these natural ingredients react with the surfaces they are applied to. Get the look! Naples Yellow Order a Sample 100 60 40 20 Cuisse de Nymphe Emue Order a Sample 100 60 40 20 Hawtrey Order a Sample The Bathroom A pink palace, with a bathroom suite to top all others. Carrying on the mid century theme throughout, this vintage look accompanied by colours ‘Kitty’ and ‘Rose’ topped off with this miniature art-deco mirror on the fireplace. A pink bathroom is always a good idea, a relaxing colour still full of energy, perfect for winding down but still making a statement! Our lighter pinks such as our timeless plaster pink, ‘Jonquil’, with enough yellow to stop it from being sugary it hovers between pink and beige with the most exquisite undertone are the perfect bathroom hue. As well as our ‘Lilac Pink’ – which is neither lilac nor pink, but the perfect neutral with a subtle pink hue used to great effect. While, are smokiest deep pink ‘Nicaragua’ can create a striking effect to make your pretty in pink bathroom complete. All of our pinks and colours are carefully created to bring warmth and character to your walls. Get the look! Kitty Order a Sample Rose Order a Sample Laylock Order a Sample 100 60 40 20 The Living Room This living room’s palette is a firm favourite, very 70’s inspired with browns and blues. We love combining colour and texture with some great pieces of furniture to create an elegant yet playful space. Adding wallpaper and different texture can give the room a completely different feel and can create a unique result. Create the look maximalist look through colour and different textures by using our ‘Tyrian’ which is the perfect backdrop for different prints, artwork, and wallpaper pairings, as well as one of our newest hues ‘Wainscoat’ which has a velvety feel that makes a room feel instantly chic and comfortable and it pair with almost anything – that’s the great thing about these rich browns! However, if you are deliberating over colour check out our new colour consultancy offerings, from 30 minute virtually or a half day in the comfort of your home we will create a bespoke palette for you. Our team of consultants are experts: designers, stylists and colour lovers who all care about your health and our planet, trained in the art and science of colour by Edward himself,. Whether you prefer a classic aesthetic or a more modern look, they will help to create your dream scheme Get the look! Wainscoat Order a Sample Navy Blue Order a Sample Dutch Orange Order a Sample Tyrian Order a Sample The dollshouse will be displayed in The Museum of the Home in London from mid August, once it has been completed….which leads us to an exciting twist. Vinterior are asking it’s followers and anyone that is interested in the project to get involved and participate in the final stages of the restoration. Vinterior’s followers will be asked to vote for the finishing touches in each room, making the finished product a truly collaborative creation. One completed the dollshouse will be auctioned to a loving home, and proceeds will be donated to the museums ‘Campaign for Change’, a worthy cause supporting social justice charities including Hidden Homelessness, Period Poverty and Climate Action. Follow @vinterior to stay up to date on the public polls and to get involved. ‘We are excited to collaborate with The Kensington Dolls House Company and Edward Bulmer Natural Paint on this restoration project. By involving the community in the creative process and supporting a worthy cause, we celebrate the beauty on mid-century design and the joy of pre-loved whilst making a positive impact on society’ -Ruth Halls, Head of Brand at Vinterior
3 for £10 on Summer Samples Get your 3 for £10 on sample pots this August. Mix and match to get your perfect Summer palette from terracotta pinks to fresh greens or get planning for an Autumn project.
Sunshine in a tin : how to decorate with yellows Our yellows really do bring the sunshine in and whether you prefer mellow to bold we will have the perfect colour for you. Embracing colour can revive your home and help you breathe new life into your interiors.
How to Choose Colours for your Period Property How do you choose colours for your period property? Every age has used colour to adorn interiors. We know this from illustrations, accounts and old paint layers. Much research has been done into historic colours and there is a wealth of advice now available to recreate period schemes.
Edward Reinvents his Smallest Room into a Space Full of Colour and Wonder When Inigo suggested coming to the Herefordshire home of our founder Edward Bulmer we thought we had to come up with something unique and never seen before for them! Edward’s home has been through many transformations, nowhere is this clearer today – perhaps surprisingly – than in the current ground-floor WC.
Turquoise named Colour of the Year We are thrilled to announce that our colour ‘Turquoise’ has been named Paint Colour of the Year in the Homes & Gardens Design Awards. This dreamy blue is a head turning vivid colour which lifts any room at the same time as having unrivalled depth and softness.
An interview with Phoebe and Octavia Dickinson on art, life and the colour purple. Last Thursday to celebrate the opening of Phoebe Dickinson’s new exhibition ‘Great Houses & Gardens of England’ and Octavia Dickinson’s collections, we took a trip to Mayfair to meet the Dickinson sisters at the family gallery on Jermyn St. Click here to find out more.