Introducing the Modern Country Palette by Carlos Garcia

In a celebration of heritage, sustainability, and timeless design, Carlos Garcia Interiors and Edward Bulmer Natural Paint are proud to unveil The Modern Country Palette – a new colour collaboration that beautifully bridges the gap between past and present, tradition and innovation.

This thoughtfully curated collection introduces three evocative new shades:

Iznik – A luminous, jewel-toned blue inspired by the intricate ceramics of Turkey and a cherished Iznik ewer from Carlos’ personal collection. This hue sings with history, craftsmanship, and vibrancy.

Karapinar – Named after the striking orange sands of the Karapinar desert, this earthy, sun-warmed tone captures the essence of late afternoon light and natural elegance.

Mocha Blue – A deep, soulful blue taken from early 19th-century mochaware pottery. A colour rich with heritage, it offers depth, comfort, and a sense of enduring style.

Each colour is inspired by historical craftsmanship, personal travel, and the soulful narratives embedded in global cultures. Designed exclusively for Carlos Garcia by Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, these colours are a masterclass in storytelling through pigment.

A Shared Vision: Heritage, Sustainability, and Beauty

This partnership brings together two creative forces united by a deep respect for tradition and a shared mission to create interiors that are both beautiful and environmentally responsible.

These shades join an expanded Modern Country Palette, which includes Edward Bulmer favourites like Spanish White, Whiting, Sea Green, and London Brown. Each colour is designed not only for walls, but also to bring depth and character to joinery, woodwork, and furniture – elements Carlos feels are often overlooked in contemporary interiors.

Last week Carlos used his creative vision to transform our NEW London showroom, bringing with him his well known and iconic ‘Gillows’ four poster bed, dressed in one of his new fabrics ‘Rectory Rose’.

Using the carefully curated palette of our existing colours and the three new shades, Iznik, Karapinar, and Mocha Blue.

Including fabrics and wallpapers from his new and previously acclaimed collections.

We caught up with Carlos after the install last week to dig a little deeper in the new colours, the inspiration behind them and to ask him a few more personal questions, read on to find out more…

How did the process of creating these three new colours differ from your previous work with fabric and wallpaper design?

All my fabrics are based on original designs and the colours are historically informed. Bringing those original documents back to life whilst respecting their heritage is crucial. The same principle applied to creating these new colours. They feed on historical sources, they have depth and meaning. They feel instantly at home and chromatically sit very much at ease with Edward Bulmer’s entire range.

The new colours are described as historically resonant and globally inspired. Can you share the story behind each shade: Iznik, Karapinar, and Mocha Blue?

Iznik and Karapinar are both derived from an Iznik Ewer which I treasure.

All three colours derive from a very romantic look back to the past.

Iznik is a deep and complex shade of turquoise. Very much present on its many iterations on early iznik tiles throughout the Ottoman empire. Karapinar takes its name from the desert of the same name in Turkey and evokes its intense rust orange dunes kissed by the oblique warm evening sun.

These vivid shades transport me to the jewelled tones that western travellers to Turkey and Persia would have encountered back in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Mocha is inspired by a particular shade of blue present in Mochaware, a traditional and utilitarian type of earthenware “evocative of ancient country taverns with aged settles, cricket tables and old gents smoking long pipes”. I’ve collected Mochaware for many years and the intense concentric bands of deep bright blue have always intrigued me.

How do the three colours reflect your design ethos and approach to storytelling through interior design?

All these colours are easy to use, meaningful, have a narrative, they all feed from the past and are brought to life for their use in the modern world whilst respecting their heritage.

What are you reading at the moment, or what do you love to read?

‘Persia through writers’ eyes’, a compilation of descriptive writings from over three millennia to explore the history, culture, and landscape of Persia. And St Augustine’s Confessions.

What was it about creating these colours, designed to work well on woodwork, but also on walls, why was that important to you?

I believe that colour is the canvas on which a room rests. It is in the background yet bringing it all together. I however felt these colours could bring a hint of colour to the forefront without being intimidating or overpowering, without unbalancing the design. I see them of course working on walls but my mind was on kitchen cabinets, bookcases, chairs, farmhouse tables, etc… It is the versatility they offer and their depth that makes them unique.

Sum up the essence of the collection in a sentence?

Meaningful colours to bring joy to your interiors.

Iznik and Karapinar are names with strong cultural and geographical resonance. How do you approach incorporating global influences into traditional English interiors with sensitivity and respect?

English decoration is a reflection of English culture. England is inclusive, absorbs other cultures and incorporates them into our everyday, becoming naturalised. This has been done throughout millennia. English country houses are full of French furniture, Persian rugs, Spanish Cordoba leather, Chinese porcelain, Turkish suzanis….

Where do you love to sit down for a meal, and what would the meal be?

My kitchen in the country, with friends around the kitchen table (painted in Karapinar!) over a Sunday lunch. I like simple, unfussy food. Food brings people together but it has to be simple so you can enjoy the company of friends rather than being a slave to the cooking!

We know you love geraniums and have many varieties in your home, what is it about these plants that you love so much?

They are terribly pretty and thrive on neglect. That suits me.

Do you see this colour collection as a new chapter in how we define English style today?

English style is constantly evolving yet it doesn’t run too far away and it is always recognisable. Not sure if it’ll redefine English Style but it’s certainly my vision of it and how it sits with our modern way of living without transforming it so drastically that it becomes anodyne.

How would you suggest homeowners or designers use these colours in their own spaces?

These colours are very versatile. Karapinar would make the most wonderfully warm kitchen, Iznik the most luscious and characterful sitting room or garden room, Mocha would make garden furniture sing against green hedges… They work very well on the walls but they also come alive on joinery. They also work very well with each other as we’ve demonstrated on the cabinet, which we’ve painted in Iznik and Mocha. Iznik and Karapinar also work wonderfully as an ensemble, so much so that we’ve created a limited edition fabric and wallpaper with them.

Tell us about the new fabric and wallpaper designs

Honiton (and its reverse, Trellis) is a reproduction of a 19^th century envelope I found in the drawer of a chest in a country house. It was addressed to an address in Honiton, Devon hence the name. I thought it worked particularly well using Karapinar and Iznik, so we created a special limited edition wallpaper with these two colours. We have also printed it on a glazed linen which is very versatile for headboards, covers, curtains, etc.

When you’re working, do you prefer to be in silence, or are there podcasts, music or background noise that you prefer?

I always work with BBC Radio 3. I love classical music and the random selections they make.

What do these colours and fabrics say about where design in heading in 2025?

I created these colours with the idea of becoming atemporal. Even a-seasonal if there’s such a word! Something that can be used right now or next year. I very much hope they become a classic, permanent feature and not a trend to discard in 2026!

What is your best loved EBNP colour, one that you come back to time and time again?

LUTE. I adore its depth, warmth, hint of dirt, subtlety and sophistication. I cannot get enough of it.

The Modern Country Palette previews on the Pimlico Road.

Pre-order your palette HERE

13^th October – 15^th November

Edward Bulmer Natural Paint

69 Pimlico Road

SW1W 8NE