When antiques dealer and interior stylist Amy Eld set about decorating a flat in Pimlico, she knew she wanted a home that celebrated colour and individuality. As the founder of Rock the Heirloom, Amy has built her business around the belief that vintage and antique furniture can bring something special to a room. Her approach combines pieces from different periods, creating interiors that feel personal rather than overly coordinated. For the Pimlico Project, Amy worked with Edward Bulmer Natural Paint’s Colour Consultancy team to develop a palette that would complement her collection of furniture, artwork and textiles. The result is a wonderfully colourful home, with seven distinct schemes featuring everything from rich blues and greens to soft pinks and earthy neutrals. Aquatic and Dutch Orange living room by Amy Eld of Rock the Heirloom. Photography: Kit Dixon Smith. Finding the right colours with a colour consultancy Although Amy works with colour and interiors every day, choosing paint for an entire property presented a different challenge. As she explains: “When it came to the Pimlico flat, it became clear that I needed that extra bit of help.” Having previously visited our former Ebury Street showroom, Amy decided to book an in-home Colour Consultancy. During the appointment, our consultant walked through the property with Amy, considering the natural light, architectural details and furnishings in each room. Hand-painted A5 colour cards and sample pots helped them explore different combinations, allowing Amy to see how the colours worked alongside her furniture and textiles. Together, they developed a series of individual schemes that would give each room its own identity while creating a sense of continuity throughout the flat. Persian and Mummy: a colourful hallway The hallway introduces the home’s confident approach to colour, combining Persian with Mummy. Persian brings a strong blue note to the space, while Mummy introduces a contrasting earthy brown. It’s an unexpected pairing that demonstrates how two distinctive colours can work together, particularly when balanced with antique furniture and decorative accessories. Hallways are often overlooked when decorating, but choosing a stronger palette can make them an important part of the overall scheme. Hallway painted in Persian with woodwork in Mummy Plain White and Persian: a fresh kitchen In the kitchen, Plain White provides a lighter backdrop, with Persian introducing a colourful contrast. The combination feels fresh and practical, allowing the stronger blue to become a defining feature without overwhelming the space. Using a colour in more than one room can also help establish continuity throughout a property, even when the individual schemes are quite different. Kitchen painted in Plain White with woodwork in Persian Aquatic and Dutch Orange: a playful sitting room For the sitting room, Amy chose Aquatic and Dutch Orange. Aquatic is a clear, lively blue, while Dutch Orange brings a rich, contrasting warmth to the scheme. Together, they create an expressive combination that reflects Amy’s love of mixing colours, periods and decorative styles. It’s a wonderful example of how contrasting shades can bring energy to a sitting room, particularly when paired with an eclectic collection of furnishings. Living room painted in Aquatic with woodwork in Dutch Orange AquaticDutch Orange Celadon: a gentle green bedroom One of the bedrooms takes a softer approach with Celadon. This delicate green offers a quieter alternative to the stronger colours used elsewhere in the property. Its subtle character makes it a versatile backdrop for patterned textiles, antique furniture and decorative objects, creating a bedroom that feels restful without relying on conventional neutrals. Bedroom painted in Celadon Mason Pink: a bedroom with character Another bedroom features Mason Pink, a distinctive pink with an earthy quality. Rather than feeling overly delicate, the colour provides a substantial backdrop that works particularly well with vintage furniture and layered textiles. It’s a reminder that pink can be an excellent choice for grown-up interiors, particularly when paired with natural materials and more traditional furnishings. Bedroom painted in Mason Pink Cerullian Blue: a richly coloured bedroom For a more dramatic bedroom scheme, Amy selected Cerullian Blue. This richly pigmented blue creates a striking setting, demonstrating how a stronger colour can work just as effectively in a bedroom as a pale neutral. Its distinctive character also provides an excellent backdrop for artwork and collected furniture, allowing the room to feel individual and inviting. Bedroom painted in Cerullian Blue Tawny: an earthy bedroom palette The final bedroom features Tawny, an earthy shade with warm brown and red undertones. It’s a versatile colour that works beautifully alongside timber, antique furniture and natural fabrics. Compared with the brighter colours elsewhere in the flat, Tawny introduces a more grounded palette while retaining the sense of individuality that runs throughout the project. Bedroom painted in Tawny What the Pimlico Project tells us about choosing colour One of the most interesting aspects of Amy’s home is the variety of colours used throughout. Rather than following a single neutral palette, each room has been given its own identity, with colours chosen to complement its purpose, furnishings and natural light. The project also demonstrates the value of considering a home as a whole. Repeating a colour such as Persian in different spaces can create connections between rooms, while contrasting schemes introduce variety and interest. For Amy, the Colour Consultancy provided an opportunity to explore combinations she might not otherwise have considered, with expert advice to help bring the individual schemes together. Hallway painted in Quaker Find your own colour palette Whether you’re decorating a single room or an entire property, our Colour Consultancy service can help you make confident decisions about colour. Our consultants consider the architecture, light, furniture and atmosphere of your home, helping you develop a palette that feels right for the way you live. Appointments are available virtually, in your home or at our London showroom. Explore our Colour Consultancy services or order A5 colour cards and sample pots to begin experimenting with colour in your own space.
Court of Noke: Edward Bulmer’s historic Herefordshire home Step inside Court of Noke, Edward and Emma Bulmer’s Herefordshire home, and discover how more than 30 years of restoration, colour and considered decoration have shaped the house we see today.
Behind the Chatsworth Collection: 24 exquisite new paint colours Learn the story behind The Chatsworth Collection, a range of 24 new paint colours inspired by the interiors, heritage, and landscapes of one of this country’s most significant country houses.
Cotswold cottage interiors: natural colour at Strawtop Cottages Step inside Strawtop Cottages, where Charlie and Josie Irons have combined natural paint colours, antiques and traditional features to create beautiful Cotswold interiors.
Edward Bulmer Natural Paint wins the Conscious Award This July our team were thrilled to pick up ‘The Conscious Award’ from Country and Townhouse, celebrating our brand prioritising sustainable business models, responsibility and staying true to our ethos and brand mission.
Lorfords Contemporary x Edward Bulmer: furniture in natural colour Discover our collaboration with Lorfords Contemporary, bringing natural paint finishes to bespoke British furniture, including the historic-inspired Brighton bench.
Interior ICONS: Laura Fantacci Laura Fantacci, fashion editor and co founder of Wardrobe ICONS, is a modern day muse to many. Laura set up WardrobeICONS with her best friend and fellow fashion editor Petro Strofberg, inspiring inboxes across the globe with timeless fashion, beauty and lifestyle pieces.