How to Decorate with Pinks

Pinks have undoubtedly been one of our hottest colours for some time now with best sellers; Jonquil, Lilac Pink, Cuisse de Nymphe Emue and the new Mason Pink.  If we’d known pink would become so popular we might have given our range some less risque and unpronounceable names, but it seems every one has wanted some of that aroused nymph’s thigh on their walls from studies to bathrooms, period to modern.

Edward’s great hero is the architect Robert Adam who used pinks to great effect and so what Edward has done is to recreate pink in a traditional way with an artist’s eye and that is why they work well.  None are too sugary or blue, babyish or garish so they create a timeless interior, our colours are nuanced by the multiple natural pigments we use which are suspended in the finest plant-based binders used to make our natural paint.

“We believe that the secret to a good pink is its underlying tonality. To achieve this we use the earth pigment Red Ochre and a dollop of Yellow Ochre. This grounds the colour, giving it warmth and delicacy but avoids it becoming a fragrant pink. It makes a surprisingly versatile colour, as it looks serious with strong architecture, but soft and friendly as a wall colour for almost any room in the house,” Edward Bulmer.

Pink is the undercurrent in so many materials used for masonry, from stone to terracotta or brick. This is what makes it such a great colour for walls – in grand or intimate spaces. Good pinks, light or strong, need to be settled down with earth pigment and often a pinch of black. The colour exudes a gender neutral confidence that flatters and inspires – no wonder that you can find it on the atelier walls of Anna Mason, our favourite fashion designer and modern muse! Order a sample of our dustiest pink to date, Mason Pink, as beautiful on walls as front doors.

Cuisse de Nymphe Emue – the prettiest of our top sellers which has been used to fantastic effect in all rooms, as seen above in Edward’s own bathroom, a pretty girl’s bedroom from K&H Design and one of the most photographed suites at the glorious Thyme. We have seen many incredible makeovers, most notably kitchens too, see below at the home of Alice Naylor-Leyland and her much coveted farmhouse kitchen with a twist of chic.  Soft, creamy and incredibly gentle on the eye we love to use this delicate, dusty pink to bring calm to any room. It adorns the changing rooms of the stylish changing rooms at ME + EM and for good reason, Joanna Plant said it is the most universally flattering colour ever….so yes before you ask the team here have all repainted their home offices for zooms, bedrooms and bathrooms in this softest forgiving shade!

Jonquil is our version of plaster pink which has become a go-to colour for any room in the house as it is so versatile and seems to go with everything!  It is fantastic in the hallway as a warm and welcoming colour, in the sitting room with all fabrics and furniture of any style.  It can look 18^th century or art deco with ease.  Then are lots of people who save it for their favourite place, the bedroom. Edward calls it a gentleman’s pink, it has enough yellow to take it from being too feminine. Below in the corner of a beautiful modern home adding character and elegance, @kitandco_see more from this stylish home in our lockdown transformation this week, and on the right on paneling and woodwork in a very cool loft conversion designed by Sarah Brown Interiors.

Lilac Pink (which is neither lilac nor pink!) but the perfect neutral with a pink hue used to great effect throughout the house.  It transformed the dark hallway and landing at the home of Edward and Emma Bulmer, below left, and goes with every type of picture frame from gilt to monochrome but so much more interesting than off whites or stony colours.  So you can be a bit brave with Lilac Pink and start to embrace more colour in the knowledge that it goes with everything. Interior designer Sarah Brown has created a stunning sitting room, using dark blue doors to contrast and creating a stylish yet comfortable beautiful room.

Rose shows that natural pigments can give wonderful bright hues. In the 1770’s the Adam brothers coloured umpteen ornamental panel fields with shades of pink and the colour has never gone out of fashion since. This is a strong feminine tone that will brighten up an overlooked space or give your bedroom some pizazz! It looks incredible with pops of bright green seen on the left and with a strong off white seen below right by Oka. Rose is now in our archived collection so still very much available, please call us if you want to order a sample.

We definitely think these sophisticated pinks are here to stay, a new breed of new neutrals which ooze understated elegance in any setting. We are loving seeing all the colours you are pairing them with from smokey blues to deep plum reds or just simple off whites so please keep sharing all your transformations #edwardbulmerpaint or if you are unsure of which pink email us for some advice or order some samples pots to start your own pink love story.