At home with Robin Lucas: natural paint and healthy interiors

For artist, designer and gardener Robin Lucas, the materials we surround ourselves with are just as important as the colours we choose. Inspired by the natural world, historic interiors and traditional craftsmanship, Robin has always approached decorating with a thoughtful eye.

When he moved into his Lancashire home at the end of 2019, creating a healthier living environment was a particular priority. Having experienced severe dermatitis, Robin was conscious of potential irritants and wanted to understand more about the ingredients used in everyday decorating products.

His search for natural materials led him to Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, choosing a palette of Buff, Whiting and Cinnamon to complement his collection of antique furniture, artwork and carefully sourced furnishings.

Creating a healthier home with natural materials

Robin’s interest in the natural world extends beyond his work as an artist. When decorating his Lancashire home, he wanted to use sustainable, reused and British-made products wherever possible.

Antique furniture was an obvious choice, alongside carefully selected fabrics, flooring and tiles. But when it came to paint, finding a product that met his requirements proved more complicated.

With so many products described as eco-friendly, natural or sustainable, Robin began looking more closely at what different paints actually contained.

His research eventually led him to Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, initially drawn to the historic colour palette and approach to paintmaking.

For Robin, whose personal experience had made him particularly conscious of potential irritants, ingredient transparency was an important consideration.

What makes a paint a healthier choice?

Paint is one of the most widely used decorating materials in our homes, covering large areas of walls, ceilings and woodwork. Yet it’s easy to overlook the ingredients that go into making it.

Conventional paints can contain petrochemical-derived binders and other additives, while some formulations release volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly during application and drying.

VOCs can contribute to indoor air pollution, which is why emissions, ventilation and the ingredients used in paint are all worth considering when decorating.

At Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, we take a different approach, using plant-based binders and carefully selected natural earth and mineral pigments rather than conventional petrochemical-based binders.

We also believe in being transparent about what goes into our paints, allowing customers to make informed choices about the products they bring into their homes.

While no paint can be guaranteed suitable for every individual’s sensitivities, understanding a product’s composition is an important starting point.

For Robin, choosing natural paint was part of a wider commitment to creating a home with carefully considered materials.

Discover more about why we make natural paint and our approach to ingredients.

Decorating with Buff, Whiting and Cinnamon

Alongside his interest in paint ingredients, Robin was drawn to the subtlety and richness of Edward Bulmer’s natural colour palette.

He selected three complementary shades for his Lancashire home: Buff, Whiting and Cinnamon. Together, they provide a backdrop for his collection of antiques, textiles and artwork.

Buff: a versatile earthy neutral

Buff is a beautifully understated colour with earthy yellow undertones, making it a natural companion to timber, traditional furniture and warm-toned fabrics.

Rather than a conventional beige, Buff has a distinctive mineral quality that makes it particularly effective in interiors filled with natural materials.

In Robin’s home, it forms part of a palette that celebrates subtle colour variation, allowing the furniture and collected objects to sit comfortably alongside the painted surfaces.

Whiting: a gentle alternative to brilliant white

Whiting is a soft, traditional off-white that provides a versatile backdrop for artwork, antiques and natural textures.

Its understated character makes it particularly useful in spaces where the surrounding furniture and decorative details are intended to take centre stage.

For Robin, Whiting offers a lighter element within the palette, working alongside the richer tones of Buff and Cinnamon.

Cinnamon: a rich natural brown

Cinnamon brings a deeper, more expressive colour to the scheme.

With its earthy, reddish-brown character, Cinnamon is particularly well suited to interiors featuring antique furniture, timber and richly textured fabrics.

It’s a reminder that brown can be a striking choice for walls, offering an alternative to more conventional neutral shades.

Together, Buff, Whiting and Cinnamon create a considered palette that feels connected to the natural materials throughout Robin’s home.

An artist’s appreciation of colour and light

As an artist, Robin has a particular fascination with the way natural light changes the appearance of colour throughout the day.

Reflecting on his experience of decorating with Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, he explains:

“As an artist, I find the play of light on a wall and the way colour changes through the day especially fascinating – how rooms warm up and cool down depending on the time of day.”

It’s an observation that highlights the importance of experiencing paint colours in their intended setting.

The direction of natural light, surrounding materials and changing seasons can all influence how a shade appears, making it worthwhile to test colours before committing to a scheme.

Robin also found himself drawn to the character of natural pigments, observing the subtle changes in the painted surfaces as the light moved through his home.

A thoughtful approach to decorating

For Robin, creating a home is about more than choosing beautiful objects or finding the right paint colours. It’s about understanding the materials we live with and making considered choices about how our interiors are put together.

His Lancashire home brings together antique furniture, British craftsmanship, natural materials and a carefully selected palette of Buff, Whiting and Cinnamon.

The result reflects his interests as an artist and gardener, while demonstrating how colour and ingredient transparency can both play a part in decorating decisions.

Discover more of Robin’s work at Robin Lucas Studio or follow @robinhhlucas on Instagram.

Explore Buff, Whiting and Cinnamon, or order A5 colour cards and sample pots to see how the shades respond to the light in your own home.