Thursday, February 17, 2011

Colour personality

I didn't know a person could have a colour personality! but according to the Resene website you can. I took a short quiz about colours, shapes, preferences in a home etc and the result was my primary is a Spring Personality and my secondary is a Summer Personality.


A spring Personality is:

Spring is the time for warm weather, sunshine, young lambs, fresh flowers and springcleaning. Not surprisingly Spring colour personalities love daylight and prefer airy homes with lots of windows and natural light.

Colours are fresh, bright, clean and warm complemented by light coloured wood. Furniture, cushions and decorative accessories have rounded corners, making them easy on the eye and easy to live with. A tendency towards greenfingers means Spring homes are generally home to numerous well tended indoor plants.

Springs aren't afraid to get stuck in and get their hands dirty. Hardworking and practical, they love getting a bargain. Springs are sociable and enthusiastic with lots of energy and flexibility. Extroverted and friendly, they tend to make new friends easily, though will avoid weighty issues and conflict where they can. Springs are quick thinkers so if they do find themselves in conflict they can normally negotiate their way back out of it! Their easygoing sociable nature often makes them look and seem younger than their age. Spring homes are usually contemporary, modern and well kept - must be the springcleaning tendencies!

The nature colours we associate with Spring are reflected in the Spring palette. Yellows dominate the Spring palette, reminiscent of fresh flowers and sunlight and act as undertones across the palette embuing a sense of warmth. Dark colours and blacks are banished. Warm neutrals in hues of light greys, creams, ivories and beiges act as the backdrop in place of pure white. Fresh crisp greens reflect the green of young leaves. Reds have pink undertones.
Springs love conservatories and rooms where they can bridge the gap between inside and out. French doors, large sliding doors and pristine lightweight curtains maximise sunlight.


  • Sociable, welcoming, informal.
  • Contemporary, airy, light, basking in sunlight.
  • Warm, bright and clear palette.
  • Windows and window treatments designed to maximise natural sunlight, soft curtains or blinds likely.
  • Small floral patterns and gingham checks - picnic feel.
  • Accessories include glass and crystal, coloured or clear, brass and golden finishes such as gilded objects. Room to display keepsakes important.
  • Watercolour artworks keep the look fresh, clean and bright.
  • Textures and fabrics are soft, often translucent to play with the sunlight.
  • Light woods, avoids chunky furniture as they reduce the sense of space.
  • Greenfingered, fresh flowers, pot plants commonplace.
And a Summer Personality is:

Hot sun, cool breezes and the haven of shade under trees are all associated with Summer. lowers fresh in spring start to burn under the relentness heat of the sun, grass turns from lush green to muddier lighter tones and heat rising off land results in a haze softening the scene beyond. This softening of hues is reflected in the Summer palette packed with cool colours softened back with grey undertones.

Close to nature, blues and greens are important in the Summer palette, with blue often being the favourite colour perhaps contrasted with soft pinks and yellows. Oranges are banished from the palette - too hot to sit comfortably with the cool palette. The Summer palette is subtle. Primary colours are greyed off eliminating the clean brightness of the original hues. Neutrals are drawn from soft greys, taupes, oysters and whites for a cooling touch. Creams are too warm to suit the summer palette. Decorating is cool, elegant and understated.

Combining with the softened palette, furniture and furnishings have curved edges. Patterns are subtle, if present at all.

Summers are the perfect host, calm and collected, with everything planned down to the minute details - events at a Summer home will generally be elegant and run smoothly. Summer homes are usually tidily kept and are more formal than a Spring home because of the perfectionist tendencies of Summers. Lofty ceilings, well proportioned rooms and careful architectural detailing including coving between floor and ceiling are considered important. Dark beams running across a ceiling or low ceilings will make a Summer feel boxed in. Balance and order is important in colour selection, room detailing and accessory positioning.

Summers are nurturing, comfortable looking after guests and family, possibly appearing cool to outsiders until they are part of the circle of friends. Highly perceptive they will notice small details that others may not and act as natural peacemakers working in the background to keep harmony. Practicality mixed with a reserved nature means that classic elegance, traditional decorating, antiques, fine china, music and the arts is more comfortable to a Summer than modernity and sophistication. The appreciation of these elements will be incorporated into a Summer's home in hanging embroidery works, musical instruments, such as a piano, and so on.
The touches of formality lend an overall air of elegance - quiet and restrained. Delicate luxurious fabrics and vases of traditional roses or fresh summer flowers reinforce the elegant atmsophere.



  • Elegant, classic, antiques, touches of formality, reserved.
  • Well proportioned spaces, architectural detailing and finishing touches important.
  • Everything has a place.
  • Softened palette influenced with undertones of grey to cool the hues.
  • Furniture - formal and classic, draws on the traditional.
  • Accessories influenced by the past with traditional styled glass, ornaments and lamps.
  • Artistic - impressionist paintings, traditional works, fine china.
  • Window treatments are traditional, decorative, often encompassing trimmings, pelmets, tiebacks.
  • Textures are delicate, luxurious quality silks; patterns may be floral or scenes.

Check it out for yourself and see what your Colour Personality is

Take the Resene Colour Me test here

Resene iPhone app

Just had to quickly share with you a new app I came across today. The Resene products - iSwatch and Colourmatch.


If you're a fan of colour, a decorator, designer, colour consultant or stylist - this could be your new best friend.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Alannah Hill Head office by David Hicks

I am in-love with the look and feel of the new Alannah Hill head office designed by David Hicks. It beautifully contrasts french provincial furniture with modern colours, fabrics and materials. By using white and timber as the base and then layering it with ornate furniture and playful bright colours it creates a stylish, femanine, luxurious and modern look. I admire how they have used light as a feature in itself, and the materials play with the light.






Read the full story here

Small price for a big difference

Sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impact.

I recently spent $30 to purchase 18 new door handles for our new place. It had a dramatic impact on the space. The old ones were heavy faded blue plastic handles, but the new sleek silver ones make the kitchen look less dated, and as a result we can put off on our kitchen renovation for a little while. The best thing about them is you can buy them for $6 each at bunnings. Or for a much cheaper option you can go onto ebay and get them for $1 each.

I recommend this one. Whilst the old ones really weighed down the kitchen and made it look more cluttered, the new thin ones take that clutter off.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Whats happening in colour

Pantone have been broadening their market and have created a line called "Pantone Universe" which includes a series of products and services built around the Pantone colours! They are always expanding but currently the list includes:
- Seavees 09/63 PANTONE Sneaker Collection
- Casual Collection by Gentryportofino
- Bath And Body Line by Hypro Cosmetics
- Sonia Spencer Accessories Collection
- PANTONE UNIVERSE Kitchenware Collection by Typhoon
- Iconic Pantone Mugs by W2
- PANTONE UNIVERSE stationery by Alpa
- Design items by Seletti.

Here are some photo's to tempt you.











But the one I find most interesting is the Pantone Hotel. Which is an environment built on the sensation of colour. Canvased against white, colour is interjected to inspire the senses.