A few weeks ago I wrote a post called "Take One White Sofa" and discussed how to creatively introduce colour into your home by way of accessories. One of my readers responded to this post, "but what if you don't have a white sofa, what if it's shade of mink, what colours could be introduced?". I have created some Olio Boards and sourced some interiors using this colour either in furnishing or paintwork, to hopefully help with this dilemma.
Mink can be various shades from brown to grey with a slightly mauve or pink tinge so depending on your shade, from light to dark, this can greatly affect the colours that will work with it. Mink is considered a neutral, cool colour and works well with earthy neutrals, however, without introducing various textures and pattern this colour can appear flat. A neutral interior can go from ordinary to fabulous by layering textures and patterns as can be seen in my mood board below. Different materials and textures can create a more interesting monochromatic interior. An example of a fabulous neutral interior can be seen in another recent post sharing a fabulous Manhattan apartment.
So, your not a "neutral" kind of gal/guy and you want to introduce colour or warmth to your mink sofa, you might want to explore the use of other colours such as subtle shades of yellow, pale blue, pink, deep lilac or even lime green. Remember if you are introducing pink with blue undertones then your adding a cool pink, a warm pink will have peach/ blush undertones.
What are your thoughts on the second image below. The sofa is mink with grey/brown tones but the designer has introduced soft pastel colours and striking pattern into her design. A pale shade of Aqua blue is on the painted walls. The rug introduces strong pattern, however, it is softened by some of the more subtle shades in its design.
Image three is probably my favourite, the matching mink chairs work beautifully with the reflective glass coffee table. A soft blue/grey has been introduced by way of the cushions on the white sofa adjacent and a touch of gold can be seen to the right, overall the design has a formal but comfortable feeling.
Image three is probably my favourite, the matching mink chairs work beautifully with the reflective glass coffee table. A soft blue/grey has been introduced by way of the cushions on the white sofa adjacent and a touch of gold can be seen to the right, overall the design has a formal but comfortable feeling.
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As you can see by the images above, mink comes in many different tones and shades. However, If you have an item of furniture or walls in mink, I hope in some way I have been able to help. I think my personal choice would be to take the neutral approach and go mad layering with textures as illustrated in my mood board above.
We hope you have had a great week, we had a burst of Autumn sunshine again and Poppy and I have
been soaking it up on long walks along the beach.
been soaking it up on long walks along the beach.
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Oh, thats realy nice, I like combination with plum colour:) I finaly decided that I'll use yellow and some green, as I have big print of Jonathan Pike painting "Balconies on the Grang Canal" with those colours. I'll use that picture as an inspiration and of course your post:)
ReplyDeleteGlad you have decided to go with yellow and green, drawing inspiration from artwork is the safest way to go. Jonathan's painting will work wonderfully with mink,green and yellow ochre.
DeleteLee :)
I'm loving mink after this post! As soon as I saw the first image I was envisaging dusty pinks and magentas and gorgeous gold - yum! x
ReplyDeleteA really lovely combination Vic for sure.
DeleteLee :)
All those rooms look exquisite, such opulence.
ReplyDeletePages off Life
Thank you for your comment Rupertt, yes some are quite opulent.
DeleteLee
I have to say my favorite image is the first board that YOU created. I love the softness of the colors with the suggestion of the grayed down violet in the mix. Plus you added the yummy texture... these images really make me appreciate the mink color, and i love those two mink chairs in the third photo of the designer rooms...
ReplyDeleteCindy
Thank you for taking time to comment Cindy, I love those two mink chairs too, in fact I love everything surrounding them too.
DeleteLee :)
what a neat series! i love number 9, the shape of that sofa is so neat.
ReplyDeleteHi Caroline I love your style.. where is that coffee table and side table from on the 1st picture that says neutral? I want to buy it! Also the painting and chandelier? Beautiful taste!
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca, thank you for stopping by, I really should have put where I sourced the products from at the time. It would help to know where you are based, I am predicting the USA, if so the side table is available on line from Zinc Door and is $792, made from iron and antique brass. It really is gorgeous. The coffee table I could not find the exact one, however, I found a similar look, also in Zinc Door which is $423 and is called "Xert grey". I also found a table in the same shape at Pottery barn but it is a different feel as more iron than steel. It is called "Carter, metal coffee table" and is very reasonably priced. Some of Zinc Doors items have free shipping in the USA.
DeleteThe painting is from Zatista.com (an on-line store that sells art). This piece is no longer available, however the do have plenty of choice and easy to search for what you want. The particular piece in my mood board was $3,350 and was called No.10. The chandelier was from Lumens Light and living.com It is the Lucia chandelier by Murray Feiss and is on sale at the moment at $1,479. It is made from two linen drums surrounded by crystal studded steel, pretty spectacular I would say.
I Hope this is helpful to you. If you are in New Zealand, please let me know and I will try to track down similar items in this part of the world.
I am starting a new post this week called "Out and About" where I will be showcasing lovely homeware and furnishing items I spot on the internet, they will all have links to the companies that sell them. I hope you get a chance to pop back and read more.
Lee :)
I am from the UK haha... Absolutley stunning living room! Would you ever give me some advice(I can pay)on helping me with some ideas on my living room and dining room. I want to do a very similar living room to what you have shown but on a budget! I have a through living room and dining room so need to try and make it match but i just need help with what kind of dining table i would use with that living room that would still look good with the coffee table and side tables etc. My email is rebeccawoods7@hotmail.com let me know if you would be interested and how much it would cost me (I could send you over a list of affordable stores that you could show me peices from). Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI shouldn't presume you were from the USA sorry. I would be more than happy to help you out with your rooms, I had actually been thinking about offering a service to my readers, maybe now is a good time to put it into practice. I will contact you by email on Monday Rebecca. It would be good for me to have some shots of your room as is. Dimensions of the area, both living and dining, if you are able to sketch something up and scan it onto your computer it would help.
DeleteI will be in contact.
Lee :)
I'll be purchasing the ROOM & Board Andre sofa in Total fabric/Otter color. I prefer contemporary/modern and have a black leather lounger (husband's-he won't get rid of), a fairly small cream leather floating chair. Also have boring beige apartment carpet (will be purchasing a rug and new TV table later). Any ideas for wall color? I've been advised to stay away from any gray paints with pink or blue in them. I'd surely appreciate your expertise, and thank you.
DeleteHi Pamela, can you send a picture of the fabric for the sofa or direct me to the website so I can see it. I need to know what undertone it has before I can suggest a wall colour. You say you have a beige carpet, are you going to replace this at some point as the wall colour will have to co-ordinate with this. Do you have wooden floors underneath your carpet by any chance that you could have polished up and remove the carpet? Also what country are you in as I am in New Zealand and familiar with Dulux and Resene paints, not the USA brands. I agree, be very careful with paints that throw pink. I actually like a grey that throws a little blue but a lot will depend on how much light you get in the room. I recommend trying out a colour by painting it onto a piece of A4 card and looking at it at different times of the day under artificial and day light. You should be able to ask for a brush out of a paint colour from your supplier. Once you get back to me re the fabric and also maybe a pic of your carpet then I may be able to advise. My email address is; leecarolineart@gmail.com for sending photos. Also if you are keeping your carpet, does this have a pink undertone to it or is it a true beige?
DeleteHi Lee, what do you think the combination of mink and marsala? I have mink sofas too and I thougt that might be good marsala curtains and some small details such as pillows and little marsala objects. What do u suggest to me? If u want I can send my living room photo. Please help me. Thank u so much.
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteI am presuming you are referring to "Pantone" Marsala? If you are, I would say that they are in the same shade of colour. Marsala being deeper and stronger than mink, definitely they would work together but I would need to see your curtains and sofa. I would also suggest as well as Marsala that you introduce an accent colour such as teal or a soft blue. If you send me some images of your room in its entirety, I will create a mood board for you to help decorate the room.
My email address is on my contact page :)