Hugh St Clair Fabrics: The Perfect Summer Patterns

Summer in the city is a world full of pattern and colour. It’s the perfect time to come and see the vibrant fabric designs from Hugh St Clair.

Whether it’s Flamingo Ovals or Pink Apple, this stunning range of designs are adorned with shapes inspired by nature and classical motifs. They are all hand printed on to 100% linen.

Large Oval - Pink Apple from Hugh St Clair in front of wallpaper from Hugo Dalton’s Tresco Collection, both available at Paint Library London

If you’re planning some summer decorating, these shapes and colours perfectly compliment a spectrum of interior styles, for rooms bustling with decoration, or refined and simple. 

 Hugh St Clair fabrics make a perfect pairing for Paint Library London’s rich variety of colours. 

“I have always loved the variety of the Paint Library range which incorporates deep colour and glamorous neutrals in an easy to read arrangement in the showroom. I often use Paint Library as a starting point when colouring my patterns.”

Large Ovals - Teal, Gold Slate

Large Ovals - Blue Topaz

A partnership of fabrics and Paint Library London colours

When decorating your home, deciding on fabrics to suit your interior style makes for difficult decision making.

At Paint Library London, it’s our job to offer inspiration. We’ve paired up a few of Hugh St Clair designs to Paint Library London colours to help springboard some of your decorative ideas. 

Hugh writes about Modern British artists and takes his inspiration from twentieth century painters including Cedric Morris, an artist described by Tate Gallery curator Richard Morphet 'as one of the most exceptional colourists in twentieth century British art'.  

Visit the Paint Library London Showroom to view the full Hugh St Clair fabric collection.

Living with Colour: Rita Konig

To call Rita Konig simply a style and interiors expert would be a massive understatement.The daughter of design royalty Nina Campbell, Rita has carved out a reputation both in London and New York as a style commentator, writer, designer and of course a vital influencer for the insta-generation. It’s no surprise then that the interior spaces she designs are the stuff of Pinterest legend.

Alongside her House and Garden Magazine column where she dishes out unmissable interior design advice, Rita hosts workshops in London with expert guidance on home inspiration.

At Paint Library London we are drawn to designers with a signature style, and we love matching Paint & Paper Library’s rich, diverse colour palette with their ideas. We added ‘Rita Says’ to our Archive Collection especially for Rita, as we feel it embodies the crisp, cosiness of her work.

How do you feel that ‘Rita Says’, a Paint & Paper Library Archive Colour, matches your interior style?

The Rita Says Grey was ahead of the curve, it certainly lead what became a grey sensation in the interiors world. I had nothing to do with the colour choice and it was named after my column in British Vogue that I was writing at the time. I used it a lot and I LOVED having a colour named after me!

What is your earliest memory of colour?

I suppose my first colour story is aged about 4 my mother asking me what colour I thought we should paint our then new front door.  I said that I thought orange would be a really good colour, my mother, quick as a flash, told me that we couldn’t have orange as that colour had a high tax on it and we couldn’t afford it - she obviously hated the idea of an orange front door but didn’t want to hurt my feelings!  

Soon after this conversation we were driving through what was clearly quite a poor area of London - literally every other door was painted orange.  I never mentioned this to my mother but worried for quite a long time about our finances! 

What is your top tip for interior styling?

Don’t over work it, do what pleases you and what is practical. Everything in your house needs to be comfortable or you will avoid that area of the house.

Can you define your aesthetic style in three words?

Personal, comfortable, like it’s always been there.

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NEED HELP choosing your interior COLOURS?

Why not have a Colour Consultation with Paint Library London’s talented team of experts?

With decades of interiors experience, our professionals work with you to create schemes you love, giving you confidence to build a special style and personality for your home.

Simply leave your email and phone number with us, and we’ll give you a call to arrange a session.

Book a consultation

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A Carnival of Colour with Paint Library London

The RHS Chelsea Flower Show

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It’s a bright and beautiful day at Paint Library London, Elystan Street. Chelsea Green is alive with colour as shops, homes and pubs celebrate the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

From 21st - 25th May Britain’s most prestigious flower show takes place in the grounds of Chelsea Hospital. 

At Paint Library London, we’re embracing the festivities by showcasing our favourite summer colours from Paint & Paper Library.

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Produce understated elegance with our colours: Chelsea Green II, Newlands, Storm

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This week we've been inspired to create floral schemes with a combination of current Paint & Paper Library colours and a few from our Archive Collection to create a unique and fresh pallette.  

These colours will bring the vibrant tones of your garden striaght into your home. Come to our showroom to buy a sample pot, and immerse yourself in the full summer range.

And if that ins't enough, flowers can sing from your walls too. Hugo Dalton's Tresco range is bursting with both delicate and dramatic floral designs. Eye-catching fabrics from Hugh St Clair and Seabag Textiles complete any scheme.  

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Looking to be inspired by the colours of summer?
 
Whether you’re re-styling a new room this month, or simply looking for the confidence to try out new colours, get inspired by a one-on-one Colour Consultation session.
 
Our talented team of experts work with you to create schemes you love, adding tones and styles to compliment your interiors. Consultations can be done at our studio in the heart of Chelsea, or one of our team can visit you at your home or on-site.

Book a colour consultation

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Irises create a fresh and playful scheme: Irises, Gamboge, Pollen, Slate II

Living with Colour: Emma Sims Hilditch

For the past decade Emma Sims Hilditch has become a household name for a particular style of ‘English Home’ interiors. The journey however, was not exactly linear. Emma began her career completing a business degree and a job in film production, before returning to her roots and founding her own company Sims Hilditch.

The daughter of an interior designer, Emma grew up in a world full of art, architecture and design. In 2009 she founded Sims Hilditch, to offer a complete country homes interiors package from an HQ in the Cotswolds. With a fresh approach to a new English look, Sims Hilditch celebrate a style that is classic and comfortable but also highly relevant.

The colours showcased at Paint Library London’s store in Chelsea are the perfect tools for Emma’s work, as Sims Hilditch is famous for a calm, understated and tonal style. We sat down with Emma to learn more about her style and inspiration.

Hi Emma, which two Paint & Paper Library Archive Colours would you pair with your style of English Home interiors and why?

Piccadilly Pigeon – its such a lovely subtle dark green that we love to use in formal spaces. It would work so well in a formal dining room to create a darker and more atmospheric aesthetic.

Felt II – This is a staple colour that can be used in so many ways. It’s a beautiful neutral backdrop that can complement bold and textured fabrics and artwork.

Estuary – This is a calming and practical colour perfect for cabinetry or for rooms like the kitchen, utility or boot room. It represents the countryside and greenery which we choose to use in many of our country projects.

What is your earliest memory of colour?

I was brought up immersed in a world of art and design – I remember visiting museums as a small child and falling in love with Monet’s Waterlilies at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. The palette used by Monet are analogous colours (that sit next to each other on the colour wheel) and are very calming and timeless.

What is your top tip for interior styling?

Build layers using contrasting textures such as wools and linens to create cosiness without being overly styledDo not be afraid of scale and proportion – I always encourage clients to go bigger than they might imagine. Oversized pendants over a kitchen island look great.Art work is so important within interiors, it will transform a room and adds personality. We enjoy mixing originals with prints either hung on a wall or propped on shelves within bookcases.

Can you define your aesthetic style in three words?

English, Understated, Elegant

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NEED HELP MATCHING YOUR INTERIORS TO OUR COLOURS?

Why not have a Colour Consultation with Paint Library London’s talented team of experts?

With decades of interiors experience, our professionals work with you to create schemes you love, giving you confidence to build a special style and personality for your home.

Simply leave your email and phone number with us, and we’ll give you a call to arrange a session.

Book A consultation

Book a consultation

Living with Colour: Otis Ingrams

It’s safe to say that Otis Ingrams sits near the top of the list of our favourite craftsman and designers. Working independently from his design studio OTZI, Otis employs both traditional and contemporary techniques to produce exceptional, durable leather products for clients across the world.

In 2013 Otis founded OTZI studio to respect traditions of simple design and honest craft and handiwork. Nowadays, he sources the finest leathers from across the world for his clients.

Otis loves how versatile his materials can be, particularly in colour and finish. This week, Paint Library London were lucky enough to catch him for a quick chat at his studio about the role these two elements play in his work.

If you want to hear more about Otis, he’s written a wonderful book on his craft called LeatherWorks: Traditional Craft for Modern Living, available to buy on Amazon. Also head over to the OTZI Design Studio website to check out examples of his work and more.

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Thanks for talking to us at Paint Library London, we are huge fans of your work. Which Paint & Paper London colours would you pair with your leather designs and why?

A very hard decision indeed. I use vegetable tanned Tuscan leather and British oak bark tanned bridle leathers for the majority of my work. The tanning limits the brightness of the dyes, lending itself to warmer, more natural colours and therefore produces wonderfully rich and muted tones.

This is not unlike the palette and finish of many of Paint and Paper Library’s colours available at the Paint Library London showroom. I would use the Long Room to complement the warmer tans and browns I use and Salvador to stand in a contrast. I like the earthy richness of that one.

What is your earliest memory of colour?

Both of my parents have an infectous love for colour, so its been pretty significant for me forever. My Mum painted our Shepherd’s Bush kitchen an incredibly rich red that really imbued the tiny space with warmth and energy. My Dad is a painter and so the walls were always covered in the bright acrylics he uses in his palettes.  Growing up in rooms like these was a real baptism of fire in colour terms.

What difference does a quality finish make when producing a work?

A quality finish is essential to producing a lasting and appreciated work. It is often amazing how bad something can look until the dying moments, when the edges are polished or the surfaces buffed or sanded.

This has been perhaps the biggest realisation in my work and in the appreciation of other peoples craft too. Your eyes get more a more attuned to the minute details and finish with time. The more skill you acquire, the better your finishing becomes. 

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Living with Colour: Molly Mahon

With Easter just around the corner, we were delighted to catch up with printmaker and designer Molly Mahon. Working from her home studio, an idyllic cottage in East Sussex, Molly gets inspired out in nature immersed in the colours of Spring.  

We chatted about her design influences, and her top picks from the Paint Library London Archive Colours...

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Hi Molly, it’s a pleasure to have you. Could you pick your two favourite Archive Colours and explain why you like them?

Thanks for having me. First off, it has to be Jaipur Pink - of course! So much of my inspiration comes from spending time in India, so this strong colour immediately transports me to Jaipur City, a place I love a little bit more every time I go.

Moxa just does something for me right now too. Its rich, sophisticated and reminds me of all those fresh buds we are getting right now as we delve deep into Spring.

What is your earliest memory of colour?

Hmm.. I am very bad at putting my memories in chronological order, I have so many. Perhaps the marbling colours balancing on water as my mother created beautiful marbled papers

I also remember Spring flowers all around our wonderful garden that my Dad kept so well.  Especially at Easter when we were hunting for eggs and would look under Primrose petals, in cracks of trees, behind daffodils.

What colour  is your favourite possession?

My favourite possession is a pencil box that my Grandmother painted me with my name on.  It is mostly blue, but with lots of other colours too!

Can you define your aesthetic style in three words?

Joyful, colourful and comfortable

NEED HELP MATCHING YOUR INTERIORS TO OUR COLOURS?

Why not have a Colour Consultation with Paint Library London’s talented team of experts?

With decades of interiors experience, our professionals work with you to create schemes you love, giving you confidence to build a special style and personality for your home.

Simply leave your email and phone number with us, and we’ll give you a call to arrange a session.

Living with Colour: Shona Stopford Sackville

Shona Stopford Sackville

When it comes to the world of interiors, Shona Stopford Sackville is a true force of inspiration.

Shona founded McKinney & Co in 1991, one of the UK’s most trusted designers of window furniture. Over 28 years later, her aesthetic style continues to influence. The company’s bespoke, traditionally designed window and door decorative furniture adorn some of the world’s finest homes. It’s no surprise that Shona counts the Queen and Prime Minister in her client list.

To mark the lauch of Paint Library London Archive collection, we chatted with Shona about how some of these classic colours would make an exciting pairing with her own designs.

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Hi Shona, it’s great to have you on here. What are your favourite Paint & Paper Library Colours from the Paint Library London showroom and why did you pick them?

Thanks guys, it’s great to see some old favourite colours from the Archive. For my first choice I think I’ll pick Chalcedony. It’s got such a soft and calming feel to it, I think it would work well as a subtle backdrop to some of my designs.

My second is Nash II, which sits at the other end of the spectrum. It’s got a brightness and a boldness that would be brilliant for highlights.

What is your earliest memory of colour?

I was born and raised in the Bahamas, so the magnificent array of blue and greens that make up the ocean is still my favourite and most cherished memory of colour.

What colour is your favourite possession or room?

My yellow coat. I just couldn’t live without it.

4.) Can you define your aesthetic style in three words?

Fun, eclectic, colourful

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NEED HELP MATCHING YOUR INTERIORS TO OUR COLOURS?

Why not have a Colour Consultation with Paint Library London’s talented team of experts?

With decades of interiors experience, our professionals work with you to create schemes you love, giving you confidence to build a special style and personality for your home.

Simply leave your email and phone number with us, and we’ll give you a call to arrange a session.

BOOK A CONSULTATION

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Living with Colour: Totty Lowther

Totty Lowther

If there’s anyone who knows a thing or two about style and colour it’s designer Totty Lowther. During her varied career she’s designed window displays for Laura Ashley, decorated sets for big budget movies and helped style country houses.

20 years ago, Totty went to live on a hill farm in the Lake District. It’s here that she opened her own interiors shop in an old shipping container, selling furniture, works and prints from artists local and beyond.

Totty is inspired by riotous colour and the simplicity of English blockprinting which she searches for in the linings of old furniture drawers, leather trunks and patchwork quilts.

Her latest venture is a stunning range of colourful wallpapers and fabrics, Pomegranate, for Lewis & Wood, available in 7 colours. Browse the collection on the Lewis & Wood website or visit the company showroom in Chelsea Harbour.

To celebrate the launch the Archive Collection at Paint Library London, we caught up with Totty to discuss her design inspirations, and how a love of the weird and wonderful informs her work.

Totty we’re huge fans of your Pomegranate designs. What are your favourite Paint & Paper Library Colours from the Paint Library London showroom and why did you pick them?

Thanks for having me here. It’s a tricky choice, but I’m going to go for the Gamboge as my top choice of the Paint and Paper Library palette. It’s so bright and refreshing, and would create a lovely mood behind a newly restored early Chinioiserie longcase clock I’ve just bought.

A very close second is Wattle 11, as it would make a wonderfully subtle backdrop to a pair of recently bought vast decorative painted Italian wall sconces.

What is your earliest memory of colour?

My father’s red hair, and seeing fresh Spring beech leaves.

What colour is your favourite possession?

I adore my handwoven multi-coloured Bulgarian shag rug bought in Sofia, which I have thrown over a sofa. Also my sparkling Citrine and diamond drop earings.

Which three words best sum up your style and aesthetic?

Bright, bonkers, unexpected.

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Need help matching paint colours to fabrics?

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PAINT LIBRARY’S ARCHIVE COLOUR COLLECTION

We delighted to showcase the Archive Colours, a unique palette of colours handpicked from the Paint & Paper Library Archive.

Much loved colours from the last 20 years, such as Moxa, Wild Silk and Jaipur Pink make up this exceptional collection inspired by Paint & Paper Library’s flagship store in Chelsea — Paint Library London.

Each of these colours was handpicked by our talented in-house team to bring sophisticated style and charm into any interior space. We want our clients to use these colours to bring a dynamic, signature style in their own homes.

Check out our full range of Archive Colours on our website, or call us on 020 7823 7755.

Meet the Artist: Hugo Dalton

On Wednesday 6th March, we welcomed award winning artist and wallpaper designer Hugo Dalton for an inspiring event at the Paint Library London’s showroom in Elystan Street.

Hugo joined us for an inspiring afternoon discussing Paint, Pattern & Colour and how to scheme his wallpapers with style. Hugo's exclusive wallpaper collection 'Tresco' was made in collaboration with Paint & Paper Library.  

The Tresco collection is a beguiling wallpaper collection inspired by the artist's time spent in Tresco, a private island located in the Isles of Scilly.  It features eight unique designs printed in a multitude of colourways taken from the existing Paint & Paper Library colour palette.

Hugo begins every piece of work by drawing from life with pencil and paper. In each drawing he captures the energy of a given situation, and allows it to take on new life. 

Hugo has recently been announced as a Wallpaper Magazine 2019 Designer of the Year for his wallpaper 'Chart'.  

Check out some of the photos from the exclusive event.

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LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION FOR A NEW ROOM?

Why not stop by the Paint Library London flagship store and showroom on Elystan Street, Chelsea for a colour consultation.

Consultations can be done in-house at our studio, or we can send one of our talented experts over to your home.

Our consultation includes:

• An introduction to Paint & Paper Library paints

• Analysis of space and light sources

• Expert advice on colour and finish

• Full colour schedule supplied

• Large colour brushouts posted to you

• 10% off the final cost of your paint

Simply leave your email and phone number with us, and we’ll give you a call to arrange a session.

Book A consultation

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