Candy Crush
Pink is a difficult colour to master. Used judiciously it conveys a sense of innocent joy and optimism, but too much and your space risks looking like the bedroom of a child obsessed with Disney princesses. Luckily, Jordan Cluroe and Russell Whitehead at 2LG Studio are at hand with a masterclass on how to apply pink in an elegant and contemporary way.
The designers' adventurous colour palette and penchant for bold shapes are on full display at this substantial six bedroom family home in South-East London. At the back of the house is a new kitchen living room extension, dominated by an enormous kitchen island with a waterfall countertop and a pink dining table with matching chairs and counter stools. In an intriguing contrast of materials, the counter is clad in deep veined marble whilst the table top is made of a terrazzo-like composite material created with wood chippings and resin. The rounded ends of the dining table echo the arched tops of the kitchen cabinets, which, together with the curvaceous sofa and doughnut-shaped pouffe, create an organic and friendly vibe. The colour scheme is vibrant and charismatic, with candy pink tables and chairs, sky blue kitchen cabinets and a dark blue sofa set against a neutral backdrop of light grey poured concrete floors and white walls. The wall behind the sofa features hand-printed wallpaper from Custhom with a custom design of playful pink squiggly lines. The same wallpaper is used in the hallway of the house, providing a sense of continuity.
Another outstanding space is the formal living room at the front of the house. Its ceiling and cornices are painted in calamine pink, making the room cosy without feeling overbearing. The marble fireplace surround, with its simple form but dramatic pattern, provides a wonderful visual contrast.
As you move upstairs, shades of pink gradually give way to soothing hues of cream, blue and green. Rounded and curvy features is a recurring motif, keeping the mood light and jovial. We particularly like the amoeba-shaped mirrors set against blue hand-painted tiles in the bathroom and the giant disc-shaped plastic composite handles for the various cabinets, which, incidentally, are cleverly upcycled using the same extra-wide Douglas fir floorboards used throughout the house.
Overall, the use of colour and patterns is sophisticated and full of personality, resulting in highly distinctive spaces that feel fresh and welcoming at the same time. We're sure the clients were tickled pink.
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Product Inspiration
Add an organic touch with curvaceous furniture such as the Pebble Rubble Sofa from Moroso, the Cairn Dining Table from Woak and the Marlon Chair from Dooq.
Lighting with bold geometric shapes would work perfectly in a bright, colourful space. Try the Play II Suspension Light from Utu, the Palladio Wall Light from FABR and the Air Table Light from LZF.
Go for accessories with strong bold shapes, such as the Cobra Hexa Vase from 101 Copenhagen, the Zag Large Carafe from Atelier Polyhedre and the Halo Mirrors from Boca do Lobo.
