3 min readAnyone with an appreciation for symbolism will want to incorporate the unofficial color of spring, malachite, into their homes for two reasons. First, it symbolizes transformation, emotional growth, and deep healing, and second, it’s a truly gorgeous hue. Malachite, a mineral famous for its extremely vivid green, is popping up in some of the most beautiful spaces around the country, and we have a feeling the rich shade is here to stay.
Ahead, we chatted with five designers about how to incorporate this color into a room without it overtaking the aesthetic, which is definitely something worth considering since malachite is quite bright and, therefore, eye-catching. Luckily, there’s a way to do it that feels seamless without sacrificing drama. Keep reading to find out exactly how designers are pulling off this bold, spring-ready hue.
Paint a Whole Nook
With the intention of creating a jewel box for her client, Caroline Rafferty had only one color in mind to reach her goal: "Green is the perfect color to achieve this,” she admits. She opted for a high-gloss shade by Sherwin-Williams to brighten up the surrounding space.
Let the Art Shine
No serious art collector or consultant would ever recommend matching your furniture to your art or vice versa, and designer Dafna Kikuchi is no exception. Rather than stick this malachite-infused Lindsay Bull painting in a room that already featured plenty of color, she decided to hang it above the bar in a room with a more subdued palette. “I tend to be drawn to a muddier layered textile palette, and I love to use art to bring in a punctuated shock of brightness to my spaces,” Kikuchi explains.
Pick One Piece of Decor
While there is plenty of green in this guest bedroom, designer Gail Barley wanted it to really shine, which explains the dramatic lamp. “Throughout the home, we did a lighter green, but we felt like in this bedroom, with the white bed frame, white bedding, and white walls, we needed a bolder, more intense green,” she explains. “These malachite lamps fit the bill perfectly and provided not only this wonderful color, but a much-needed textural element.”
Drench Lightly
The concept of color drenching is pretty simple: Cover a room in one color, and various complementary tones. In this Webb White-designed kitchen, green is definitely the central color, but not the only one. “As this kitchen was designed with a full corner of windows overlooking the adjacent hillside, we wanted the interior to be a reflection of the view beyond,” notes Frank Webb, co-founder of the firm. “We clad the backsplash in a gorgeous glass mosaic from New Ravenna, which depicts a leafy garden, and we painted the island in Benjamin Moore’s brilliant high-gloss Rainforest Foliage.”
Have Fun in a Small Space
Rich, deep hues look best in homes with historic architecture, and we’re just going to go ahead and claim that as a fact. Case in point: This bathroom in a 1930s-era home in which “uber-contemporary finishes would feel out of place,” admits designer Darlene Molnar. “The glossy green tile has a subtle texture to it and a surface that is not perfectly monotone, as if it were handmade. The depth of this green pulls from nature and feels seamless in the bathroom.” The luxe green hue looks especially indulgent when paired with brass hardware and finishes.
