Anyone with an appreciation for symbolism will want to incorporate the unofficial colour of spring into their homes: malachite.
A mineral famed for its rich, vibrant hue, it symbolises transformation, emotional growth and deep healing, and we have a feeling this opulent shade is here to stay.
To analyse this bold new colour, we spoke to five designers about how to incorporate it into a room without letting it overwhelm the overall aesthetic – an important consideration, given malachite’s vivid, inherently eye-catching nature.
Fortunately, there’s a way to introduce it seamlessly without sacrificing any of the drama. Read on to discover exactly how designers are making this vibrant, spring-ready hue work.
Paint a whole nook
With the intention of creating a jewel box for her client, Caroline Rafferty had only one colour in mind to reach her goal: 'Opulent green is the perfect colour to achieve this,' she explains. She opted for a high-gloss shade by Sherwin-Williams to brighten up the surrounding space.
Let artwork shine
No serious art collector would ever recommend matching your furniture to your art or vice versa, and designer Dafna Kikuchi is no exception. Instead of placing this malachite-infused Lindsay Bull painting in a room that already featured plenty of colour, she decided to hang it above the bar in a room with a more subdued palette. 'I tend to be drawn to a muddier palette, and I love to use art as a tool to bring in a punctuated shock of brightness,' Dafna explains.
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Spotlight one shade
While there is plenty of green in the striking curtains of this guest bedroom, designer Gail Barley wanted to pick it out and help it 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 colour, but a much-needed textural element.'
Introduce blocks
When you want to celebrate a shade, the best way to do it is to introduce sizeable blocks of the colour in question. This may look like colour drenching all the walls and ceiling but, in the case of this Webb White-designed kitchen, green was used in an indulgent, leafy wallpaper and a full-gloss kitchen island. The blockiness of the island makes green the standout, while the glossy finish prevents it from feeling too light-swallowing when paired with wallpaper.
'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 smaller spaces
There's a widespread myth that rich, deep hues must be kept far from small spaces, but in reality, a dinky room is the best place to embrace your dark side. In this 1930s-era bathroom, the rich, reflective green bounces light around and adds an expensive quality.
Designer Darlene Molnar says: '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.
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