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18 Dec 18

Pantone’s colour of the year: Living Coral

Secret Linen Store Hot Coral pompom throw £95 1600x1200px crop

I love it when a new colour gets touted as a ‘trend’ and Pantone never disappoints. And this year, it’s another contentious choice to get everyone’s feathers in a ruffle! This is what trend predictions are all about in my view – to stop us getting too cosy, and to keep pushing the parameters of ‘good taste.’ So let’s get my cards on the table straight away.  Pantone has declared their colour of the year 2019 a rather fabulous Living Coral, and I’m very much on board! In fact, I might be sailing the ship!

“An animating and life-affirming coral hue with a golden undertone that energises and enlivens with a softer edge”

PANTONE

pantone-colour-of-year-2019-living-coral-design_

It’s another colour that Pantone feel we need to give us all a big dose of the feel-good factor. Another strong, forward-facing strident hue that holds no prisoners. The colour for 2018 was an equally ‘shocking’ Ultra Violet – you can catch up on my report here. Pantone once again, acknowledges that we feel swamped by the digital, fearful about our politics and freaked out by the state of the planet. Quite frankly it’s all got a bit serious and heavy. So rather than give us a nice calm shade of green to go and have a lie down under, they feel it’s time to lighten up and have some fun! And that sentiment is embodied in this shade of sherbet, eighties lipstick and tropical sunsets.

Interior designer and colour lover Sophie Robinson picks her favourite interior products following the Pantone colour of the year Living Coral, fashionistas Jennifer Lopez and Gigi Hadid

Both J-Lo and Gigi Hadid stepped out in Pantone’s Living Coral within hours of the announcement, as featured in Vogue showing that this on-trend colour has buckets of sass but requires confidence and conviction to wear head to toe. Image credit: Getty Images

 

“Living Coral welcomes and encourages lighthearted activity. Symbolising our innate need for optimism and joyful pursuits, PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral embodies our desire for playful expression.”

PANTONE

I have to say that I wholeheartedly concur (of course I do!). I personally find it a jolly, uplifting and rather edgy colour. Sitting in between red and orange, it loses the aggressive edge of one whilst being way sexier than the other. Like all of these trends, you need to ignore it if it isn’t for you – don’t get your knickers in a twist if it’s making you run to the hills (under an apricot sunset). If you prefer things a little more pale and uninteresting, then you could play around with it’s paler cousin peach, which has been touted as the new pink for some time.

Interior designer and colour lover Sophie Robinson picks her favourite interior products following the Pantone colour of the year Living Coral Bavero wallpaper in Coral, Zapara collection by Harlequin

Bavero wallpaper in Coral, Zapara collection by Harlequin

I think these orangey shades are the perfect progression from the all-things-pink obsession. Peach and coral shades have more warmth and my overriding trend forecast for the next few years, is that we will be turning our back on the cool greys and sophisticated navy in favour of colours which have warmth at their core. While the trend-setters will make a splash with it on all four walls, I think for most that it creates too much energy in a room to actually be able to live with. Instead, it will be popping up as a great accent in our interior schemes. If you have already signed up to a cool grey interior then a pop of Living Coral could be just what you need to stop taking it all too seriously. Similarly, it would look delicious with navy – or my personal favourite teamed with cobalt blue.

pantone colour of the year living coral features in this pom pom fringed bedlinen designed by sophie robinson for the secret linen store

My collection of bedlinen for The Secret Linen Store uses a hot coral as an accent for cushions and a trim on the pom pom bedlinen which updates the classic white.

I’d like to say I had a crystal ball, or that I’m just so smoking hot and on trend – but either way, I chose coral as one of my key colours when designing my new range of bedlinen for The Secret Linen Store earlier this year. My reasons were because it felt more modern than pink, I loved it next to the deep blue I was already smitten with and felt that in small splashes it was a great way to add pep to an existing scheme. You can buy it as a pom pom cushion and throw or as a delicate micro trim on all white bed linen. So my advice with this trend is to dip your toe in. And next time you think it has to be pink, think of adding peach or coral red instead.

My pick of the best coral accessories to add some punch and instantly update your interior

Interior designer and colour lover Sophie Robinson picks her favourite interior products following the Pantone colour of the year Living Coral

1. Ercol Originals loveseat in half rose, (bespoke order) available at Heal’s | 2. Paipai Coral Velvet Armchair, Ligne Roset | 3. Brookland orange plate and cup & saucer, Habitat | 4. Brass monkey table lamp with orange shades, Audenza (available Feb-Mar) | 5. Grassington 2 seater sofa in Tango Flamingo, Sofas & Stuff | 6. Embellished cushion in coral, Anthropologie | 7. Metallic woven pommed cushion, Anthropologie | 8. Chalk Paint, Coral Mix using Tilton and Emperor’s Silk, Annie Sloan

 

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Before and after! This room took me on a real jour Before and after! This room took me on a real journey.
At first, I thought I needed a calm, blank space to focus… so I painted it all white. I know - can you believe it?! I told myself it was for clarity and creativity, but the truth is, I hated it. I felt flat and totally uninspired.

So, I ripped up the rulebook and went back to what I know works for me: bold colour and big pattern. I painted the whole space in my favourite cobalt blue (Lazuli by @zoffanyfw) and installed the ‘In the Woods’ mural from my @Harlequinfw collection - and now it’s everything I wanted and more.

I feel creative, energised, and completely connected to the beautiful garden just outside the window. A daily reminder to trust your instincts, feel from your gut and be brave. 

#OfficeGoals #CreativeWorkspace #BoldInteriors #BeforeAndAfter #SophieRobinsonStyle 
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A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨ It was such A masterclass in maximalism! 🌈✨

It was such an honour to guest judge the Interior Design Masters final alongside the fabulous @michelleogundehin and wow, what a finale it was!

The setting? The magical village of Portmeirion.
The challenge? Transform a bland holiday cottage.
The winner? The brilliant @john_cooper_design and what a winning design it was! 

John’s scheme was a glorious celebration of colour and perfect  storytelling. I loved how  he used bold Mediterranean hues and motifs from room to room which cleverly held this maximalist vision together. It felt like being whisked away to a land far far away. And thereby perfectly capturing the spirit of Portmerion. Honestly, it felt magical to be there!

I’ve unpacked all Johns clever ideas and design takeaways over on the blog (link in bio) — but I’d LOVE to hear what you thought.

Was John your winner?
What design moment caught your eye?
Could you stay in a house like this?

Tell me in the comments 👇

#interiordesignmasters #maximalistinteriors #maximalistdecor #portmerion #colourlover #banthebeige
Longing for a life-changing escape? You’re not a Longing for a life-changing escape?
You’re not alone. Our next Discover Colour Retreat at @elfennmarrakech just sold out in just a few hours, snapped up by our incredible subscriber community who said yes to more colour, creativity, and the trip of a lifetime. 💫

If you missed out, don’t panic, we’re already planning more dates in this dream of a design destination. Think: bold design, deep connection, sun-drenched inspiration, and the kind of joy that lingers long after you get home.

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Comment ‘ELFENN’ below and we’ll send the link with details + the option to add yourself to the VIP waitlist.

Because beautiful things come to those who wait…
and this one’s worth every second. 🌺

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Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically Ready to create a home that feels unapologetically YOU?

For me it’s about bold joyful colour, striking pattern, and those magical touches that light you up every time you walk through the door. This isn’t about playing it safe, it’s about crafting a home that celebrates the uniqueness of who you are and how you want to feel. 

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EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignm EXCLUSIVE Live with the WINNER of @interiordesignmasters ! 

Thankyou @john_cooper_design for a beautiful LIVE taking a deeper look into your amazing experience being on the this most loved show. We all loved watching you grow and develop as a designer and your collection with @johnlewis is an absolute triumph! Cannot wait to see what you do next 🙌
All the Finale feels ✨ What a joy was filming t All the Finale feels ✨
What a joy was filming this series of @interiordesignmasters with @michelleogundehin , @chattyman , not mention this year’s insanely talented finalists @john_cooper_design 💙 @ritamillat ❤️ There is a lot of love and positive energy that goes into making this show.

And it doesn’t end here…

TONIGHT at 7pm I’ll be going LIVE right here on Instagram with this year’s winner… SPOLER ALERT….

@john_cooper_design 
I cannot wait to chat all the behind-the-scenes design insights, and what it really takes to win Interior Design Masters. What a smashing journey John has been on. Wow his final design blew me away, it’s was soo well executed and his vision was perfectly in step with the flamboyant eccentricity of Portmerion. Top marks! 

Come join us and ask your questions during this exciting Live event or come back later and watch the replay! 👀

Missed the show? Catch  up with @bbcone  Interior Design Masters on @bbciplayer 

#InteriorDesignMasters #IDMFinal #DesignShow #BehindTheScenes #InteriorDesignUK
Beware of listening to the ‘experts’! I get i Beware of listening to the ‘experts’!
I get it though, designing a house is hard, especially if your taste leans towards the 
maximalist style. There is every chance you’ll feel overwhelmed or stressed about getting it wrong with the end result one hot mess. However here are some of those common ‘design rules’ that I absolutely disagree with! Would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!

If you’re ready to stop playing it safe and fully embrace creating a home that truly reflects you, my specially designed online course has everything you need to keep you falling into any more traps. I’ll guide you through uncovering your unique style, choosing colours with confidence, and mixing patterns like a pro, all while making it feel beautifully cohesive and creative. And the best bit? It’s 25% off until the end of May! That’s right, just a few days left to pick up a massive discount.

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Ready to step into your best life? Start with the Ready to step into your best life? Start with the place that holds it all. Your home.

I’ve always believed that a joyful, soul-filled home isn’t just a reflection of who you are… it’s a catalyst for who you want to become. When you’re surrounded by colours that lift you, patterns that energise you, and decor that tells to your story, something magical happens.

You feel confident, calmer. More you.

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Because great design isn’t just about how it looks — it’s how it makes you feel.

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