The Power of Pastels: A London House Reimagined - Remodelista
As a young girl growing up in Dublin, Michelle McKenna of Space and Grace was fascinated by the effect that color has on a person’s well-being. Photography by Emma Lee, unless otherwise noted. The house was in a serious state of disrepair–a literal “blank canvas.” But with her innate design sense, Michelle, a floral designer and color consultant (as well as a body work practitioner of Amatsu and Reiki), used color to capitalize on the infamous soft and gray British light. After restoring the plaster and lathe walls throughout the house, Michelle wanted to use a breathable paint and found her solution in Farrow & Ball’s Casein Distemper finish, a form of early whitewash with a chalky finish that’s eco friendly. Above L: The colors of the George Braque print in a gold frame complement the textured blue–teal Dapple Velvet from Mulberry, which Michelle used to reupholster a Chesterfield sofa she found in a London antiques shop. Above L: The walls of the stair hall were painted with Farrow & Ball Great White while the spindles and tread were painted with Farrow & Ball Pigeon. In the stairway to the basement, McKenna papered the walls down to the basement with pages from a Swedish botanical book, Bilder Ur Nordens Flora by C.A.M. Michelle brings the outdoors into the kitchen with handmade Chinoiserie Wallpaper from British company Fromental. Above L: McKenna uses classic subway tiles as a backsplash in the kitchen. In the seating area of the kitchen, traditional English meets midcentury Swedish. The stair landing between the kitchen and dining room is a display opportunity for Michelle’s floral arrangements, displayed in her collection of jewel-toned vases. Michelle used Farrow & Ball Pale Powder on the walls of the dining room; the woodwork is Winborn White, which is an off-white. Above L: Lace curtains from Timorous Beasties reveal a floral pattern. A classic Michelle display on the sideboard in the dining room includes a combination of midcentury Swedish brass candlesticks and English china. Photographs by Julie Carlson. Above L: The Josef Frank linen cushion cover from Svensk Tenn in Stockholm adds highlights of color to the subdued English hues of the blue linen cover on the bench and the Farrow & Ball Pale Powder walls of the dining room. in her dressing room, Michelle hangs two garden embroideries that a daily source of inspiration. Above L: For the master bath, Michelle chose Farrow & Ball’s Skimming Stone. An antique trash can that Michelle found at Columbia Market sits between two pedestal sinks with mismatched nickel faucets. In the bedroom, Michelle’s homemade bouquets and budding plants hint at the promise of spring in January. In the master bedroom, a headboard from Maison Trois Garí§ons in Shoreditch is reupholstered in a soothing purple gray velvet that blends well with Farrow & Ball Great White-painted walls. A homemade floral arrangement and a midcentury Swedish lamp from Svensk Tenn on stools add peace and calm to the sanctuary-like bedroom.