9 minute read
designing with colour
life is better with colour
JULIA GREEN
Photography: Armelle Habib
Founder of Greenhouse Interiors, Julia Green is an interior stylist, writer, producer, speaker, brandambassador, TV-host and consultant, and a mum to two gorgeous boys. Her company curates & designs artful creations and is one of Australia’s leading destinations for textiles, homewares and fine art. Re-renovating her home in 2020,
Julia chose to bring colour into her bathroom with National Tiles Marrakech
Olive Gloss tiles. These green Moroccanstyle tiles transformed a plain, whitetiled bathroom, creating a dramatic yet soothing effect. Explains Julia, “By simply changing the tiles in the bathroom with these stunning but affordable tiles I completely transformed the ‘wet area’ into a truly unique space full of style colour that reflects my personality.”
Tell me a bit about your background and how you got involved in styling and design? It all happened by accident. Interiors was simply a hobby for me, but a chance meeting with a photographer from Vogue (who came to my house to buy a couch I had listed on eBay) changed that. He asked me who I styled for, and I told him I had spent 16 years selling drugs (legal ones). He gave me his card, told me to call him, and I have not stopped running from job to job ever since. That was almost 10 years ago!
How did Greenhouse Interiors come into being – what is the business founded on and how has it grown and evolved?
I've always had a passion for styling and colour. But in my styling work I found other gaps in the market, such as holding master classes and representing emerging artists, so I now run a multifaceted business as well as style and write for most mags here in Australia and many overseas too.
We source the most amazing artists. I am constantly fascinated as to how our artists' pieces always look so good together. It's like the artists have all shared studio space, yet in truth, all work alone. It's really cool that we all work together as a family, and our group spirit is always captured. A lot of our business comes down to ethics. No ethics, no deal. I don't work with anyone unless they have the highest of ethical standards.
What drives your passion for colour in interiors?
I find interiors exciting! I'm following my passion and I've never looked back. In my styling work, I love the final moment when an image is created. I love the collaboration it takes to get there too, with a brilliant creative team that inspires me every time I work with them. And I love that no two days are ever the same. We believe style is NEVER about money or your bank account. It's instead about creating warm, inviting spaces with love and colour always. And we think that was definitely achieved.
Our vibe is always fun, spiced with colour. As our company tag line is 'Life is better with colour'. I'm drawn to ALL the colours of the rainbow! Although
I've always had a soft spot for green - so much so that I married a man with Green as his surname. Ha ha!
Colour can work wonders in a space, and set the mood and tone as well. It's all about knowing when to turn the dial
up or down with colour, and learning companion colours so that it feels considered and not a chaotic mess. Ask yourself how you want to feel in the space, and select the colour accordingly.
For instance, if it’s a bedroom you are decorating and you are keen to create a relaxed vibe, avoid the brighter spectrum of colour and opt for softer, quieter tones instead. The reverse can be said for living rooms, where you may wish to liven the space up with energy and colour, in which case you can turn up the dial!
Colour is all about emotion and so tapping into it is vital to get the mood right for your space. If you are uncertain about how to combine colours, reach for the Pantone app, as it will help you find companion colours. It takes the science out of the exercise ensuring they all work together by spelling it out for you. It’s a great tool not only for the colour lovers but also decorating novice.
What trends in design are you noticing at the moment?
I don't subscribe to trends, as a general rule. I really don't follow them. I know I must be influenced by them when they hit, but I am on my own merry path of enlightenment, do what I like, and refuse to be a slave to trends. I was looking back through some archives recently at work from 6 years ago, and I would still style it the same way today. It's important to be true to your OWN style, and OWN it.
Tell me about your home renovation – it’s a renovation of a renovation? We bought our house already renovated, but wanted to stamp it as our own. Structurally nothing has changed
as it had brilliant bones, but we have repainted, retiled, and decorated to add our own aesthetic... and we love the transformation.
What elements were important to you when designing this home for your family.
We bought it as is. I shot it for a cover story for Inside Out mag, and when I heard it was on the market a year later there was no hesitation to snap it up! The floorplan was perfect for our family, with zones for kids and lovely communal spaces for all of us to come together too.
A big focus in my home is on art - so I pick out some of the colours in the artwork and repeat them in soft furnishings or textiles, as this will sew the room together like a tapestry and make the space feel very harmonious. The scale of an artwork is really important for maximum impact. Always make sure you measure up the space with masking tape first, to see how it will really translate onto the wall.
You used National Tiles Marrakech in your bathroom – what made you fall in love with this tile and how effective has the bathroom renovation been?
I have travelled to Morocco for years and take tour groups. The tiles remind me of these fond memories, as green tiles over there are like a plain white tile here - everywhere! I especially love the texture of the tile and the graduation of colour in each one, they are special little artworks, each one of them.
What advice would you offer to home owners looking to update their bathroom or kitchen?
Paint and tiles are always your best friend. And these projects can be done on a budget too. They are hardworking spaces of the home and deserve the extra attention given the time we spend in them, so treat them with some love and colour! We also offer design
services, to help people fit out their homes with colours they love, so please feel free to include the web address so people can discover how we can help: www.greenhouseinteriors.com.au/ pages/our-services.
DESIGN TIP: If your tiles are dark, choose a darker grout (rather than white) for less ‘grid lines ‘ which can create a more considered look. Grout tints can make or break the overall look so research your options.
Follow Julia Green @ greenhouseinteriors) for your daily medicinal does of happy colourful interior vibes.
get the look: Julia Green
with our curated selection of tiles and flooring.
Julia Green used our Marrakech Olive Green Gloss Tile for its rich colour variation and fresh aesthetic.
For a similar look in a slightly larger subway tile, Paloma Moss Green will create striking features and splashbacks.
If your palette calls for a softer and brighter shade of green, check out our Marrakech Lake Gloss Tile.
Crayon Ficus offers a more undulated surface without the dramatic shade variation characteristic of the Marrakech or Paloma ranges.
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Paloma Moss Green 65x200mm
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Combining the sought-after aesthetic of timber flooring with the versatility of vinyl and laminate, the Kimberly Hybrid series offers a beautifully natural looking finish that is costeffective and stylish. An embossed LVT surface carefully replicates various timber species while a micro beveled-edge recreates the classic look of wooden flooring planks. Its durable surface is perfectly suited to family life along with commercial spaces. The seven different shades offered by the Kimberley series reflect modern trends with a colour to complement any interior theme, from the mid-tones of Dark and Light Blackbutt and Spotted Gum through to the charcoal brown hues of Ash and Storm and calming grey of Driftwood. With no adhesive required and a simple click-locking system, Kimberley is easy to install for both professionals and DIYers, with a typical bedroom able to be laid in an afternoon. Available to take home today at all National Tiles stores for just $29.95 per square metre.
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Norr 2.0 Gra Natural 600x600mm
Capturing the natural beauty of the iconic Ceppo di Gre stone, the porcelain Norr 2.0 series expertly recreates the irregular textures and tonal contrasts that Ceppo is so prized for. With a myriad of greys stacked tone on tone, Norr 2.0 artfully embellishes the Ceppo design, incorporating a corresponding collection of large and finer grained pebbles for a distinctive and harmonious effect. Available in three different colourways from light to dark, Norr 2.0 will coordinate with a range of colour schemes as either a base or accent while its natural and structured finishes make it the ideal solution for indoor and out.
