Walls:
Walls: | Photography by Alex Lukey
We’re particularly proud of our extraordinary response to light — in fact, you’ve probably heard us talk about it before. It’s the way our paint colours subtly shift with their surroundings to become bespoke to your space, while always staying unmistakably Farrow & Ball. This near-magical quality brings every space to life but it’s never been more apparent than this project on Prince Edward Island.
Kyle Timothy Blood of Kyle Timothy Home Interior Design is the creative mind behind this beautiful home, renovating the historic property after moving to the area with his husband and two dogs. As a talented interior designer himself, he knows all about the particulars, pitfalls and possibilities of light:
“Here on Prince Edward Island, It’s all about the natural light. The Island is very flat with red soil, a myriad of greens from crops, forests, and fields, and a big, Montana-esque sky above, all surrounded by sunlight reflecting and refracting off the ocean beyond. These elements create an absolutely beautiful backdrop of light, both a major challenge, and resource, when working with colour.”
Naturally, with light playing such a pivotal role, there was only one option:
“Farrow & Ball, with its velvety finishes, historic colours and complex undertones, was a perfect choice. We were also very conscious of creating a healthy house, so we wanted low-VOC options that would stand up to day-to-day wear and tear and give us the palette that we were looking for.
“Once I had chosen Farrow & Ball, I was only left with delicious dilemmas — choosing just the right colours. While I struggled to begin, the right colour for each room always seemed to present itself, sometimes early in the morning and sometimes late at night. And each one took full advantage of the ever-changing light from the landscape beyond.”
Living Room
Walls:
brings a classic, cosy feel to the living room, which is no surprise given Kyle’s expertise at picking the perfect neutral:
“When I started my interior design career in the early 2000s, I was designing in a sea of neutrals. Everyone wanted ‘just the right’ cream, ‘just the right’ ivory or, if daring, ‘just the right’ sailcloth, but no one wanted any more colour than that. So, I became very adept at specifying neutrals that ended up infusing rooms with cozy rather than stark vibes. The secret was, of course, the tints within the neutrals.”
Dining Room
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In the dining room, Kyle’s careful, considered balance of old and new is clear:
“When we bought this historic house, we knew that we had to be true to the 1894 architecture, but we also knew we did not want to live in a museum. We wanted to meld as much modernity as possible into the scheme without creating a jarring effect.”
Sunny is sophisticated enough to feel perfectly at home, while also adding an unexpected, playful twist.
Music Room
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Rather than be afraid of the light in his space, Kyle embraced it to create the feel that he was looking for. In the case of the music room, that feeling was inviting, dramatic and comforting:
“Given the ample amount of light on the island, I realised I could use a rich and saturated colour palette. And while we wanted some open and airy “summer” rooms, we also wanted a few rooms that would embrace us during the long winters on Prince Edward Island.”
Primary Bedroom
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At Farrow & Ball, we’re firm believers that there are no rules, only preferences based on what you love. So, although we love a well-placed pastel, the original bedroom palette wasn’t quite to Kyle’s taste:
“The upstairs bedrooms were all painted in various pastels. But these weren’t any ordinary pastels; they were so pastel that they seemed to just vibrate on the walls.”
Now painted in oh-so inviting , it’s a far cry from the previous sugary sweet shades.
Guest Bedroom
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In the guest bedroom, Kyle has created a home away from home for his friends and family. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful view from the window, he used to add a wonderfully grounding feel from dawn ‘til dusk.
“We wanted to draw the outside in and expand upon the colour palette in the landscape. And, because of the Island light that changes almost hourly, I needed saturated colours, allowing the light to pleasantly bounce around the house throughout the day, being as interesting at 9pm as 9am, by candlelight or by sunlight.”
Primary Bathroom
Woodwork:
In the primary bathroom, Kyle also brings the calming colours of nature inside. Verdant and refreshing creates a soothing, spa-like feel perfect for long soaks in the bath. And with our durable finishes, Kyle and his family can enjoy those peaceful soaks without any worries about stains, scuffs or scrapes.