b'my f avourite colourscolour without cautionMulti-award-winning kitchen designer Mal Corboy is known for his love of colour. You were voted best in the world recently at the SBID International Design Awards. What do you believe makes a great designer?Passion and a love for design. You can teach anyone to design, however to be great at it is something that cannot be taught. You either have it or you dont; sounds clichd I know. I have met so many designers who are technically perfect but the end result leaves you cold; theres just no life or it looks like a copy of someone elses work.Tell us a bit about your current ventures. I have a number of projects Im currently working on and all are exciting and different in their own ways. Im completing nine rooms for a home in Trinidad and Tobago, which Im really enjoying. I have a new client in Melbourne whose design brief was whimsical and Ive just been engaged to design the kitchens and bathrooms for eight penthouse apartments in the St James Suites in Auckland. Im ecstatic to be involved with such an iconic building; the vision for the building will be nothing like weve seen What are your three favourite colours from Reseneshere before.latest The Range fashion colours collection, and why?Resene Scrumptious. Its a great name and the colour is veryHow would you describe your personal style?close to my business colour. I also like its vibrancy and senseWell, Im known around the traps for wearing loud shirts and shoes. For of fun. me, the more colour the better. Wearing colourful shirts lifts my mood. Resene Chapta And Verse. This is a strong purple withIn my own home, while the larger pieces of furniture are more subdued, good character and depth. It almost borders on the blackish/ I have pops of colour on the walls, in accessories and art.moody side. Resene Alcatraz. I love the metallic eck through thisWhat is your favourite decorating colour and why?colour, and how it changes depending on the light or whatFor my work, I dont have a favourite colour. It comes down to meeting angle its viewed from.the design brief. Its also about using colour correctly. If the client wants bright colour, its up to me to ensure that I use it well and that the room See Mals work at www.malcorboy.com. doesnt become tacky and cheap looking. The same can be said with using muted tones, which can become boring if not used correctly. ReseneResene ChaptaResene ScrumptiousAnd VerseAlcatraz Is there a colour you would never use in your own home?Personally no. In saying that, I think certain neutral colours are overdone these days. My partner, shes not so keen on yellow, so that colour doesnt feature much. Resene Ditto80'