Modern reds

This boldly beautiful space showcases the new trend for striking reds, which, when contrasted with other bold shades and natural textures create an exotic Pasifika look, by way of Morocco.

No longer consigned to feature walls from the 1990s, modern reds can be layered through a whole room for a dramatic but inviting and cosy look.

At this side of the world, with our clear, bright, natural light, we have traditionally opted for bluer, deeper reds such as the Resene Dynamite used here on the lower wall. By pairing it with a truer red such as the Resene Poppy seen here on the upper wall, the overall effect is much less oppressive and in fact opens the room up.

Further layering of red tones with the floor vase painted in Resene Raging Bull, the shelf vase in Resene Moccasin and the exotic earthy toned rug, all create a frame which can be filled with contrasting tones and textures.

Red tones in this room are dramatically combined with a blue floor painted in a base colour of Resene Wishing Well, also used in the matching side table. The use of an overlaid stencilled floor pattern in Resene Time After Time is a clever way to add texture and interest to the space, cooling down the reds, while still enhancing their impact.

Elegant furniture and accessories in natural tones and textures, work in perfectly with these dramatic background colours, adding a lightness and simplicity, without sacrificing style and elegance.

The lighter accessories such as the cotton stems, cream flowers and the bowl painted in Resene Elderflower stand out against the dramatic reds, while a wine box stained in Resene Colorwood Natural and other wooden accessories, accentuate the natural elements, bringing all the elements together.

Combined this is a perfect look for the casual lifestyle of a bach or any home with an easy flow to the outdoors.

Paints: Upper wall: Resene Poppy. Lower wall: Resene Dynamite. Floor: Resene Wishing Well. Floor pattern: Resene Time After Time. Table: Resene Wishing Well. Vase on shelf: Resene Moccasin. Vase on floor: Resene Raging Bull. Wine box: Resene Colorwood in Resene Natural. Bowl on wine box: Resene Elderflower.

Other colours to use with the bold, new reds are:

• Try going for a jewelled or spicy tones by adding vibrant mustard yellows, or even mellow golds, both in layered paint tones and accessories. These shades work especially with the brighter, tomato-tone reds.

• Opt for the classic green and red combination, but turned on its head. Instead of opting for a neutral green as your main background wall colour, go for a deep blue red as the dominant colour and use the grey-greens as your accent colour, in accessories or even around windows. Alternatively, go for warmer, more unusual sage greens.

• Another way to try bold reds is to opt for deeper, burgundy or even brown-toned shades. Try these with deep muddy creams and natural textures. Or for something completely different pair them with accents in dusky, khaki greens.

• Other unexpected colour combinations for reds are layered intensities of bold fuchsia, particularly with bluer toned reds, and different shades of vibrant orange with yellower-toned reds.

Styled by Gem Adams. Photography by Wendy Fenwick. 2019