HOW TO WORK WITH COLOUR

Find out how to make small impactful changes to your home this year through your use of colour. Enjoy our interview with colour consultant, Siobhan McFadden.



F: Can you tell us a bit about you and your blog, Homestead?

SMF. I help clients to choose a colour scheme for their home and I can also advise on how to bring colour in using furniture, soft furnishings and accessories etc.

Myself and my husband bought our first family home, a victorian terraced fixer upper in Edinburgh in 2017 and we have been renovating it ourselves since. It has been and still is a labour of love!!

The project led me to start my own instagram account/ renovation blog @home__stead with the intention of sharing ways to use colour effectively in your home and simple tips on how to get the most from your space using colour. I have been fortunate enough to have our home featured in several magazines and design blogs.

I am originally from Co. Donegal in the North West of Ireland and I now live in Edinburgh with my husband Rory, and our two daughters Úna (4) and Nora (2)

 

F. How did you start working with colour and how did you become a colour consultant?

SMF. I studied Graphic Design & Fashion & Textiles at University and my background has always been heavily colour led.

I learnt a lot from internships with textile designers and then I set up my own screen printing label in 2011 when I moved to Edinburgh for work.

It was then that I started working as a colour consultant, I now have over 9 years experience in the industry and I have recently started consulting virtually which has opened up another world of opportunities.

 

F. Can you describe or give tips on how you might mix and match from the Falcon colour range?

SMF. I am naturally drawn to earthy tones and my colour palette at home consists of shades of white/linen and green/greys.

These neutral tones lend themselves to colour pops and that is how I like to select my Falcon enamelware.

Choosing colours really does depend on my audience! I love to select bold colour pops like Pillarbox Red and Mustard Yellow for the kids.

Or Oyster Grey and Pigeon Grey if catering for grown ups in a more minimalistic setting.

That’s what I love most about the enamelware, it can function for little people and grown ups too! For me it is important to have multi functional items in my home.

 

F. You use Falcon enamelware at home. What’s your favourite product and what do you use it for?

SMF. My favourite product is the pint jug, reason being it is so multi functional. It works beautifully as a vase for a bouquet of flowers on a table top or it can be a jug for refreshments when catering for the family.

 

F. Do you have a favourite Falcon colour, and why?

SMF. My favourite colour from the range changes all the time but currently I am taking great comfort in the Mustard Yellow. It acts as a little ray of warmth in my neutral setting.

 

F. How have you been keeping during this time? Do you have any tips for small businesses and anyone who might be self employed?

SMF. I have been keeping very well thank you.

We are blessed to have two young children at home keeping us busy as well as plenty of DIY tasks. We haven’t been bored!

I think getting involved with social media is key to the success of small businesses. Apps like Instagram can provide a very supportive community and it is a fantastic place to advertise your products. I am inspired every day by the beautiful squares on my feed.


FEATURED IN THE IMAGES

Pillarbox Red 3 Pint Jug
£34.00

Pigeon Grey Tumbler
£7.00

Pillarbox Red 12cm Bowls
£41.00


FURTHER READING

We are Sarah, Tine and Serena - all three travel crazy and deeply in love with print projects. We have sailed the seven seas in order to collect #tinyadventures and wanderlust...

The Bull Inn is both a beautiful and progressive pub with food and rooms based in Totnes who state that they are ‘eco, radical &...