Owner and the lead interior designer of Lederle Design, Sue Lederle is well known for her smart use of bold colours and textures for her clients
Sue’s property developer and interior design studio create beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces in South Africa, the UK, Italy, Mauritius and France. “I’ve always had a deep love for colour, it is incredibly powerful and honestly makes me so happy. My clients tend to agree!” Here, she shares her top tips on how to add colour to your home in unexpected ways.
Go Bold! You’ll be pleasantly surprised...
Don’t be scared of colour. “I have worked with so many clients over the years who often say they don’t like colour or they are worried they will tire of it. I then add a colourful cushion, a bold wardrobe or paint a wall and they simply cannot get enough. Colour used in the right way can transform a great design into a sensational one.” says Sue. “It’s the unexpected that really makes my heart so happy!” she adds.
SAME COLOURWAY: Colours don’t always have to match. Use complementary tones of different shades to mix it up, and you will soon see how the entire space just comes alive. Don’t be scared of using bold colours such as greens, blues and oranges. You’d be surprised to see how it really elevates a space.
TEXTURES AND PATTERNS: The texture is a tricky one for most, and I am often asked by clients, “but how do they complement each other so well?” It’s simple when you want to add a pattern to a room, always look at the colour within the pattern. Try and tie it in with another element in the room - even another pattern. You will soon see how it effortlessly marries one another into a beautiful unity.
PAINT: Painting is a very easy and effective way of adding colour to space. It’s also easy to change it up if you want to refresh it. Don’t limit your thinking to only walls that you can add a splash of paint. Painting the ceiling or the floor adds interesting colour and movement to a room - and is again, very unexpected. “One mistake many people make is painting a single feature wall. To make the colour really pop it’s best to use the colour on two adjacent walls rather than just one” advises Sue.
WALLPAPER: Another great way to bring colour and texture into a room is through the wallpaper. “Make a feature wall really pop with different designs and colours to brighten up space and add some talking points,” says Sue. “If you wish, you can even have wallpaper custom-designed and printed... it’s a really wonderful creative avenue for those wanting something completely different.” she adds.
REPURPOSING: “I often use antiques or refurbish older pieces of furniture to add a sense of nostalgia, a talking point or an opportunity for depth and texture to space. Don’t be scared of using bold colours on these items.” Sue advises.
WELCOME HOME: Adding an interesting, and colourful front door, really sets the tone for your home. May it be pink, orange, blue or green - a pop of colour on arrival will put a smile on anyone’s face - whether passing by or being welcomed in.
For more information and to view her work, visit lederleholdings.co.za.
