Gray, Black and Soft Pink

A black, white and gray color scheme and all the variations and nuances of these amazing neutral colors are very prevalent in all collections of furnishings, fabrics and paints today. Sofas are covered in graphite, mercury, steel, silver, ash, charcoal and slate. They are colors out of the earth, colors of industry, colors of stormy weather and yet they are remarkably calm and elegant.

I have often heard it is a non-color, grays are so often associated with a dullness, being bland and corporate but mix it with pink it becomes sophisticated and fashionable and so pretty.

Fabrics from the top left are from: striped silk from Henry Bertrand, Storm, Andrew Martin, Pale Rose, Designer's Guild, center: Steel, William Yeoward, Starling herringbone, Sofa.com, Silver, Sahco.

Herringbone

Herringbone.

On my work table, samples of fabrics, wallpaper, paint and other materials collect as I put together schemes for rooms. I sort them frequently in colors and patterns, it is like a palette.

Herringbone is a pattern I have always loved, I like the simple geometry of it, the change in threading the heddles on a loom, from 1,2,3,4, to 4,3,2,1, so simple but effective.

It is a fabric and pattern usually used for mens suits, a tweed jacket, but I like to see it on a wing back chair, a slipper chair or cover a sofa in it. Simple, dynamic, tailored.

Samples here are from: sofa.com, GP and J Baker, Ralph Lauren, William Yeoward