Shades of Blue
Patterns and colors add a touch of fearlessness.
To make a strong impression don’t be afraid to use daring colors and strong patterns – even when you want to be chic and elegant. The trick is to get the balance right.
For the transformation of a classic apartment Grace Yacoub used luscious patterns and shots of blue to turn this distinctive apartment into an inviting space full of character.
To help direct attention to the interior and serve as an eye catching focal point, Grace experimented with shades of blue effects on the doors and widow shutters. By using a palette of Annie Sloane paint, Grace created a rich unconventional texture and brought life to the neutral tones used throughout the apartment.
Ancient Greeks and Moroccans used bold geometric patterns in their interiors to create a statement of luxury and the experience for creating brands in the Arab world influenced the design of the patterns on the kitchen tiles. The mix between blue, graphite and light grey hues was sufficient to add a captivating attention to the industrial and minimalist kitchen.
The result: An apartment that feels soft and powerful. Color psychology brings to mind thoughts of energy and inner peace.
Experimentation with hospitality and lifestyle customers and self initiated projects has led Grace Yacoub to dabble with interiors. To date, her interior projects are self propelled. She is at her 10th project and is about to embark on the restoration of two large buildings in Portugal and a quirky apartment in London. She is a firm believer in the role of design in improving the senses and creating delightful experiences.
“I want to be taken as an artist and so I will always be involved in so many disciplines and I consciously keep them related.” The connections between brand design, interiors, painting and writing are important influences in her work.
A major constant in her work is the influence of light “It is the starting point of everything I do.” Light is abundant in her interiors. She is quite sensitive to natural light and believes that we are made to live according to the movements of the sun and the moon.
Her approach to interiors is largely based on the juxtaposition of contrasts. Whilst the architecture is rational and pure, the furniture, art, and colors create intimacy and charm. She is not only looking for the functional but also a poetic quality. “I love to mix things and explore new Materials. Forms, and create a sense of balance out of imperfection. The real goal is to find a subtle blend between simplicity, sophistication, and charm”.