I'm back inside on this rainy day after a couple of (backbreaking) sunny days spent working in the yard, so thought this was a perfect opportunity to sit down (that's the best part) and write instalment number two of my new blogging life :) So... what to write, what to write? Hmmm...
Well, a certain colour trend that has been popping up on the interior landscape more and more over the last year or so has me feeling pretty happy, so I'm going to share a few of my thoughts on it. In the title of this post I called mushroom the new beige, but actually it is the new grey, which became the
new beige about ten years ago image from country living
(but that's way too long for a catchy title).
First to clarify, when I say 'trend' in interior colours, I don't mean 'what's hot this season', as we see in the fashion world, but a look and a feel associated with a certain colour and all the combinations and textures that go with it that make an interior look current, and 'of this decade'. Trends in colour usually last about ten years: we are just coming out of the grey trend, before that was a beige trend that involved brown/beige/gold with hits of rich red and olive, which Maria Killam calls the Tuscan trend. And hey, that trend was just the nineties/aughts' iteration of the colour palette we saw in the seventies (okay, I saw it; some of you weren't even born yet, but you've seen pictures). I'm talkin' avocado green, harvest gold and burnt orange.
So, as the grey era winds to a close over the next few years, what's next? Well, obviously white is everywhere, black is everywhere (whole 'nuther blog post, friends), and rich colour-saturated walls are also a thing, for the bold and flairful (whole 'nuther 'nuther post!) but what is the new neutral that is actually a hue?
Mushroom! Yes, mushroom! What is mushroom? Well I would describe it as a version of greige that leans a little on the warmer side, pretty closely linked to taupe, but not as purple in the undertones. Ha! Confused yet? Don't worry, I have lots of pics lined up to show you exactly what I mean.
And just like actual mushrooms, mushroom comes in a whole range of tints and shades, so pick your favourites and go for it!
I especially love mushroom in a kitchen; the stunningly beautiful deVol cabinetry in the UK uses it a lot on their social feed, and if it's good enough for deVol, by gawd, it's good enough for me.
Mushroom looks warm and cozy but still restrained and sophisticated, and is incredibly awesome in conjunction with warm light woods, like the kitchen below:
More mushroom with light wood:
(As an aside, how about those brass posts on the peninsula above? Nice, right?)
Or this one with slightly darker wood:
Mushroom is so sophisticated when paired with marble:
Also perfection with soapstone:
And so English country (not the 80's chintz version, more restrained) when paired with warm limestone floors:
And speaking of English, here is a pale mushroom-hued kitchen dresser by deVol, paired with a light wood countertop:
How beautiful is that???
We're seeing a lot more wooden kitchens again, and guess what finish they look great in? Yup, mushroom. Works for traditional:
(Note the pairing with marble counters and limestone floor)
...or modern rustic, mushroom can do it all:
(And again with the limestone! Beautiful.
Not sure how the giant coral is used with food prep though...)
Aaaand of course, every room should have at least a little bit of 'old' in it to give it some soul, and ta-dah! the past is full of mushroom coloured kitchen accessories just made for the job, like this transfer ware plate:
Or this antique jasperware teapot:
I love mushroom in kitchens the best, but its also a great colour to use in other rooms of the home if you are looking for a current colour scheme that is warmer than most greys.
Gorgeous on the built-in cabinetry in this mudroom entry way:
(Notice the light natural wood bench that sets it off perfectly,
and makes the overall look so current)
See the painted trim in this living room? Mo' mushroom.
This is also a very restful colour in a bedroom:
Or, just throw a bunch of mushroom accessories around a white-painted room and call it a day:
Left: Making Fabulous Right: Linen and Stripes, both on Etsy
Mushroom accessories are a great way to warm up a white room in a soft, sophisticated and current way.
So, mushroom. What do you think? Is it not a great choice for those who want to update their home, but are looking for something warmer than grey, less dramatic than black, white or colour-saturated walls, while still being classic, sophisticated and contemporary?
I'm loving it! (Although I'm also pretty enamoured of white with black accents and the occasional saturated room too, so, time to go start thinking about my next post!)
