David Mottershead: Beige Tones in Interior? Time to Give Way to Green Hues!

In late October, a presentation of the new capsule collection of Little Greene paints was held in Moscow at the Institute of Russian Realistic Art, with the motto «green is the new black». We asked the creator and owner of the company, David Mottershead, what makes the green color so great and whether it would suit small apartments in Russia. We also asked how long it takes to repaint a wall.

What do we know about the new Little Greene collection?31 shadesof green20 of which were discovered in objects of the National Trust in EnglandInspirationcame fromthe home of writer Beatrice Potter in Cambria, the dramatist George Bernard Shaw's rotating hutThe palettewas dividedinto five groups of shades: gray-green, neutral green, yellow-green, blue-green, and turquoise-green

Beatrice Potter's home in Cambria, where the Sage & Onions 288 shade was discovered, Little Greene

George Bernard Shaw's hut, where the Hidey Hole 307 shade was discovered, Little Greene

— David, why is green «the new black»?

— Green is a wonderful color. It reminds us of the countryside, nature, green leaves, and lush grass. I believe that this color should be present in interiors as a reminder of this freshness.

— Which shade do you like the most?

— The shade is called Jewel Beetle. Its inspiration came from a vividly green Victorian-era dress. It belonged to actress Ellen Terry for her role as Lady Macbeth in 1888.

Jewel Beetle shade 303, Little Greene

I will tell you this wonderful story. It's about a beetle from the family of Goldens with emerald wings that lives in England. Each year it sheds its wings, and these very wings were used to decorate the actress's dress. By the way, it is still preserved in our collection.

The dress was decorated with 1000 wings of Goldens, and they still retain their shine

— Do you think green color suits Russian apartments?

— Of course! I've heard that beige tones are popular in Russia, but I think it's time to give way to green hues. During endless winters, green is an excellent alternative to beige. It reminds us of the freshness of spring and summer.

— And does this color work for small apartments?

— For some reason, most people think that dark and deep colors don't suit small apartments — supposedly they visually reduce the space. Actually, they make it cozier.

By the way, we also have lighter shades of green in our collection. I think they are just right for Russian realities. They make the room brighter and add freshness.

Shade Puck 298, Little Greene

Shades Aquamarine 138 and Ambleside 304, Little Greene

— Can you name color companions for green from other collections?

— In our previous palettes, you can find colors that perfectly complement the new collection. I'll let you in on a little secret: the new collection includes colors from the very first, original palette. These are the Aquamarine, Wormwood, and light green shade Acorn colors.

— Do you know how long it takes to paint the walls of a house?

— A good question! (He laughs.) Of course, it depends on the wall size. I think you will spend the morning or a whole day, but definitely not more than several hours. But the interior will look brand new. Invite a friend or someone from your circle and have a great time.

— What color are the walls in your home?

— You could call a walk through my house a «journey» through green shades. It's quite dark but cozy: in the hallway, I have dark green walls, in the living room blue tones predominate, and in the bedroom there's more gray.

— How to find your shade?

— First, find a color in the palette that you like. Then choose a few more shades that will go well with it. In this way, you can play with the chosen palette, combine and mix the preferred color with other shades. And in the end, you will find what you were looking for.

10 «green» apartments decorated by Russian designers

Trashy apartment with a green kitchen-living room in Minsk

Vibrant small apartment in Moscow

Modern 2-room flat with a living room in dark green tones

Dark green studio apartment in Moscow

Small apartment with an emerald bedroom

Colorful trash apartment in a Stalin-era building

Vibrant green apartment with loft elements

Apartment in olive tones in Moscow

One-bedroom flat in Oдинцово with an accent wall in the living room

Apartment with a green kitchen in Kyiv