[Advertisement – this is a paid collaboration with Zera, but all words and opinions are personal]

What does color mean to you? For me, it not only has a profound effect on the aesthetics of a space, but also on the emotions it evokes – it allows us to create homes that are full of happiness and comfort, reflecting our unique style and personality. That’s why I was delighted to be invited to participate in Zera’s new campaign, “Personalize the Paint,” where I got to work with three celebrities with very different styles – myself, Sarah Akwisombe, and Russell and Jordan of 2LG Studios – to design a room that showcases the beauty of a home. — to design a room that showcases our personalized interpretations of color.

As you may know, I naturally gravitate towards soft neutrals like gray and white. I’ve shared the unique reason behind this tendency before; I suffer from a condition called synesthesia, where one sense is intertwined with another rather than experienced separately. This can manifest itself in a variety of ways – some people will taste sounds, while others may “smell” touch – but for me, it means that I associate specific colors with every number, letter and day of the week. I see this as a positive aspect of my life; it fuels my passion for design and helps me proofread as I can easily spot typos. However, it also means that I always have a range of colors in my head. As a result, I need a soothing abode that balances out the array of colors in my head.

Soothing doesn’t mean cold or dull, and I wanted to illustrate the warmth of neutral tones through room staging with some unexpected combinations. Luckily, Zera provided us with complete creative freedom, the only limitation being the size of the space.

Faced with Zera’s many stunning colors, I felt like a child in a candy store. In the end, I decided to use a pair of honey colors – ‘High Line’ and ‘On the Rocks’, paired with the medium grey ‘ Soft Shadow’ to create a simple yet cozy lounge area. To show that color can extend beyond the walls and ceiling, I also introduced an earthy pink hanging panel called ‘Hare’ and two pedestals painted in a soft ‘Sail White’ color. For the rest of the furniture and accessories, I chose natural tones and textures that echo the color palette of the walls, as well as some brass, black and marble accents to introduce a striking, sophisticated style.

To energize our scene, we ventured to Holborn Studios in London – it was a long way to travel, but it was a great day, especially since Russell and Jordan brought their adorable dachshund, Barkley, to help out! Zera also filmed us styling and discussing the creation process, which you can see in the video below! Behind the scenes. (I had just come back from Budapest the night before and woke up to a mosquito bite under my eye that was swollen to the size of a golf ball, but Sarah kindly lent me some concealer so I don’t think it was noticeable!) .

I was very pleased with my own work and it was great to see others interpreting the design requirements in their own unique ways. Russell and Jordan deconstructed the rainbow, using a variety of shades on the walls, floors, and furniture to celebrate love and diversity in a vibrant, eye-catching way. Sarah, on the other hand, designed a bright scheme full of creative 80’s steam wave style. Each interpretation is distinctive and a true reflection of the personality behind it.

What about you? What is your personal opinion on color? How do you express that insight in your home? Click here to see Zera’s full range of colors and order a test planter.