Romantic Red Faded Florals: Get The Look

Let's take a languorously long look at fabrics with vintage florals, this time in romantic red. Even the nostalgic qualities of the phrase 'faded red roses' seems to hang in the air long after the words have been uttered. Little wonder, then, is it that there have been enormous numbers of attempts to squish the essence of that phrase into fabric form.

The range of reds in faded floral fabrics is quite staggering. We'll see reds ranging from the softest umbers, through scarlet, raspberry. crimson, cherry and more...

Clockwise from top: Kate Forman Roses fabric is an absolute classic with its softly neutral background and gentle rose print; faded florals and stripes are a match made in Modern Country heaven...; Clarke and Clarke Marie is 100% linen and very reasonably priced; a stunning window seat with long puddled curtains - try Cabbages and Roses Catherine Rose for similar.

Coarse weaves and dainty rose prints are Modern Country must-haves.

Oooh, yes! 

Clockwise from top: Begin with a paint palette that draws out the richness of your chosen fabrics....try Susie Watson paint in Ramsbury Red, Fired Earth Alabaster, Susie Watson Evening Seas, Farrow and Ball Blue Gray; the wonderful things about reds is that there are so many to choose from, as with this delicious pile of vintage red fabrics stacked upon an old peeling glaucous grey chair; Cabbages and Roses Paris Rose in Raspberry, on a natural linen background; ebay can be a magical hunting ground for genuinely faded florals such as this lovely cotton remnant; the contrast is beautiful between the rich red throw with its soft satin border, and the pillow in Bennison Roses fabric, in their Lipstick colour-way on an Oyster background.

Perfect for the school run?

What a stunning Modern Country bedroom with its stark white walls and bed linen, combined with an over-sized headboard upholstered using Bennison Roses fabric in Lipstick.

Clockwise from top: Symmetry in the chairs and cushions brings a Modern edge to this Country scene; these two seats, both shabby and worn have a quiet charm when combined with faded red florals; Roger Oates does some fantastic runners that bring a timeless elegance to stairs; I adore Emily Bond fabrics - shown here are Wire-Haired Jack Russell on a grey linen union, a bold Red Dashchund on olive linen union and Horses Head in a warm pinkish red.

Even when they're old and worn, classic red prints, particularly in faded florals, keep on giving. This sofa clearly has seen better days but, don't you agree, that its squishy loveliness still looks inviting?

Don't be afraid of combining faded florals with real life garden scenes....more on that to come!

Gingham checks and toile combine to give a relaxed French Country feel; stick with similar reds for mixing patterns...and the world's your oyster!; painted white furniture and echoes of grain sack stripes make the best of this bold red quilted throw; Laura Ashley Roses cotton in Berry, and Tinsmiths Gingham check in Red will make you smile every day!

Peony and Sage are a relative new-comer but I love the romance old-fashioned of their fabrics.

Make the most of every corner in your home by creating small seating areas piled high with pillows in faded floral fabrics.

Clockwise from top: a perfect example of faded florals making an impact on three different levels -  the enormous drapes at the floor-to-ceiling window, the cosy armchair, with its darling little cushion - there's something in the budget for everyone; with pillows, you can dare to be a little bolder; Red gingham check lampshades from Jim Lawrence; a whole stack of grain sack pillows means there's spare seating for a sudden house full - and can rest in style when not in use; Cabbages and Roses Hatley....say no more!

Vanessa Arbutnott brings a slightly more Modern edge to the Faded Red Florals table, showing that, whether your preference is Modern or Country, or, a perfect blend of the two, there's a faded floral fabric for YOU - and not just one, but two, or three...or....!!

Images via: Cabbages and Roses, Modern Country Style Moodboard 1 (Kate Forman, Pinterest, Clarke and Clarke, Cabbages and Roses), Modern Country Style, Clarke and Clarke, Modern Country Style Moodboard 2 (zsazsabellagio, Cabbages and Roses, ebay, Country Living), Pinterest, Natalie Finham for Bennison Fabrics, Modern Country Moodboard 3 (Pinterest, Cabbages and Roses, Roger Oates, Emily Bond, Cabbages and Roses), The Nester, Hill House Diaries, Modern Country Moodboard 4 (Cabbages and Roses, Ana Rose Tumblr, Pinterest, Laura Ashley, Tinsmiths), Peony and Sage, Cabbages and Roses, Modern Country Moodboard 5 (Kate Forman, Cabbages and Roses, Jim Lawrence, Pinterest, Cabbages and Roses), Vanessa Arbuthnott

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The Best Front Door Paint Colours: Dusky Purples

Let's talk house fronts again. Finding the perfect exterior paint colours is sometimes tricky but your home's exterior speaks volumes about you so it's worth taking the time getting your house and garden to say the right thing!

Who hasn't been seduced by images like this, full of promise and loveliness? Gorgeous, dusky shades, complemented by chalky grey paint and Modern Country planting: 

It can be easy to leave this kind of picture feeling down-hearted at the widening gulf between what you love and your reality, but if you'd like this look for yourself then, fear, not! With a little time and a little love, this look can be yours!

From gently-greyed lavender through to rich damson and darkest, moodiest plum, there's a perfect purple paint for everyone.

Before we start, one of the most important things to consider is the material your home is made from. Is it brick? Stone? Weather-boarding? Painted render? This should be your first port of call as it will affect how you carry this look out.

Secondly, ask yourself honestly about the visual impact that your home has. You see, carrying out this look on a modern new-build requires a very different procedure than on a converted warehouse, for example.

Keeping in mind these two pertinent pieces of information, let's get on to the exciting bit....how to Make It Yours!

Clockwise from top: this aged brick house is set off beautifully by dusky grey paint on the doors and frames, allowing the drainpipe and rendered base to fade into the overall scheme...white hydrangeas and lavender, contrasted against smart clipped box, keep this home looking firmly Modern Country; pick out architectural details on your house front with matching materials, such as this zinc planter; if you don't like the part of your house's exterior, simply hide it with climbing plants that keep their leaves for most, if not all of the year; try a toning palette of Farrow and Ball Cabbage White, Farrow and Ball Calluna, Farrow and Ball Brassica, Little Greene Lead Colour; small touches in nickel, such as these beautiful French handles, keep this scheme from veering into drab in dingy winter months. 

See how adding details with silver metals, like chrome or nickel, lifts this door to another level?

Clockwise from top: If you live in a building like this incredible converted Country Church, then, frankly, you're in business! Although some paints might look more pleasing than others, the building itself carries such visual weight that the front door paint colour matters less; Feast your eyes on this Modern Country garden: soft lavender surrounds an old stone fountain, and is set off by peonies in soft pink and magenta; on a somewhat smaller scale, topiary box balls will bring a little bit of Modern to your Country House exterior; consider a country-inspired feminine palette of Farrow and Ball Pelt, Dulux Linnet, Farrow and Ball Purbeck Stone, Farrow and Ball Cinder Rose.

Painted render can carry pretty much any front door paint colour but these home owners have chosen a divinely muted grey-mauve. 

Clockwise from top: add character to a new build with Modern Country planting - soft layers of white and purple flowers, juxtaposed with evergreen topiary; a muted palette of Little Greene French Gray; Farrow and Ball Brassica; Ralph Lauren Nairobi Dusk; Sanderson Grey Squirrel; warm grey rattan baskets next to a boxwood topiary ball; this house could just as easily be a cleverly thought-out new-build as an old French stately home - don't be intimidated by the seeming inflexibility of a new-build...choose pretty, chalky mauves and greys, and add extra decorative touches such as lanterns and seating in high end finishes...you'll be surprised what you can achieve.

A gorgeous Modern Country front garden. Behind smart cast iron railings, four bay trees stand either side of a black and white encaustic tiled path, leading to a red brick double-fronted Victorian house. Behind them are small squares of lavender, bordered by buxus hedging.

Clockwise from top: you can add colour into predominantly brick houses but the hue of the bricks should determine the strength of colour you choose for your front door paint. Here, with creamy-brown bricks, the owners have gone with lilac paint for the door surround, with palest grey front door paint; consider introducing colour via planting, lavender is heavenly to brush against on a warm summer's day; for this look, try Little Greene Juniper Ash, Zoffany Sung Mauve, Fired Earth Sea Lavender, Fired Earth Gentian Violet; a beautiful Modern Country planting scheme with four clipped box hedges enclosing swathes of lavender, and boxwood balls nestled within each quadrant; red brick can often be too strong a colour to start competing with loud front door paints so consider a warm grey, and pick up the purple theme with rows of lavender leading to two half standard privets standing sentinel-like either side of your front door.

If the material that your house is built from feels unbearably over-bearing, then consider painting it white and choosing the front door colour of your dreams, here a washed-out dusky grey.

The best front door paint colours are more intense than you might expect, in order to take the strong daylight that they'll receive. These are my perfect exterior paint colours for front doors.

Choose one of these four perfect front door paint colours and, combined with the front garden schemes I've picked out that combine topiary and lavender, you'll be well on your way to your dream Modern Country Home!  

Images via: flickr, Vaucelleshof, Farrow and Ball, MCS Moodboard 1 (Via Revedeco, Pinterest, sbdigs, My Design Chic), Farrow and Ball, MCS Moodboard 2 (A Breath OF Fresh Air, Nicola Stocken, unknown), residential search, MCS Moodboard 3 (unknown, johner, unknown), Belderbos, MCS Moodboard 4((5thandstate, Greensandberries, Houzz, Fleaing France)), Tierlantijn, MCS Moodboard 5

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