Home design transformation: A single adjustment could significantly alter any residence's aesthetic appeal
In the world of interior design, Ashley Montgomery, founder of Ashley Montgomery Design, is making waves with her innovative approach to using colour in homes. Montgomery has recently started a new series in Homes & Gardens' By Design, sharing her insights on creating rooms full of personality and timeless style.
Montgomery believes that bold doesn't necessarily mean bright or loud. A soft, moody taupe can feel just as daring as a vibrant rust orange if it's applied with intention. She encourages the use of paint everywhere, not just on walls, and darker tones are not to be shied away from.
One area often overlooked is the ceiling, often referred to as the fifth wall. Montgomery emphasizes its power to add depth, drama, and cohesion to a room. An even more daring option is to wallpaper the ceiling, adding an unexpected, elegant, and delightful element of surprise.
Montgomery advocates for considering the emotional power of colour beyond aesthetics. People are encouraged to think about how a room feels and how they feel in it. For instance, deep, saturated hues such as warm taupes, olives, ochres, and muddy blues are recommended for treating earth tones as neutrals in transitional spaces.
Walls, trim, and ceilings are often not given enough consideration in terms of paint colour. Montgomery sees paint as a transformative tool in design, capable of changing the mood and feel of a space without knocking down walls. A bolder approach to painting ceilings is to use a contrasting ceiling colour to make it pop.
Hallways can be transformed by painted trim and doors, creating curated, intentional moments. Extending wall colour up onto the ceiling creates an immersive, enveloping atmosphere, especially in bedrooms, powder rooms, or intimate spaces.
Montgomery also emphasizes the importance of contrasting trim and interior doors as a means to add character and intention to spaces between rooms. If a certain colour scheme doesn't feel right, Montgomery encourages experimentation, reminding us that it's not permanent; if it doesn't feel right, paint over it or try again.
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