The art of picking the perfect colour

Paired with clay sheets and a textured throw, Melon evokes a seaside vibe. PARACHUTE

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Sometimes I fret for days about what to ask an interview subject. But when I heard that I had time with Amy Hoban, who headed design teams for Ralph Lauren and Shabby Chic before becoming Chief Creative Officer for California-based lifestyle brand Parachute, I knew we would talk about colour.

That’s because I’ve been struck by Ms. Hoban’s unerring, uncanny knack for colour across all those brands. It seemed a home décor crime not to ask her about how to choose, mix, and compliment hues and textures.

Already familiar — and a fan of — the line’s loamy browns and friendly, versatile blues, and pitch-perfect stone, bone, and creamy neutrals, I started with a question about a new Melon shade — a departure for the brand but a delight for those who of us love peachy pinks.

“Melon is a bit riskier because it’s farther out of our own identity,” Amy Hoban says. “But we wanted to speak to the warmer side of the palette that would work (with existing colours) like Clay, which is a really strong performer.”

There’s a mid-tone Wave blue that’s also new, and which can make a moody anchor or crisp accent, and compliment other blue-greys in the line.

In adding to the palette, Hoban considered the cheerful postmodernist colour blocking that’s gaining popularity, whimsical curved furniture, and Memphis movement elements that blend Art Deco and Pop Art.

A little Rococo design, she suggests, may be a natural reaction to hard times and humorless spaces. “The concept for 2023 was about being fun, playful —the feeling of lightness. As a collective mass, we were ready for optimism.”

That meant reviewing a palette grounded in saturated tones like the earthy Terra, and Coal. “We wanted to lighten ourselves up, so to add buoyancy we Introduced two new colours that work with what we already have,” she says. “For example, Wave was a friend to Dusk, which was a hugely successful colour for us.”

Ms. Hoban is in the lucky position of constantly testing and trying new products. “Right now I have our new Bone brushed cotton and fresh cotton sheeting in Bone. Then Bone linen top of bed and shams. It’s all one colour but different fabrication, so it’s a sophisticated, layered look. And working with different colours and patterns all day, it’s nice to come home to something that’s just a little quieter but isn’t white,” she explains.

Bone can also “cross-pollinate” with colour, she says, suggesting perhaps a woven quilt in Haze — a soft violet that’s just a little lighter than Clover (think purple clover) — or other textured elements in the same family. I’d also like to see the new Wave blue against those gentle purple shades.

Homeowners can immediately refresh a space by switching out even small pieces like pillowcases, Amy Hoban says, advising contrasting colours for drama, or using the same tone in different textures and weaves to exude calm.

For extra comfort and colour, consider a plump body pillow with a Vintage Linen pillowcase in bold Cobalt blue. New colours in velvet covers coming this fall promise to be equally dreamy.

Consumers are ready to invest in bedding as the idea of responsible indulgence takes hold, suggests Ms. Hoban. “Self-care is a huge trend, as it should be. People are more educated about which fabrics and construction will provide a good night’s sleep,” she says, adding that consumers also care that the brand doesn’t use harmful chemicals, pays fair wages, and uses sustainable, traceable sources for flax and cotton.

Amy Hoban hopes customers experience and enjoy the positivity new colours are meant to express. In the meantime, she says she’s “just grateful to have fun along the way, and to show customers it doesn’t have to be too serious.”

Vicky Sanderson is the editor of Around the House. Check her out on Instagram@athwithvicky, Twitter ATHwithVicky and Facebook.com/ATHVicky.ca