A Modern Morning Toilette, with Pantone Colour of the Year 2016, and Wayfair
Pantone have chosen not one, but two hues, to be the Pantone Colour of the Year 2016 – Rose Quartz and Serenity. Along with other interiors bloggers, I am collaborating with Wayfair, the online emporium for home decor and furnishings, to show how these two tones can be used in interior schemes.
We see the pairing and blending of Rose Quartz and Serenity tones in nature, especially dawn skies, but for me I immediately thought of French Rococo interiors and paintings, depicting cherubs with rosy bottoms cavorting in blue skies (the critic La Font criticised the painter François Boucher for ‘the tint of his flesh tones which are not at all those of nature, nearly all of them being shades of pink and violet’). Wayfair sell a canvas reproduction of the Portrait of Manon Balletti by Boucher’s contemporary Jean-Marc Nattier (1757), which would make a perfect backdrop for any interior scheme based on these tones.
This image made me think of the eighteenth-century ceremony of the morning ‘toilette‘: an everyday ritual (for those of the leisured class at least) that involved bathing, dressing, doing one’s hair and make-up, and generally getting ready for the day ahead (think Boucher’s famous painting of La Toilette). Nowadays we all lead busy lives, and taking one’s time over dressing seems a luxury few of us can afford, but we can at least make our environments conducive to it, and that is what I have done with the help of a few items from Wayfair in tones close to Pantone’s Rose Quartz and Serenity.
I chose this lovely Bali Circle Print Bath Robe by Reason, some extra fluffy Luxury Cotton Towels by Sensei, a Fresh Linen Boxed Candle by Sabichi, and a Meenu Blanket by Schruti. Just these few items, along with some fresh flowers and a vintage perfume atomiser, was all that was needed to inject some Pantone Colour of the Year 2016 into my otherwise white bedroom, and make my morning toilette altogether more luxurious.
The marriage of the two pantone colours of Rose Quartz and Serenity is said to reflect:
“connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace”
and so what better way to start the day. A nice shower, then dry with fluffy cotton towels, and slip into a cotton robe to do one’s make up, enjoying the scent of fresh linen from the candle. Then dress and put on jewellery, and like an eighteenth-century noble, feel calm, relaxed and powerful, ready to take on whatever the day brings.
So here’s to a little luxury in our everyday lives, I hope I have inspired you to take some time for yourselves in the morning, instead of rushing out the door. Start the day with a sense of calm and order, and feeling invincible! Happy 2016 xx
A collaborative post in conjunction with Wayfair.
and linking up with:
Twitter:
on January 3, 2016 at 8:41 pm
Beautiful post Molly . Very romantic xx
Thanks Karen, ever the romantic, me 😉 x
Twitter:
on January 4, 2016 at 7:03 pm
Gorgeous post M, love the shot (third from the bottom) of your dressing gown on the bed post.
Amanda recently posted…Creating a perfect guest bedroom with a DFS sofa bed
Thanks A. That’s exactly what Stu said (that he liked that photo) – great minds x
Twitter:
on January 5, 2016 at 1:31 pm
That looks beautiful. So fresh. I adore these colours and I think I use them a lot without realising. Such a beautiful pairing.
Awh thank you Bex. I realised I don’t have anything in my home in that shade of blue, and little in the pink, but do feel the pairing is calming and fresh.
Twitter:
on January 5, 2016 at 9:14 pm
I love your interpretation of this and the way you’ve likened it to French Rococo paintings and interiors. You chose nice items and it certainly demonstrates how well this colour pairing can be used in interiors today.
Rachel recently posted…
Thanks very much Rachel!
Twitter:
on January 5, 2016 at 9:43 pm
I think you have managed to work this trend in so simply and carefully that it would appeal to anyone. Love the overall look of your bedroom. We even have the same throw 😉
Thank you Maxine, that’s very kind of you to say x
Twitter:
on January 5, 2016 at 11:36 pm
Oh I like your bedroom very much and the pink and blue colours look so lovely and gentle together. I think they’re ideal for a bedroom or bathroom really as they have that fresh, calming feel – and of course will be perfect as we transition into spring. Lovely post! x
Antonia Ludden recently posted…Tips and Tricks for Bringing Your Home into the 21st Century
Thank you Antonia, that’s very kind. I was sceptical at first but might play with these colours more but in the guest bedroom.
Twitter:
on January 6, 2016 at 10:11 am
Beautiful items and perfect colours, you have made it work perfectly. Those two colours go together so well.
Stephanie recently posted…Renovation Bay-Bee in 2015
Thanks Steph!
Twitter:
on January 6, 2016 at 10:52 am
Love this post Molly, I feel very inspired, gorgeous images and a great interpretation of the COTY x
Thanks very much Jen! x
Twitter:
on January 6, 2016 at 11:55 am
That pink hue is just lovely, I think pink can be such a relaxing and uplifting colour. That bathrobe looks gorgeous too, I need a new one myself! #HomeEtc
N
Thank you Nancy. This robe is very lovely – handblocked print on cotton – but one thing to note is that it is one size only, and that size is large (it swamps me a little, but still love it).
Twitter:
on January 6, 2016 at 12:12 pm
You paint a lovely picture Molly. Must remember to light a candle for my morning rituals
Thanks Carole. I go through scented candles at a great rate – this one has a very fresh scent, lovely for bathroom and morning rituals!
Molly recently posted…My Best Beauty Buys of 2015
Twitter:
on January 6, 2016 at 1:41 pm
Such gorgeous choices. It’s strange because I like both colours individually but not together but you’ve blended them so well. Your bedroom is super cute, too!!
Thanks Rachel x
Lovely post Molly. I adore those colours from Pantone so much that my home is filled with Serenity and Rose Quartz. Happy new year by the way. Hope we meet one day soon 😉
Happy New Year Geraldine and thanks! You are the queen of colour so I know these shades are perfect for you. I must admit I am being won over – after being sceptical at first now that I have introduced them in a small way I’m starting to think I might play with colour a bit more – I don’t know why but I think I am a bit scared of it (which is ironic, as I work in an art gallery and am always choosing different paint colours for walls etc). I hope we meet too!
Twitter:
on January 6, 2016 at 9:33 pm
Aah the Pantone colour predictions…! One of my very favourite topics!!!
I love the fact that they’ve chosen two favourites this year — and they’re SO gorgeous too. I can see that the rose quartz shade is going to be massive — my old bath-tub is sporting it already!! 😉 Thanks for linking up with us again lovely! Happy new year to you!!
#HomeEtc
Caro recently posted…147 weeks and 5 days | Revolutions and Resolutions for 2016
Happy New Year Caro! Your bath is gorgeous
x
Twitter:
on January 7, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Stunning – I was over the moon when I saw the colours this year as Blue and Pink are my 2 favourites.
I am in the process of re designing my bedroom in these shades, love your picks beautiful xx
I think they are perfect colours for a bathroom – best of luck with your redesign and thanks for stopping by Kara x
Twitter:
on January 7, 2016 at 6:33 pm
Pink is my favourite colour ever! This shade is perfect for romantic bedrooms and chic living rooms. Adore! Love your bedroom. Great post! Thanks for linking up. And a happy new year! Jess xx
#HomeEtc
I’m warming to it 😉 Thanks Jess! and Happy New Year to you too x
Twitter:
on January 7, 2016 at 10:06 pm
Choosing two colours initially sounded odd, but having seen them together and how well they work I’m starting to get it. Lovely photos x #homeetc
Thanks Stephanie, I’m starting to get it too – thinking of trying a bit more play with these colours, which previously I’d never have chosen x