Interview : Natasha Broady of A Splash of Colour

Have you ever been looking for a specific product, say a side table for example, but you wanted it in a specific colour like yellow? How do you go about finding it? My guess is that it requires a lot of googling and checking out your favourite online retailers, am I right? And this can take a long time and even then you might not find what you’re looking for. It was exactly this scenario that inspired Natasha Broady to set up A Splash of Colour, a modern design store that allows users to search by colour or product to find a selection of the coolest coloured furniture, lighting, art, cushions, and accessories from a range of designers. I liked this idea as soon as I heard about it and I wanted to know a little more about the site and the lady behind it. Thankfully Natasha was very obliging and agreed to give us a few moments of her time to tell us all about it. 

What is your background? How did you become interested in design?

My background is actually originally in PR and marketing but I’ve been interested in design for as long as I can remember, doing small interior design projects and having a real passion for interior furniture and accessories.

Can you tell us about the idea behind A Splash of Colour?

Whenever I wanted a particular coloured accessory for my home I always had to scour lots of sites to find a particular colour. The idea for Asplashofcolour.com was born out of the desire to help make it easy to find stylish designer coloured furniture and accessories with a point of difference.

What can people expect to find when browsing the A Splash of Colour website?

I hope that even if people are afraid of colour there will be something on the site that changes their mind a bit. I’ve tried to pick really contemporary and fresh designers that create products that have the wow factor. Pieces that have a unique design or material that just makes you fall in love with it.

Where do you look to source all the colourful products that you stock?

I spend a lot of time trawling the net, going to trade shows, reading blogs trying to find designers that use interesting materials, colours or designs that I think people would love. Instagram has made the world a smaller place and has become a great platform to find new small designers.

What has been your favourite colourful design find so far?

That’s such a hard question, as I genuinely love all the products I sell. Schneid lighting has to be at the top, their designs have a very fresh take on lighting. The new range Junit that is on the site has to be seen to be believed. They are so cool and would make a style statement in any room.

Why do you think that colour is so important in our interiors?

Personally, I think colour helps to add a layer of personality to a house. For people that are afraid of bolder colours, using different tones of one colour in a room can also be a nice way through textures and accessories to add depth and height to a room making it just a bit more interesting.

What are your top tips for using colour in our homes?

• Be brave: Don’t be daunted by colour. You can start really small with key pieces and then once you see how much difference this makes, start to think about layers and texture as this is what really makes a room exciting.

Remember the small stuff: Don’t be daunted and think you have to paint a wall red to introduce colour into a room. Small pieces can really bring a room to life so start by introducing coloured cushions, plant pots or lighting and I promise your love for colour will grow.

Think about art: Art doesn’t have to be expensive anymore. A few key pieces in nice frames is a good way to add colour to your home and give a room a real talking point.

What advice would you give to people who are little bit frightened of using colour in their homes?

If you are afraid of colour start small. Buy one or two key pieces. A small addition of a pop of colour either in cushions, art or in planters and I guarantee you feel the room is more vibrant. It is addictive, once you start, your love for colour will grow from there.

What colours do you think will be big for 2016?

I recently got back from Maison & Objet, the design show in Paris, and navy blues and earthy greens were still dominating the shows for 2016. There was quite a bit of coral coming through too at the shows. Rich sumptuous accessories and furniture in these shades add a real level of sophistication to a home.

What is your favourite colour and why?

I love blue, especially the royal blue colours that are so on trend this year. However over the past few years I have fallen in love with neon used in the right way. I think it is because I like strong bold colours.