Living Bright

“Colour is without doubt the single most exciting and powerful component in any home’s interior,” contends fashion and interior designer Williamson (Matthew Williamson: Fashion, Print and Coloring Book) in this alluring guide. Recounting the development of his vibrant style, Williamson describes how his mother’s colorful garb instilled a love of bold tones that he further explored during a formative stint working for a textile factory in New Delhi as part of his fashion studies. Photos showcase interiors Williamson has designed, highlighting the “calming putty” pinks of the author’s London flat, the teal wallpaper and blue bedframe in a suite he designed for a Mallorca hotel, and the red beaded lace curtains and purple sofa in his “student bedsit in the mid-90s.” Williamson dispenses tips on how to emulate his approach, suggesting that readers “try starting with just three colours,” with the palest reserved for the walls and ceiling, and that such graphic motifs as stripes or checks often go well with floral patterns. The precise advice elevates this above typical interior design guides, and historical color-related trivia fascinates (“The colour orange in English is named after the fruit, which was introduced to the country from Spain in the 15th century. Before then, what we think of as orange was simply called yellow-red”). The result is a vivid exploration of Williamson’s style. (Oct.)