Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth

A while ago I decided to join the craze for grey and painted my hallway in Little Greene’s French Grey Mid. The only problem was that it was brown in my flat – massive error. I just wish I had had the insight of journalist and blogger Kate Watson-Smyth at the time and her brilliant new book, Shades of Grey.

I’m thrilled to be the second stop on Kate’s book blog tour because I fell in love with her style and AH-MAZING home a while ago so I knew her book would be filled with brilliant advice, inspiring images and Kate’s witty writing style is the cherry on the top. I particularly enjoyed the practical advice in the book, which makes it a really useful design resource: which shade to choose, advice on paint finishes, what works well with grey.

Here are a few of my favourite interiors and pieces of advice from the book to give you a quick sneak peek…

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth  | Interior design advice | How to use grey paint in your home | Book review by Apartment Apothecary

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters & Small, all photography © Ryland Peters & Small p.42

I have always wanted to find a pale neutral grey like the colour in the bedroom above. There is in depth advice in the book about specific paint colours, which is always useful.

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth  | Interior design advice | How to use grey paint in your home | Book review by Apartment Apothecary

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters & Small, all photography © Ryland Peters & Small p.106

Kate advises using a very dark grey, similar to the image above, to give small objects or pieces of art great impact – isn’t that bedroom beautiful?

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth  | Interior design advice | How to use grey paint in your home | Book review by Apartment Apothecary

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters & Small, all photography © Ryland Peters & Small p.96

There are also ideas in the book for different ways to use grey, whether it be painting  kitchen cabinets or pieces of furniture. I love the kitchen above and the way grey has been used to give greater impact to the shelving.

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth  | Interior design advice | How to use grey paint in your home | Book review by Apartment Apothecary

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters & Small, all photography © Ryland Peters & Small p.160

My current favourite combination of dusky pink and grey works perfectly in the bedroom above. I really like the idea of painting half the wall, too.

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth  | Interior design advice | How to use grey paint in your home | Book review by Apartment Apothecary

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters & Small, all photography © Ryland Peters & Small p.46

Kate also explores how grey can be use in modern settings as well as more traditional rural settings like the dining hall above.

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth  | Interior design advice | How to use grey paint in your home | Book review by Apartment Apothecary

Shades of Grey by Kate Watson-Smyth, published by Ryland Peters & Small, all photography © Ryland Peters & Small

As the grey bandwagon looks set to continue rolling for a long while if you would like to use it in your home, this is the book for you.

Katy x

 

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3 Comments

    • Katy
      Author
      26th February 2016 / 11:53 am

      So worth the wait! x

  1. 3rd April 2016 / 8:43 pm

    Oh the dark grey bedroom is absolutely stunning! Grey is pretty great!

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