Brown Is The New Black

Brown can range from a soft beige to rich amber to deep cocoa. The colour might lean purple, grey, or green; it may be subtle, inviting or intense. No matter the shade, brown can be comforting, sophisticated, chic and fit into any décor style. These days, designers are incorporating the classic colour more and more, sometimes even replacing black with brown.

“A chocolate brown has much more depth than black; it is a colour versus a shade,” said Cindy Rinfret, a designer based in Greenwich, Connecticut. “While black can help create contrast in a space, using a chocolate brown can give you the same effect but in a much richer and layered way.”

We asked a group of design pros about the relevance of brown in interior design and how to use this classic colour successfully. Here’s what they recommend.

Go for Contrast

“Brown is coming back into favour, we are seeing shades of browns with other tones that can read aubergine or grey, and they are handsome colours.

“I like to use very dark shades of brown, and those are often juxtaposed to a shade of white to give it a pop. My personal favourites are chocolate browns and the more purple tones of brown. Pinks, purples and some shades of orange and yellow work well with browns. A Hermes orange shade against a chocolate brown looks incredible. It’s all about contrast and introducing a splash of colour against it. Brown is a backdrop but put a magenta pillow against it, or a perfect shade of yellow, and it can come alive.”

— Christopher Peacock, founder and CEO of Christopher Peacock Cabinetry in New York City

Vary Tone and Texture

“Brown is a great way to make a space more dynamic as layering intensity of colour allows the whole design to pop. Brown is very versatile and can be used with a myriad of other colours. It is a timeless classic.

“Choosing the right brown can be tricky. You should identify your goal first and then go from there. For example, is it being used as piping to highlight a pillow fabric, or are the walls lacquered in chocolate brown to create a sexy space? Either way, if you are planning on using a lot of browns, make sure to vary the tone and texture of its use throughout.”

— Designer Cindy Rinfret in Greenwich, Connecticut

Hang Abstract Art on Brown Walls

“Brown gives all the richness and depth without the harshness given with black. It is also easier to mix brown with other colours than black.

“I prefer cooler browns with hints of green and gray. ‘Salon Drab’ by Farrow & Ball is my preferred shade. In some light, it can almost look olive. I also love a palette of cognac and tobacco for a room with a masculine feel.

“When using brown on the walls, I don’t like to use white as a contrasting colour––it is too harsh. Instead, use olive green or French gray. Brown walls look great when you hang vibrant abstract art on them. Or add wall-to-wall carpet in beige or orange.”

— Designer Alexander Doherty in New York

Use Pattern to Bring Brown to Life

“Browns should be a little complex, in my opinion, and not like the brown crayon in the crayon packet. They should lean in a direction that has depth and mystery. I prefer browns that do not have red undertones but are more like a mink or a seal––it’s like they are on the verge of becoming something else.Our favourite browns are:

‘Tanner’sBrown’ by Farrow & Ball, ‘Rural Brown”’ by Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin Williams’s ‘Sealskin.’

“To make brown feel fresh and alive, I rely on pattern, unexpected colours and contrast. For example, for a space with light floors and a brown wall, add a touch of red or even lilac to add interest and excitement. Lavenders and lilacs are really pretty when paired with brown. We just did a Florida house in deep brown, light greys and lavender. We used white plaster accents, a touch of black, and lots of rattan and sisal. It felt fresh and comfortable, not so seaside-obvious.

“Nina Campbell has the greatest wallpaper with a brown ground and grey, stone and white accents. It’s dramatic yet somehow understated and really highlights the staying power of brown.”

— Designer Liz Caan in Newton, Massachusetts

Affluent Aussies with a savvy financial mindset have been sharing the expense of their luxury lifestyles for years through yacht and private jet syndicates, and now the idea has stretched to high-end holiday homes.

A concept known as Second Home has reached the millionaire playground of Queenstown, New Zealand and the idea is tipped to soon take flight across the ditch.

Longtime co-ownership pioneers John and Sharon Russell started selling shares in luxury boats in Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast in 1999 and have now entered the holiday home space with Second Home.

Investors can purchase shares in a fully-managed vacation property, but unlike a timeshare, each owner’s name is on the title. As a result, the shares remain a sellable and appreciating asset.

“This is very similar to buying into a boat syndicate where you own a share and can use it as if it’s yours, without the full cost and responsibility of owning the boat outright,” Mr Russell said.

“With Second Home, you are purchasing the bricks and mortar of a New Zealand holiday home valued at over A$2.5 million – with your name on the title, and access to it and all the wonderful activities in and around Queenstown for six weeks each and every year.”

Currently under construction in the Kiwi ski town, there is a three bedroom apartment in the Jacks Point development on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, pictured. Eight shares of the architecturally designed, fully furnished apartment are available, from A$325,000 and include six weeks usage of throughout each year.

Mr Russell said the concept is a far cry from the better known short term rental schemes.

“This is not a hotel or Airbnb with tourists coming and going – the only people who stay in the home are the owners and their guests, who we encourage to get to know each other,” he explained.

“Second Home is ideal for people who aspire to own a holiday home and return with family and friends to enjoy the same region each year, but don’t want to invest so much capital in owning an apartment outright, only for it to be locked up for months on end.”

Additionally, he said the ongoing costs of owning a holiday home are also shared among owners.

“In the case of Jacks Point, each investor’s share of expenses is about $7000 annually, which covers body corporate and management fees, insurances and maintenance,” he added.

“Overall, that’s still significantly cheaper than booking accommodation each time they’d like to holiday in New Zealand.”

Property prices in Queenstown have increased by approximately 7 per cent a year over the past decade, with property experts tipping the median will continue to rise.

While Queenstown property prices have come off their post-pandemic high, the longterm snapshot of the popular holiday destination show that it has experienced incredible growth.

Data from realestate.co.nz showed from the beginning of 2015 to the end of 2024, average asking prices in Central Otago-Queenstown Lakes rose 106.6 per cent.

After hitting a peak in November 2022, house prices fell 5.27 per cent before bottoming out in December 2022. The average price of a Queenstown property in December 2024, according to CoreLogic NZ, was A$1.65m with values up 2.17 per cent over the three months prior.

“There can be some very lucrative capital gains to be made by buying into a shared holiday home,” Mr Russell said.

Second Home’s other NZ location is a six-bedroom, French-style chateau in the Carrick Winery in Central Otago. It comes with a Land Rover Defender 130 and six e-bikes. There are 13 shares available, valued at A$445,000 each, with annual expenses of around A$8,600.

The Russells also have one $40,000 share remaining of thirteen in a four-bedroom villa near Florence, Italy, where shareholders can enjoy an authentic Italian rural lifestyle for one month every year.

Brown Is The New Black

Whether it’s covering walls or adorning accent pillows, the colour is popping up everywhere.

An intriguing new holiday home concept is emerging for high net worth Australians.