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

Hot on the heels of the launch of View Media Group last year, Australia’s newest proptech digital media company has gone live with its consumer-facing real estate site, view.com.au.

The new site offers a ‘freemium’ model allowing vendors to list their properties for free while having the option of further upgrades for agents looking to enhance their listings.

VGM executive chairman Anthony Catalano said the model was a ‘game changer’ in the digital real estate space.

“While VMG is much more than a portal play, it’s critical that we have a consumer-facing brand that will act as the front door to attract consumers and in turn allow us to offer products and services in a range of verticals across the property ecosystem,” Mr Catalano said. “Our plan is to create a digital real estate superstore under the new View brand that will play in the $300 billion adjacency categories rather than solely focus on the $1

billion of digital property advertising.”

“We’ve listened to the industry and the time is right for an offer to come to market with an alternative model that addresses the real estate industry’s concern at the continually

escalating price of advertising.”

The View portal is available through app stores and will include properties across the country, not just those on the market right now.

“That means view.com.au will showcase more than 11 million properties in Australia compared to some of the portals which feature around 140,000 properties for sale,” Mr Catalano said. “From Day 1 we will provide consumers with a complete view of the market.’’

View has worked with mapping partner Nearmap to create the ability to have a comprehensive overview of all properties.

“We’ve had a look globally at best practice search for property and we’ve consumer tested a range of options and without doubt the preferred experience is map-based search,” View CEO Toby Blazs said. “So unlike others in the market who default consumers to a list view, we’ll default our search results via a map.”

Mr Catalano said the innovative site was designed to be a true disruptor in the proptech sector.

“VMG continues to grow and tick off the key parts of its strategic plan,” he said. “We are well on the way to forming a global-first conglomerate of proptech assets including portals, ad tech, lead generation, lead management solutions, media planning and buying, AI services, data and connections all under the one roof.”

Brown Is The New Black

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

A new digital real estate site promises a full view of the housing sector, even those places not on the market