Interior decorator Alison Reynolds of The Painted Door Design Company was asked to transform a monochrome city flat into a warm, inviting home that showcased the owner’s love of exotic colour.

Her bold execution of the brief started in the entrance hall, which makes an immediate impact, offering a taste of the bright palette that follows in the rest of the apartment. The client had asked for a scheme that reflected her love of Morocco, so Alison experimented with a wide variety of blues for the walls until she found the right shade in Plascon Double Velvet Peacock Blue (A29-6). Drawing inspiration from the gates and metalwork found in north Africa’s ancient medinas, Alison added specially commissioned fretwork to the bottom half of the wall. She used this throughout the lobby and into the adjoining corridors to create a sense of flow. For a final exotic touch, Alison sourced colourful tiles and created borders along both the skirting boards and ceiling cornices.

In the large open-plan living and dining area, the client specified a communal area that featured bold colour but didn’t feel frenetic. As the space already had several strong décor elements, like dining-room chairs upholstered in a rainbow of shades and plush sofas covered in a patchwork of bright fabrics, it was decided that an earthy wall colour would best showcase the furniture. Plascon Cashmere Suede Auburn Lilly (TSD1) proved to be a worthy candidate, bringing texture and depth to the walls and anchoring the bright colours.

The client wanted a predominantly blue, Moroccan-inspired kitchen that would work around the stop-sign-red Smeg fridges already in the space. Alison suggested Plascon Enamel Doors & Trims Sapphire (B7-A1-1) in high gloss for the kitchen cabinets and walls, which she felt would beautifully complement the vivid red and slick enamel look of the fridges. Smooth Caesarstone counters provide a clean finishing touch and appliances in red complement the statement fridges.

In the study, Alison was given a piece of apple-green wallpaper as her point of departure and asked to showcase the client’s coveted collection of books in a slick, work-oriented space. Black might not seem the obvious colour choice for the walls of a south-facing room, but Plascon’s Ashen Silver Designer Walls Metallic Partel (TRD1) perfectly complements the bright-green wallpaper. It presents as austere and matt during the day, but at night it adds a touch of glitz to the room. To transform the book collection into an exhibit, a carpenter was commissioned to create shelves supported by artisan-turned staves. Alison had them painted in Plascon’s Velvaglo White to stand out against the dark walls.

Alison had free rein in the guest bedroom and, with the rest of the apartment painted in bold, strong colours, she felt there was a need for a harmonious, somewhat feminine respite for guests. She adorned the walls in soft Plascon Cashmere Tequila Pink (01-C2-3) and a pastel wallpaper in a damask design. The subdued, rosy shades demanded a bit of twinkle, so she complemented them with crystal chandeliers and a large button-tucked headboard in a shimmering fabric.

The brief for the main bathroom was much more specific as the client had fallen in love with a fuchsia Victorian bathroom that she had spotted in a magazine. Alison found the right shade of pink in Plascon Velvaglo Magenta Rose (P7-A1-1). It not only makes a bold statement without being lurid but also bathes the space in a warm, welcoming glow. To offset this eye-catching shade, Alison anchored the wall with a freestanding bath and a bespoke vanity table painted in Plascon Velvaglo White. Glass tiles and an ornate gilt mirror add to the feeling of opulence.