Living Coral may be Pantone’s color pick for 2019, but this year, we’re rethinking navy blue. Sure, it will always be a nautical and preppy staple that conjures up summers in New England. But when approached with a fresh eye, this blue hue is chic and modern. At The Inside, we’re all about mixing it up in new ways, so for our first annual color selection, we’re beginning with a classic reimagined.
BLUE AND WHITE REFRESH
In the butler’s pantry of Atlanta-based designer Danielle Rollins, a classic blue and white combo is given a fresh face. The space features graphic curtains and matching wallcovering by Brunschwig & Fils, high-gloss painted cabinetry, and bold floor tiles. We are especially obsessed with the tiles in the foreground (they’re cork!).
Take a cue from Rollins with a bold blue and white wall (perhaps removable wallpaper in navy cabana stripe).
MODERN NAVY
Photo: Thomas Loof, Courtesy of Architectural Digest
In a 600 square foot Manhattan studio apartment, designer Todd Romano takes a page out of legendary decorator Billy Baldwin’s book and commits to a bold color in a lacquered finish. As Romano puts it, “Good design is about editing. You can live very well in one room.” And in this case, living well means living with navy in a thoroughly modern way.
Recreate Romano’s luxe look with navy velvet accent pieces.
BLACK AND NAVY: BFFS
Photo: Zeke Ruelas, Courtesy of Homepolish
Forget what your mother told you about mixing black and navy; some rules are meant to be broken. In the California home of interior designer Orlando Soria, you’ll see that black and navy can work: “My advice for people who want to mix navy, black, and white is to make sure the shades of navy and black they choose are distinct from one another…The goal here is to make the color combination look intentional, which means the colors have to be easily distinguishable from each other. If you combine these colors correctly, they make a beautiful pairing.”
Try this terrazzo-inspired print that marries black and navy in a fresh and unexpected way, or personalize your own navy piece here. Happy mixing!