Life In Colour: A Letter From The Editor | Harper’s Bazaar Interiors Spring 2022
Ayesha S. Shehmir introduces The Colour Issue of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors
The psychological power of colour on our moods has been studied for years; warm shades like yellow and orange can evoke love, passion and joy while cool tones such as blue and purple exude a sense of calm.
Darker hues can make a room more masculine, while lighter ones more feminine. We delved deep into this notion, seeking colours that energise the environment and inject soul into the home – palettes that counteract the minimal, monochromatic expressions.
India Mahdavi, playfully known as ‘the queen of colours’ once said that the most common mistake people make when designing is that “they don’t dare”. We followed the French architect around the clock for a day to discover her vibrant world (p.26).
Another colour lover is interior designer Victoria Cronin, whose Dubai home – a constant process of evolution – has been styled with the principles of eclecticism and the energy of maximalism (p.72). The designer, who has just launched her inaugural lampshade collection, enthuses, “We are so fortunate to live in a sunny climate where vibrant colours suit our bright skies, so I feel we should embrace this opportunity and not be shy to paint our homes in colours that uplift our soul”.
With this sentiment, every shade picked for the villa has been cleverly matched with the architectural elements of the rooms to build tailored themes, spark curiosity and reflect her rainbow of life. Others fearlessly pushing the boundaries include Emirati showjumping champion Amna Bani Hashem, who strives to upturn the status quo professionally and personally (p.88). She expresses, “I was told that I started riding too late in life and that I couldn’t compete professionally, yet, here I am.” With Olympic aspirations, her dreams are just as grand as her home.
And for International Women’s Day this year, we joined forces with UN Women to celebrate the massive wave of female talent that is disrupting design norms in the Middle East and beyond through innovation and excellence (p.46), from Roar’s Pallavi Dean who has bought land in the metaverse to Sumaya Dabbagh, one of the first female architects to design a mosque in the UAE.
I invite you to discover, dare, and to embrace vie en couleur.
EDITOR’S PICKS
Clockwise from top left: Stoneware side table in green. Rockett St George; India Mahdavi’s first monograph; Juniper Berry home fragrance. LOEWE; Chandra dining chair in Very Peri Purple. KOKET; Handcrafted Zigzag cement pots. Big Pot Little Pot
From the Spring 2022 issue of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors