The announcement of Ravine (62) as Plascon’s Neutral of the Year tells us that, even though it has evolved over more than ten years as one of the top decorative neutrals, grey is here to stay. Ravine (62) is a timeless blend of grey and beige which invites a minimalistic yet luxurious look to a space and, according to the Plascon Colour Connoisseurs, is the perfect hue for the classic home in the 21st century.  Part of the Plascon Colour Forecast’s 2019 Luxury colour story, Ravine (62) has a soothing taupe undertone, perfect for classically decorated homes.

On grey’s enduring popularity, Colour Expert, Claire Bond says, “Ravine continues to be our warm go-to natural as it provides a neutral canvas making it a safe option when detail needs to be added, be it a coloured painted feature wall, curtaining, flooring or upholstery.” For a luxurious classic look, Claire recommends pairing it with optimistic blush pinks such as Nutmeg Dust (O3-C2-2) or gentle salmons such as Orange Delight (O5-A1-4).Partnered with bright whites and blonde wood tones, versatile Ravine (62) also invites a clean, clear and calm Scandinavian aesthetic to a home. Claire comments, “In contrast to other cooler shades that have been popular in the past, this neutral shade of grey adds warmth to a space.  

The recently launched Plascon 2019 Colour Forecast identified cocooning, mindfulness and individualisation as some of the trend drivers compelling people to transform their homes into personal sanctuaries away from a busy, technologically-driven world. Ravine (62), moving away from the ‘more is more’ concept, is about creating spaces where life’s simple pleasures take centre stage. Says Claire, “The concept of luxury has taken a new direction with the new interpretation extending to simple joys like reading a book, taking a bath or enjoying a long lazy Sunday lunch with family and friends.” Ravine (62) can be used in any space depending on the mood you want to create. A soothing relaxing bathroom would do well with a coat of this grey as would a reading nook or dining area.

To get that luxurious minimalistic look, Plascon suggests using Ravine (62) as the core colour and teaming it up with accent colours such as dramatic Dark Antelope (P7-E1-1) or Bovine (47) for a monochromatic look.Ravine (62) also works well with Golf Greens (G4-A1-1) from the colour forecast’s Urban story while rich feature colours such as Winter Storm (B3-B1-2) or Atlantic Ocean (B2-C1-1) on a feature wall or painted furniture brings the palette into the millennial age. Golden Lake (Y5-C1-3) from the forecast’s Luxury palette also combines beautifully with Ravine (62). Claire recommends introducing woods and shiny copper fittings for a modern touch to a traditional décor scheme or textural elements like a rich floor rug that inspires luxury.

The beauty of Ravine (62) is that it’s the ultimate grey that can be used for building a signature palette. Paired with colours such as calming Berry Good (P1-A2-3) and beautiful pastels, it also offers a French Provence edge which Claire sees in the classical home. “Because Ravine (62) is a blend of grey and beige, it effortlessly brings opulence into a home without having to fill the space with too much stuff. With this wonderfully adaptable grey you won’t go wrong when transforming your home into a refuge where simple luxuries are the order of the day,” Claire concludes.

Add some history to your kitchen with these gorgeous hints of vintage grandeur.

Whether your kitchen is covered in colour, or simple and minimalistic, these pieces will add a classy, interesting edge to the room.

Also, if you're in Cape Town and want to source product - we can easily arrange that.With Handles Inc you can easily create a slick designer pad, quirky villa feel, a bathroom haven or a cutting-edge office environment with their quality handles and bathroom accessories. Architects and interior designers know that it’s details like these that make a space truly unique and exceptional. With a collection of over 9000 items to inspire you, Handles Inc has specialist designer pieces personally selected from top global manufacturers. With these exclusive ranges and a design-savvy team on hand to assist, Handles Inc will help you make your home or office a space that reflects your individuality – and a dream to live or work in. For your local stockist visit www.handlesinc.co.za or call 021-422 2322.

Natural hair generally looks full of life and healthy however this is not always true. Natural ethnic hair needs to be well taken care of especially in winter. You need to wash, condition and moisturise it regularly to keep it soft and promote healthy hair growth. Colouring ethnic hair can cause hair damage. Whether you are considering a permanent or semi-permanent colour change. Let’s face it, cold months can be so dull and boring that the only thing you can do with your hair is braid it. But what safe colouring options can you try to add a bit of vibrant colour to your world? The answer is simple: semi-permanent hair colouring.

Semi-permanent hair colour allows you to enjoy all the benefits of permanent hair colouring with less damage. Plus, you are not stuck with the same hair colour forever. You have the freedom to change your hair colour as often as your mood. Allowing you to align your hair game with your fashionable wardrobe. Now that sounds like adding more fun and swag into winter.

Unlike permanent hair colour, semi-permanent hair colour does not penetrate the hair shaft deeply, making it easy for you to wash out the colour over a couple of weeks. This also means you risk losing less protein a vital building block of hair, leading to less hair breakage and weakening. Semi-permanent hair colour helps with darkening hair and 50% grey hair coverage.

Temporary colour rinses are no doubt the safest for you to rock this winter. They coat hair on the outside and will wash out in 10 to 15 washes. Making it even easier for you to go dark rather than light. It’s important to note that only permanent hair colouring will allow you to go a lighter shade due to chemicals such as ammonia and peroxide found in these dyes.   

If you have naturally thin hair, you’ll benefit from semi-permanent hair colouring because it makes hair appear to be thicker. But, it also makes your hair dry because it behaves like a protein-based product. As you know, too much of even a good thing is bad for you. The same applies for protein. Too much protein makes hair dry and brittle.

Invest in a salon quality sulphate-free shampoo and moisturising conditioner. You need to also moisturise your hair daily. If you are still clueless on which brand to choose, try the Crazy Color Semi-Permanent Hair Colour range which comes in 27 shades they have colours like Aubergine, Capri Blue, Crazy Burgundy, Vermillion Red, Natural Black and more.  Visit Hairhouse Warehouse for more semi-permanent hair colour options.

{pp}Colour therapy buy exploring colour is a non-invasive way of discovering yourself.