Meet Christine McDonald – Designer Rugs

Do you have a go to colour palette?

As a company, we always start with neutral bases and then work in a handful of colour. My perfect palette is
deep sea blues through to whitewashed neutrals.

Do you follow trends?

We do incorporate colours coming through in furniture and fashion, however, we don’t saturate a collection with trend colours in order to maximise the longevity of the piece.

What is your favourite colour and why?

Deep sea blue – I love its calming effect and its nod to classic style.

An interesting experience that gave you colour inspiration?

On a recent trip to India and Nepal I was totally inspired by the vivid colours of the clothing and the striking fruit and vegetables against the terracotta dust of their surrounds. This experience influenced my use of colour and how to place colours together.

Are you brave with colour?

Not personally – I’m a denim jeans and white t-shirt person. And within my work it’s the same – I constantly ask ‘would I be able to live with these colours in my own home?’.

How do you ‘sell’ colour to your clients?

Shaun Russell (Designer Rugs Senior Account Manager): It varies. The genesis of a colour palette will usually come from an element within the project or from a current colour trend. For example, for a Commercial project the brand’s log can inspire the colour selection or in a residential home, the surrounding environment or even a painting on the wall can provide inspiration. We are seeing a shift in colour trends moving from muddy hues into crisp, cooler tones.

Your favourite project?

Too many to mention!

One of the best parts of working at Designer Rugs is seeing how our clients use colours when creating custom pieces – whether it be for a residential space or a large shopping complex. They each use colour in a very specific and individual way, so to single out one favourite project is impossible – I have hundreds!!