Emma Paton is a fashion and lifestyle content creator whose popular blog is a destination for anyone interested in injecting some joy and colour into their lives! Emma left London with her family for the Suffolk countryside in 2019 and has never looked back. Her house and garden have also been big renovation projects which have themselves become an Instagram account reflecting her creative interest in interiors.

1) Emma, your website radiates a love of colour across every aspect of lifestyle you cover. Can you recall your first memory of colour resonating with you?

I think growing up in Singapore in the 1980s I definitely had a colourful childhood in what I wore! I was also surrounded by lots of colour in the garden. I remember a pastel stripe rainbow dress that still resonates with me and a bright red Cheongsam Chinese dress that made me feel so happy. Maybe that was when I discovered the power of clothes and colour?!
 

2) You mention leaving London in 2019 for Suffolk, and never looking back. How has the change in environment—perhaps the slower pace or rural textures— influenced your creative process and the way you work?

I spend so much more time outside here versus where we used to live in Hackney, London. I think the biggest change is having the countryside right on your doorstep and being able to go for beautiful walks where you really notice the seasons change in front of you. Walking over the field through the fields of wheat to the next village in July is a sensory overload!! Having a dog forces us out everyday and its where I do a lot of my thinking and planning! It’s great to have some more headspace living where we are and has definitely improved my way of life. I also love that the seaside is only 45 mins away. Coastal walks are also a favourite weekend activity as a family.

3) Whether due to our famously grey skies or a cultural lean toward minimalism, many Brits hesitate to use bold colours at home. What tips would you give for adding colour with confidence?

I would say if you are scared of colour use accessories such as cushions, throws or rugs to add pops of colour and warmth. If you want to go bold I think colour drenching is such a beautiful way to transform a room, we have done it in a few rooms in the house and it adds so much depth and feeling to a space. Or just painting your smallest room such a downstairs WC in a bright and bold colour as a surprise is a great way to add colour. Colour swatches are tricky – paint large panels and make sure you check them in the changing light.
 

4) Are there any artists—past or present—whose use of colour constantly inspires your work?

I adore Anna Mac, a local artist who loves colour as much as me! We have a few of her paintings and her colour mixing always inspires me. I also like Lucy Muss for her colourful and creative scenes. We have one of her paintings in our sitting room and the pops of pink really help to tie the colours in that room together.

5) The light of a fire can evoke the full warmth of the colour spectrum. How does your Charnwood stove complement your interior, and what impact does living with a stove have on your daily life?

We love our Charnwood stoves! They look so beautiful and we get so much joy out of the ritual of lighting a fire at the end of a day or as the days get cooler. It makes us feel homely, safe and warm! Our dog, Astrid, especially gets the best spot and its a nice way to warm up our old cold house and come together as a family. 

 

You can check out Emma’s blog here!