Take a peek behind the design of The Orange with this exclusive Q&A with Edward Bulmer, the Founder and Director of Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Edward has been an Interior Designer for over 30 years and is an expert at mixing beautiful natural paint colours backed by strong ecological principles.
As an homage to The Orange’s location, in the heart of Pimlico’s design district, only local designers and makers were selected to collaborate on the redesign. With Edward Bulmer’s London shop located just across the street from The Orange, it only made sense for him to design an exclusive palette to reflect the pub’s warm interiors. The new interiors of the pub were designed by Georgie Pearman and were built off a warm palette from Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Edward selected the colours Clove, Sang de Boeuf, and Trumpington for the main bar, the fireplace room, and the breakfast room to create a cosy yet lively look.
We sat down with Edward Bulmer and asked him about his design philosophy, commitment to sustainability, and experience collaborating on the redesign for The Orange.
Do you think decorating for public spaces is different to decorating your own home?
Yes and no, the best places feel like home from home and so we approach decorating as the achievement of harmony. We do this by offering colours that are engineered for success because we carefully curate their tonality. We only use genuine pigment and like a chef can ‘season’ a colour.
What’s your favourite part of The Orange?
The buzzing atmosphere and the menu. I like sharing plates and they are excellent here.
How to best create an atmosphere when entertaining?
Get people in of course. What brings people is the food, drink, and vibe, whether the place is empty or full. I rather like breakfast at the Orange as it is well-balanced, carefully sourced, delicious, and nicely peaceful. By the evening one is ready for the buzz that the end of the day brings as we all unwind.
What does working with British makers, designers, and craftspeople mean to you?
Not as much as working with people who do what they do well tbh. The British are good at some things and less good at others! I just look for the best – it will always be thoughtfully made, well-designed, and carefully crafted but for me it does not have to be British per se.
Name three words that come to mind when you think of The Orange X Edward Bulmer Natural Paint partnership
Fit, confident, colourful
What would you love to see next on Orange Square?
The Orange Theatre reborn!?!
What is the typical process behind developing a new paint colour?
Our entire purpose is to be useful. We start with a colour range that will give you a great selection of background colours as that is what we see as our job. In doing so we default to the best ingredients, like genuine pigment, not industrial colourants and a plant based binder not a plastic/acrylic one.
How do you know what colours will work well in a particular room?
By observing the tonality. Every room has some element of ‘uncoloured’ material – maybe a wooden floor or stone fireplace for instance. Take these as your cue as they will inform the tonality and then the colour is free choice. That is why we offer a range of colours will a tonal relationship to each other and to the whole range of natural materials they will get paired with.
How are your paints different from the rest?
Quite simply we don’t use petro-chemicals in our wall paint and only a small amount in our wood paint. Few if any other paints, including the expensive, well-known ones, can claim this and none of them use exclusively natural pigments like us. How do you know? Because we publish the ingredients on the tin – no other best-selling paint does this.
What does working with British brands mean to you?
We only work with Brands who demonstrate or aspire to sustainable principles – British or otherwise.
How are you tackling the climate crisis in 2024?
By offering decorative paints that have the smallest carbon footprint of any on the market.
Name three words that come to mind when you think of The Orange X Edward Bulmer Natural Paint partnership?
Local, meant, fun
Name your favourite drink and why?
Skyborry Court of Noke cider – it is made from cider apples grown here on the farm and is bottle fermented so it has no added sulphites.
Favourite pizza topping?
Hope for Spring (nettles, wild garlic pesto, mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan – from Daphne’s restaurant Prestiegne)
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