Decorating with Hazelnut Brown

One of our top colour trend picks for 2017 (see the February 2017 ‘Trends’ edition of ELLE Decoration), nevertheless this shade is the continuous workhorse of the home, familiar when seen as wood, but now graduating to upholstery and accessories. Particularly wonderful in suedes, leather, stone, tiles and richly-veined marble.

1 Wood. Sometimes wood is so much more than just ‘wood’ as seen in this superlative kitchen, probably one of the most beautiful we’ve ever seen for it’s mixing of different types of wood to the brass and tile finishes. You’d never look at this kitchen and say, oh but it’s just brown, and yet it largely is, testament to the power of this much under-rated hue. (See more amazing kitchens in ELLE Decoration Kitchens).

‘Parisian’ kitchen, from £65,000 Krieder (Krieder.com) First featured in ELLE Decoration Kitchens Voulme 1.

2 Leather. While a classic Chesterfield could indeed be any colour, and we’ve seen some delicious ones in brightly jewel-toned velvets, leather is its natural covering, and brown leather adds a comfort level to this seating akin to it becoming an old friend that welcomes you warmly as soon as you come home.

The owners of this space in Milan are avid collectors, as such their home is replete with curios and rich with texture. I love the irreverence of it all, the easy switch from one floor finish to the next, and the jubilant mix and mismatching throughout. Photography Fabrizio Cicconi; styling Francesca Davoli.

3 Parquet. Of course wood is also deliciously multi-hued and replete with detail, as these marvellous ‘Floral’ oak parquet floor tiles from Bisazza by Kiki van Eijk (£322 per square metre) amply show. It’s never ever just ‘brown’ which is why we’ve called this colour post ‘Hazelnut Brown’ to try to get across its individual nature.

Hazelnut Brown “Floral” oak parquet floor tiles by Kiki van Eijk, £322 per square metre, Bisazza. First featured in the February 2017 “Trends” edition of ELLE Decoration.

4 Furniture. This sideboard goes to show how exciting wood can be. Again, accentuating its many shades, and in this case being a one-stop multi-faceted palette in itself! The ‘Relief Credenza’ sideboard, £11,504 by Todd St John.

Hazelnut Brown “Relief Credenza” sideboard, £11,504 by Todd St John. First featured in the February 2017 “Trends” issue of ELLE Decoration

5 Walls Ok, so this one is wood as well, but the effect of this stained-plywood is that of exotic marbling. Plywood is an exciting material to use as it often has marvellous graining and comes in large, affordable sheets (see Trendbulletin 10 for more reasons), and the very simple to use one-coat stains now on the market mean you can quickly, and easily, go from natural birch to deepest ebony, all with a paint brush.

‘Cool Britannia’ Styling Suzanne Stankus, Photo by Damian Russell. First featured in the October 2017 “British” issue of ELLE Decoration

For loads more images check out our comprehensive Hazelnut Brown moodboard of rooms, products and interiors inspiration

And see the rest of our wonderful Colour boards here