Q&A

Ellen Cumber, co-founder of east London design studio Golden, knows a thing or two about spirited interiors and uplifting use of colour — so we posed her the questions you ask us most

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Q What's the perfect pink paint and how do I use it?

The perfect pink has a yellow base that gives it warmth. Farrow & Ball's Setting Plaster is so popular, as it goes quite fleshy. We're moving towards a more subtle way of using it, just on ceilings, with a more muted yellow-beige on the walls. It's very glowy, and the pink ceiling makes the whole room feel warm. A way to make a statement without the pink dominating the room.

We also really love Mylands' BYR 201 pink, which is a bright and intense but without being too bubblegum or sweet. We covered a whole reception room in it, but that only really worked because the space was so large. For a more regular-sized room we'd probably have gone with Setting Plaster, which is more knocked-back. Our favourite neutral with a hint of pink is Dimity, also by Farrow & Ball. I have it on my own kitchen walls and it can look almost white, then in some lights the pink just manages to shine through.