Soulful Neutrals

Soulful Neutrals

I consider myself a super “decorated” girl, I love all things color-saturated and patterned! After all, my name, Capucine, is French for nasturtium - those bright and boldly hued ornamental flowers that exuberantly spill and sprawl over hillsides and garden walls in vibrant pops of oranges, yellows, and reds. However, my inner-purist adores the subtlety and deceiving simplicity of neutrals. With a desire to bring the best of both of these worlds together, we created some beautiful neutrals that are classic and understated, yet never boring.

Texture quietly makes everything more interesting, whether the source is the handcraft of artisans or the touch of Mother Nature. We mindfully incorporate natural textures into our designs to infuse a depth and soulfulness that echoes beyond the form. From the sculpted ripple of our Bilbao ceramics to our hand-turned wood and intricately woven willow collections, the subtle textural details often influence the experience as a whole, with their inherent tactile qualities that beckon hands to pick them up, hold them, and welcome them home. 

We mindfully incorporate natural textures into our Bilbao designs to infuse a depth and soulfulness that echoes beyond the form.

Replacing ordinary neutrals with more decorative ones is our favorite way to imbue soulfulness into an overall aesthetic. For example, rather than a simple white napkin, choose a woven linen napkin trimmed with tiny knotted detailing. Instead of clear glassware, opt for mouth-blown glass in a neutral color palette, such as tortoiseshell, or with interesting detailing like our Florence Bohemian glass. Rather than a plain white plate, reach for one that has subtle surface texture to it, reminiscent of potter’s wheel swirls or hammered metal. All of these details evoke  the richness of handcraft that tell a more poignant story and exude warmth. 

A neutral can actually be any color, if it is solid and applied as a foundational element in harmony with its environment.

Traditionally, we all think of neutrals as being desaturated colors such as whites, beiges, grays, and blacks. I firmly believe that a neutral can actually be any color, if it is solid and applied as a foundational element in harmony with its environment. The latest color to become a neutral is green, in all shades, and we are loving it! The fresh, cucumber shade of our Bilbao Sage collection is lovely as a neutral because it so easily harmonizes with the colors of the earth in any season, from Lamb’s-ear leaves in early spring to lichen in the summer, and from sage bushes in the fall to icy spruces in the winter. When you realize that Mother Nature (the greatest architect of all time) presents us with beautiful colors all season long, she is the one that dictates the neutrals! 

From minimalist and modern to timeless and traditional, neutrals effortlessly run the spectrum of style and are the secret workhorses of decor.

From minimalist and modern to timeless and traditional, neutrals effortlessly run the spectrum of style and are the secret workhorses of decor. Rethinking how we approach them is a fabulous opportunity to infuse more subtle personality and expression into an aesthetic, whether you choose to use them all together to create an understated look, or place them in the middle of a very decorative setting to create contrast (your patterns will pop even more!).

Stir things up and choose interesting pieces that have a little more to say, intentionally allowing their natural character to shine - the beauty’s in the details! Forever versatile and chic, mix and match our soulful neutrals to your heart’s content, to create a home you will love.

Bilbao mix and match place setting.  

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