People tend to shy away from the use of grey in interiors, assuming it to be cold and uninviting, opting instead for the soft palettes of Messrs Farrow & Ball. In his south London Georgian terraced house, Michael Nicholas has embraced grey in all its shades from light silver to deepest charcoal. It works beautifully, creating spaces that are both restful and vibrant. It helps having the large Georgian windows and high ceilings, allowing light to bounce around the space. As a backdrop, it allows the rich wood veneer of the dining table to take centre stage, while the metallic finishes of kitchen appliances shimmer and melt into their surroundings.
In the first floor drawing room, the soft grey accentuates the gold frames and splashes of vibrant colour, as if in an art gallery.
And in the bedroom, the perfect way to downplay a vast and intrusive necessity of 21st century life.