This Daring Hue in Hilary Swank's Parisian Apartment is the Interiors Equivalent of a 'Bold Red Lip' – it Cleverly Interrupts the Classic Aesthetic
This is your sign to step out of your color comfort zone, according to interior designers
Hillary Swank's stunning Parisian apartment has all the hallmarks of chic, classic design, but her choice of a bright blue daybed and geometric monochrome cushions stopped us in our tracks. In theory, this bold color and pattern should jar with a slick French interior scheme, but in fact, it feels brave, stylish, and intriguing.
This is such an unexpected accent color idea, but it works so wonderfully on a statement piece of furniture like the chaise in Hillary Swank's apartment. Elisha Niebuhr, Founder and CEO of the Colorado-based Modern Interior Company, explains why: 'A strong blue in a sculptural chaise, or velvet ottoman, acts like a bold red lip in a timeless outfit. It feels effortless, but it’s entirely intentional. It arrests the eye and introduces a sense of mystery that keeps a classic room from feeling overly precious.'
Buys Inspired by Hillary Swank's Bold Color Choice
In a soft luxe velvet and with a smooth, sculptural silhouette, this blue chaise feels so elegant for a Parisian-style space like Hilary Swank's apartment. The delicate legs keep it refined and elegant.
In a bold mid-century design, this tufted chaise feels more like a piece of artwork than furniture, making in a perfect choice for a classic interior scheme like Hilary Swank's Parisian apartment.
These throw pillows can be used indoors and out, but the contrast they bring to a traditional space featuring classic artworks and and decor, will create a wonderful, design-forward tension.
A few gently contrasting bolster pillows like Hilary Swank's turquoise ones, in a soft velvet, add an extra layer to the look of a traditional scheme like hers, bringing in interest through shape, color and texture.
Hilary Swank's bishop coffee table by India Mahdavi for Ralph Pucci is so elegant, but if Parisian design isn't quite within budget, this similar tiered end table will achieve a similar look for less.
And you don't have to just bring in color through furniture pieces. Sculptural accents such as ceramics, rugs or even art work can achieve the same result. This vase is bold while the matte finish pares it back.
When considering which color to work with a traditional or heritage-style space, a blue like Hilary Swank's choice, feels both bold and timeless. Brittany Rediger, Founder & Principal Designer of Oregon-based Rediger Design explains: 'blue carries a grounded calm that allows it to make a statement without overwhelming. It reads as confident yet timeless, which is why it integrates so naturally into a classic setting.'
Brittany draws a comparison between Hilary Swank's art-filled Parisian apartment and a gallery: 'While visiting the Portland Art Museum after its renovation, where modern wall colors were paired with centuries-old, gilded paintings and ornate millwork. The saturated hues did not compete with the classical artwork or architecture but instead framed it, intensified it, and made the detailing feel even richer.'
It's this combination of traditional and contemporary that comes together here, in a bold fusion that feels dynamic yet intentional, through the addition of a single dominant piece using blue as an accent color. 'A classic Parisian interior is never one-note. It’s a layered conversation between heritage and modernity. A saturated blue works beautifully as the bold element in that dialogue because it carries both history and edge, adding confidence and intrigue without disrupting the elegance of the space,' explains Elisha.
Brittany agrees: 'A bold blue works particularly well in a Parisian interior because it feels both expressive and architectural. Many classic apartments rely on light from a single façade, so a strong blue can subtly echo the sky and introduce a sense of airiness and depth. It reads as confident yet timeless, which is why it integrates so naturally into a classic setting.'
As well as color, decorating with pattern, such as the monochrome geometric throw pillows (like Crate & Barrel's Geo Throw Pillows), in Hilary Swank's Parisian apartment, also serves as a visual interruption to tradition – another trick to bring her interiors into the modern day. 'Beyond color, geometric print is an effective way to introduce modern tension into a traditional room. The clean lines of a geometric pattern interrupt ornate detailing in a way that feels fresh rather than chaotic,' Brittany explains. 'Used thoughtfully, bold color and graphic print energize a classic scheme while preserving its elegance.'
The reason that this bold color choice and pattern work so well in Hilary Swank's apartment is the fact that she has mastered how to mix traditional and modern design. The bold and timeless hue of the blue chaise and the contemporary contrasting pattern on the throw pillows feel both unexpected yet intentional, working with, rather than against, the existing features and design of the space.
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