Color Collisions: Cinnabar time to collide with China Blue
The Perfect Lunar New Year Duo
Happy Lunar New Year!
This color collision came roaring into my vision one February day in Paris, walking the back alleys (if we can call Parisian rues alleys) of the Marais. There is a little shortcut I take to my favorite grocer, and I noticed one of the ground-floor facades had a fresh coat of paint. It was a balmy blue that felt both cool and warm—quite a feat for a cool color. It was this same time of year (yes, it took me a year to write this color collision, thanks for bearing with me), so hanging aptly above the doorway of this China Blue business was a red lantern to celebrate the impending Chinese New Year. The bright yet deep cinnabar red hue of this lantern against the China Blue-painted storefront captured me. Something about it was just satisfying—maybe it was the winter deficit of blue skies—but whatever it was, I wanted more of it. So here you go, colors a-go-go.
China Blue
China Blue is a true beauty. As I searched for an adequate color match, I came across this perfect blue hue, and I knew it was the one. We all can conjure that particular porcelain blue that graces many a gorgeous ceramic from the Chinese dynasties. This history is where the “China” attaches itself to all sorts of beautiful blues. A lesser-known origin of this blue is the hazier blue paint that coats certain Mercedes models. It’s a special-order finish that began to show up in early '80s Mercedes models. It’s described as a shade that “conveys calmness, prestige, and exclusivity.” While I do love the calmness China Blue evokes, I’m here to make it less “exclusive” by giving you the keys to bring it home.
Cinnabar
Cinnabar is a fiery red that dances alongside vermillion and minium. The name cinnabar comes from the ancient Greek, a play on “red cinnamon.” The pigment is a mineral that forms through volcanic activity and alkaline hot springs, composed primarily of mercury—making it both natural and toxic. As a color, it has been employed since antiquity everywhere, from Near Eastern rouge makeup to New World and Chinese cultures, where it was used to color stoneware and later lacquerware. The Romans used cinnabar to coat interior walls, and its impact was highly valued. Cinnabar was used to pigment the writing on oracle bones and grace the clothes of Mayan mummies. Most familiar to us, perhaps, is its presence in lacquerware, both carved and glazed in this unforgettable hue. Today, cinnabar is often employed with resin-based finishes to avoid toxicity while maintaining its stunning appearance.
How to Collide These Colors
Now to collide these colors! I’ve provided a few reference images below, but keep in mind these are just bits of inspiration1, the options are endless. From a subtle headboard and duvet or a China blue Sofa with a pop of Cinnabar decor from a vase to florals to art - so many simple yet stunning ways to execute this duo. You can use these beauties minimally or maximally.
I love the room above where they painted half the wall in a China Blue hue and used the lower half to create an architectural effect with a simple coat of red paint. In this example, they use a deeper red to pop against the cinnabar dining chairs, and if I were to execute this, I would probably use a different paint finish—more glossy on the bottom and a softer, more matte or satin finish for the top half. In doing so, you create a more dramatic effect. Using either a deeper red or that beautiful cinnabar, you can create a space that is both warming and calming—like a fireplace that warms you from the ground, set against the calming openness of a blue sky. I don’t think I would tire of this room.
Materials & Paint Picks
This wouldn’t be a true color collision if I didn’t give you some materials to work with. You can’t go wrong with Farrow & Ball’s Chinese Blue paint—a stunning option. If you’re looking for another option, Ressource’s Zenith paint s another striking China Blue hue. For Cinnabar, Benjamin Moore’s True Red is a truly great choice, and I adore Ressource’s Coquelicot—a beautiful option as well. Maybe use a high-gloss finish of one of these Cinnabar hues to refinish an old piece of furniture. This will give you that lacquerware effect.
If you are looking for more inspiration, check out this pinterest board where you’ll find even more ideas and inspiration. And if you dare to decorate with this dynamic duo, do let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear how it turned out.
A little ask…
If you're enjoying this read, I’d love for you to share it with a friend who might also enjoy it!
You may note these colors appear to differ in hue. I remind you as with any color, the shade of it and it’s vibrancy shifts depending on the application, the texture, and how the light illuminates a space.