Discover my Delysian Colour System: a unique way of working with interior colour

The Delysian Colour System (‘DCS’) was created so that interior colour could be approached with a gentle and holistic method, rooted in narrative, and the shifting of colours under natural light. It forms the core of several of my courses in The Colour Academy.

The DCS emphasises the natural movement of colour, when treated in 3D and with form, to inspire delicate and interesting combinations.

When supported by my theory of an ‘Aesthetic Narrative’, the DCS enables designers to create interior colour schemes that foster a nurturing relationship between a client and their space.

More on DCS training

Origins of the DCS

Rooted in my DCS is the idea of choosing colour, and creating colour schemes, based on:

  • The aesthetic and narrative inspired by a person and their living environment
  • Natural shifts in colour due to light and form

The DCS was developed during my work in colour consultancy, and observations made during day-to-day life. I began to explore the idea of what it means to ‘feel at home’ with colour. This led to an examination of how colour promotes wellbeing, founded on a person’s unconscious colour bias that comes from their lived experience and environment.

I had also been researching the art of tromp l’œil (to ‘trick the eye’) and how painted colours can fool the eye into seeing three-dimensional shapes that are, in fact, two dimensional, painted shadows and highlights. This was to be the beginning of my understanding into the qualities and values of colour as a moving, 3D concept.

My aim was for the Delysian Colour System to be greater than the sum of its parts, and an effective way of building meaningful colour schemes for my clients.

What is aesthetic narrative?

The idea of your home having a story (a narrative) to tell incorporates very subjective experiences: as time passes, we change, grow, succeed, fail, celebrate, and suffer loss. It’s the accumulation of these experiences, and the persistence (or disintegration) of meaningful things, that often determine the aesthetic of our living space.

A founding principle of the Delsyian Colour System is that our psyche carries colour bias based on accumulated fragments of colour connected to memorable, impactful moments. This collage, when tapped into with some imagination, and informed by the practical matter of day-to-day living, can inspire you to create an aesthetic narrative in your home that ‘feels’ right because it echos present, past and future experiences. 

CLIENT FEEDBACK

The Interior Design Nook

“I’ve been using these ideas in my colour consultations. I like having the theory to back it up when I’m telling clients that two colours will look good together, or work well in a particular room.”

Sara Copsey Interiors

“I definitely feel more confident transitioning colour between spaces, and bending hues to weave elements more seamlessly into a scheme.”

Debbie Bullard

“When creating a mood board, I am approaching it in a different way by introducing colours I would probably not have used before.”

Alba Mirandola, interior designer

“I’m feeling more confident now, and I’m looking forward to doing the second part of the course.”

The use of trompe l’oeil

Trompe l’œil is the art of optical illusion. On buildings, it is the use of painted shadow and highlight colours that fool the eye into seeing three-dimensional shapes — usually recessed, raised, curved or angled surfaces.

I’ve studied the facades of numerous buildings, and carried out my own academic research, and this has emphasised the complex relationship between colour, light and form. Most importantly, it has demonstrated the advantage of reading colour from a three-dimensional point-of-view, so as to create subtle and unusual combinations.

How the Delysian Colour System can help you

The DCS can help you to move away from relying solely on the purely numerical ways of working with colour. In other words: tints, tones, and percentage shades, often seen on colour charts.

Working with DCS colour combinations gives a more evolved and immersive colour scheme, and can even incorporate other traditional colour theories, for an adaptable approach.

You’ll be able to:

  • Save time whilst making decisions about colour
  • Reduce the overwhelm of limitless colour options
  • Enhance your relationship with colour
  • Better understand your clients and their colour preferences
  • Improve your confidence when talking about or working with colour
  • Work flexibly with multiple paint brands
  • Mix multiple surface finishes and products
  • Identify opportunities for ‘felt-life’ experiences
More on DCS training

Explore the origins of my Delysian Colour System in LivingEtc magazine

1:1 training and mentorship

If you’re unable to attend any of my courses, don’t despair! I offer 1:1 remote training, and where extended tuition is needed, we can discuss mentorship in colour consultancy too.

Contact me for details

As featured in

Chantal Gelb

“We were thrilled with Fiona’s service. She unlocked our aesthetic narrative and guided us toward a palette of colours we wouldn’t have had the confidence to choose, and we absolutely love it. She brings an innate perceptiveness, attention to detail and understanding of colour, with extensive knowhow and experience.”

Jo Elliot

“Within an hour of arriving at the house, Fiona had analysed the structural detailing and lighting plan of our cottage. After listening patiently to my haphazard thoughts, she helped plan the entire paint scheme brilliantly, whilst considering how colours respond to light throughout the morning. I was thrilled with her choices. Her help was invaluable.”

Josephine Corbett

“Joy. Thank you so much for today. It really was such a treat for me and I feel so excited getting it all done. I’m even warming to the lavender in the kitchen — the sky was full of it this evening, and I started noticing it everywhere! All so exciting. Thank you.”

Private client

“Fiona is a marvel. Her colours come together in a beautiful symphony. She really takes the time to consider the narrative of a home and its inhabitants to conjure a beautiful palette fit for their story. We had such a fun morning building the layers; it was a treat to see it all come together under her expert eye.”

Kate M

“Fiona’s choice of colour palette was inspired by her creativity but was also thoughtful and considered. Most uniquely, she showed a real desire to bring our project to fruition, and took as much care and interest as if it were her own.”

Annabel K

“Fiona has a reassuring confidence when it comes to understanding colours, with an eye that observes the light and surroundings. I was so glad that I decided to employ her services. It has definitely not only saved us from potential mistakes, but improved on our choices, as we juggled things around and added some exciting combinations of paint colours.”

Carla

“What a fun experience it was meeting with you to help enliven my home through colour! Every time I walk through the rooms with all the different colours you’ve helped me pick, it enriches my day-to-day life. To see all those vibrant paints, and how well they all go together is something I would never have been able to do myself. I’m very grateful.”

Private client

“The use of colour to make a home flow inspired my desire to use Fiona’s services, and so I invited her to my recently renovated Queen Anne home in Wiltshire. The array of colours and ideas that she brought to the project has totally transformed my home into one that I would never have thought possible.”

Valentina S

“Working with Fiona has been a wonderful experience from the very start. She is a poet of interiors, and when talking about colour and style, it was as if she was connecting to my essence — to inspire and create what I was longing for.”