All-Over Pink as a Neutral: A Color-Drenched Vancouver Apartment Showcasing Benjamin Moore’s Amaryllis and Rose Lace

ByLydia Geisel,Photography byMichelle Johnson

PublishedJun 29, 2025 1:40 AM EDT

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DesignerCathryn Royerwas notably composed when her client requested that her entire Vancouver apartment be painted pink. “I didn’t hesitate at all, which was maybe unusual, because I feel like I’ve just begun to really dip my toe into big splashes of color,” notes Royer. Her client, who had purchased a condo in the city to be closer to her daughter and granddaughter, sought a space that would serve as a joyful retreat for her family. She engaged Royer to identify shades that would fulfill that brief while maintaining a sophisticated character. Two paint colors proved pivotal to this outcome. “I would have contractors come in and be like, ‘It’s funny, I don’t like pink, but I likethis,’” the designer recalls. Below, Royer reveals how she achieved a saturated hue that reads as a neutral.

Selecting a Coordinated Two-Shade Paint System

Royer had previously notedBenjamin Moore’s Amaryllison an accent wall, making it the first swatch she considered for her client’s space. While reviewing the fan deck, she identified a second shade,Rose Lace, which offered the earthy undertones she sought (bubblegum tones were expressly excluded). “I wanted to drench the space, including the ceiling, so I loved the idea of pulling two hues from the same color palette,” shares Royer.

Amaryllis

Rose Lace

For the walls and door casings, she specified Rose Lace, applying an eggshell finish to the walls and a semi-gloss finish to the trim. “There will be little kids in the condo, so we didn’t want too many fingerprints,” she notes. For the ceiling, Amaryllis in eggshell provided a darker foundation for introducing accents of maroon and baby blue. “I know many people will paint a ceiling white to make a space seem bigger and more open, but in this case the goal was to make it feel cozy and warm,” she explains.

Royer’s experienced painter exercised some creative judgment, applying Rose Lace rather than Amaryllis to the drop ceiling over the dining area, thereby making the contrast between the two planes slightly more pronounced.

Commit Fully to a Cohesive Palette

In many respects, the furniture selection process was streamlined by the client’s clear direction. “When I would go to a brand or showroom’s website, I’d automatically type in ‘pink’ and see what it brought me,” she notes. Her priority was introducing varied textures:wood stoolsin the kitchen,soft velvet chairsaround the dining table, and amatte chandelier. The primary challenge was that Royer is based in Calgary, a ten-hour drive away, and could not always color-match pieces in person. “There were a few items I took a chance on but they turned out great because all of these pinks have so much dimension to them,” she says.

A pink trundle bed for the client’s granddaughter proved the most challenging acquisition. Royer anticipated needing a custom commission or a piece requiring reupholstery, so she was surprised to find the ideal piece on Wayfair (now discontinued). Another notable Wayfair discovery was the slipper chair in the living room. “That one was sight unseen and it turned out to be perfect,” she notes.

She determined early on that white and blue served as effective complementary hues, leading her to acquire a throw blanket fromClr Shop, which she hung on the wall as a tapestry, and to introduceWest Elm’s Laurent sectionalinto the formal living area.

Delfina 1-Light Single Pendant

Birch Lane Callie Barrel Chair

Introduce Character Through Considered Accent Pieces

Another technique for ensuring the apartment read as neutral rather than overtly themed was selecting designs with a vintage character, such as the bed quilt from U.K.-based shopProjektityyny. “I needed to bring in something from afar, something that didn’t seem sonew,” says Royer. Her concluding advice? When committing to an all-pink palette, a measured approach is not advisable. “You go big or go home,” she adds.

Chocolate Gingham Patchwork Quilt

Lydia Geisel

Home Editor

Lydia Geisel has been on the editorial team at Domino since 2017. Today, she writes and edits home and renovation stories, including house tours, before and afters, and DIYs, and leads our design news coverage. She lives in New York City.

Michelle Johnson

Photographer

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