Earthy, Rich Reds: Limewash Paint Colours Inspired by and Rooted in Nature and History
Earthy, Rich Reds: Limewash Paint Colours Inspired by and Rooted in Nature and History
Red is having a moment in interiors, from last year’s ‘unexpected red theory’, popular on social media, to the recent rise of cherry red and oxblood in fashion and interiors. But red’s presence in design is nothing new—it has punctuated history for over 40,000 years, from ancient cave paintings to royal textiles. This isn’t just a trend; it’s a resurgence.
Red isn’t just a statement—it’s a disruptor, bringing an element of surprise and intrigue. But unlike aggressive or overly bright hues, our reds are more grounded—quite literally—milled from natural earth pigments. Inspired by henna, flowering flora, and deep mineral tones, they are rich, warm, and complex. At Bauwerk, we don’t just take inspiration from nature—we work with it. Our limewash paints are made using natural ingredients and pigments, celebrating the raw beauty of materials sourced globally. Nature itself shapes our palette, determining which colours we offer. For example, you won’t find a fire-engine red in our collection, as it requires cadmium pigments—substances we choose not to use due to their toxicity.
We don’t rely on tinting machines or industrial processes to create our colours. Instead, each shade is carefully developed by hand, considering how it will appear on a wall. Our co-founder (and colour expert) Bronwyn Riedel, personally formulates and names each colour, drawing inspiration from years of study and an intuitive understanding of colour in nature. Many of our shades are documented and stored for the future, including some of our most intriguing reds. We’ve cracked open a few of Bronwyn’s notebooks to revisit the origins of our rich red palette…
Love Apples is a vibrant, clear red from our limewash range—but despite the name, it’s not inspired by apples! “Love Apples” is actually an old term for tomatoes, possibly linked to their supposed aphrodisiac qualities or a telephone type twist in translation as they made their way to Europe with explorers. Either way, we think it’s a sweet name.
Bloodwood, a slightly darker, blue-toned red, takes its name from Australian trees that produce deep red sap or have richly coloured wood—like certain eucalyptus trees or Baloghia lucida. It’s a red that feels rooted in nature, earthy yet bold.
Then there’s Japonica. One of our most fascinating reds, it’s made from a rare Australian earth pigment with a unique mineral composition. Once heated and milled, it reveals a red unlike any other. This pigment is no longer available, but we’ve preserved the last of it—ensuring the future of this one-of-a-kind colour.
Carmin is a deeply saturated brown-red—more brown than red. Traditionally, the vivid carmine pigment was made from cochineal insects. As early as 700 BC, ancient American civilizations crushed these cactus-dwelling bugs to extract their rich dye for textiles and art. By the 16th century, cochineal had become a prized export and a major source of income for the Spanish Crown—by weight, it was more valuable than sugar. This shade brings a sense of warmth and depth, making it a perfect choice for a meditation space—a temple for the inner senses. And you can rest easy knowing that no bugs were harmed in the making of this colour.
Henna is a warm, brown-red limewash paint colour, inspired by the intricate body art we’ve seen during our time and travels in the Middle East. The practice of using henna as temporary body decoration has existed for over 5,000 years across desert regions of North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. Today, it remains a symbol of celebration, often worn at weddings and special occasions as a mark of good health and prosperity. While we can’t promise prosperity with our paint, we can speak to its natural, breathable health qualities—so some might say that’s a good start!
