My lifelong crush on Keanu Reeves is not the only reason I enjoyed watching 47 Ronin over the holidays. I know, I know, it won’t win any Academy Awards this year, but it did get me thinking about a fresh new colour palette. Like all my favourite Asian films, 47 Ronin features an epic story, lots of crazy good martial arts, mystical themes and grand settings, all of which are exquisitely beautiful to look at. Cherry blossoms fall gently from the trees, mist shrouds ancient bamboo forests, monks in saffron-yellow robes kneel before golden Buddhas—it’s a visual feast. But what really caught my eye were the costumes of the movie’s heroine, Mika, played by Kou Shibasaki. Kimonos and robes made from swathes of lavish raw silks in shades of mint, ivory, salmon and raspberry dress the actress, but the one I particularly liked was a little number that was a combination of pale pink and orange. I could only find a picture of it from the back, but you can see what I’m talking about. This outfit got me thinking of a great colour scheme for a spring makeover of one of my rooms. I’d love to work it into a redo of my back entrance or my laundry room, using a combination of Pratt & Lambert’s Lovers Knot and Mandarin Mousse paints, and maybe adding a hit of soft sunny yellow here and there for drama, possibly with this delicious digital wallpaper from Cath Kidston. The bottom line is that, regardless of how good (or bad) the movie is, it was worth my $12.99 admission for inspiration alone. What do you think? Is this palette too loud and crazy or is it fresh for spring? What movies have inspired your decorating schemes?