Color 2008 — Anything Goes!

The “magic” of color is one of the most powerful elements in design and the least expensive element to work with.  Light and energy are created by color.

The inspiration for color comes from a myriad of worldwide cultural influences.  Gone are the limits of geographical borders.  We are inspired by the swirling global influences of fashion, nature, technology and our environment.  The world offers ethnic-influenced color palettes with the freedom to “break” the traditional color mold.  Shiny patent leathers in bold colors translate to brightly colored glass chandeliers, baroque style furniture, luscious textiles and rich trimmings.

Benjamin Moore’s hot hues are Peacock Feather, Split Pea and Gypsy Pink, followed by Sherwin-Williams’ Cayenne and Borscht. The four corners of the earth and its architecture always evoke in the traveler an inspiration for color.  It may be reminiscent of Spain or Morocco and their tiles of turquoise (SW6767 Aquamarine) and blue (SW6969 Frank).

Our own East Coast might suggest a colonial mix of reds, green grays, berry and tans.  Try looking for these paint colors:  Real Red (SW6868), Cocoon (SW6173), Blackberry (SW7527) and Tatami Tan (SW6116). According to the Pantone Fashion Report, 2008 is a season of change and offers a vibrant selection of rich, elegant hues.  Designers are emphasizing cooler blues, greens, and purples, followed by variations of warm reds, oranges and yellows.  Pantone chose the gorgeous hue Blue Iris as their color of the year.

Bringing a beautifully warming balance to the vibrant colors are the undulating tones of mother of pearl and sandy shades of the shore.  Experts at Benjamin Moore state that color shapes the emotional character of just about everything!  In their “Returning Home” theme they feature hues that evoke spaciousness with a quiet suggestion of color with a palette of Latte (2163-60), Cream Froth (OC-97), Seaside Sand (2110-40) and Stone Castle (CC-396).

The colors of nature are all around our homes.  It is no coincidence that the colors from nature create safe havens inside our homes.  And, “going green” means being in style in 2008, no matter what color you chose.  In the mix are unbleached and un-dyed materials—lots of texture. In this world of eco-friendly products, the natural is moving mainstream with elegant tones of whisper-soft atmospheric colors, with a strong return to white mixed up with cool neutrals and gray, setting the tone with Evening Shadow (SW7662), Restful White (SW7563) or Mountain Air (SW6224).

Sherwin-Williams suggests balancing these tones with the natural browns and greens of Bateau Brown (SW6033) or Agate Green (SW7742).

White is once again setting a trend.  A definite white with black is everywhere in the European furniture and fashion color mix.  To make color come alive, white will give you a clean palette, although a good white is trickier to choose than a color!  Katie Clements of Chute Gerdeman suggests colorless and crisp shades of white.  Test the color on your walls with surrounding colors and see if it takes on any hues, as whites can reflect yellow, blues and pinks.  Work until you find the true white that works for you.

The professional Interior Designers at BECKY BERG DESIGN can save you lots of time and frustration in finding the perfect white, the balancing green, an inspiring red…!

A Bit of Trivia
What is your favorite M&M color?  The next time you eat a green one, think “envy.”

Stop (SW6869)	Invigorate (SW6886)	Cheerful (SW6903)
Envy (SW6925)	Blue Chip (SW6959)	Brevity Brown (SW6068)

And, if you visit M&M’s World New York, you’ll find “the world’s biggest wall of chocolate,” which measures 50 feet by 22 feet!