Weekend Color: Pantone's Color of the Year - Why It Is Important and Why It's Not

By now I'm sure you have heard about Pantone's color pick for 2011.

This is quite an energetic pink!

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Color is moving towards fresh, clean hues.

What exactly does that mean?

I discussed clean/dirty color here, if you'd like to read more about it.

I don't ever advise a client to fill their space with the latest and greatest color unless they truly LOVE it.

What happens next year?

If you are using this hue simply to be "on-trend" 

are you going to be satisfied when it no longer is the top color?

If you have created a fairly neutral shell, or you have used other clean colors that are roughly the same value, you can easily bring in vibrant pink accents.

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Domino

I think the we should look at the entire palette from Pantone

 to get a clearer sense of what is happening with color.

The silver cloud and silver peony are still holding the grey and blush front.

I wouldn't place Silver peony with any of these other colors 

because it simply is not saturated enough to hold it's own.

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Russet is signalling an influx of brown - we need something to balance out all this freshness.

In interiors that signals a return to brown woods, rather than all the grey tones we have been seeing.

Domino

The remaining seven hues are all similar in their intensity and clean tones.

You could place any of these in space together and they would work.

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Blue Curacao is a softer version of last years turquoise.

I love the regatta blue - it's time to bring blue back from the green side :) 

Honeysuckle, which looks so vibrant when examined alone, 

fits in to this group without stealing the show.

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Pantone's color choices give us a look toward the future,

they interpret our societies emotional climate and the colors reflect it.

It seems right now people are quite ready for a bit of light-hearted fun.

Honeysuckle - will you use it?

til next time..

Eye Spy a Trend: Fabulous Grass Cloth Walls

I've just had time to flip through the new Lonny (loved this issue, btw).

 I've found the same solution to an age old problem three times in this issue -

  that, my fellow design junkies qualifies as a trend.

Designers are constantly bombarded with new product and inspiration.

This means their homes are constantly evolving, in with the new and out with the old..

I'm like this with color - never really finished our own home

 because there's always a fantastic new color that I need to incorperate :)

One of the easiest ways to change up a room is with art, 

but what about those constant holes in the walls?

The answer, my dears - grasscloth.

Palmer Weiss has covered that walls of her children's playroom in it..

Celerie Kemble has used it in her living room..

(oh, how I love this room, timeless beauty)

and although it's not confirmed, it appears Lulu DeKwiatkowski has put it in her sons bedroom..

and her guestroom..

and her dining room..

Grass cloth, and it's cousins, pick up on the camel trend that's about to hit.

It's a fantastic backdrop to the saturated mid-tones we're seeing now..

It's provides texture and interest without becoming the star attraction in a room,

 like wall paper has a tendency to do..

and it gives you the freedom to change up your walls on a whim -

 what could be better for us design junkies?!

On a side note, I am in love with most of John Robshaw's home -

that post is coming..

til next time...

Leopard Love

It started in high school.

I found a silk leopard printed scarf and it became my signature bit.

tied in my hair, on my bag, as a sash..

that scarf could have told some stories :)

Oh yes, the knee-length faux leopard coat was so hot in 1999..

moving from the city to the burbs, I still wore it out to the grocery store,

much to our neighbours amusement.

Onward to my first apartment, which looked nothing like these spaces below, LOL.

 My first purchase was a leopard carpet - I was sleeping on a futon, but had my carpet!!

 There is always a few leopard pillows floating about our place..

it never fails to impress me how versatile this print is - 

moving from room-to-room with ease..

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Currently, I am trying to convince D. that the old Chippendale sofa 

sitting in our bedroom could really use a little leopard love..

It may just skip off to the upholsterers one day, ready to be re-invented...

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I like animal prints when used with RESTRAINT- 

they add that bit of kitsch and take the edge off.

Do you use any?

Which is your favourite?

on a side note, I was trying to find an example of a chippendale sofa done up in leopard to sell D.,

and have learned that searching chippendale leopard in google will bring up many results,

 most of whom are male and scantily clad :) 

didn't impress him, for some reason!

til next time..

Eye Spy a Trend: Mixed Material Cabinetry

For those of us who feel that reclaimed wood isn't quite sleek enough,

 and laquered cabinetry is too sleek-

 these beauties have the best of both worlds..

I spotted this on the lovely Ashlina's blog, The Decorista

There's much to see here, but focus in on those lower cabinets..

that's not a door treatment you see every day.

From French Elle Decor - c'est parfait, non?

Another example, for those of who are us white kitchen lovers..

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Here's the flipside, wood frames and laquered doors - I LOVE this one:

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A whole kitchen is quite a commitment.

Perhaps a piece of furniture to update a room?

There's loads of mixed bag options floating about:

Gorgeous wood and leather cabinet.. 

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The sexy Seguro media console from Crate and Barrel..

The Pratt Desk from West Elm..

The Dandelion Graphic Dresser is a decorative take on mixed-materials:

A few of Ikea's newest products:

Mandal Series

Stuva storage combo

and if you fancy a DIY, a so-easy-it-will-take-your-breath-away Ikea hack:

I like the contrast of rustic and refined,

smooth and rough,

light and dark.

It makes a space more interesting, yes?

til next time..