Pantone

Following on the heels of a vibrant and uplifting color like Honeysuckle Pink,  Tango Tangerine is a vibrant, exciting choice for the new “it” color in fashion and design.  It’s a reddish-orange, like a beautiful sunset.

  This rich color is a natural to pair with Benjamin Moore’s 2012 Color of the Year, Wythe Blue! 

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Keep your eye out for tangerine home accessories like kitchen mixers, pillows, and bedding – it’s coming!

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I recently used it as the punchy accent color in this Nashville living room.

Nashville Interior Decorator does Tangerine Tango

Just a couple of months ago, I wrote a post called “Orange Is the New Red.”  Pantone obviously agrees!  So, what’s your honest opinion about Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2012?  Love it or leave it?

Wythe Blue is in Benjamin Moore’s Historic Color Collection, but don’t let that fool you.  This watery greeny-blue is fresh enough for a contemporary space.  Last summer, a new client asked for my opinion on the color in her entry and living room.  Her grown son told her it was dated, but she still loved it after 10 years.  Although I had lots of ideas for updating her home, this was one of the few times I advised a client to keep the same paint color.  Guess what color it was?  Yep, Wythe Blue.

Wythe Blue

Take it from The Decorologist:  there are lots of reasons to love this color.  The hint of gray in this color makes it sophisticated enough for a “formal” living or dining room.

Wythe Blue

Wythe Blue feels right at home in rooms with a coastal vibe like this Nantucket-style kitchen.

Wythe Blue Beadboard

It can also ramp up the vintage charm when painted on cabinetry and paired with nostalgic accessories. 

Wythe Blue Cabinets

Make sure you pair this color with other equally clean colors or it will make your muddier colors or fabric look dingy.  If you like Woodlawn Blue but want a little more green in your blue, Wythe Blue is a good pick.  And this may be the best reason of all to choose Wythe Blue for your space:  it’s the color of Mad Men’s Don Draper’s foyer!

Don Draper’s Foyer is Wythe Blue!

If you need help finding the perfect blue (or any other color) for your home, contact the only Nashville Color Expert on the  Benjamin Moore Color Expert Exchange  for an in-home or on-line Color Consultation today.

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Pink in the dining room would be divine!

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Honeysuckle pink and spa blue just may be my new favorite color combo.  I saw this living room on The Decorista’s blog the other day, and it made me SWOON:

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Spring is just around the corner, dears!  So in honor of pink,  I leave you with this:

 Hope you all have a lovely weekend.  I’m going to see a brand new play by Wes Driver and Greg Greene, Twilight of the Gods, with my husband.  If you are in the Nashville area, you should really check it out – the reviews are awesome and I can’t wait to see it!   See you on Monday morning, my dears! 

Photo Credit:  Joy of Nesting.

I must admit that when I think of high-gloss black, I think cheesy bachelor pad.  In the 1980′s.  Today, the hottest way to play with black is to use remove the gloss – matte black is in.   You might just want to go with an accent wall, like here.

Think chalkboard black – not ink black.  Maybe this matte black thing started with all the chalkboard paint that people started using in their homes.  It not only was functional, but looked pretty cool.

These living room walls are seriously black, but white accents keep it sharp. 

 I think I prefer the almost-black choice, like this wall.  Like gray-black or blue-black.

I think this works really well with this bold lime color on the door.

This room is amazing – white walls, black trim, ceiling, chandeliers, and gray on the floor and sofa.  Then – an acid green sofa  and ottoman plunked down in the middle of it!  Now that’s what makes this room sing.

I like this massive black headboard (made from three hollow core doors!), but I do think it would look better in a matte finish rather than it’s current gloss.

The white on the walls, ceilings, light fixtures, and island make the black flooring and lower cabinetry look grounding rather than dreary.  This room has some real gravitas.

I remember the first time I saw this kitchen in designer Ruthie Sommer’s home.  Wow.  Again, the bold door color against the black is what does it for me.

Black on the trim and far wall work because of the ton of light that streams through that glass.  Very sophisticated, not at all bachelor-pad cheesy.

Bold color choices give this room a confident personality.  The black isn’t overpowering because of the white wainscotting around the bottom of the walls.

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In this scene from “It’s Complicated,”  Meryl Streep relaxes in her very cool matte black claw foot tub.

This is a seriously glam bathroom, don’t you think?  I like that they painted the tub charcoal rather than the same black that is on the walls – glossy walls, matte tub.  That yellow velvet chair really pops.

So, are you ready to paint something black?  Try one of these options from Sherwin Williams paints:

SW 6258 Tricorn Black

SW 6991 Black Magic

SW 6993 Black of Night

SW 2936 Black Emerald

Photo Credits:  Decor8, Ohdeedoh, Apartment Therapy, Domino, LivingEtc,   Elle Decor,  BHG, HouseandGarden, DoorSixteen, ElleDecor, SkonaHem, PointClickHome, Vastudc

This lovely turquoise color is Pantone’s color pick of the year for 2010.  What is Pantone, you ask?  Pantone is a longtime sage of the color spectrum. The company creates standardized color palettes used in the design, graphics, cosmetics and fashion industries. Every year, the Color Institute forecasts color trends that tint our everyday lives.  The hue of the year is a jewel-like blue with a good dose of green.  Look how nicely it matches my blog!

Pantone says this color combines “the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green.”  Inspired by both water and sky,  it emotionally represents a comforting escape.  This color appeals to both men and women and is flattering to just about everyone.  This turquoise has both warm and cool undertones, so it pairs nicely with browns and neutrals, is a good compliment to reds/pinks, and livens up other greens.  Pantone believes it will be “especially trend-setting with yellow-greens.”  This color wasn’t chosen on a whim.  The Color Institute team travels around the world analyzing colors in different kinds of contexts, studying consumer psychology, and hitting trade shows.  They honed in on several blue and green shades.  The winning turquoise represents the best of these broader trends.

Style List says that blue as long been considered America’s favorite color.  And this shade is one of the brightest, cheeriest shades in the blue family.  “The current popularity of zingy colors breaks with the old belief that economically rough times call for soft, neutral hues.”

The largest advertisement agency in the country, JWT backs this development, too.  Ann Mack is the director of trendspotting for JWT, the largest advertisement agency in the country.  She predicts: “Saturated carnival colors — blues, oranges, greens and yellows — will replace 2009′s paler palette; think Cirque du Soleil and Alice in Wonderland.”   Hmmm, harkens back to my Fall Color Forecast . . .

I love this color but, frankly, I was a little surprised at their choice.  I mean, this color has been on-trend for quite some time.  It reminds you of the Tiffany Box blue, doesn’t it?  Remember my post earlier in the fall:  Color Therapy – Peacock Blue?  Very similar, just a little more green in Pantone’s pick.

I guess that’s a good thing – no huge seismic shift in a popular color means that design/fashion’s love of blue is not wearing thin.  I use so much blue in the color palettes I create for clients, so it’s an affirmation of recent choices – although I think I’ll mainly stick to gray-blues, robin’s egg, and peacock.

What do you think about Pantone’s 2010′s Color of the Year?

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Pair pink with brown, gray, or black to ground it.  Pair it with white for a fresh, crisp look. Keep foundation pieces neutral and use pink accessories that can be easily changed out. Use simple patterns, especially geometric ones like checks and stripes.

Stay away from too many fussy details like skirts, flanges, and fringes. If you’re concerned the pink will get out of control, avoid floral fabrics and wallpapers.  But DO feel free to incorporate real flowers!

Think hot pink or berry pink.  Adding some splashes of red keep it from seeming too sweet.  Use a mix of pinks so your room doesn’t look matchy-matchy. Consider lining the inside of a bookcase with a raspberry color.

Use simple and light window treatments in a pink room.  Be really bold and add in some orange, like they did in this room. 

Not convinced to go pink?   You may want to instead use pink sparingly.  A few pillows or a throw inject personality into an otherwise neutral room.  Don’t be afraid to use a little pink.  You’re a grown-up, and it’s OK!!!!

Try a few of my top picks for some fun pinks:

All colors are Benjamin Moore

Pink Corsage 1349

Chinaberry 1351

Secret Rendevous 1341

Pretty in Pink 1334

Supple Pink 2007-50

Gypsy Rose 1327

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