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Color Trend Alert: Denim Blue
Denim is one of the biggest fashion trends for Spring 2013. That’s funny because denim jeans and jackets are such a classic…I live in my blue jeans! However, this year’s trend focuses on wearing denim in creative and retro ways:
No matter how you wear it, denim clothing is super versatile. You can dress it up or down but it’s always comfortable and chic. That’s why it works for almost every outfit, and that’s what makes denim blue a great color choice for any room in your home.
{elledecor}
Just like wearing jeans, using a denim wall color or accessories in your home will make your room feel relaxed, even if the overall decor is formal.
{architectural digest}
{Above: denim delights — includes pillow covers from etsy.com}
{trailer park gypsy}
A denim-blue and gold color scheme is elegant without looking too stuffy. A room with a denim and gray color palette feels modern and casual.
{terrysfabrics}
{lilyoake}
Denim blue works with any design style — country, traditional, modern, anything. It’s a color that is very easy on the eyes, and because denim was a hot hue on the Spring fashion runways, it’s only a matter of time before we’ll see it popping up more in home design.
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Choosing A Color: Tantalizing Teal
When New York Fashion Week wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, Teal was one color that created a buzz.
{Designs by Tracy Reese; Betsey Johnson; Prabal Gurung}
Typically, the color teal is a medium to deep blue-green. Teal has started appearing in home decor as a slightly different and deeper alternative to the ever-popular turquoise.
Teal is such a great, relaxing paint color for your home — especially for those of you who prefer richer hues. Teal is serene but not washed out. I love pairing it with contrasting hues such as red, pink, yellow, orange and warm-green.
Other yummy take-away colors from New York Fashion Week – Spring 2011 {from Pantone}:
{Glad to see that Lavender is included, too!}
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Choosing A Color: Gold
Tyra Banks recently posed for a photo shoot in honor of the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
“McQueen was considered royalty in the fashion community,” Tyra wrote on her website. So she decided to transform herself, head-to-toe, into a queen.
{What an adorable princess!}
I was very inspired by the regal outfits, especially the gold accents. It reminded me of the gold trend that is slowly making its way through the interior design world. Unlike the trend of the past, this new gold rush is less gaudy and more refined; a little less shiny and more polished satin — definitely an accent and paint color trend to watch.
{The two spaces above are in a Renaissance-inspired home located in Singapore. Designer Stanley Tham.}
{satin gold fixture from Kohler}
{OK…so maybe this one is a little over the top! From trendir.com}
Have you been seeing gold? Will you add it to your color scheme?
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This Year’s Purple Trend
Turquoise has been declared Color of the Year, but so far it seems Purple Reigns. Join me, as I take you on a tour to the many different faces, places and products where Purple has been seen:
The color Purple has been spotted everywhere: in fashion, home accessories, magazines, advertisements and make-up collections, as the beautiful Zoe Kravitz shows us here {photo from InStyle; Fancy Pancy eyeshadow from Sephora}.
There were 1-2-3-4-5 celebrities who donned pretty Purple dresses at the Golden Globe Awards in January. In addition, Michelle Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden all sported the color at the President’s State of the Union Address last month.
Coach has a lovely new spring collection of handbags that features a fun mix of Purples in a variety of shades and tints.
On the decorating front, there are plenty of Purple pleasures available for our homes this year.
{from Target and Bliss Living Home}
Purple is a great color for your home because, in it’s truest form, it is a perfect balance of warm {red} and cool {blue}. For a little variation try a wine-colored plum for even more warmth, or a blue-periwinkle for a touch of cool.
Purple chandeliers and Purple chandelier earrings are both very chic right now. I love the Murano glass chandelier, but the earrings fit into my budget so much better.
If you’re searching for a new fragrance, Halle Berry’s new perfume gives you the chance to sport a Purple-y scent.
From violet to plum to lavender, fashion designers have shown their Purple pride on the runway. If you want to know what will be hot in home design, keep your eye on fashion trends.
{Tracy Reese Spring 2010, photo by NYmag.com}
{Rachel Roy Fall 2010, photo from NY Mag}
Venus and Serena Williams’ new ad campaign for Nabisco is positively Purple.
…And finally, at our last stop we come full-circle with another show of Purple make-up. This time from MAC Cosmetics Spring 2010 Colour3 {Plum} Forecast Collection.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this ‘tour’ as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I love many colors, but purple is my favorite. However, I’m looking forward to seeing what other colors will stand out this year. When I find out, I’ll let you know!
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Color It Coral
Decorating with the color coral can be tricky, but don’t let that stop you from using this delightful color in your home.
Somewhere in between orange and red, coral is a warm, crisp color that will brighten your space and work well with a variety of other hues. Also referred to as salmon, peach, apricot and melon, coral can range from a vibrant reddish-pink to a soft terra cotta.
Coral is often associated with tropical or coastal interiors, and for that reason many people are hesitant to use it. It actually is one of the colors of coral reef as well as the inside of some sea shells, but don’t confine this color to the beach. Coral is also the color of the sky at dawn and dusk. In fact, I once specified coral for a client’s bedroom tray-ceiling after being inspired by a brilliant peachy-pink sunrise. They absolutely loved it!
{washington spaces — design by Barbara Hawthorn}
Because coral pulls from both red and orange, you’ll get the benefits of each color which results in a warm, romantic, energizing, and cheerful space. Another added plus: people look better in coral spaces. The rosiness of this color is very flattering to all skin tones and will add a youthful glow to your complexion. Who wouldn’t want that?
When using coral, you can create a dramatic space by adding complementary colors such as green or teal. These two hues appear across from coral {red-orange} on a color wheel and will give you the most impact. For a more serene feel, create an analogous color scheme by adding colors that lie next to coral on the color wheel, such as a lavender-pink or saffron. You can also use neutrals such as chocolate brown, tan or gray. To create a modern space, add a dose of white furnishings.
Some people think coral is a very feminine color, and they find using it a challenge when considering the tastes of a husband or boys. However, if you select a shade that has more of an orange undertone, it can turn out to be a great, cheery color that satisfies everyone.
I might also add that the color coral makes a stunning fashion statement, as shown here by First Lady {and fashion trend-setter} Michelle Obama:
Coral really is a versatile color and it can add a unique vibe to your home {and your wardrobe}. Experiment with different shades {such as my suggested colors below from Sherwin-Williams} to find out how coral can fit into your design style.
{Top, l-r: Ardent Coral, Smoky Salmon, Avid Apricot, Dishy Coral; Bottom l-r: Peach Blossom, Sunset, Quite Coral}
One last photo — an awesome coral/peach sunset taken from my cell phone camera in the Wal Mart parking lot the other evening:
{God does it best}
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Color On A Roll
This colorful little lady really grabbed my attention the other day.
As one of 30,000 participants in this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll, she was skillfully dressed head-to-toe in color and pattern, and she stole the show. She was even photographed alongside President Obama as he offered his assistance during the egg roll. Her stylist — Mom perhaps — must understand the power of color.
It would’ve been hard not to snap pictures of this adorable child with her bright pink headband; aqua, strawberry and green jacket; pink patterned dress and petticoat; and red & black ladybug boots. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that she has red hair. Just as this outfit is layered with color, pattern and fabric so too can you layer your room in the same way.
In looking for inspired spaces, I immediately thought of my fellow-blogger Erin. House of Turquoise, her outstanding blog, focuses on gorgeous turquoise spaces, along with wonderful complimentary hues. Here are a few rooms that I think capture the colors of the featured outfit. Be sure to check out Erin’s blog for even more great pictures.
top photos by: huffingtonpost.com; washingtonpost.com
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Fashion-Inspired Bedroom Colors
These photos are from the Fall 2009 Baby Phat/KLS Fashion Show that took place earlier this week in New York. I love how the ‘Kimora Lee Simmons Clan’ was adorned in shades of pink, purple and black. Simmons’ adorable daughters, Aoki Lee, Ming Lee and beau — the incredibly talented actor Djimon Hounsou, all looked very urban chic wearing fuchsia, violet and black. Not sure why Ms. Simmons wore beige, but none the less she looked radiant.
Looking at these couture colors reminded me of two gorgeous bedrooms that I’d seen using the same palette. If you like the clothes, you’ll love these spaces:
This pretty bedroom (livingetc.com) was designed using different tones of purple, accented with pink. This is a good example of how you don’t have to be so matchy-matchy when using one color. Pictured below is a stylish teen bedroom that my blogger-friend Helene Blonsky designed for her daughter. Helene did a marvelous job combining pink and purple with black and white — all very hot color combinations right now. Mmmm…she must be on to something. Click Here to see how this space came together.
Photos from the Fall 2009 Baby Phat/KLS Fashion Show: seventhsquare.com
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A New Era of Colors
The Inauguration of President Barack Obama was truly an amazing day in American history. Being a native Washingtonian, I’ve never seen the city so electrified — powered by two million jubilant people! And I must say, I’m delighted that we have a family in the White House that loves unique, vibrant colors and wears them well! So, here’s my “Yes We Did” palette inspired by the colors proudly worn by the Obamas on this historic day (colors by Sherwin-Williams):
"Independent Gold" reflects the color of Michelle Obama's day ensemble. This yellow-gold metallic fabric also had a touch of green. "Heartthrob" not only describes President Obama himself, but it was also the color of his tie.
"Frank Blue" was the classic color of Malia's coat, while Sasha wore a fun-loving combination of pink ("Loveable") and orange ("Kid's Stuff")
Other hues of the day included these brightly-colored buttons that volunteers on the National Mall were handing out (refresheverything.com). Inaugural Ball invitations and tickets also made a colorful mark on the evening (bottom picture):
top photo of the Obama family from huffingtonpost.com
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Michelle Obama’s Yellow-Gold Ensemble
For a few weeks now I’ve been speculating that yellow would be a hot color this year, as the Obamas have given Americans and the world an optimistic outlook about the future. I asked the question, “Will Michelle Obama wear yellow on Inauguration Day?” So I’m pleased to just have seen Mrs. Obama wearing a stunning yellow-gold ensemble this morning. She looks radiant, fired-up and ready to go! It’s a bright, sunshiny day in Washington, DC!
Photo by telegraph.co.uk.
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Colors For The Inaugural Dress
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- Carolina Herrera
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- Lime Rickey
What dress (or dresses) will Michelle Obama wear for the inauguration? It seems many top designers are eagerly displaying their suggestions for the elegant, soon-to-be First Lady.
Aah, decisions, decisions — but what a wonderful dilemma to have. Who wouldn’t want the nation’s finest designers offering to outfit them in couture? As you can see by these sketches (all from wwd.com), Mrs. Obama could have a difficult time deciding, and it could all come down to color. I’m glad to see such vibrant colors instead of subtle or muted hues. Plenty of color inspiration here for our own inaugural outfits (I’m still trying to get a ticket) and even our homes.
Here, you’ll find some designer’s sketches and my paint picks from Sherwin Williams.
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- Isaac Mizrahi
Emberglow, Drama Violet & Dragon Fruit
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- Tracy Reese
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- Gentian
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- Day Ensemble – Diane Von Furstenberg
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- Lemon Twist
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- Michael Kors
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- Honorable Blue
Visit wwd.com to see more designer sketches.
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