2006 Color Forecast: Deep thoughts
Kara Cox -- Home Accents Today, 4/1/2005
Color is in for 2006 but that doesn't mean everything has to be bright and funky. Taking a turn toward the darker side is a group of colors inspired by the Deco era that seem to be traditional until you look more closely at the combinations. Heavy on glamour and sophistication, these colors become an updated take on tradition.
"This move is really a mixture of traditional and luxury trends that point to European inspiration," said Christine Chow, director of membership for the Color Association of the U.S. "It's in the mixing of the color combinations that makes them fresh. It's about putting unexpected colors together like mahogany or mallard green with coral pink." Chow thinks metallics will stick around but become warmer, woodsy colors like bronze and honey. Aged gold and pewter metallics with a patina incorporate a vintage influence into the home.
Catherine Stein, president of The Color Council, believes celebrity culture has a tremendous influence on color and style. "Salma Hayek's midnight navy blue gown; yellow, and the plethora of earth tones signal a new look at color," Stein said. "Once the turquoise passes, deeper, richer, saturated blues such as navy, sapphire and indigo will look fresh."
Leatrice Eiseman, director of the Pantone Color Institute, uses these deco shades in a palette called Stiletto, where she says high fashion inspires polished urbane settings that use combinations like emerald or peridot green, amethyst and Brazilian reds, underscored by muted golds and silvers, both shiny and delustered.
Senior Editor of The Trend Curve Michelle Lamb calls these hues Deco Deeps and says the deco-influences mixed with other colors will work well. Shades like aubergine (a dark, red-cast purple), Egyptian teal, cinema blue (navy but brighter or cobalt but blacker) and ocean liner (a deep graphite) add depth and character when mixed.
The mix of Deco-hues in the abstract painting from Rosenbaum Fine Art makes a lively update of traditional red, navy and emerald. eLink 646
The pillows from A. Rive incorporate a brighter sapphire blue with graphite in lush textural contrast. eLink 581
| The decorative screen from TLS by Design lends a dramatic touch with a graphite metal pattern contrasted with deep mahogany stained wood. eLink 669 |  |
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The Lamp from John-Richard uses an emerald green glass base to convey elegance and luxury topped with a rich brown shade. eLink 553 |
| Harounian Rugs adds contemporary styling to a deep purple-cast red with touches of coral and peridot green. eLink 516 |  |
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Deep reds and aubergine contrast with the brighter emerald green in this permanent botanical by Natural Creations that mimics hues found in nature. eLink 593 |
