Pantone Color of the Year 2023 – A Bold, Dramatic, Stunning Statement is Made

Finally, the paint color trendsetter has announced its startling choice for the Pantone Color of the Year for 2023. As their website says, “Welcome to the Magentaverse”, with Viva Magenta rockin’ your world!

After exploring the colors of the year from the major paint manufacturers, we are excited to see that Pantone has declared 2023 the perfect time for a bold, dramatic, even stunning statement to be made. And, with Viva Magenta, nothing could be more stunning.

Viva Magenta from Pantone

As they describe it, “Pantone’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in nature descending from the red family and expressive of a new signal of strength. Viva Magenta is brave and fearless, and a pulsating color whose exuberance promotes a joyous and optimistic celebration, writing a new narrative.

“This year’s Color of the Year is powerful and empowering. It is a new animated red that revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self-expression without restraint, an electrifying, and a boundaryless shade that is manifesting as a stand-out statement. Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit. It is a color that is audacious, full of wit, and inclusive of all.”

Why Choose Such a Striking Color?

Why did Pantone choose a color that is so bold and striking? According to Pantone Color Institute’s Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman:

“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.

“Rooted in the primordial, Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”

If the Pantone Color of the Year for 2023 doesn’t resonate with you, feel free to check in with us for further impressions of these categories of colors trending for next year. Just click here to… Get in touch with TD Fall today.

2023 Colors of the Year (Pt 2) – It’s a Pick ‘em

Continuing our look at the variety of Colors of the Year for 2023 (which we began last week), we’ll be taking a look at next year’s offerings from Sherwin-Williams, Butch Boy, Benjamin Moore, and Behr paint companies.

Again, instead of offering us shades of a single color, or even narrowly defined palettes as we’ve seen in the past, the major paint manufacturers are presenting us with more of a mix of categories: soft neutrals, warm pink shades, and rich, deep blue/greens. According to a recent article at the consumer-friendly design site Houzz.com, that is.

Redend Point by Sherwin-Williams

“If less intense pinks are more your jam, take a look at Redend Point [the 2023 Color of the Year from Sherwin-Williams]. It’s a medium-dark sand color, which makes it neutral, but it has a soft coral-pink undertone that gives it a twist. This is not your typical tan.

“The hint of warm pink allows the color to serve as a pleasing backdrop to hues that are more pink- or orange-forward, as seen here. But it’s still a neutral, and as such, it can work with a variety of other colors, especially those also on the warmer side of the color spectrum.”

Rustic Greige by Dutch Boy

“Along the lines of Redend Point, Rustic Greige [from Dutch Boy paints] is a sandy tan with a kiss of pink. These moodier neutrals seem to be gaining popularity in interiors, likely as a reaction to the long-popular bright whites and cool, silvery grays.

“I think this is a good choice for a neutral background wall color. You can then mix in touches of more vibrant colors or stick with a warm neutral palette and add variety with different shades of ivory, beige, tan, and brown.”

Raspberry Blush by Benjamin Moore

“Benjamin Moore [paint’s] selection also is a warm pink, but this one is super bold and vibrant.

“This extroverted hue works best in public areas of a home where an energetic vibe is desired. It’s a conversation-stimulating color for the dining room — good for those who love to entertain.”

Blank Canvas by Behr

“If you’re seeking a clean slate for 2023, you can’t go wrong with Behr [paint’s] choice of Blank Canvas. It’s pretty clear Behr is making a statement with this choice. And that statement is that most of us probably could use a fresh start.

“This go-anywhere off-white has a slightly warm cast, making it a versatile jumping-off color that can be paired with just about any other color. But because it has a touch of warmth, it also can be used as the dominant color in a room and not feel too cold or sterile.”

If these 2023 Colors of the Year fail to resonate with you, feel free to check in with us for our further impressions of these categories of colors that are trending for next year. Just click here to… Get in touch with TD Fall today.

2023 Colors of the Year – Get Your Feels On!

As we wait with bated breath (and frustration) for Pantone to declare their trend-setting Color of the Year for 2023, it’s important to recall that many other manufacturers announce their own Colors of the Year.

Rather than the shades of a single color as we’ve seen in the past, the major paint companies are presenting us with more of a mix of categories: soft neutrals, warm pink shades, and rich, deep blue/greens. That is, according to a recent article at the consumer-friendly design site Houzz.com.

Vining Ivy from PPG and Glidden

“PPG and its Glidden paint brand have both selected Vining Ivy as their 2023 Color of the Year for paint. A handsome aqua-emerald, Vining Ivy can be used to create a snug bedroom retreat, as shown here, or put to work in the kitchen as an accent color, perhaps for an island base or pantry cabinets in a glossy sheen.”

The crew at Glidden wants us to stress that “This ‘bluish-greenish-something-in-betweenish’ color serves up versatile vibes, making it an on-trend addition to any room. No matter if you think it looks more blue or more green, either way, it’s a vibe.”

Everglade Deck by Valspar

“Rather than promoting one Color of the Year, Valspar has chosen to highlight 12 trending paint colors, as it did for 2022. One of its picks, Everglade Deck, is another saturated blue/green, a bit moodier than Vining Ivy. It has surprising warmth for such a cool color. Here it infuses a bathroom with dramatic, elegant color.”

The folks at Valspar believe this colorway is trending because, “As we turn away from faster-paced lifestyles, we continue to seek balance and calmness as a source of health and rejuvenation.”

Terra Rosa by Dunn-Edwards

“While greens and blues remain popular with homeowners, increasingly warmer colors are making headway. Terra Rosa by Dunn-Edwards is a cinnamon-rose hue that’s a fresh take on more neutral browns and burgundies. It’s somewhat vibrant but also has an earthy quality; this earthiness makes it a versatile [shade of] pink.”

It’s so nice to know that there are people out there who not only see but wish to enhance our quality of life. The people at Dunn-Edwards illustrate that commitment to a life well lived by stating, “Terra Rosa highlights living a life filled with joy and finding the beauty in everyday small pleasures. The grounding quiet comfort of Terra Rosa provides a touch of prettiness with the influence of pink, yet still can create drama with its deep value.”

Are you confused by the number of choices yet? We understand so we’ll pause here to let you absorb these new design trends. But, you might want to stay tuned for a further examination of the broadening spectrum of trending 2023 Colors of the Year in a future post.

If that doesn’t work, feel free to check in with us for our further impressions of these categories of colors that are trending for next year. Just click here to… Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Fast Furniture and Client Satisfaction – Oil and Water Don’t Mix

Phrases like “social distancing”, “contact tracing”, and “flattening the curve” have been popularized in our cultural lexicon thanks to a couple of years of the pandemic. The interior design industry is no different as the phrase “fast furniture” has been coined as a somewhat derogatory term for what used to be known as mass-produced furnishings.

From products by Ikea and/or Wayfair to higher quality ready-to-ship pieces from Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, and Ethan Allen, homeowners and designers have been filling homes across the country with readily available pieces. This is understandable in some sense since not everyone can wait two to ten months for their new, designer furniture to be delivered.

In the middle of the work-from-home crisis, office furniture led the way in this trend, but ongoing supply chain issues have perpetuated this need for many homeowners.

The Good, Bad, and Ugly

According to an article from the New York Times, while design clients and DIY’ers have been largely satisfied with such solutions, many in the trade are worried that these easy-to-get products will have a short shelf life, resulting in clogged landfills over the next few years.

“The e-commerce furniture market alone was worth more than $27 billion in 2021, and [is] projected to reach more than $40 billion by 2030, according to a report from Next Move Strategy Consulting. Ikea is opening an average of [fifty] new locations per year; Amazon, the world’s largest retailer, now has two private-label furniture brands, the midcentury-modern Rivet, and the more farmhouse-chic Stone & Beam.”

While this is all well and good for the US economy, at least on a micro level, as sustainability expert and author Ashlee Piper is quoted as saying in the article, “It’s quite a big problem, both spatially and also because of the way a lot of fast furniture is made now, it’s not just wood and metal. The materials don’t biodegrade or break down … We’re creating this Leviathan problem at landfills with the furniture that we get rid of.”

To confuse the issue, even more, the article tosses us another positive aspect of fast furniture’s popularity: “For all of its flaws, fast furniture offers millions of homeowners the opportunity to live in a stylish home at an affordable price point. As young people contend with skyrocketing housing prices and economic anxiety, even those who would prefer to browse antique markets or shop for custom pieces simply don’t have the resources to do so.

The Sustainability Issue

Quick production schedules and fast turnaround times create issues with sustainability in the furniture industry. However, “Over the past decade, a number of sustainability-focused companies have entered the market in the hopes of presenting a solution,” the article explains.

Though “sustainability-focused companies [that] have entered the market” is a positive step, it begs the question of what established furnishing manufacturers may be doing.

For example, as the oldest manufacturer in the US as well as the industry leader, the Kravet family of brands has developed its Green Initiative, outlining a company-wide commitment to sustainable manufacturing solutions.

“The Kravet family of brands is dedicated to conducting business with a focus on providing a sustainable future. Our goal is to do our part in the worldwide effort to protect the planet with impactful initiatives. As a fifth-generation family business, we understand the importance of building a legacy built on reliability with a promise of a brighter tomorrow. These are the steps we are taking to secure that promise.”

And, of course, the creativity of design and quality of their products ensures a long shelf life in the homes and offices in which they are placed.

For alternatives to the fast furniture trend, and for more information on quality home-furnishing lines like Kravet and others we represent, simply… Contact TD Fall today.

Interior Design Trends – Expect Steady Growth in Q2 This Year

According to a recent article at Houzz.com, there is good news about interior design trends and the demand for designers for the current quarter. The news is a result of the “Houzz Renovation Barometer, [which] is based on a quarterly online survey sent to a national panel of U.S. businesses with a profile on Houzz. The Barometer includes three components: expected business activity, recent activity, and backlogs (or wait times).”With short-term expectations strong for construction firms, architects, and designers, optimism for steady demand in all three industries is high. “The Q2 2019 Houzz Renovation Barometer tracks residential renovation market expectations; project wait times and recent business activity.”What the Houzz Renovation Survey Tells YouThe following is a snapshot of the interior design trends you can expect to see in the immediate future, based on the survey:

• Firms expect positive business activity – Like construction firms, architects and interior designers expect renovation business activity to rise during the second three months of 2019 from a year ago. Their score of 70 for the Expected Business Activity Indicator shows that there are more firms that anticipate increases than those that anticipate decreases. This score is up a dramatic 16 points from the same period a year ago, and up 5 points from the first three months of 2019.
• Wait times have decreased nationally – The Backlog Indicator for architectural and design firms stayed at an average of 4.7 weeks nationally for the second three months of the year, a drop of 1.4 weeks from the same time period in 2018. Compared with the first quarter of 2019, wait times are flat for the second three months of 2019. Architects currently have shorter wait times to take on a new midsize project (4.4 weeks) compared with interior designers (5.2 weeks).
• Recent business activity is up year over year – An increase in new-project inquires and new projects in January through March lifted the Recent Business Activity Indicator for this sector for the first quarter of 2019 to 63, up 16 points compared with the first quarter of 2018. However, relative to the prior three months, this score is down 2 points.

In short, there should be opportunities for growth in your design business in the immediate future. Following this, you should work hard to expand those opportunities, and this trend, by asking for referrals and recommendations from satisfied clients after each interior design project you complete.To learn more about interior design trends, design marketing tips, and our lines of luxury furnishings, Get in touch with TD Fall today.