Green and Greener Paints, The 2022 Color of the Year Ain’t So Simple After All (Oops!)

Wait, wut? Well, we did mention that many paint brands have chosen various shades of green as their 2022 Color of the Year, unlike Pantone Very Peri which we happily featured in a previous post.

So, if you're struggling to imagine using a very periwinkle hue as the foundation for an upcoming interior design project, the industry has created options for you. (Whew, no ‘splaining why you chose it to a client – if you feared such a bold color might be.)

Then again, it’s doesn’t seem impossible to imagine using shades of both green and one of the four color palettes designed to complement the dynamic purple/blue hues of Very Peri from Pantone. After all, creativity is the hallmark of a sharp designer and, when a client shares their confusion about the conflicting opinions on colors of the year, your ingenuity and resourcefulness will ensure you have answers ready for them.

Why Is Green Suddenly So Trendy?

Both the question and answer are available in an article at Houzz.com. As San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer Jennifer Ott explains:

“I’ve been asked by many homeowners why green is suddenly so hot in and on homes, and I think it’s for a variety of reasons. For one thing, after so many years of pure white and cool shades of gray and blue dominating interiors, I think folks are looking for warmer hues. Green can go warm or cool, but it’s especially good at taking the chill out of a room when paired with white or cool colors. (Or periwinkle?)

“It also partners well with wood tones and natural fibers (Or periwinkle?), and it brings with it an outdoor vibe, which everyone seems to be craving these days.

“Finally, green (Or periwinkle color palettes?), represents rebirth and growth. It’s a nurturing color that signifies hope for the future.”

Wow, that’s an awful lot of responsibility to place on a paint color, don’t you think? And yet, it is true that the color green has been used to generate a sense of renewal along with feelings of being home for decades. This blends smoothly with the “holistic and harmonious blend of nature-infused shades” you can find in the Pantone color palette they named Wellspring.

Paint Makers’ Color of the Year for 2022

Moving on, let's take a look at a few of the variously shaded greens these paint manufacturers have declared their 2022 Color of the Year.

2022 color of the year Sherwin Williams

Evergreen Fog by Sherwin-Williams – Whether used as an accent or employed as a statement color Evergreen Fog, Sherwin-Williams’ 2022 color of the year, is a soft and neutral green color. They accurately describe it as “a versatile and calming hue, a chameleon color of gorgeous green-meets-gray, with just a bit of blue. It's a simple but sophisticated wash of beautiful, organic color for spaces that crave a subtle yet stunning statement shade.”

Beyond gorgeous, Evergreen Fog SW 9130 from Sherwin-Williams is a deep, rich, comforting shade of green that seems versatile enough to use from the living room to the bedroom in any home.

2022 color of the year Dutch boy

Cypress Garden by Dutch Boy – Bold without being overwhelming, Dutch Boy’s choice for 2022 Color of the Year is more of a pure shade, presented with minimal gray or brown undertones. Also offered in an array of color palettes, Cypress Garden 424-4DB is an extremely versatile hue that is “Understated, clean and familiar, these neutral hues help to quiet our minds and bring comfort to decluttered spaces.”

We see Cypress Garden as a clean and honest expression of the base color, making it a bit less neutral yet easily paired with a variety of other colors in the blue, yellow, brown, and gray families. (Oooooh, do we see hints of periwinkle in this image?)

2022 color of the year Glidden

Guacamole by Glidden – Yes, this shade is as tasty as it gets. (There, we got that expression out of the way!) As Ms. Ott describes it, “Guacamole PPG 1121.5 is a crisp vegetal green with yellow undertones. Cleaner and greener than the avocado green that was so ubiquitous in the 1960s and ’70s (You remember good ole “Avocado”, right?) … It’s one of the more vibrant greens of the batch and works well as a kitchen or bathroom accent color.”

Cool Green Leather Furniture

We thought it would be fun to tease you just a bit by featuring a cool shade of green leather from Leathercraft.

leathercraft good green leather

The above image is a distressed leather finish named Wyoming Good Green in pure Aniline from the QS Leather line from Leathercraft. It’s a remarkably comfortable hide that is available on chairs, ottomans, sofas, and sectionals to match your choice of green paint.

Whether you're an interior designer or furnishing store owner, Ted has the experience and knowledge to help you adapt to changing times and to employ the latest green 2022 Color of the Year, to enhance your client’s home or office environment. Feel free to… Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Trends and The Pantone Color of the Year 2022

As we leave 2021 behind and ring in the New Year, it’s time to also call up the latest from the folks at Pantone with their annual declaration of the Color of the Year 2022.

While many other paint brands proclaimed various shades of green as their color of the year, extolling its versatility, warmth, and feelings of growth, Pantone has selected a shade of periwinkle, Very Peri. They have also merged next year’s choice into four pre-loaded, mood-focused palettes with color combinations that integrate and complement Very Peri.

“Very Peri was selected for its blending of the faithfulness and constancy of classic blue with the energy and excitement of red. ‘As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family,’ Pantone Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman said. ‘Encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time possessing a violet-red undertone, Very Peri displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expression’.” (Houzz.com)

Pantone Very Peri Color of the Year Palettes

Realizing not every homeowner or designer will be completely comfortable with shades of blueish/lavender paint in every room, they have made these Color of the Year-themed palettes. These can be used with every other Pantone Colour and are available to share, save, and use in your design files within Adobe Photoshop®, Illustrator®, and InDesign®.

Balancing Act

“Balancing Act is a complementary palette of color whose natural balance of warm and cool tones support and enhance one another. The brilliance of Very Peri is intensified within this artfully calibrated palette, injecting a feeling of liveliness and visual vibration.”

Wellspring

“A holistic and harmonious blend of nature-infused shades, Wellspring highlights the compatibility of the greens with good-natured Very Peri and the health-giving properties of these deliciously subtle and nourishing hues.”

The Star of the Show

“The dynamic presence of Very Peri comes through in The Star of the Show, as we surround this happiest and warmest of all the blue hues with a palette of classics and neutrals whose essence of elegance and understated stylishness convey a message of timeless sophistication.”

Amusements

“Amusements, a joyous and whimsical color story of irrepressible fun and spontaneity is amplified by the carefree confidence and joyful attitude of Very Peri, a twinkling blue hue whose playfulness emboldens uninhibited expression and experimentation.”

Kravet Periwinkle Fabrics and Wallcoverings

A company that refuses to ignore design trends from wherever they may come, Kravet has made a variety of lovely periwinkle fabrics and wallcoverings available for some time.

Whether you're an interior designer or furnishing store owner, Ted has the experience and knowledge to help you adapt to changing times and to employ the latest Pantone Color of the Year 2022, 17-3938 Very Peri, to enhance your client’s home or office environment. Feel free to… Get in touch with TD Fall today

Interior Design Trends and The Pantone Color of the Year for 2021

This year, instead of taking our usual tour of the many opinions and variations of the color of the year for next year, we would like to keep it simple and stick with one, and the most important: The Pantone Colors of the Year for 2021.

There’s a reason for this that you may already have guessed if you’ve read our recent post on goal setting for business in 2021. In that post, we suggest that you try to keep things simple, with modest goals for your design or furnishings business next year. The idea being that, following the turmoil of this uber crazy year, staying calm and lowering expectations in case of crisis would be not only helpful to your business but also less stressful for you.

This type of thinking blends perfectly with what the color experts at Pantone have come up with for us in the New Year. In a somewhat remarkable shift for them, we’re being presented with not one but two colors for 2021.

Unprecedented Times Call for Extraordinary Color Choices

As you may have noticed in the opening paragraph, the newest entry into the traditional annual unveiling by the color matching experts has been made plural. That is, the decision to go with a pair of colors in an extraordinary move to match the unprecedented time in which we find ourselves.

As explained on their website, the choice of these paired colors exudes, “A message of happiness supported by fortitude, the combination of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating is aspirational and gives us hope. We need to feel that everything is going to get brighter – this is essential to the human spirit.”

Indeed, whether your design clients are seeking a hopeful space that is warm and welcoming, or strong and supportive, or perhaps a unique blend of both, you can make that happen. Because these colors offer the chance to bring together what some might think of as conflicting elements, the opportunity to make novel and uncommonly complimentary design choices is unique and exciting.

“[As] two independent colors that highlight how different elements come together to support one another… Ultimate Gray + Illuminating best expresses the mood for Pantone Color of the Year 2021. Practical and rock-solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, the union of Ultimate Gray + Illuminating, is one of strength and positivity. It is a story of color that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly.”

Take a Spiritual Approach to Complimentary Colorways

It should come as no surprise that a need for spirituality is on the rise this year. As an increasing number of Americans express the need to be more “spiritual but not religious” (according to Pew Research), these complementary colorways can be used to enhance that sense. In other words, this unusual pairing can be used to increase the senses of peace, wholeness, and balance among the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of our lives that many seek in the pursuit of healthy spirituality.

“As people look for ways to fortify themselves with energy, clarity, and hope to overcome the continuing uncertainty, spirited and emboldening shades satisfy our quest for vitality. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. [While] Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements that are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness, and resilience.”

While choosing these colors for your client’s spaces may not be the only answer to their need for newfound peace, the calming influence combined with the strength of purpose can be promoted in subtle but influential ways.

Whether you're an interior designer or furnishing store owner, Ted has the experience and knowledge to help you adapt to unprecedented times and to employ the latest Pantone Colors of the Year to enhance your client’s home or office environment. Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Trends – Color Palettes are the Latest Design Trend

Ah, color. When it comes to interior design trends, color may be the most difficult to grasp. Whether you accept the “color of the year” from the many sources available or research color trends from among other designers, it’s never easy to decide a direction for your clients.

On the other hand, there are so many “experts” out there these days; it’s just as hard to ignore the advice they have to offer. After all, manufacturers invest millions in such market trends, which begs the question of whether a local designer should ignore them.

Well, yes… and no.

At a fundamental level, all interior design is local, and national trends mean very little. So, while designers in New York and Los Angeles may influence the decisions made by manufacturers, they will often have no impact on your market. Yet, being “in the know” about design trends will reinforce your reputation and help to boost your brand.

That being said, there is a recent color trend that can help a sharp designer (like you) display knowledge of the marketplace as well as influence your client’s decision on color choices: using a color palette.

Monochrome Colors Seem to be “Out”

As you know, we respect the diversity of information from Houzz.com because they appeal to both consumers and design professionals, giving a more varied perspective on trends, especially. According to a recent article, editors at the latest Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris said they “saw a much subtler use of color, with multiple harmonizing or contrasting hues playing off one another.”

“Trendy and novel colors like burnt orange, olive green, and blood-red were well-represented [at the fair] however, what we really noticed… were the many color palettes. There were very few monochrome booths; many featured subtle color mixes based on analogous harmonies of three to five hues, combining primary and secondary colors, or triadic color contrasts.”

In other words, what was being shared was a series of “harmonious and contrasting combinations” of colors within a space that made a statement on its own.

For example:

Warm Harmonies of Blood Red, Orange, and Mustard

Harmonies of warm and invigorating colors – burgundy, wine red, blood red, burnt orange, mustard, and golden brown – create a look that’s sunny, energetic, and perfect for revitalizing interiors. These are the novel hues for this year.

Cool Combinations of Khaki, Yellow-Green, Linden Green and Almond Green

Harmonies of warm and invigorating colors – burgundy, wine red, blood red, burnt orange, mustard and golden brown – create a look that’s sunny, energetic and perfect for revitalizing interiors. These are clearly the novel hues for this year.

Cool Combinations of Khaki, Yellow-Green, Linden Green and Almond Green

Among the cool spectrum, it’s impossible to ignore this combination of shades of green. Fir green, the big color of 2019, still appears here and there, while the new green on the block is tinged with yellow and tends toward being a warmer khaki-olive.

Sweet Harmonies of Beige, Taupe, Greige, Honey and Fawn

These colors are timeless classics rather than novelties. However, there’s no better way to spice them up than to combine shades of these colors. Taupe (and onward through the spectrum to brown) has made a big comeback, and there are also mustard yellow, fawn and sienna. These reassuring palettes inspire cuddling up under a blanket.

Delicate Contrast With Blue, Orange and Pink

Among blues, we’re seeing peacock blue, Klein blue and denim step into the limelight. We’ve seen a lot of blue in the past few years, but now blues as a whole seem to be in decline.

Earthy Shades Carry On

Matte, dull and earthy colors remain trendy, manifesting an affirmation of the desire for nature.

The key to this latest interior design trend it seems to us, is to not let any single color overwhelm the space and to think in terms of shades instead of allowing one color to dominate.

Looking for more interior design trends, design business tips, marketing tips, new products, and furnishing ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Tips: Kitchen Cabinets for the Most Popular Room in the House

It has long been said that the kitchen is the most popular room in the house for most families. Yet, it is often the bane of their lives for interior designers. Perhaps the reason for this is that the kitchen IS the most popular room, meaning everyone in the family has an opinion about it.Well, in case you were wondering, the adage is true. According to a study by Realtor.com, analyzing the rooms most mentioned in listing descriptions, the kitchen has overwhelmingly become the most popular room in the home at 69%, followed by the bedroom (49%), garage (35%), and living room (21%).This means that, as a designer, you must place as much importance on kitchen design, functionality, and comfort as your client does. Obviously, knowing which features of the kitchen will help it stand out among other homes is critical to a successful redesign.Some features will add value to a kitchen, while other amenities are less relevant to buyers. Custom cabinetry ranks at the top of the list for adding value to a kitchen, followed by a kitchen island, creative lighting, granite counters, large pantry, stainless-steel appliances, tile backsplash, and breakfast bar. To protect yourself from angry clients, stay away from over-the-stove microwaves, maple cabinets, and 4 x 4 tile floors.If buyers like custom cabinets (and they do), and they also like wood (and they do), then it makes sense to focus on finding the right custom wood cabinets to add value to your client’s kitchen.Custom Shaker-style wood cabinetry offers far more than ample storage in this redesigned kitchen. (NewHomeSource.com)Lighter woods also have their place when the client wants an open, roomier feel. (NewHomeSource.com)The simplicity of design does not have to mean simplistic. Paints and veneers add flexibility to wood cabinetry that is hard to match. (Phil Kean Design Group)The concept of “home” still pulls at the heartstrings, and homebuilders say that upgrading certain features and adding special flourishes remains high on buyers’ shopping lists. As shown above, #1 on that list is the kitchen!Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today. 

Simple Bathroom Upgrades for Better Home Improvement ROI

In a previous post, Value of the Most Popular Home Improvement Projects, we outlined for you where your clients can expect the greatest return on investment for remodeling the rooms of their homes. While none of the most popular home improvements offered an overwhelming return, bathrooms and kitchens consistently showed the best ROI. Here, we present some of the easiest and most profitable bathroom upgrades to improve the ROI of a remodel.

You can use these tips to help close the deal when you have a client that wants to “think about it some more”.

Can a Bathroom Make a Statement?

An especially quick and easy bathroom upgrade, and one which most homeowners never consider, is to add artwork to the space. From eclectic to elegant, this simple step can completely change the feel of a normally neutral room, making a statement about the homeowner’s sense of style. (Image from HuffingtonPost.com)

The 70s Called to Get Their Bathroom Back

This jetted bathtub should be a place of relaxation and respite for an exhausted homeowner. But, the dated tile and dingy colors do nothing to create a sense of tranquility.

Now, with a cottage-style makeover, done for less than $1000, this bathtub has become a destination to which a homeowner can happily return for her “Me Time”, after a busy day. (Image from HGTV.com)

Turning Classics into Contemporary Pieces

If innovation truly is the mother of invention, then adaptation may be the father of innovation.

This stunning piece employs the classic idea of a wash basin combined with an antique dresser to create a sink with modern plumbing that is truly unique and lovely. (Click here to learn more about how you can offer this innovative idea to your design clients, with how-to instructions from thisOldHouse.com.)

It certainly adds more style than this old house could do. (See what we did there? LOL)

Turns out, the perfect client may not be the one who says, “Money is no object”. First, they rarely mean it, and second, they’re as rare as a stylish mullet. On the other hand, homeowners on a budget are numerous, and frequently willing to accept outside the box solutions, which is exactly what some of these bathroom upgrades are.

Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Tips: How to Make a Bathroom Look Bigger

From millennials living in tiny houses to seniors making the money-saving move to smaller spaces like townhomes and condos, adding a roomy feeling to their homes for your clients requires some innovative thinking. When space is at a premium in the bathroom, these interior design tips should come in very handy for you.

Floating Vanity in the Bathroom

When space gets tight in a bathroom, balancing the need for storage with a desire for breathing room can be quite the challenge. A floating vanity is a great answer for making such a small area feel larger. Even with room to store daily essentials, the bit of flooring that’s revealed beneath makes the area feel a notch more open.

This 48” Single Sink Floating Vanity with Mirror is from ICAFurniture.com.

Reflect More of the Space You Have to Work With

Make the space feel more spacious than it actually is.  A large mirror can double the size of your space and, in a bathroom especially, can really help to visually double your investment.

Large Rectangular Wall Mounted Vanity Mirror With LED Lighting from GravityDecor.com.

Glass Adds Class – And Space

A great way to expand the look and feel of a small bathroom is by replacing a shower curtain with a glass panel or door in the shower. By eliminating the visual wall, the entire square footage of the room will be visible at once for a bigger look, especially when you’re in the shower. A frameless glass design adds an even more open feeling.

Avalux Frameless Corner Shower Enclosure from HomeDepot.com.

Use Small Bathroom Size to Your Advantage

As mentioned in a previous post, cozy spaces are in this year. If you can turn the limited space of a smaller bathroom into a positive for your client by making it feel intimate and comfy, you’ll do yourself and them a favor. Choosing a single color in various shades can create a sense of coziness, a richly stained wood vanity and mirror frame adds a touch of luxury. The small floor tiles add a splash of contrasting texture that keeps the space looking modern and fresh.

Better Homes & Gardens offers more ideas like this one at BGH.com.

These are just a few ideas for making a small bathroom look bigger. If you're really stuck for ideas to open up spaces for your clients, it’s time to invest in some research into other interior design tips that you can employ on their behalf.

Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

One Thing Interior Designers Agree On - To Disagree!

If there is one thing interior designers agree on, it’s this: they agree to disagree.

The hot color for this season is blue and all its shades, right? Then again, Pantone's Greenery was recently named the color of the year for 2017, with plenty of the top designers in the country adding it to their palate. In fact, about the only thing designers can agree on when it comes to color is that it can make or break the space in which it’s used!Are you a fan of blue as the hot color this year?Or, are you going for the green as your favorite color?Bare Floors or Rugs: Which is best?Perhaps even more contentious among designers is the classic issue of bare floors versus rugs; which may never be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone – or anyone, for that matter.Rugs are a great and relatively easy way to add warmth to a room, which is why they are so popular. They are also easily replaced, which is another feature that appeals, since changing the feel of an entire space can be accomplished by simply tossing something new and beautiful on the floor. And yet, rugs can be maintenance heavy items, requiring vacuuming of shedding layers of wool, pet hair they can capture, or even cleaning stains from spills by the kids (or that unruly guest who consumed too much wine).Potentially one of the most transformative elements in a room, a strategically placed collection of rugs in a home can make all the difference in the world: accenting, featuring, joining or separating spaces as needed.Then again, there are some rooms, and some floors, that cry out to be left bare. For example, covering the exquisite pattern in the image below could be thought of as a crime by some. Then too, rugs in a dining area can attract all sorts of accidents left behind following a dinner party. This floor is not only gorgeous, it’s easier to clean and maintain than a rug might be.As with so many things, when it comes to designing a comfortable, attractive living space, there will be many disagreements on exactly what comfortable and attractive mean. The sharp interior designers agree with the client more often than not, helping to guide them yet accepting that the space belongs to them, and so must meet their needs above all else.Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.  

Hot New Design Trend – Things are Becoming Less Edgy

According to the Home Section of the Washington Post, and writer Lindsey M. Roberts, the latest hot design trend is to eliminate hard edges, straight lines, and sharp corners in home furnishings and accessories.“There is a big shift happening in residential interiors right now”, the article claims," to a look that is comfortable, livable and most important, accessible.”The feel of this trend is softer and warmer; the look is still very fashionable.“People want almost a sanctuary space where they can decompress or chill out, and that goes to more pieces that have more rounded edges,” says Lisa Puchalla of LilyMae Design in the District (DC).Although the trend in rounder forms began in the lighting industry, we can see from the images below that the softer look has expanded to include more furnishings. 

Two great things about this latest design trend toward a rounded look are, social proof that there is a place for investing in furniture that can withstand changing styles; it does not require a full-on redecoration of a home to implement. Instead, your clients can simply add and/or take away a bit at a time until their interiors feel refreshed and comfy to them.

Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Terminology: Cozy is the New Elegant

For most people, the word “cozy” implies intimate, which is also a euphemism for small. In contemporary interior design terminology, however, making a space cozy and comfy might involve taking a large living room from commodious to comfortable or turning a small, cold home office into a warm and restful reading room.

Whatever the space involved, a cozy room is inviting and friendly to all who enter.

How to Get Cozy

According to CountryLiving.com, a cozy living room can be created in a variety of ways, depending on what a designer has to work with and the goals of the client. Here are a few ideas that can add a cozy feel to even the largest living space in a home.

Exposed wood – From wood paneling to exposed beams, bare wood has a feel all its own, offering warmth and a sense of country living to even the most modern home. The unique approach in the image on the left, to take apart the original paneling, power wash them, then reinstall the boards shows true dedication and innovation.

Bare brick or stone – Just as bare brick is no longer reserved exclusively for a downtown loft in the big city, so too can exposed stone accents add a cozy country feel to a home in the suburbs. In truth, the designer’s imagination is the only limit here.

Contrasting décor – A true non-starter for most designers, mismatched pieces like those below are frowned upon. In this case, however, there is a sense that the décor for this room was put together over time by the homeowners, with a warm and comfortable environment being the only criteria needed to make the room cozy.

Single feature – As a way to make a room cozy, installing a wood burning stove may be one of the most effective single features a designer has to offer to their clients.

Combining design elements – As mentioned above, even a huge living space can be made to feel cozy, as long as the designer employs the right elements, and uses them in the right proportions.

Above all, a cozy home is livable. It’s attractive and comfortable, warm and inviting, and the focus of such a space is keeping the occupants happy. It’s simply not about resale value but, rather, the long-term satisfaction of the homeowner.

Looking for more new design trends, tips, and ideas?  Get in touch with TD Fall today.