Wednesday 28 August 2013

Beautiful fall colour trends

Well I'm back, after having had a fabulous summer and goofing off for most of it, can't believe we are pretty much into September.  I thought I'd talk colour trends for this coming fall/winter season 2013/14. This info comes from Mix Global Colour conference held in London - they work with Pantone and are why I'm using their info!

These trends are determined by a secret panel of 10 people in conjunction with Pantone - who basically set the standard for all shades.  Think about it, all of our printer ink is Pantone based, so are the colours that your computer uses when you choose a font colour or even to "see" the pictures I'm posting.  So let's just say that Pantone is an authority, if not 'the' authority on colour. 

The thing is, whether you like the colours of the season or not, they are hard to avoid. Showing up in fashion first, they make into our home decor not long after.  If it's not a colour you like, or one that looks good on your or with anything else in your home, then it becomes limiting and pretty difficult to freshen up personal decor with new pillows or accent pieces.  But there you have it - we have to learn to work with or around it!

The descriptors attached to each colour are written by Gudy Herder, she is trained in retail trade and specializes in what she calls styling services, and also teaches Strategic Visual Merchandising in the Luxury field.  Travelling the world through her work.  Decorating and training in different markets such as Europe, Dubai, Brazil, Panama and Mexico most recently.

So without further ado, here are the colours (in their varying shades) that you can expect to see this coming fall and winter.


STORM

'Climate changes such as floods have been a big deal globally, leading to uncertainty and a certain surrealism reflected in hot and cold colours, bright and smokey shades. Feminine is meeting masculine. Colours range from different blues evoking a storm mood to a softer sand, salmon and bright red, always aiming to combine hot and cold colours.  Changing structures and ethereal layers given through semi-opaque layers are translated into cool tie dye effects, blurred and monofilament weaves.  Holographic and metallic touches add reflective qualities, deep structures and deep monofilament weaves are key here.'



FLINT
'We need to step back to an honest approach to design.  There is a certain Neolithic style going back to our roots reflected by rich earth soil colours, warm neutrals, rust.  Primitive aesthetics, organic and handmade themes, found objects meant to express our own personality.  Sophisticated and soft, rough and ready are the opposites that play nicely together.  Thick leathers, hemp yarns and rustic fossil textures are key here.'










CLASH
The main message is that we need to be positive.  Traditional design shall be reconstructed in new colour-ways.  Bold colours are mixed with pastels.  Blacks are not black but got a dark blue underground. Tutti Frutti colours are combined with neutral colours such as dark brown so they still work in a luxury environment.  Pattern on pattern with a "more is more" approach are the way to go.  It is a very expressive trend with intermixed styles.  Mother of pearl shall be observed with a shiny and reflective quality.  Plastic is not used as a cheap material but high end due to innovative finishing's.  Bold wallpapers are key here.






ALPINE
This trend brings the outdoors in, there is a need of comfort, of time, being together and a friendly approach to a real folk feeling.  The colours are warm (reds) and natural (greens and brown).  Materials such as cork and wood shouldn't be hidden but enhanced and embraced in any design. It's all about sustainability and renewing of energies.  Organic material is used in an honest way to make people feel happy and healthy.

So there you have it - colours I think that each and every one of us can work with to some extent or another.  I quite like several from each palette!  

Let me know what you think.  And if you haven't signed up to follow my blog yet, please do!  All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom and click 'subscribe by email'.  It would really help me out if you did.