Color Buzz

New 2010 Color Trends

We considered putting together a list of colors that are "Out,” but as my dear friend and ultra-talented designer Betsy Finley says, "Any color can be ‘in’ if it's used correctly.” So instead, we put together a list of color trends to watch out for as we move into the next decade.

We've been monitoring interior design, fashion and industrial design for the past few months with this list in mind. Here is what we are expecting:

- We see the trend towards grays and silvers continuing.

- Pantone Color of the Year is turquoise, and we agree. Both blues and greens will remain popular in the coming year.

- The deep colors we are seeing are blacks, navies and charcoals. 

- Whites will become cooler and grayer. Some whites will include peach tones.

- Mauve is slowly working its way back into the color forefront. Chances are you'll see much more of this in 2011. 

- Purples are still hot as they move into grayer and pinker directions. 

- Yellow is staying clean and pure.  

Design Dilemma: Liz's Sitting Room

Hi,

I am looking for a color to make my sitting room warm and cozy. I need to work around the existing furniture, which includes a sage green sofa and a deep red leather chair, as well as laminate flooring with browns/oranges in it, and deep red fabric for drapes, with small bits of deep caramel, cinnamon, and pale apricot in it. The room faces east, with two large windows on the east side, for lots of natural light, particularly in the morning. I am considering colors such as caramel, cinnamon, or even a pale dusty apricot, but am struggling with what will be the best fit. Any color suggestions? Please be specific so I can go pick up a sample pot. Thanks so much for your help!

Liz

**********

Hi Liz,

Thanks for your inquiry! It looks like you see gorgeous light in that room.  Because you have a lot of existing elements, I'm going to give you a few colors to consider.  They range from golden tones to more peach/apricot tones. Let me know what you think! 

                 
      Laredo 2004-5C  Oatlands Gold Buff 3004-8A  Belle Grove Light Amber 3006-8B

                    
   Warm Buff 3002-10A     Sweet Cardamom 2006-5C   Montpelier Peach 2006-6B

Best wishes,
Ann and the Beehive Studios Team

Stars

By Michele Coppin

Every time I come to New York, I expect to see stars, especially around the holidays.
 
Star: Noun
1. Any of the heavenly bodies, except the moon, appearing as fixed luminous points in the sky.
 
2. A conventionalized figure usually having five or six points radiating from or disposed about a center.
 
3. Figure used as an ornament, award, badge, mark of excellence
 
4. A person who is celebrated or distinguished in some art, profession or other field.

5. Someone who brightens up your life.
 
This last trip, I saw a caroling cowboy on Times Square,



Shrek in a Christmas hat frolicking around Union Square,

Holiday Eye Candy

From all of us to all of you have a happy and colorful holiday!

The Beehive Designers

Inspirational Books

By Michele Coppin
 
Children are not usually involved in home improvements. But here are a few books that will develop and celebrate children’s imagination and creativity so they can become brilliant DIY’ers when they grow up – or at least help them become expressive, happy, kind and well-balanced individuals. These books and their wonderful messages all share lovely illustrations and charming stories – great for bedtime.
 
One by Kathryn Otoshi
 
One is a beautiful book that illustrates colors, numbers and themes of acceptance and individuality.
In One, Blue is dreamy and sweet and generally happy with his color until hot-headed Red shows up. Red bullies everyone, including Green, Yellow, Purple, until one day a stranger arrives, Number 1. One is not afraid of Red and he puts an end to the bullying. He also gives Colors confidence to be all they can be. Through lovely, simple illustrations, this number/color book reminds us that it just takes “one” to make a difference and make everyone count.



The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds
 
For everyone who has been afraid to express themselves, from children in art class to adults whose fear has shut down the imagination, The Dot reminds us to “make your mark” and see where it takes you.
With whim and humor, this simple but inspiring story recognizes the creativity in everyone and proves that imagination lies within us all.



And my all time favorite :
 
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry
 
Le Petit Prince was first published in France in 1943 by aviator and author Antoine De Saint-Exupéry. It has become his most famous novella, translated into more than 180 languages and having sold more than 80 million copies, making it one of the bestselling books ever.

This book is a true work of art, a masterpiece of its genre. It tells the story of an unlikely friendship between an aviator whose plane has crashed and a little prince who has fallen to earth from his tiny planet, in the middle of the Saharan desert. Populated with odd characters and unexpected teachers, The Little Prince is a story about love, friendship, tolerance, acceptance, beauty and imagination.



Happy Reading!

Speaking of home improvement, are you giving a friend or loved one any home improvement gifts this holiday season? If so, send us your gift ideas! We’d love to learn from your creative DIY skills.

Design Dilemma: Letisha's Kitchen

Hi,

I painted my kitchen a Valspar shade of brown. I love the color but do not know the name. Now that it is on my walls, I don't know what to do with the new color. I like calm greens, golden shades, and elegant jewel tones in any range and would like to incorporate it with my new wall color. Help me enjoy my kitchen! I appreciate your help.

Letisha

Seasonal Tree Colors

By Michèle Coppin

Time to trim the tree! This season, the holidays have been touched by a rainbow. Along with the traditional red and green, an array of elegant, whimsical and dramatic palettes have emerged.

Forests of ribbons, bows, birds, flags, flowers, feathers, candy, clouds, dolls – all combined in exquisite and unexpected explosions of color.

To decorate your dream tree, choose a theme close to your heart and then select your favorite colors. Mix and, Voila! There is no limit to the possibilities. Here are some beautiful specimens I have come across this season:

Seasonal landscapes of pink and purple are tinged in frosted shades of icing:

Color of the Week - Loyalty

Last week's Color of the Week, Loyalty is a clean, clear, mid-toned blue. The hint of lavender gives this color a touch of warmth, which is very appealing. Try it in a room that you want to expand; where you’d want to feel like you’re surrounded by blue sky. Pair it with a warm white like Honeymilk for the trim and Dewdrop on the ceiling. Accent with a punch of orange like Toasted Apricot. For a more modern approach, try it with Modest Silver or Filtered Shade.

                   
       Loyalty 4006-7C              Honeymilk 7003-4             Dewdrop 4006-7A

                   
Toasted Apricot 2006-3B       Modest Silver 4002-1       Filtered Shade 4003-1B

Friday Project Series: Frosty Christmas Eve Luminaries

By Veronique Habermann  

 

There is a growing Christmas Eve trend in my neighborhood surpasses my expectation each year. When it first began, only a few houses lined their property with luminaries on that special night. More recently, I have been surprised and enchanted to see the snowball effect it has created as more and more families participate each year.

 

Last year, in particular, it seems that I was able to drive back from my family Christmas dinner through a mile of uninterrupted light-bordered streets. It was magic. My little nephew was with me in the car and he looked awestruck looking out his window. I told him that it was Santa’s landing strip! I love the community spirit of this tradition, and I hope it is a trend that will be here to stay.

 

If you’d like to make luminaries this year, you will need:

 

-         Brown paper lunch bags

-         Tea light candles

-         Rice or sand

-         An exacto knife

-         Leftover white paint (We use Valspar’s Dove White)

-         A paint brush

-         Water

-         Pencil

-         Templates (you can download HERE)

-         A drop cloth

 1. 2.

 3. 4.

Paint each bag with the white paint and water. As you paint every side of the bag over the drop cloth, it creates unevenness, which is good—a very cool, frosty and organic look. It is a very quick process.

 

When the bags are dry, insert a piece of cardboard and draw a letter from a word you want to spell or a holiday shape (You can even use this template). Then carefully use exacto knife to cut out the shape.

 

Place a handful of rice or sand at bottom of bag.

 

Once the bag is upright, I like to roll top of bags to give them a little more body.

 

Insert a candle, line bags outside, wait for dawn and lit them up. You can reuse the same luminaries year after years.

 

Happy holidays and enjoy!

Retro Retreat

This is the second palette in our series of four color trends for 2010. Retro retreat is a totally livable collection of colors because they are both soft and complex. These colors will work with most home styles whether you have a traditional colonial or modern/contemporary. Many of the colors from this palette are pulled from the National Trust collection, so they might seem familiar. They have a warm brown base and are organic in nature. They are the latest configuration of hues people have used in their homes throughout time. The Emmy Award winning show “Mad Men” beautifully showcases these tones.  

                           

Coral Gable Biltmore               La Fonda Sagebrush                 Cloudy Sunset

Mediterranean Carmel 

                            
  Lyndhurst Shady Grove        La Fonda Sante Fe Brown                Nostalgia

We like to work with this palette to create a subdued background upon which we can start layering other textures, colors and objects. When I use this palette, I like to step back and think about the flow from room to room. Where do I want the deeper warm colors and where do I want to lighten it up a bit? Think of moving through the house as you would move through a beautiful garden. Where do you want excitement? Where do you want peace and rest? Then chose the colors accordingly. This particular palette can work throughout the home thanks to their shared warm base.

A dining room would look beautiful in Coral Gables Biltmore Mediterranean Caramel. You could use fabrics with caramels, golds, silvers and flecks of light teal aquas for an elegant effect.

A kitchen would look inviting with Lundhurst Shady Grove. This would look great with nickel or chrome plated appliances. This shade would also look great with some of the retro-looking appliances that come in some interesting colors. Try using a warm, milky off-white as a trim. 

For a living room, Cloudy Sunset would look warm and embracing. Again, try bringing in some cool touches of silvers, grays and teals. A good all-over color to use throughout the house for trim is Lovely Bluff.

These are colors that you'll be able to live with for years to come.