I attended a presentation about the color trends as predicted by Sherwin Williams this past fall. It was an outstanding presentation that stirred a lot of excitement in the audience of interior designers. View the Sherwin Williams 2008 Color Forecast.

Two forecasted color groups were the most relevant to my inspiration and creativity for the New Year.

The first amazing color group was Around the World. This group of colors struck me because the colors are very earthy, yet there are wonderful pops of color that make the group really fun land unpredictable like Dynamo, SW 6841 and Tupelo Tree, SW 6417. This color group reflects the type of colors that are very user friendly in my geographic area of Boulder and Colorado. The reflection of the outdoors and connection with nature are amazing, and help bring the outdoors in, which is a very important concept to Coloradans.

I was also impressed with the No Place Like Home color group. The Sherwin Williams rep, who gave us the presentation a few months ago, told us that we would see more ethereal colors, and this color group nails ethereal. Who doesn't need a dose of ethereal in this busy world? Being delicate and light and intangible sounds like plan to me after an overbooked day of chaos. Spa is out. Ethereal is in! No more white towels, go with Evening Shadow SW7662 or Restful White SW 7563. There are a few pops of color in this group to keep you grounded so you don't float too far away from reality.

There you have a Colorful Colorado 2008 color forecast. Have fun with these fantastic colors.

Labels: Boulder Colorado, Interior Design

"Boutique Traditional", "Clean Transitional", "Modern Contemporary", "New Eclecticism", "Warm Modernism", "Tradition With A Twist", "Neo-Neo-Classicism"

What is going on here? Are we as an industry making this harder for consumers than it should be? My answer is yes. It does not have to be this complicated though. All the above terms were mentioned in an interesting recent article in the New York Times by Julie Scelfo called Marketing Décor for a Conflicted Era .

"American Leather is one of many manufacturers and retailers now contending with the problem of naming or describing furniture that is designed to defy categorization. In recent years, as decorators and indie furniture designers rebelled against the minimalism that held sway early in the decade, an individualistic, mix-and-match aesthetic has become fashionable, and is now becoming the norm. This look - contemporary spaces peppered with antiques and craftsy pieces, bespoke furnishings that tweak traditional forms with unusual materials - has filtered into the mainstream consciousness, thanks largely to TV makeover programs, magazines and blogs. Now companies aimed at the mass market consumer are having to figure out how to package it."

While there may be reasons for the manufacturers to struggle with these terms so they can refresh their brands to sell product don’t let it impact how you put it all together so it works in your home.

A name should not define what works for you in your home. When you are sitting in your living room on your new sofa, does it really matter if it is from the Arlington line that was worded to reflect the blend of traditional and contemporary? No. What matters is whether or not the sofa, and other pieces you purchased for your interior design, create an interior space that is comfortable to you in your home.

"It’s an eclectic mix of designs," said Mr. Plasman. "Naming it after a specific design period was harder than coming up with a name for your own child."

Merriam-Webster defines eclectic as "composed of elements drawn from various sources," and transitional as, "a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another." It sounds like both are a mix of different ideas that come together to form one concrete idea. So, call it what you want. It is simply a blend of styles, colors, and philosophies that marry together to form dynamic interiors.

If you like transitional interiors which blend traditional and contemporary styles, focus on neutral color palettes, and highlight clean lines with minimal accessories then I say COOL, especially if you live in a geographic area where casual is key to life like Colorado.

People in Colorado don't want fussy interiors; we need interiors that can stand up to muddy hiking boots, dusty running shoes, fishing poles, skis and ski boots. That does not mean that people in Colorado necessarily value function over aesthetics. People here want gorgeous interiors that can stand the test of the great outdoors indoors. This translates to casual, but nice interiors, that allow a fabulous blend of clean lines, fun pops of color, and unique yet appropriate accessories.

"One of the greatest paradoxes of this human condition we live in is people have these conflicting desires: first, to belong to a group, and second, to be unique. And these two things fight with each other and that happens with furnishings too."

Let the marketers stay in their world of names and descriptions to attempt to solve this paradox while you focus on design matters to build the best interior design solutions for your needs.

• Are the pieces aesthetically pleasing to your senses? I recommend asking this question on pieces individually and along with others you want to mix and match in your home.
• Do the pieces provide the functionality you need to make your life easier?
• Do the pieces match your goals of making the earth a better place to live?
• Do the pieces represent your goals of saving money or future investment?
• Do the pieces provide the health benefits to make your mind and body thrive?

If you use the above approach rather than focusing on names and descriptions then you will end up with an interior design that exceeds all your expectations no matter what category it falls into.

Labels: Boulder Colorado, Design Matters, Interior Design

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