Color Forecast - Well Rooted

Environmental movement becomes global mantra

Casual Living Staff -- Casual Living, 9/8/2010 6:15:07 AM

As people look more to their immediate surroundings, developing a harmonic relationship with nature becomes more important than ever. "The environmental movement has become a global mantra and brings with it a deep understanding that nature is to be revered and respected," said Laura Guido-Clark, principal of Laura Guido-Clark Design. "Authentic, honest neutrals as well as greens in layers from yellowed to grass and deep forest will dominate."

The Louis Vuitton advertisement artfully captures a model blending into a grassy field of green	Oat and straw tones saturate the textural Chanel   handbag pictured in a Nordstrom's advertisement.

     In Benjamin Moore's 2011 Color Pulse, a palette titled The Farm examines this trend. "Economic hardships create opportunities," the Color Pulse states. "Recession-chic attitudes evoke a call back to basic lifestyles and values. This drives us to seek refuge on The Farm, listening to nature's rhythm and sorting out our perfect order."
     The movements toward locally grown, preservative-free foods and being more self-sufficient are key drivers of this palette. The concept of greenmarkets and the visualization of a fertile earth translate into vegetable bright colors and botanical-inspired hues.
"The effect of multiple economic and world crises have driven us back to time at home, centering more on family and brightening our own envelope against the world," said Jane Matteson, founder of Trend Strategy service and principal of Matteson Design and Consulting. "We are seeing color as a way to accomplish that."
     Shades in The Farm include natural neutrals inspired by hay, milk and bark, in tones such as Paper Mache, Marble White, Frappe and Amulet. Whites become milky, and yellows are churned and creamy. Layered soil or mineral hues are an intrinsic part of The Farm palette, including Layered Brownie, Aged Bronze, Sierra Spruce and Oat Straw. To round out the palette there are a handful of hues suggestive of farm-grown foods, which include Grassy Fields, Sun Valley, Butterscotch, Purple Rain and Fire Dance.

The Nova Series ceiling mount shade solution from Shademaker offers a commercial-awning-grade shade solution within an existing architectural structure. Nova's square canopy shape maximizes shaded area, making it ideal for pergolas, arbors, gazebos, lanais or any other existing structure that requires an overhead shade solution. Nova features quick set-up and easy operation and is easily detachable for storage. Showroom 1655

Laneventure's St. Simons is a traditional collection featuring new techniques in synthetic coloring with a natural look and feel, combined with lasting durability. The newly developed driftwood finish is the real story behind this introduction, with a soft taupe and silvered gray color giving it a warm, gently aged appearance. Showroom 1544

     The Farm's textures and patterns play out in trend-right gingham checks, burlap, plaids, hay, patchwork, beeswax, farmhouse florals, feedbag, hopsacking, cows, yarn, rope and cotton twill.
"Balance is about being rooted and grounded," said Doty Horn, director of color and design at Benjamin Moore. "So the emerging color palette reads more organic than ever before."
     The Trend Curve's Stone Age palette centers on the eco-conscious trend and keeping things natural, but with a few perks to freshen things up, said Michelle Lamb, editorial director of The Trend Curve. The palette focuses on mineral hues as a direction for 2011. "The volume colors in Stone Age include Nutmeg, Brocade Brown and Sandstone," said Lamb. Look for the accents to play out in stunning semiprecious gemstone hues, such as turquoise, citrine, carnelian, and pink tourmaline, she said.