A tale of Turquoise

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As I have mentioned before, each year the Pantone Color Institute names a color of the year.  Their goal is to tap into the psychology of the world and describe our goals and desires.  For 2010 that color was turquoise.  I alway love to see how their forecast plays out here in the US and more locally in my neck of the woods.  With 2010 over I thought I would reflect a little…..

While none of my clients this year wanted to paint their offices or dining rooms turquoise, every girl’s room that I did- had to have it.  It’s not hard to imagine why: just open any kids catalog and you will see that they have fully embraced the trend.  The color itself is fun and lighthearted.  It has a lot of energy so it translates well to kid spaces.  While many of us might have set ideas about the color, I had a great time tailoring it to each girl’s personality and needs.  For me, the interesting part of working with trends or interpreting trends is figuring out how they work for you (if at all) and then putting your own unique spin on them so they feel relevant and natural to your life.

In the first room I did this year, the young girl was 9.  She didn’t want a pink room anymore and declared herself “not a girly girl.”  On a shopping trip they found a great bedspread which led the way for the other dramatic elements.  This definitely isn’t a girly room, and it has has lighthearted and whimsical elements just like her.  The big “out-of-the-box idea” was to open up her closet a little and make it a part of the room by painting it to match her room and adding built-ins.  Her hamster now has a new home which she loves and we added functional, stylish storage space.

In the second room lives a wonderful little 8-year old who loves the outdoors and horses.  Again a bedspread was the starting point, but we chose to soften it a little by adding a mural on her walls.  The desire was to have something that would grow with her so we were careful to be abstract and stylize it just a little.  Try to imagine this with the sweet furniture removed, some bold accessories and a solid comforter- voila- you now have a great “pop” teen hangout.

In the next room, a 12-year old aspiring fashion designer wanted a space that provided room for her to work and her friends to hang out.  We utilized many of the items from her previous room but punched it up with a bold paint color.

In the last two rooms, sisters were moving spaces and getting new rooms.  They are very different girls.  The first is in 7th grade and very outgoing.  She wanted a room that had enough energy to keep up with her.  We again painted the walls a bold color and added a few dandelion buds floating around the room.  Despite all her energy, she wanted a space of her own as a retreat. We built a canopy for her bed with curtains that draw closed so she can have that private space.

The older sister is on her way to college next year and so we wanted her to have a space that was a little more global.  The accessories lean toward the exotic side and point to the future exposure that is just around the corner.  We still wanted to acknowledge that she is “not all grown up” yet so we added a chalkboard wall for her and her friends to doodle on and the fun “wrought iron” bed frame.

As you can see, one color can be used for different clients in such different ways.  One of the things I like best about what I do is that I get to assist my clients in realizing the potential of their space so that it truly reflects their own personalities-no matter what the hot trend is.

Pantone has announced the 2011 color of the year- Honeysuckle. They state it’s “ A Color for All Seasons- Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world… Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year… It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.”

I’m excited and see lots of possibilities to incorporate this color into spaces this coming year.  It would be fun in a powder room or dramatic in a dining room (the new red).  As an accent it could add punch or levity to a family room or office. For a fun change, it could compliment existing baths and kitchens to provide a quick, low cost face lift.  The possibilities are endless.  I look forward to helping you see how this trend and others might make your home a Haven in 2011.