Rugnews.com Fashion Week Report:
TECHNOLOGY DRIVES HOME TRENDS
SAYS SHERWIN WILLIAMS SPECIALIST

By Janelle Lampp

HIGH POINT, NC --  Modern technology -- and our love-hate relationship with it  -- is the driving force behind  today's trends in home  designs and color.

That was the word from Rebecca Rolich, color marketing and design specialist for Sherwin Williams, who spoke at a seminar held at the recent High Point Market.

She  identified five major influences on  design and color direction for 2007 and beyond.

• Balanced Living

• Sultry Origins

• Understated Elegance

• Virtual Re-Mix

• Kinetic Contrasts

 "The one thing they all have in common," said Rolich, "is that they are all driven by the enormous influence of technology on our lives.€VbCrLf

Balanced Living

Balanced Living: Green is a lifestyle as well as a color.

The Balanced Living trend is the effort to "find organic and natural ways to offset the effects of technology overload,€VbCrLf Rolich said. It's part of the "Green Movement" and so it's not surprising that the color green acts has become an important new neutral. "Look what Mother Nature does with green as a backdrop,€VbCrLf said Rolich.

The burgeoning trend for indoor/outdoor living borrows the greens and blues of grasses, ocean and sky, said Rolich.  "The water elements soothe our senses, while glass represents strength and luminescence,€VbCrLf said Rolich.  "Coral, sea glass, fish, sand and ocean plants create texture and form that inspire home décor products.€VbCrLf

Sustainable materials will also inspire new color combinations, according to Rolich. Earth colors such as khaki and black and gray and white are paired with the blues and greens of water and sky to create natural combinations, said Rolich. Earthy golds warm the metallic trend in furniture, apparel and wood finishes, she said. "Naval blue" (almost navy), "inland green", "sapphire," "gallant gold," "butter up," "raindrop" and "exclusive plum" round out this color palette. (All  named colors are Sherwin Williams paint colors)

Environmentally friendly design is flourishing, said Rolich. "The impact of this search for balance is an increased appreciation for natural materials, natural colors and natural design motifs," she pointed out. "Products incorporate the use of natural and recycled materials, and even man-made products emulate the natural look and feel of the real thing," said Rolich.

Natural, sustainable materials are also part of a global influence on the indoor home, according to Rolich. The garden trellis, of Chinese, Moorish and Medieval origin, is making its way into furniture and textiles, she noted. Botanical prints can be both traditional and contemporary. and tropical prints and chinoiserie florals are evolving botanical forms.

"Trees, twigs and branches are all symbolic links to life and knowledge,€VbCrLf said Rolich. Such natural elements inspire textural and woven finishes, which are then weathered, washed and distressed.

Sultry Origins


As the world becomes smaller, we are exposed to a
greater variety of cultures.
(Photo by Bob Kirby, Vinings Imports)

As sophisticated technologies make the world smaller, we are exposed  to a greater variety of global cultures. The term "Sultry Origins " refers to Asian, African, Indian, Moroccan, British Colonial, Russian and Island design influences, according to Rolich.

 Looking forward,  Rolich predicted that the African jungle will be an enormous influence in the near future. "Animal skin patterns, tropical prints, jungle botanicals and basket weaves will show up on leather and fabrics,€VbCrLf she said.

Asia will lend us kimono fabric prints, peonies,  water lilies, chrysanthemums and cherry blossoms. Lacquered and hand-painted finishes will be important in accent furniture. Buddhas  and temples will be seen in  luxury baths and home spas. "Because Asian motifs are both contemporary as well as traditional, even Gen X and Gen Y'ers will take to this style,€VbCrLf said Rolich.

Home décor will borrow large-scale ornamental patterns from India. The henna color family will be very important as part of the Indian influence, according to Rolich.

The influence of global cultures will also be seen in bright colors and adornment, which will accent almost every category of decor. A brassy yellow-green with undertones of warm gold comes from Morocco, as will other spicy colors. "Fine wine," "leather bound," "pennywise" and "marooned" are other Sherwin Williams colors in this palette.

The American Arts & Crafts period will also have large influence on design. Hand-made items and indigenous materials will create simple and functional  accessories and accent furniture.  "Gingerly," a henna-like Sherwin Williams color, will derive from this period.
 

Understated Elegance

 
New neutrals cover both warm and cool tones in the
 trend to Understated Elegance.

The trend to Understated Elegance also takes its cue from nature and organic forms.

 It is best illustrated with light to dark neutrals. "Mocha, camel and stone, in both warm and cool tones, pair naturally with materials such as concrete, slate, metal and mother of pearl,€VbCrLf noted Rolich.

These materials are suited to the need for functionality in an urban living environment, where living spaces are often used for both home and office, according to Rolich. "These neutral lifestyles and technology inspired spaces lend themselves to cool grays, the shine of metal and industrial materials such as concrete, glass and plastic for furniture," she said.

Other colors in the Understated Elegance palette  include Sherwin-Williams' "ivory," "greige," "warm stone,"  "Java brown" and "almost black."

Virtual Remix

 
Retro-inspired styles are both current and nostalgic.

Another important trend is a mixing of the past and present, according to Rolich. "Virtual Remix embodies a new and improved nostalgia, one that adds a twist to old forms and brings some of our icons of the past, into the future,€VbCrLf  said Rolich.

Airstream trailers and Weber grills represent modern simplicity with a retro, 50's influence. Colors include a watery aqua, sapphire, black with deep plum undertones, and a grayish rose, chartreuse and peppery coral.

Kinetic Contrasts

 
Kinetic Contrasts pairs bold colors with very pale hues.

 Kinetic Contrasts pairs bold colors with very pale hues. "It is high drama, such as black and white with accents of bright color,€VbCrLf said Rolich, noting that  "We have become accustomed to staring at a black computer screen where there are juxtapositions of bright color from all the pop up ads and the moving graphics of the advertisements. " 

Kinetic Contrasts also recalls the artwork of Andy Warhol and Mondrian, the Art Deco period and the glamorous days of 1930's  Hollywood. Shapes repeat themselves, less is more and proportion is key, said Rolich.

Fabrics are cut out, laser cut and embroidered. Damask, and lace reflect a similar airy, open feeling. Leather and metal is perforated and embossed. Shine comes from metal, lacquer, black glass, crystal and patent leather. This palette includes  such Sherwin Williams colors as "juneberry," "bohemian black," "gulfstream, " "gold coast," "ablaze," "extra white" and "luau green."

(Pictures are all courtesy of Sherwin Williams)

 11.10.06