It was easy to see that metallics played a big role in Oscar wears this past Sunday. Many of the stars wore dresses that had glitz, bling, shimmer, shine, and sparkle. These gorgeous ensembles were stylishly putting the glam back in glamorous. We often talk about taking ideas for our home decor and color palettes from the fashion industry, and vice versa. Here are some of the top metallic looks that can inspire high-style interiors.

Cameron Diaz, Sandra Bullock, Miley Cyrus source

Kate Winslet, Amanda Seyfried, Helen Mirren source

I love when trends from fashion and interiors mingle. And I especially love when trends that Kate and I have been following start showing up all around us. As a loyal reader you might already know that we offer our Sensational Color for Your Home 2010/2011 Home Color & Design Trend Report online. If you haven’t taken the time to watch the 28 minute video presentation or download the 10 page pdf with full color palettes, here’s the link to sign up. But for a quick sneak peak at just one of the many metallic mentions, here’s a snip of a page right out of our book.

As trendspotters, we’ve been keeping our eyes wide open to watching wallpaper make a big come back. Wallpaper is like clothing for our interiors. They wrap our walls with beautiful prints, patterns, and finishes. The stars showed us on the Red Carpet that metallic looks have risen to the top of high-style in fashion. And as trends in the fashion industry and interiors continue to run on a more parallel plane we’re happy to see this hot look taking shape in the home. Here are some of our favorite metallic looks for your walls.

So what will your walls be wearing?  Will they be dressed in a fancy metallic?

Our Sensational Color for Your Home 2010/2011 Home Color & Design Trends presentation is now available! Get on-demand access to our 28 minute video and 10 page downloadable palette pdf for only $14.95. We feature 4 of the top trends, influences, and inspirations with over 25 current and future colors including colors Coming on Strong, Global Views, Simply White, and Neutral-ish. Plus we added a bonus section with 6 of the most popular design trends. If you love following what’s hot, and love to read Trend Tuesday, you won’t want to miss this extended visual presentation. Sign up here!

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day! The whole month of February always seems to have red wrapped all around it and with Spring soon approaching color is finally heating up. This season red and pink are being represented by the punchy hot look of Magenta. Despite the 14th having come and gone, this color won’t be going anywhere but forward.I love how everything in Jane’s store is either found, hand-made, or re-styled. Her products are uniquely whimsical and crafty with updated style. I thought these hearts were perfect for Valentines. Check out her shop or see her items on flickr.

We saw in Trend Tuesday: Thinking Pink, last fall, how magenta changed the course of marketing for the Susan G Komen foundation and how it added a sense of power and courageousness to the company’s logo, much like the strength of the women who have fought their battle with breast cancer.Interior designer Dorothy Draper and fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli set the stage for how magenta was seen during the mid-century decades. Their bold and confident use of this color has continued to inspire years later.

Learning how to use color from the experts is what teaches successful techniques. So go ahead and take a little color from this past holiday and some design direction from a few magenta inspired rooms I’ve posted below, and have yourself a colorfully sweet Spring!

After seeing these magenta rooms I don’t just heart the color….I love it! I also fell in love with this print from Jennifer Ramos designer and owner of Made By Girl. And the best part is LOVE doesn’t just come in Magenta, but also in many other colors! Check out her blog and store.

I took this picture of a barn I discovered just south of Annapolis. Isn’t it just perfect for Valentine’s Day?

Happy Pink Saturday!

Happy Chinese New Year! This Sunday, February 14th, (yes, Valentine’s Day) marks the start of the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The only thing I’ve ever really known about the definitions behind the different signs is what I’ve read on paper placemats at Chinese restaurants or on visits to Chinatown in NY and San Francisco, however Asian design has always been an interest of mine. I never really considered how the two correlated until I read Julie’s post on Live in Full Color from last year’s celebrations, Are Our Perfect Colors Written in the Stars? She took all 12 of the Chinese signs and gave examples of how they translate into the home. Here’s this years Tiger below.

•Tiger (lucky, courageous, vain, undisciplined): 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

Interesting Tiger Facts:
Zodiac Stone: Sapphire
Special Flower: Violet
Best Hours: 3-5 am
Season: Winter
Horoscope Colors: Green, Blue, Yellow

Ever since the Beijing Olympics in Summer 2008 we’ve continued to see a strong influence in Asian inspired design, and as we approach the official start of the Chinese New Year 2010 this bold yet simplistic style of interior decor is still easy to spot.

With the resurgence of wallpaper and our new found love affair with wall decals, injecting a little Eastern botanical flair in a space has become a fresh way to revitalize an interior and bring the outdoors in, a common element in Asian style.

As one of the most fashionable decor trends, bold patterns are a unique twist on the traditional botanical print. And along with botanicals inspired by Asia comes Eastern meanings to colors, that when paired together have a strong effect on design. I’ve gathered some of these looks combined with the colors so you can gather your own reactions to these styles.

Red: Summer, the South, good luck, joy, good fortune, and fertility.

Very interesting how all of the red examples above are accompanied by teal and turquoise…which is one of the hot color combinations for 2010. For more examples of this scheme see my post on the influence of this color trend, Trend Tuesday: Turquoise takes a compliment…”Hey you look good with red!”

Yellow: Earth, Sun, power, royalty, masculine, warmth, happiness

Blue: Sky, Water, feminine, nature, described as deep or shallow rather than light or dark.

Green: Wood, Spring, youth, birth, exuberance, enthusiasm, prosperity

Orange: Love, happiness, plentitude, good health

Purple: Spiritual awareness, physical and mental healing, trust

Gold: Prestige, wealth, status, prized for its preciousness and radiance

Black: Depth, truth, life, stability

White: Autumn, pure, neutral, metal, death and mourning

For more information on the symbolism and psychology behind color here’s the link to our color messages and meanings section on Sensational Color.

We’d love to hear how bold botanicals and Asian influences might work their way into your interior projects.

A holiday for romance and roses.  Heartfelt sentiments and vows of everlasting love. Flirty hot pink and sensuous deep red.

In my Valentine’s Day fantasy I’m…

…wearing a dress that is so perfect in pink that it could have come straight out of Barbie’s closet…

…embellished with a vintage pin of pink and red colored rhinestones.

I’ve receive a bouquet of pink peonies that I enjoy while…

…propping myself against a sexy red and pink damask pillow…

…on my pink striped chaise.

That’s the fabulous fantasy I’m enjoying on this Pink Saturday while outside a blizzard of ‘historic proportions’ blankets DC in almost two feet of snow.

What are you dreaming about today?

Fantasy photo sources:

• Perfect Pink Dress
• Pink and Red Rhinestone Pin
• Pink Peonies
• Pink and Red Room Interior

Sometimes I just have to sit back and laugh at myself. I can be watching something as important as the State of the Union Address, and what’s the only thing I can think about…color trends.

Luckily, I didn’t feel as silly when I realized there were a lot of other people out there listening to what Michelle Obama’s dress was saying to our great nation. You can get the details from Kate’s interview with the Detroit Free Press, “Did purple send a message at the State of the Union Address?” on Live in Full Color.  To that question I would answer…most definitely, absolutely, yes….but it was more red-violet than purple.

Michelle Obama and her style have been making big statements in fashion trends, her State of the Union dress was no different. Designed by Isaac Mizrahi and described by him as plum, Michelle’s ensemble is a perfect match to the deep shades of red-violet on the color wheel.

This is my favorite part about tracking trends, watching them evolve over time. You can get all juicy details about this color story in my post Trend Tuesday: Passionate Purples. Purple has come far since it first popped up all around us a few years ago, and I love where it’s headed.

So rich and warm, infused with red, it has such great depth and complexity. It’s still powerful without being loud like magenta or fuchsia. There are so many parallels between fashion and interior trends as the industry gap continues to narrow, I’ve gathered some room shots as a compare and contrast to show how this outfit translates into luxurious and trendy spaces.

Found this chair on EcoSalon, and thought it mimicked the pleats in Michelle Obama’s skirt. Maybe not exactly the right color, but we are talking about a whole family of tertiary color here. Just love the look of this chair, if only I could test it out for comfort….at my house!

I really enjoy how this combination can be done in either a red-violet monochromatic or as an analogous scheme using additional reds, violets, and even blue-violet for a touch of coolness. Lots of opportunity for unique and unexpected uses for red and purple.

So, how did Michelle’s red-violets speak to you? Is this a color trend you can follow?

Is it just me or are you at a point in life where you enjoy snow more from the inside looking out than being out in it?

I think the many years I spent in Upstate New York and New England digging out my driveway and being caught ‘under dressed’ in the interest of fashion over practicality have tainted my enjoyment of snow.

With that being said and this being the view outside at the moment you can bet I’m dreaming of warmer weather, sunny skies and a colorful garden rather than snow in the backyard.

So here I sit bundled up inside scanning sites like Proven Winners looking for the colors of my dreamy summer garden.  The color red-violet has been on my mind this week after being interviewed for an article titled, “Did Purple Send a Message at the State of the Union Address?” (hint–it was really red-violet not purple as I wrote about in my post on Live in Full Color) so I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise that flowers in this color seemed to call out to me?

Here a few of my favorites along with how I might use them in my garden or patio planters this year:

source

Supertunia Pretty Much Picasso Petunia
I bet you’ve never seen a petunia like this before.  This is a new addition from the Proven Winner line.  I love the bright shade of lime green that rings the pretty red-violet flowers.  This is at the top of my list for plant purchases and best of all it produces flowers all summer long.

To bring out the green in the flowers even more I think I’ll find a pretty plant with bright yellow-green foliage and put these in all the hanging baskets that surround my deck.

source

Zinnia elegans ‘Benary’s Giants Wine’
This zinnia stood out and caught my attention.  Benary’s Giants Wine zinnia has huge, fully double deep red-violet flowers atop strong stems, which will make them perfect for cutting.

Paired with flowers in deep gold and dark green foliage this flower will really stand out along the border of my garden and cut flower arrangements.

source

Pelargonium ‘Tex Mex Hot Pink’
While the masses of blossoms are more of a shockingly hot pink I think they will marry nicely with the flowers that are a bit more red-violet.  Besides they bloom all summer long even it the hottest weather and I can bring a pot or two into my office to enjoy long after the summer ends.

The bold hot pink color will be a nice contrast against a rich, deep foliage such as Blackie or Illusion Midnight Lace sweet potato vine that has undertones of violet.

source

Bandito Rose Lantana

If you’ve been reading my Pink Saturday post you know that lantana graces my garden just about every year.  What I like about the Bandito series of lantana is the compact size of its blossoms and that is produce an extra large number of blooms.  There is also a richness to the blossoms of this variety that make is especially appealing to me.

To soften this bold lantana I might incorporate some white flowers such as white calibrachoa or Diamond Frost euphorbia.

source

Grandiosa Cherry Picotee Pelargonium
Not only does this plant produce gorgeous flowers but it also has lemon-scented foliage and is easy to grow.  That’s the kind of three-in-one benefit package I like.  The deep red-violet set off with white edges will be a nice counterpoint to the brighter flowers above.

This is another blossom that would pair nicely with an airy variety like white guara or Breathless Blush euphorbia.  Both will soften the texture of the geranium.

Now this is just the beginning of my summer dream and the snow is falling fast and furious so I’m going to go make a cup of tea and get back to browsing flower sites and  Pink Saturday posts.

I hope I’ve left you feeling a bit more ‘in the pink’ on this very white Saturday.  My spirits have sure been lifted just looking at all these beautiful blossoms!

I have the privilege of meeting and teaching color to many of our country’s top interior designers as part of our Color for Your Home (CfYH) Color Consultant Certification Course (an advanced level CEU class for Interior Designers). As our list of certified consultants continues to grow, these professionals not only become our color colleagues but also a part of the Color for Your Home family. We love our Consultants and we want you to get the chance to know them too, so every few weeks I will be profiling one of our phenomenal designers through an interview and a display of one of their favorite projects. Enjoy!

With over thirty years in decorative design, Jeanine Maleno has based an international career out of Miami Beach. After leaving New York’s Fashion Institute in 1973, Jeanine embarked on a decade of apprenticeships, studying in several textile studios in Italy ending up in India. There she developed her sense of colour and coupled it with Italian craftsmanship and the clarity of Asiatic design that characterizes her work.Having consolidated an artistic identity abroad, she returned to North America to become one of its most imaginative designers, winning a reputation of her ability to translate her client’s concepts into vibrant reality. Jeanine’s work has been featured in many design publications and can be seen inside prestigious art deco hotels and restaurants in Miami Beach, in addition to many other places. Her private work is proudly displayed in such prestigious homes as the Versace Mansion on Ocean Drive and the Ferrari Family Estates.

I had the chance to sit down with Jeanine and find out some fun facts and take a peak at some of her work. Here’s what she had to say…

KT: You spend most of your time helping others choose colors for their interiors, but what color palette do you live with in your own home?JM: A beautiful colorful Tetrad Palette of Yellow-Green/Blue-Green/Red-Violet/Red-Orange, I also use whites, neutrals and browns throughout for a harmonious transitional balance.

KT: Many of us who work in color can remember when it was we realized we had the knack, do you have that special moment?

JM: Those red shoes I insisted on having at age 4 were fabulous accessories to my wardrobe of Navy, Grey and White of the 50’s.  My friends wore brown, I knew then!

KT: Do you have any current color obsessions?

JM: The whitest of white with earthy tones of color.

KT: Very trendy, Jeanine! It just so happens that last week’s Trend Tuesday post was all about white, how appropriate.

KT: Since people are always looking to us for advice on color, what piece would you like to give?

JM: When in doubt subtlety is our friend, contrast is our enemy, and stick to a color ratio of 60:30:10.

KT: In this media room that you’ve shown me, what was your inspiration for the colors?

JM: The walls were originally light Blue. My inspiration came from the warm Browns of the wood floor, the wood cabinetry and the creamy theatre seats with the wood fronts.KT: How was the color harmony created?

JM: The theatre is where my client spends a lot of his time, he asked me to create the theatre to be joyous and creative using golden yellows and give the design an Art Deco Style.   I chose a 2 color Analogous Palette of Yellow – Orange and Orange making terracotta the predominate color using the 60:30:10 rule.KT: What did you love about this project?

JM: Working with Jeff ”Gooch” Gurcuillo is always rewarding.  Taking this project from a creative thought to completion and having the client love it is what makes me love what I do for a living!

To get in touch with Jeanine while her website is being updated, you can email her at malenodesigninc@aol.com or call her at her studio 305.892.1904.

To get more information on our Color Consultant Certification CEU Course and becoming part of the Color for Your Home family click here and to see a list of our on-site and online class dates click here.

Sure, we can tell you Turquoise is a hot color this year or that white is the trendiest neutral, but those pieces of information don’t offer all the details you need in order to incorporate these hues into your home, wardrobe, or life. Unless you plan on wearing turquoise from head to toe or decorating a room in only one color, what you really need is the inspiration of color combinations.

Just as we “fondly” remember Avocado and it’s cohorts, Harvest Gold and Rust (we may be rolling our eyes or laughing now, but we have to admit we thought it was pretty cool back then), we desire a color scheme staring our freshest hue being supported by colors that offer contrast and create a pleasing atmosphere. If you’ve been following us, you’ll know that I’ve been featuring the turquoise and red combination for holiday decor in the Trend Tuesday posts Colorful Christmas Tablescapes and Fall Tabletop Decor. Now it’s time to bring this colorway to life for your interior and carry it though the whole year.

I love this combination because it breaks the color harmony rule of direct complements, and who doesn’t like breaking rules to end up with beautiful results! Directly across the color wheel from red is green, and blue or blue-green sits orange or red-orange.  Taking the complement a step or two off creates a fun and unexpected designer style.

Contrast is key in this combo, the complement colors are already giving off a color contrast, but within the individual color there’s another level of contrast being created, value contrast from light to dark. You’ll notice in the rooms below that the value of turquoise varies from very light to very bold, but that the red pretty much remains the same. This offers versatility with “the color of the year.”

Southern Living keeps to it’s traditional take on decor showing how easy it is to incorporate these trendy hues into any style.

Turquoise already has a retro connotation. Pairing it with red and inserting retro details and decor, but with modern conveniences, plays to the great design and craftsmanship of mid-century style.

The clear acrylic table appears to be melting, but interestingly mimics the octopus pattern of the fabric. The natural fiber rug adds to the coastal take on this combination.

The addition of yellow in this last image is particularly pleasing balancing the two primary colors red and yellow with the tertiary turquoise, then incorporating white as the backdrop neutral and green as nature’s neutral.