Have you ever seen a color that you love, but you just can’t put your finger on how to describe it? That is sort-of how I am feeling about this color. I’ve actually been tracking this color for well over a year now and have started to see it popping up in both fashion and interiors. I even saw it briefly at High Point Market in a few different variations which is a good sign for 2011 interior introductions and I also found it in Pantone’s Spring/Summer 2010 Fashion Report.
You see, this color can go sightly more orange, a bit more reddish brown, and is even hanging on to a little red-violet influence. Which of course makes this color kind-of chameleon in nature, and actually part of three different color families. So you could say it’s three completely separate colors all together.
But that is one of the exciting aspects of color trend forecasting, it’s never just one particular hue. You don’t see every designer using the exact same turquoise, or white, or purple. No, it’s all in how you interpret the color for a specific situation, product, or design like in these products…
(Total side note here, but I think it’s interesting how whenever I spot this color it’s always done in a shiny, satiny, or velvety finish, especially in upholstery fabrics as you’ll see below.)
Now this is hard for me to admit as I pride myself on being a master at naming and describing colors, but you can understand why I’m having trouble with this one. Being able to quickly spit out a color name is a talent I’ve had and honed over the years. From my days working in Color and Marketing for Dutch Boy Paint, to my position as Chair-woman of the Consumer Color Directions Forecasting Committee for the Color Marketing Group, then tracking color and interiors as a Homes Editor for Southern Living, and now on my own for my consulting business Colour Couture and also with Kate for Color for Your Home. (Check out our full report for 2010-2011 here)
So you can see I should not be fretting over trying to give this color a name that will not only perfectly describe it, but also give it the trend status it deserves. For goodness sakes it’s what I do! I suppose I could call it Burnt Coral, Sightly Cinnamon, Sunset Dusk, or maybe you have a better idea!
So tell me, what do you call this new hot hue for the future? I say, “Look out 2011 (insert this color name here) is coming your way!”
Persimmon? Colorado Copper? Meet Me in Pompeii ( OPI Style ) ; )
I like the color. It reminds me of a place I saw in Colorado a long time ago. How about calling it “Colorado Rocks?”
(Pun intended.)
I’m so glad you have mentioned this colour because it has been on my radar as well. It’s really a beautiful mix of orange, red, brown, purple, just like you mentioned. It does remind me of ‘red rocks’ the kind you would see in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It also reminds me of shale from a pathway, but not nearly as romantic a name
I am loving all your suggestions, stories of inspiration, and where you’ve spotted this color in nature. Please keep them coming!
Love this colour!
I like the name Sunset Dusk as it reminds me of being on the beach watching a sunset soaking up this rich color off the water! I also think it looks like a “persimmon” color name.
Love the shag carpet…a favorite of mine!
its peachy mauve. name for it? everyone hates the word mauve, so you can’t use that..but it is making a comeback.
I thought of exotic locales like Zanzibar and Marrakech when I saw this color. Then I thought of Cinnabar, which is a mineral ore of mercury. It was commonly used in lacquerware in China or in Mayan burial chambers.
I especially love the Joni Vanderslice Chairs!
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and photos.
Amy, I agree mauve is a tough word, but yet it is making a comeback in its own way. Catherine, I love your reference to China and the Mayan burial chambers. But when you say Cinnabar all I think of is the Fiesta Ware color, yet I totally understand your connection to the mineral ore of mercury. And as far as Joni’s chairs, I love them too!
What about “Canyon”?
Hi Everyone – Every single time I turn around, this variation of orange is there! And I love it! Some versions are more earthy and some more vibrant. Alot shows up on T.V. advertising. More again in the small boutiques (design and clothing, but more design) around my neighborhood. Last week Sue Fisher King had bright orange sheets dressing the bed in her window, with gorgeous Missoni throws, and of course all the Etro, anything, Etro!
F.Y.I. check out http://www.rwandabaskets.com (Costco is doing a temporary/mobile sale on this baskets. This is a wonderful cause.
I’m so glad to see this color highlighted because I used a shade close to it in an ad I’m running to promote my company. For the name I like Terracotta Rose or Sunset Peach!
Bittersweet.
This color reminds me of the autumny, not-quite-orange, not-quite-pink, not-quite-brown Bittersweet crayon in the old Crayola package.
More importantly, it’s a nearly dead-on match for the color of bittersweet berries (especially when they’re dried).
As for the other three swatches, how about, respectively:
Cinnamon Mocha
Cherry Cola
Brick House
I knew this color would be in soon! Remember we were taking about it in High Point? Shades of “salmon” was my choice – love that color. You can read my post about it here from last November:
http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2009/11/whats-my-color-prediction-for-2010.html
It’s a natural progression from the popular blues to it’s complementary oranges and tweaked just a bit to salmon with various undertones – all beautiful!
My name for this color would be “Omega 3″.
Thanks again everyone! I had so much fun reading all of your great ideas. You’ll only have to wait a few months until our 2011/2012 trend forecast presentation is released to see which name I chose! I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek at the future of color as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you.
I’m probably too late to name the color but I love the warm tranquil feeling this evokes. I’m choosing “Cinnamon Chai” for the color name as it has reddish brown undertones married with a creaming yellow/orange that reminds of chai tea