And don’t miss the video of Sean talking about Fall trends.

Read the article on MohawkFlooring.com…

Fashion plays an important roll in defining color, texture and style trends for every market. JC Reports, Inside Global Fashion Trends, published a three part article discussing trend perspectives. How are countless sources of images and influences dictating what is stylish?

The Death of Trends Series

The Death of Trends, Part 1

The Death of Trends, Part 2

The Death of Trends, Part 3

These posts seem to have set off quite a debate

In the red: apparently scarlet pieces are a sign of the recession

Question:

I read in last week’s Guardian that it’s necklines, not hemlines, that reflect the world’s economy. Are there any other fashion signs about global finances?

According to an article in the April 5th Bangkok Post more homeowners are getting bolder with their choice of colors

While neutral schemes continue to dominate the interior, a subtrend has emerged with a bold few souls opting for bold, bright colours in their decor.

An increasing number of design clients are looking for bright colours — especially in their living rooms.

Contrary to what one might expect, the fad for brighter hues in Thailand does not just appeal to the younger generation as age does not seem to be a factor.

Our parents or grandparents and those before them wouldn’t have even considered that their thoughts could directly influence their physical world yet today it is widely accepted that we are who and what we think we are.

What we are still trying to figure out is how to channel our thoughts to create the life we desire. While many seek to understand this on a spiritual level, some see it as a means of achieving their goals for material success and many others simply accept the concept without the need for self-reflection..

We experience a ‘second life’ whether through technology and the virtual world, dining experiences, fantasy or hands-on vacations and often just through the music we chose to listen to, the clothes we put on or the elements we bring into our homes.

We have amalgamated our identities by blending our physical world with our mental reality, our cultural roots branch out to absorb other cultures further blurring the boundaries of where we came from and instead expecting to be accepted for who we have chosen to be.

While most consumers have agreed for some time that care and renewal of our natural environment is an issue that needs to be addressed until recently only a small number of individuals proactively took responsibility for making changes in the way they lived and worked.

This attitude has changed and currently many people now feel that simply voicing a concern isn’t enough and that each and every one of us must actively make changes in our homes and workplaces in order to ‘do no harm’.

Government leaders too have become more engaged in sustainability issues with politicians talking ‘green’. New legislation requiring businesses to operate with environmental consciousness has companies scrambling to keep up.

Companies that are ahead of the curve are touting their environmental savvy as a way to attract like-minded customers and stand above their competitors. In the near future however business operating in a way that supports sustainability will become a given in the minds of consumers and business leaders will need to add environmental best practices to an already long list of customer expectations.

For many companies this means implementing new processes but for others it will be more challenging and require developing new technologies, rethinking operations and reformulating products. All of this while keeping the end product or service priced competitively. This is one tall order to fill and unless tackled with keen insight an organization could put themselves out of business trying.

But try they will because this business eco ego is being fueled more by customers and their own eco ego than by legislation. Consumers taking positive action want to proudly shows off their environmental responsibility and their ability to reduce their carbon footprint through the products and services they chose.

While the environmental movement has spurred us to take a less self-centered and broader view of the long-term impact each of us has on the world we haven’t left behind our need for recognition. The paradox is that often the same people that feel most driven to make a significant difference also the same ones that want to be recognized for how brightly their halo glows.

It seems that keeping up with the Jones has become keeping up with the ‘Greens.’

TrendHunter.com is the world’s the world’s largest community dedicated to trend spotting & cool hunting.

Breakthrough ideas and strategic advantage hinge on the ability to anticipate trends and identify the next big thing. By tracking the evolution of cool, Trend Hunters generate ideas, stimulate creativity, and ultimately unlock cool.

Pantone has selected its “Color of the Year” for 2008: Blue Iris Pantone 18-3943.

The company said the blue-purple blend combines “the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple,” and suggested this hue “satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement.”

“Look for it artfully combined with deeper plums, red-browns, yellow-greens, grapes and grays,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. She said Blue Iris “best represents color direction in 2008 for fashion, cosmetics and home products.”

Eiseman added, “Emotionally, it is anchoring and meditative with a touch of magic.”

More on Pantone’s 2008 color of the year on Live In Full Color…

UPDATE for 2009:

Pantone releases Color of the Year 2009. See it here…

Julie also wrote about the Color of the Year — Mimosa — on Live In Full Color.

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See the colors and download a copy of the report here…

Here is a well done summary of key product trends for kitchen and bath countertops that was a sidebar to the Product Trend Report at Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Kitchen and Bath Countertop Material Trends at a Glance

• Both fashion and function are key drivers of kitchen countertop trends, with designers and their clients looking for materials that look good, are easy to maintain and that will endure the test of time Likewise, hygienic and maintenance concerns are key in bath countertops.
• Because the kitchen is used for many purposes beyond just eating meals, there’s a growing trend toward mixing and matching counter surfaces in order to maximize functionality.
• Quartz is a gaining ground in the kitchen due to its easy-to-maintain reputation and variety of patterns and colors, while glass is adding a decorative element to the bath.
• Granite is still a popular kitchen choice, but some designers and manufacturers see it losing ground to quartz and solid surface due to its greater maintenance requirements and consumers’ never-ending search for “the next big thing.”
• Solid surface materials are still a mainstay in both the kitchen and bath thanks to their good looks, durability and versatility.
• As the mix-and-match trend grows, wood countertops are seeing more interest, with the product being positioned as a warm and durable addition to the kitchen.
• Neutral colors and earth tones are popular picks for both the kitchen and bath, tying into the trend toward more nature-inspired spaces, but some consumers are choosing to make a design statement with bolder, edgier color choices in order to personalize their spaces.
• Both countertop manufacturers and designers are paying greater attention to green issues, as the movement toward using recycled and recyclable materials gains a greater foothold.

Read the complete article at Kitchen & Bath Design and see the Product Photo Gallery…