Greens that are not too sage-y, not to dark… but in shades that can best be described as existing somewhere between preppy and edgy and are as refreshing as a tall, cool glass of minted sweet- tea.

(1)chair from Smith and Hawken, runway photo from Style.com, Silvergate wallpaper by Farrow and Ball(2)Coach tote, Ditti sofa from Anthropologie(3)martini glass from Barney’s, dishtowel from Crate and Barrel, girl’s one piece from Gap Kids(4)Runway photo from Style.com, High Gloss mary janes from J.Crew, runway photo from Style.com(5)sparkle flip flops from Gap, chair from William Sonoma Home, Luna Cluster necklace from Neiman Marcus(6)Julie Brown print dress from Intermix, Sony Bravia tv, Marmont silk tunic from Intermix(7)Crate and Barrel charger, belt by Prada(8)Kate Spade bag, cotton rug from WSHome, Sea Change flats from Anthropologie(9)drapes by Pottery Barn Kids, dress by Zac Posen, green tiled kitchen from Domino magazine(10)Fiddlehead coffee table from Maine Cottage, West Elm garden table, summer 2008 paint hues from the PotteryBarn/ Benjamin Moore paint line

Are you CRAVING a particular color this Spring? Let me know what it is… or if you have a great bright green suggestion for my wishlist- let me know that, too!

The melding of these two different worlds, color, style and trend wise, is an important reminder of how the trends from different industries can effect each other.

Last spring when we started to recognize a shift to brighter, purer, more saturated colors in fashion we took note. Then in the fall when even brighter colors, not just solids this time- but a bevy of prints as well sashayed down the runway, we knew the color trend was here to stay.

So when I received the new Spring catalogue from Pottery Barn ( a.k.a my go-to-store for “earthy neutral” decor ) this past week-I knew the trends had officially crossed over from fashion to home.

Missoni for spring and Pottery Barn’s Nora rug- perhaps simply two designs separated at birth

The colors for Zac Posen’s spring collection was a wonderful mix of sophisticate brights, inside the new Pottery Barn catalogue features a photo of their Wing-back chair styled in a very similar way.

It was all about dramatic dressing in bold black and white florals at Gucci- the Bold Floral rug lends the same drama to your living room

Sophisticate garden preppy at Diane Von Furstenberg looks at one with the same wing-back chair, this time upholstered in Pottery Barn’s Green Apple fabric

Dries Von Norten’s collection was all about an exciting mix of ethnic prints and florals in dynamic color combinations, the Ikat pillows from Pottery Barn’s spring collection, when placed together create similar energy

So are these print and color palettes taking place on the runway and inside your local Pottery Barn just a coincidence or are the colors and styles that we will love to wear ultimately becoming closer and closer to the colors and trends that we would also love to decorate with?

What do you think?

Is there a fashion trends that you would consider crossing over from your wardrobe to your living room this year?

Or do you believe fashion trends change too fast to be a wise influence on your home’s decor?

fashion images from Style.com

Looking toward the sky, West Elm’s horn pendant lamp is beautiful shades of browns.

In the kitchen, toss a salad in Anthropologie’s carved wooden ombre bowl. Set the table with Target’s bold ombre dinnerware.

Need a nap after all that eating, Goldilocks? Get comfy in Ralph Lauren’s Jamaica bedding.

When you’re ready to wake up and stretch, plant your feet on one of these rugs. West Elm offers southwestern shades of blues, rusts, and grays while Montgomery Wards’ (didn’t know they were still in business) rug is strictly black and white.

Adding a bit of ombre will update the decor of any room.

In the living room, gray is a beautiful neutral that can be combined with many colors, for a fresh spring look. And by using gray in the palette, even the guy in my life is comfortable contributing to the design of his favorite rooms. (As long as I can still have a girlie room somewhere in the house).

West Elm has a collection of low storage units and exotic rugs to update your family room. If you’re not in the market for new furniture – just add a new pillow, like Thomas Paul’s silk pillow.

Adding grey in the kitchen is easy and relatively inexpensive. You can update the cabinet hardware or buy a new dish towel. You might be amazed at how happy even something small in a new color can make you feel.

Stainless appliances are very much the favorite of many but I like the subtle sheen of the new grays. I admit that I covet the Kitchenaid mixer, even though I have no practical use for it.

Tableware is a practical and lovely area to showcase the newest trends.

Vera Wang and Ralph Lauren have divine patterns that are predominantly pearly grays. Dentelle has a classic espresso cup that would compliment any color tabletop decor; perhaps you’d enjoy a warm cup of Earl Grey tea. (I know…a very corny and predictable reference.)

Benjamin Moore has many shades of gray paint, but my favorite is Beacon Gray #2128-60. This color was recently featured on an episode of “Desperate Housewives” when Lynette Scavo (a.k.a. Felicity Huffman) was redoing a room. Another gorgeous gray is Valspar Wisteria Snow #4003-3A.

If you have commitment issues then you might be interested in wall decals. These handy decorations are inexpensive enough to be changed seasonally.

A gray palette is a modern update on the green / yellow nursery. I don’t particularly find sherbert green inspiring but think that a baby’s imagination would soar in this crib by Oeuf.

For those who are waiting for the stork to arrive to find out the gender of their bundle of joy– prepare the nursery in neutral grays. Then when you ‘re sweet surprise arrives, you can fill the room with accessories that fit the his/ her personality. And wall decals can be changed with every mark on the growth chart.

A perfect gift is aprilmayjune’s vintage animal purses like the elephant and cat ones shown here. These gems are hand embroidered and have genuine pearl and 14K gold eyes. I can’t think of anything cuter than hanging these from a dresser mirror.

Grays create a very Zen feeling in the bedroom. Urban outfitters has a regal gray velvet headboard that reminds me of old Hollywood glamour. It could be complemented by West Elm’s graphic floral duvet cover or Thomas O’Brien’s sheet sets, sold at Target.

Decadent finishing touches are an easy gray addition. West Elm’s Capiz lamps can provide light in your reading corner. Speigel’s block print rug will look good at the foot of your bed.

Drape your windows in Restoration Hardware’s damask cotton- linen curtains in silver sage if you prefer Versailles over modern.

My final suggestion in adding a bit of gray into your life is : adopt a sweet cat or dog from your local animal shelter.

Andre is a sweet cat grey tabby and Teddy is an Australian border Collie mix ; both available for adoption on Larchmont, NY Pet rescue site.

With all these colorful choices, I’m looking forward to gray days!

Resources:

• Furniture and accessories from www.westelm.com, www.restorationhardware.com, www.target.com, www.speigel.com
• Crib and decals available at www.kidsmodern.com
• Keepsake purses can be ordered from www.youaremysunshine.biz
• Find paint at www.benjaminmoore.com
• Find paint at www.valspar.com
• Find a pet at www.petfinder.com
  

That’s because the trend of transparency, in the form of see-through layers, sheer fabrics, frosted glass, clear pvc and lucite will be making waves in the world of fashion and home design for Spring 2008.

Unlike the fashion “see-through” trends of days gone by (think Madonna circa 1990), today’s transparencies are not about being overtly sensual, but instead about adding a layer of mystery to an already interesting ensemble. A sheer top layer can be a viewed as either a peek at what lays beneath or a thin shield from what lays ahead. It all depends on the attitude of the wearer.

Marc Jacob’s infamous sheer plastic dressed nurses first appeared on the catwalk in Paris and then later reappeared at the Guggenheim Museum for the launch of Louis Vuitton’s collaboration with artist Richard Prince. .

At Jil Sanders designer Raf Simone enveloped a bevy of his runway models in a cocoon-like poncho made of sheer organza.

Prada, always sure to surprise, showcased a collection of sheer chiffon pieces covered in whimsical drawings and finished with bold piping.

While Adidas by Stella McCartney showed that a transparent silhouette isn’t just a high fashion statement but can add an interesting layer to the way we dress in everyday life.

A translucent glow seemed to come across the faces at both Givency’s Fall 2007 show and Zac Posen’s Spring 2008 runway showing. Style.com takes a backstage look at why the designers decided to forgo color for sheer textures.

House Beautiful named this Umbra clock as one of the most exciting products in their January issue. The clock which measures 2 feet wide is made of frosted glass and in their words “fogs the Victorian style hands and conjures up the mist of time”.

Elle Decor’s “What’s Hot” for Jan/Feb 2008, features these clear plastic side tables from White Webb inspired by Chinese garden stools and Indian architecture.

Metropolitan Home was so inspired by the sheer and cut-out trend in today’s newest home fabrics- it featured them on their Jan/Feb 2008 cover.

Bringing the trend home

White shoes tend to get a bad rap, but how can you not love any pair of Christian Louboutins! The peep-toes are very “of the moment”…. I can just image how sexy the sheer shoe would look on the right foot.

The lucite- inspired Micheal Kors sandals are to me the perfect choice for a tropical getaway- they’re super chic , could be worn from poolside to party and would absolutely “go” with everything you packed.

Everything feels retro about Tom Ford’s Chase sunglasses from their vintage shape to their cool black and white illustrated ad. You would definitely be channeling old Hollywood glamour when wearing these- a time when lucite first came into fashion.

Phillip Stark designed the Louis Ghost chair for Kartell in 2002 and it became an instant classic. Loved by designers and hip homeowners alike, it’s the perfect piece to update any decor.

My friends and family are probably ready to shake me and say “enough zebra motifs in your house, already!”, but I’m obsessed. When I saw these Zebra print burnout sheers in the new West Elm catalog it was love at first sight!

If you want to add a little boost to your hair color without fear of roots, Clairol’s Natural Instinct’s “Shine Happy” promises to add a clear sheen of coverage to give your hair super shine… my stylist told me it may also help blend in those pesky little grays.

Fellow Color Maven Picks (I just had to ask)

Kimberlin Brown spotted this Marina and Sussana Sent’s Bubble Necklace at a recent visit to the MoMA and thinks the translucent piece would look great paired with one of Spring’s super bright colors.

Kate Smith said she’s been dying to try Ralph Lauren’s Candlelight top coat. Said to cast a warm “candlelight effect” over your walls- she thinks this translucent treatment would work wonders in a dining room.

April Clark, my handbag connection and world traveler extraordinaire, brought this little Chanel gem to my attention…. sure we might not be able to afford to purchase it, but maybe we might be able to split the rent on it for a month at Bag, Borrow and Steal.

Found a great way to bring “sheer style” into your life?… Let me know.

While color therapy is gaining acceptance in the scientific community, there is still a great deal of study that needs to be done to fully understand how color affects us both physically and emotionally. This means you will have to decide for yourself if these lights produce the suggested effects.

If you are simply looking for a fun way to change the ambiance of a room, colored lights are an economical and unexpected way to do something different.

At only $4.95 each, who says you can’t buy happiness?

Whether you call them diner dishes, restaurant china, or sturdyware, commercial plates and tableware from the 1940’s and 50’s have a hometown charm that is as comforting as meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

For years, collectors (me among them) have found the classic designs and colors irresistible.

Fishs Eddy, a company specializing in American sturdyware, was born when two passionate collectors turned their appreciation for the simple beauty and durability of these American dishes into a growing business.

Julie Gaines, one of the founders, shared a story about the inspiration for their Pantone Collection that struck a chord with both the collector and color-lover in me.

Julie explained that years ago, she and her partner bought a stack of vintage dishes from a manufacturer in Ohio that was closing their business. The stack included “color wheel” plates that were used by the company’s traveling salesmen in the 40’s and 50’s to show customers the different colors available.

The actual names of the color, the identifying number, and sometimes even the salesman’s name were written in the glaze. One of the plates even had “Do Not Touch” bolding written along with the salesman’s name.

She said that, initially, they didn’t know what they were going to do with the samples and so the plates stayed in their office for the next ten years.

During that time, the destiny of these plates became clear as their design caught the eye of person after person who, upon learning of their history, expressed delight in the plates and their story.

The new line began to take shape and Julie said that it was only natural for Fishs Eddy to take the concept to Pantone, a world leader in color matching.

The result is the colorful Pantone Collection shown here, complete with color name and number written in the glaze.

Sometimes the story behind the product is as interesting as the product itself.

Available online or in stores at Fishs Eddy or Gracious Home.

Gracious Home is a retailer with four fabulous stores in New York city that are brimming with every houseware imaginable.

Gracious Home had selected four palettes from the home forecast Lee had done for Pantone and had invited their customers to meet Lee and hear her personally describe each of the palettes.

The team at Gracious Home arranged merchandise from the store that showcased the colors and allowed the audience to see how the colors on Lee’s presentation boards looked on actual products.

Lee began by showing the “Grounded” palette. She described these as colors “of the earth,” but not simply the earthtones we might immedately think of. This palette does includes golden olive and rosy brown, but also has the less expected earth colors of misted lavendar, mineral blue, and atmospheric gray.

The second group of colors Lee showed was “Pique-Nique” – a palette that speaks to our need for summer fun. Lee described these as the colors of patio parties and picnics in the park. When these colors come indoors, they add summer freshness to any room. “Pique-Nique” colors include a mix of fruity melon and red, refreshing green, baja blue, and a warm rattan.

Next, Lee presented an updated view of pastels with “Pastille.” These are not the candy or sherbet colors that may come to mind when you think of pastels, but rather serene, stylish hues. This quiet palette blends dusted coral, icy aqua, sunshine yellow, and lily green with silver gray or mocha frappe.

The last group was “Primitive,” a palette of bold colors influenced by cultures from around the world. Inspired by handmade objects and native materials, the colors include Chinese yellows, Pompeian reds, earthy browns, and, of course, ebony and ivory.

The audience appeared to enjoy gaining insight into the colors and the palettes Gracious Home had selected seemed to truly resonate with their customers.

In addition to being tuned into the color preferences of their shoppers, I was very impressed with how everyone from the founder to the management team to the sales associates focused on meeting the needs of each customer.

It was easy for me to see why Gracious Home has a reputation for world class service.

All items pictured available on the Gracious Home website.

“The possibilities are endless” was a phrase often used by one of my favorite professors in college to encourage me to expand my exploration of art and design.

It was that same phrase that popped into my head when I discovered the delicious tiles whipped up at the Color Bakery.

The intense color and texture baked into each piece created by the husband and wife team of Glen and Mindy Sommers certainly prove that the possibilities are endless when it comes to
creating tiles.

Their tiles will satisfy your hunger for color when incorporated into murals, back-splashes, room borders, or decorative items such as mirrors and table tops.

But if all you have room for right now is a little taste, that’s okay, because Color Bakery offers smaller bites of color in their fresh baked keepsake boxes, coffee mugs, decorative plates, shelves, frames, and many other imaginative items.

Simply yummy- and best of all, these are baked goods with zero calories!

Photos from the Color Bakery.

Need I say more?

Visit Unison Home for Quailty Home Textiles