There are many different perceptions and shades of white. Some can be mixed, while others are best left alone.

These rooms all use white with neutrals, but white is also the perfect canvas for more vibrant colors to shine upon.

In their book At Home With White, Atlanta Bartlett and Karena Callen show how white gives you the opportunity to add color and texture and provides a crisp background for any other colors you or your designer may choose.

Read an excerpt from At Home With White…

White is the most-used color in interior design and can open up a space, add dimension, and invoke a sense of romance, elegance, peace, and possibility. Another beautiful book that offers inspiration and options for every room in your house is White Rooms.

Have you created a room you love with white?

It’s the 4th of July and time to celebrate by decking out ourselves and our homes in red, white, and blue. But why were these three colors? Sure they are the color of our flag but why?

Wonder no longer. I’ve put together a short article to give you the answer.

Find our “Why the American Flag is Red, White and Blue”…

Question:

“What’s wearing black and white and spray tan all over?”

Answer:

“The star-studded audience at the debut of Chanel’s Resort Line 2008.”

—

Karl Lagerfeld brought high fashion to Los Angeles last Friday night when he debuted Chanel’s Resort Line 2008 in, of all places, a Santa Monica airplane hanger.

Leave it to Lagerfeld, the same man who showed his last resort collection in NYC’s Grand Central Station, to come up with yet another extreme, dramatic location to showcase his art.

“Cruise collections are about dreams of freedom” Mr. Lagerfeld told Vogue magazine just prior to the show, and “L..A. is about the dreams of private jets and beautiful cars and glamor.”

Well, there is no denying that the night was packed with all of the above mentioned…the stars were out in droves, and Style.com reports that the collection received a standing ovation before even the first model stepped a peep-toed boot onto the runway. Now that’s a loyal fan-base!

Mr. Lagerfeld has found extreme success since taking over the Chanel label in 1983, and I’ve always admired his ability to keep a finger on the pulse of how a modern day woman dreams of dressing, all while keeping his design feet planted firmly in the stylish past of the Chanel Label.

In the case of his resort collection, I think Mr. Lagerfeld used color to speak to the adventurous hearts of women. While the designs are beautifully modern and sexy, it was the salmon pink, blood orange, army green, soft gray, and flesh-toned fabrics that caught my eye and I believe captured the modern spirit of the evening. Some looks were monochromatic, others had the color palettes deliciously combined together.

All in all, his use of color was edgy and exciting.

Even the evening looks, though predominantly black, allowed splashes of white, gold, and even a pair of red coquettish stilettos to act as a breath of fresh air for an otherwise classic color silhouette.

Now, to get back to my little quip at the top of the page about the audience…

Well, I can’t help but mention that the the famous crowd were mostly bathed in black. I have to give them some slack – it was an evening show – and Mr. Lagerfeld himself was wearing black head to toe. Besides, black and white have been the colors most associated with Chanel throughout the ages. So when you think about it, wearing black was a pretty safe bet.

Yet, it will be really interesting to see if this show’s use of color has at least a slight trickle-down effect on how the stars dress for future Chanel and other high profile events. Perhaps they will find a little stylish “freedom” and add some color.

To view the entire collection, visit Style.com

All photos from Style.com

]]> http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/chanel-resort-2008/feed/ 0 http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/home-color-trends-south-africa/ http://www.sensationalcolor.com/liveinfullcolor/home-color-trends-south-africa/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2007 11:23:28 +0000 Kate Smith http://cgm-ing.com/liveinfullcolor/home-interior-trends-south-africa/ It is always fascinating to me to see how color trends translate in different countries and regions.

In this story on current trends in South Africa, the two designers interviewed are quoted as saying “the opportunity to play with color has arrived so don’t be scared to combine textures and colors” and, in their view, “Bottle green, maroon and navy have been replaced by pillar box red*, white, metallic, naturals and skins.”

The Mercury Times featured “Time to play with colour” and included the pictures shown above.

You can read the article online…

* Note: Pillar red refers to a bright, true red that standard British pillar boxes (mail boxes) have been sporting since 1874.

Silver? Black? Red?

Find out what your color choice says about your personality…

If you were able to buy your dream car in the perfect color, what would it be?

I especially love the white bermuda shorts being shown by several designers, including Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney.

This updated classic is a must-have summer item, so I thought it would be a good time to give you a few tips to keep in mind when adding white to your wardrobe.

• If you have fair skin, wear bright white, since off-white is not as flattering.
• You can also wear bright white if you have dark skin, because it is a wonderful contrast.
• Our eyes see pure white as a very bright color, making it an attention-grabber.
• When worn with dark colors, such as black or navy, bright white looks crisp and polished.
• Pure whites often have a cool or blue undertone and may not work well with other pieces that have warm or yellow undertones. A creamy white would blend better with warm colors.
• Keep in mind that white is a color that seems to expand and makes things appear larger, so be prepared for that possibility – especially if you wear white from head to toe.
• Off-white is more versatile that pure white, if you are looking for a neutral white that goes with anything.

White bermudas can be found just about everywhere, so have fun finding the perfect pair in the right white for you.

The combination of black, white, and red is clean and contemporary, yet appeals to our desire for glamor. This color trend emerged in Europe in the last two years and this year, the trend has truly taken hold here.

Recently, House & Garden magazine featured Jade Jagger’s (daughter of Mick Jagger and wife Bianca) home in London with her comfortable white furniture that sports a red and black pillow set against a red carpet. Jade is quoted as saying it is “my favorite color combination.”

Their are many reds to choose from; all shades are a beautiful complement to black and white. So whether you favor a bright apple red, a deep claret, or a muted burgundy, the hue will work with black and white.

For the rich and sophisticated look shown in the picture above, try using Burnt Tile 150F-7 for the walls and White 1852 for the trim from Behr.

Best of all, this combination is available from many sources – from rustic wood-stained black cabinets to luxurious red upholstered chairs, so this sophisticated trio can fit any decorating style.

Below is a quick look at general responses to colors based on research, historical significance of color, and word association studies. Different cultures react to colors differently, and this brief overview focuses on the responses of people in the Western Hemisphere.

Red has more personal associations than any other color. Recognized as a stimulant red is inherently exciting and the amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element.

Curious to delve deeper into the world of color? See the full article on our main site: SensationalColor.com…