PPG Porter Paints hosted a color trend seminar here in St. Louis recently. I had the pleasure of attending and enjoyed hearing about the trends as well as meeting new people.
Every year
PPG puts out four color schemes that they see as trendy or are popular at the moment. I liked the slogan this year of "Our color choices are more and more about what make us happy." I wholeheartedly agree as I am seeing that trend with my color consultant clients. I do think it is interesting that the colors that make us happy are also trendy. I'll talk about that more in a bit, but first let me introduce the color schemes for this year to you.
They said this one is "a mix of ethic exoticism and modern sophistication." It feels cozy and natural with the warm grays. The names of the paints are gypsum, chaparral, Oregon trail (I love that name), silver bells, and cracked slate. Hum, I see some new drawings for my
Etsy Shop... :)
It is described as " a mixture of glorious neutrals inspired by the most noble materials, the mysterious appeal of black and the strong power of red." I would say it is 1940's chic. Very dramatic and gilded. The paint color names for this scheme are rum runner (made me laugh out loud), almond cream, angel food (reminds me of my sister Jenny), Umber beam (huh?), and dark as night (don't need to see the paint chip for that one, do ya?)
It has/is "floral inspiration, mix of modern and craft, and bucolic femininity." I must admit, I had to look up bucolic. In case you were like me, bucolic is defined as an adjective - Of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life. It makes sense, the softer side of country decor. I think I would describe it as an urban take on happy country style. The paint colors that make it up are Aqua fiesta, green wave, hat box brown, happy trails, and red cedar. Perfect names to go with this theme, don't you think?
Porter describes it as, "bright accents mix with wooden tones and stone on concrete textures." The warm browns definitely ground a color similar to Pantones color of the year for 2010. Adventure, Chalkware 3, Gold Buff 2, Allspice, and Brown Basket. Very interesting - I love the names of paint!
So what do you think of these themes? Which one do you gravitate towards?
I think it is interesting that one of my clients just finish a living room in the New Bohemia scheme and I have had another one recently do the Instinct scheme. I did not know these named trends when we were selecting the paint and decor items. I find it fascinating that we put together their rooms based on what both of them wanted - what made both of the happy. It makes me wonder though, which comes first - the color people love or the trend? And then it gets into the age old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg? I know there is a method behind how colors get selected years before the season by such committees as the Color Marketing Group, but it is an odd feeling know that what you selected was actually a trend. As long as my clients are happy, it doesn't really matter I suppose!
