Colour Trends 2012: Pantone Color of the Year Revealed
Well it’s that time of year…the new colour for 2012 has been unveiled and like last year it is a bold choice. Here is the Pantone press release.
Dance into the New Year with this vivacious and appealing reddish orange – Tangerine Tango PANTONE 17-1463.
The 2011 color of the year, PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle, encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.
“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”
Tangerine Tango for Interiors and More
Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.
What do you think….will you be using this colour in your home? Let us know by leaving a comment.
You can read the full press release at http://www.pantone.com
Nine Ways to Visually Create More Space
Many people think of adding square footage to create more space. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You can make your home appear bigger without going through the hassle of renovating and remodelling. With just a few home modifications, it is possible to make more from less. And remember, often what the eye needs is the illusion of spaciousness not actually more space.
Here’s how to create the illusion of space without adding square footage.
1. Think diagonal views.
Think back to geometry and how the hypotenuse of the triangle was the longest of the three sides. Apply that to the sightlines within your small-house design. Your house will appear much bigger than it actually is if you are able to stand at one corner of the house and look to the far corner without any obstructions. Also, if you have a room that will be tiled, place the tiles on a diagonal. It makes the space seem larger visually, pushing the walls out.
2. Think like a sailor.
Sailboats usually have no wasted space and that’s what you should aim for. Look for opportunities for built-ins, such as building bookshelves in staircases, unique space-saving cabinets, drawers under beds, etc.
3. Use lighting to open up space and add interest.
In creating the feeling of more space, it is important to give your house an airy feel. Use simple window dressings to bring in natural light and steal space from the outdoors and give it to the interior of the house.
If possible, use recessed spot lights as they are both visually appealing and have a low profile that is perfect for a small space.
4. Play with the furniture.
Try to move furniture away from the walls if the space allows. It will give a feeling of more openness when a sofa isn’t butted against a wall. If you’re buying new pieces, try to purchase items that are on legs versus feet. The higher a piece sits from the floor, the more visual space is present. Also, armless furniture pieces give an illusion of extra space so consider an armless sofa or slipper chairs.
5. Accessorize.
The bigger a piece of artwork is, the bigger the feeling of a space. A wall filled with many small pictures seems cluttered and less dynamic versus a wall with a large piece of art, which makes a bold statement. Also, “lighten up” your corners by using lights and plants. It will look stunning at night, casting shadows on the ceilings and giving an illusion of more space.
6. Use mirrors to reflect light.
When using mirrors in a space, make sure that whatever the mirror is reflecting it is pleasing to the eye, or at least doubles the amount of light let into the space. In addition to mirrors, use other materials that reflect light and space (stainless steel, chrome, etc.). A glass table with stainless steel legs will allow light to bounce off it.
7. Colour your world.
The colour of a room’s walls has the power to create a mood and affect the room’s appearance. Use just one or two colours per room for visual simplicity that expands a space. Also keep in mind that white, neutral or pale colours best reflect light, visually “pushing back” walls. Cool blue and green hues will make a space seem larger and airier. Warm reds and yellows cozy a room and can make it appear smaller.
8. Let there be height.
Use at least one tall element in a room to draw the eye upward, towards the ceiling. Not only does this maximize the vertical space in the room, but it also draws the eye up to the less crowded ceiling space above.
9. Minimize the amount of furniture you have in each room.
It is both wise and essential to select furniture and accessories that perform multiple tasks. The smaller your space, the more this applies, especially with furniture. Storage is an obvious second job for many pieces of furniture.
Every room has good proportions which make its space flexible enough to create any environment you wish. Compromises in decorating, colour techniques, furniture arranging and lighting considerations can all contribute to the illusion of space. By following some of the tips above, you can create a visually larger room.
Copyright © 2010 Canada Realty News™
Source: www.vanhomesales.com
2011 Spring Home Decorating
By Katy Hahn
Decorating your home for the spring? What do you think of when you think of spring? Lighter, brighter, fresher, and newer. I know what I think of. I think of planting fresh flowers, re-arranging my furniture for a new look and adding new accent pillows. These are all simple and inexpensive ways to decorate and give your home a spring tonic. But, what if you want more or what if you’re ready to design or redesign your home décor? Well here is what’s new in the home furnishings industry for Spring 2011.
Let’s start with color. Color is exciting this spring. Think of walking through a farmer’s market or a foreign marketplace. These colors are a reflection of what you would expect to see in fabrics. Popular spring colors will be lemon yellow, golden yellows, mandarin orange, blushing pinks, light golden browns, dark purples, aqua blues, smoky grays and shades of green. Patterns include ribbon candy stripes, large florals, trellis fabrics, China Seas and tracery patterns.
Home decoration styles will 
take on a more global influence, particularly Parisian, African and Asian. Along with that is the big look of the 50′s, 60′s and 70′s. The look is artisan, rustic and ethnic. Some decorating styles you will be reading about are Refined Rustic, Art Deco, Modern Mid-Century, Classic Revival, 70′s Modern Retro as well as a blend of vintage and classic. We will see much more green design options as the home furnishings industry pushes forward to bring homeowners healthier living alternatives like zero VOC paints, wood flooring and furniture from sustainable forests, soy foam stuffing for upholstery and non-toxic natural fabrics. As homeowners become more energy conscious, energy efficiency will be a main focus for homes and businesses.
Just as Vintage and Modern, Traditional and Contemporary designs set the stage for new and unique home décor accents, prepare to see lots of textures, artisan touches, pleats, tweeds and puckers. Woods and metals will also bring in texture through etching, stenciling and stamping. Traditional items will have unexpected colors. Area rugs will have more geometric patterns. All this in 2011 spring home decorating.
Well, I guess when they say, spring forward, they really mean it. I hope you enjoyed reading this article as much as I did putting it together. I feel like I traveled the world in search of treasures, colors, fabrics and home furnishings. Now, I am back and ready to get started in decorating, a spring tonic for my home. Happy Decorating!:-)
Copyright 2011 Beautiful Interiors For Less, LLC
Katy Hahn is the founder and lead designer of Beautiful Interiors For Less, serving Central Florida and the greater Orlando area. She is an interior design and decorating consultant and provides both full design and redesign services. Whether you need help with color and fabric selection, new furniture layouts, lighting design, home furnishings, accessories, custom hard or soft window treatments or any other interior design services, visit us at http://www.beautifulinteriorsfl.com
New Home Decorating Ideas: Tips To Make A House Your Home
By Louise Howard
You may be an experienced home mover or buying a new home for the first time in your life – either way, you are likely to value the opportunity to make your home more comfortable, warm and stylish. If you’re looking at homes for sale we have a list of five easy steps on turning your new house into a home.
Create a feature wall
It can make your walls feel a little generic and impersonal if you leave them blank white, and creating a feature wall, with either paint or wallpaper, could be a good idea if you lack the money, time and patience to fully redecorate a room. Doing so can give your room more personality and focus, freeing you up to add depth by accessorising with further elements.
Flowers and foliage
The power of plants is not to be underestimated! Potted plants can add a masculine touch to a room, while there are many beautiful flowers that you can choose from for greater femininity – whether you choose real or fake flowers. White flowers are a no-risk addition as they are elegant and are particularly interesting if placed in a coloured vase.
Get creative with art
If you really want to personalise your home, consider displaying your own artwork around it. There’s no need to be a Picasso if you would like to create artworks of your own – simply covering a succession of canvasses with some gorgeous patterned paper is a great idea, or alternatively, create a modern effect by mounting various colour coordinated plates together on the wall in a symmetrical pattern or blow up onto a canvas that awesome cityscape photograph that you took. There are many design websites to inspire you with ideas, but keep in mind that there are endless options!
photo by BHS
Coordinate with soft furnishings
You can enhance a room’s cosiness and warmth with rugs, cushions, curtains or similar soft furnishings. Look for tones of colour in other areas of your room such as artwork, flowers or walls and to tie different elements together, look for pieces that are of the same colour. A room can also be made to feel cosier with the addition of attractive throws.
Celebrate your life
Are you a traveller or a frequent visitor to exotic parts of the world? Were you left some china by your Grandma? Are you proud of any awards or trophies that you have? For a great conversation piece and to add life to your abode, put on display some personal items that have a background story or that simply have meaning to you. A personal touch can also be added to your room with photographs.
Louise Howard frequently writes about homes, architecture, design and the property market; particularly houses for sale. Having a passion for this subject she enjoys guest posting on numerous blogs throughout the Internet
PANTONE 2011 COLOR OF THE YEAR
The Pantone 2011 color of the year annoucement is here. This year is going pink….well Honeysuckle to be exact.
The following is what Pantone has to say about this vibrant colour.
A Color for All Seasons
Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.
While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.
“In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”
Eiseman continues, “The intensity of this festive reddish pink allures and engages. In fact, this color, not the sweet fragrance of the flower blossoms for which it was named, is what attracts hummingbirds to nectar. Honeysuckle may also bring a wave of nostalgia for its associated delicious scent reminiscent of the carefree days of spring and summer.”
Honeysuckle is guaranteed to produce a healthy glow when worn by both men and women. It’s a striking, eye-catching hue that works well for day and night in women’s apparel, accessories and cosmetics, and in men’s ties, shirts and sportswear. Add a lively flair to interior spaces with Honeysuckle patterned pillows, bedspreads, small appliances and tabletop accessories. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Honeysuckle for a dynamic burst of energy in the family room, kitchen or hallway.
Home Interiors
Honeysuckle is upbeat and dynamic when used on large areas like the entry area of a house or an apartment. It is an appetite and conversation stimulant when used on the dining room walls. In the kitchen, it adds a fun touch on the table in placemats and other linens (patterned or solid), colored glassware, candles and small appliances. Honeysuckle is a great color to cover up shabby kitchen cabinets, or, if that’s too much of a color statement for you, try repainting knobs and drawer pulls. But be warned – once you try this arresting shade, it can become addictive.
You can read the full article here
So what do you think ladies, are you going to use this colour in your home? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
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