Dear Friends,

Happy 2009!  Although 2008 put many of us through struggle, turmoil and certainly some changes, there’s quite a bit of optimism surrounding 2009 and a lot to be grateful for.  I want to thank everyone who has continued to support this little boutique paint business I started almost eight years ago.  I can’t get over all of the wonderful people it has attracted into my life.  Thanks to you, I am very blessed indeed!

Now more than ever, it seems people are continuing to reevaluate their living spaces, yearning to turn them into their own personal sanctuaries.  Thankfully, the two things we can do to make the biggest impact are also the least expensive: (1) Clearing away all of the things that no longer serve us may cost us some time, but reviewing and evaluating our lives in the process can be very rewarding.  (2) Color is one of the most powerful elements in design, yet the least expensive element to work with. By simply changing the color of a room, you can totally change the mood of the space.  The average-sized room only takes a couple of gallons of paint, so considering the impact it makes, that’s quite a bargain!

Recently, I contacted three of the country’s top color experts to find out what colors are projected to be popular for 2009. 

Barbara Jacobs of Integral Color (integralcolor.com) said “comforting and soothing” are always welcoming qualities, but she’s also finding “spirit renewal, faith in the positive and creativity as being characteristics that are inspiring colors for the next year.”

Colors from our palette she used as examples are Buttercream, Classic Marc, Alexandra Blue, Dusk and Violet.  She also said themes of “freshness” and “good health” are characteristics we will be drawn to more and more, and suggested colors like Jaunty Jen, Citrine, Spring Green and Morning Yellow, which all evoke this feeling.  Another theme of importance Barbara brought up is strength, which includes the long-lasting qualities of the physical, calling to mind solid historic buildings, stone and antiques, as well as “emotional qualities” such as “strength in friendship” and “community.” 

"Jaunty Jen", which evokes the characteristics of freshness & good health, was used by Barbara for the accent wall of this "Beige" office.

Barbara specified "Buttercream" walls for her project above because it is both both cheerful and soothing.

“Metallics” were also mentioned by Jacobs as emerging in many colors. Color consultant Kate Smith of Sensational Color (sensationalcolor.com) brought up metallics as well.  Kate said that during economically challenging times we have a renewed respect for the durability and permanence of metals.  Both color consultants also noted the popularity of purple as being a strong color in 2009.  Purple was the first color Kate mentioned during our interview and Barbara suggested a grayed down version would become a “sophisticated neutral”.  I have to say, I have seen a recent increase in sales of Lilac Mist, Stone and Violet, as well as a renewed interest from the gray family, like Driftwood, Putty, Pumice & Rain.

Kate also shared that “blue will be seen in a range of hues from a tint so clear and light that it’s almost white, to one with green grey undertones that is as deep and mystifying as the ocean or clear and fresh as the sky.”  She too corroborated that “in times of uncertainty there is a renewed respect for solid foundations, ancient structures and colors that conform rather than confront” and sees an entire range of complex neutrals come to the forefront as we seek stability in turbulent times:  Natural greys, color-infused greys and greige (grey-beige).

Left: Barbara Jacobs' recent use of "Driftwood" in the room in the foreground with "Pumice" in the garden room beyond are examples of the renewed interest in the gray palette.

Kate also said we will be drawn to yellow, the color of sunshine and happiness, because it will give us the positive lift our spirits need, plus it is a color than can open our minds to innovation or new thinking and pointed out that Pantone announced that they have chosen a yellow (Mimosa) as their color of the year for 2009.  While yellow is always popular because of  those qualities, it’s interesting to note that a similar shade of yellow (Ginger Ale) was chosen as ICI Paints’ color of the year for 2008.  If you’ll recall, “Chartreuse”, which has become one of our most popular colors—especially in recent months, was ICI’s color of the year for 2007.  Chartreuse is that perfect balance between yellow and green.

Since ICI had already predicted a similar golden yellow for 2008, I couldn’t wait to hear from Barbara Richardson, who heads up ICI’s Color Marketing & Color Design Studio, to find out what they predicted to be the Color of the Year for 2009!  Barbara’s team works all year researching color trends.  Each year, along with ICI’s international team of color experts, they produce Colour Futures, a beautiful book which is the end result of ongoing worldwide color trend research, forecasting and development.

Barbara shared that she believes some of the economy is trying to ‘right’ itself. . . and bring things back into balance and that because green is a highly emotive color that speaks to us symbolically on many levels – culturally, socially, naturally and futuristically, they chose “Beryl Green” as the color of the year for 2009.  She said “the psychological acceptance of cool green comes from its association with the herbs and plants used in both culinary and medicinal contexts. 

"Mimosa" Pantone's 2009 Color of the Year

"Ginger Ale" was ICI Paints' Color of the Year for 2008

"Chartreuse" was ICI Paints' Color of the Year for 2007

"Beryl Green" is ICI Paints' Color of the Year for 2009

Green tea, eucalyptus, mint, aloe and willow have calming, healing and reviving aspects that we seek out when under stress or in the midst of emotional trauma—they have the ability to work in harmony with the body’s own healing mechanisms.  In both exterior and interior decoration, jade green has an important part to play.  In modernist terms it works with glass, steel, concrete and combines with a cool palette of grey, soft blues, taupe and chocolate while for a softer and more domestic look, it can be combined with warmer tones like plum, terra cotta, peach and nude pink.  This green is balanced and wholesome – a contemplative and soothing shade that speaks of community care and social responsibility—a nurturing color for an emotionally hungry world.” 

Greens have always been a mainstay of our palette because the color green is the most healing and balancing color, falling in the middle of the color spectrum.  However, we did not have anything quite like Beryl Green, so we are creating our full spectrum version and calling it “Jade”. Samples of the new color will be available soon!  

Again, thank you for your continued interest and support.  I wish you all joy, health and abundance in this year ahead! 

P.S.  I wanted to share an update on my eternal quest to be a better steward of the earth.  I am proud to report that my office is now paperless.   I initially stored the paper files, worried that I might need them, but after several months of never pulling a single file, I have been shredding the paper files and using them as packing material!  I can’t begin to tell you how much I love working in my office without all that clutter!  But not to worry, I have not one, but two back-up systems.