Cont’d

Yellow: The most reflective color other than white, yellow in the Eastern countries it is the color of Buddhist monks while the Egyptians used it as a symbol of power. In its golden shade it is the color of halos, in the 19^th century it is said to emanate from intellectuals. Yellow is a summer color, the color of bright sunshine and happiness. Too much yellow can become irritating so a light hand should be practiced when applying yellow to large surfaces. Paired with red and orange it is in the trio of “fast food” company logos and signage. This color is prominent in China, South America and Mexico on exteriors

Green: The Druids color of learning is green and in the 21^st century it is a noun, a verb and an adjective. It is the symbol of “going green” for the environmental campaigns. Common uses of the word green are connected to envy, illness and ecological issues. It is nature’s neutral as a background for all living flora and for the vegetarian’s basic food groups and a healthy diet. In a yellow cast it is popular in Australia and muted versions are common in the US as an exterior color and commonly found on interior palettes. 

Blue: Soothing and calming blue is the most often selected ‘favorite” color. It is a symbol of noble ideas and in Catholicism it is the symbol of the blessed Mother. It is the abundant blue sky and sea, ocean and lakes and a trusted color. It is used by many countries for their flags and in marketing it used to denote scientific ideals, stability and unity. It can mean sadness, as in “I feel blue” and “or forward thinking as in blue sky ideas. Bright blue can be found in Greece, Norway, and Sweden and sometimes in China and South America as bold, exterior color.

Violet: The color of royalty as it took millions of “purpura” shells ground to make a die used by the makers of the royal and rich back to biblical times. It was associated with the female gender but emerged as a non gender specific color in the 1980s when applied to sportswear and automobiles. It is the color of power, wine and wantonness. It suggests sensuality and repentance, as it is used for Lent in Christian religion. It is playful and youthful and a favorite of little girls and a popular cosmetic color.

What we know about color traditions is that it is not universal. A sacred color in one country may be a negative color in another. Since we work and live in a global market it is imperative that we understand these differences so as to not appear rude or insensitive to these markers.

White: White is an achromatic color, meaning it lacks color; however, that does not preclude that it has no effect on history or traditions. White is a best seller amongst many colors in such products as cars, appliances, linens, towels and a broad range of goods. It is associated with purity in the Western countries, thus becoming the traditional color for brides although it may be overshadowed by cream, antique white and ivory as trends have evolved. Also, more chromatic colors are beginning to show up for weddings, mostly light hues but there may be reds, blues and other bright colors on the horizon. In Eastern countries, it is the color for mourning and funerals. It is the color of winter, snow and summer clouds.

Black: In Western countries, black is the color of mourning, the color of the business uniform and the little black dress for gala occasions. In the US, black is also the uniform of the typical teenager, not a rebellion but more of a sign of their age group that states that they “belong”. In China it is the color for little boys. Mixed with orange it is the color of Halloween and sometimes the color linked to “bad guys”. Now it may be the color of the “good guys”, the sophisticated and mysterious. Black can also be utilitarian products as noted by Henry Ford and his first cars that, “you can get in any color as long as it is black”.

Red: This hue is the color of the active mind. In China, ruby is a symbol of long life. In Ireland, the red hand is the symbol of the healing profession while white is the color for the medical community in Western countries. Red means love and passion and is high energy. Red is a common element in the flag of many countries as well as sports teams’ fighting colors. It is powerful and commanding in advertising and sensual in lingerie. It is a staple in Mexican clothing and home décor and a popular accent in Western Countries. Its palest version of pink is dainty and sweet, unlike the bold reds found on sport scars.

Orange: This color often brings to mind food, especially citrus. It is the color of warnings, found on safety vests, as it is contrasting to the color of water. In its brighter chromas it is the forerunner of the sun and the sign of autumn. It has been connected to inexpensive products and conjures pumpkins and summer flowers. In western countries it is an element of fast food logos. This bright color is frequently found in Hispanic cultures. Pale versions of this are found in the US southwest on exteriors and its neutral version, brown is a best seller as an exterior color and in the palest beige form it is overwhelmingly a best seller inside and out.

I had a writer from a prominent newspaper ask me one time, “Why do the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. draw so many people in the spring time?” She wondered if it was the color that fascinated onlookers and I had to think about it to come up with a logical reason.

I got to thinking about other colorful phenomena to see if there was a common link, such as the draw of a colorful sunset, the allure of a field of tulips or the awe of a rainbow after a storm. Two things they all have in common are quantity and brightness.  One tulip is beautiful on its own but a field of them has us pause and admire the stunning show they perform. A quick glance doesn’t do the job; we have to spend time to appreciate them and thank those that took the time to place each precious bulb and the grace of God that created them.

Sunsets and rainbows have a power of their own; they glow from within and use the power of sunlight to generate their beauty. They are commanding in their splendor; they make us stop and admire or point them out to someone, often anyone, that they are in the presence of greatness.

Back to the cherry blossoms; one cherry blossom is beautiful, a tree full of blossoms is striking but a long block bursting with blooms takes our breath away. It is not the color of the blossoms (they are pink, not particularly spellbinding, but pretty just the same); it is the quantity that draws people. It is as if our eyes are happy to see so much color in one place and it makes us rejoice that spring has arrived and the colorful display of blooms is the expected sign that spring has arrived, hurrah!

By: Pat Verdlot

Follow us on Twitter @ colormaniac

Working with various paint marketing departments for almost a decade has allowed to me ask myself, “which promotional color tool tickles my fancy”?  By this I mean the color tool that would make me run out of my house totally inspired. I’d be ready to spend more money than I can afford while feeling completely grateful to the wonderful paint company that put it together for me? (By the way, gratitude often leads to loyalty)

Is it the lovely trend card? Is it the card in which the paint company wants to show me the millions shades of red that they can tint? Or is it the lovely color card, with the lovely pictures, and lovely color collection to compliment each one.

Well, it’s none of the above.

As most women, I am pretty confident about the style I prefer most. I know I passionately dislike the “country” look, appreciate the “modern” look, but absolutely love the classic early 20^th century New York look. Add to it some modern fabric, textures, wall colors, and “I died and gone to decorating heaven”!

Knowing what decorating style you like the most is not the difficult part. The hardship comes in sourcing it easily to put it all together in a weekend or two. Can you imagine a color card which can become your virtual working tool? Think of the ability to pick a color card that captures your style sensibility, tells you which colors are best and then sends you to all the stores in your neighborhood that carry pieces of fabrics, furniture, artwork, and other key decorating pieces  that put it all together.  Now that’s a color card I can use!

Author: Martina Kucey

Follow us on Twitter @ colormaniac

Last week at the Sydney Exhibition Centre, designers and architects, as well as those interested in colour and design, flocked to the leading design think-tank in the Southern Hemisphere called designEx.

Many designers discussed the importance of constantly changing their retail offer and environment to keep it interesting for their consumers. Australian designer, Sibella Court, changes her retail shop (The Society Inc, in Paddington, Sydney – an old haberdashery meets hardware store specialising in local and global textiles, furniture, homewares and beautiful things) four times a year with a different theme each time. All products change, colours on the floors and walls change, and the store is transformed into a different ‘society’.

The collaboration of designers and manufacturers has never been more visible. From rug and paint to wallpaper manufacturers, they all seem to have joined forces with well-known designers to build brand and highlight beautiful pieces.

The green movement was omnipresent, with an entire hall section dedicated to ‘Design for Sustainability’. Series after series and workshop after workshop touched on how critical it is to ensure an environmental aspect is considered in projects, and manufacture of products. Consumers demand their products and brands respect the environment and will pay a premium to purchase a product that boasts such characteristics.

Colour, of course, was a major element of all stands. From stone and pearl designer finishes in neutrals of paint to vibrant oranges and muted greens in the latest Laminex laminate range.  The outdoor room showcased cream and natural wood furniture with outdoor fireplaces. Timber flooring and window coverings were everywhere to be seen!

While in the past few decades it may have seemed difficult for Australian designers to make their mark on the world stage due to physical distance, it was evident at the show that the situation has surely changed. Australian designers have a lot to be proud of!

By: Courtney Seguire

Follow us on Twitter @ colormaniac