Have you planned your getaway for the summer holidays yet?

Colour by numbers - the Pantone Hotel

In my pursuit of colourful design ideas my attention was drawn this week to the Pantone Hotel in Brussels. The ‘Pantone Hotel Experience’ invites you to travel to a “colorific world – experienced through a lens of colour and spectrum of comforts”. The design ethos is described as an ‘exceptional use of contrast where a white canvas provides clean space for saturated colours to pop’.

Quite startling in design, definition and drama are certainly created by the space and reflective qualities of white married with intense bursts of colour in the furnishings and artwork.

The feeling among many designers of different disciplines about including white in design is that it adds impeccable, classy, elegant, clean, simple, peaceful, sophisticated qualities; whilst making other colours in its space appear more intense and vibrant. As white doesn’t alter the reflection of light from its surface it will appear ‘bright’ compared to its surroundings and appear to open up a space.

Citrus at the Semiramus

Another eye popping colourful hotel worth a look is the Semiramis in Athens. Designed by Karim Rashid the look is ultra contemporary and I like the way that colour is used to define space. The colour palettes are sugared almond  (complete with squishy looking marshmallow chairs in the lobby!) or bright and citrusy countered with a lot of white.

Other colourful hotels worth a look are the Mykonos Theoxenia, Greece and the Hi Hotel in Nice

Want to brighten up your space? The Dulux Light & Space range offer a range of ‘whites’ (with a hint of colour) that reflect up to twice as much light around a room.

Well it’s been a little late in coming but we seem to be sliding in to the typical spring ‘four seasons in one day’ kind of weather!

Have you noticed the effect of  rain when the brighter sun shines through it? It’s as if  everything sparkles with more clarity! The colours of  spring time flowers and leaves when they finally blossom will appear fresh and lively. These colours share some ‘characteristics’; they’ll have more yellow in them and appear clear and light. These natural colours perfectly capture the upbeat ‘feeling’ of spring; it’s life, energy and optimism. The youthful spring colour personality suits wearing this palette of colours that will support their natural vitality and zest for life.

If you’re a web/graphic/ product designer or branding expert consider using this light, fresh, clear palette. It accurately conveys qualities which relate well to any design concept or proposition that have the associated ‘youthful’ aspects of fun and energy. Some of these colours are quite ‘primary’ so they may work well in a design for a child or youth orientated product, or any design that needs to express fun, lively, sociable, friendly and confident qualities. Have a look at some of these Pantone references and see how well these colours work together then check the colour psychology effects here.

Red Pantone 032, 1787   Orange Pantone 1365  Yellow Pantone 106  Green Pantone 353, 359

Blue Pantone 285, 299 Pink Pantone 706 Purple Pantone 2715 Grey Pantone Warm Gray

Anther part of the spring colour palette are the light ‘Easter’ pastels. Other interior designers and home decorators and enthusiasts might enjoy this lovely blog site that I was recently introduced to  www.decor8blog.com where Leslie writes in her column about how she puts spring colours together illustrated with lovely pictures of inspiring colour story mood boards in the Color Me Pretty post. Enjoy.

Previous spring posts you might enjoy

Applewood – colour in the community

Sparkle in spring

Mariah Carey - radiant

Fashion, of course is considered by many as art. We’re told there is much competition by leading designers to get their dress on the back of a Hollywood actress and down the red carpet and at such an event where there is maxim media exposure and column inches the PR value is worth its weight in Oscar gold.

When writing about the frock show at the recent ‘Oscars’ Daily Mail fashion journalist Liz Jones commented “the colour was a washout: there were so many oysters and nudes I lost count, and began to yearn for someone with the guts to wear emerald or scarlet”. Me too Liz! Whilst quite often I find that fashion journalists can be rather dismissive of the ‘art’ of the colour consultant  I rather think they miss the point as, I feel, have some of this years Oscar stars – or their stylists.

If you’ve looked at the pictures of the dresses you might have wondered what is it that made Mariah look like a goddess, whilst Gabourey Sidibe looked older than her years and Maggie Gyllenhaal’s dress seemed to have the strange effect of making the rest of her fade in to insignificance, and all were wearing the colour blue.

Why was Helen Mirren resplendently regal in lavender when pale and nude tones on the very beautiful Charlize Theron and Anna Kendrick had the unfortunate effect of making them appear just brought out of cold storage in time for the ceremony?

Clothes and the colours that we choose to wear are an expression of our

Anna Kendrick - revived?

personality and our individuality and yes, of course ‘fashion’ is fun to wear and enjoy but just as there can be light, depth, clarity,softness and intensity in the colours of the fabric of a beautiful dress, there is too in our own personal colouring. Knowing and understanding how your own colouring interacts with the colours of fabric and clothing is the difference between looking strained  with your dress taking centre stage, or the secret to looking like a goddess – radiant and alive.

See the photos of the stars on the ABC News and Entertainment Oscar 2010 Red Carpet Report

Other blog posts you might be interested in

Pantone fashion colour report for autumn 2010

The message behind black

Back to black?

Stylists, image consultants and colourists – develop more in depth and accurate colour techniques with our courses in personal colour psychology and help your clients to look great and increase their well-being.

Pantone swatches

Pantone have launched their Fashion colour report for autumn 2010.  Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® describes the palette as an“innovative take on fundamental basics, as well as transporting, lively colours that conjure images of travel and adventure, whether real or aspirational.”

Several leading American designers describe their inspiration for the selected colours that we’ll be seeing in fashion retail later in the year.  I thought I would take a look at the colour chips described and offer my own thoughts on how I think these colours work together.

Oyster Gray and Rose Dust have the ethereal qualities of the attractive and harmonious cool, muted summer palette. The addition of Purple Orchid brings the palette to life adding excitement and depth. These colours are indeed ‘aspirational’ alluding to quality, elegance and timelessness. Soft and light like a summery breeze they are suited to flowing, diaphanous fabrics, cashmere wools and silks.

Endive, Golden Glow, Living Coral, Lipstick Red, Chocolate Truffle, Lagoon, Woodbine and Lagoon appear more rich and muted. Fiery and intense these flavorsome earthy autumn shades are more ‘adventurous’ and work well together in a palette suiting perhaps textured, substantial and sumptuous fabrics. The Chocolate Truffle (yummy!) is an excellent wearable choice instead of black; it has the depth and gravitas but yet is warmer and more approachable. Piquant Lipstick Red and Golden Glow add spice and energy to the collection. Endive and Living Coral are both slightly ‘livelier’ colours adding a little sparkle to the group, whilst Lagoon adds a touch of calm to the collection.

I’m encouraged by the way the reports’ designers think about and view colour and as a colourist fully embrace the message of how colour can make you feel. I would be interested to hear your own views and comments too.

“My new fashion colours rule: Try it you might like it. In the last few years there’s been such an influx of colour in fashion, including the new neutrals which range from the iciest pinks to the lightest lavenders. Faced with all these choices, women may revert to black, but I urge them to give colour a try”.

Constance White – ebay Style Director

“It’s never been more important to show who you are and what you believe in and there’s not a more subtle way of doing that than with colour”

Collier Strong Celebrity Make-up Artist

“You’ll be amazed at what a splash of colour can do to both your’look’ and your ‘outlook’”

Cate Adair Costume Designer – Desperate Housewives

Personal colour psychology – find out for yourself how the colours that you wear have an effect on how you feel http://www.incolourconsultancy.com/personal_colour.htm

View the Pantone Fashion Colour Report here:
http://www.pantone.co.uk/downloads/articles/pdfs/PANTONE_Fashion_Color_Report_Fall_2010.pdf

For so long now we’ve all been hidden under a blanket of grey cloud and torrential rain, bereft of any decent periods of warmth and sunshine that it has inspired me to write about the colour yellow. My hope is that although we may not be enjoying the benefit of much sun at the moment, this newsletter article might help to bring about the warm memory of it to your imagination.

Light has such importance to us and there are those that for whom the lack of it can set off a form of depression and other uncomfortable symptoms in the ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ condition. We perceive the sun as yellow and its welcome appearance we find uplifting. In India the Hindus wear yellow to celebrate the season of spring. At a more primal level we recognise the importance of the sun to our own survival and the lifecycles of other plants and animals without whose growth and sustenance we too would not be able to survive.

Although I will quite often meet people who are a little nervous of wearing yellow, many appear quite happy to choose it as a decorating colour. Yellow appeared to be quite popular as a decorating colour in the 80’s and 90’s in kitchens, living rooms and even bedrooms. A designer that I recently met had told me that yellow was still by far the best selling colour within the Designers Guild paint range.

Yellow is an emotionally stimulating colour, it relates to our self-esteem, confidence and optimism. In a country not best known for its quality of light it is understandable that we should reach for the uplifting properties of yellow in paint can. However, as an emotionally stimulating colour its effect as a bedroom colour might not be so relaxing or restful. I have been told of a story relating to a hotel room many years ago that was decorated in a predominance of yellow and which happened to also be the room in whose occupants seemed to fall out with each other or cause problems for the hotel staff in some way! An over use of the colour in this room had the unfortunate effect of over-stimulating the emotions of those who stayed in it

However, yellow is a great colour to use in hallways and entrances where it will appear welcoming and friendly, as it will in other areas of the home or any property where an upbeat energy is required. From warm creams and buttery yellows to mustards and gold, the addition of yellow perhaps even with accessories can instantly add warmth and brighten up a room.

Bringing the sunshine in

In an office yellow can enhance confidence and positive communication and so can make an ideal colour to consider using perhaps within a sales environment.

**Tip** The same ‘rules’ apply when using yellow as with other colours – be wary of the over use or strength of the colour if you wish to create a harmonious scheme.

Useful paint colour references for yellow

Crown - http://www.crownpaint.co.uk/colourexp/products/

Dulux - http://www.dulux.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ColoursLandingView

Designers Guild - http://www.designercolours.com/colours/colourcard.php?man=18&ordered=y

Farrow & Ball - http://www.farrow-ball.com/productlist.aspx?cid=PC&language=en-GB