Highlight 2014 Color Trends

Taken from Kitchen & Bath Design News 11/13 edition

Shades of Gray...and White!

The new neutrals and authentic colors are taking their place in the limelight in the upcoming year.



Gray is the new black. At least that is according to color experts in the filed of home design experts in the field of home design.

And white is also far more than just the pure, bright, singular hue that people have always associated with the color. It now includes off whites, beiges, taupes and even pale shades of green, blue, pink and ....gray.

These new pale shades comprise some of the new neutrals being shown in home decor', and encourage homeowners who are afraid of color to dabble a little outside of their comfort zones. The results are light and fresh and definitely on trend for 2014.

Focusing on the popularity of gray in the home- and especially in current kitchen and bath design-  it should be noted that while black and white is a classic color combination, what's important is what lies between black and white. In this case it's every shade of gray.

In fact there are reports that up to 30 percent of kitchens and bathrooms are currently being done in shades of gray. Specifically for the kitchen, we're talking about gray painted looks as well as gray washes, which are semi-transparent with grain showing through. And these gray washes are on species that you wouldn't have thought about putting them on  previously, such as walnut or cherry, where you get the coolness from the stain and the warmth from the wood. We are seeing a lot of gray on wood and when you use a semi-transparent stain over a hardwood it warms up the gray because you get a little bit of the brown of the natural wood with this gray over it.
We're seeing grays with sheerness, but it can also be a brown that is more to the gray palette. the grayed browns are a little more mature and a little more restrained, but very, very tasteful.

ALL THINGS WHITE

While grays may be nudging toward brown, white are leaning towards every color. We are seeing the continuation of the white kitchen, but it's not white.There is a softening of white's sharpness. Indeed, it should be noted that whites are moving all the way to a pale mushroom color because it feels non-color for the most part but it's very rich and warm. It becomes the bridge for gray at that point. The popularity of white in general has been a great reaction to all of the dark espresso stains and mahogany that were around for so long. White is the complete opposite, looking super fresh and new and it was something very very different. This is its natural progression, as we soften it down a little bit and make it more livable.

People love the crispness of white, but when mixed with stainless steel appliances, sinks, faucets and other metallics in the room as well as the white marble countertops that are currently so popular, the room can begin to look too sterile. The softer whites help warm the space and play up the beauty of the high tech items in the kitchen that remain in high demand.


BOLD TOUCHES

Amid all of the pale touches, designers and homeowners are still using color splashes to make a statement. Backsplashes, small appliances, collectibles and other personal touches can be used to add depth and richness to an otherwise neutral space when the homeowner isn't quite ready to commit to more dramatic use of color, such as a bold countertop design or cobalt blue appliance.
Homeowners are also finding ways of putting color in places that are unexpected such as inside a cabinet with glass doors or inside the drawers and cabinets that generally only the homeowner gets to see.

Many homeowners have traveled extensively and they are more familiar with different decorating styles, drawings influences from Latin America, Europe, Eastern Europe and Asia. But while homeowners are looking again at cultural ethnic or globally styled kitchens, it is not the way we use to do it in the past. Instead of a kitchen being totally done in Old World Tuscan, for example, there will be hints of color and finishes but it will be more translatable to our lifestyles and the way we work.