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Color trends? Here, to stay… and here, to change.
It’s that time again, Color Trends are all over the place! Most recently, Pantone reports “Emerald Green” as the latest thing. Green is what I call an “available” color, since because it’s right in the middle of the light-wave spectrum it’s a color most comfortably viewed in many instances. It’s mutable and earthy; inspiring of new life, growth, and positive direction. As a paint color, “green” can be flexible in interiors and can be used in many settings.

The Pantone “Energize” green palette

Small World, Indeed
While I don’t have an “emerald green” in the palette, I’ve been delighted to see that many of my own EcoHues Full Spectrum Paint colors  seem to have aligned with some trend colors over the past year. These are from Pantone:

What’s my own personal opinion?
While I don’t really have one personal favorite color, I do have a definite point of view. As an architectural color consultant, paint palette designer and rug designer, my viewpoint is threefold.

First
My own primary, professional focus as a color consultant is a strong belief in supportive color design. Foremost is function, coupled with aesthetics and, in the homes of individual clients, personal color preferences naturally have a role as well.

Where function is concerned, color trends are interesting—and of course they are an indicator of products we’ll be seeing going forward. However using a ‘trendy’ color as a selection simply because it’s “hot” or popular does not serve either my client or myself as the consultant. I always take note of trends but no decision or recommendation I’d ever make is trend-driven.

Second
As a paint palette designer, I’ve created the EcoHues line of Full Spectrum Paints as a 32-color curated palette that serves a variety of purposes. Because each of our colors has no black or gray—even in our muted ‘neutrals’ or most highly saturated colors—they are easy to decorate with. So, many “trend” colors can create interesting harmonies with these richly-colored full spectrum paints as part of a design plan.

In creating the palette style and the actual colors, I’ve been influenced by client requests in both commercial and residential settings.  That request is usually in the form of an expressed feeling. The client desires a particular kind of experience.  A typical kind of request is, for example, “I want a relaxing space, a happy, energizing space, and also something that will complement my furnishings.” So, with that as the impetus, the EcoHues palette includes pale to deep stony neutrals; underwater blues; luminous, ethereal sun-filled yellows; antique-flavored greens; bright blues, and richly warm reds and browns evoking exotic sources.

How do these fit into upcoming trends?
While I agree with others that we’re influenced by the economy and world events, what I see as important in general is something that’s been happening for a while now:  a resurgence in health and well-being beyond today’s blood pressure. Certainly, the deeper aspect of the experiences that we all desire in our color environments is well beyond the transitory nature of “what’s hot” right now or even for the near future.

A quick color trend note
In the world of color and design—in what appeals to us at the deepest level and that will endure well past this year’s colors—is a reference to organic plant and earth sources, natural materials, and textures. As the world becomes culturally smaller and smaller, international flavors will continue in an ongoing appreciation of solid, earthy tones and textures; warm, natural pigment-inspired colors like rusty oranges, paprika and cinnabar reds; brighter, rich hues like Hydrangea and Phoenix Blue, and the deep tones of Mulberry, Nomad and plum.

More EcoHues colors are represented here, too

Cultural blending has, in fact, been well underway for some time and will continue to evolve into new and exciting preferences in color combinations and styles. And, in any space or product, surface sheen and texture are important and often dictate a color’s appearance and therefore contribute to our color preferences and uses.

Third: Home decor follows fashion
As a rug designer, I incorporate color from an instinctive perspective, starting with what feels right to me from the artistic standpoint. That said, I can of course change colors in any way to suit individuals’ requests. It surprises me sometimes that many of the colors I initially use in my rug designs do show up in a future trend forecast. That is always interesting, and just demonstrates once again that color is universal—and cyclical.

Pantone’s new greens in the Heritage palette can be flexible.

My basic belief doesn’t just “belong” to me.
It’s much broader than any individual, and does not depend on color trends at all.
As humans—without regard to “trends”—we all crave color in myriad varieties of light and bright, muted yet clean, and deep, rich, and dark. It’s all about proportion, balance, and use. I see color trends as something interesting and cyclical, worth observing, with variations in each re-occurrence of a particular color.

Are you Into Color Trends for your own home, or your business, or just for fun? Visit these places for more inspiration:

Ellen Kennon Full Spectrum Paints
Kate Smith, of Sensational Color
Color Marketing Group: Where Trends are Defined
Pantone: a great resource for color information and products

Change is dynamic. That’s the fascination that keeps us coming back for more! What’s Your “take” on the trends?

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It’s not borrowed. It’s multicolored, and it’s sometimes blue.

Not talking about “June weddings.” In this case, it’s the ICFF show (International Contemporary Furniture Fair). A great place to see international contemporary culture expressed in design. Sometimes reflective of something old, and in many cases something new, and always interesting.

In any case, I always find this show enjoyable on many levels. Seeing many of the latest new products, color trends and design trends from international designers, and talking with some of them in person, is an experience I find fun and inspiring.

Hand blown glass fixtures - glowing frosty finish

So, to share just a few of the items that piqued my interest for a number of reasons…
I enjoyed a brief conversation with Jamie Harris, the artist who created these beautiful hand blown glass light fixtures

Hand blown glass fixtures - metallic shimmer

Sheer color in gorgeous hand blown lighting

Still on the subject of light, check out these amazing solid acrylic tubes. Colors infuse the entire material throughout, and the colors change as you move around the piece according to viewing angles. Even the edges are luminously multicolored

Walk around and see how the color changes. View 1 of 4

.

View 4

Imagine the setting for these beautifully sculptural light fixtures.

Moving along to see some furniture, something I always enjoy.

Fantasy cabinets - one of a few from Boca Do Lobo

The upper section, and the surface shown below, is beaded by indigenous Huichol people in Mexico. From Espacio Sami Hayek. How do you like the wood?

Note: the picture on their web site is Not of their ICFF booth…at least not the one I saw there.

Closeup of the artistic detail on this credenza by the same company, Espacio Sami Hayek.

Closeup of a metal wall of a display "booth"

Something Blue! So very beautiful, and "Wabi-Sabi." Amazing textiles from Kyoto Rakushian

I could not resist sharing a closer view.

And last, but not least, for now…

Just so we don't get too serious..simple, funky, and having a sense of humor.

So much to see and enjoy in one day, these are just a few of my favorites.

Do you have a favorite? If so, which piece–and where would you use it?

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An area rug can be many things in your decor, and making the decision about which rug to choose from the literally thousands available (and as you know, that’s an understatement) can, in that way, be an experience that resembles selecting paint.

In choosing an area rug, your main considerations might be your use for the rug, and your budget. Other issues besides cost, color, and design, will include longevity. For some details in a brief “rug primer,” this article in the recent Fabulous Floors Blog will give you some tips to take note of, even before you start to shop for a rug.

A big part of what’s important in rug selection, however, is the issue of who actually made the rug.  Adults? Slave-labor children? Goodweave.org is making great strides in eliminating child labor in the rug industry; rescuing children from the labor market and providing education and a chance at a higher quality of life. This video is one of three from GoodWeave that addresses that subject.  If it’s something you have never thought about, you may be surprised—so please take a look. Each GoodWeave member pays a portion of your purchase price of a GoodWeave certified rug toward this goal.

At least, paint does not carry those considerations.  While some of the main issues with paint are comparable: What you need and where you will use it; budget; VOCs and personal health concerns; durability; ease of touch-up; and of course your color choices, that include colors that have black in them, or true Full Spectrum colors with no black and a minimum of seven tints in each!

But, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed—about either rugs, or paint.

For a rug, be sure to go to a dealer that carries rugs from GoodWeave suppliers. Each GoodWeave certified rug will have a numbered label. For your dilemmas about paint selections, I am here to help.

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Connect and coordinate a simple color palette with collaboration, colors, and textures.
Sometimes it’s easier than others, and sometimes it just Looks easy! Carefully considered wall finishes and coordinated custom rugs can help. Collaboration gets it done.

In this Boston high-rise condo, to create a backdrop for stronger colors we used a neutral-based color palette in custom finish of textured walls, with custom Tibetan rugs.

I’ve worked in tandem with Boston-area designer Cynthia Brumm, of SpaceDesign, on a number of projects. Here, Cynthia was the lead and she asked me to create wall finishes and rug designs. In addition to designing custom pieces for this client, Cynthia selected beautifully vibrant furnishings to complement the owner’s existing pieces.

Existing dining room furniture is beautifully complemented by GEO-Borders in wool and silk, from Silk Road Weaves

Cynthia also designed this dramatic console cabinet in a beautiful dark wood finish.

Cabinet design by Cynthia Brumm. Artisan wall finishes by Barbara Jacobs Color and Design

Custom wall finishes in an architectural, low-profile texture provide a beautiful backdrop for the custom rugs from Silk Road Weaves.

The adaptable nature of GEO from Silk Road Weaves becomes a runner in 100% wool, and complements the living room and dining room rugs, also from the GEO group.

The wall finishes are the same throughout the main open areas: Entry, Hallway, Living room, Dining room.
Kitchen and powder room are different.

Powder room features walls having a soft bronze layered glaze. Wall finishes by Barbara Jacobs.

The overall effect is comfortable, yet stunning, with a dramatic view overlooking the city.

Yes, there is a view of Boston!

All images by Barbara Jacobs.

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Blues…music, paint, fiber, jewels, feelings.

What’s “Mood Indigo,” anyway?
An audio version of course…this classic!

And another interpretation by Ella Fitzgerald, unsurpassable.

Another way to experience it – Old Levi’s!  In the originals, the dye was Indigo.

Indigo culture is worldwide, a fiber dye and therefore, as with many dye materials, a currency. Whether it’s a paste resist in Africa; Batik  or block-printing in Indonesia; Rice Paste resist or Arashi Shibori in Japan, and any one of the myriad textile design techniques that are part of indigenous cultures worldwide, using Indigo dye is a highly developed craft and art.

Vats of Indigo in Japan. Find out more at Kimono Boy

Actually, the inspiration for this post was a recent conversation with a friend who now lives in Santa Fe. She mentioned seeing the premier of the documentary, Blue Alchemy, and hearing about it reminded me of the many ways that I’ve seen Indigo dye used over the years. That conversation brought back many memories of my own personal experiences working with many types of tradition textile decoration techniques and materials. Even now, in fact, I can use Indigo-dyed fibers in my own Tibetan rug designs!

In antique textiles, traditional culture textiles, and modern work, Indigo has a presence all its own.

Textiles made by Hmong people in Vietnam, shown at Kimono Reincarnate blog site.

Pots of Indigo in Nigerian traditional dyeing

Indigo printed textile by Morris Kennet -- 1883!

Indigo is earthy, primal, mysterious, exotic, beautiful, and versatile! What more could we ask of one type of plant?

If this is a subject that interests you, check out this video and other material on the same page. And, Enjoy!

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The focus in on Red!

Energizing, passionate; communicating intensity and warmth; advancing, into the space… and on the other hand sometimes overly heavy, drab, imposing, oppressive…just a few of the characteristics of this color that can make reds hard to use.

Red, as a paint color
This week I’m featuring the rich, warm, essence of a very livable Full Spectrum red paint color: EcoHues—Venezia Rose. Most red paint colors include black in their formulas. The true beauty of any color red comes through in Full Spectrum formulas. The rich, atmospheric quality of true full spectrum paints also makes them easy to decorate with since so many other colors are included in each paint color mixed this way.

“Red” is a color that has enjoyed a great popularity in homes, in particular when used in a dining room or often in a bedroom. Red is often applied as what we who do decorative painting refer to as “straight paint…” meaning, out of the can, not as a glaze or other special treatment.

Red, Faux Sure
Red is also a great color to develop in layers, for “faux finishes” or Venetian Plaster or other special translucent or textured effects. Red can be used in many different settings, however: commercial spaces, home kitchens, and other areas.  I often have recommend that clients consider a layered finish when they want to see red in the best possible way.

Layering colors allows the decorative artist a way to bring light into the surface, literally. A light-infused finish helps avoid the feeling of heaviness that can accompany a red wall color.

A few different examples follow, of finishes I’ve developed to take advantage of the drama of red in a variety of spaces.

This waxed, pigmented plaster finish has depth and richness that play well in any time of day or night.

Samovar Tea Lounge, Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco

Powder room walls, private residence, Boston area. Can you guess the colors used?

This multi-layered, multi-color red glaze finish glows with warmth and mystery.

Rusty-Red kitchen walls have interest without pattern.

Kitchen walls, a soft, rusty red glaze without pattern. Kitchen design including custom cabinet design, by Carolyn Anderson /Anusara Home.

Tasty Reds

Delicious Summer Strawberries at Powisset Farm CSA!

Apples offer a perfect study in complementary colors

Red Underfoot
Three new colorways in Red from Silk Road Weaves: LOOPY/Gems, hand knotted Tibetan rugs.
I developed these new custom rug colorways at a client’s request for specific colors. Combining 3 different reds with aubergine in various ways, using wool and silk, here they are together, and separately.

Three new red colorways in LOOPY GEMS, from Silk Road Weaves

LOOPY Gems: Red wool background, aubergine silk design lines

LOOPY Gems: Aubergine wool background, red silk design lines.

LOOPY Gems: 2 colors of red in the wool + silk background, with red silk design lines

As with any color, but most noticeably with a red, yellow, or other strong colors, the brightness of the color and the effect of the actual space and lighting has a tremendous effect on the appearance of the color.

Please share your own favorite reds, with a note about how you’ve used them!

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It’s a price-conscious world. Nothing new about that, really. But as applies to many things in the world of products and services, the comparison is most accurate when it’s “apples to apples.” Looking at similar qualities, as much as possible.

Take Tibetan rugs, for example. A subject near and dear to my heart as I have a personal interest in what I look at as an art form even though there’s “production” involved. I’m not a weaver myself, obviously—although I have to admit I have a long-time desire to learn to weave, along with many other artisan interests in a variety of media.

The Details make the Difference!
For now, I’ll focus on a few details of construction. Even if you’re looking strictly at cost, these aspects can make a difference.

Knot count
This usually refers to ‘knots made per square inch.”  Typical knot counts are 50, 80, 100…and sometimes fewer or more, depending on the specific design,  materials and textures.

Construction
As with most items of high quality, construction is also a factor. For rugs by Silk Road Weaves, we have a  ‘take no shortcuts” approach. Find out more about the rug creation process in our 2-part slide show.

Two main weaving methods

• The traditional Tibetan “cross-weaving” style is more exacting and takes more experience and time to do, and results in a much more durable rug.
• “Uncrossed” weaving, faster and less durable result.

Materials
Wool is typically from New Zealand or the Himalayan mountains. There is a distinct difference in the look and feel of the end result. “Tibetan” rugs made in India or China usually use New Zealand wool and have a more flat-c0lor appearance unless they are artificially ‘aged’ in a chemical wash or with other methods. Rugs made with the long-fiber, high lanolin wool from sheep raised in the high altitude Himalayas have an inherently different look, a more naturally modulated color.

Design style
Some styles are based on a more traditionally “Tibetan” motif, but others often now a more “contemporary” look that fits well with many types of decor.

Who makes it?
Child labor is a huge issue in the rug industry.
GoodWeave is the major non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating child labor and increasing education and community care of weavers’ families. As members of GoodWeave, I and other rug design companies can guarantee with confidence that there’s no child labor in the rugs we offer.

Rugs from Silk Road Weaves are made only by the most experienced adult artisans.
This can have an effect on the cost of rugs in many cases. But even if there’s a slight increase you can be confident that you are also helping someone else at the same time as you are enjoying your rug in your own home. As with other GoodWeave members, a percentage of the cost of our rugs goes directly to ending child labor and improving the weavers’ quality of life. I like to call this quality of human connection “Human Green.”

Washing
In the variety of methods used for washing the rug after it’s woven, we always opt for the ‘soap and water’ method, as opposed to the chemical wash that can artificially ‘age’ the look of a rug and may even damage the fibers.

Shown: LOOPY/Meandering, 100% Himalayan wool from Silk Road Weaves. 8'x10.' The next step is drying in the sun, then trimming and finishing. Fringes will be turned under and bound.

Tips for buying a rug
More about dyes, pile, knot count…and valuable suggestions about what to look for when you’re ready to invest in a rug…regardless of your budget.

Get the best possible, long-lasting value for your money.
It’s ultimately about the Human Connection, that lasts for generations.

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What is a “Bespoke” design for rugs?
I’m often asked about my process of designing and having a “bespoke” rug made; an original design created specifically for an individual client’s space and personal style preferences.  In some cases, the client loves to participate very directly in the design process.

Octagonal version of the design "Falling Leaves"

I selected “Falling Leaves” to share here, as a good example of this experience which is many steps beyond the typical customizing of an existing collection design for size, shape, colors, and even texture.

For me, the process of collaboration with the client is especially enjoyable.  Although these clients are in  the Boston area, and it was easy for me to travel to their home for our meetings, it’s also possible to work with people long-distance. I’ll write about that in another post.

It’s Personal
It’s more than a rug purchase, it’s really about the total experience. My goal is to to invite each client into the process of creating a piece of custom art work that they will enjoy for generations. Of course, people vary in the degree to which they want to be involved. In this case, the clients were excited about in-depth participation on every level.

We had a number of meetings together from start to finish. At the outset, we determined the “subject” of the design. I had a little head start on this because, about 10 years ago, they had engaged me to create a pair of hand painted canvas floorcloths for these same areas. The painted designs were made in 5′x7′, and 8′ diameter—with 12 sides!

What to include?
Their kitchen/dining space included warm cherry wood cabinets, oak floor, and a silvery granite countertop with some grayed blue-green undertones. Fabric of the window treatments included colors and shapes they love. All these elements were very important to them in the look of the new rugs, and it was those considerations that set the tone of the design development process.

Now that they have an adult household, doing actual hand-woven rugs was an exciting and viable option. Exploring the variety of fibers, colors, and weaving techniques that are an intrinsic part of creating a hand knotted rug was a very pleasurable part of the process, in the expectation and anticipation of the final works.

About the designs: the goal
Two custom rugs, “Falling Leaves.”  The pair is a 5′x7′ rectangle, and an 8′x8′ octagon. The rectangle was made for the work area of the client’s kitchen (all wool, 100 knot), and the octagon was made to go under the round table in the adjacent dining area, on the other side of the peninsula.

FLORA: "Falling Leaves," on the kitchen floor

Fibers
We discussed the fibers to use, and the overall color palette that would best represent their ideal rug design. While they had an interest in including some silk in the designs, we explored that possibility but ultimately opted for using 100% Himalayan wool (the only type of wool I use for Silk Road Weaves rugs). In having the samples made up, we included one with some silk in it also, just to be sure of the look. Everyone loved the silk look and feel, but of course that’s not so practical for this setting.

This "Bespoke" design: FLORA/Falling Leaves. Left: 5'x7' Right: 8' Octagon

From our overall color palette, to create additional depth of color I suggested combining multiple colors and dye-techniques within the various color fields. Again, this was something that I specified in our samples, so we could see how it looked in a few different ways.

That’s just one thing I love about the creative process of designing these rugs as an art form, just another medium. There are so many ways to create visual interest and depth of color, even with a more limited palette and basically “graphic” design style.

Closeup - texture of Falling Leaves

For our first meeting
I brought yarn poms of wool and silk, and worked out rough sketches to start with. Then, back in the studio I translated the design to the computer where I could adjust the overall design and the placement of colors. This is a very effective way to preview the possibilities and make changes as needed, to develop the design. Once we had the basic idea of the 5×7, I developed the 8′ octagon, taking into consideration the placement of table and chairs.  In our subsequent meetings together we honed the color selections and refined the details, the entire look and texture of the two rugs.

Next
I sent for the samples and…after one month they arrived. Because we had been meticulously attentive to all details along the way, they loved all three versions but the final decision was easy for them to make.

Why this shape?
Yes, we could have made it round, but wanted the octagon as a more interesting shape that was very compatible with the design style and the space it would be used.  As with all our collections, these rugs can be customized to suit any personal space and style with size, color, and fiber preferences.

Dining area, the 8' octagon rug.

CLIENT COMMENTS

“It’s hard to believe that our third project with Barbara is even better than the first two!  The beach scene mural that Barbara painted on our wall, over 10 years ago, continues to be timeless and bring joy. And while we are sad to say goodbye to the canvas floorcloths that she created for us eleven years ago, the replacement rugs she has just designed are magnificent, with Barbara’s impeccable choice of color and textures woven in a stunning yet subtle design. We’re finding it difficult to walk on these works of art!

Perhaps best of all was how easily Barbara brought my husband and me into the design process. She educated us on the process of rug making that would happen half way around the world and kept us informed of progress via email and pictures. In the design mode Barbara welcomed our suggestions and sought our input, making the three of us a team.

Barbara’s versatile talents create one-of-a-kind jewels that transform a room into a very special space.  Bravo, Barbara, you’ve done it again!”

Want more information about the process and materials?
View our 2-part slide show, “The Journey, from Inspiration to You,” to find out more about the materials and processes of making a hand woven Tibetan rug from Silk Road Weaves.

Register to receive Barbara’s e-newsletter and download your pdf of our white paper
“Enjoy the Process: Guidelines for Working with a Design Professional.”

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Find out about Barbara Jacobs’ unique, color-infused approach to designing custom Tibetan rugs.

Boston-area rug designer and nationally recognized colorist Barbara Jacobs, Silk Road Weaves™, is featured, along with her line of custom Tibetan rugs, on www.Getting Home Design.com.
The extensive article includes 26 images that provide a taste of what she offers to designers and homeowners alike.

Read the full article about our hand made rugs from Silk Road Weaves on the Floorbiz.com site.

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