Last month, the color experts at Pantone released their palette report for fall 2016 to coincide with New York Fashion Week. Which colors made their 10-color palette? Tranquil shades of blue, along with grays, pinkish purples, red tones and spicy mustard yellows dominated the list, all of which underscore “the desire for tranquility, strength and optimism,” according to the report.
“Along with anchoring earth tones, exuberant pops of vibrant colors also appear throughout the collections,” noted Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Transcending gender, these unexpectedly vivacious colors in our Fall 2016 palette act as playful but structured departures from your more typical fall shades.”
The different shades each have significance too. For example, “blue skies represent constancy, as they are always above us,” Eiseman added. “Grays give a feeling of stability. Red tones invite confidence and warmth, while the hot Pinkish Purples and Spicy Mustard Yellows suggest a touch of the exotic.”
Interior designer Leslie Banker of Pamela Banker Associates has been freshly inspired by the new fall color palette. She sees the colors moving seamlessly from the runway to interiors “with a wonderful combination of hues that not only complement each other but which will stand the test of time.” These colors are “bold,” she says, and can be “elegant” and “dynamic when paired up and played off of each other.”
We asked her to pick her favorites from the new fall palette and describe how she sees the hues working in the home this year.
Riverside
Pantone 17-4028
“This is a strong and calming color that can be used as a bold statement as a wall color in a high gloss dining room or brought out as accents in accessories such as ceramics.”
Airy Blue
Pantone 14-4122
“Airy Blue is such a great color it can be used almost anywhere in the house whether for a paint color or upholstery and pillows. In this picture, we used an Airy Blue for the rug, chair fabric and pillows all at once. It’s a calming color that can be paired with a pop of Lush Meadow or Aurora Red.”
Sharkskin
Pantone 17-3914
“A neutral color that pairs well with a red, yellow or purple. Sharkskin has a masculine vibe, I see it on the rug in a library or bedroom, or on seat like this one.”
Photo courtesey of www.madegoods.com.
Aurora Red
Pantone 18-1550
“This red conveys confidence and warmth. Go bold with this strong color and paint it on the walls of a dining room as we did here, you’ll have twice as much fun at a dinner party! Or else: I would like to see Aurora Red on the kitchen cabinets.”
https://www.poggenpohl.com/en/gallery/?items=280&view=186
Warm Taupe
Pantone 16-1318
“This is a warm neutral color that makes a space feel cozy and sophisticated. Bring warm taupe into the scheme using a textured wallcovering such as grasscloth or with linens. A blanket and some upholstery are a good way to bring this color into the bedroom.”
Photo courtesy of www.frette.com.
Dusty Cedar
Pantone 18-1630
“Dusty Cedar works so well with blues like in this rug. The combination of warm and cool is a great balance to hit when putting together a room.”
Photo courtesy of www.therugcompany.com.
Lush Meadow
Pantone 18-5845
“This green is so invigorating and refreshing. It brings life to a room. There are many ways to use it—I would paint an entire library or front hall Lush Meadow, or use a leafy-green wallpaper in a kitchen or hallway. Upholster a sofa in this green and throw on some Spicy Mustard or Bodacious-colored throw pillows.”
Spicy Mustard
Pantone 14-0952
“Bring Spicy Mustard into a space with accessories like these graphic prints of zebras. It’s a vibrant and unexpected color that will pop off of more neutral colors.”
Photo courtesy of www.empiredelicious.com.
Potters Clay
Pantone 18-1340
“This coppery color translates well into leather furnishings whether it’s a pair of leather chairs or an entire wall clad in leather tiles.”
Photo courtesy of www.edelmanleather.com.
Bodacious
Pantone 17-3240
“Dahlias and zinnias are two of my favorite flowers and they both grow in shades of purple that are just about Bodacious. Fresh cut flowers are a luxurious and wonderful way to bring color into a room.”
Photo courtesy of mavenbride.com.
Leslie Banker and her firm’s work has been featured in numerous leading publications including The New York Times, Architectural Digest, House & Garden, and British House & Garden. Leslie Banker and her mother collaborated on the classic decorating primers The Pocket Decorator and The Pocket Renovator. More information can be found at www.pamelabanker.com.
