Sherwin-Williams' color forecast for 2010, part three

The third palette in Sherwin-Williams' forecast is Treasured and is an outgrowth of an impulse to resist the disposable nature of western culture. It conjures a renewed appreciation for handmade, quality goods bought for the long term. It's an impulse I welcome. From Sherwin-Williams' website:

Treasured

aging, layers, artisan

A throwaway society? That's so yesterday. We're now making savvy, resourceful use of what we have, discovering untold stories in exposed, painted layers. From flea-market finds to artisan-made pieces, imperfections can lend rich character to our environments. The palette reflects the beauty of natural aging, mellowing and weathering, evoking quality materials that have stood the test of time and become heirlooms.

Smoky Blue SW 7604

Sequin SW 6394

Caribbean Coral SW 2854

Interactive Cream SW 6113

Gallery Green SW 0015

Sturdy Brown SW 6097

Do you recognize any of these colors or this sentiment? I get it that this is coming from a paint company, but these palettes are much bigger than mere paint. Discuss.

Sherwin-William's forecast for 2010, part two

The second palette in Sherwin-Williams' 2010 color forecast is what they're calling Simplified. In an homage to three women I admire a great deal, I propose that we call it the Joni Webb, Gina Milne and Brooke Gianetti palette. These muted, luxurious colors always remind me of them. Look through all three of their blogs and you'll see what I mean. They espouse a simple elegance that these colors really capture. I'm calling this palette a spot on prediction. From Sherwin-Williams' website:

Simplified
translucent, structure, sophisticated

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." That timeless wisdom from Leonardo da Vinci is now a modern mantra. Less is clearly the new more. But the aesthetic is artful rather than austere, with well-tailored lines and sheer, translucent materials that reveal shape and structure. Clarity and integrity are critical. We need to know and trust what we're bringing into our environments. The hues are calm, subtle and nuanced, with undertones that shift according to their surroundings, for easy versatility.

How now do you think these are? How lasting do you think this palette will be?

Magnetic Gray SW 7058

Moderate White SW 6140

Enigma SW 6018

Whitetail SW 7103

Serious Gray SW 6256

Butter Up SW 6681

Again, no sale!

The blogosphere's abuzz today with the latest ruling handed down by the FTC concerning paid endorsements in new media. I am with them 100% and I want to state once again that my opinion is not for sale. If I like something I say so and if I don't like something I say so.

Anybody can buy an ad here and bless those who have. But an ad doesn't constitute an endorsement by me nor is it any kind of a guarantee that I will say nice things about a sponsor. I am approached routinely by marketers and PR people who want me to say nice things about whatever it is they're selling. Again, being approached or wooed or sent samples isn't a quid pro quo, whether explicit or implicit.

I am an independent voice and my opinions are mine.

Sherwin-Williams' color forecast for 2010, part one

Well since it's October already, that can only mean one thing, it's time for out pals at Sherwin-Williams to roll out their color forecasts for next year. As they are wont, the color team at Sherwin-Williams has come out with four primary palettes. These are by no means definitive, but are meant to act as a springboard for designers to take and personalize these palettes.

I see a lot of these forecasted trends happening already and I'd say that Sherwin-Williams is right on. For the next couple of days, I'm going to run their selected palettes. First up is what they're calling Rooted. Here's what they're saying is the ethos behind it:

Rooted
mystery, enduring, natural

It's human instinct to seek the safety of the tribe. In today's complicated world, there's something deeply satisfying about re-exploring the world's oldest, most enduring cultures. African, Aboriginal and Native American influences are converging to create a new tribal style with a drumbeat all its own. The colors are rich and earthy, with a hint of mystery. The appeal is as natural as the elements.

Oceanside SW 6496

Foothills SW 7514

Nomadic Desert SW 6107

Darkroom SW 7083

Rookwood Amber SW 2817

Red Tomato SW 6607

While no one's suggesting that you paint your house in this palette exactly, what do you think of these colors?

Images and color swatches from Sherwin-Williams

Reader question: How do I display small objects?

Help! I know that it is better to have a few large items for more impact, but what do we do if we have many small items of interest? Do you have any ideas of how to display such things (ex. teacups, small bottles, pin cushions, button hooks, etc.)?

No. Unless getting rid of it counts as an idea that is.

I am the wrong guy to ask for advice as you contemplate how to clutter up your home. What you're asking me about is room dandruff, but since you asked I'm going to take the opportunity to pontificate about clutter.

Before. Look at the cluttered up home of someone who probably feels overwhelmed by the business of living.

Displays of small objects are clutter, especially when they exist for no reason than to sit there and add "character." Piles of junk don't add character, they add confusion. A couple of objects that tell the story of your life, and that serve as reminders of experiences you've had, are perfectly fine. In fact, I can't encourage you strongly enough to use your living space to recreate the narrative of your life. If these objects have some actual utility, then that's all the better.

After. These folks are about a third of the way through the decluttering they need to do. Happiness will elude them until they get rid of the crap hanging from the ceiling and the rest of the junk on the counters.

I'll use myself as an example. I like to travel. Every time I go somewhere I bring back a rock or a shell or something along those lines. I keep these rocks and shells and sticks and what have you in a jar on top of my dresser. Now if I had those fragments of my memories laying loose and strewn across every horizontal surface I have it would be clutter. In a jar, those rocks and shells and sticks are a display, and they become a single object that encapsulates everywhere on earth I've been in the last 20 years. When I want to remember Rome or Panama or Grenada or San Francisco, I pull out a rock from that place and get wistful for a moment. Ahhhh, that jar's one of my life's great treasures. What makes that jar so useful is that when I put the Colombian pebble or the Costa Rican twig or the Bahamian feather or the tiny Roman bell back in the jar, I'm not held hostage by my own history. I can stay engaged in my life today. Spookily controlled, isn't it? Hah!

I get it that I'm more rigid than most when it comes to these sort of things, but it's what works for me. However, I am convinced that clutter will prevent you from thinking clearly and it serves as a huge distraction from the business of living right now. If you have to display small stuff, put it in a curio cabinet or a jar or a basket so that it takes up less visual space and stays out of the way. Try it some time. Put away all of your small stuff for a couple of weeks and watch how quickly you pay bills and how closely you pay attention to the people in your life. Cleared surfaces will keep you in the now, believe me.