KBB - January 2015 - 88

TRENDS

Comfortably Confident
Consumers will use color to balance tranquility and optimism in
their kitchens and baths for 2015
In 2000, Pantone declared Cerulean Blue its color of the year. The hue,
which conjured the sky on a crystal-clear day, spoke to people's desire
for peaceful yet inspirational spaces. The quest for tranquility remains
strong 15 years later, yet consumers are more willing to play with a range
of colors that showcase optimism and playfulness in their kitchens and
baths. Color forecasters and product manufacturers share their insights
on how these palettes will play out in 2015.

Balancing Warmth and Cheerfulness
The evolution of kitchen design directly inﬂuences color trends, according to Andy Wells, vice president of product design and trends at
MasterBrand Cabinets. "If you go back only 10 years ago, kitchen layouts
were predictably U- or L-shaped with a lot of chopped up SKUs of little
doors and drawers," he said. "From a performance point of view, the kitchen is more about thoughtfully designed, focused pieces with a function.
It's also about better representing people's aspirations."

This shift signals a more conﬁdent consumer who is willing to mix
a range of materials, ﬁnishes and colors - many of them accurately
reﬂecting nature.
"Color in the kitchen has moved from sticky browns and reds to a
beautiful warm gray palette that authentically harmonizes with elements
from nature," said Wells, who points to autumn as an example. "If you
look at the leaves, bark and acorns on the forest ﬂoor in late October,
they start to gray up, but they're not becoming stark. They are warm and
comfortable."
A wide selection of ﬁnishes, patterns and textures has led to layering.
It's a look that plays out in Benjamin Moore's 2015 color trends palette, in
which the paint maker identiﬁes four color families comprising 23 hues
that could be used in a monochromatic way.
"A kitchen may have a combination of metals, woods, stones and
tiles that can then be enhanced by playing with paint sheen levels and
slight color nuances between the walls and cabinetry for a look that is

1. Artistic Tile's Charleston collection is a mirrored glass that contributes to an heirloom look. The beveled-edge antiqued mirror ﬁnish in
gold adds a subtle metallic layer to tranquil bathroom design. Circle
No. 212 or visit kbbonline.com/freeinfo

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2. Color Marketing Group says that red will be a color to watch in
2015. The Retro Fridge from Big Chill Appliances answers that call
with a cherry red appliance that makes a bold vintage statement.
Circle No. 213 or visit kbbonline.com/freeinfo
3. Pantone's Color of the Year - Marsala - is reﬂected in this Keurig
2.0 K400 Series Brewing System, which features a 70-oz water reservoir,
2.4-in. color display, programmable clock, an auto brew option and
a strength control setting for brewing bolder coffee. Circle No. 214 or
visit kbbonline.com/freeinfo

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K BB

January 2015 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com

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KBB - January 2015

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