From the Editor

Color is a visual code that expresses the full range of emotion, from serene whites to sultry darks, comforting warms to dreamy cools. These tones become like notes in music, working in harmonies or dissonances, and in combinations that may conjure up a time in history, a particular place or an inspiring art movement. Like taste or scent, color stirs the the tendrils of memory, whether personal or collective.

Eco Punk speaks to the moment with a range of both artificial with natural greens, accented with vivid blue and earthy brown. The mood is upbeat, a bid for an eco-safe future where the earth is saved via science, craft and community. Sleek surfaces evoke technology while mossy textures keep it grounded. A trip to the North Country surrounds us with diffused shades that take their cue from historic Gustavian interiors that bring lightness to dark Nordic winters. The mood is austere yet ornate, with scrubbed wood floors and chalk-painted furniture, all elevated with fluted details and touches of gold leaf.

Big Pink celebrates our unending passion for vivid tones of fuchsia, pink, purple and wine, accented with lilac and tangerine. These lipstick tones speak to a new kind of feminine energy, one that is available to any gender expression. Satins and velvets add depth to these juicy hues, while faux fur brings a surreal or fetishistic note.

Hotel Boulevard follows our inner flâneur into a hidden boîte with secluded booths, silk-fringed lamps, mirrored walls and patterned floors. An amber light infuses teal velvets, ginger-colored carpets and rich brown woods. Streamlined Art Deco inspires geometric patterns while sinuous Art Nouveau informs typography and floral wall-coverings.

The stone-paved streets of Cobble Hill are where old warehouses are converted into ateliers, and artisans produce everything from hammered metal utensils to hand-loomed linens. A palette of natural tans is accented with parchment yellow and patina green. Irregular pebble shapes inform
furniture and objects, which often incorporate natural rocks into their designs. Silvery stainless gives it all a luxe yet industrial edge.

Enigmatic glamour arrives with Lava & Ash, where charred, blackened surfaces are illuminated with flaming oranges and burnt reds. Glossy lacquered surfaces contrast with destroyed effects for everything from sexy interiors to copper-dipped denims. New blacker-than-black pigments bestow unfathomable mystery.

Finally, color all but disappears with Anonyme. Tinted whites celebrate the minimalist aesthetic, made sensuous with rounded corners, bits of craft, and subtle tone-on-tone harmonies. Creamy buffs and beiges work with with pearly gray and shell pink to soften spare interiors or ensembles. A less-is-more philosophy pervades.

Freedom Dream breaks loose of any established hierarchies, imagining a utopian future where self-expression, inclusivity and beauty reign. A paintbox full of optimistic possibilities is captured with sunshine yellow, soft pink, clear blue, aqua and jade, grounded with a deep jewel-like red. Use these colors in any combination for fantasy interiors, layered ruffles or hyper-individual makeup looks.

Life in Color offers chroma for all categories, whether it’s a dash of glimmering eyeshadow, a brilliant faux fur coat, a glazed tile backsplash or a humble package of soap. When combined with texture, detail and silhouette, these colors have the power to communicate multitudes, a silent yet clear voice that connects creator to product to customer. And, that, in the end, connects all of us.