Color of the year is a startling choice
We must be in trouble. The color of the year is Alabaster, which is essentially white.
Plain old white is supposed to get us excited? I am stopped still in my tracks by this proclamation from Sherwin-Williams, because generally it is the job of those who dictate popular colors to push us all toward embracing exciting and fresh color trends.
“Alabaster represents a straightforward and necessary shift to mindfulness, well-being and an atmosphere that is pure,” says Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing for Sherwin-Williams.
This is interesting.
I say that the state of national politics, worldwide fears over basic safety and dim prospects for some American workers must be the underlying motivation for a color that is not a color. In fact, there has always been a debate as to whether or not white is a color at all.
Jordan also says Alabaster “provides an oasis of calmness, spirituality and 'less is more' visual relief. Alabaster is neither stark no overly warm, but rather an understated and alluring hue of white.”
A recent homeowner study offered that nearly three out of four (73 percent) homeowners prefer Alabaster's flattering, “barely-there” undertones to a plain white when selecting neutral colors for their homes. While Alabaster has a slightly warmer feel than a frigid, blue-based pure white, it's still white in my book.
As a professional designer, I have to admit I am disappointed in the lack of emotion attached to no color. Yet, I also have to admit there have been serious signs that the purity is wildly popular, and I've experienced it firsthand on numerous design projects.
The most commonly chosen natural stone for kitchens and bathrooms in the last two years has been the classic Carrara marble and Calacatta marble, which has a warm gold vein in addition to the classic gray coloration of Carrara. This is the stone that we saw in most fancy kitchens from the 1920s and 1930s. It's an iconic pastry surface that has been rediscovered in the last few years by 30- and 40-somethings who pair Carrara with pure white subway tiles or small mosaic geometric patterns.
Therefore, I have to give the color forecasters their due. They are clearly in touch with a trend that has an admiring base and a place in history. White is a symbolic color, and perhaps therein is the most interesting observation about the popularity of any version right now.
The world is very noisy these days, and most of us would have to agree that this is not an era of peaceful contentment. Between technology moving our lives at the speed of light, social media bombarding us by the minute and social unrest, we very well might need an era of relaxation and introspection more than zippy color.
The entrance pictured here grabs a bit of strong color in an accent wall, in tile design on the floor and in fabric at the upstairs window. High contrast is not generally what I recommend in small spaces because I feel there is a sort of abruptness to the result. My opinion is just one, and I'm certain that there are other designers who prefer the sharp contrast. What might make this selection work is the use of strong colorful contrasts paired with the neutral. These could range from cherry red to sunflower yellow to navy blue.
Sherwin-Williams adds that Alabaster represents the prominent use of light, which is a key element for traditional Nordic design. Alabaster will pair well with other Scandinavian decor influences such as clean sleek lines, light wood finishes and strong accent colors.
It's just that I've spent years writing and talking about the fact that one does not have to treat a small room or home as an ice box: White on the inside and outside! This forecast makes me feel as if I have to eat those words, or at least makes me giggle at the discrepancy.
Perhaps we can agree to say that white might be a safe and serene base for some folks who are looking to declutter and get a grip on their physical environment.
• Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of “Small Space Living.” Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.
© 2015, Creators Syndicate