Accent on Color

In times of stress, people turn to familiar items and ideas that offer a sense of peace. The same holds true for color, according to kitchen and bath designers and members of the Color Marketing Group (CMG). And, while consumers have gotten more comfortable using color in various rooms in the house, they are still opting for more neutral tones in the kitchen and bath.

There isn't one lone reason for this color trend, say designers and CMG members. Rather, there is a combination of reasons at work here.

One reason is consumers' uneasiness about the world today, which is causing them to choose soothing, subtle tones and safe, neutral hues. Another reason is that a new kitchen or bath can be a major investment, and the remodeling process itself can be disruptive, so consumers want hues that will remain in style for more than a few years. More daring colors can be saved for areas that are easier to update.

"For the most part, people are putting intense color on walls because it's easy to change," says Connie Edwards, CKD, CBD, CMG, and director of design at American Woodmark Corp. in Winchester, VA. "Most people shy away from color on more permanent and expensive items, such as cabinetry and flooring, because they are thinking of their long-term investment."

"Color is being used more as a complement," agrees Klaudia Spivey, CMKBD with Denver, CO-based Design Times.

"There's a lot of neutrality in kitchens. People are considering their permanent fixtures, and whether they can change the color [down the line]. So they are opting for color in the form of paint or wallcoverings," notes Kathryn Taylor, CKD and co-owner of Design Gallery in Carbondale, IL.

As for wood color, Spivey notes, "We are seeing a lot of alder stains with glazes Painted woods have a lot of glazes, as well. People are looking for finishes that have a lot of depth to them, so it's taking a lot more steps to create that look." She further notes the popularity of wood tones, such as cherry and alder with glazes, in the bath.
Other calm hues such as blue and green are appearing in the kitchen and bath, too, say kitchen and bath designers and CMG members.

However, today's blues are subtler, and the greens are more "grayed out" and more muted than the blue-green teal tones of years ago. Some designers even say that green is becoming the new neutral, as it is being included on some neutral palettes. Indeed, green has changed over the years from the muddy teal color 10 to 15 years ago to its current light, blue-green form that's more inspired by glass, notes Gin Guei Ebnesajjad, manager for product styling and development, DuPont Surfaces in Wilmington, DE.

NEUTRAL, NOT BORING
As evidenced by the evolution of green, the flat neutrals of years ago have received a make-over. They are more complex, deeper and richer than ever before, and offer a multi-layered look.

Indeed, says Rebecca Ewing, color theorist, member of CMG and owner of her own design firm, In Living Color, in Atlanta, GA, "It is not your mother's beige anymore."
Ewing maintains that consumers are choosing "good, complex neutrals as a background," then applying color by "mixing complements on the color wheel, a light, warm color with a cool [hue]."

"Neutral values are selling well as a backdrop," concurs Sarah Reep, ASID, CKD, CMG, director of design for Middlefield, OH-based KraftMaid Cabinetry, Inc. and Kitchen & Bath Design News columnist .

So, if consumers like red, they are using colors such as red or orange to accent a neutral background, says Ebnesajjad. To that end, she says "the backsplash is a place where people feel that they can express themselves" with color.

Classic colors, such as a very dark gray or white mixed with ginger and honey wood tones, are stronger now, adds Reep.
Designers are noting that colors are now cleaner interpretations of those seen in years past.