Pantone Colour of the Year 2013 - Emerald Green

Pantone have announced their Colour of the Year for 2013 is Emerald Green and the colour is very evident on the runways and in the shops as a "now" colour for the Spring / Summer 2013.

Pantone colour of the year 2013 - Emerald Green

Pantone Colour for 2013 in fashion

Emerald Green dresses from the runways for 2013

Does it translate to the home and is their really any link between fashion and interiors?  Check out this article from Freshome on how the world of fashion influences interiors.  You will see that they are quoting Gretchen Aubochon, Editor in Chief of Fashion + Decor who firmly believes that Fashion does strongly influence Interiors, and in a much shorter time scale than previously.  In this piece from Fashion + Decor you can see the correlation between the two very clearly.  Beautiful designs and colours in fashions reflected in choices in the interiors.

Caroline Hererra Pre-Fall 2013 and Belle Magazine Source fashion-decor

Source Life in Sketch

You can see here a couple of shades of emerald green from Designers Guild fabric collection.

The Chinon range is silk, and the Verity Emerald is a bordered bouquet of flowers on a silk satin background inspired by an early 19th century Royal Wilton carpet in Buckingham Palace.

The world of fashion moves at a very fast pace with some colours and looks being perennial favourites - the nautical look and / or a safari theme in spring, tartan, military style in the winter, and animal print in one form or another almost throughout the year.

In interiors, colours can be in your home for a very long time, particularly if they are a large purchases such as carpets, furniture, kitchens and bathrooms.  You can transform any room in a home with paint, wallpaper or accessories.

Duravit Starck 2 basin, Axor Starck Organic Basin Mixer against a wallpaper background

Axor Starck Organic and Duravit Starck 2 against a feature wallpaper background.

Mosaics used to add colour in an otherwise white bathroom.

Trend Mosaics "Feel"

Often people decorate their living rooms with different themes throughout the year; particularly for Easter, Summer, Autumn, Halloween and Christmas. With almost as many Home magazines as there are television programmes we are far more likely to update our homes on a regular basis than people used to.  Nevertheless changing your kitchen or bathroom is still often a major investment.

Does this mean that the choices available in interiors are not influenced by fashion?  Not at all.  However it may not be the choice of the majority who stick to neutral shades because that is what they prefer.

The neutral colours of grey, black, white, brown, cream and beige and all shades of them are colours that will go with any other colour.  They also create light and space which in a bathroom where space can be tight, this can be important.  You can easily add a feature, as in these images from a recently installed bathroom, where a stronger colour was used in the furniture, and then picked out in a feature panel of mosaics which added colour to an otherwise neutral bathroom.

Luxury bathrooms are strongly influenced by the hotel look, as many of us stay in a nice hotel on holiday or on business, enjoy the facilities, particularly in the bathroom, and plan to replicate them when replacing our existing ones.

Double Basin and WH WC and large shower area

Large bath with walk-in steps

This bathroom has a large shower area with wall hung WC and double wall hung basin with black and white slate tiles and a large bath.  The bathroom was recently installed in Holyport, Berkshire.

Mosaics transform a neutral bathroom by adding texture, light, balance harmony or colour.  A pattern - whether it is geometric, tartan / check, striped or floral can create a wallpaper style effect and can be used to create a theme between an en suite bathroom and the master bedroom.  Even using a small amount of mosaics can add colour and glamour which transforms the bathroom into something truly special.

Shift 'Elba' from Bisazza

The new Shift range of mosaics from Bisazza is shown here in Elba - reinforcing that green is leading the way for interiors during 2013.

Katherine by Bisazza

Katherine from Bizazza - an ideal way to incorporate a feature area in your bathroom.

Elena by Bisazza

For a sumptuous bathroom choose Elena from Bizazza with gold glimmers that adds not only a splash of colour but a truly luxurious feel to your bathroom.

If you want a bespoke bathroom that you love walking into - come and see our showroom in Maidenhead, contact us by email sales@soakinstyle.com or call us on 01628 783686.  

Soak in Style offer a bespoke design and installation service.  

Catriona Lock, Creative Director at Soak in Style is nominated for the 3rd year running for a Bathroom Design Award by KBBReview 2013.

Mint Inspirations

Whilst peppermint is a love it or hate taste, mint is a balmy soft hue that always has a feeling of calm and adds light to a room.  Green is the colour of nature and the delicate pale green shades of Mint are often used throughout a house.  Mint was extremely popular in bathrooms during the Art Deco period teamed with the classic black border tiles at floor level and borders breaking up the room. 

Art Deco Bathroom from Tim Barber Ltd

Mint really comes into its own on painted walls or furniture, and is frequently used in kitchens and bathrooms.

Anthony Mullan kitchen

Don't you just love this kitchen with a green work station with shelf that is made by Anthony Mullan Furniture from their Timeless Kitchen range.

Mint coloured tiles are often used in bathrooms as a soft colour which creates a luminous atmosphere adding light and space.

Mint Sensations from Soak in Style

Gessi Private Wellness Colour, Bisazza Sfumature Begonia and Zehnder towel warmer Regate in Green Quartz in the Soak in Style showroom; Bisazza Tosca; Trend Shading Jasmine and Valentino Harmony Verde

You can see in this collage the intensity and choice of colour you can achieve.

Mint Bliss with Soak in Style

Bisazza Green Mint; Bisazza Shading Blends, Bisazza Opera 25.06 (available 2013), Bisazza Green Wall and Burgbad Sinea.

Using mint with soft shades of cream, ivory or white create a light and airy room.  Mint and raspberry or any vivid shade or pink adds warmth and vibrancy as you can see in this picture from our showroom.

Taking inspiration from all things minty ... 

Mint Bedroom from Thornton Designs, Mint + Pink by Marmalade Interiors,  Brooch from BettyOctopus, Smeg Fridge/Freezer, Mint Candy Apple by Essie, Mint + Pink Macaroons 

A beautiful mint bedroom; mint walls with vivid pink chairs in a guest bedroom; a pink and mint felt brooch; a Smeg fridge/freezer from their Vintage 50's style collection; luscious nail varnish from Essie and scrumptious macaroons that would melt in your mouth. 
... including current fashion trends, paint, tea and back to bathrooms!

Cocoon Coat,  Duravit Starck 2 + Axor Starck Organic, Twinings Double Mint Sensations,  Bisazza Giza Bianco,  Farrow + Ball Breakfast Green

Fresh from the Winter 2012 collection J Crews Cocoon coat in Dublin Green; Duravit Starck 2 basins with Axor Starck Organic mixers with Mint tiles; Axor Starck mixer with alternative Duravit Starck 2 basin complemented by shades of Mint wallpaper; Twinings new Double Mint Sensations tea; Bisazza Giza Bianco mosaics on display in the Soak showroom; a coat stand is enhanced by Farrow + Ball Breakfast Green on the wall.

So are you all minted out or are you inspired to add mint to your bathroom?