warm and gentle - Ben Moore Color trends 2014

Benjamin Moore recently came out with their color trends for 2014, and to my mind the palette reflects an update to warm and soft mid-century hues with a dash of preppy pink and green, and a completely contemporary take on greyed blues, greens, and purples. Of particular note is their color of the year "breath of fresh air," which reaches back into the Classic Colors palette. It is a pretty medium blue that points the way to a delightful trend toward blue-green robin's egg colors that have a softer feel than in previous decades. I'm all for it, and can't wait to put a half-formula Galt Blue in my stairwell this summer.

Breath of fresh Air

Galt Blue

Purple it is for Pantone

Pantone is out with it's new color of the year for 2014 and wow is it a stunner! Radiant Orchid is a vivid medium purple and you can check it out here. I've heard it said that purple is the color of compromise, and perhaps this floral tone will inspire a new mood of cooperation and congeniality. Let's hope so, but in the mean time look for cool ways to combine these purples with the of-the-moment greys, but also with shocking chartreuse and bright baby blues.