Color Trends With A Touch Of Sparkle — Ami Austin Interior Design

When it comes to interior design, it is absolutely imperative to stay in-the-know about evolving color trends. During my years of designing rooms and spaces for clients, I have used a wide assortment of colors ranging from calm, serene blues perfect for bedrooms or powder rooms, to fun and eccentric hues of green for living rooms, kitchens and sometimes hallways. Well, and just about every other noteworthy color for most any type of space you can imagine.

No matter the chosen color palette, which should be customized for every home or place of business, incorporating bold and lively colors in interior design is a creative way to turn an ordinary room into an extraordinary one. As a designer, an original color theme is one of the most significant principles of design for each interior.

By creatively, carefully mixing and matching different colors, we can create the opportunity to evoke a specific sense of style for a space. I tell my clients that exciting colors are a must, but you also don’t want to go overboard. Inspiration taken from time-favored or even new color trends is the key to a well-planned palette of colors, hues, tints, and shades.

Three color trends in particular that have created quite a buzz recently among designers and their clients are personal favorites of mine: Silver, grey and pewter! I cherish these sleek colors because they work in most any space of the house. These room-changing colors can take the form of any piece of furniture or accessory, or they can simply serve as a graceful backdrop.

When designing a den or living room featuring grey, silver or pewter, I like to start with the foundation and add complementary décor items. Grey wall coverings or custom flooring can look stunning when accompanied with a silver, gold or bronze light fixture, as seen in the above photo. If you have an absolutely flawless wallcovering as a design foundation for the interior, the walls themselves act as focal points of attractive color and the interior virtually jumps to life.

Soothing Silver
Silver is my absolute favorite of the three color trends because of the way it sparkles! Traditional or modern style paired with metallic details can add richness to any room. Take a look at just two of my top product picks for this breathtaking silver color trend.

This artistically designed, silver Coubertin Mirror by Christopher Guy is a delicate sunburst of skillfully-welded rods and is punctuated with dozens of silver-beaded accents to create a contemporary masterpiece. Made with bevel glass and a Renaissance 20th Century Silver Finish, this mirror would hang magnificently on a white or colorful wall.

**Quartz, The Lost City of Silver Wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries**

Dazzling wallcoverings like this Lost City of Silver by Phillip Jeffries is the perfect example of how a foundation wall can be striking enough by itself. When your walls are covered with tempered or perhaps even glitzy silver, they become the dominant eye-candy of the room and do not necessarily need extravagant accessories or art.

Gorgeous Grey
Grey has become the new black, if you ask me. This marvelous color provides chic style and limitless opportunities for designing rooms. White and beige are still elegant and befitting at times, but hues of grey are my go-to neutral colors right now. This often parlays to fabric and textile choices for pillows, bedding, upholstery, and, of course, as accent wall coverings. Two, of many, grey décor options I cherish are next…

**Tremezzo Damask Contract Fabric by Schumacher**

Schumacher has always been one of my preferred sources for fabrics; the options are unbelievable! I love their Tremezzo Damask Contract Fabric because of the intricate yet traditional style it portrays. As seen in the above image-swatch, a lovely grey design on top of a cream-colored background makes for delicate and sophisticated upholstery, draperies, and whatever else you would like to enhance with the use of grey. The pattern reminds me of Old World weaves taken from fabric archives, yet with a sense of modernity as seen in the ornate details. The possibilities of grey are nearly endless for posh interiors!

I love this Modern Mosaic Sleek Grey Wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries because of the fascinating process in which it was made. Turning your walls into a masterpiece, handcrafted paper is colored grey, crushed by artisans, then carefully cut and hand mounted to create a subtle, geometric pattern. A pearlized wash is the finishing touch for this truly stunning work of wall art that adds texture and color in one fair swoop.

Powerful Pewter
The last color trend of this tri-color series is the unique and mysterious pewter. As a color option for interiors, pewter is reliable enough to provide focal appeal as well as balance accent colors. Though, it also offers a shimmering panache unlike most any other hue.

People have asked me many times about the difference between pewter and silver. While they are both quite similar to one another, pewter has a particular characteristic that separates it from silver. The secret is a touch of gold! If a product or home décor item is truly pewter, it will have a slight shimmer of gold that accents the color in such an exquisite way. Take a look at the following beloved products I adore, and see if you can tell the difference.

This Portobello Sofa by Christopher Guy is a fantastic, oval confidante with a smooth seat and buttoned back that has been designed to grace a magnificent lobby, hallway or receiving room. The traditional style of the buttoned back correlates splendidly with the more present-day, oval-shaped cushion seat. Undoubtedly, this seating option would just not be the same in any other color than the powerful and pretty pewter.

Have you ever seen anything like this Ornamental Carved Pewter Wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries? Inspired by architectural details of vintage tile, multiple layers of raised luminous inks are applied by artisans to create this show-stopping relief pattern. Full of graphic drama, this wallcovering could easily become the topic of conversation for you and your guests. Installations might include everything from a foyer or entryway to generate a dramatic effect, to a small bathroom or powder room for added lively interest in an otherwise small space.

Wonderful Whitewash
For those who lean more towards tradition, one other color trend I admire is that of whitewash, accented with grey, cream or soft pastels. I love the combination’s vintage elegance of distressed or antiqued white hues, coupled with fashionable light grey tones or well-thought hints and tints of subtle off-white and understated blush or pastel yellow.

The gracefully aged, whitewashed appearance of an antique cabinet or reproduction armoire can create the essence of a mature and dignified home. In this next image, I’d like to share with you one of my outright favorite pieces to showcases this trend.

This elegant French Regency Buffet by Westside Market is a breath of tranquility, reminiscent of the 1860’s. The varying tones of grey and white add personality and a real sense of classic beauty to this magnificent antiqued-armoire. I have always thought there is something so comforting and romantic about surrounding one’s self with notable furniture inspired by another time period, especially with the beauty of whitewash.

Changing Color
One of the best things about color trends is that they are always changing. Don’t worry if one doesn’t suit you, because before you know it, another color trend will replace it.

It is very important to me to stay up to date with trends so I can best help my clients create and freshen interiors of which they can be proud. If any of the color trends in this blog interest you and have left you wanting to feature them in your own home or business setting, do not hesitate to contact me. I would love to help you find the perfect silver, grey, pewter, or whitewashed accompaniments to enrich and refine your space.

For more information, please visit my websites: www.amiaustininteriors.com and www.pbdesignsource.com.

~ Ami Austin