<<from page 1

Hypernature transports the freshness of nature to the big city. Here, fresh, urbane colors are combined with shades of smog. This brings a new strength and energy to city life and creates harmony. Hypernature builds on transparent materials with natural fabrics like soy and bamboo and the use of tone-on-tone embroidery, giving modern, rational elements a hint of warmth.

Intuition is an explosion of good humor and bright colors. Creativity is repositioning itself after the current times of crisis. Bright, contemporary colors show spontaneous creativity; a variety of patterns from different cultures reflect freedom and spontaneity. Prints and surface coverings play with forms facilitating an encounter between bright colors and neutral tones.

In looking at home color for 2010, HomeWorld Monitor classifies colors into familes, groups and hues. According to Janine Finkle, vice president of market intelligence for Design Research Reports, Inc., the top five color families in 2010 will be brown, grey, ivory/beige, green and orange. “The real story here is in the fast rising greens and oranges,” Finkle says.

Green symbolizes life, growth, renewal and abundance. The growth in green is directly rela ted to the transition from outdoor spaces to indoor spaces, bringing nature indoors.

Like all colors, orange has been evolving. Early in the decade, the oranges were corals and Sunkist fruit shades. Closing the decade, the orange spectrum has hues of richer golds and earthy ochres complimenting burnished gold and copper metallics. The comforting warmth of orange is forecast to be with us for years to come.

Another trend to look for in fabric is what is called Mid-Century Modern. Mid-Century Modern is an architectural, interior and product design form that generally describes post-war developments in modern design from roughly 1946 to 1965. The mid-century era was a wonderful period when artists were producing amazing designs that now have become collectors ’ items. A new generation of designers is embracing the styles of the early postwar era,  and the trend toward revivals and adaptations of furnishings and upholstery from the 1950s to 1970s has been on the rise.

The patterns push the envelope for people who have been used to a certain neutral color palette. But more and more people want something fresh and bold. Textile manufacturers are rising to the

From Kravet comes Barclay Butera, a play on contrasts that combines rustic yarns with sophisticated finishes. There are four fabric collections —Beach, City, Mountain and Town & Country. Beach mingles bright whites, sandy neutrals and varying shades of blue to create clean, zesty atmospheres. City offers a warm refuge with soothing animal skin textures and space-creating contrasts of dark and light. Mountain channels the natural grain of wood and leather; T &C has glowing shades of silver and gold, sky blue and mint green.

Also from Kravet is the Museum of New Mexico Collection. Here, Kravet has taken inspiration from the collection of Navajo and Pueblo Indian rugs and ceremonial costumes to create a series of bold geometric designs and traditional southwestern patterns. Fabrics range from primary bold colors of reds and oranges to an updated indigo blue fading into a more neutral blue grey palette. Textural stripes adapted from Peruvian ponchos, Moroccan floor coverings and Turkish tunics present in rich shades of rusts and browns, colors that compliment the beauty of sunset.

Highlighting sophisticated 1940s glamour, Duralee’s Highland Court offers the Hollywood Collection. Chic colors and patterns evoke memories of old Hollywood grandeur while maintaining modern sensibility for a versatile selection of designs. Upcoming trends include shimmering metallics and grey tones with the signature color for 2010 being purple, according to Allison Ruddick, Duralee marketing coordinator. Purple is associated with royalty and nobility. The lighter shade of lilac has been called  the “new beige.” It is neutral and welcoming and represents the harmony of the universe.

Believing that good design is forever, Brunschwig & Fils does not retire its designs quickly. Many of the designs in today’s collections date back to the early 1940s, while still others are more than 200 years old. Hand-woven Louis XV ecru silk brocade is woven in the same Lyon atelier that wove fabrics for the restoration of the Chateau de Versailles. Brocades, lampas and velvets created for Louis XIV are produced today on the very same looms as the originals in the 18th century.

So no matter if  you’re a purple, an orange or a green, there is something for you in today’s decorating fabrics.  You only have to look for it.l