Colour is an essential part of any design project, and this year Furniture News has invited the trend forecasting company behind Mix Publications, Global Color Research, to talk about a key colour for the current season each month. Although the company forecasts colour trends two years ahead of the season, this series of articles focuses on a colour of the month, taken from the Mix Trends forecast, which brings relevant information to manufacturers, interior designers and any professional within the design industry. This month, Hannah Malein presents May’s colour, pale gold …
Sitting within an unexpectedly glamorous scheme, pale gold is embellished with raw earth hues for a new take on natural in the spring/summer 2013 story, Precious. In response to our diminishing materials, we seek out untapped resources or unusual reserves to create new avenues to design with.
We look to the history and age of resources, where beautiful materials developed over millions of years inspire layering and compressed surfaces made up of found, and previously-redundant, materials. Natural stone, rock and ore are key, as we take a more elemental approach to design.
In a palette inspired by archaeological finds, precious metals and minerals are dug up to reveal a hoard of rich discoveries. Metallic shades have interference or embedded colour that reflect the changing nature of earth’s raw ingredients. Natural ore and mineral shades are inspired by natural pigments – here, we find gold in a pale metallic finish, paired with rich umber brown and mustard yellow tones. This combination adds a glamour ideal, whilst a highlight of vibrant green introduces a refreshing brightness to the heavier tones.
Hollowed and cavernous shapes and forms influence furniture design, answering our increasing desire to escape and find some privacy in open-plan spaces. Carved and chiselled structures echo angular forms extracted from the earth, treasuring natural faults and imperfections. Mineral textures influence raw ceramic surfaces with grainy organic glazes, and irregular patterns found in crystal and rock formations bring interest to trimmings. Embedded reflective particles in solid surfaces and subtle metallic threads in linens and shot silks bring an added sparkle to the trend.
“In response to our diminishing materials, we seek out untapped resources or unusual reserves to create new avenues to design with”
The colour gold represents success and achievement, and by its very nature denotes physical wealth. Associated with prosperity and luxury, it symbolises high quality – however, it can be seen as over-extravagant and tacky if used in a brighter tone. For a more subtle approach, use this paler tone of gold to bring a sophisticated richness and warmth to a palette.
In a strong representation of the Precious trend, pale gold can be seen on furniture pieces in 2013. Pictured is a table by Gunjan Gupta of Indian label Wrap – cut from solid rock, it shows inlaid gold flecks and marble effects. Costello & Welch have also used metallic gold tones on these lacquered tables with polished bronze bases, for a cleaner-cut take on the trend.
Try pairing May’s colour – pale gold – with mustard, brown and a touch of vibrant green, for a new take on golden glamour. For the full colour story and ideas for its application, see a presentation of the Precious trend in Mix Trends Spring/Summer 2013, issue 24.
Hannah Malein is a colour trend consultant with Global Color Research, the company behind Mix Publications. Mix Trends and Mix magazine can advise of similar trend predictions up to two years ahead of the season. Sign up to the company’s monthly newsletter to receive the latest information on colour, trend and design.
