Of course I’m going to write about Valentine’s. I’m an idealist and a Virgo. Virgos not only have their own special little view of the perfect world (or in my case the perfect home) but they also have a Hollywood-like view of love and romance: Don’t even try to make me accept any thing less, it will never happen. Nothing will convince me that we can’t all enjoy a beautiful home, successful, fulfilling careers and an abundance of love and romance.
No conversation about love is complete without bringing up the colour red. Red, the colour of love and passion (pink is the colour of romance), is the perfect shade for you to bring home this Valentine’s. Last week at the Las Vegas Furniture and Home Show (isn’t it just the perfect setting for love and romance) red was everywhere, every designer and builder left seeing red. It is definitely set to be the biggest colour for home fashion in 2008.
I was especially excited by what I saw at the show and perhaps this is because, red inspires passion. You know that whenever we encounter a particular colour, we all have an emotional and physical response to that colour. Our emotional reaction to a colour is purely personal, and often based on good or bad memories that we associate with a particular shade. But our physical response is automatic, red stimulates and excites. When we see red our blood pressure rises, we talk more, our energy levels increase, as does our appetite and our levels of creativity.
Red is also the sexiest colour alive: Who doesn’t want to drive a sexy little red sports car or wear red lipstick or lingerie. Why is it that red roses symbolize love or that Valentine’s chocolates are most often delivered in a red heart shape box? Because red plus love = passion! If you want to tell someone you love them, send red roses. If you want some sexy attention, wear red. And if you want your home to ooze with passion, decorate with red.
Red lacquered mirror frames, wall scones, lacquered vases and of course red leather furniture were the show stoppers. All shades of red where showcased at the show. I was especially thrilled by the darker shades. Yes, we are going to the dark side with our colour palettes. Look for red oxides to come home in furniture, building materials (think metal ceilings, hardwood flooring, and cabinetry) and accessories.
Look to pair red with layered neutrals such as crème brule, camel, taupe. Or if you’re looking for a more traditional or transitional settings, try warm grays, and blacks. Luxurious copper and gold, coffee-coloured browns, turquoise and periwinkle blues work well in global inspired rooms. And for chic modern spaces classic black and white will do. This year, homes will be hot and bothered with shades of red and the darker and richer, the better.
