Casual Elegance
                       February, 2009

~ Compliments of Deborah Dukes
The Cool Colors Issue!
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The Color of Optimism
Yellow color wakes up the room like the rising sun. The feng shui color of sunlight, cheerful and uplifting Yellow always lightens and brightens any space, as well as creates a cozy, welcoming feeling. From hot sunflower yellow to pale buttery tones - there are many options to choose from.

Pantone, the “global authority on color,” has selected Mimosa as the color of the year for 2009. What color is mimosa? It’s an orange-hued yellow. British Vogue says that Mimosa “represents hope and optimism — buzzwords for the new year after a 2008 full of instability and upheaval.” 		 A fuchsia such as Peony, for instance, can instantly enliven a space when paired with the yellow. When partnered with deep browns or blacks, like Stone Brown or Ebony King, a room can take on a richer, more complex ambience. One of the cheeriest combinations recommended is St. Elmo's with Wales Green or any similar soft yellow-green. While a dreamy, chic appearance can be created by teaming the citron hue with a steely gray, such as Dior Gray.

"Once upon a time, yellow was thought to be for kitchens only," states Eileen McComb, director of communications for Benjamin Moore, "but that's not true anymore. While it's still an ideal choice for that space, it now is equally acceptable to apply it anywhere and everywhere throughout a home."
In fact, according to McComb, whether for the transition year of 2009 or any time, yellow is a terrific transitional color that helps bridge between rooms when it's used in entries, hallways, stairwells and other connector spaces. It's effective, as well, for adding a punch color on a wall when you want to freshen up a look but have neither the time nor budget to paint an entire room.
“The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance,” declares Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation.

In proposing St. Elmo's Fire as a top interior paint color choice for 2009 the Benjamin Moore team also has suggested other possible, and very livable, companion hues from the spectrum.

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