9 Jan

Working with Marsala

When Pantone announces its colour of the year annually, a wave of inspiration follows across all creative pursuits. The Pantone colour of the year is said to capture the global zeitgeist and inspire its use across all mediums.

The past two years have seen emerald green and radiant orchid take the spotlight but this year, this rich brown-red tone Marsala has been chosen.

Pantone Colour Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman says her choice of Marsala was led by a public desire for elegant sophistication, and the colour can be applied across applications from fashion to cosmetics and the home.

“I love the spiciness of it,” says Eiseman.

“We felt it was time for people that spoke to people’s needs for something more robust, and the most interesting thing is even though it has this kind of earthy undertone, it has a sophistication, so there’s something very versatile about the colour.

“It’s definitely a colour that lends itself to texture. It’s lovely in matte but I think you’ll see it a lot in treatments that have a lot of texture. I see it (being used) everywhere – in the bathroom it might be a little heavy but I do see it in accessories in the bathroom, plush toweling or a cosy robe. However I do see it in one of my favourite usages by painting a wall, in the dining room as an appetite stimulant, or in the kitchen would be a fabulous place to use the Marsala colour.

“I love to see it as a layered colour with other metallics in particular like the bronzy tones and umbers but also with complimentary colours like teals and blue-greens. It’s lovely with oranges as well.”

It will take some months for Marsala, this beautiful rich wine colour, to filter down through production of fabrics and wallpapers, so the quickest way to introduce this beautiful shade in the home is with paint.

At the end of the day the Pantone colours of the year are inspirations. Not rules to live by. If you are looking for a new scheme or colour tones in your house, by all means consider the Pantone colour of the year. It will give you an idea of the retail options when buying items for your house. But your house isn’t going to be considered passé if you don’t change your interior scheme to this colour.

Cheers,

Beadles