Walking into clothing stores at the beginning of a new season, it’s always fascinating to me to see the landscape of color change with the new season and so many stores featuring a similar color story. One year it would be shades of coral splashed across the clothing displays, and the next the color story would be decidedly navy blue. Understanding that there is a considerable length of time between product design, manufacturing, and when products actually made it into the stores, I found it amazing that they were all telling a similar color story (not exactly the same, but similar).
Being a part of that process now at Dura Supreme Cabinetry, I understand how color trends are developed and then seem to magically reproduce and permeate everything from clothing fashion to home interiors to technology and so much more.
Because cabinetry is the focal point of a kitchen (and the kitchen is the heart of the home), Dura Supreme Cabinetry has a team of color experts who stay on top of cutting-edge color trends. However, because cabinetry is a large investment and a permanent fixture (not easily replaced or changed like paint color on a wall or throw pillows on a couch), our product design team gives careful consideration to color trends while looking for opportunities to create long-term, classic colors that will complement short-term color trends.
Dura Supreme’s Chroma-Inset door in the “Evergreen Fog” paint paired with the Covington door style in the “Mushroom” paint.
Complementing Trendy Colors with Classic Colors
One great example of trendy colors colliding with cabinetry is Tangerine Tango. Almost 10 years ago, this hot color was hitting the fashion and interior design market by storm. Tangerine Tango is a beautiful, vibrant, red-orange hue that looks spicy and fabulous on soft goods like throw pillows, furniture, and accessories but does not exactly translate to cabinetry. However, there are certain paint colors (like our whites, mutated whites like Putty, and dramatic grays like Graphite) and stain colors (like our Clove, Poppy Seed, and Onyx) that specifically complement an orange color scheme. We regularly tweak and introduce new cabinet finish colors to ensure our cabinetry complements both current and future color trends. This way as your home decor may evolve over the years, the backdrop, your cabinetry will still look as new and on-trend as the day you purchased it.
See how Tangerine Tango vs. Gale Force Blue both pair well with the same variety of finishes?
Tangerine Tango Custom Match finish with a collection of other stains and paints from Dura Supreme.
Our Gale Force curated color with a collection of other stains and paints from Dura Supreme.
Now see how stunning the Tangerine Tango inspired home decor goes with the cabinet finishes in the kitchen below, yet you can easily swap out the decor down the road and this same look will look just as stunning with the next hot color trend. This kitchen would look just as stunning with today’s trending Navy Blues and Sage Greens.
Design by Mariotti Building Products of Pennsylvania featuring Dura Supreme cabinetry. Photo by Danielle Coons.
Photo courtesy of Pantone
We also make sure our offering is flexible so if you do want that latest trendy color on your cabinets, you can select one of our pre-curated trend-spotted colors from our Curated Color Collection or choose any color your heart desires with our Personal Paint Match and Custom Match Programs.
Dura Supreme’s Curated Color Collection
Dura Supreme Cabinetry shown in the Curated Color, Rock Bottom. Bathroom design by Anahi Hollis Design.
There are many methods of forecasting and tracking color trends, and one organization that leads the way, focusing on just that is the Color Marketing Group® (CMG) which I’m a proud member of.
What is the Color Marketing Group (CMG)?
CMG is a not-for-profit, international association of color design professionals. It is a professional forum for the exchange of all things color. Members represent a broad spectrum of designers, marketers, color scientists, consultants, educators, and artists.
Photo provided by the Color Marketing Group.
How Do Color Forecasters Predict the Next Hot Color?
Each year, the Color Marketing Group holds regional, national, and international meetings with expert color designers from every industry. You’ll see color experts from clothing lines, car brands, cell phones, fitness products, children’s toys, home goods, and so much more!
Photo provided by the Color Marketing Group.
Our job during these meetings is to discuss, argue, negotiate, and present our professional opinions on current and future color trends and what may be influencing the attraction toward certain colors. The national meeting is an intense, four-day effort where color forecasting information is compiled, discussed, and finally brought to vote so that the organization can publish an annual color forecast.
An example of a color trend board presented at the CMG meeting. Photo provided by the Color Marketing Group.
Color designers present forecasts to be voted on by the entire assembly. Photo provided by the Color Marketing Group.
Photo provided by the Color Marketing Group.
From Color Predictions to New Products
Color designers from thousands of different organizations then use that information to implement colors into their product offerings – that’s where the magic happens! Those color trends that are passionately argued for and agreed upon finally become part of each company’s next new product launch. The beauty of this process is that no two designers are going to interpret the color forecasts in exactly the same way. Different companies will develop different variations, but the basic color forecast weaves its way into a variety of product offerings until it becomes a favorite of customers.
Photo provided by the Color Marketing Group. Photo by Centura Tile.
Photo provided by the Color Marketing Group.
Determining On-Trend and Timeless Cabinetry Colors
At Dura Supreme Cabinetry, we understand cabinets are a large investment and a permanent fixture in your home, which is why our product development team gives careful consideration to cutting-edge trends. From our expert color forecasters to our veteran designers, our team closely studies color trends throughout the kitchen and bath industry, digging deeper for opportunities to create leading trends that become long-term and timeless styles, finishes, and features.
Check out our “Trends” page to see what our Color and Design Trend Forecasters are reporting today.
