Wednesday, Mar. 2, 2005

1960s color brightens 2005 homes

If you grew up in the 1960s, you remember the bright bold colors and patterns that abounded in every aspect of life. Pucci set the standard in fashion with bold geometric and floral designs right along with the “hippies” flaunting their tie dyed T-shirts. Whimsical furniture upholstered in bright reds, hot orange, green florals and mod shapes filled homes. Cars in yellow, rust, pink and various shades of blue buzzed along the highways.

Fast forward to the runways, hallways and highways of 2005: “Refab” designs, updated 1960s influenced motifs are showing up on the floors of retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and pages of fashion magazines such as Vogue; Ford Motor Company has unveiled the redesigned Mustang in Screaming Yellow and Legend Lime; and in the home, even appliance manufacturers are offering their “white goods” in color, such as the Sears Kenmore washer offered in Sedona Orange.

Why the shift to so much color and pattern? Entrepreneur.com has found a correlation between the current colors in cars, clothing and home fashion and the economic outlook. While dark colors are generally associated with economic depression, bright colors are found more often in prosperous times. A sunnier, more optimistic mood after some tough times, the American public is looking to break out of the conservative and safe. We’re looking to make happy memories and bring positive influences into our life and home.

A great way to bring in color and have some fun with your décor is the retro inspired designs and colors from the Tile of Spain manufacturers. Tile offers an endless array of options for flooring, countertops or backsplashes. Take the plunge and immerse yourself in pattern and color with an all over design, or be conservative and add an accent piece to a solid field of color.

“Though color has always been popular, the explosion of 1960s inspired patterns and colors in all aspects of design is quite recent,” said Javier Soriano, of Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturers’ Association’s Foreign Trade and Export Promotion. “The Tile of Spain manufacturers are designing to meet this trend. They are introducing tiles that reflect pop art florals and geometric patterns such as squares, circles, stripes and polka dots in the bold colors that were popular during that time.”

The patterns of designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada for Pamesa offer a range of bright, retro options. The Flores Amarillo series features bubbly flowers in canary yellow that float on a tangerine background. This sunny design is sure to brighten your day when balanced by the white tiles of the Agatha Rayas series. These white tiles have a subtle relief of vertical stripes which introduce geometric patterns.

If you’re thinking of adding just a hint of the ‘60s, go with a solid field of color, such as green and add a thin border or listello like the Listel Tokio from Porcelanosa that contrasts in white with a swirl of orange.

Bringing color and pattern into your home is a great way of making sure your family’s mood is sunny and bright.

Ceramic tiles are a savvy answer to adding color and style to your home. Easy to clean and maintain, tiles offer an eco-friendly approach to decorating. Because they are made from 100 percent plentiful and natural raw materials, ceramics are chemically inert so they inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, fungus, and improve the air quality by reducing allergens. Variations in color, texture, and design allow consumers to create their own custom designed space.

For more about ceramic tile, contact the Tile of Spain Center, at the Trade Commission of Spain, 2655 Le Jeune Rd., Suite 1114, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Call (305) 446-4387 or visit www.spaintiles.info.

— ARA Content