Is the way to an editor’s heart through her stomach? Maybe. DuPont recently held a luncheon at its Corian Design Studio in New York City to introduce color trends for 2013 and the newest additions to its Corian and Zodiaq quartz lines.

The food was, of course, delicious and highly theatrical in its presentation. All six courses were prepared and served by A Razor, A Shiny Knife on dinnerware with decorative accessories to evoke the trends being discussed by Mark Goodman, president of Color Marketing Group; also on hand was Elizabeth Lawson, strategic project manager for DuPont Building Innovations.

Tablecloths were whipped away, server outfits were swapped and vapors, vegetation, vases and other visual flourishes were paraded in and out with each Corian color grouping, of which there were three: Solidify, Interference and Raw.

Solidify, a cool, almost chilly palette, draws from changing weather patterns, ice patterns, porous materials and the power of water and wind. It reflects the continuing strength of gray.

Interference is influenced by rare earth materials, incorporating bits of shimmer and warm metallics.

Raw is the palette of eternal spring, rediscovery and calm. Woodman also talked about the need for authenticity and a respect for natural materials. Actually, these two would make attractive countertops.

Following are some photos from the event:

Want more? Check out additional images on DuPont Corian’s Facebook page.

Pantone has announced its Color of the Year for 2013: Pantone 17-5641 Emerald.

According to Pantone, green has been enjoying growing popularity, especially in fashion and couture, where the color has even made appearances on the red carpet. The company’s fashion color report for spring 2013 features several designers—Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, Barbara Tfank and Marimekko—who are incorporating Emerald into their spring collections.

What do you think of Pantone’s Emerald as the Color of the Year for 2013?

There’s a growing design trend out there for mid-century design. Just look at anything Jonathan Adler is doing and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

My last blog post was a look back into the ’60s, and the evolution of the “modern” look in appliances. I get such a kick out of some of the cool designs that came out of that era, so I started looking for new materials that are available today that can give you that retro look with a fresh new approach.

Here’s some products I’ve found that are classically modern and stand the test of time.

CABINETRY: Kraftmaid‘s square recessed panel door design in the Willow color, combined with the same door in white and trimmed out in Cinnamon stained cherry, is a contemporary take on a typical Shaker style. I love the way the cherry trim softens the hard edges on the white cabinets and gives it a whole new look.

HARDWARE: I love Atlas Hardware’s Modernist cabinet pull.






COUNTERTOP MATERIAL: Wilsonart‘s Linearity laminate from its commercial line has a retro look with a slightly modern vibe…

LIGHTING: Rejuvenation Lighting’s new line of mid-century reproduction lighting featuring Astron pendant

PLUMBING: Chicago Faucets’ deck-mounted faucet with attached soap holder is priced under $300. Love its wall-mounted one too!

A sink with built-in drainboard from Oliveri for around $600.

—Patricia Gaylor

Have we lost our fascination with bright and shiny things? Perhaps.

According to a pair of meetings I had this week, our interest in distressing, aged finishes and time-worn looks is still going strong. It came up in a trends presentation given by Andy Wells, VP of design at MasterBrand Cabinets, and just today, Jeff Dross, director of education and industry trends for Kichler Lighting, also noted distressed metal as an inspiration for the company’s Missoula hammered antique pewter table and floor lamps.

Similarly, wood-look ceramic tiles have expanded to include reclaimed and weathered wood designs. Case in point, Spanish tile manufacturer Apavisa’s latest is Vintage, a collection of distressed-wood-look tiles in beige, white and gray,

as well as cheerier hues, such as blue, red and green.

A sign of optimism? Maybe. While the trend may have resulted from a need post-economic crash for authenticity, the familiar and what’s tried and true, there’s no reason why you can’t have a little fun at the same time.