2018 Color Forecast: A Bold New Year for Colors

2018 is here and all bets are in. Top color design companies announced what to look out for in the coming year. With Pantone's "Ultra Violet," Sherwin Williams' "Oceanside," and Benjamin Moore's "Caliente," we are looking at a bold new year for colors.

Pantone: "Ultra Violet"

"Complex and contemplative, Ultra Violet suggests the mysteries of the cosmos, the intrigue of what lies ahead, and the discoveries beyond where we are now. The vast and limitless night sky is symbolic of what is possible and continues to inspire the desire to pursue a world beyond our own.

Enigmatic purples have also long been symbolic of counterculture, unconventionality, and artistic brilliance. Musical icons Prince, David Bowie, and Jimi Hendrix brought shades of Ultra Violet to the forefront of western pop culture as personal expressions of individuality. Nuanced and full of emotion, the depth of PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet symbolizes experimentation and non-conformity, spurring individuals to imagine their unique mark on the world, and push boundaries through creative outlets."

- Pantone

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Sherwin Williams: "Oceanside"

"A complex, deep color that offers a sense of the familiar with a hint of the unknown, Oceanside, bridges together a harmonious balance of blues and greens that can be found in what's old and new.

The color blue evokes a multitude of moods and associations depending on hue, shade and application. Despite this variety, blues are universally perceived as intelligent, honest and interesting—making blue the most beloved color worldwide.

Oceanside's multi-dimensional, marine-inspired look can create a welcoming statement as a lively color for a front door. Its green-meets-blue tone can also boost creative thinking and clarity of thought in a home office, or invite meditation and introspection into a bedroom or reading nook."

- Sherwin Williams 

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Benjamin Moore: "Caliente"

"Caliente is the signature color of a modern architectural masterpiece; a lush carpet rolled out for a grand arrival; the assured backdrop for a book-lined library; a powerful first impression on a glossy front door. The eye can’t help but follow its bold strokes. Harness the vitality.” 

—Ellen O'Neill, Benjamin Moore & Co.

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2018 Predictions: Upcoming Home Design Trends

Last month, we gave your our top trends from 2017. Now that 2018 has arrived, let's take a look at some trend predictions. We have some comebacks, come-ups and came-outta-nowheres for you. What are your predictions for 2018?

Floral Wall Patterns

These high-contrast designs can turn any room into a work of art. Floral patterns can range from simple to extravagant, but size is definitely on the rise. Expect bigger bouquets in 2018.

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Concrete 

If grandiose floral arrangements aren't your style, you might want to consider concrete as a material when building a space or seeking an accent. This relatively inexpensive material is vital to those seeking a modern or industrial feel. It's also perfect for countertops.

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Bar Carts

Let's face it. We could all use a drink sometimes. The best way to serve up a drink in style? Try a bar cart. These handy stations are great when hosting guests. They also come in pretty much any style you can imagine, so expect to see more of these versatile pieces in 2018. 

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Black Stainless Appliances

It's 2018. We live in a world where your oven, fridge and thermostat can all be controlled from your phone. As more of our appliances go "smart," they need the looks to match. Enter matte and stainless black. These appliances are stain and smudge-resistant and ideal for the modern home. 

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3D Wall Designs

It's time to consider adding a new dimension to your home... literally. Traditional tiling patterns are on their way out, making room for these amazingly erratic designs. Calling all those who don't like coloring between the lines.

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Industry Ed with Richard: Looking Back on 2017

I love writing these newsletters because it lets me share my ideas and inspirations with you all. 

In case you missed them, here are my top blog posts from the year. 

1. Installing a Hollow Fireplace Mantel (Video)

2. Industry Ed with Richard: Kitchen & Bath Guideline Series - Showers

See the full article

3. Industry Ed with Richard:Introducing Ourso Designs' Newest Product, Fabuwood Cabinets

See the full article

Thank you all for a great year. I can't wait to see what 2018 has in store! 

2017 Recap: Top 5 Best Trends of the Year

2018 is rapidly approaching, which means new trends, new colors and a fresh start for design. Let's look back over the year at our top trends, in order we have:

1. Texture in Marbling (May)
2. Low-lying Beds (June)
3. Burl Wood Furniture (April)
4. Acrylic Accents (July)
5. Woven Works (November)

1. Texture in Marbling (May)

Click here to view article.

2. Low-lying Beds (June)

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3. Burl Wood Furniture (April)

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4. Acrylic Accents (July)

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5. Woven Works (November)

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What trends are you predicting for 2018? Be sure to check out our predictions in our first newsletter of the new year. 

2017 Recap: Top 5 Best Articles from Ourso Designs

We had a lot of fun writing these articles. We hope you enjoyed reading them. Here are the top 5 most popular articles from 2017!

1. Inspiring Backyards: Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Backyard
2. Simple yet Impressive: Simple Cabinet Door Styles That Make an Impression
3. Using Mirrors in a Big Way
4. Find your Niche
5. New Cabinets: Questions Your Cabinet Dealer Should Be Asking You

1. Inspiring Backyards: Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Backyard

Click here to view article.

2. Simple yet Impressive: Simple Cabinet Door Styles That Make an Impression

Click here to view article.

3. Using Mirrors in a Big Way

Click here to view article.

4. Find your Niche

Click here to view article.

5. New Cabinets: Questions Your Cabinet Dealer Should Be Asking You

Click here to view article.

What kind of articles would you like to see us write next year?

Find your Niche

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So long are the days when we hung shower caddies from our shower heads or suction cupped them to the walls! The shower niche is now a requirement in shower design. They are an essential part of the efficiency of your shower space so they play a key role in the overall look and appeal of the shower. A key part of a successful design is when functionality meets aesthetic. What's your niche?

The Consecutive Row

Having more than one niche allows space to also add decorative items and plants.

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The Centered

This creates a nice center focal point to the shower and is great for including some decorative tile details.

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The Side to Side

Why not have the niche run from wall to wall?! When you let the niche span the whole wall, often times it runs long enough to double as a niche for more than one area of the bathroom.

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 The Justified

Asymmetry is a really good effective architectural detail. So often we gravitate to typical symmetry, but that is not always possible or necessary. A balanced room does not equal a symmetrical room.

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 The Ledge

Instead of a cutout niche, this shower has a ledge that runs along the back wall. This is a really cool alternative to the typical niche.

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The Tall Vertical Niche

This is a similar alternative to the consecutive row. Here we have one tall vertical niche with shelves in it, rather than separate niches.

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The Pass-Through 

These niches work for either side of the wall. With a center wall between the shower and the tub, the pass through niche would allow for your shampoos to be accessible to both areas. Great idea!

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Plant Niche

How about a niche with the sole purpose to house plant life! Bathrooms are a wonderful place to put your greenery and have them thrive. In-fact we wrote a trend alert on this last month!

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Having more than one niche is also extremely common. This way you can have one that is more decorative (for placing plants, and candles, and the like) and another that is intended more for useful (but not so pretty) items, like soaps and shampoos. That niche can be placed in a less visible spot so you don't have to see it from outside of the shower. All-in-all, when it comes to finding your niche, it is a combination of what your space will allow and how you would like to use your space.