Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Trends in Faux: More Contemporary Looks

Saturday, August 7th, 2010

A contemporary look using Modern Masters' Shizen Series™.

A contemporary look using Modern Masters' Shizen Series™.

Posted by: Diane Capuano

The Old World finishes that were popular for so long in the decorative painting market are giving way to looks that are more contemporary—simpler, cleaner and more linear.

This change in direction is most likely a direct result of the economic slowdown, which caused many homeowners to forgo painting and decorating projects for the last couple of years. As the economic recovery slowly takes hold, consumers are once again looking for ways to decorate their walls but for the most part are doing so in less inexpensive and less ostentatious ways.

“Contemporary, clean, high gloss and metallic finishes are currently in demand in comparison to five or 10 years ago where heavier, multi-layered Old World finishes were desired,” stated Raymond Sandor, Founder & President, Faux Effects International Inc.

Jerry Russo, president of Roman Architectural Finishes, confirmed that metallics will continue to be a major trend in the faux-finishing market. “If someone is going to spend money on a faux finish, they want it to be (more…)

Home Décor Colors in 2011 Will Be “a Kaleidoscope”

Monday, June 7th, 2010

Like the Indian Pink City of Jaipur for which it is named, the Pink City palette from PPG vibrates with the very pulse of life and the spirit of adventure.

Like the Indian Pink City of Jaipur for which it is named, the Pink City palette from PPG vibrates with the very pulse of life and the spirit of adventure.

Posted by: Tamela Adamson-McMullen

Next year in home fashion you can expect to see a surprising range of blues, a new family of purples, lots of pinks and color-cast neutrals. According to the experts surveyed for Paint & Decorating Retailer magazine’s 41st annual color forecast, home fashion is showing an early rebound from the recession and by 2011 will exhibit a kaleidoscope of colors.

Whether consumers are feeling more upbeat or simply need relief from all of the bad news, experts said there’s no doubt that interesting colors and color combinations are working their way into home décor. They said to look for vibrant colors and softly blended neutrals, deep and pale hues, burnished furnishings and barely-there textiles.

Experts reported that the single top color in this palette most certainly will come from the blue family and may be appear as a green-blue (turquoise) or a red-blue (orchid).
A blue-green is at the top of the Pantone Color Institute’s list of “hot” colors. The Institute chose turquoise as the No. 1 color for 2010 and said it will remain popular well into 2011.

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PDRA Online Training Course Offers Advantages

Friday, January 15th, 2010
coatings specialist logoPosted by: Diane Capuano

More and more paint retailers are discovering the advantages of online education via the PDRA Coatings Specialist Training Course. This course, introduced last spring by the Paint & Decorating Retailers Association, allows retailers and their salespeople to further their paint industry education while sitting in front of a computer.

Convenience is key with this course. The course is divided into 12 modules, allowing the student to stop and start the course in a way that suits his or her schedule. (more…)

Don’t Expect Next Decade to Be Like the Last

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009
Posted by: Diane CapuanoStephens

Retailers in the home improvement sector are anxious for the economy to improve, anticipating the time when consumers will loosen their purse strings and start spending again. However, those who are expecting a return to the robust consumer spending habits that occurred prior to the recession should heed the words of Doug Stephens, president of Retail Prophet Consulting (at right).

“Going forward, I think we will see a new degree of thoughtfulness and responsibility on the part of consumers that will last well into the new decade,” Stephens told Paint & Decorating Retailer magazine. “We will still aspire to buying that new car or home (more…)