For immediate release August 2013

Dulux ditches the rulebook to paint a bright and bold new yearGone are the days of beige and white walls with 2014 forecast to pay homage to colour, according to the latest colour trends from Dulux. After studying trends around the world, the company has declared next year will be all about colour.

“We are definitely seeing more vibrant and saturated colours coming through into 2014 and beyond,” says Dulux colour expert Andrea Lucena-Orr.

Dulux experts attended the iSalone trade fair in Milan, studying product and design innovation, colour and finishes, and emerging global designers, to identify the trends.

“We also source information from key overseas forecasting agencies, who analyse many aspects of design and global influences,” she says. “Key factors include fashion, media, world events, technology and science, social fundamentals, financial economics and politics.”

While no single colour will dominate, many examples of designers using copper, were discovered. Colours such as, Dulux Sun Sensation and other metallics such as gold and brass. An overarching theme was about colour combinations. Also popular is a chameleon colour, an unusual mix of orange, pink and red, similar to Dulux Galah.

The Dulux 2014 Colour Forecast “Future Tribes” has released four palette trends: the Digital Nomads; Retro Visionaries; Precious Elementals and Romantic Spirits.

To showcase the four key trends Dulux has collaborated with artists and furniture designers to bring the palettes to life under the creative direction of stylists Bree Leech and Heather Nette King.

“The inspiration behind Retro Visionaries was bright vivid colour with some softer pastel versions of the primary colours,” says artist Rowena Martinich. “The style is very energetic and looks at the future, but at the same time is reminiscent of the digital culture of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s.”

Artist Geoffrey Carran says the Romantic Spirits palette draws on expressive, decorative periods such as Deco, Baroque and the 16th and 17th centuries. The contrast between dark backgrounds and illuminated subjects and the palettes of master painters influence the colours.

“Romantic Spirits can be broken down into a few key elements and colours; dark and light, reds and blues, reflective and deep. This makes it a perfect palette to create either a dramatic living space or light and lofty,” he says. “The Romantic Spirits trend can also be expressed through the use of accessories such as gold frames, artwork, vases, and antique furniture, leaning towards the ornate and opulent.”

The director and head designer of Zuster, Wilhelmina McCarroll, styled the Precious Elementals and Digital Nomads palettes and says now is the time for home decorators to stretch their boundaries. Styled by Rowena Martinich for Dulux

The Retro Visionaries

Styled by Geoffrey Carran for Dulux The Romantic Spirits

Styled by Wilhelmina McCarroll for Dulux The Precious Elementals

Styled by Bree Leech and Heather Nette King for Dulux The Digital Nomads

“Consumers can be adventurous with colour by painting architraves and skirtings in different colours and adding some of this season’s gorgeous warmer metallics, such as copper and gold in a small way,” she says.

The Precious Elementals palette is influenced by the earth, minerals, natural stones, and geographical formations, while Digital Nomads draws on the global fusion of tribal aesthetics resulting in an eclectic and exotic mix borrowed from many cultures.

“I don’t think colour will ever go out of fashion,” Ms McCarroll says. “We are seeing many colours being mixed and clashed with fantastic results. There are no rules!”

Ms Lucena-Orr says the bold new trends mean homeowners can use colour with confidence. “Anything goes! Be as individual as you want to be when considering colours and combinations of colour, design, finish and textures.”

“Boundaries are limitless today with colour,” she says. “We have so many choices and without the hindrance of traditional rules, creativity is shining through and we’re seeing some truly inspirational interiors.”

In the end, it’s all about personal taste.

“If you are thinking about using colour in an existing space, be mindful of other colours already in the space, but don’t let it limit your choice. Don’t be bogged down with conventional views of what colours should or shouldn’t be schemed together. Explore your insights and play with combinations of colour families, shades, tones, textures and finishes. Delight your senses with colour experiments. Use our inspirational images as a guide in your own inventive project.”

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For more information, images or interviews, contact:

Alex Brudenell, Communicado T: 03 9522 9909 M: 0402 442 721 E: alex.brudenell@communicado.com.au

Cristina Rudnicki, Communicado T: 03 9522 9907 M: 0422 725 100 E: cristina.rudnicki@communicado.com.au

Backgrounder August 2013

Community, sustainability and a global cultural fusion, which draw on the past in a technology-driven present, combine to inspire the 2014 Dulux Colour Forecast. These are the Future Tribes.

The Digital Nomads draw on the global fusion of tribal aesthetics resulting in an eclectic mix borrowed from many nations. Inspired by cultures such as, Morocco and

India, which thrive on colour and energy, pattern and vibrancy, the Digital Nomads allow you to travel the world without leaving the home. It draws from differing cultures

and the result is conventionally, clashing colours. Explore this extravagant and exotic collection in colours such as, Smoked Amethyst, Hot Chillie and Saturn Spirit.

A quirky and energetic palette that looks to the future while drawing on the past, the Retro Visionaries combine bright, vivid colours with softer, pastel versions of primary colours.

The palette is shaped by the 1950s and heavily influenced by birth of digital culture in the 70s, ’80s and ’90s. Inspirations include the design movements of the 1980s, block shapes,

curved forms, graffiti and digital art and white spaces laden with colour. The future looks bright with the retro vibe of this palette in colours such as, Citrus Hit, Techno Green and Stella.

TANGERINE BLISSCOPPERSMITHGOLDIELIMONEMID TANCROP CIRCLEDESIGN SUEDE SUEDE SANDCURD

DESIGN METALLIC

SATURN SPIRITWATERWORLDHOT CHILLIE BURNING BRIER RED CLOWN TANGOSMOKED

AMETHYST REGALIA

BLUE LIMEWASH BOYZONE INTERNATIONALMONDRIAN

BLUEDESIGN METALLIC

COOL COMET COLONY TECHNO GREEN LICKEDY LICKGALAHPITAPAT TANSY STELLA CITRUS HITOONADATTA

TRACKEXTREME

REDVIVID WHITE

FRENCH BLUE GLOSS POWDER AL-

PHATEC™

With its focus on the impact that civilisation has on our earth, the Precious Elementals are inspired by minerals, natural stones and geographical formations, such as seascapes and

mountains. Mineral and metal colours – such as copper, silver and bronze – modernised pastels and soft greys are prominent. The palette borrows from crystals and ice formations, gems,

stones and the natural patina of rust, concrete and petrified wood. Reconnect with our natural world in colours, such as, Antarctica Lake, Pipe Clay and Gardenia Frost Design Pearl.

The Romantic Spirits reminisce a time back to the expressive and decorative periods of Deco, Baroque and the 16th and 17th centuries. The palettes of master painters and dim light

of the past influence its colours and mood: dark and dreamy, reflective and deep. This ornate and opulent palette seeks ways to incorporate romance, nostalgia and new antiquities

into a contemporary world dominated by technology. Experience patinas of the past brought into the present in colours such as Luck, Stellar Glow and Vintage Green.

LYTTLETONSILVER SPOON

DESIGN METALLIC MALAY GREYSUN SENSATION

DESIGN METALLICDESIGN RUST

DESIGN METALLIC TEMPERERED

BRONZEWHISPER WHITE ISSEY-SAN ANTARCTICA LAKE PIPE CLAY OHAI HALF HAMMOCKGARDENIA FROST

DESIGN PEARLPEPPERCORN

RENT DOMINO

WHITE ATTICFEAST WATSON™

CRACKLE LACQUER

ICED WHITEINTERGRAIN™NATURALSTAIN

COPPER PEARLSATIN

POWDER ALPHATEC™

FROCKOPITO BAY

COSMIC AURA

STELLAR GLOW DESIGN METALLIC TANGIER RUSTED CRIMSON

MOROCCAN LEATHER VELVET CAPE

HAZY DAZE HALF SPEARMINT ICE ANCHOR MAN MUNDI

VINTAGE GREEN LUCK

DESIGN METALLICGABY’S GOLD

BURNISHED COPPERPOWDER

ELECTRO™

BLACK JAPANFEAST WATSON™

PROOFTINT

For more information, samples, images or interviews, contact:

Alex Brudenell, Communicado Cristina Rudnicki, Communicado T: 03 9522 9909 M: 0402 442 721 T: 03 9522 9907 M: 0422 725 100 E: alex.brudenell@communicado.com.au E: cristina.rudnicki@communicado.com.au

For immediate release August 2013

Creative Direction Q & A: Heather Nette King & Bree LeechHow did you come to choosing these stylists? Why these particular ones?

B: It was important for us to work with creatives that were as excited about the project as we were. I personally had been drawn to Rowena & Geoffrey’s work because of the use of colour in each piece and the emotion it sparked; and Wilhelmina is an inspiring furniture designer whose ‘classic with modern twists’ design style has universal appeal.

H: With forecasting, I think it’s really important to achieve a mix of imagination and practicality. Wilhelmina designs beautiful, creative furniture and rooms, whilst dealing daily with the realities of clients, budgets and deadlines. Geoffrey and Rowena have incredible and very distinct styles of painting, but are also commercially successful artists.

What was the key brief?

B: To represent the trends in ways that inspire the use of those colours in other people’s homes; or in the case of design professionals, their projects. Each image needs to not only use colours from the trend but also try and capture its essence and how it translates into an interior space.

H: I think it’s always tricky to distil and encapsulate very diverse and detailed trends, so by illustrating them through beautiful imagery and inspirational paint applications was to me the key brief.

This year’s forecast colours are very bold. How realistic is it that home owners are going to use these colours in the home?

B: There is a good balance of muted and bold colour in the trends for 2014. The stylists have demonstrated the use of dramatic colour well and how it can be used to define the look of an interior space. As for use in the home, there will be people that fall in love with a particular trend or colour and embrace it wholeheartedly and others that are inspired but choose to add it in much more controlled ways, for instance – to update their timber dining chairs or a bedside table.

H: The great thing about forecasting colour trends is that people can pick and choose the strength with which they would like to adopt the new ideas.

Also it encourages people to think outside the box – you may inject more impact by painting a few geometric shapes onto a wall than by painting that whole wall. It doesn’t have to be elaborate and time-consuming, you just need to be brave.

What do you think is going to the most influential colour in 2014/15?

B: 2014 will be about colour combinations rather than a single colour. Growing colour confidence has seen us throw out the rule books and use instinct and exploration to create exciting and inspiring colour schemes for interiors.

H: It will be all about previously unseen colour combinations. My absolute favourite combination from the 2014 trend forecast comes from within the Digital Nomads trend (Curd, Mid Tan and Tango).

Describe some of the key colours and elements of the trends?

B: Mood is the key element to all the Future Tribes trends. In The Romantic Spirits the dark inky hues and rich rusts or wines create a distinct sultry mood and the light pastel colours create a light-hearted romantic mood. Being inspired by earth’s elements, The Precious Elementals naturally create a more relaxed feel but with an edge of sophistication through the addition of rich metallics. The block colour effect of The Retro Visionaries can create a more quirky yet modern vibe; and The Digital Nomad demonstrates that bold colour can be used against softer tones to create an eclectic feel with a fun global influence.

What is the predominant colour used in your home?

B: I’m surrounded by colour all day in my work – it makes it difficult for me to settle on one colour scheme for my home as I often have ‘colour crushes’ that change daily! Right now though, my yellow crush is continuing and not looking likely to fade anytime soon.

H: I have loads of colour within my home and I change it regularly. Paint is the quickest and least expensive home décor tool and I love to mix things up and change them seasonally. No wall, floor or even furniture is safe from being painted here. Heather Nette King & Bree Leech

Stylist Q & A: Rowena Martinich (Artist) & Geoffrey Carran (Artist)Other than colour, what ways can consumers express the trend in an interior?

R: Modern pieces of furniture are inspired by the same trend. Curved couches, geometric tables, shaped lights. Bold clean lines with accessories to inject shape and form.

G: The Romantic Spirits trend can also be expressed through the use of accessories such as gold frames, artwork, vases, and antique furniture as it leans towards the ornate and opulent.

The forecast features emerging colours, many that haven’t been seen for years – was this surprising and did you find it a challenge to embrace them?

R: It wasn’t surprising seeing these bright colours re-emerge within interiors, especially looking at recent clothing fashions. From my experience people actually really love colour, they just need to be shown how to use it.

G: It was definitely a surprise, a pleasant one to see the reintroduction of the deep reds like Moroccan Leather or even that salon style Vintage Green. It brought me back to being a student, where one year I painted my room a very similar colour.

Do you think colour trends are cyclical? What influences this?

G: Colour trends are definitely cyclical, especially the accent or feature colours. Just like fashion, people respond to change and painting your space is the easiest way to achieve this. This is influenced by the desire to reengage with or change the identity of your space

What advice can you give people looking to experiment with colour and replicate/ incorporate the colours from the trends?

R: Select a few key colours to work with rather than trying to work with too many colours. All of the palette colours work well with white, so look at colour blocking as an option rather than covering the whole space with colour.

G: Be bold, try it out. It’s only paint and you may be pleasantly surprised by the results

How can consumers be creative using forecast colours outside of painting walls?

R: Consumers can be creative using the forecast colours in many ways outside of painting walls. They can paint items of furniture, dipping the legs of tables or chairs, or painting a table, or cupboard surface. If they don’t feel they can paint the bedroom, they could paint the bed head; they can buy an artwork that is colourful which can activate a space, or they could select a couple of key colours and paint plant pots.

G: Explore texture and surface application. There’s more to painting than simply rolling it on. The romantic Spirits Colour Trend can be replicated through selection of furniture, rugs and fabrics.

What influences your use of colour?

R: I am greatly influenced by what is around me. I live down the coast and love the turquoises of the ocean, the bright fashion colours of surf culture and the ever changing pinks and oranges of seaside sunsets.

G: I pick up on colour combinations everywhere I go. One of my main influences is the constantly shifting colours in the morning and evening sky

What are your go to online resources for inspiration?

G & R: Online we tend to check out interior design and architecture projects from around the world.

What are your favourite colour schemes to partner together?

G & R: Aqua and orange; French navy and white; fluoro pink and anything, grey tones and khaki.

What colours do you have within your home?

G & R: We have a lot of natural timber, and large art works so the walls tend to be painted natural whites and dark blues such as Mundi.

Rowena Martinich & Geoffrey Carran Stylists for The Romatic Spirits and The Retro Visionaries palettes

For immediate release August 2013

Stylist Q & A: Wilhelmina McCarroll (Head Designer/Director of Zuster)How can consumers be really adventurous with the use of colour?

Consumers can be adventurous with colour by painting architraves and skirtings in different colours and adding some of these seasons’ gorgeous warmer metallics like copper and gold in a small way. I also like adding one dark feature wall in a room to ground and balance the whole interior.

What home in the room do you think is ideal for injecting colour?

Kitchens and wall units can be great for injecting colour through drawer and door fronts. Choose an interesting palette and put different colour panels together.

What colour inspires you?

I live on a property in the Yarra Valley and I love natural tones. I am inspired by the light and dark shades of the changing weather patterns and the shadows it casts on the landscape. I am also inspired by media fashion and what people are wearing on the street. I also love the idea of muted tones with bright colours. I also use tone on tone consistently in my designs and styling.

In your opinion, will colour ever go out of fashion?

I do not think colour will ever go out of fashion. We are currently seeing many colours being mixed and clashed with fantastic results! There are no rules anymore as to what colours should go together, if it works it works!

What are your go to on-line resources for inspiration?

My favourite on-line resources for inspiration are architectural and fashion blogs like dezeen.com, thecoolhunter.com, yatzer.com, layer.com. I also use Pinterest.

What are your favourite colour schemes to partner together?

Greens, greys, blonde timbers with a touch of warm copper metallic.

What colours do you have within your home?

My house is a black box with a white interior. Black and white are always classic together.

What is your single favourite colour?

Green.

How has ‘online’ or digital influenced/affected design trends and colours?

We live in a world where colour trends are available immediately due to online or digital influences! We are now more exposed to so many more cultural and fashion trends.

How do we borrow colour from cultures?

We’ve seen many fashion and interior trends based on cultures such as the vibrant colours of India, Mexico and Peru. By using these cultures as inspiration we can develop a really authentic colour palette to work from.

How can you use colour effectively alongside natural materials?

Woodgrain is the perfect balance against vibrant colours. Colour can look great with wood grain and natural materials, providing it is the right tone.

For more information, images or interviews, contact:

Alex Brudenell, Communicado T: 03 9522 9909 M: 0402 442 721 E: alex.brudenell@communicado.com.au

Cristina Rudnicki, Communicado T: 03 9522 9907 M: 0422 725 100 E: cristina.rudnicki@communicado.com.au

Wilhelmina McCarroll Stylist for The Precious Elements and The Digital Nomads palettes

For immediate release August 2013