Design Trends – Design Your Lifestyle.

Top 7 Classic Neutral Colors For Autumn 2020 Design

July 2020July 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

Top 7 Classic Neutral Colors For Autumn 2020 Design

While 2020 has been a year for bold, vibrant colors, its backbone has always been classic, familiar shades. Look no further than Classic Blue – the 2020 Pantone Color of the year – for proof that in order for design to be audacious, it needs to dig its roots into dependable soil.

The best designers in the world understand the need for familiarity, even in their boldest creations. This holds especially true in the world of high-end kitchen and bath design, where award-winning designers like Peter Salerno Inc. use intelligent, comfortable colors to balance vivid pops of color.

Pantone’s Autumn/Winter 2020-2021 Fashion Color Trend Report is full of colors whose names evoke fun and daring design adventures. Samba. Exuberance. Amberglow. Burnt Henna. Green Sheen. But tucked in neatly behind those intrepid shades are the sturdy classics that pull everything into focus. Dark blues, off-whites, tans and grays are the backbone of the Pantone Autumn 2020 color palette.

The 7 shades featured in the “Classics” section New York and London Autumn 2020 Fashion Color Trend Reports are smart, reliable and functional. The one crossover color in both collections, Sleet, may be the trendiest and most useful of the bunch in contemporary kitchen and bath design. An unrelenting gray that finds utility in everything from subway tile to gray flooring, wall paint to appliances, Sleet is a go-to shade for transitional kitchen and bath designers.

Blue Depths and Dress Blues are cut from the same cloth, two dark blue hues to complement Classic Blue as the 2020 Color of the Year. Almond Oil and Sheepskin provide light and rich tan options, respectively. Jet Stream is a beautiful off-white that, according to Pantone, mirrors an “affinity for raw and recycled”. And Military Olive clocks in with the ‘alternative’ neutral option; it’s an olive green tone that provides stability to an earth-toned, natural color palette.

What is your opinion of the “Classics” offering in the Pantone Autumn 2020 Fashion Color Trend Report?

Which shades catch your eye as colors you’d like to incorporate in your kitchen design or bath design update?

And do you have a world-class custom kitchen and bath designer in mind for that project? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Pantone Autumn 2020 Classics | Neutral Tones For Kitchen + Bath Design

Almond Oil (Pantone 12-0713)

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Almond Oil

Blue Depths (Pantone 19-3940)

Pantone Blue Depths 2020

Sleet (Pantone 16-3916)

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Sleet

Military Olive (Pantone 19-0622)

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Military Olive

Jet Stream (Pantone 11-0605)

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Jet Stream

Sheepskin (Pantone 14-1122)

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Sheepskin

Dress Blues (Pantone 19-4024)

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Dress Blues

Reasons We Love the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors [FHI] Guide

July 2020July 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

Reasons to Love the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors [FHI] Guide

Ever since Peter Salerno Inc. discovered the world of Pantone through their Vice President (and Peter’s client) Laurie Pressman, we’ve been enamored. The cohesiveness between the world’s foremost authority on color and the most award-winning custom kitchen and bath design company of the 21st century is a match made in design heaven, and our staff at Design Your Lifestyle has been inspired ever since.

PANTONE 2020 Color of the Year Classic Blue — Have you ordered the 2020 Pantone FHI Color Guide?

Pantone may have just made our lives even better with the FHI – Pantone’s Fashion, Home + Interiors Color Guide. A hand-held color guide packed with 2,625 Pantone colors curated “specifically for Fashion, Home + Interiors” (according to Pantone), the FHI Color Guide is a universe of color knowledge that fits neatly in one hand.

Our favorite thing about the FHI Color Guide is that you don’t get just the Color Guide! The FHI offers so many extensions, add-ons and tools. The handiest is their Enhanced Digital Support, which offers you access to Pantone Connect – brand new software to assist in your color journey. You can also expand your FHI Color Guide to include color codes and chips for working with specific materials like cotton, which may require slightly adapted color codes.

Peter Salerno Inc. 2015 2nd place, Best Large Kitchen, NKBA. (Photo: Peter Rymwid) — Peter Salerno Inc. utilizes color to dramatic effect in award-winning kitchen designs.

With 315 new colors in its arsenal for 2020 alone, the Pantone FHI Color Guide is the most up-to-date color resource for professionals (and novices) in the fashion, home and interior design industries.

Peter Salerno and his team use color to dramatic effect in their award-winning custom kitchen, bath, bar, powder room and sitting room designs. Peter’s “personalized luxury” approach has earned him the admiration and trust of clients worldwide, and Peter Salerno Inc.’s designs can be found in homes and businesses from North America to Europe to Russia.

Maestro Rosolino cabinets: a hallmark of Peter Salerno Inc. custom kitchen design. — Peter Salerno Inc. utilizes color to dramatic effect in award-winning kitchen designs.

It’s important to trust your kitchen and bath design projects to professionals with the trust of their clients. For over 35 years, Peter Salerno has developed a reputation as an artist who consults with care, attention and passion. The core details of a world-class design can only be crafted with the individual client in mind, and Peter ensures each client’s design will individually reflect his or her style, life and background.

Now, imagine a tool like the Pantone FHI Color Guide in the hands of a designer with that level of passion – how powerful!

For more details on how to pursue a world-class kitchen design or bath design, follow us here.

For more information about the Pantone FHI Color Guide, click here.

Are Quartz Countertops Better Than Granite? A 2020 Update

June 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

Are Quartz Countertops Better Than Granite? A 2020 Update

Sitting in a meeting with Peter Salerno of Peter Salerno Inc. (our parent company), we were intrigued by a comment Peter made about one of this year’s hottest kitchen design trends: quartz kitchen countertops.

“Quartz [as a kitchen countertop material] is definitely in, and a lot of clients ask me whether quartz is a better option than granite,” Peter remarked.

The debate has begun to take over kitchen design, both among kitchen design experts and across the Internet. Should people be choosing quartz countertops for their kitchen design or kitchen remodeling project, or are granite countertops still the smart selection?

Quartz or granite - what's your preference in countertops? (Peter Salerno Inc.) — Quartz or granite – what’s your preference in countertops? (Peter Salerno Inc.)

Well, as is usually the case, the answer’s not so cut-and-dry.

Here’s what you need to know about quartz countertops, and how they compare to granite surfaces for your kitchen.

1. Quartz countertops are not 100% quartz – but that’s not a bad thing.

Most quartz countertops are around 95% quartz, with the remaining portion of the countertop surface made of polymers, resins and bonding materials. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Granite counters are almost always a 100% stone surface, meaning that they must be sealed to avoid stains and food items from sinking into the natural pores of the granite.

Whereas some high-end granite countertops may state they require a granite-specific cleaner, quartz countertops are virtually all amenable to simple soap and water cleaning. Many experts recommend that granite countertops should be re-sealed once a year; by contrast, a quartz countertop requires no such maintenance.

2. Quartz is harder than granite.

Due to the porous nature of granite, it’s susceptible to staining (and spills are a bit more troubling). Quartz countertops are sealed with polymer resins, so the resulting surface is actually a harder material than granite. Quartz countertop owners don’t have to worry as much about chips, falling items, spills and stains as a result.

The other upside to quartz’s hardness is it serves as a natural detractor to cross-contamination.

3. Quartz countertops are heavier.

This isn’t an installation job that you’ll be doing yourself. Only homeowners with direct counter installation experience should be handling any countertop installation jobs, to be clear. But the weight of composite quartz countertops requires a bit more care than the average granite counter installation process.

Make sure you consult with a professional kitchen designer and installation expert to ensure that your space is equipped to handle the extra load of a quartz counter.

4. Are quartz countertops really cheaper than granite?

Again, sorry for the vague answer, but the truth is it depends on the individual job specifications. While the most inexpensive quartz counters are generally cheaper than granite, quartz’s price range is wider than that of granite.

As a result, the most expensive quartz countertops can exceed the price of high-end granite by a noticeable margin. Make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into with your countertop purchase, and don’t assume that quartz is always cheaper than granite – it’s not.

5. It’s all about your personal preference.

Granite vs. quartz is a debate that comes down to your personal taste. If you love the idea of a 100% natural surface in your home and don’t mind a little extra maintenance (and TLC), then granite countertops may be for you. If you want a little more durability, price flexibility (and color flexibility), then you should look into quartz.

Either way, a quality custom kitchen design team will point you in the proper direction and outline all the specifics on price, installation, maintenance and care.

So what’s your take on granite vs. quartz countertops? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

2020 Memorial Day Official Colors + Design Ideas

May 2020May 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

2020 Memorial Day Official Colors + Design Ideas

Memorial Day is more than a long weekend and a holiday. It’s a chance to honor America’s military veterans and heroes who laid down their lives for the security and stability of the United States.

There are many ways to remember America’s finest and show honor and respect on Memorial Day. As any great designer will tell you, color can represent thoughts, feelings and emotions beautifully.

With so many reasons to stop and reflect in 2020, this may be the perfect year to really take our time and properly honor our heroes and our history.

The official ribbon color of Memorial Day is yellow. But why? The earliest roots of the tradition tie to the poem “She wore a yellow ribbon”, which has been in existence for roughly 4 centuries. In it, a woman wears a yellow ribbon while waiting for a man she loves to return from a great test or trial. The tradition carried on through Protestant England, where the Puritan Army wore yellow ribbons and sashes during the English Civil War.

Yellow became the official color of the armor branch of the U.S. Army, and was first brought into popular culture by the artist Frederic Remington.

The poem “She wore a yellow ribbon” was updated into song and first published in 1917 as a military marching song by George Norton. However, the yellow ribbon’s popularity and tie to the U.S. military became entrenched during World War II, when the song was re-written and released in the 1949 film “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon”. Versions of the song were released by the Andrews Sisters, Mitch Miller and others.

Modern Americans are much more familiar with the song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree”, although it will surprise many to know it was not written until the 1970s.

What other Memorial Day colors are appropriate besides yellow?

Variations of red, white and blue are always welcome on Memorial Day. We also love the idea of using military shades of green to signify respect and remembrance of American soldiers and military members.

We’ve included six official Pantone colors that we think are great options for Memorial Day.

What colors do you use to observe Memorial Day? Leave a comment!

Memorial Day Design | Official Pantone Colors

Pantone Yellow C

Pantone American Beauty

Pantone Star Sapphire

Pantone Navy Peony

Pantone Star White

Pantone Military Olive

Pantone During A Pandemic | Bright, Brassy Orange

May 2020May 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

Pantone During A Pandemic | Bright, Brassy Orange

It’s hard to feel that ‘creative spark’ during “shelter in place” sometimes. For artists and designers, social distancing often means feeling a disconnect from the collaborators and teammates with whom we love to work. It’s important that we find new ways to ignite our inspiration, and new approaches to the creative process.

Color has always been a motivating factor and constant source of energy in our creative process. Thanks to Pantone, color now has ‘a language’ – a worldwide color matching system that allows you to seamlessly transition between graphic, textile, online and home design. Need that exact shade of blue to translate from your screen to your kitchen design? Pantone has you covered.

We love turning to Pantone (especially during this pandemic) to keep us connected to creative energy, trending colors and artistic design inspiration.

In the “Pantone During A Pandemic” series, we will highlight some of Pantone’s color trend report selections and group them into categories. From optimistic to calming, bold to reliable, we hope these Pantone color collections will help you reconnect with your muse and “flex that creative muscle”!

Pantone Color Trends | Orange Colors for 2020

Perhaps the most surprising “breakout” design color for 2020 is orange. Bright, brassy and bold, the orange Pantone color palette is expanding rapidly. With one of the largest sets of “new additions” to its color gallery, it’s clear that designers in every facet of the term are picking up this audacious, sunny shade.

Will you design with orange? Do you want orange in your kitchen or bath design? Here are five trendy orange options from Pantone’s New York and London 2020 collections, as well as one completely new Pantone color for 2020.

Orange Peel

Pantone 16-1359

Collection: Pantone New York Spring 2020

Pantone 2020 Orange Peel

It doesn’t get more “essentially orange” than Orange Peel. Juicy, bright and fun, Orange Peel provides a real punch to any design palette. If you’re looking for a shade that’s 100% orange with no subtlety or undertones, you can’t do much better than Orange Peel.

Amberglow

Pantone 16-1350

Collection: Pantone New York Autumn 2020

Pantone 2020 Amberglow

A complex shade of orange, Amberglow leaves us questioning exactly where its roots lie. Is it more brown? Red? Rich and earthy, Amberglow strikes us as more of a ‘fall color’ and feels more like harvest, pumpkins and gourds than bright spring flowers.

Flame Orange

Pantone 15-1157

Collection: Pantone London Spring 2020

Pantone 2020 Flame Orange

A glowing, fiery tone, Flame Orange is a bursting ball of energy just waiting to stand out in your 2020 designs. Perhaps the exact opposite of ‘shrinking violet’, Flame Orange is ready to stand at the forefront and command attention.

Exuberance

Pantone 17-1349

Collection: Pantone London Autumn 2020

Pantone 2020 Exuberance

Exuberance – what a great name for this full-bodied orange color! A “deeper” orange with reddish-brown undertones, Exuberance isn’t too bright to be overbearing or too dark to be drab.

Daylily

Pantone 15-0956

Collection: Pantone New Colors 2020

Pantone 2020 Daylily

A brand new color to the Pantone color system, Daylily sits delightfully between orange and yellow. Fresh and vibrant, Daylily looks like a tall glass of orange juice or the inside of a bright yellow flower. It’s a great choice as a statement color in your new kitchen!

Pantone During A Pandemic | A Natural Palette

May 2020May 2020Peter Salerno Inc.

Pantone During A Pandemic | A Natural Palette

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Natural Palette

We love turning to Pantone (especially during this pandemic) to keep us connected to creative energy, trending colors and artistic design inspiration.

Pantone Color Trends | A Natural Palette for 2020

We can’t all get out and enjoy nature during this pandemic, so the next best thing for many of us is to design with nature in mind. Natural tones and earth tones help reconnect with the world around us, and provide solace and the warmth of familiarity during difficult times. From soft floral colors to dark leafy greens, the browns of stone and bark to the colors of the sky, here are 5 of our favorite colors from Pantone’s 2020 color trend reports collected into one natural palette.

Sunlight

Pantone 13-0822

Collection: Pantone New York Spring 2020

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Sunlight

Warm and inviting, Sunlight provides a versatile design color to begin our natural palette for 2020. Will you use it as a cheery, friendly yellow, or a brighter-than-usual neutral? Either way, the Pantone color Sunlight provides an instant sensation of relaxation and comfort.

Chive

Pantone 19-0323

Collection: Pantone New York Spring 2020

PANTONE 2020 kitchen design color Chive

In nature, chives are dense in nutrients that promote bone heath and good sleep. In this Pantone color palette, Chive is packed with natural lush green. Described by Pantone’s Laurie Pressman as having “savory” and “restorative” qualities, Chive is a winning design color.

Sandstone

Pantone 16-1328

Collection: Pantone New York Autumn 2020

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Sandstone

Sandstone rests at the core of this natural color palette, providing sturdy earth-toned balance. Whether it rests in wood tones, colored stone, or rustic design elements, Sandstone is a “backbone” shade that remains warm enough to not be dull.

Blossom

Pantone 14-1513

Collection: Pantone London Spring 2020

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Blossom

As in nature, a floral color doesn’t need to be overbearing to stand out. Blossom is a soft pink Pantone shade that provides just enough “pop” to pull this collection into focus. Fresh and fragrant, Blossom brings an understated charm and youthful energy to this design palette.

Jet Stream

Pantone 11-0605

Collection: Pantone London Autumn 2020 (Classics)

Pantone 2020 color kitchen design Jet Stream

“[A]n off-white suggestive of our affinity for raw and recycled” is how Pantone’s Laurie Pressman describes Jet Stream. An off-white that reminds us of recycled paper, Jet Stream is a casual neutral that can be used in place of pure white to bring some intrigue to the “in-between spaces” of your color design.