TRENDSPOT COLOR SURVEY By Deb Barrett and Susan Schultz 700 Readers Share Their Top Colors ecause this is the color issue, we thought it only tting that we ask our fellow trendspotters what you think about color and window fashions. So we conducted an informal Window Fashions poll and, boy, did you have a lot to say! More than 700 of you responded (of those, 89 percent of you were women). Some answers we expected, and some were a surprise. Here s a snapshot of what we asked and what you replied: No surprises here. Linen, ivory, off-white, beige or neutral call it what you will. But it s white or one of its shades or tints. What s interesting are the colors coming in second and third. On the warm side of the color spectrum, reds or terra cottas come in second, followed by greens in third place. Several readers commented that green is becoming the new neutral. Respondents comments on these color schemes tell the story: Red and gold is a popular combination, and I m seeing a LOT of turquoise combined with both chocolate browns and chartreuse greens or sandy beiges. Rust/red with sage or olive green and gold tones probably comes across my workroom table most often. My color selections re ect the vibrational energy of my clients. Each is different and each has a tone and value unique to their space and their lifestyle. Currently, medium spa blue with dark, as in semi-sweet chocolate. Not milk chocolate. The red-green-gold color scheme is classic and my bestseller. The color combination is the same but the shade of the colors are more of a tomato red and grayish (money color) green, and the gold color is not heavy. What is your favorite personal color? 23% BLUE18% GREEN17% RED 35% EARTH TONE SCHEMES 32% CHOCOLATE & BLUES 26% RED & GOLD What is the bestselling color scheme in soft window fashions? Even though America s favorite color is blue (see sidebar), our readers favor red to blue. (But interestingly, about.com has an ongoing color poll, and as of press time, red and blue were neck and neck.) Gaining ground is green. With America s consumers asked to think green, go green, buy green, even eat green how long will it be before green captures the top spot? What is your best-selling color for hard treatments? WHITE/OFF-WHITE Red and gold was the top combination followed by earth tones, which could be a re ection of the somewhat somber economic news. The majority did respond with color combinations that were on the warm side of the spectrum, possibly re ecting the clients wanting to create a comfortable environment. The chocolateblue color combination seems to be giving way to chocolates paired with citron or chartreuse greens. There is the green popping up again. On the horizon, color schemes noted were grays and yellows or black-and-white schemes. Neutrals will always be a contender because we design with our clients in mind, and they often aren t the risk takers we are. 76% REDS/BRICKS10% GREENS6% August 2008 22 www.window-fashions.com wf_Aug08_p1-50.indd 22 7/23/08 3:07:05 PM