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Thursday 16 December 2010

so, honeysuckle it is.

Isn't she lovely!  1944 issue of Vogue found over at Carrie Leber

Those who know me will have noted my lack of enthusiasm for Pantones Colour of the Year 2011 (Fashion + Home). Although I don't pay colour trends a lot of attention mostly because they have very little to do with design and everything to do with marketing it is my duty, as a designer, to be up to date with what is going on around me. And that includes fashion, architecture, film, products, politics etc.  and so, you know, I got the memo.


This colour does nothing for me, I feel it's bland and mediocre, at best. It's not that I don't like pink, there are many pinks that please: luscious nude pink, ballet pump pink, fuchsia pink etc. can add a flash elegance to any room - in the right context. And so, I set myself the challenge to see whether I could find a way to love this colour, to find a context for it. I started here:


Thanks to a post by Dear Designers, I found this inspired piece on Honeysuckle by Mochatini and it began to make a little more sense. Honeysuckle and bubblegum pink? Maybe... But add Vermilion and you've got yourself a party! 


How one would celebrate Honeysuckle within interiors, I wondered? I found this image from NY Times magazine and you know, I think it works. I'm not sure I would last a week in this space without repainting the door frames but that's OK, this room is lovely and interesting and really, quite unique.


Thanks to Lori Sawaya over at Colorbudz and her fantastic post on the colour Navy, I have begun to give it a little more airtime and although the pink is not the exact shade of Honeysuckle, I think, with the olive, it is the Navy in the rug that affords this space a certain dignity. So, perhaps Honeysuckle is best used as an accent?

What do you think? What was your first reaction to Honeysuckle? Is this colour prettier on the flesh than it is on the sofa? I think it is.

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11 comments

  1. Thank you for your fearless candor! I'm not loving the Pantone 2011 either... was just waiting for someone else to be on board before confessing so :-)

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  2. Great Post! I have to admit I do love this colour but have never had the courage to use it in my interiors.....like yourself I would probably get bored. I think it would look great for styling shots though....

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  3. Hi Sheila! So nice of you to pop by. Yes, I've never been afraid to go against the grain but between you and me, I scanned twitter and Facebook, first, to see who was saying what and as soon as I clocked talents like Michele Varian tweeting a ton of 'wtf's', I went for it. So, not nearly as brave as I may seem... However, having moaned about it for a day I thought the best thing to do was to DEAL WITH IT. And, so I have. :)

    Arianna - hello! Yes, it's a pretty colour but probably better for fashion and/or as you say, great styling shots. Failing that, if one really must have it, buy a cushion or two...

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  4. Its great for a girls room - little more sophisticated than the usual pinks! And a chance to play with a fun colour before they move on to a darker more teen angst palette...

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  5. Gosh, pink is probably the last colour I'd want to introduce into a girls room - unless of course, you know, she really must have it.

    Actually, I have a little bit of an aversion to the whole 'pinks for girls', 'blue for boys' mantra, especially when there are so many other colour combinations to choose from. In fact, this is exactly the problem with Honeysuckle. Pantone say they asked various designers what they felt the New Year needed and, bearing in mind that women are the largest consumer demographic, across the board, they decided we all needed 'cheering up'. So, we got pink, but not even a vibrant, POW WOW of a pink or even a sophisticated Ballet Pump pink, we get this rather flat, dull shade that, frankly, is one to be endured much like it's predecessor: Turquoise. I find it a patronising and inelegant choice, really.

    But hey, thanks for popping in, Jen, it's really nice to see you over on this side of life.

    p.s. Pantone, if you're listening, call me - I can help you.

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  6. Hey Heather,

    I completely agree: pink is the LAST colour I'd want to introduce in a girl's room. And I am not crazy about Honeysuckle.

    Thanks for your recent comments on my blog and on Twitter, by the way. :) Lovely to meet you.

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  7. Totally agree on the pink for girls blue for boys thing but its a difficult tide to fight against if you give them choice. I don't remember being so pushed towards it as a child - I think I had a more feminist upbringing!
    This little generation love it and I think its down the marketing. And perhaps on my part a reaction against what I was brought up with! Used as in the NY Times image it looks pretty cool wouldn't paint the whole bloody room that colour though!

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  8. Hi Jen - I'm so thrilled to have you here, thanks for the friendly wave. :)

    This is so true, JenVoyce, we're fighting a hard battle against a world of Marketing, but it is one we really must take on. Children are highly responsive and why not get them thinking about things in a non regimented way? Obviously, I do not have children...haha, I'm sure certain kinds of regime thinking comes in handy, from time to time!

    Oh boy, could you imagine a whole room in Honeysuckle?! I really think you'd go mad.

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  9. Have to say I like it, I think it lifts other colours. As you say though, probably best as an accent and I'll leave the dresses to the models.

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  10. Hi Carole, that's interesting that you think it lifts other colours. I feel it does exactly the opposite, but I guess it's all about context, right?

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  11. I'm so glad to read everyone's opinion on honeysuckle - a cross between pink and red. When I read the heading "new colour for Pantone 2011" I was really excited and then I saw the colour..... and felt let down and honestly I thought "How boring and where do they get these colours from?" Maybe time will prove me wrong. We'll see.

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