JACKSONVILLE, Florida –The latest in innovative interior design will highlight the colors of skin, according to the 2007 color forecast released by Benjamin Moore, a leading industry authority on color trends.  Jacksonville Interior Designer Judith Sisler Johnston says look for these colors to emerge in new model homes and other interior design projects.

“Benjamin Moore’s team of designers and color experts track emerging trends from around the globe,” said Sisler Johnston, president, Sisler Johnston Interior Design and ASID Allied Member.  “The company’s Color Pulse report is a forecasting resource that identifies color concepts more than a year ahead of the market.  It is a wonderful professional tool that helps designers stay on the cutting edge of trend curves.”

Benjamin Moore’s latest Color Pulse showcases the nuances of skin, including color, texture and pattern, as a design element.  Using both literal and abstract interpretations, four design elements or categories – human skin, nature’s skin, cultural skin and industrial skin – define this rich color palette.

Human skin comes in many colors and natural flesh tones reflect many textures, including baby smooth, finely lined, freckled, scarred or wrinkled.  The palette is neutral and influenced by cosmetic companies that layer colors to achieve a subtle or dramatic effect on the skin.  Human skin tones invite combination with other colors and illuminate with natural beauty.

“Human skin tones make wonderful choices for backgrounds within the home,” Sisler Johnston said.  “Natural stone, tiles, carpeting and wood tones complement this palette.  I recommend using Powder Puff as an overall wall color.”

Nature’s skin reflects the endless variety of coatings and wraps that are found in water, plants and animals, such as the earth’s crust, tree bark, sand dunes, and fish scales.  These organic hues combine color and texture.  These attractive colors often provide comfort.  Sisler Johnston says copper and slate are two of her favorite colors in the nature’s skin collection.  Both work well on accent walls or within niches.
Cultural skin highlights the exotic colors of global cultures and reflects many traditions from every corner of the world.  The rich, vibrant colors of cultural skin are inspired by the works of artisans.  Chinese, Indian, Estonian and Latin influences combine to create new color interactions.  The cultural skin palette strikes a contrast between deep, earth tones and spiced organic brights.

  Sisler Johnston likes to use shades from this collection to express enthusiasm.  In the Mattamy Homes’ Taylor model at Kensington, she used Pumpkin Spice as an overall wall color in a sports-themed room and Pre-Dawn Sky on two walls in the guest suite.

Industrial skin reveals modern building and technology’s influence.  The industrial skin color palette is derived from a mix of materials and surfaces, including metal, glass, stone and concrete.  This is a cool color palette with metallic hues, industrial tones and saturated colors.  Benjamin Moore’s Color Pulse collection also includes 11 new colors, such as Liquid Silver, Beach Glass and Stormy Sky.  Sisler Johnston used industrial skin colors in the Sail Cove condominium model.

“I used Beach Glass to bathe the walls in a soothing spa color and contrasted with Ancient Ivory fabrics and Bison Brown wood tones for a relaxing yet inviting appeal,” Sisler Johnston said.

The Benjamin Moore Web site (www.benjaminmoore.com) contains useful information on colors that can be used in the design or re-design of a home.  However, a licensed interior designer can provide expert advice and help select the colors that best suit your taste, lifestyle and furnishing choices.

Sisler Johnston Interior Design of Jacksonville creates award-winning interior designs for the real estate industry, hospitality industry, commercial, and residential clients.  The company celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2004.

The Sisler Johnston team of licensed, highly trained and gifted designers successfully creates living spaces from concept through realization throughout the United States.  Judith Sisler Johnston combines experience, knowledge and professionalism to  help clients develop their vision while analyzing their design requirements.  The company has been recognized with more than 70 industry awards, including Aurora, Laurel and Excel awards.