From left: fabrics Holly Hunt, Great Plains Take Direction mohair and Phillip Jeffries Purple Haze microsuede, available to the trade through Jennifer West, Seattle Design Center, Ste. A-100; (206) 405-4500; Edelman Cavallini Purple-C25 hair on cowhide, available to the trade through Kelly Forslund, Inc., Seattle Design Center, Ste. P-158; (206) 762-6076. Votive holders Peter Pan and Cornflower Glassybabies, $40 each at Glassybaby, 3406 E. Union St.; (206) 568-7368. Paint Fine Paints of Europe, Latex Eurolux Blue Iris (Pantone 18-3943), $40 per liter at Winslow Paint Company, 937 Hildebrand Lane N.E., Bainbridge Island; (206) 842-2227.
Shopping
'08 Color Forecast
Local color expert Leatrice Eiseman predicts that Blue Iris will be the color to add to your palette this year

In these modern times, it seems our lives operate in two modes: high gear or burnout. But what about balance? Harmony in life starts with harmony in the home, and for that reason, widely acclaimed color forecaster and executive director of the Pantone Color Institute Leatrice Eiseman—one of SH&L’s Seattle Design 100+ honorees—chooses Pantone 18-3943 Blue Iris as color of the year for Pantone in 2008. The color, a dynamic mix between blue and purple, reflects what Eiseman sees as the calming antidote to an increasingly complex world. “Blue is meditative, but the addition of red balances it with that slight bit of excitement,” she says.

Eiseman predicts the color will crop up in ceramics, textiles, accessories and tabletop schemes. We scouted around town and found she was right; a number of new designs feature this unique hue. We’ve never been happier about having the blues.


Blueprint
Bring the outdoors in and enjoy a beautiful bouquet beneath your feet. Emma Gardner “Delphiniums” rug, available to the trade through Trammell-Gagné, Seattle Design Center, Ste. A-105; (206) 762-1511.



Twist Again
Take a spin on this shapely seat, and you’ll be sitting in style. Spiral Chair, $759 at Skarbos, 5354 Ballard Ave. N.W.; (206) 529-3830.

New Wave
Designer Ron Arad creates stunning modular pieces that also make attractive living-room art. Moroso Misfits Waiting Seat, $3,000–$7,000 per piece at Velocity Art and Design, 251 Yale Ave. N.; (206) 749-9575.