The Color Trendsetters

The Pantone Color of the Year reminds me of a giant game of I Spy. After I learn which color Pantone has selected I spend the next 12 months noticing when Emerald green, Tangerine orange, or Mimosa yellow make an appearance in fashion, home décor, and design. It’s amazing to see the influence that one choice has on the products available. Suddenly, Target is carrying a bright turquoise toaster after years of silver and black.

2014’s color is “Radiant Orchid” which Pantone executive director Leatrice Eiseman calls magical, exotic, beguiling, and encouraging of innovation.  The more unusual the color; the better the trend spotting and this shade of the purple family is a bold choice. 

Design: Laura Messersmith; Product Images: Boots: Hunter, Cardigan: J. Crew, Necklace: Bauble Bar, Sunglasses: Kate Spade, Notebook: Moleskine, Candle: Paddywax, Lamp: Anthropologie

No shrinking violet - pun 100% intended - Radiant Orchid is bright and daring. It's virtue is being more unexpected than royal purple or the hot pinks that have been incredibly popular lately. When I see it I immediately think of greenhouse-grown flowers, rum-based cocktails, and slinky dresses (I predict at least one show-stopping 2014 Oscar dress in this shade - Jennifer Garner came pretty darn close last year). This color also represents a challenge because it's never going to take a backseat, hence the need for innovative thinking.

Pantone describes the process of identifying the Color of the Year as a global search for color trends across creative sectors including art, film, technology, international sporting events, and travel destinations.  It sounded like a cool project to me, so I did my own armchair search to see whether Radiant Orchid had popped up yet.

I found several different items that looked like they came directly from Pantone’s creative team and I’m curious to see what the coming months will bring. Have you noticed Radiant Orchid dominating the color palette in your favorite shops? Do you find yourself incorporating color trends into your wardrobe?

The Tradition Continues

Costume dramas – preferably British, preferably pre-1930s timeframe – are catnip to me. Pride & Prejudice mini-series? Check. Remains of the Day? Check. Gosford Park? Check.

Give me a montage of a carriage (or motorcar) traveling through a misty countryside to a stately home. Give me multiple ‘costume’ changes for one day’s activities – breakfast in bed, riding, tea, formal dinner, the hunt ball. Give me grand rooms layered with the patina and decorating contributions of 10 generations. And if you can, please give me a sprinkling of droll zingers delivered by Dame Maggie Smith.

In short, give me: Downton Abbey.

The Downton Abbey household staff ever attentive, Image via express.co.uk

Lady Mary Grantham as the picture of aristocratic glamour. Image via myluciouslife.com 

So many stories have been written about American viewers’ enthusiasm for this trans-Atlantic hit. But none of the theories about class curiosity, ‘highbrow’ melodrama, or romance novels come-to-life ring true for me. So, why do I love Downton?

The mental breadcrumbs lead me back to my favorite childhood books: The Secret Garden, Anne of Green Gables, A Little Princess; followed by Emma, Jane Eyre, A Room With A View, The House of Mirth, and all most recently things Mitford. (Side note: why are almost all the heroines orphans?) Each book fully absorbed my imagination and, perhaps not surprisingly, every one of these literary classics has at least one film adaptation to its credit, most of which I’ve seen. Like I said, catnip.

The Granthams on the hunt, Image via Here is the City 

The Grantham Sisters, image via Tinsel.tv 

Watching Downton offers that same experience – intertwined character story arcs, unforeseen personal challenges, period-specific boundaries of propriety – with the added element of cliffhangers. No reading until the early hours of the morning to find out how Lady Mary copes with Cousin Matthew’s car accident, or whether Lady Edith will ever find love, or what scheme Thomas and O’Brien will cook up next.

Luckily the wait is over another season has begun and Sunday nights will bring continuing adventures with the Granthams and lessons in witty repartee from the Dowager Countess. (!!!) Ahem, pardon me as I try to “ration my excitement.”

Excitement very much rationed, Image via Tinsel.tv 

Resolutions

Happy New Year! After a day curled up on the sofa watching Sherlock and recovering after a late night out I am now fully re-charged and ready for 2014. I have a tendency to want to squeeze in just one more thing – hence, I am often 5 minute late. So, in an effort to be focused I’m putting these resolutions down on paper. I hoping you'll hold me to them! And, now for the annual resolution making…

Image via Vogue by Françoise Peretti, Design by Laura Messersmith

For the record this year my goals are:

Document. I would really like to be a better photographer and blog could definitely benefit from better pictures than my iPhone can offer, so this is a big one. I have a shiny new DSLR camera I just need to learn how to use it!

Handletter. I realized as I scrolled through my Design/Lettering Pinterest board that many of the pieces I admire are handlettering or calligraphy. I’d love to learn more about these techniques and incorporate them into my design work.

Travel. It’s been several years since my passport has received any new stamps. We need to do something about that by taking a trip outside the U.S.  I vote for France or Croatia, but we’ll see what Mike says.

Volunteer. There are so many great organizations in New York and it seems like I should be able to find one where I could contribute my time and talents (such as they are).

Entertain. When we moved to the city we were fortunate that several old friends already lived here and we’ve been happy to meet some new people over the last 6 months too. I think extending an invitation to host someone in your home is such a genuine way of demonstrating that you’d like to be friends. We need to do that often in 2014.

What are your resolutions? Are you focusing on personal goals, professional or a combination of the two (hello work-life balance)?

A Sweet New Year

It’s Monday afternoon, the day before New Year’s Eve and I’ve just received a phone call from my husband with details on our plans for tomorrow night. We’ve been invited to join another couple for dinner at their apartment downtown. They’ll cook (rumor has it that the menu will be spaghetti and meatballs) and Mike tells me that they have plenty of champagne and cocktails, so all we need is dessert.

My mission: brainstorm a sweet treat for 4 people that’s special enough for the occasion, simple enough to accomplish in the next 24 hours, and will transport easily…. I decided to continue the Italian theme and attempt panna cotta with berry sauce. First things first, research some recipes and gather a little Pin-spiration.

Once I've studied Giada, The Kitchn and Michael Symon  I decided instead of honey vanilla to put my own spin on the dish and make chocolate panna cotta. I absolutely love chocolate in all its forms and I consider it an essential entry on any restaurant dessert menu. Ice cream doesn’t count. Make it a flourless torte, mousse, or deep dark brownie please and thank you.

So once I had a general idea of what the basic ingredients and proportions were I rummaged in our pantry for the solid semi-sweet bars and the cocoa powder. Inspiration struck when I realized there was a little coffee left in the pot after that morning’s brew… a classic trick for making chocolate reach it’s full flavor. Here's what I came up with - I hope you enjoy!

Chocolate & Raspberry Panna Cotta (adapted from Giada DeLaurentiis); Serves: 4 (generously)

Ingredients:

1 cup whole milk

3 cups heavy cream

1 tbsp unflavored gelatin (1 packet)

2 squares semi-sweet baker’s chocolate, melted

1/8 cup cocoa powder

½ cup white sugar

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp brewed coffee

½ pint red raspberries

Steps:

Pour the milk into a medium sauce pan and sprinkle the packet of gelatin over. Let stand for 3 to 5 minutes to soften the gelatin.

While the gelatin is softening, melt the baker’s chocolate in the microwave in 15-20 second increments until liquid and smooth.

Turn on the heat  under the milk to medium and cook just until the gelatin dissolves but the milk does not boil, about 5 minutes.

Add the cream, sugar, melted chocolate, cocoa powder, vanilla and coffee.

Stir until the sugar dissolves, 5 to 7 minutes and the cocoa powder and chocolate are combined.

Remove from the heat. Pour into 4 ramekins or mugs so that they are ¾ full. Cool slightly.

Refrigerate until set, at least 6 hours.

Spoon the raspberries atop the panna cotta and serve.