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Stainless steel commercial kitchens are undoubtedly a hugely popular trend, but now that everyone's kitchen has transformed into a commercial landscape, consumers are finding they're left with a sterile environment. So now it's time to warm things up with colors, materials, and a splash of fun. Following are the colorways color experts are predicting will emerge over the coming 24 months.

Manufacturing Shades
Color Marketing Group (CMG) held its 2005 Fall International Conference in October. Manufacturers and designers from around the world gathered to discuss some of the upcoming trends, reaching out as far as 2007. Participants at the conference developed CMG's Contract Color Forecasts — both a directions forecast and a current forecast. We picked their brains following the conference to find out where they felt color fit into the kitchen, and how those colors would influence the design of small electrics and kitchenware in upcoming years.

According to our experts, brushed stainless steel will continue to grow in today's gourmet kitchens. Consumers will accent that décor with warmer hues brought in with floor, ceiling, cabinetry, backsplash, and countertop treatments. Most believe that the major choice of color in small appliances will be a combination of brushed stainless and black. Gray or graphite is another color that will make its way into the palette in the future.

George Gehringer of METAPHOR LLC, surface designers of products, often finds himself discussing kitchen colors from a perspective of new construction and remodeling.

"Starting with new construction, the colors used in this 'builder' segment are divided by housing and price type. First-time buyers tend to be very neutral in their choice of colors as they tend to have resale top of mind. In the kitchen, these buyers usually have white cabinets, sinks, and appliances. Color accents, such as black, navy blue, and sage green, can be picked up in floor and wall coverings," he continued. "Price segmentation in new construction has a big impact on color as customers then have more choice. Red-based beige is very common as it bridges many wood cabinet colors, and coordinates with biscuit/almond/bone appliances and sinks. Again, wall and floor coverings contribute accents and brown, terra cotta, and ocher are very popular. The operative word here is 'warm.'"

Martin Brady, group manager/design & research for Hamilton Beach/Proctor Silex, Inc., agreed. He pointed out that the warming of the gourmet kitchen against its stainless steel palette is something everyone is witnessing.

"We do see a warming trend in the kitchen. Many consumers have stainless appliances in their kitchen. You have a commercial aspect showing the style of a professional chef . . . but then it becomes sterile," he said. "From our perspective, we're seeing major appliances that look like unique pieces of furniture. Islands that don't match the cabinets. Flooring companies putting floors on ceilings. Color is an aspect of that in warmer tones and moving away from stainless to give alternative and unique finishes. There are also more handmade and natural feels in collections."

Brady continued, "We see more interest in color in the kitchen. There is definitely a move away from typical white. The coffeemaker category is the most interesting for us, specifically black. We're seeing combinations of material beyond color, such as stainless and metal being added to kitchen appliances. Consumers have invested heavily in major stainless steel appliances. When it comes to replacing the coffeemaker and toaster, they are looking to match those investments."

Sarah Reep (ASID, CMG, CKD), who is the director of design for KraftMaid Cabinetry of Middlefield, Ohio, said the gourmet influence on today's kitchens continues to affect design. She sees shades of graphite having an influence in the coming years, along with already popular combinations of black and stainless.

"Currently, the trend is toward a brushed stainless with black. Long term, I see graphite, gray with a tactile aspect to it — a feeling of brushed or rubberized contrast to it," she explained.

Gehringer said luxury buyers have a large impact on the color combinations used in the kitchen. They are using natural materials, such as wooden cabinets and stone countertops and flooring.

"Cherry cabinets in deep red brown are the single most expensive purchase. These coordinate with most granite countertops, which are color varied by their natural formation. Contrasts are common with the floor and wall covering, which can be light or extremely dark. Off white with deep brown accents or black are very popular today."

He continued, "Brushed stainless steel is the largest selling appliance and sink color. This allows for a wide variety of metallic accents. The emergence of glass tiles in backsplashes has provided an opportunity for aqua, bottle green, and iridescent colors to emerge."

Gehringer said forecasting remodeling colors is more difficult as over 60 percent of all consumers consider themselves creative homeowners.

"This segment invests a considerable amount of time and money into their home. However, clarifying styles is quite difficult, as everyone tends to describe their style — traditional, contemporary, country, etc. — in their own terms," he said.

Within this segment there are a few design trends he's picked up on, including the decline in oak as a cabinet choice.

"Still, it can be seen in new representations with narrow grain and dark colors, such as charcoal, black brown, and lacquer red. Maple is most dominant but flat. Beyond the pale beiges, ocher, tatami, and gingery glazed finishes are emerging. These finishes combine at least two colors; however, more saturated beiges are common. There is always a tendency in country blue, sage/gray greens, and charcoal/brown combinations. Cherry in dark red/brown tones is the most expensive upgrade but more glazed finishes are emerging that all tend to be dark and complement the natural wood tone."

Today's trends continue to be highly influenced by natural materials. However, as the cost of raw materials continues to climb, manufacturers are creating new "recycled" materials, which are opening up the new shades and tones exhibited by natural materials, as well as experimenting with new colors that are influenced by texture and finish.

Along with their kitchen redesign will come new kitchen appliances, small electrics, dinnerware, and accessories. Understanding this market is essential for retail. Hamilton Beach coined the term "counterscaping" three years ago with its launch of Eclectics — a colorful range of small electrics with a price point aimed at consumers who wanted to change the look of their kitchens without a huge remodeling investment.

"Counterscaping makes it so that they don't have to spend $50,000 to create a new look for their kitchen — all they need is a fresh coast of paint, dishtowels, and other décor elements, along with the new Eclectics appliances," Brady continued. "The line has been interesting in that even though there are whites and blacks within it, consumers are gravitating toward colors."

Brady said the colors Apple and Moroccan Red are selling the best, with high expectations that its new Seabreeze color will be well received this spring. Additional colors will debut at the International Home & Housewares Show this March, but those colors are still under wrap.

"We started off with 250 colors for one of our projects. Not all of them will be popular. There will be a core group of what will be hot. Colors are evolutionary not revolutionary and are influenced by what is happening at the moment. They are what the trends happen to be but also the acceptance of the market. The Seabreeze color is a reinterpretation of the Jadite color that was popular for our drink mixers in the 50s. Sometimes, we can be ahead of the curve. Colors we selected two years ago for our Eclectrics colors are just now gaining acceptance, so sometimes you have to be really patient when it comes to colors. That can really be the challenge."

Another strong influence in the design world will be co-branded accessories items — small electrics and accessories that relate performance or quality.

"What is the color? I can't really think of the color," Reep began. "If it's red, it's really a deeper one — a burgundy, not a Campbell Soup red. I really believe graphite is leading. We have started introducing a complete gray family of cabinets and cabinetry fitting to our work and it's been very well received. Color Marketing Group also sees gray coming into the palette in the next three years."

How should retailers take all these influences into consideration? Experts say look to your market, follow your own personal style, and consult with manufacturers.

"Retailers have put significant efforts behind merchandising programs; you have to coordinate colors and products well in advance. Certainly, you could do it on a personal level. You have to look for value and brand aspects of an individual store. But also look to the supplier for assistance. We do our homework, we have the right information. We bring that information to the customer."

Major manufacturers are making an even higher investment in the colors they're launching, so it does well to listen to their experts on what sells. And remember to ask what ranges are selling well in specific areas of the country. While Morrocan Blue might be the hip new color for the Midwest, Manhattan dwellers might only be looking for graphite.

Reep advises retailers to merchandise products in families so that consumers understand the color palette.

"They need to understand that you can get a spatula and a pan and a small appliance in a family," she added. "Spotlight new product and give it a destination."

The Forecast
Colors for 2006 will be warmer, clearer, and brighter, according to the color designers at Color Marketing Group (www.colormarketing.org). Reddened oranges will replace coppery hues, yellows will gain importance, blues will dramatically recede, and complex neutrals will add sophistication and luxury to the 2006 Consumer Color Palette.

The color professionals at CMG identified these six key influences driving the 2006 Color Directions:
Techno-Organic Balance — Consumers want to find a balance in their lives between the influences of nature and the pace of technological advance. They order their lives and base purchasing decisions on this new, somewhat surreal balance.
Breathing Space — Consumers want fulfilled and rewarding lives despite the demands of work and society. To this end, they seek serenity and calm in a space that is insulated from common daily stresses and emerging threats to safety, both in public and private.
Heritage with Heart — However clearly consumers remember the past, they sense a need to reconnect with it. Hope and optimism filter memories of past events, ensuring that this nostalgic journey is warm and comforting. The focus is on positive times; struggles are forgotten.
Hybrid — The synthesis of cultural norms pervades the environment. Society has evolved beyond fusion in foods, fashion, and design. Now, hybrid households and communities are entering the mainstream. The move to Hybridization occurs in parallel with geopolitical and economic events and is a product of the proliferation of global unification in communications, transportation, manufacturing, and services. Although consumers generally accept Hybridization, it offers a sharp contrast to the comfort of the predictable past.
Über Luxury — As extravagance becomes accessible to the masses, a need arises to identify icons or symbols that convey a new level of status and sophistication. In response, icons of sophisticated craftsmanship and rare materials with high polish and burnished finishes will emerge. In fashion, Über Luxury takes on a classic feminine style that drives decision-making and brings power to women. In the home, Über Luxury is defined as masculine, clean, simple, and elegant.
Color Depth — Consumers seek bold colors and luminous materials that add glow and fluidity in product executions. Visually stimulating chromatic textures yield high-energy interest and excitement.
These six influences translate to 30 new 2006 Color Directions identified across six industries. We'll look at the Consumer Goods industry and Home industry for guidance in the coming year.

Consumer Goods
Diamante Silver — Consumer Goods turns to Technology for this new metallic with lighter and brighter attributes.
Ignorange — This Hybrid color modifies traditional orange based on Asian and Indian influences.
Night Sky — High chroma and low value in this violet to black magic color harken to our changing atmosphere.
Sona — With various golden hues and finishes connoting Luxury around the world, this color builds a consensus for all cultures.
Tech-Tile — This color revives bronze with warmth and femininity.

Home
Asian Rose — A multicultural Home color with both Heritage and Heart.
Bliss — This color emphasizes Über-Luxury and Heritage with Heart.
Decoesque — This color is a less abrasive interpretation of both green and blue. Based in nature, this color is cultivated by both Heritage and Hybrid influences.
Elemental Gray — Underscored by the popularity of fantasy, this dark neutral is mysterious and futuristic.
Flemish Gold — Luxury and Hybrid influences give birth to this new Home color for use across all markets.