Due to the complexity and overwhelming qualities associated with color, consumers often experience feelings of intimidation and uneasiness when make decisions regarding its use. However, this intimidation can easily turn to love and appreciation when color is used properly and successfully.

At J Banks Design, we are known for a sophisticated use of color, and when I need inspiration, I often look to fashion. As we all know, color innovation usually originates in the European fashion houses, which tend to be less influenced by the current trends. The colors then make their way into “U.S. couture,” followed by ready-to-wear and finally, home furnishings.

As a designer, I believe it is important to be aware of color forecasts so that our client’s projects do not become dated shortly after an installation is completed. And, when a project has a two- to three-year lead time for planning and construction, the ability to stay on top of color trends becomes especially important.

In my own business, I find that traveling is crucial to maintaining a high level of inspiration when choosing specific colors and color combinations. Having had the opportunity to travel extensively, it still seems to me that Americans are much more hesitant to broaden their color horizons than our European counterparts. Italian designers are a great example: they tend to understand color and are not afraid to use its powers to create scenes ranging from the dramatic to the whimsical.

In addition to traveling for inspiration, the environment is another wonderful resource when it comes to choosing a color palette. When I decided to launch our latest furniture line, I wanted to use a natural hue of green that was an up-and-coming color in fashion, but which had not yet made the transition into home decor. I will admit the decision to use this deep, clear green developed into quite a challenge due to the difficulty I would face in finding the specific green threads I needed to complete my vision. The fabric houses offered threads of celadon, olive and other “now” colors of green, but not the specific hue or tone I was searching for. To achieve it, I worked with the fabric houses directly and eventually had yarns custom-dyed to my specifications.

As a designer, it should be quite obvious whether or not you are staying current with color trends, and whether or not the choices you’ve made coincide with what’s happening in the rest of the design world. At the same time, it is very rewarding when your hard work and informed decisions are acknowledged in multiple areas of fashion and design. I’m happy to report that this year I’ve found our deep, clear green to be very prevalent. Clothing stores are full of it, and when I visited the Sicis showroom in Milan (known for its colorful mosaics) my beloved green was everywhere!

Having just designed, built, and moved into a building constructed to LEED Silver specifications, my company, J Banks Design Group, is all about “green” as a concept, as well as a color. Our new building is one of the ways in which we honor the importance of the wellbeing of our community, our employees, and our environment—a philosophy that we have seen rightfully make its way into the design industry as surely as any worthy color palette.

Of course, understanding color theory and staying abreast of current color trends does not necessarily lead to a trouble-free design experience. In fact, color can still be a major contributor to the vast list of problems associated with design. We as designers have to constantly assure our clients that our choices are right, and keep them on track until the installation is complete and they see the entire vision come to fruition. Since it is difficult for most people to visualize a finished product prior to its completion, this involves putting a plethora of samples up for approval and making multiple trips to the client’s site to reassure them that the colors being used are going to be successful. The final result can often take a great deal of time and money, but in the end it is always well worth it.

About Joni Vanderslice, ASID:

Designer Joni Vanderslice founded J. Banks Design Group in 1986. Since the company’s inception, Vanderslice has served as the owner and president, growing the company into an internationally recognized design firm. An avid antiques connoisseur, she continuously travels the world in pursuit of exquisite pieces for her clients and showrooms. She is a member of ASID and Who’s Who of Interior Designers, and is NCIDQ certified.