a variety of design aesthetics.
When paired with dark neutrals, the color unveils gray undertones, but when paired with
whites, it reads as a purer purple, according to Schlotter. Its design appeal is similarly nuanced, she said. “Violet Verbena
blends perfectly with many different surroundings, like a chameleon. It looks polished yet playful in a child’s room, and it
is calming enough to be used in hospitals
or other spaces that require tranquility.
“The color is a modern choice for in-
teriors and furnishings, yet it is elegant
enough to be incorporated into tradi-
tional designs,” she continued. “Violet
Verbena is colorful enough to make a
statement, but it can also be considered
neutral with its gray undertones.”
Violet Verbena is the focal point of
PPG’s four global color trend stories
for 2017, which center on the theme of
Pendulum: earth, water, fire and air. For
the first time, the PPG Paints brand in-
cludes its Color of the Year in all of its
trend themes, as the prevalence of this
hue allows it to live in every story. The
four themes are:
• HOURGLASS: A classic palette with
a contemporary spin, this theme repre-
sents the earth element, with consumers
finding stability in what they know and
gravitating toward designs rooted in his-
torical relevance. The palette incorporates
rich, royal hues such as PPG Paints brand
colors Burgundy Wine (PPG1053-7), Old
Mill Blue (PPG1171-6) and Castle Stone
(PPG1128-7), blended with a healthy
dose of neutrals such as Pearl (PPG1087-
2) and Go To Gray (PPG1004-1), to pair
beautifully with wood, marble and stone
tile. The lavender hues of Violet Verbena
add to the royal nature of these colors,
while still blending effortlessly with
greens, blues and neutrals.
• ES/SENCE: This theme focuses
on the element of water, purity and the
premise that less is unequivocally more.
In a time when many consumers are em-
bracing minimalism, the colors in this
palette evoke a sense of simplicity and
relaxation. Watery blues, lush greens
and soft blended tones provide a mellow,
calming and refreshing mentality. Sea
Mist (PPG1227-1), Ancestral (PPG1047-
4), Almond Cream (1086-3) and Simply
Elegant (PPG1155-3), a few of the colors
in the palette, create a soft, calming ambi-
ance and pair beautifully with soothing
Violet Verbena.
• IMPOWER: Centered on change
powered by the fire element, this complex palette incorporates deep tones, light
neutrals and everything in between. It
celebrates the fact that consumers do not
have to define themselves by any specific
design personality, but can exist somewhere in between. Consumers drawn to
this palette can pair furnishings and colors from various genres and disciplines
in a decadent yet easy fusion. Bold colors
of the PPG Paints brand such as Azure
Tide (PPG1231-6), Cenote (PPG17-02),
Red Licorice (PPG1186-7) and Crushed
Pineapple (PPG1213-7) pair with muted
