PPG Pittsburgh Paints Forecasts Even Bolder Hues for Home Décor in 2012-2013

Consumers take different colour paths on a quest for intensity

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PITTSBURGH, PA, Sept. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - The return to strong colour gains momentum this year, according to PPG Pittsburgh Paints' colour forecast for home décor in 2012-2013. Homeowners reluctant before will take the plunge -- or the leap - into deep and vivid hues this year. On a quest for intensity, they will inject their decor with deep indigos like Blue Tang, saturated reds like Rum Punch, sharp pinks like Tutti Frutti and almost-neon yellows like Citrus Spice, just four of the 20 key colours presented in PPG Pittsburgh Paints 2012 trends release, the Insider's Color Guide.

"Intensity is a survival strategy in crisis times," explains Dee Schlotter, Brand Manager, The Voice of Color, PPG Pittsburgh Paints. "For some, it means seeking out extremes of sensation, rebelling against the bland existence that comes with cynicism and disenchantment. For other, it means 'unplugging' in order to re-connect with a life they feel is passing them by."

Sensation-seekers will amp up the chromatic density of their lives with vivid hues. They'll go for colours that stir the senses and set them in motion. Their choices will be the vibrant, optimistic colours that pack a punch, colours that can't be ignored, that vibrate, colours that are pure joy on the wall. Their spaces will be full of strong contrasts -- heavy and weightless, shadow and light, hot and cold.

Those who feel their lives have become a race to the near future at the expense of the present will turn inward and unplug. They have been living in a state of permanent agitation for a long time - moving from list to list of things to get done. Now, they will put their activities on a diet and carve out time to be truly and deeply present in the moment and to pursue inner lives put aside for too long.

Their path to intensity means slowing down, simplifying, unburdening; eliminating useless "stuff." They will gravitate towards quiet, understated palettes accented by deep, rich colours that bring mystery and invite intimacy. They will opt for calming neutrals that create the space they crave to think; colours that soften the edges of the day and quiet the chatter. They want simple straightforward design and technology that "feels."

The quest for intensity is not just the search for euphoria. It can also be a search for oneself. In either case, it's recognition that we only live once and there's no time to waste. When we achieve the intensity, it's fleeting, ephemeral, transitory - but positive. It brings energy and impetus; a self-sustaining enthusiasm. Living intensely spices up the taste of the world, reconnects us with its beauty - the "minute pleasures" and modest instants of happiness - like the smell of moss in the underbrush, the feel of wind around us, a brilliant sky at sunset, the laugh of a child.

PPG Pittsburgh Paints' key trend colours are presented in signature five-colour palette cards that offer colour opportunities for all the design elements in a space, from paint to window treatments to flooring to fabric. "A trend is never about just one colour. It's about the combination of all the colours in a space," Schlotter notes.

The four trend palettes in PPG Pittsburgh Paints' The Voice of Colour® program for 2011-2012 will be available at PPG Pittsburgh Paints dealers across Canada. They are:

Local Revival
Closer, simpler, less distant and in the end, less expensive! This trend is about unplugging a complicated life and living more simply and in harmony with one's community. It is in part a reaction to the economic crisis - self-reliance and auto-production - rooftop gardens, beekeeping, community gardens in vacant lots, vegetable co-ops - an agro-attitude in major metropolises. It's about reconnecting to the rhythm of the seasons and the materials of the region. Craftsmanship is valued. Materials are strong and honest classics: leather, wood, aged metal. Design forms are simple and familiar; antique-industrial and retro-mechanical. Folkloric patterns tell the stories of generations.

The palette is a mix of red berries, stone grey, and solid brown refreshed by a creamy white. PPG Pittsburgh Paints colours in this palette are Rum Punch (231-7), Burnt Red (133-7), Pralines and Cream (117-3), Earl Gray (522-5) and Poppy Pods (526-6).

Beauty Queen
This palette speaks to the unapologetically confident woman. It's the return of glam finishes with a disco sophistication. Beauty Queen strikes a feminine note but doesn't exclude her man. It's high-intensity colour that can turn light and airy on a dime. Lush and mysterious, soft and fresh, girly but not - the built-in contrasts sensation-seekers want. Ultra-slick surfaces like Lucite and mirrors capture the best spirit of the 70s.

Sharp fuchsia pink and juicy purple are softened with cosmetic pink and freshened with this year's brighter teal and white. PPG Pittsburgh Paints colours in this palette are Grape Juice (240-7), Tutti Frutti (138-7), Whirlpool (202-3), Candlelight Beige (216-1) and Brandy Alexander (535-3).

Quiet Tech
It's impossible to unplug without a place to escape to, so minimalism is the foundation of this trend. Rooms have visual interest without complication. Details and embellishments are kept to a minimum. Pale and mid-tone wood tones don't overpower the space. Shapes are rounded and tactile to keep rooms from feeling barren or cold.

In the palette, ink blues play with earthy and calming neutrals.  PPG Pittsburgh Paints colours in this palette are Gray Stone (517-4), Blue Tang (449-7), Chinese Porcelain (449-6), Earthy Ocher (315-5) and Spice Delight (215-2).

Deco Candy
Bringing together vibrant colours and fun design, Deco Candy transforms a home into an intensely joyful playground. A vivid harmony of citrus accented by this year's bright blue, clean green and tangerine, the colour scheme is irresistibly optimistic. Stripes and colour-blocking bring a sense of organization to what could otherwise be too boisterous a spectrum of hues.

Colours awaken the senses. Come play! PPG Pittsburgh Paints colours in this palette are Mother of Pearl (513-1), Persian Blue (153-5), Hearty Hosta (208-5), Tangerine Dream (123-7) and the incredible Citrus Spice (110-7). 

The 2012-2013 trend colour palettes, as well as the other 2,000 colours from The Voice of Colour, are available in any of PPG Pittsburgh Paints' paint lines, including PPG Pure Performance®, Manor Hall® and Manor Hall® Timeless®. PPG Pure Performance is a premium quality paint that has zero VOCs in the base paint and minimal odour during application and drying.

To learn more about PPG Pittsburgh Paints and The Voice of Colour, and to find the dealer nearest you, please visit the PPG Pittsburgh Paints colour website at www.voiceofcolor.com.

PPG Colour Leadership
PPG employs more than 20 colour stylists around the world, each specializing in different markets, who collaborate to determine styles and colour trends for the home, electronics and automobiles. PPG's unique position as a colour leader in multiple markets allows it to observe and translate emerging global colour trends for its customers' applications—from consumer goods to automotive colour, from residential to commercial to industrial design.

About The Voice of Colour
The Voice of Colour program is a design system based on the premise that every colour has an emotional association and that individuals are drawn to different colours for reasons inherently tied to their unique personalities. The Voice of Colour offers an engaging online experience to help homeowners discover a Harmony colour family and palettes that reflect their personality and complement their style. Palettes are presented in signature five-colour Harmony chips to coordinate colours for all the décor elements in their space. The Voice of Colour also features exclusive colour collections that offer style inspiration (e.g. Hacienda Style, Historic Colours, Fallingwater®-Inspired Colours), designer favourites and expert advice (e.g. Atmospheric, Janice Lindsay - Coming Home). For more information, or to order colour tools and resources, visit www.voiceofcolor.com. 

Company Information
PPG: Bringing innovation to the surface.™ PPG Industries' vision is to continue to be the world's leading coatings and specialty products company. Through leadership in innovation, sustainability and colour, PPG helps customers in industrial, transportation, consumer products, and construction markets and aftermarkets to enhance more surfaces in more ways than does any other company. Founded in 1883, PPG has global headquarters in Pittsburgh and operates in more than 60 countries around the world. Sales in 2010 were $13.4 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.

SOURCE PPG PITTSBURGH PAINTS