TRENDS

• HARDWOOD EVOLUTION   Hardwood is moving more toward distressed planks, planks in wider widths, and exotic woods. Its no longer just plain maple or oak. Were seeing more mahogany, cherry, teak, and walnut. Also, mixing woods is becoming increasingly popular.

• NATURAL LOOKING PRODUCTS WITH LOW MAINTANANCE & COST  Laminate woods are made to look and feel more like the real and engineered woods with graining and colors. The texture of the hand scraped woods are also available now in laminate wood. The cost and maintanance of these products are quite a bit less.

• TILE RE-SIZED  Size variations are popular with tile these days. From tiny tiles for mosaic applications to large, rather sheet-like squares of ceramic and stone.

• STONE LOOK ALIKES  The look and feel of real stone and slate is still very popular. The new prefinished porcelain look alikes have the feel and appearance of the natural products with little or no maintanance.

• WHICH COLOR HUES ARE THE CURRENT TREND?

TICKLED PINK  Breast cancer awareness has created a wave of home and fashion products in the pink family. We're actually nearing the end of that trend, however, pinks are moving from the mid-value tones to deeper rose colors.

CLASSIC RED  Red is always a classic. The significant question with red is what color influences it. Chinese red--which is highly popular today--is a rich red-orange combination. Watch for Venetian red--a red with blue influence--to emerge.

RICH GREENS  We continue to see rich variations of green. This time, however, think of peacock feathers and all their saturated color. Yellow-based greens will remain popular and blue-based greens are coming on strong. Representing two extremes, we're seeing neutral greens serve a subtle and sophisticated backdrop and shocking, toxic greens made up of equal parts green and yellow make a bold impact. Greens are staying strong as environmental awareness and intrest in eco-friendly products reach new heights.

NEW AND NATURAL ORANGE  New oranges remain strong in the home, making their way to upholstery,drapery,and even appliances. Most of these colors provide a muddied or burnished look that suggests a natural aging process. These tones provide a patina of authenticity that complements strong trends in home decor.

AMERICA'S FAVORITE COLOR  Navy and true blue remain important and will become more diverse, influencing purples and greens. Soft shades of aqua--the water colors that have performed so strongly in recent years--continue to be a mainstay. You'll also see unusual combinations as blue-greens are paired with rich browns, yellow-greens, and vivid red-oranges.

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART  Don't be afraid of your favorite color. If it makes you feel good when you use it in a room, then use it in your largest area, whether on the floor or the walls.

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