Design Blog
Pantone’s Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchid
I love this time of year! As a Kansas City interior designer, I REALLY love this time of year! Every December, Pantone, the global authority on color and the provider of professional color standards, announces their “Color of the Year” along with an explanation of the reasons the color will be representative of the upcoming year.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute® describes Radiant Orchid as “An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”
Many of us have a hard time visualizing Radiant Orchid, or any kind of purple for that matter, as a dominant color on our walls. That is where we step in! The interior design pros at Design Connection, Inc. have compiled some of our favorite designs that include this lovely purple hue in the hopes that we will inspire you use your imagination! How will you incorporate this commanding color into your home’s décor?

If you’ve fallen in love with this color, but you don’t (or your spouse doesn’t) exactly want to be surrounded by it, consider an accent wall. It looks amazing alongside black furniture and cabinetry! The kitchen is a perfect place to include this “chameleon color”; it looks bright and promising in the light of the morning sun and romantic in the evening.

There is something magical about purples that make furniture look that much more plush, more cushioney, more comfortable. The designers for the Marrakech Hotel in Morocco share in my sentiments and used this royal color to their advantage when selecting seating for the restaurant. I could see myself sitting happily through seven courses on one of these luxuriously radiant orchid-colored chairs!

If you are having a hard time finding a set of chairs in a Radiant Orchid pattern at the your local furniture stores, consider enlisting the help of professionals like Design Connection, Inc. who specialize in creating affordable custom furnishings. We are sure to see even more patterns and prints in this striking color in the months ahead.

One of my favorite ways to keep my interior designs on the cutting edge of fashion, yet maintain a timeless look, is through great accessories. If the colors of your furniture are in the neutral family, go nuts with the latest trends by changing out throw pillows, rugs and accent pieces.


As we shared from our trend-spotting trip to High Point Furniture Market in October, gold embellishments are everywhere in the new and emerging designs. Gold and bronze went perfectly with last year’s Color of the Year, Emerald. While Emerald and Radiant Orchid are far apart on the color wheel, they share one thing in common: their love of gold.

For even more ideas on how to incorporate the Color of the Year within your existing home décor, check out our Pinterest page.
In addition to sharing design inspiration, tips, ideas, trends, the pros at Design Connection, Inc. gives interior design advice! That’s right, we give advice! For in-person design advice, stop by our studio for a complimentary design consultation. From selecting the perfect paint color to creating custom furniture to masterminding an entirely new floor plan, we do it all, big and small. Contact Us Today!
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