The new issue of Living Etc. (March 09) has a feature on decorating in two colors - they say that color in 2009 is "all about contrast" and that using "striking tonal combos" creates immediate impact. We made up color swatches similar to the ones they feature - jump below to check them out and tell us your favorite...
Dove + Vitamin C
Jade + Coral
Acid + Storm
Bubble Gum + Eau de Nil
Clover + Putty
Magenta + Lime
Indigo + Coffee
Violet + Plaster



I have a very similar combo to #1 (Dove/Vitamin C) in my house. The living room is done in two shades similar to Dove and the kitchen - which is open to the living area - is similar to Vitamin C. The combo is dramatic, allowing warm colors in the kitchen and the cooler neutral gray in the living area. I love it more everyday and its been at least a year.
view sunwing's profile
indigo and coffee struck me as a combo i'd use at home.
dove and vitamin c would brighten up my office.
view Krisha's profile
I like... none of them. Too bad! Though I could go for a paler jade (more aqua), with a little red. Maybe it's their presentation, in equal amounts and intensities, that goes against my grain. It's hard for me to see past that.
view Joan A.'s profile
I just redid my "den" loft in what's here called "Jade Coral." The walls are aquamarine-ish, the floor and sofa are neutral, and there are touches of red throughout. I love it!
view visualingual's profile
I was thinking of doing something like number 8 -- violet and plaster -- in our attic. Hope it works out...
view mollywtx's profile
We're redesigning our office here at work, and I've put forth this kind of idea, a greige overall paint color, and then allowing each team member to have a bright pop of color on one wall in their office - if we were going with these combos in that sort of idea, I love the coffee and indigo.
view Blue_roses's profile
Hmmm... I like Jade & Coral... although it looks more like Turquoise and Brick to me.
view sparkle's profile
I love Violet Plaster, so girly and dreamy!
view Ina's profile
Look through this flickr stream a couple of pages of nature and you will see some of those combos only better- really beautiful
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wendine/sets/72157600194516643/
view LoriSF's profile
I'm currently redoing my living room and I love the jade/coral combination, although I'm leaning more towards an orange than red in my take on this pair. My furniture is primarily neutral shades of beige to tan, but I'm including large pops of these two colors as well, including a jade accent wall and 8'X10' dark orange rug. This is the most dramatic I've ever been with color and I'm lovin it!
view angie19130's profile
I like violet and plaster. My bedroom was done in those shades about five years ago.
view Aldyth's profile
Toss up between Dove Vitamin C and Dove Plaster. Actually, I'd go for Vitamin C Plaster.
view rockypondgirl's profile
i am doing jade coral in my house right now. i love it!
they are all really nice. =]
view serrakat's profile
cool calendar in the photo. anyone know where from?
re: colors - how is a color or color combo "in"? are solid color decisions ever OUT? are we supposed to repaint every year?
view coloraddict's profile
i pretty much had the first combo in my old townhouse.
view terka27's profile
I would use acid and storm if I lived in an ultra-modern loft. But that won't be happening any time soon...
view atron's profile
we've been looking at doing something similar to acid/storm in our kitchen. storm on the cabinets, acid (well, really we bought more of a sunflowery yellow) on the walls.
view gretchenalexis's profile
I had Vitamin C and Storm as my living room wall at my last place. I loved it. Now in my little studio, I have a jade and plaster look mostly I guess with some bubble gum and clover thrown in.
I can see clover and putty actually being really lovely and fresh and acid and storm are really cool. violet and plaster is very feminine and peaceful.
view sleeping spot's profile
My bedroom is jade & coral -- red furniture and bedding, jade/aqua accents but with butter-yellow walls and carpet
view chickdavis's profile
I love the acid storm combination.
Very fun and clean, like the dove vitamin.
view dn's profile
None of them appeal to me at all. But I am happy making my own combinations, so no worries...
view SherryBinNH's profile
Dove Vitamin C is the colors I want to use for a nursery for either a boy or a girl. It would be so much fun.
view Signe's profile
Ick, they seem too bright for me. I like dove and vitamin C aand clove and putty. What happened to the good old days of black and turquoise
view jen of the north's profile
Definitely love the acid storm -- in fact, I did a post on my recent obsession with yellow/grey just last week:
http://odietamoblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/color-trend-yellow-and-gray.html
view averillh1's profile
I like violet and plaster best.
view incrediblejoy's profile
I'm working on redecorating in Dove Vitamin C. I also like the acid storm.
view short giraffe's profile
My kitchen table is a red like "coral" and I just spotted the turquoise chandelier in the DIY lighting post and thought how great it would look in combination. Guess I'm not ahead of the curve, but at least I'm on it.
view aums's profile
clover and putty are very serene...something..and def. magenta and lime..hotsy!!
view keeks's profile
i'm definitely wearing some clover and putty right now, though i'm not sure i could see it in my home.
view honeyfresh's profile