apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I really liked that blue iris, but I can't say that I remember seeing as much of it as was forecasted.

That Blue iris is all over the dept. stores women's wear areas. It's really a fall / winter color so you would not see it much the first 3/4 of year. That mimosa is already popping up... todays WWD showed designers sketches of proposed inaugural looks for the Obama ladies and that color was well represented.

I feel good about this.

I definitely like that Mimosa color.

Was never a fan of blue iris, but am already a fan of mimosa--and I never liked yellow much in the past.

Look at half the stuff at West Elm, including that Tangiers Rug...

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODr541&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1SLERUG&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1SLERUG

...and the Cabana Print Outdoor Pillow...

http://www.westelm.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?partNumber=WE-PRODr560&storeId=17001&langId=-1&catalogId=17002&viewSetCode=E&parentId=WE-SH1SLEPIL&retainNav=true&cmsrc=WE-SH1SLEPIL

...and you'll see your 2008 Blue Iris.

I loved Blue Iris. I painted my living room nearly that color a short time before the announcement.

Mimosa kind of scares me.

Sold... I just received my new doors for my arctic entry (since we live in the Yukon it really is an arctic entry... -23c today). We are doing a complete gut and I was trying to figure out an accent color for the wall as you come into the house. It is only 4 feet wide with a floating bench and this would be a perfect color. I had been thinking of a citrus orange but since our ground floor is Benjamin Moor Raspberry Truffle and decorators white I was worried about it working. This however is a great match. Now all I have to do is find a way for my hardware store to match a Pantone color?

I've already jumped on the mimosa bandwagon with a gray and gold dust color combination in my bedroom.

I like it!

GORGEOUS. And almost the exact colour I was thinking of for the kitchen!

Yellow? meh. Except in small shots.

Mimosa, huh? I thought the new color was Mustard. Oh well, both can be used to good effect.

Love the Mimosa, gorgeous color.

yuck. i don't like yellow. but i'd love a mimosa right about now! mmmm.....

who knew! My kitchen is last years color and my bedroom is this years.

I think both of those colors are gorgeous!! I'd like to put them together!

Emily

@ Emily

I was just about to say, that I bet they'd be killer together!

I really love the grey & yellow combination we've been seeing lately.

I love that Mimosa. And the color isn't bad either...

We have a small wall in our living room that houses all of our art, sort of a picture wall. Anyways, its painted what I would say is very close to Mimosa... but maybe a little more goldy greenish yellow - the rest of the living room is grey. Its an awesome combo of colours.

We call the colour "beaver snot". I guess pantone liked "Mimosa" better ;)

1) the mimosa color is about exactly the complement color of the iris-coincidence? I smell a conspiracy theory (jk)

2) the mimosa color reminds me of my older sister's "groovy" yellow and orange bedroom circa 1973

2) that color, in large quantities would get old fast-at least to me it would be just too garish

Love the Mimosa. Recently did an accent wall, sahara shade, very close to this color - not as bright. Very warm, relaxing...all that good stuff. Love it. Contrasted it with an antique red (on another accent wall -- in another room). I know, or at least have heard the reds are out, but it really compliments the "yellow." Anyway love the color!

The color scheme in my living room has been grey with accents of yellow for the past 3 years. Recently, my intuition has been telling me to change it up.Hmmmmmm

Do you think it would be as popular if they had called it "school bus"?

hmm, just don't love Mimosa, although maybe a different shade of yellow, in very limited quantities...

I agree that it is very 1973, and will get old fast...

Excellent post, thanks!

Both colors are great, and yes, complimentary or almost (I think not a conspiracy but a link).

I have a tight, steep stairwell first thing into the apartment, and I painted it this color, in glossy finish yet, to great effect. It is a jolt of energy, to help you up the stairs, greet you cheerfully (or make the chi move, if you prefer). Once you make the landing the walls are (boring?) off-white. Can't overdo a color like this…

I also think it would be amazing as an accent wall, with the others in dove grey and "stuff" in B W, but have not actually done it anywhere yet. Gimme time!

Does anyone know how to get the equivalent Pantone color # in various brands of paint??? Please tell, and thanks!

KTG you're dead on. Looks like a school bus to me!

I could go either way on this. I won't be using it in my home or wearing it, but I could stand to see it around here and there.

Can't wait for burnt orange-y red to make a comeback!

Northern Dad,

I wouldn't worry about trying to match the Pantone color exactly. Unless you have an actual chip from Pantone, you won't be able to (if you did your hardware store might be able to scan the color). Even the color you are looking at on your computer screen might not actually be that close to the PMS color.

Another thing I'd keep in mind is that you might not actually WANT the exact color. Take a couple of similar paint chips and hold them up against your raspberry in different light. I am sure you can find one that you'll love and that will brighten up the entire Yukon Territory!

Eeek!! Mimosa reminds me of a taxi cab. I love Blue Iris. Always will.

Oh No! I feel like the new mom whol thought her very favorite name was hers alone, only to discover it's the most popular name of the year. I LOVE this color-- but am sad it's become quite so trendy!

sunshine yellow always becomes popular when things are down. i remember after 9/11 and when the war started, you could see sunshine yellow cars *everywhere* where they were rare before.

Funny about Pantone's announcements, sometimes I wonder if it's over before it starts (and certainly, they sell this info. to their clients well before they release it to the public at large).

In the middlebrow fashion world, I've seen this yellow on so many purses and winter coats already this year; it's bright and attractive, but it's already sort of "over" in my opinion -- too bright and poppy to seem fresh for very long.

Of course, the tiredness of that look may morph into the timelessness of a very Miami or India look in home-dec, put up against other bright colors like lime green or hot pink, or against dark leathery tones. But I am declaring this yellow against blacks and grays already "done" -- looks good, but don't start a project today incorporating bright yellow against neutrals that you want to look good three years from now.

I always thought mimosa was more peach colored than that..

"I always thought mimosa was more peach colored than that.."

You're thinking of Bellini.

I love it. I'm another fan of pairing grey and yellow.

Puke. Yellow is a hurried color. That's why they use it so much in fast food logos and decor. Don't overdo it in places you feel hurried. It's a jolt, all right. I'll take the mystery.

Ok, so I've been dying to paint my walls a bright yellow and this color is so happy! Unfortunatly Houston doesn't have a place that sells Pantone. Any suggestions?? Other similar colors?

Yes for the yellow!

Jessica
http://blackwhiteyellow.blogspot.com/

Nope. Looks like left over school bus paint. Ik!

Mimosa is definitely an optimistic, cheerful, and hopeful color. Mimosa is also a beautiful compliment to 2008's Blue Iris.
Bright yellows can be tricky in Interior spaces depending on the lighting and the other elements of the room. The people living in the room must feel comfortable with such a strong color. I suggest that if clients are bashful about using such dramatic colors they can be used in rooms where a little amount of wall space is exposed (kitchen), rooms that are not areas that a lot of time is spent (powder room), an accent wall, or add the color in the accessories in the room.

Perhaps Pantone's Mimosa will help turn 2009's hope to reality. Then in 2010 Pantone's color of the year can be a color that conveys relief and contentment.

Wishing you a brightly colored day,
Mary Nolte
http://www.kaleidoscopecolorconsulting.com