By now, I’m sure you’ve all noticed that gray is the new beige. Those of us who overhauled our kitchens/bathrooms/wardrobes with various shades of umber/cocoa/toast are now going to be compelled to start again with this fabulous new shade. My theory is that this trend began when stainless steel became so popular; seldom can an appliance in a different hue be found at H.D.
So what are we to do with our plethora of fawn-colored items? Well, luckily, you can still work them in by pairing them with a warm-toned gray. Your jute rug and charcoal-colored side chair will look quite well together. So will your khaki pants and peppery sweater. If you want to keep the space light, try a dove or ash tone. Or pair a few grays together. Nothing’s more elegant than gray on gray.
I’ve already started implementing this trend with my natural hair color.
P.S. If you hate your carpet and don’t want to tackle the hassle of staining your concrete, you can apply a paste wax instead and keep the gray color. Although I haven’t yet done this in my house, I hear it’s much easier and cheaper. (See photo)
This article appears in October 19 • 2007.