Decorating & Design
Trending Now: Iridescent Color
H&H senior editor Morgan Michener shares what’s inspiring her now.
Judging by the colorful and ultramodern offerings at this year’s design shows, there’s no doubt about it: the future looks bright! From Paris (Maison & Objet) to Milan (Salone del Mobile), designers crafted a range of clean-lined pieces in a rainbow of iridescent hues — bright, ever-changing colors that reminded me of the Aurora Borealis. The look was fun, futuristic and wholly unexpected.
Intrigued by the trend? Check out some of my prismatic picks, and get inspired to add a pop of modern color to your own home (my advice: go for one statement piece and let it steal the show).
I was originally inspired by this striking interior designed by Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio, which is part of a limited-edition loft apartment in London. I’m loving the dichroic glass wall acting as railing on the stairs, flashing purple or green as you move around the space.
These beautifully vibrant mirrors — made of polished and oxidized copper — are also designed to function as shelves, and double as ethereal artwork when mounted on the wall.
The Vise light by Bec Brittain features brass claw-like arms and a gorgeous hand-blown glass center. I love how the mix of materials and colors in this piece offer plenty of visual interest.
Patricia Urquiola’s ‘Shimmer’ end table is constructed of iridescent glass with a multi-tonal finish, so the surface changes color depending on your point of view — so amazing.
Gradually fading from blue to purple, orange to yellow and purple to red, the fluorescent joins on Glas Italia’s ‘Soft’ tables give the angular pieces a softer, almost blurry look, just as the name suggests. Clever.
Thanks to a chemical reaction under super high heat, these stainless steel utensils look like they’ve been dipped in an oil slick. Just imagine the kind of table you could set with some white china and this statement flatware!
An easy way to embrace the iridescent trend is with a small, hand-blown vase. The ‘Drop’ vase from Tsunami Glassworks is petite enough to set on a bookshelf or console for a quick hit of night-sky color.