COLUMN: Gail Mayhugh

DEAR GAIL: I'm thinking of changing the color scheme in my house. I've noticed over the years that sometimes I was not able to find towels and fabrics in the colors I wanted. I don't want to pick colors I can't find, but I don't want to be forced into decorating with what is out in the stores. Who determines the colors that are placed in the stores and how can I figure out what direction to go? -- Diane

DEAR DIANE: Many years ago, before my design days, I went looking for a gray suit. I looked everywhere in Las Vegas and finally gave up and went on a shopping trip to California. After 10 hours of shopping, a saleswoman told me I could keep looking because I wouldn't find any gray suits this season since it wasn't a forecasted color. That's when I learned about color forecasting.

Colors are forecasted one to three years in advance by a couple of different organizations, one of which is the Color Marketing Group.

The CMG is comprised of professionals from all industries, manufacturers and services affiliated with the consumer product market. They meet twice a year to come up with colors that they feel will be prominent in the consumer product marketplace.

Forecasted colors are not ones that must be used in the marketplace, but they normally are ones that you will see because a lot of time, effort and thought has been put into determining them.

When it comes to home interiors, always look to see what is happening in the fashion world. Watch the runways. That is what trend-watchers are doing and you can pretty much be guaranteed that you'll soon see similar styles and colors in home interior products.

All of this doesn't mean that you need to decorate your home in the latest colors and trends. But, it does explain why you're not able to find a color or style you want.

If you don't want to decorate with the colors that are currently in the marketplace, start watching the trends in fashion to see if any of your colors will be coming up. You can also check out the forecasted colors for the next year from the CMG at www.colormarketing.org.

If you still don't see your colors, you do have options.

You can make your own by custom dying fabrics in your washing machine, just like my grandmother use to do. There are many different fabric dyes on the market. It may not be the easiest way, but it will get you what you want.

You also can order custom designed and colored wallpaper, carpet and fabrics. It is not as expensive as it once was because of advances in home interiors manufacturing.

If you find a wallpaper or fabric design that you like but it is not in your color scheme, you can have it custom colored. A minimum order may be required. You will pay a set-up fee and there is normally a minimum run required, but it is not unattainable.

Carpets and area rugs also can be ordered with custom colors and designs at a reasonable price.

Whenever having something custom colored, always request a "strikeoff" before placing the order. A strikeoff will be a sample of the item you're ordering in the colors you requested. There will be a fee for the sample, but it is worth the investment.

Can't find artwork or posters in your colors? Recolor them. I wouldn't suggest this for expensive or original art, but it works great on inexpensive oils, watercolors and posters.

So, whether or not the colors in stores are ones you like, you have the option of watching trends or just creating your own.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 8170 S. Eastern Ave., Box 4-275, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.

Real Estate home