In 2024, we can expect a bolder approach to life, as color experts anticipate that colors will be more personal than ever, allowing individuals to express themselves. Whether opting for bold or softer hues, there are no rules but it is all about personal feelings and resonating with the moment. With the primary theme of 2024 centering around home well-being, homeowners are keen on creating spaces that radiate a calm and serene environment. Hence, the featured color trends play a crucial role in establishing environments that offer respite from the fast pace of day-to-day life.

What factors should you consider when picking a color?

Consider the lighting, existing furniture colors, and the desired mood that you aim to achieve when choosing a paint color. Lighter tones, like creamy white and neutral hues of grey, create a brighter and more spacious feel, while darker shades such as deep purple and warm orange or red make a bold statement, fostering a cozy atmosphere. Also, when choosing the suitable colors for your home, consider its psychology, as it explores how colors influence human behavior and emotions and can impact mood and decision-making, subject to individual preferences and cultural influences.

Check out the trending colors of 2024 and make sure to choose the colors that are best suited for your home.

1. Cool Blue

Image courtesy of: archideaphoto

Blue is a timeless color that maintains popularity because of its natural connection with the blue skies and calm water. Some of the airy and watery tones include refreshing aqua blues, teal, turquoise, and serene shades that aim to create tranquil spaces. Additionally, blue has evolved into a contemporary neutral for modern homes, offering versatility to mix and match across various design styles and applications. The best part about using blue color is that lighter shades of this color have an inherent lightness that uplifts the décor of any room with ease.

2. Versatile Purple

Image courtesy of: archideaphoto

Across fashion and interiors, purple shades, once linked with wealth and royalty, are now infused into contemporary aesthetics, bringing a fresh dynamic to color schemes. The color purple exudes calmness and luxury, with deeper shades of purple adding playful depth for a sense of opulence in the interior decor. Soft and muted shades of purple are gaining popularity and complement hues of pinks, greens, and blues as they bring an element of dynamic energy into the interiors. Dark mauves are emerging as a significant color trend in 2024, possessing a versatile quality that reads as neutral yet remains lively and bold. Its compatibility with many colors makes it an easy and versatile hue to work with. With its profound and rich undertones, the color purple radiates sophistication and charm

3. Peach Fuzz

Image courtesy of: Pressmaster

In 2024, the trend is all about pinky peaches, with Pantone naming 13-1023 Peach Fuzz as the Color of the Year. Pantone’s Peach Fuzz stands out as a warming color that offers comfort and connectivity. In a world that can feel harsh, the preference for soothing, soft, and warm colors that offer comfort is evident. Whether used as a textured rug or an accent wall in a dining room, it brings a convivial atmosphere to spaces, capable of complementing traditional neutrals and standing out in vibrant color schemes. This pinkish-orange hue can instantly cozy up your bathroom, bedroom, or living room during your next home makeover.

4. Earthy Greens

Image courtesy of: FollowTheFlowStudio

Shades of green are expected to maintain their immense popularity in interior design as individuals continue to embrace biophilic design, seeking a heightened sense of wellness inspired by nature. Green imparts a grounding and warm ambiance to spaces, crafting contemporary and atmospheric room designs. The color green contributes depth to a space and blurs the boundaries between the exterior and interior. In addition to earthy tones, rich greens are anticipated to gain prominence along with darker shades that exude elegance. Emerald green, a jewel tone that is both saturated and not overly bright, is making a major statement, bringing a rich mood and depth of color to various spaces. Note that dark green, when paired with complementary colors, can introduce balance, drama, or a sense of tranquility to a room.

5. Warm Neutrals

Image courtesy of: vanitjan

There is a renewed love for neutrals, especially in bedroom trends, which fosters a restful ambiance and a comforting sanctuary. Pairing warm creams with soft terracotta or deep red tones adds depth, while incorporating layers of texture within neutral schemes brings tactility. Note that warm off-whites and cream tones are becoming the go-to neutrals for 2024 and designers as well as homeowners currently favor these warm neutrals to counterbalance the coldness induced by LED lighting. Whether applied to walls, ceilings, woodwork, or furniture, these comforting and warm neutrals are suitable for diverse design styles, imparting timeless charm and a sense of relaxation to all spaces.

6. Tone-on-tone Color

Image courtesy of: bialasiewicz

Tone-on-tone palettes revolve around a single core hue, incorporating various shaded tones within that spectrum for a harmonious color scheme. You can use diverse paints on your walls and seamlessly complement them with furniture, textiles, and accessories. Anticipate the prominence of monochromatic color schemes in both indoor and outdoor spaces, where the blending of colors from the same family exudes sophistication and an effortless sense of chic.

7. Black

Image courtesy of: hemul75

Darker black tones are gaining prominence as the primary color choice, serving as a bold accent and becoming the focal hue for smaller spaces, while the appeal of a softer black shade lies in its inviting, versatile, and timeless qualities. This bold and strong color is highly versatile, making it easy to incorporate into any style of decor.

8. Soft Pinks

Image courtesy of: dit26978

Pink is being used in modern ways, making it more interesting, especially when different shades are combined to create a sophisticated atmosphere. The gentle blush of soft pink makes it a perfect neutral choice for smaller rooms or spaces with limited natural light, as its warm undertones contribute to elevating the color and adding depth. Soft pink is ideal for establishing a tranquil atmosphere in the home, introducing subtle hues that effortlessly harmonize with a wide range of other colors.

9. Rich Brown

Image courtesy of: hemul75

Embrace a luxurious blend of warm earthy tones, crafting a design environment that exudes both a grounded and welcoming atmosphere. One such color is rich brown which infuses depth and sophistication into the design narrative. The inviting richness of brown is perfect for traditional and contemporary themed interiors, making it an ideal backdrop for a cozy space. Throughout 2024, earthy browns are expected to continue dominating our homes as there is a growing inclination to connect with nature for enhanced well-being

10. Soft Terracotta

Image courtesy of: lytvynliliia

Terracotta infuses warmth into spaces, capturing attention and creating an inviting, cozy indoor ambiance while subtly evoking the essence of the outdoors. Soft terra-cotta tones are becoming increasingly popular, especially in spaces like living rooms and kitchens, where they enhance positive interactions and conversations. This inviting shade not only refreshes a space but also functions as a sophisticated neutral for those exploring alternatives to whites, beiges, and creams. The best part of introducing earthy terracotta hues is that it fosters a sense of comfort in the home and introduces a burst of vibrant energy while retaining a gentle aesthetic.

The post Top Ten Color Trends For 2024 first appeared on Yanko Design.

50 spectacular vehicles duke it out on an 1,809-foot frozen track

As far as mountain towns in North America go, Aspen is unmatched in its appeal thanks to its walkable downtown, a variety of activities and top-tier hospitality options. Whether you’re looking to get in the après mix at Hotel Jerome’s lively J-Bar or aiming for a more relaxing atmosphere like that of The Living Room at The Little Nell, Aspen has a wealth of options that we continue to return to. When it comes to the winter months specifically we can’t think of much that’s missing from Aspen, which is what makes the addition of a new marquee event to the seasonal calendar particularly intriguing.  

Currently the name F.A.T. International may only be familiar to diehard motorsport enthusiasts who know of the French logistics company that has supported various racing programs—including the winning Porsche 962 at Le Mans in 1994. This recognition will likely soon expand thanks to the vision of Ferdi Porsche and his college friend Vinzenz Greger, who led the initial revival of the GP Ice Race in 2019 after it was dormant since 1974. The great-grandson of the prestigious automaker’s founder Ferdinand Porsche (for whom the first GP Ice Race was held in memory of in 1952), the gregarious 30-year-old has big plans for the F.A.T. name which he secured the rights to, as well as the original logo, with the goal of creating an umbrella brand for all various events and lifestyle products. Between Ferdi’s passion for the automotive community at large and a desire to infuse a great deal of fun into the whitespace that exists between poorly produced track days and comically expensive Pro-Am racing, it’s easy to imagine the concept of F.A.T. going places. 

Having now experienced the first iteration of the F.A.T. International Ice Race outside of Zell-am-See, Austria (where the original GP ice races were held, as well as the initial revival races under the GP name in 2019 and 2020) we’re even more bullish on Ferdi’s mission to revive the spirit of ‘80s/‘90s motorsport. Understanding that it wouldn’t be a stretch to get drivers, vehicles and spectators out to Aspen for a few days of friendly competition and exhibition, F.A.T. and presenting sponsor Mobil 1 managed to lock in 50 spectacular vehicles and succeed in the difficult task of getting an inaugural event done right—with an audience at capacity.

Clearly there’s as much of an appetite in the US as there is in Europe to see iconic cars like the 1998 Le Mans-winning Porsche GT1-98 and very last Porsche 550 Spyder to be built, as well as contemporary creations like the late Ken Block’s BBi built “Hoonipigasus,” pro-drifting racer Ryan Turek’s 1966 Toyota Stout pickup and Oil Stain Lab’s “Half11” (Half 911, half F1) duke it out on the 1,809-foot frozen track.

Over the course of the two days spent on site we spoke to enthusiasts, collectors and professionals, all were eager to praise Ferdi for not only resurrecting the GP ice race, but breathing new life into it and having the confidence to bring it stateside. It was a worthy companion to this year’s event in Zell-am-See with a range of industry talent such as Luftgekuhlt founder Patrick Long, drift-racer Chris Forsberg, Andial co-founder Dieter Inzenhofer and Stéphane Ortelli (a driver on the ‘98 LeMans winning Porsche team) on hand to pilot a variety of vehicles.

To see a mint condition Mercedes-Benz 300SL sliding elegantly around a corner one minute and then the 1985 Pikes Peak-winning Audi Quattro Sport S1 spraying snow everywhere the next is unheard of on this continent. The diversity of vehicles in the paddock brought to mind a video game selection screen where your wildest automotive fantasies come true: two Ford RS2000s, an Escort Cosworth rally car, a real Mini policecar, an array of pro-driver turned builder Leh Keen’s “Keen Project” safari 911s sitting along side a few more 911s from legendary Porsche modifier RUF. Volkswagen was well represented with the brand new Golf R finally out of the camouflage it wore at the Austrian race and taking to the course with Tanner Foust behind the wheel on his way to claiming the fastest time of the weekend.

Collector Philip Sarofim brought two fan favorites, a rare VW Golf “Country” and remastered Meyers Manx sporting head turning “Ocean Spray” paint, and VW of America bought one of two surviving twin-engine Mk2 Golfs that ran at Pikes Peak in the late ‘80s. As the event also marked the kick off of Mobil 1’s 50th anniversary celebrations, they brought some variety to the paddock with a Corvette E-Ray, Cadillac CTS V and Toyota GT-86, as well as a rally style Nissan Z and V10-swapped Toyota Supra. Inside the spacious clubhouse, authentic Austrian breakfast and lunch was served daily, alongside regionally sourced wine and beer, all of which was included in the price of admission. Furthermore the merch section was stocked with jackets, sweatshirts and accessories that were of notable quality, a rarity at most automotive events, but not a surprise here. 

From the welcome party hosted at Aether’s boutique in town to the closing party hosted by Rivian at the recently opened MOLLIE hotel, the weekend experience was elevated without being pretentious—another rarity. Our hope is to see the event return in 2025 with an easier to swallow price of admission, something Ferdi himself wants to accomplish as he believes that F.A.T. Ice Race events should be for everyone. A larger venue with capacity for more attendees would bring the ticket price down, so perhaps we’ll see a larger event all around next year. With that being said, it was genuinely refreshing to attend an event where you could easily talk to everyone, see everything and not be pressed for time. F.A.T. International may be in the infancy of its stewardship under Ferdi, but it’s clearly in good hands. The event not only managed to bring a piece of European automotive history to the US but brought with it the culture as well.

Greek researcher Ioannis Michaloudis has created the Air Swipe bag for fashion brand Coperni using NASA-produced silica aerogel that was developed to “catch stardust”.

The lightweight bag was unveiled at Coperni‘s F/W 2024 runway show during Paris Fashion Week.

The small bag is made from silica aerogel, which Michaloudis said is the “lightest sold [material] on planet Earth”. The material – which has a chemical composition similar to gas – forms the shell of the bag, while the interior is air.

This means that the total volume of the bag consists only of one per cent solid material.

The Air Swipe bag has a dimension of 27 by 16 by 6 centimetres and weighs 35 grams.

It is formed in a stainless steel mould with a “supercritical” drying process, which uses specific temperatures and pressures to transform liquids into glass.

Michaloudis said that the bag is delicate but not fragile and that the material can handle pressure of 4,000 times its weight and heat up to 1,200 degrees Celsius. Silica aerogel’s properties were first developed by scientist Peter Tsou.

“It can withstand three times the speed of a bullet,” Michaloudis told Dezeen.

“And that’s why [NASA] has selected the material to catch stardust,” he continued, referring to the cells attached to deep-space satellites for collecting high-speed space materials.

The light-blue colour of the material comes from the “nanopores” on its surface, which Michaloudis compared to the sky of the planet.

“It is very ethereal, but it protects our planet,” he said.

“It is our dress. The dress of the planet is our sky,” he continued, linking the atmosphere with the material’s use as a fashion accessory.

Michaloudis has worked with NASA for decades on a variety of projects and was on the team researching the material and its applications.

The Air Swipe bag and material represent an “in-between space” between science and art, the researcher added.

“The material is between something that does and something that does not exist. It too is in this in-between state, like an angelic state,” he said. “This is the in-between space of the Coperni bag.”

Michaloudis works as a researcher for several institutions in Greece and abroad and worked with Coperni to conceptualise the bag.

Coperni has released a number of clothing items and accessories that use advanced technology, including a dress created with spray-on fibers.

This Paris Fashion Week also saw Danish brand Samsoe Samsoe host a pop-up space with a counter made from old T-shirts.

The photography is courtesy of Ioannis Michaloudis.

The post Coperni unveils Air Swipe bag made of 99 per cent air appeared first on Dezeen.

Micro homes are not a humane response to the homelessness crisis, writes Cynthia Griffith as part of our Social Housing Revival series.

Homelessness has reached a historic high in the United States of America, casting a long, formidable shadow over millions of low and middle-income workers. According to the United Nations, homeless people represent more than 2 per cent of the global population and an astonishing 1.6 billion people are enduring inadequate housing conditions worldwide.

Contrary to the misguided popular narrative that implies homelessness is the result of one or more personal flaws, studies continue to prove that it is housing, and specifically a lack of affordable housing, causing the current crisis.

It may seem that such a drastic housing problem deserves a cutting-edge design solution. That line of thinking usually manifests itself in various forms of micro home – the basic idea being to provide some form of shelter at the lowest possible cost to cash-strapped public bodies. Things like weather-proof cardboard boxes, underground domes, pallet shelters, and insulated tents have all made their way to the drawing board.

         ‘We shouldn’t be reinventing the wheel, or rather the floorplan’

But these so-called solutions are neither permanent nor practical. They do not properly address the root causes of the homelessness problem. And they are not humane enough to address what is undoubtedly a humanitarian crisis. When it comes to building housing for the homeless population, we shouldn’t be reinventing the wheel, or rather the floorplan.

“We actually know how to solve this crisis,” National Homelessness Law Center senior policy director Eric Tars told me. “We don’t need a new, innovative solution.”

According to Tars and his colleagues, rather than devising new ways to fit basic domestic amenities into micro-units and impossibly small spaces, architects should be vying for the expansion of social housing, and prioritizing projects that mass produce substantial, properly sized homes. Not only is this more cost-effective and environmentally friendly in the long run, but it’s also the most humane way to combat homelessness.

Tiny homes look relatively glamorous when they’re fitted with the latest modern amenities and meticulously decorated to impress those viewing reels on architecture TikTok, but in reality, the tiny lifestyle is often not fit to scale.

Trying to squeeze basic domestic necessities into spaces the size of prison cells has garnered some pretty devastating results. There have been notorious incidents where trendy tiny homes went up in flames and the homeless veterans inside them were forced to relive warlike trauma as the walls of these contraptions literally melted down around their ears.

Constructions like this that are fire hazards are not environmentally friendly. In fact, they can contribute to the raging wildfires we must already contend with, particularly in places like California, where the homeless population is higher than anywhere else in the United States.

Everyone – including people who are street homeless – should be able to live in a substantial, properly sized home

The US, as a nation, has collectively spent millions of tax dollars constructing pint-sized pallet shelters that are either too small or too cheaply made to safely house even the most basic domestic features. These constructions lack things like electricity, wi-fi, running water, and even private bathrooms. Should we, in the future, succeed in designing even tinier toilets and microscopic wi-fi routers, it would only take the tiny trend to even greater extremes.

Like an over-enthusiastic hairdresser, there always lies the temptation for urban planners to just keep trimming housing down until the final product resembles something closer to a closet than a house. Take, for example, the coffin homes of Hong Kong, their moniker a haunting reminder that they are about the same size as a hollow grave, with interiors as grim as a reaper.

Tenants in these tiny abodes are too cramped to even stand and are forced to spend all of their indoor leisure time sitting or sleeping due to the confines of the three-by-six-foot space. Many of these micro units are fitted with itty bitty toilets, small lights, and electric fans. Some of them even sport television sets and microwaves.

But do our fellow humans really deserve to live in a room the size of a cage? What does this say of how we really feel about our houseless neighbors?

“Adequate housing is about more than just the bare minimum needed for subsistence,” said Tars. “It’s about creating a healthy place where people can achieve their full potential as human beings and live a dignified life. If we’re stripping things out that contribute to that essential feature, including space, then it’s not going to be adequate housing.”

Tiny homes are not the big solution to homelessness that we need. Where we live plays a huge part in who we are and how other members of society view us. In a civilized society, everyone – including people who are street homeless – should be able to live in a substantial, properly sized home.

Cynthia Griffith is a US-based journalist specialising in social justice and environmental issues. She writes for homelessness magazine Invisible People and has personal lived experience of homelessness.

The photo is courtesy of Lehrer Architects.

Social Housing Revival

This article is part of Dezeen’s Social Housing Revival series exploring the new wave of quality social housing being built around the world, and asking whether a return to social house-building at scale can help solve affordability issues and homelessness in our major cities.

The post “Tiny homes are not the big solution to homelessness that we need” appeared first on Dezeen.

British designer James Shaw has renovated a shop for fashion brand Camper on London’s Regent Street, which features a giant foot-shaped sculpture that functions as a till and a bench for trying on shoes.

Located in a ground-level room within a building on Regent Street in central London, the store reopened last week.

Shaw redesigned the interiors to reflect the Mallorcan heritage of Spanish footwear company Camper – a brand known for its bold and colourful creations.

The designer constructed a 3.5-metre-tall sculpture in the shape of an oversized foot, which was covered in terracotta-hued wool and positioned on the shop floor.

Visible from the street, the cartoon-like structure is multifunctional. It includes internal storage for products and a small booth that houses the till.

Shoppers are also encouraged to perch on the jumbo toes while trying on shoes, making the foot a bench as well as a display unit.

“The foot is the key feature of our proposal. Somewhat surreal and unexpected yet fully connected to Camper’s sense of playfulness and whimsy,” said Shaw.

“Reflected in the fully mirrored wall, it appears as a giant standing in the middle of the store.”

The designer, who works predominantly with recycled plastic, also created lumpy yellow shelving made from extruded slabs of the material, which – like the large foot – is reflected in the floor-to-ceiling mirror that makes up one of the walls.

Shaw also combined his trademark gloopy plastic with walnut wood to create rounded stools, positioned underneath the yellow shelves.

On the opposite side of the room, the designer added smooth walnut display units mounted to the wall with twisted polished metal fixtures – also custom-made by Shaw.

At the back of the store, shoppers can rest on geometric seating topped with textured mohair and clad in mirrored metal. The recognisable red Camper logo, positioned above the seating, was also reimagined with a Shaw-style, lumpy backdrop.

Shaw created the store’s flooring using orange resin to match the colour of the large foot as well as the painted walls and ceiling, which are all finished in similar hues.

The mix of materials is “a nod to mid-century modernism with a warped twist,” according to Camper.

“Mediterranean roots are present in the colour scheme, where warm earthy tones meet shades of yellow and blue,” added the brand.

Elsewhere, designer Jorge Penadés dressed a Málaga Camper shop with materials chosen to match the brand’s warehouse while architect Kengo Kuma created scalloped shelving out of concave ceramic tiles for a Barcelona branch.

Shaw showcased pieces of his extruded recycled plastic furniture at the 2022 edition of London Design Festival in an installation he created with his partner, Lou Stoppard, that playfully explored tensions between couples who move in together.

The photography is courtesy of Camper.

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