Timeless Design is Highly Sustainable

100 Year Old Color Palette is Fashionable in 2010

Photograph by Jack Carnell, courtesy of Fonthill Museum

Henry Mercer was an intellect, archeologist, artist, historian, writer, collector and tile designer.  His travels and studies became a great resource for design ideas.  In 1908 Henry began construction of his home. a concrete castle.  The architecture, furnishings, artifacts and thousands of tiles that decorate Fonthill were designed or selected by Henry. 


Some of the tiles are antiques that Henry collected. However most of the tiles that adorn the castle were designed  and crafted at his Moravian Pottery and Tile Works.  Henry used a well balanced color palette in his tile glazes.  The tiles were used to decorate walls, floors, ceilings, mantels, and stair risers throughout his home.  Even furniture was crafted of concrete and decorated with tile.  The few upholstered pieces are aged brown leather and tapestries were used to accent windows and walls.  All of the colors meld beautifully with the antiques and artifacts in Fonthill's forty-four rooms.



The colors in Henry's palette are recognizable in the "Treasured" palette from the Sherwin Williams COLORMIX 2010.  A major supplier of paints and coatings, Sherwin Williams is a leader in interior fashion and color forecasting.  Color preferences are affected by influences and trends ranging from the economy to the environment.  Technology helps us to communicate rapidly and cultural elements worldwide are adapted in new ways. 

Detail of Henry Mercer's tile (photograph by Jack Carnell, courtesy Fonthill Museum) with the Sherwin Williams "Treasured" palette. The palette reflects the beauty of natural aging, mellowing, and weathering; evoking quality materials that have stood the test of time and become heirlooms.

The Sherwin Williams website explains the influences of the 2010 color palettes:

The Sherwin Williams 2010 color forecast takes cues from the hues of the past to paint the way to the future.

"In uncertain times, we find comfort in the memories and traditions that provide us with a sense of solid ground", said Jackie Jordan, Director of Color Marketing for Sherwin Williams.  "Color plays a key role in triggering our nostalgia, and our trend forecast reflects the rediscovery of sights, sounds, smells - and colors - of the past."

The influences that pertain to the "Treasured" collection:

"A throw away society? That's so yesterday.  Now we are making savvy, resourceful use of what we have, discovering untold stories in exposed painted layers. From flea-market finds to artisan-made pieces, imperfection can lend a rich character to our environments."

I attended a seminar at which Jackie Jordan spoke, some other elements associated with the Treasured aesthetic are: Rough Luxe, distressed leather, and vintage tapestries.  It is not just the "Treasured" colors that evoke an image of Fonthill in my mind.  Other design elements of the trend and the ideal of appreciating artisan-made or found items strongly remind me of Henry Mercer.

As an interior designer, I believe that if you surround yourself with things that you love, you will not want to throw them away.  They will remain fashion forward for years to come.  What could be more sustainable?

Sherwin Williams and Robert Allen fabrics are collaborating to make color coordination even easier.  Sherwin Williams paint colors are designed to match the fabrics and trims in four of Robert Allen's new collections.  

Henry's home has been preserved as a museum, Fonthill is open for tours www.fonthillmuseum.org

Sherwin Williams is a great resource for color tools and information www.sherwin-williams.com

View beautiful fabrics and trims at www.robertallendesign.com