In metals, it’s gold! It is popping up all over the place. Not your shiny 1990′s gold. Brushed gold. I am using it in lamps, chandeliers and finding it in beautiful accessories. I am also loving it with black.

What could be more fabulous than Ralph Lauren’s store in New York? It’s all done in traditional black and white, my personal favorite. I guarantee you will be seeing a lot of black and white this year, with bold lines.

People are ready for a bit more drama in their homes and are ready for the wow factor. Try doing a room in black and white and adding an intense color (like the new honeysuckle or green) and you will get star power.

Start off this year with lots of excitement making our homes a wonderful place to be.

Any great interior designer will tell you that getting to know the client plays a critical role in the creative process—which often involves months of considering color choices, style preferences and living habits. A year ago, interior designer Christine Archer took on a home-office project for perhaps her most discerning client: herself.

Archer finds it essential for her office to be welcoming and tidy for meetings with colleagues and clients. And because she’s an interior designer, it’s vital that the room reflect her taste and her ability to transform a space into something special.

A Color for All Seasons

Courageous. Confident. Vital. A brave new color, for a brave new world. Let the bold spirit of Honeysuckle infuse you, lift you and carry you through the year. It’s a color for every day – with nothing “everyday” about it.

While the 2010 color of the year, PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise, served as an escape for many, Honeysuckle emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.

For information and viewing: Pantone Color Of  The Year 2011