Sude: Seeing double the possibilities

For Fran Sude at Design Options, colors and fabrics for spring 2004 will be all about duality. The natural landscape and the city skyline will inspire. Industrial and handmade items will complement, not compete against each other. Shiny and matte fabrics will mingle. It's about combining colors in a new way, and Sude sees seven themes for next spring.

Sea Mist is reminiscent of ocean waves and sandy elements. Lighten Up is a group that reminds one of friendly pastel hues, like daisy yellow, refrigerator white and cinnamon roll brown. "Pastels are unbelievable," Sude said. "It makes people feel good."

Bold colors are seen in several palettes, including Full Spectrum, with pulsating purple, blazing blue, and glowing gold; Shock Wave, a nightclub group with electric shades; and Bright Future, with saturated colors.

World exploration is the focus of Cross Culture, with shades of exotic plum, tribal brown and far-away green. Throughout all of the palettes, browns and brown derivatives, such as cocoa, mocha and chocolate, are found, she added. Gray, which is not a "good face color" is out, but will return. Traditional red is fading, Sude added, making room for other reds influenced by oranges.

Design Options also saw several themes in the home, including Wallflowers, which have wallpaper-inspired patterns of nature; Animal Instinct, where dogs and cats are used as motifs in fun ways; Lighten Up, with light shades to soothe the soul; Seeing Clearly, where sheers and plastics allow objects to shine through; Pop Life, which uses bold art such as graffiti and comic strips; and Healthy Living, where a bountiful harvest serves as inspiration.