2016 Pantone Color of the Year

Drum roll, please! Pantone recently announced that the 2016 Color(s) of the Year are “Serenity” and “Rose Quartz”. For the first time Pantone introduces two shades for the year. Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times.

“Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace.” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®.

I’ve always wondered who gets the interesting job of choosing names for paint colors and who actually has the authority to choose the Color of the Year for the world. The entire world of fashion, automobiles and interiors takes their cue from this company. They don’t take their job lightly. Thousands of hours of research and filtering are done to determine what the color of the year will be. Pantone has been the world's color authority for nearly 50 years, providing design professionals with products and services for the colorful exploration and expression of creativity. Always a source for color inspiration, Pantone also offers paint and designer-inspired products and services for consumers.

Let’s try incorporating these great colors as a statement piece, a small pop of color or all over. I’d love to hear how you are planning to use Rose Quartz or Serenity in your world. Send me an email at jessica@webbercoleman.com.

Induction Cooking

One of the hottest kitchen appliance technologies right now is induction cooking. What is induction? Is it difficult to use? Do I have to get new pots? Is it better than gas? Today we are going to dive into this topic and hopefully answer your questions.

Induction cooktops work by having a high frequency electromagnetic element underneath the glass surface of the cooktop. When a cast iron or stainless steel pot is placed on the cooktop's magnetic field, the field induces energy into the metal pot. The magnetic current causes the molecules of the pot to vibrate at high frequencies, creating friction that heats the pot. The main difference between induction and gas is that with induction, heat is generated directly in the pot rather than being transferred via gas. With induction, as soon as the pot is removed from the electromagnetic field, the heat generation stops.

Some of the pros with using induction cooktops are fast cooking. Induction is able to bring a pot of water to boil faster than gas. There is no heat produced by the cooktop itself, making it cooler in the room, which is especially nice in the summer. Induction only heats the pot and not the cooking surface which makes it safer. It is also energy efficient. Because induction only heats the pot, no heat is lost heating the cooking surface. It's easy to use. With precise control over the heat, it's really easy to regulate and control your cooking. Many pots work with induction. An easy test is if a magnet sticks to your pot, it will get hot.

Bottom line, I think induction is a great option for your cooking surface. If you get the opportunity to try it out, give it a chance. Have more questions? Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com