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Full bodied, rich, and velvety with a pleasing essence, a fair amount of spice, and an intangible bouquet of black currant and soft cacao. No, it’s not the wine we are talking about, but the latest “hot” color of merlot that is spicing up kitchens today. Good-bye to flat color schemes where it’s only the food that gets seasoned. Kitchen designers and manufacturers are adding the zest to appliances and cabinetry and bringing the vivid ruby red, magenta, and plum hues of merlot off the table.

It’s old news that color has a big impact on our mood, our emotions, and our appetites, and kitchen designers, especially European cabinet companies such as Scavolini and Ernestomeda are offering design choices that kick it up a notch with the striking color of merlot. Kitchens are at the center of our daily lives and at the center of our entertaining (as much as we try to move guests into the living room), and color trends reflect the vibrant energy that emanates from our kitchens. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, one of the premier color forecasters in the country, explains, “The kitchen is absolutely a key place for color. It’s the place where people gather, so it’s apt to have some mixing and matching of colors to create high energy.”

...color trends reflect the vibrant energy that emanates from our kitchens.

Celebrity designer Jamie Drake seconds the notion in his book New American Glamour: “People are viewing kitchens that have too much of any one color as flat, so more color is definitely the way to go.” He adds, “Strong color endows each space with a thrill.” In addition to color, varied surfaces and textures create interest as well. Lustrous and luminous surfaces, the contrast of matte and shiny surfaces, and the mix of transparent and opaque finishes can all help create a vibrant design scheme. So bring on the merlot and salute the color of vino!

Incorporating The Color Of Merlot

In French, the word means "young blackbird" and probably alludes to the deep blue-black color of the merlot grape. There are lots of options for incorporating this rich color into kitchen décor as manufacturers are making cabinetry, appliances, countertops, and other products available in an array of new colors. Wine-colored glass cabinetry from Scavolini, the vibrantly colored La Cornue French range, or the BlueStar range (that boasts 190 colors) are among the many choices. Refrigerators and dishwashers can be fitted with colored panels, and solid surface materials (for countertops and floors) come in all shades of wine. Add a dose of merlot color to the countertop with a small appliance such as the Jenn-Air Attrezzi art blender with merlot pitcher or a favorite ceramic platter. Also, don't forget those beautiful glass tiles that can be used as striking accents. And lastly, there's always paint! Consider painting the generally small area of kitchen wall space the color of merlot.

Tip

• Lackluster schemes can make for boring meals! Add something that glistens.
• Use contrasts such as shiny vs. matte or transparent vs. opaque.
• Bold is beautiful, but a little can go a long way. Beware not to overdo or overpower.
• Consider a feature group of cabinets that integrates with the design scheme.
• Make it personal and reflect your own experience and style.