~ Golden Hues, Honeycomb Design Micro-Trends of the Moment ~
PEARL RIVER, N.Y., Feb. 4, 2014 – For thousands of years, the luster and legend of gold has attracted and inspired – the ultimate symbol of wealth, power and beauty. More subtle, but mystically powerful, the iconic forms of hexagons and honeycombs have shaped architecture, art and religious beliefs. Hexagons are found both in nature and in structures throughout the ancient worlds of Egypt, Israel, China and India. Hexagonal shapes have been discovered in the perfectly planned geometry of Stonehenge, in medieval European churches and in structures at Colonial Williamsburg.
From a bold yellow to an understated shimmer, shades of gold abound from soft rose gold jewelry and accessories to interior design, where gold is trending in subtle and stylish ways. Furnishings appear in antiqued, brushed and burnished versions that add glamour and depth to a room. This trend is perfectly reflected in the warm metallic gold finish in the Gold Radiance™ hardware and golden-hued fabrics in the Hunter Douglas Alustra® Collection of window fashions, which are built on a foundation of exclusivity and design with signature elements such as exclusive fabrics, hardware finishes and systems.
“Gold is back in a big way,” says Kim Kiner, Vice President of The Alustra Collection and Design Studio™ Roman Shades at Hunter Douglas and a noted trend-spotter. “At Hunter Douglas, we say it never went away.” From its beginnings, the leading window fashions manufacturer has harnessed natural sunlight to illuminate, energize and beautify interiors. Radiant light is diffused through window shades in an array of colors and customized fabrics.
In pioneering its energy-saving and high-design window dressings, Hunter Douglas relied on another iconic element – the hexagonal, honeycomb shape. Rich in symbolism and history, it forms the basis for many revered icons, including the Flower of Life, the symbol of creation and the Star of David. Hexagonal patterns have graced palaces and places of worship since ancient times and are found in Indian, Islamic and Egyptian art.
The iconic pattern is popular today – a timeless shape that enhances any design period. Variations of the hexagon appear in wallpaper, flooring, furniture, home accessories and as a favorite shape in logos, ornamentation and art. Hexagons are also integral to some of today’s most revolutionary and dynamic architecture, providing both form and function to buildings from Beijing to Berlin. The hexagon has always shaped jewelry, both as a design element and a symbol of creation, divine power and love, including the most dazzling royal tiaras.
In 1985, Hunter Douglas took this iconic shape to new levels of design and utility, introducing its ground-breaking Duette® honeycomb shade design. Today, it is an integral element in the company’s most popular, energy-saving products. “The honeycomb is nature’s engineering marvel – and ours,” says Kiner. The unique Duette honeycomb shade construction traps air inside the cells to keep homes warmer in winter and cooler in the summer. Hunter Douglas advanced this innovation with Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades, which have a cell within a cell construction that creates more air pockets than traditional cellular shades and can substantially reduce energy transfer at the window to create a more comfortable living space. This can also result in impressive savings on utility costs.
Combined with the equally commanding mystique of gold, the honeycomb design elevates engineering and aesthetics to a new and unsurpassed level. Gold, Kiner asserts, is more than an element. It’s an emblem of power, a pledge of eternal love, coin of many a realm, a coveted prize. The color of sunlight and Champagne, gold is the ultimate measure, the universal and enduring standard of quality and value.
Hunter Douglas Inc., headquartered in Pearl River, N.Y, is the leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window fashions in North America and a major manufacturer of architectural products. The company is a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, covering windows in every Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada. Hunter Douglas brand products are designed, developed and custom-crafted in the U.S.
Source: Hunter Douglas
