Smith is a color expert and trend forecaster with a background in fine arts and product development and marketing. Currently house hunting around Eastern Market after selling her house in Lorton, Smith watches color trends in fashion, decorating and more. Her blog is sensationalcolor.com.
How did you get interested in color?
I have been interested since just about forever. My background is fine arts, and I have a degree in fine arts, but when I got out in the real world and had to make a living, I worked in product development. But even then, I saw the impact that color can have.
Are people afraid of bold color?
Oftentimes they really are. But one of the upsides of this uncertain economy we are having is that people are more drawn to bold color, and we are seeing more bright, bold color in fashion and decorating.
You must see a lot of trends in color.
I pay very close attention to trends in color. But to find out what’s happening, I don’t look at what people are buying. The first place I look to understand color trends is the newspaper — what is on our minds and what are we focused on? What are our eyes focused on? For example, when we had the Olympics in China, we saw a lot of stories and pictures about China, and the history and architecture of China, and that influenced our desire for red and gold.
You probably get this all the time, but what’s your favorite color?
My usual answer is “Favorite color for what?” As in, for a car or to paint my bedroom? Because those would be very different. But my genuine favorite color would be blue-green — sort of a peacock shade. And yes, it’s very trendy right now.
– Julie Mason
