Benjamin Moore Paints, Montvale, NJ, delivered its color trends forecast for 2011. The press kit was like those Russian nesting dolls. I opened a carton containing a box containing a burlap bag containing a press kit containing a USB thumb drive, which contained the entire presentation—in English, French, and Spanish. No Russian, but impressive, nevertheless.
   The forecasters identify four distinct influences, with accompanying colors, which they expect we’ll see in two years. These are The Farm, Order, Escape, and Tribe. Here’s what they have to say about each:
   The Farm. “Farmers are about to be rechristened and revered as the new social elite,” says Doty Horn, Benjamin Moore’s director of color and design and the author of the Color Pulse report. Locavores seeking locally grown foods, farmers’ markets, and rooftop gardens are evidence of this influence. Expect to see gingham checks, plaids, hopsack, and burlap textiles and patterns. Colors are in hues of milk, hay, earth tones, and farm-grown foods.
   Order. Global chaos has spawned a craving for order and balance. The forecasters say we should watch for detailing “such as studs and stitching used to outline and define the shape of a chair or the placement of a pocket.” Geometrics and stripes will show up in fashion, architecture, and design. Representative colors are black, white, and the gray scale.
   Escape. A search for balance leads to “the intersection of the real and surreal,” according to the trendmeisters. “Sheer textiles, glycerin finishes, pearls and transparent materials are well matched to gauzy, veiled colors with a decidedly feminine bent.” The colors that go along with this trend include pearlescent white, lavender, pink, rose and violet.
   Tribe. The world has become a patchwork of tribes. “The scale is not tipping in favor of one hemisphere vs. another; it is finding its balance in our acceptance of and respect for one another,” say the forecasters. In 2011, look for more textiles featuring animal patterns, embroidery, and handwork decoration. Representative colors are bronze, burgundy, butterscotch, and Brazilian blue.
   The forecast is fun to read, even though it feels “new age-y” to me. (Of course, I was sitting in a pyramid burning patchouli oil whilst perusing the materials.) But I understand there has to be a hook and that the authors must entertain as they inform.
   Doty Horn is leading webinars every month, beginning Oct. 7 through May 2010. They are free and they earn CEU credits for architects and designers. Register here.—Jim Carper