Sherwin Williams declared their 2014 color of the year as Exclusive Plum (6263).  I was instantly drawn to it, even though I have never considered any shade of purple before.  After getting the paint strip, it looks pretty dark for me but I see lots of potential in the shades a bit lighter.  Purple is tricky because choosing the wrong shade ends up being either juvenile or down right tacky.  As my southern friends know, tacky is the kiss of death!  I think the key to the right shade is having more brown as opposed to pink.  Farrow and Ball has a color named Pelt that is pretty dark, but when mixed with the right combination of accent shades and pretty furniture, it becomes mysterious, fresh and sexy.  One of my best friends (who is a fabulous interior designer) just used lavenders and purples in the renovation of her house.  Her laundry room is one of the happiest rooms I have seen and the incredible block of marble on her kitchen island looks spectacular with lavender and stainless.  Maybe plumb is not your deal, but you have to admit a new shade to play with is good.  Although I love neutrals and crisp whites, a pop of sophisticated color makes the room sing.  Greige just got a new friend to play with...and I'm plum crazy about it!  (Note, both sets of grandparents were from Alabama - they were plum crazy about a lot of things!)

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Photos via Chinoiserie Chic, Farrow and Ball, Pinterest