Design for Living: Pantone's Marsala Paint Choice for 2015

Spring will be here in 4 weeks and I've started thinking about ushering in the new season with updates for the home.  It could be a fresh coat of paint, new window treatments, rugs, or change of throw pillows.  Pantone, Inc. the leading color authority has anointed Marsala as the paint color for 2015.  According to Pantone, "The impactful, full-bodied qualities of Marsala make for an elegant grounded statement color when used on its own or as a strong accent to many other colors".  Named for Marsala wine, a fortified wine made in Sicily with an alcohol content of 17 - 20%, its cousins are port, sherry and madeira.  Dry or sweet, it's more often an accompaniment in culinary dishes rather than sipping by the glass.  As the tone is a rich earthy brown red, it warrants careful consideration before applying, otherwise it can easily make a room look more like October than April. One very complementary pairing option is with orange, pink and cream fabrics and bronze, matte gold metals for a luxe Bohemian vibe like the photo below.