Brighten Up Your Summer With Ace Hardware's Top Color and

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Jun 19, 2014) -   Ace Hardware, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the industry, reveals the summer's top color and home décor trends just in time for the official start of the season. Hand selected by Ace's Design Experts, Katie Reynolds (Dallas, Texas), Julie Richard (Boston, Mass.) and Nathan Fischer (Orange County, Calif.), these color and design trends allow homeowners to bring the warm, sunny days of summer into their homes while embracing some of the season's latest trends.

With over 30 collective years of interior design experience, Ace's Design Experts curated a palette, utilizing colors from the Clark+Kensington® paint+primer in one collection, that features vibrant citrus hues and bold, nautically influenced colors balanced with watery pastels and deep, rich tones. "Summer is one of those seasons that homeowners countdown to all year long and after an extended winter across most of the country, this summer is one to celebrate," said Richard. "We're excited to share our color and décor tips, which were designed to encourage homeowners to bring the best moments of summer indoors. From sunny, cheery colors that pack a punch to peaceful pastels, we're sharing our favorites for the season alongside easy tips to incorporate these trends into your existing home décor."

Julie, Katie and Nathan have chosen the following Clark+Kensington colors as the summer's most desired hues:

• A nautical color scheme never goes out of style and is perfect for the warm summer days ahead. Paint a living area in classic tones such as Frost CW-C3 , a pale white, on the ceiling and a deep navy like Shimmering Sapphire 35B-7 on the walls. Add colorful accents, such as lamp bases and accessories, in Red Dragon 05D-5 for a pop of color. Finish this look off with striped textiles and natural limed wood pieces.
• Take a cue from the season's lively fashion trends and add fresh, bright energy to a powder room, home office or guest bedroom with a daring combination of citrus colors. Try Pink Grapefruit 06D-2, a bold pink hue, Lemongrass 24C-4 , a lovely lemony green, and Galapagos Islands 22C-5 , a warm chartreuse, together in a single space on walls, ceilings and furniture.
• Stay on trend with a dramatic effect this summer by using a rich, dark hue for a quick hallway update. Gothic Iron 34A-4 , a deep shade of blue gray, is an impactful backdrop for a collection of gallery mounted artwork or family photos. The dark charcoal tones will allow the white mats and photos to pop.
• Soft pastels can feel cool and calming on hot summer days. Try a warm purple such as St. Germain 42A-3 , a crisp, pale blue like Arid Tundra 38C-1 or a lighter purple shade, such as Song Bird 42B-2 in a bathroom for a stylish update. Add crisp white shades or shutters and white towels to complete this calming look.
• Rich sapphire and jewel tone blues like Atlantic View 35D-5 make a gorgeous statement and will give any room a sultry, upscale feel. Add to the brilliance of the color by using a high gloss sheen on a cabinet, door or piece of furniture within the room.
• A bright citrus color such as Yucatan Yellow 20D-5 can add a breath of fresh air to the home. Keep the style clean by using plenty of white. It also works as the perfect backdrop for a white sofa.
• Deep, muted blues or charcoal grays are perfect to create a cozy atmosphere in a bedroom. These dark, rich colors can also provide a luxurious update for a dramatic powder room, dining room or relaxing den. Use Midnight Stroll N-C16, a deep, tranquil charcoal or a soothing blue tone, like Dreamcatcher 35B-6 or Artistic Blue 35C-7 to bring the effect to life.

To inspire homeowners to bring the season's latest trends into their homes, Ace's Design Experts recommend the following décor tips to pair alongside their fresh summer color selections:

• Look for unique geometric prints or patterns and utilize them in your décor whenever possible. Try them on fabrics, rugs and tiles for a fun update to any room.
• This summer, go matte when it comes to things like glass, tile, wood flooring, countertops, cabinets and natural woods. This modern finish is in full force and applies to elements that would normally have a polished or glossy finish.
• Refresh old bedding with a simple duvet and shams in a crisp, clean white for summer. Add a pop of color with accent pillows and a brightly colored quilt or throw that can be changed out easily and regularly.
• Replace traditional blinds with simple drapery panels, fabric roman or woven wood shades to bring natural light and a modern feel into a space.
• From chair frames to wood flooring, natural toned woods are gaining popularity this season -- it's no longer just for rustic or reclaimed furniture. Use this wood for a more contemporary, on-trend look.
• A bold patterned rug can anchor a room and pull together any color palette. Stick to solid shades for the rest of the room and tie it all together by pulling from the colors found in the rug.

Clark+Kensington, a premium line of paint+primer in one, is available exclusively at the new Paint Studio at Ace. Its semi-gloss finish was ranked #1 by a leading consumer magazine in recent tests of interior paints. The paint line features designer-selected hues that cover the entire color spectrum, providing homeowners with a selection of beautiful, livable colors that meet each of their varied needs.

Designed to help homeowners find the perfect paint color, The Paint Studio features eye-catching color racks, unique pullout drawers and easy to use color cards to simplify the color selection process. Paired with the helpful service and knowledgeable advice customers can expect from Ace associates, The Paint Studio provides a world-class paint experience right in consumers' neighborhood hardware stores.

For more information on Clark+Kensington or Ace's Design Experts, please stop by your neighborhood Ace Hardware Store or visit www.clarkandkensington.com . 

About Clark+Kensington Clark+Kensington, a premium line of paint+primer in one, is available exclusively at Ace Hardware and its semi-gloss finish was ranked #1 by a leading consumer magazine in recent tests of interior paints. The paint line features designer-selected hues that cover the entire color spectrum and offers simple color selection tools to help customers find their perfect color.

About Ace Hardware For 90 years, Ace Hardware has been known as the place with the helpful hardware folks in thousands of neighborhoods across America, providing customers with a more personal kind of helpful. In 2014, Ace ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Home Improvement Retail Stores, Eight Years in a Row," according to J.D. Power. With more than 4,850 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest hardware cooperative in the industry. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace and its subsidiaries currently operate 14 distribution centers in the U.S. and also have distribution capabilities in Shanghai, China; Panama City, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Its retailers' stores are located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and approximately 60 countries. For more information on Ace, visit www.acehardware.com .