Ace Hardware Brings the Glamour of Fashion's Biggest Week

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Sep 10, 2014) - With fashion's biggest week coming to a close, the industry's most recognized designers have defined the trends that consumers can expect to see in upcoming months. The colors, shapes and textures from this week's curated collections will not only impact the wardrobes of fashionistas across the country, but also other aspects of consumers' lives, from home décor to beauty. To assist homeowners looking to add a fashion forward touch to their décor, Ace Hardware, the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world, has tapped its team of Design Experts to provide consumers with home décor and color tips inspired by the top trends of fashion's most buzz-worthy week.

With more than 30 years of combined interior design and color selection experience, Ace's Design Experts -- Julie Richard (Boston, Mass.), Katie Reynolds (Dallas, Texas) and Nathan Fischer (Orange County, Calif.) -- have selected their top home décor tips based on the most popular trends observed on the runway, along with a coordinating color palette from Ace's exclusive Clark+Kensington® paint+primer in one.

"Fashion leads the way when it comes to style trends and the home is one of the best places to bring the looks of the runway into your everyday life. The mix of bold graphics, billowing silhouettes and striking colors can easily translate into home décor," said Richard. "Just as the fashion industry's designers update their looks every season, consumers can now breathe new life into their homes by utilizing our fashion-inspired tips and paint color recommendations."

The following décor tips and Clark+Kensington color recommendations from Julie, Katie and Nathan will add a fashionable touch to any home this season:

• Classic black and white were threaded together through many top designer collections this season. Incorporate this graphic pairing into the home with a bold wall pattern such as stripes of varied width. Try it with Clark+Kensington Chalk CW-C2 , a bright white, and Clark+Kensington Midnight Stroll N-C16 , a deep, cool black.
• Models walked the runway in billowy, flowing silhouettes that evoked an effortless and ethereal mood. These same principles can be applied to freshen up your space at home. Try slipcovered furniture and puddled linen drapery with soft pastels such as Clark+Kensington Carefree Days 08C-3 , a lovely blush hue, Clark+Kensington Summer's Night 30B-2 , a fresh mint green, or a lavender like Clark+Kensington Happily Ever After 41C-2.
• Olive Green graced the catwalks of numerous designers and established itself as the "new neutral" for spring. This color pairs well with many different colors in fun and unique ways, but if a neutral palette is preferred try Clark+Kensington Chopped Sage 23B-5 alongside grays, whites or blacks for an updated take on this classic look.
• Some designers opted for bright colors and graphic patterns in hues of emerald and persimmon. These shades work best in the home as accents and can be used to freshen up anything from a vintage chest or side table to the front door for a daring statement. A lush green like Clark+Kensington Swiss Chard 29D-5 or an orange-red such as Clark+Kensington Chilled Gazpacho 09C-7 in a high-gloss finish are ideal hues to bring this color trend into the home.
• Shades of blue ranging from navy to teal to the palest sky blue graced runways all over the city. These hues are perfect for a bedroom or bathroom -- create a calming atmosphere with Clark+Kensington Morning Mist 34B-3 , a soft sky blue, or a teal like Clark+Kensington Seaside Manor 31C-4 . For a more intimate feeling, try Clark+Kensington Midnight Oil 36B-7 , a dark navy. Pair any of these blue hues with a crisp white for a modern designer look.
• Monochromatic palettes also made a statement across New York City this week and can easily be incorporated into almost any room of the home. For a cheerful look, try Clark+Kensington Cocktail Hour 39B-6 , a bold purple, with a complementary accent such as Clark+Kensington Second Chance 39B-2 , a light and airy lavender. 

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 recently ranked #1 for the second year in a row by a leading consumer magazine in 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.

Designed to help homeowners find the perfect paint color, The Paint Studio at Ace 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 or visit www.clarkandkensington.com .

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 retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world. 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 .