Is that guacamole on your wall?

My first apartment in New York (the “real” one after dwelling in an interim basement for way too long) had a refrigerator that was an avocado color. And I painted the hood over the stove to match. One wall of the living room was exposed brick, which was really popular at the time, and I “exposed” the look of one kitchen wall by covering it with rough hewn crating wood. Yeah, that thin, flimsy stuff that fruit boxes are made out of. I have no clue where I came up with that idea; probably stolen from some other artsy-fartsy New York newbie. I painted my bedroom ceiling with an intricate scroll-like border that took forever to do. I was a youngish adult of the 70’s and proud of it. My tastes were admittedly transient and influenced by what (I thought) was groovy and cool at that time. Not kewl. Cool.

I had occasion recently to chat with Dorian, my own personal tech-geek who assists me with my computer hassles, and he told me he was working on a project for Pantone, the paint company, and he thought I might be interested in an article on their website regarding the rise and fall of color palettes in home décor over the last 40 years. Even though it is obviously a come-on to buy their paint it is still an interesting read.

http://www.pantone.com/pages/pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=19758&ca=4

I must confess to a moment of LOL when I read about the 1970’s decade wherein “the dreaded ‘A’ word of both fashion and interior designers--avocado--had the American consumer in a full nelson, especially in the kitchen.” The dreaded “A” word! Oh, my goodness, I was the laughing stock of the design cognoscenti of that era! How did that happen and why didn’t I know it?

Nonetheless, although my tastes have now turned toward the “new,” darkly-muted colors and I have utilized them in both my stone-washed tank tops and in the stone-washed accented walls of my home. However, not to be totally steamrolled by fashion, I still painted two facing walls of the small alcove off my living room in, yes, avocado!

I really like both the color and the fruit (or is it a vegetable?) and I see no reason to compromise either my taste for its color or my taste for its smooth, seductive flavor. In a sandwich, in a salad, on an omelet or raw, with a scoop of blue cheese dressing, it's nectar for the gods. I also really like a good guacamole dip with crisp tortilla chips. So there, Mr. and Ms. Pantone! He who LOL’s first…etc.