{style inspiration} Making Marsala Modern: Learning to Love the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year

I know I was not alone in thinking that modern and Marsala don’t go together, so I decided to share some of my favorite photos from Houzz to prove that the Pantone Color of the Year can actually be a great addition to modern decor!

Some of these rooms are extremely modern, while others are a bit more transitional style, but everyone of them appeals to my design eye. I found the color being used in lots of different ways – from subtle accents to bold statements, and while I can’t imagine I’ll be painting a wall or tiling my bathroom in this color any time soon, the photos I’ve selected do inspire me to give Marsala a second chance in my home office.

One final note before I show you the pretty pictures: not every one of these photos is an exact match for Marsala – some are a bit more redish and some are a tad more purplish, but all are in a similar color family.

Without further ado, I present MAKING MARSALA MODERN…

…PAIRED WITH BLACK & WHITE

Contemporary Family Room by Atlanta Interior Designers & Decorators Dillard Pierce Design Associates

Transitional Living Room by Boston Interior Designers & Decorators Rachel Reider Interiors

…IN THE DINING ROOM

Transitional Dining Room by Los Angeles Architects & Building Designers Tim Barber LTD Architecture & Interior Design

…ON AN INDUSTRIAL LIGHT FIXTURE

Industrial Living Room by New York Architects & Building Designers Ira Frazin Architect

…IN SMALL ACCESSORIES

…AS LARGE ARTWORK

Modern Living Room

…AS SMALL ARTWORK

Modern Bathroom by London Home Builders MDSX Contractors Ltd

…WITH DARK WALLS

…IN A LOUNGE

…ON THE CEILING

Eclectic Living Room by Traverse City Architects & Building Designers Lankford Design Group

…ON THE FLOOR

Modern Kitchen by Olympia General Contractors Bicycle Homebuilding Company

…ON KITCHEN CABINETS

…ON A BACKSPLASH

…INSIDE CABINETS OR BOOKCASES

…ON SHELVES

…ON THE COUCH

…ON A CHAIR

…ON THE OTTOMAN

…ON A LAMP & PILLOWS

…PAIRED WITH NAVY BLUE

…IN A BRIGHT HOME OFFICE

…THROUGHOUT A GREAT ROOM

…IN A RUSTIC MODERN SPACE

…ON THE FRONT DOOR

…ON THE PATIO

…IN A TEEN BOY’S ROOM

…IN A TEEN GIRLS ROOM

Contemporary Bedroom by Washington Interior Designers & Decorators Supon Phornirunlit / Naked Decor

…IN THE BATHROOM

Contemporary Bathroom by Melbourne Photographers Michelle Williams Photography

Modern Bathroom by Costa Mesa Tile, Stone & Countertops Famosa – The Surface Studio

…ON THE WINDOWS

…AS AN ACCENT TO GRAY

…AS AN ACCENT TO BLUE GRAY

….AS A COMPLIMENT TO TURQUOISE

…ON A FEATURE WALL

Now I want to hear what you think! Do you love Marsala, or love to hate it? Can you picture it in your home? Do any of these photos inspire you to see the color differently?