Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Because of the holiday season? Maybe. But in the design worlds it is the announcement of the Pantone Color of the Year that brings excitement to December.

Pantone is the world’s leading expert in colour and has been presenting the Color of the Year for over 20 years, influencing design decisions in colour conscious industries such as textiles, apparel, as well as interior, architectural and industrial design.

Last year, for the first time in Pantone’s history, the Color of the Year was a new creation: PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri. This year it’s another new colour, representing empowerment, courage and experimentation: PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta.

“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.

Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”

— Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute

Viva Magenta is a crimson red tone that strikes a balance between warm and cool. Being a hybrid colour, it “comfortably straddles the physical and virtual in our multi-dimensional world.” This colour creates an electrifying statement that “revels in pure joy, encouraging experimentation and self expression without restraint.” This red tone is bold and has the power to influence positivity in the worlds of design.

Photo by John Schaidler on Unsplash

Since Viva Magenta was only announced this month, it may be a while before you start to see the colour in consumer products but it will emerge in fashion, textiles, technology and beyond. You can welcome this fearless colour into your home by creating unusual colour combinations in textiles, adding bold paint in subtle places or by picking textures and finishes that incorporate the concept of Viva Magenta, adding an element of strength and positivity to your space.

And after the last couple of year we’ve all had, who wouldn’t want that? Viva Magenta!

Rooftop over Edmonton neighbourhood

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Winter brings a sense of wonder, coziness and comfort, doesn’t it? Warm fires, comfort food, cozy blankets, Christmas movies…

The home becomes a refuge in the throws of winter. But it can also introduce some weather related issues in and around the home. Through routine maintenance checks and preventative maintenance, you can avoid winter-related disasters, keep your home functioning at an optimal level and enjoy your holidays.

Now that we’ve received another blast of Winter, it’s time to start checking things off the Winter Home Maintenance list.

1. Inspect doors and windows
   Feel a draft somewhere? If you didn’t catch this during your Fall maintenance check, take action now! Seal any gaps and cracks to prevent heat from escaping the house. Repair caulking around doors, windows and anywhere there are wall penetrations (vents, faucets, outlets etc.). Inspect the weather stripping on doors and windows as well and replace, if necessary. Each draft eliminated will increase your home’s efficiency and lower your home energy costs.

2. Clean The Fireplace
   If sitting by the fire on a cold winter’s night is your idea of the perfect night, give a certified chimney sweep a call to clean it out before using it regularly. This is a necessary safety measure for any wood burning fireplace since the build up of creosote and soot inside the chimney could potentially start an even bigger fire.
   
   On that note, make sure any fire extinguishers in the house are in good working order and easily accessible. Double check your emergency exits are left unobstructed.
   

3. Check Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
   This becomes increasingly important in the colder months when windows are closed and wood burning stoves and fireplaces are being used. Test, test, test!

4. Maintain The Furnace
   Change the air filters regularly. Clogged filters can cause the furnace to use more energy and be less efficient. To ensure your furnace is operating safely and efficiently, have it serviced by a qualified professional on an annual basis.

5. The Roof! The Roof!
   As mentioned in our ‘Prepare Your Home for Fall’ blog post, inspecting your roof can help prepare you for any necessary repairs. It is the first line of defence against the weather so it’s put through a lot. Not only check for missing, loose or buckled shingles but look out for cracked or worn boots around vent pipes as well as masses of moss or lichen where possible decay would lay underneath.
   
   Remove large amounts of snow from the roof as soon as possible and regularly clean the gutters. Keeping both of these things clean clear of snow and debris could prevent ice dams, leaking and any further damage.

Roof of custom built home framed by Archive Contracting & Design

Whether you love the Winter Wonderland or you love to enjoy a cup of hot cocoa by a roaring fire engulfed in fluffy pillows and comfy blankets, the importance of maintaining your house is paramount. Although these tasks take time and effort, the warmth your home brings to you and to others, will be worth it….guaranteed.

United Way campaign poster for Coats for Kids & Families

In 1992, the United Way of Alberta Capital Region started the Coats for Kids & Families campaign due to an abundant need for winter wear throughout the community. Alberta’s winters can be extremely uninviting and many families just simply cannot afford to buy any winter wear to get through the harsh weather.

The Coats for Kids & Families campaign is an annual campaign which runs through to the New Year. Once the items are brought in to United Way, volunteers sort, group and package them to be delivered to agencies that distribute the items to the people who need them.

In 2021, 38 community partners received and distributed 4,860 winter outerwear items to those in need. This year, many more are expected to be in need of things like: coats, toques, mitts and scarves due to the ripple effects of the pandemic and rising inflation.

Archive has once again committed to help keep Edmonton warm this winter by collecting winter outerwear for children, women and men in need. We have already received contributions from our friends and families but will continue to collect into December to help as many families as we can.

If you would like to contribute by donating any clean, gently used (or new) winter wear, please send us a DM through our social media channels or email jacquie@archivecontracting.com to arrange a day and time for pick-up.

Coats for Kids & Families is one of the many community services and programs the United Way Alberta Capital Region provides to families who are living in poverty. For more information on what they do, please visit www.myunitedway.ca.