SIMPLY RED BELOVED PRIMARY COLOR MAKES A COMEBACK, BRINGING BRIGHT NEW LIFE TO EVERY ROOM.

Byline: Elizabeth Smilor Correspondent

Red is the color of love, and it's the color we love.

```Think red - you'll love it!' That's what I tell my clients,'' says designer Darla Blake of Darla's Unique & Chic Interiors in Toluca Lake.

Interior designers and merchants agree red should not be reserved for Valentine's Day hearts and flowers. Red, they say, is a cheerful color for any room in the house all year. It's showing up on dining room walls, kitchen appliances, bedspreads and everyday accessories.

``Basically we've found that anything we put red on sells,'' says Christiane Robinett, public relations specialist for Pier 1 Imports. Red dinnerware introduced for the holidays was so popular it's now stocked all year, she adds.

Lisa Ridolfi of Crate & Barrel says red along with orange and aqua tones will continue to be seen in its spring line of products. ``Red is a wonderful, bright accent,'' she says. ``A few pieces throughout a room will draw the eye from one end of the room to the other.''

Why is red so alluring?

``It's exciting, rich, sexy, classic and happy,'' says Blake. ``Red is timeless. It's one of the few colors you don't get tired of.''

``People are looking to the home to be a comfortable and happy environment - and red is such a bright, happy color,'' agrees Ridolfi.

Red is energizing, says Leatrice Eiseman, director of the Pantone Color Institute. ``It's like an adrenalin shot.''

The growing popularity of red is in line with a trend toward bolder colors in homes, she says.

``People have gotten braver about the use of color,'' Eiseman says, noting that at recent home shows in the U.S. and Europe, she's noticed more red tones. She was surprised to see a new Cuisinart line of countertop appliances in bright red - and more furniture with a red wash effect.

``Conventional wisdom assumed that high price-point items sold best with neutral colors. At the opposite end, bright shades were popular at lower, less expensive levels. But today, bolder color use is ripping through all categories and price points,'' according to the International Housewares Association Report in Appliance Manufacturer Magazine.

Home Depot's own color trend report also notes a shift toward bolder colors in 2004.

``We see color exploding onto the scene like never before,'' says Jason Feldman, Home Depot's director for style, innovation and design. ``Unassuming beige walls are being reinvigorated with vibrant, saturated hues, igniting a color revolution. The depth of color is an expression of boldness and emotion. Look for rooms to come alive with resolute strokes of deep-water blue, sassy orange and luscious red.''

For versatility, choose red, says Brandi Smith, kitchen design supervisor at the West Hills Home Depot.

``It can cross all design styles,'' she explains. For a country look, mix it with blue for a patriotic feel. Paint walls a deep red above wainscoting for a traditional look. Make a statement with red accent pieces in a contemporary setting.

``Red has consistently been used in traditional and modern spaces to create a special tone,'' says Los Angeles resident Kristan Cunningham, a host and designer on HGTV's ``Design on a Dime.''

She cautions, though, that finding the right red is crucial.

``The key is to decide if you want a blue- or orange-red. Primary red rarely works,'' Cunningham says. She suggests using fabric from the room to select the appropriate wall color.

She also suggests only using flat red paints because the color will be richer. Cunningham would not paint a kitchen or bathroom red because those rooms require a higher-gloss paint that sheds water.

``When used appropriately in the right dose, red makes a room,'' she says. ``Too much red is overkill.''

Blake, on the other hand, recently finished a kitchen with a high-gloss red ceiling and loved the reflective effect.

``I use it whenever I can get away with it,'' she says. ``Red keeps your energy level going, and people react to it. And it's love.''

Get red-y, get set, GO!

Here are some ideas from stores and designers on how to use red in your home:

Living room: Punch up this gathering place with red accents, such as pillows, vases, candles and picture frames.

Dining room: Paint the walls red, the color that stimulates your appetite.

Kitchen: Add an element of surprise to a white kitchen with red countertop appliances by KitchenAid or Cuisinart or with a red tile back splash. With wood cabinets, try red walls or a red-tinged countertop.

Bedroom: Create a romantic look with red toile fabrics mixed with red gingham or stripes.

Bathroom: Add red accents, such as bath mats or shower curtain. Or go bold and paint a small powder room a deep red - ``A dramatic look for $100 that looks like a million,'' says designer Darla Blake.

Kid's room or family room: Here's where bright primary red paint works for a fun, youthful touch.

CAPTION(S):

9 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) On the cover: Home Depot is one of the number of companies that sees a shift to red, in this case on walls, painted with Glidden Scarlet's Velvet.

(2 -- 4 -- color) Once reserved for cheaper lines, red is coming on strong in high-end furnishings, including this Litchfield daybed, above, from Restoration Hardware, with a red-and-white tickling-striped cover coordinating pillows. If you can't make a whole room red, use accents like this throw pillow, above left, from Pier 1, to add boldness to any space. No longer a seasonal color, eye-catching red is popping up in kitchen appliances like the KitchenAid mixer, below.

(5 -- color) Top right: Rustic Red serving bowl, from Crate & Barrel.

(6 -- color) Top left: Cuisinart five-speed blender.

(7 -- color) Above: Heart Baker Ramekin, from Crate & Barrel.

(8 -- color) Right: Trio of vases, from Pier 1.

(9 -- color) Center: Four-section Quatro Dish, from Crate & Barrel.

Box:

Get red-y, get set, GO! (see text)