by JESSICA HINDS

IT'S BECOMING MORE NOTICEABLE every day. Bajans are definitely going for brighter colours for their homes.

Rapidly disappearing, it seems, are the sombre greys, stately browns and gentle creams that for many years were the prime choices of homeowners.

Appearing all over the island now are houses sporting rich allamanda yellow, ocean blue, bright pinks and even greens.

The trend towards hues that reflect the tropical splendour of the island has not been missed by the paint companies, painters and decorators.

Karen Grant, who works in marketing and is a colour consultant at Berger Paints Barbados Ltd. says she has noticed a move away from the more traditional towards brighter, more vibrant colours in the last year and a half.

Peach and orange shades are particularly popular she says.

At Harris Paints Barbados Ltd. sales representative Patrick Blunte says he has noticed the shift as customers saw a trend towards bright colours and followed suit. He says yellows, greens, and peaches are the most popular colours.

"It wasn't as widespread as it is now," agrees Justin Brewster a supervisor at Brewsters Enterprises Inc., a paint contracting company.

Brewster says he probably sees an even match of customers who want vibrant colours and those who stick to the more traditional off-white and earth-toned shades.

However, in the past, a lot less people were interested in the bright colours, he explains.

The first drawback that may discourage people from choosing a vibrant colour is fade which is intensified by the harsh Caribbean climate.

Grant says she has noticed people choosing a very bright colour in the hope that when it fades it would be the shade they really wanted.

Good surface preparation helps to combat fade, says Brewster, who does not recommend that people choose a colour that they will not be happy with until it fades.

Less problematic

He says fade is becoming less of a problem as paint companies are now making colourful paints with a synthetic pigment instead of the more fade-prone organic pigments that used to be found in the colourful paints.

"You can actually now go a little bit wilder with your colours instead of being conservative for longevity," he says.

As for what factors influence one to choose a brighter colour, Grant says younger customers are more likely to choose a lively hue.

"I'm tired of this drab colour. I want a change," is the rationale Brewster says he hears behind the new colour choices.

He explains that the colour you choose may also have something to do with the side of the island you hail from. While a coral colour, with a Mustique or olive green trim is popular on the West Coast, South Coast inhabitants will opt for a variety of vibrant colours.

Grant also contributes the shift to a computerised colour tinting machine that allows the customer to have the colour of an object duplicated in the form of paint.

Bill Thompson says he chose to paint his South Coast home green because he wanted to do "something different".

The difference can certainly be seen islandwide as Bajans make colour choices that at one time may have seemed strange, but are now becoming the norm.