“Gray. Whether it’s a calming dove gray or a much more dramatic charcoal, Lorts can’t get enough of this go-to color. Neither can interior designer Mary Nolte of Mary Nolte Designs. Nolte has tracked the emergence of gray & brings it into many of her clients’ homes. “I absolutely love the way gray looks. It is part of my favorite color combination - black, white, red & gray,” says Nolte. “Gray, like beige, can go in so many directions. Plus it combines well with numerous colors, like blue, green, even yellow, making it a perfect neutral.”