by lauraadmin | Jan 30, 2018 | NOC
January is one of my least favorite months. It is long, cold and by the end of the month I am starting to realize that my zeal for achieving my resolutions is starting to wane :0 One of the only reasons I like January, is the excitement in seeing the new trends in home design. Some people have an aversion to trends (even the word itself launches some into a soliloquy on how style should be timeless, blah blah blah. I have a blog post saved up just for this topic).
In the beginning of January everyone is throwing out his or her predictions for the new trends. However, by the end of January, the Industry Influencers have spoken and the trends have been set. Here are some of my favorite trends forecasted for 2018:
New Year, New Trends
ABSTRACT FLORALS
I love abstract anything! I love when it is left to the individual to interpret what he or she is seeing; I feel that it makes an object more interesting. This is how I feel about abstract floral prints. The subject is timeless, but its expression is more modern. This is why pairing an abstract floral with geometric patterns look so rich.
VINTAGE DECOR
Using vintage items in a more modern space will be all the rage for 2018. This has been one of my favorite and most satisfying additions in my projects with clients. Using vintage elements takes the “newness” out of a recently redesigned room. It gives the room a more curated feel, as if the room unfolded over time. I LOVE this vintage Parisian Salon Mirror from Wisteria. It adds the perfect dose of history and glamour to this dining room.
WHITE PAINTED ROOMS
Fall 2017 was all about the jewel-tones and rich velvet. 2018 is calling for a “palette cleanser” of whites. White painted rooms are by far one of the hardest to get right, but when done right, they take a room to a whole new level! There are so many undertones to white that choosing the best white for your room is based on SO MANY factors: the direction the room faces, the tones of other elements in the room, light sources in the room, etc…. Enlisting an expert really is key to getting this color done right! Here are some of my favorite white paint colors:
CURVY FURNITURE
Like the addition of vintage elements, you will see a lot of curvy furniture in 2018! We have had a long run of minimalist decor. Modern Farmhouse is a trend with very square edges and clean lines; a very no frills look. Love it or hate it, this trend is on the decline. Curvy, more ornate furniture will be big for 2018. The KEY to getting this look right, is using only ONE piece in a room. Using more than this, will put you over into the “overly traditional” category. If that’s your thing, great; otherwise, stick with using just one piece of furniture in this style.
NON-STAINLESS APPLIANCES
Hallelujah to the end of the stainless trend! While I think stainless appliances were a nice addition to kitchen design, like granite counters, they have had their run! It is time to add color and different finishes to kitchen appliances!
This GORGEOUS Le Cornue stove is such a work of art! The black finish and mixed metals are so stunning and such a statement piece, that I can’t imagine this stove ever going out of style! Since I think mixing appliance materials is a definite “design-do” (limit to a max of two finishes) I think having all stainless or all black appliances and mixing in a stove like this would be beyond stunning!
GOLD DECOR
Gold metal has been big for the last 5 years. Industry Influencers have predicted that it will continue to be “the metal” for another 10 years. I still have a lot of clients that are hesitant to embrace this trend. However, the clients that have made the leap have never turned back! Gold gives a warmth and richness that chrome just can’t achieve! While I like chrome, it conveys a completely different look. Builders are still using chrome for their spec houses (and a lot are still using granite :0 )
If you are going to choose a metal, choose gold or brass. If you are still unsure, at least choose pieces that are mixed metal pieces. For a few years now, mixing metals in kitchens and bathrooms has been popular. I love the way it looks to mix! You won’t regret choosing gold or brass over chrome.
I hope you enjoyed my trend forecast for 2018. Let me know if there are any trends I’ve missed.
xo
Laurie
by lauraadmin | Jun 10, 2017 | NOC
2017 has been a whirlwind; the past two months alone, I have doubled my client roster!! I have been a busy bee with lots of really exciting design projects ranging from a kitchen showroom, media room, a few family rooms, tons of kids’ rooms, a couple of formal living rooms and so much more!! I can’t wait to share my finished projects with you.
One of my favorite things about being a designer is that (for obvious reasons) no two projects are alike. Interior Design is a study in psychology, sociology, economics and fine arts. Each project is different and stretches me in ways that always leaves me feeling like a better version of myself by the end of it. I enjoy getting to know each of my clients and hearing about their lives, as well as what role they would like me to play in the design of their home.
I always begin asking about how my clients want their space to feel. I have learned that asking clients this question, as opposed to how they want their space to look, allows me to lead the design process by instinct. Since clients often have trouble articulating how their space should look (hence, my role in the process), this is the best place to start. I strive to find unique ways to achieve the clients’ dream room. I love when a client says “I never would have chosen any of this, but this is EXACTLY how I wanted this room to look!”
With all of the diverse projects I’ve been working on, I thought I’d share a quick post on things that I am loving right now.
- White Painted Rooms
Gray has completely taken over the market the last few years. It is EVERYWHERE!! I love gray; it is a great neutral. However, it has been overused and is beginning to lose the characteristics that initially attracted us to it. In addition, when everything and everyone is using gray it begins to suck the life out of a space.
I have been really loving white-painted rooms. White rooms need not translate into boring spaces. Quite the contrary; a space with white walls can be very dramatic. Painting walls in white lets you control where the focal points are and orchestrate what elements you want to showcase and what elements you might want to hide. It is no secret that art galleries favor white paint to draw focus to each piece of art. It is the same for interiors. An heirloom piece is so much more impactful when showcased in a white room.
Bright white paint with blue undertones is perfect for a modern room; white paint with pink or yellow undertones is more suitable for a rustic interior; and white with gray undertones is perfect for a transitional space.
I love the clean and sophisticated backdrop that a white-painted room provides. However, white is a very fickle color. Hands down, it is the hardest paint color to pick because of all of the undertones. When done right, it feels fresh, calm and allows all of the right elements to shine. When done wrong, it feels cold, boring and sterile.
Below are rooms where white is done beautifully:
2. Antiqued Mirrors
Antiqued mirrors are the easiest way to add interest and patina to a room. This element immediately elevates any room or piece it adorns. Adding an antique finish is not cheap, but the visual payout is HUGE!!!
There are so many antique finishes to choose from; they can range from blue, black, brown and gold. Choose the finish that best conveys the look you are going for, or that shares the same color palette as the rest of the room.
I have backed bookcases, added to cabinets and used them in a myriad of decorative ways. I can not say enough about antique mirrors; I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this finish!!
3. Lucite
This is the finish that I get the most initial push back on from clients, and the one they ALWAYS love once they take the leap. This is also a finish that looks horrid when done poorly. The key is in the material used, which usually coincides with the price. Thin, cloudy lucite looks cheap. Look for lucite that is thick (usually heavy) and crystal clear. The beauty of lucite is that it takes up no visual space; therefore, it is the perfect piece to put in small spaces or if you want to highlight a beautiful area rug or wallpaper. There is MAJOR impact in this transparent material!
4. Matte Black
I have been loving this material for months now (see my post here). There is something really rich about this color. I have always felt that every room needs some black. Black is a neutral. Whereas some neutrals move the eyes through a room, black serves to ground a space and stops the eyes “dead in their tracks”. There is something so incredibly chic about black; the matte finish adds a more current feel to this versatile color. I always compare black elements with black eyeliner. Like black eyeliner, black serves to outline spaces and creates a portal through which one’s focus is guided. This is the reason I love to paint the moldings for doorways and windows in black.
5. Overdyed Area Rugs
Like gray, geometric rugs have been overdone. I still use them when the space warrants it, but I am loving the depth that overdyed rugs lend to a room. I also love the juxtaposition and tension that an overdyed rug creates in a modern space. The saturation in the dye, as well as its absence, adds a really interesting layer in a room.
I hope this post has served to enlighten and inspire you to try some of the elements I’ve listed here. What makes design so fun, is for the most part, things are easy and inexpensive to change. If you don’t like the paint, then repaint; if you don’t like a piece, return it. Design should not be stressful.
Our home is a reflection of who we are or who we would like to become. It is within those walls that we dare to be all that we truly are. Have fun. Be bold. Stay curious.
I would love to hear what you think of some of these trends. Let me know which, if any, you have tried and loved.
XO
Laurie
