Design Trends 2017

With 2016 coming to a close, I wondered what design trends might be in store for 2017.  Being a previous design student, a lifetime ago, one thing I learned was to pay close attention to commercial trends.   because two years after commercial trends begin the trends wander in to interiors.  Pantone choses the colors, and each year release the color of the year, usually one year in advance.  The new color trends enter the fashion world first, then interiors.  The reason for Pantone?  In order for manufacturers to create everything you'll need to coordinates with the new colors; shoes, bags, scarves, rugs, towels, linens, they must have time to manufacture the goods.  Pantone is that lead. Commercial formats have the first indication of the color trends to come.  In the past few years I've noticed brown, taupe, rust, wine, and the revival of dark green automobiles.  As trends catch hold the colors become more prevalent. I couldn't help thinking, we were returning to jewel tones soon.  What would that transition look like?

The 2017 Mercedes AMG G63 SUV wear "Jade Green Metallic".

Photo credit; Mercedes Benz

Trends tend to cycle in ten year intervals.  We've been neutral for that time period.  During a trend period changes are subtle; accent colors, metals, variation of style.  For example designers will introduce modern art in a seemingly traditional space, or begin to use flea market finds. When one trend fades away, the replacement is something clearly different.  I wondered how the next trend would appear, blowing in like a gale force wind, or quiet transition?  Well, hold on to your hats friends, here come the jewel tones...again.  

Photo credit Daily Mail

Sherwin Williams 2017 Noir color collection includes "Anchors Aweigh" a rich navy, "Marea Baja" an intense peacock blue, "Mature Grape" a deep eggplant purple, and "Alchemy" a golden yellow with a hint of green undertones.  You may view all the 2017 Noir color collection here .

Benjamin Moore 2017 color pallet includes jewel tones; "Shadow" a stunning deep black purple, "Dark Burgundy" a merlot shade, "Guacamole" an intense avocado shade, "Knoxville Grey" a soft blue green based grey, "Amulet" a soft wheat shade, and "Grandfather Clock Brown a soft warm brown. You may view all the 2017 colors here .

Elle Décor featured an English country home this month; Somerleyton Hall. You may read the entire story here. Interior designer Laura Ingrams worked with the owners, Lara and Hugh Crossley of the historical property to restore it while adding a fresh new face to reflect the young family who call it home.  The family allows public tours in a portion of the house, taking care to preserve the history, and architectural details of the home.  The spaces seen by the public are more traditional. The colors are most certainly jewel tone, rich blues, and purple accented with grey dress the public library.  Traditional in style; blue and white porcelain, a French antique desk, a stunning velvet sofa, and antique rug anchors the space.  The club chairs covered in Bennison Lorenzo fabric feature contemporary lines and a traditional fabric.  Notice the pillows on the sofa; layers of jewel tones anchor a geometric modern pillow taking center stage.

  

Photo credit Elle Décor

The private spaces feature bright color trends; drapes made from Bennison "Pavilion Stripe"; pink, orange, and oyster stripe on linen, paired with cool grey walls and cabinetry, antique rugs, and contemporary art, create a layered space.  The room is sensitive to the history of the home, while being as young and vibrant as the family who calls it home. 

Photo credit Elle Décor

The "Crimson Room", features Colefax and Fowlers silver silk, lined in ticking by Ian Macking. The walls are dressed in another Bennison fabric featuring a stunning large medallion pattern, "Lorenzo" again in pink.   Again we see a layering of textures; traditional pattern upon the wall in a trendy color, a magnificent antique bed dressed in a combination of silk and pillow ticking, paired with a white quilt prevents the room from becoming stuffy. Imagine the same bed dressed in velvet.   An antique rugs grounds the space, and pulls the color scheme together.

Photo credit Elle Décor

I think many designers will continue upon the trend of an eclectic mix; traditional, modern, mid-century, blended with vibrant colors and patterns.  For the trendsetters, this style will be Chic, and all the rage.   This trend isn't for everyone.  It appears a bit chaotic to some of us; a mix of textures, colors, and styles it can be a bit overwhelming.  Although, I must say it is never boring. Studying the layering of each room you'll find an interesting use of elements; below a 1970's Chinoiserie desk is paired with a similar style étagère, furry stools at center, a blue and white club chair sporting a leopard print faux fur pillow, a blue slick glass ginger jar lamp dresses the modern side table, a collection of rustic stars are the focal point of the back wall, set atop traditional picture molding while earthy wood parquet flooring grounds the space, and traditional toile wallpaper are seen through the French door.  For some this room excites, for others, they don't know where to look.

Photo credit One Kings Lane

Here, in America over the past three years we've experience our own phenomena; Chip and Joanna Gaines. The HGTV trendsetting pair have created a very specific style; vintage, farm and ranch style. The duo certainly have affected the Interior Design world.  In a way that I believe may have left most designers a bit confused.  Joanna is a marketing major, she's is not a designer.  Her relaxed farm ranch, collected look lends itself well to families and can be accomplished on a budget.  We all know how important affordability in design is.  Her style allows the average person to have a creative, personalized space without taking out a loan. Each space she creates reflects the homeowner to an extend; whether its using an antique bike as art above the desk of a family of cycling enthusiast, or using a poem written by a father for the groom and bride as a focal point in a room, she personalizes each space she designs.   I think her influence, and the trend of farm ranch casual style will continue for at least the next three to five years.  I believe the style is going to evolve, as trends do, subtle with small changes in an effort to keep it innovative and fresh.  I believe there will more color, and cream linen will make way for leather and jewel tones as seen below is this space created by Joanna Gaines for the HGTV show, "Fixer Upper; Old World Style".

Photo credit HGTV Fixer Upper "Old World Style"

With the darker jewel tones, we can expect to see warmer colored fabrics, and I predict more textured fabrics as well; flannel, wool, velvet and leather will most likely come back.  With leather's return, an over all more masculine feel may slowly arrive upon the scene, as a direct opposite to the past trend of feminine white linen.  There seems to be a subtle reference to earthy colors, with that. it would make sense to see a return to natural elements in our homes; terracotta, slate, warm wood, and hand made ceramic tiles. With the return of jewel tones we can expect rich patina brass accents to wander back around, rather than the shiny gold brass of 2016.  I think in addition to brass, we may see forged iron enjoy a come back.  The room below featured in Architectural Digest last month, designed by famed Michael Smith for Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos; features a warm color pallet, antiques paired with more casual upholstered pieces, a stunning French mirror is a focal point between the windows, a natural landscape graces the fireplace wall, and an antique traditional Asian rug anchors the space.  The room is layered, collected.

Photo credit, Ali Wentworth and George Stephanopoulos,  NY Apartment, designer Michael smith

Kitchens I believe are going to change a great deal, colored, and stained cabinetry, free standing rather than built-in feel.  I believe layering is going to grow popular again, think English country style.  Rooms will begin to have a travelled, and collected, worn, a historical and lived-in feel once again, romantic and rustic. 

Photo credit Veranda Magazine

Slipping away in the next few years will be all white interiors, white sofas, white slip covers, and  sparse rooms.  Sleek, chrome, nickel, and stainless will begin to fade. The Hollywood Glam trend will dim. Light floors will give way rich warm wood tones, and crisp linen will give way to soft comfortable colorful fabrics.  I fear Carrera marble will no longer be chic, although Carrera is a timeless element, and looks great with jewel tones as well as neutrals. White subways, and glass tiles will probably become a bit passé as well. I truly fear that white cabinetry will be replaced with colorful painted or stained cabinetry. Although white cabinets are bit like a "little black dress", they are timeless in the right space.  

Photo credit Veranda, designer Suzanne Kastler

I'm not a huge trend follower.  I tend to walk my own path. Our home is a reflection of who we are as a family.  That said, our home is also by far our largest investment.  It is important to keep updates to our home, somewhat trendy, so that in the event we need to sell, we may obtain top dollar.  I strive not to create permanent  elements in our home that are too personalized; for example turning a guest room into a functioning wine room. Personalizing is fine as long as you understand you most likely will not obtain a return upon your investment, and your personalization is a self indulgence.  I keep in mind function, appeal, and marketability, while creating spaces where our personality shows  in accessories, paint, and fabrics that are easily changed.   With our little cottage, I too must be respectful of history, ever mindful of Sybi's past, she's a 1900 storm survivor, a Victorian lady. Blending a home, the trendy with your personal style, keeps your surroundings fresh. I tend to use trends sparingly, the ones I like will wander in - our ever changing interior. I'm one for change, evolving, never growing stagnant. I tend to wander where the breeze moves me -

Whatever 2017 holds for the interior design world, I'm certain we are standing upon the brink of something new.  I'm looking forward to the journey into the future, sharing my thoughts with you, and hearing your thoughts as well.

Until next time, wishing you all the best -

 

Cottage Christmas Home Tour 2016

We've decked the halls for this Christmas.  This year is different from last.  I spent a bit of time mucking about on Pinterest, and on Danish blog sites.  I became intrigued by paper ornaments.  In our foyer I used an antique paperback French book, to wallpaper the back wall of a pre-existing door frame.  I'm drawn to antique books, the feel of the pages, the older language, proper English.  People today speak differently, the last generation was more formal, than present.  I find it interesting how our language is changing.  The internet, emoji, texting are all having an influence upon English.  I decided this year to add book pages, and wording "Joyeux Noel" to our Christmas décor. I've tried to keep the "theme" going throughout the cottage, using paper, wording, lettering, and repeating "Joyeux Noel". The approach is simplistic. 

The color scheme neutral, and quiet; grey, silver, beige, and crème with a hint of brown. The cottage is small, rooms are open to one another. A simple approach, with natural elements; sticks, pine cones picked up at my parents home one Thanksgiving, feathers from the dove that wander about our garden, paired with a the Victorian element of wreaths to represent our cottage's era, and a quiet color scheme to flow seamlessly from room to room provide a warm Christmas hug.   

The foyer greets guests with a wreaths hung from beige taffeta ribbon, centered in windows. Hanging wreaths over windows is a Victorian trend.

I add cuttings from our garden to a blue and white porcelain ginger jar, then decorating them with ornaments, and folded book pages.  The ornaments are hung from small silver metallic ribbon, while the book pages are tied with small crème satin ribbon.  A few bits of Christmas clip art, pair together with "Joyeux Noel" to create a bit of art, in the frame on the table.  A collection of glitter letters, placed with a votive candle inside a cylinder finish off the table vignette. The "Merry Christmas" sign, is a tradition, Jr. added it. 

The opposite table, features a Christmas tree created from antique book pages, cut and folded, then affixed with a small bit of hot glue to a pedestal post.   Christmas cards are being hung by brown satin ribbons to the shutter doors, covering our shelf niche.

The fixture over head is dressed with a wreath on top, and a grouping of three ornaments hung from crème satin ribbon.  I cut a wreath on one side with bolt cutters, pulled it apart enough to slip it around the chain, and balanced atop the fixture. 

I made a few simple ornaments for the tree, pages folded into circles, hung with a tiny gold ribbon.  I think they add a bit of texture to the tree.  We used our usual assortment of silver glitter, charcoal grey, satin silver, satin grey, and a few glass ornaments.  We have a few long blown glass icicle ornaments, the fellas fuss over. 

Each year I ready the tree with lights, greenery, ribbon and a tree topper.  This year I took the sunburst mirror on a stand, that usually sits behind our Santos on the dining table, apart.  I placed the mirror at the top of the tree. Once I have the foundation created, the guys, decorate the tree.  I sit back with a cup of coffee and giggle.  "I think I already put one of those there, don't hang another one so close.  How many of those glass dangle things have you put on?  I get to put on four too." 

My favorite ornament creates a fuss; hand carved wooden spheres from Africa.  Jr; "I don't know why she wants to put these on the tree, they're heavy." Mr. GDC; " You'll have to find the right place for them." Jr; " She's got these two loops on them, how are we supposed to hang them. It doesn't make sense."  Umm, fellas, I'm right here. What would Christmas be without the guys having a debate over the orbs? It's tradition. 

Well done them.  Each year, they manage amidst the fuss to create a lovely tree. Though one may have placed more long dangle things, than the other, and in spite of the heavy wooden orbs.

This year we chose to place the Christmas tree on display in the large front window, behind the dining table.  We actually like it there, it works well.  Our tree is small, the upper three sections of a previously nine foot high four section tree, a hand me down gifted by a friend.  I used to put her tree up for her every year. One year she purchased a new one. Score! The bottom section broke several years ago.  We place the remaining three sections in a pot, to give it some extra height, it's about 7 feet tall, and maybe 36" wide.  Petite.  I string 100 lights per foot upon it to set it aglow, then stuff it with Christmas greenery.

The Santos this year is holding a silver wreath. A wreath surrounds her base, and a grouping of three ornaments are inside her cage bottom. 

The dining chandelier is dressed with faux greenery, silver ribbons, and an assortment of ornaments hanging from various bits of crème ribbon.  I used tiny string, 1/4", and 1/2", it's what was in the cupboard. 

The keeping room, is under construction.  I purchased a project, a petite antique daybed.  I'm currently working on cushions, pillows, and staining the bed.  I had the best of intentions of having it finished for Christmas....meh. Best laid plans.   Did you notice the elephant in the room?  We purchased a recliner. Cough. I'm still getting over the shock.  It's a leather, Norwegian recliner, with a steel frame, dressed in very soft dark taupe leather. Cough. Not sure how this happened, I think it has something to do with me lacking the ability to say "no".  I'm working with it.

In this room we have a twin to the large front windows.  I chose to create banners, one for each side of the window using art paper.  Upon the art paper I lettered "Joyeux" on one banner, and "Noel" upon the second in silver glitter maker. Each banner is hung using silver glitter ribbon from the picture molding and allowed to fall down the wall.   Inexpensive, simple method of decorating an empty wall. 

Upon the sofa table, we placed my husband's nativity set.  Lovingly made for him by his grandmother. A few fewer ears, yet we have every piece.   It is a precious heirloom. 

The chandelier is dressed with greenery, silver ribbon, and an assortment of ornaments, repeating them theme from the dining room. Repeating elements is a lovely way of relating spaces; using an underlying theme, repeating a color, or repeating a fabric create a seamless design plan, allowing your furniture, and accessories to take center stage, while giving your home a warm inviting, cohesive feel.  Repeat elements, it's a designer trick.   

The kitchen bay window again repeats the wreaths hung from beige taffeta ribbons.  Upon the island Saint Nick in his sleigh, filled with presents and toys, pulled by one golden paper mache reindeer takes center stage. 

Saint Nick sometimes finds his way upon the tree, on a mantle or sofa table. 

View back toward the front of our cottage. Someday I plan to paint the island a color. When the great wall comes down.  Maybe I need those Polish guys from "Under The Tuscan Sun"?  The cabinetry upon that wall will be moved to Mr. GDC's workshop.

My grandmother's table cloth dresses the window.  We are on what's called a "0" lot. The house behind is a few feet away. The cloth obscures the view.

A hand carved nativity from Nicaragua sits atop a French book page, accented with greenery and a silk bow.  The set is a gift from a friend, her daughter did missionary work there. They are a special part of our Christmas décor. Behind, another tree made from folded book pages.

At the other end of the kitchen is our laundry closet, disguised again with my on of my grandmother's tablecloths. We removed the original levers from the doors, trimmed the opening, and hung half of the cloth inside each door.  Mr. GDC attached a chalk painted board across the middle mutton bar.  I write little bits of fun there.

Presently "Joyeux Noel" dressed the petite chalkboard.  This arrangement works well, the tablecloths enable the washer to breath and dry out when not in use.  The chalkboard greets guest, wishes Happy Birthdays, and offers a word of the week complete with a definition.

Thank you for stopping in for a visit.  I'm working on a few projects, including drapes for Mr. GDC's home office.  Hopeful to complete them this week. 

Until next time, wishing you all the best,

and a Happy Holiday to you;

Joyeux Noel, Habari Gani, Happy Hanukah -

Christmas Cottage Exterior  2016

We've been "decking the halls" around the cottage.  This year we chose a simple approach.  We'll be painting the cottage soon, Sybi as I refer to her.  She has a bit of a personality disorder due to renovations, and updates.  Sybi, originally was a Victorian Folk Cottage, constructed in 1894.  She's been through many curators in her lifetime, each leaving a mark.  The personalities left by her curators, gave her a bit of an identity crisis; Victorian, 1940's Cottage, and contemporary as well. 

It is time for Sybi to have a fresh dress. Here on the Gulf Coast, the combination of heat, humidity, sun, and sea spray is unbearable upon paint.  With the current mild temperatures, we are beginning the arduous task of painting our beloved Sybi.  With her split personality, we've decided upon white. I know, it's boring.  White will give her some continuity;  quiet the geometry of her French windows, and tall slender Victorian windows, and bring herself together with the carriage house, and the detached garage.  Just wait until you see her dressed in white. She's going to be lovely.

Here she is in her last bit of blue Christmas cheer

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Until next time, wishing you all the best -