Thursday, November 30, 2017

Wrapping it Up!

“Trend forecasting” is always a hot topic this time of year, so we asked designers and showroom staff which design trends they have seen emerge recently and believe will continue to gain steam in 2018. Conversely, we were curious to learn which trends they believe have overstayed their welcome.

“We are seeing more porcelain tile installations with bold patterns coming back. A great representation of this is the Terra tile collection by Marca Corona (pictured above), which incorporates geometries and patterns in a modern style. Another tile trend gaining steam is the three-dimensional look. Nilo by Wow Design Studio (pictured above) is one of the many collections available displaying this look.” 
– Lynne Moran, Showroom Manager at Virginia Tile

“It appears that the 2018 color trend is going to be B-O-L-D! All-white interiors and cool gray tones have exited the building and consumers are craving and embracing warm rich shades of brown, black, and green. It’s time to move to the dark side! Several paint companies have already announced their 2018 Colors of the Year and they are all intense, saturated dramatic hues:

  • Benjamin Moore: AF-290 Caliente (a warm radiant red with brown undertones)
  • Sherwin-Williams: 6496 Oceanside (a deep, moody blue-green)
  • PPG 1043-7 Black Flame (black infused with indigo)

In conjunction with this trend, dark woods are making a comeback for furniture and cabinetry. Rosewoods and walnuts are seeing a re-emergence. For my clients’ family room pictured above, we used Benjamin Moore’s Black Forest Green on the walls. It’s a dark inky-green that almost appears black. The room is blessed with plenty of natural light, but to offset the dark walls and the rosewood built-ins, we left the ceiling painted white and added ample recessed lighting. Accordingly, a light butterscotch leather sectional and lots of color in the fabrics, furnishings, and accessories help enliven the space.“ 
– Linda Shears, Linda Shears Designs

Maria Kramer, Gallery Director at City Lights Detroit – A Visual Comfort Gallery, expects several lighting design trends to expand in 2018. “Our Visual Comfort products will continue to feature an exciting range of natural materials like mixed metals, stones, ceramic, marble, and alabaster. Alexa Hampton, one of our top lighting designers, sums it up well when saying, 'As with all design right now, lighting is all about multiculturalism.'” Maria also foresees the continuing merging of technology and lighting. “With the advancement of LED technology, the possibilities in design are truly endless. LED technology now allows for new cutting-edge designs, which are tailor-made around much smaller light sources.”

Four of Duralee’s design directors even pitched in with their thoughts:

“I'm so over Chevrons, Ikats, and Suzanis. In terms of upcoming trends, I’m seeing an overarching theme of “wellness” emerging. Our homes are our sanctuaries and they should make us healthier, not sicker. I think we are going to see a rise in the movement for more natural, less toxic textiles. On the same note, most of our furniture needs to serve dual purposes, so performance fabric will become even more important.” – Samantha Baker, Design Director, Duralee Prints

“The all-white room is DOA. There’s a need for more personalized environments – rooms with a true point of view. With that, I’m seeing a return of color and pattern, with multi-colored prints and wovens making their way back into the marketplace. There’s also a renewed interest in classic design, with crisp, edited interiors and attention to detail that has been overlooked in recent years.” 
– Anne Hahn, Design Director, Bailey & Griffin

“I’m over Millennial Pink, Chevrons, Shibori and the mid-century craze! Warmth is coming back to interior spaces. Fabrics like wool, velvet, and leather in rich shades of camel and espresso are combined with lush, nubby textures to create a cozy environment. Mixing unlikely materials together like brass and cork, wood and marble, velvet and leather are being used in home and commercial spaces.  And we can’t ignore performance in today’s interiors. Our demanding lifestyles require more ease in maintaining our products, especially our fabrics, and we will see more choices available.”
 – Kimberle Frost, Design Director, Highland Court

“I'm over the bohemian trend. As a designer and buyer of fabrics, I enjoy the bohemian unabashed layering of pattern and textiles. However, I'm ready for a re-interpretation of the style that is refined with contemporary art and nuanced color palettes. And speaking of color, I want a new pretty hue that is not blush. Trends that I see for 2018 are, deep 'masculine' colors, a yearning for tactile textures that create a cozy and safe space, and a desire for artisan goods that support disadvantaged communities.” 
– Latoya Johnson, Design Director, Duralee Wovens