There’s no denying that velvet is luxurious and beautiful, and this season it has home decor designers under its spell. You’ll find velvet fabric being used in chairs, pillows, drapes and more. Because it can be a bit showy, be careful to only add touches of it throughout your entire home. More than one or two velvet pieces in a room can begin to look overdone.
Furniture designers are finding many creative ways to adapt to new forms of technology and the common household uses of devices like the iPhone and iPad. The traditional alarm clock of yesterday has become irrelevant and there’s always a need for another USB charging station. Welcome to the modern home!
JonasDamon.com
Rich Neeley Designs via Etsy.com
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Homeowners are less afraid of color these days. Experimenting with color on your interior walls is one thing, but a little pop of color on the exterior will give your home an instant splash of style. We’re talking about the front door! And you don’t have to worry that it will turn off the neighbors, or potential buyers if your home in on the market. If you’re not sure where to start, look at your plants and pots for color ideas. Also consider your architecture, as not every color works with everything. Lastly, always use a high-gloss finish if possible.
An argyle pattern is made of overlapping diamond shapes, and comes in any color combination you can dream of. It dates all the way back to 17th Century Scotland where it was commonly used for kilts and socks. Today, though we still love a good argyle sock, the diamond design is popping up in everything from light fixtures to landscaping. We love the sense of three-dimensionality, movement and texture it lends to any space.
Photo: Houzz
Photo: West Elm
Photo: Houzz
Looking to commercial designs of residential developments for new trends and ideas that are happening is always a good indicator of the next big thing in home design. We talked about outdoor living rooms in our last blog, and another aspect that we’ve been seeing like crazy are folding glass walls.
Often called Nano Doors (which is actually a popular brand who manufactures them) they are doors that can either be slid into a pocket wall, or into an accordion. At first glance the walls look like floor to ceiling glass windows, but each panel is actually attached to a hidden overhead track that allows the panels to easily slide open. A pocket wall will allow them to disappear from view once opened, resulting in a very cool effect. There are endless colors and finishes to work with including wood and aluminum, making them a great fit for a modern or traditional home just the same!
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Pinterest
Paisley is showing up in surprising guises, from fashion runways to home accessories. The pattern represents movement, energy and variety which reflects the emerging mood which is bolder and ready for action! If you’re looking to punch up your decor without doing a total overhaul, adding a few paisley accent pieces will make your home look absolutely modern without leaving you absolutely broke.
Photo: DesignSponge.com
Photo: CostPlus.com
Photo: Marye-Kelley.com
Expanding the interior
The desire to integrate outdoor living into our daily lives by creating these finished outdoor living rooms often requires a few bells and whistles. We love a built-in fireplace and/or kitchen. Done well, outdoor living rooms are furnished with all weather furniture, accessories and rugs, professional outdoor kitchens, and outdoor lighting- all of which rival indoor furnishings for beauty and functionality. Extras such as pizza ovens and wine fridges are icing on the cake.
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Chameleon Design
Photo: Architectural Digest
Nothing adds interest to a space like a bold geometric print. These eye-catching designs can really help liven up your interiors and transform your living space to create a contemporary look and feel.
From an area rug to a small accent such as a colorful throw, find a way to incorporate this trend into your home. You won’t be disappointed!
Rug: Vanderhurd.com
Throw, Jonathan Adler
Tray: Apartment48.com
A big trend right now in residential design is a built-in desk in the kitchen. I happen to love this trend because, if you’re like me, the kitchen is the one room in my house where I spend the most time. It’s always where the action is, and who doesn’t like to be apart of the action?
We’re all leading busy lives and those with children still at home can be even busier. In order to get it all done and stay sane, we have to learn to multi-task. Therefore, having a desk in the kitchen where you can pay bills, answer emails, make grocery and to-do lists, all while cooking and doing the laundry, is a genius idea! It becomes the nerve center for all of the household items that you need easy access to. Here are some photos we found of kitchen desks done right:
Photo: Chameleon Design
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Better Homes and Gardens
Faux bois, French for false wood, imitates the look of real wood and was all the rage in modern design of the 1930’s and 40’s. Today, we’re seeing faux bois wall coverings, place mats, vases and more- all with a fun and contemporary twist. The traditional rustic motif is suddenly very hip, so get your hands on some of these great pieces!
Photo: Devinecorp.net
Photo: Martha Stewart Collection
Photo: Pinterest
