Designers reveal the most popular looks in interior design right now that will continue through the next year.
Creative Craftsmanship `
[dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#2277d8″]1[/dropcap] Renowned interior designer, educational speaker, and author Mary Knackstedt points to the trend for hand-craftsmanship. She noted similarities between home fashion and apparel after perusing a recent exhibit at the Museum of Art & Design in Manhattan called Counter-Couture: Handmade Fashion in an American Counterculture which celebrated the handmade fashion and style of the 1960s and 1970s.
There are parallels in current culture, she said, as today’s Millennials are gravitating toward fashion with that same spirit.
“There is a love of refined craft as a reaction to extreme simplicity,” Knackstedt explained. “People are wanting more than the ordinary. There is also a resurgence of designers involved in the production of textile arts,” Knackstedt remarked, referring to the popularity of the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, among other artist colonies, as an example. (Penland offers workshops in books and paper, clay, drawing and painting, glass, iron, metals, photography, printmaking and letterpress, textiles, wood, and other media, with many of those courses taught by full-time studio artists.)
Many manufacturers exhibiting at the Fall High Point Market reflected this trend for hand-craftsmanship in their introductions. Knackstedt observed an appreciation for wood artistry, evidenced by the many case goods companies at market utilizing the grain of the wood by blending it in artistic ways.
“Design is not [only] coming from the main design centers; there are little pockets of design everywhere in America,” Knackstedt stated. “We’re seeing incredible things coming from the most obscure and unexpected places.”
One of those finds at High Point Market is a family business in Iowa that is growing in leaps and bounds. The Kendrick family owns the largest logging and lumber company in Iowa and has parlayed that business into a successful wall art company (named Kendrick) using leftover wood from the sawmill, plus the Shimlee line (using discarded “shims”) that transfers customers’ treasured photographs onto wood surfaces such as keepsake boxes, as well as a custom cabinet company (called Forever Cabinets). Those brands are not only sold to the trade at venues such as High Point Market, but they are also sold to consumers at the Kendrick family’s store The Markket. “We’re in a town of 800 people, yet people drive from over one and a half hours away to see us,” noted Rhonda Kendrick, whose daughter Morgan is just one of several family members in the business.
TOUCHABLE TEXTURE
[dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#2277d8″]2[/dropcap] High Point Market Style Spotters Lance Jackson and David Ecton of Parker Kennedy Living observed that textural looks were all over market.
“We are always drawn to textures as we shop High Point, as we are constantly looking for products to bring a deeper look to our designs. We saw materials like leather on chests of drawers, galvanized metal shaped in skirts on consoles, and painted lamps that gave the illusion of depth while being smooth to the touch,” they said. “Texture is always a good thing, you can never have too much.”
A rich grey wash on the wood surface complements the grey terrazzo top. The Shingles Collection includes a console, a pedestal, and an accent table.
MIXED MEDIUMS
[dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#2277d8″]3[/dropcap] Interior designer Knackstedt pointed to another blossoming trend: the juxtaposition of contrasting materials such as wood with metal or even a mix of wood species on one piece. “There is even a blending of synthetics – such as Lucite® and Corian® – and natural materials,” she explained.
AU NATURAL
[dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#2277d8″]4[/dropcap] In their post-High Point Market musings, Style Spotters Anishka Clarke and Niya Bascom of Ishka Designs observed caned, rattan, rope, and wicker maintaining a strong presence in interiors. “Some companies are reinventing these artisanal pieces in a modern way,” they noted.
ARTFUL ANGLES
[dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#2277d8″]5[/dropcap] High Point Style Spotters Tami Ramsay and Krista Nye Nicholas of Cloth & Kind pointed out the prevalence of angles. “From intricate geometric embroidery to dramatic polygonic furniture, we spotted angular designs all over High Point,” they remarked. “Angles bring a sense of dynamism into a space. These pieces offer a different perspective on traditional furniture forms.”
The trend pundits at Ferguson® Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery agreed, especially when it comes to lighting. Naming the trend “IlluminAngles,” Ferguson’s experts noted sharp edges, acute angles, and clean lines. As it applies to lighting, they pointed to fixtures that combine an open framework and vibrant light source to illuminate geometric silhouettes.
“Each year our product experts extensively work with our industry partners and trade professionals to identify consumer trends and the next wave of innovations for the home,” said Mary Hannah Fout, Senior Marketing Manager for Ferguson. The company then compiles the team’s research into a handy Trends & Influences guidebook. “We use Trends & Influences to provide consumers with a comprehensive glimpse into what will be trending throughout the country. While a homeowner’s style may be Farmhouse Modern, we’ve curated a selection of products that blend with a wide variety of design styles. Our recommendations are just the starting point of possibilities,” Fout explained.
A Lot Of Lux
[dropcap style=”letter” size=”52″ bg_color=”#ffffff” txt_color=”#2277d8″]6[/dropcap] There is an emphasis on rich textures and luxurious materials in the marketplace. Ferguson’s experts call the trend “A Touch of Luxe,” which showcases glamour and a sophisticated aesthetic. “Elegant and understated charm displayed through opulent textures, rich finishes, or sparkling gems that beg to be touched” is how they described it, adding, “Beyond looks, these decadent products also enhance luxurious experiences.”
