Living in a metropolitan area has its own joie de vive. City dwellers take great pride in interior design as more time is spent inside the home than outside of it. Décor accenting is simple and far from time consuming. Working with a designer to create a refreshed update is one option, another is creating the look oneself, staying ahead of design trends, perhaps combining what is new with a classic twist.
Each interior space has a personality of its own. In 2011, we’ve seen bolder hues for color, such as brighter greens and yellows. For 2012, a more subdued color palette is trending, inclusive of grays and browns, neutralizing the intensity of every color hue. Bolder colors take a softer appeal such as wall painting, draperies and overall style schemes. Reds are still reds, and blues are still blues, yet when mixed with grays as a base template or neutralizer, the outcome is a more relaxed visual feel.
The key to reinstating a new ambiance to an existing luxury estate is use of detail and personality. For 2012, there is a greater consciousness in personal style, adopting a “greener perspective.” Consumers are taking a more personal perspective for design expectations. Furniture made from organic fibers rather than synthetics help the environment and reduce toxins in the air. A cleaner way of life, natural fibers and elements reduce the risk of health hazards inside the home, hence creating an environmental trend with great staying power.
Infusing Personality Breeds Sophistication
Incorporating an idea to fruition takes more than style sense. Designing the most intimate spaces speaks volumes about personal taste. A fearless approach with sophisticated tones sets the stage for an inviting space. A neutral shag with an analogous brown color scheme compliment the leather sleeper for any city dwelling. Antique elements such as a clock side table, an antique dresser and a modern original art installment make a statement of cultured elegance. Being bold about pattern choices can truly modernize a living space. Custom-upholstered chairs stained in an ebony finish make excellent reading chairs fit for conversation.
Be it ultra modern, old-world elegance or anywhere in between, a “less is more” approach is taking shape. A Zen-type feel can make a space truly delightful and incredibly functional. Old is becoming new. That charming 18th century antique from the attic may work even with the most modern of settings. A romantic appeal with warm tones and eclectic accents can transform any space into a designer’s dream. Metallic shine on fabrics, embroidery on pillows and window treatments are style trends re-emerging in family room settings.
Brown tones are welcomed in bathroom spaces, creating a bedroom-like feel. Large vanities, antique accents, heated marble floors and multiple shower heads complete a luxury space, more than what an aged powder room used to be. Heated flooring tiles are not just for slate kitchen floors. Luxury now goes beyond the five-star hotel, spa or country club: every day living is finding its luxurious niche, with saunas, steam-rooms and whirlpool deep tubs the decorum for every well-appointed bath.
For the next year consumers are moving towards traditional Americana, antiquing and all products made in America. The homage to U.S. craftsmanship is slowly becoming the designer’s answer to the hybrid automobile. Natural light, organic tapestries and do-it-yourself (DIY) accenting is chic and desirous amongst social circles. Table settings and pairings are creative. A fine dining lace tablecloth with stone-pottery tableware would make an excellent match between rustic and formal settings.
Traditional Meets Eclectic
Traditional designs become more eclectic with more creative pairings of form and function. With a “less than more” approach, interiors are exemplifying old-world elegance with new light. Open floor plans are architectural gems for 2012 as they utilize the trend, the Zen-like experience. That said, much energy centers within the kitchen, still the “heart” of most homes.
Luxury kitchens will evolve into more storage space for cabinetry and countertops. Granite is the most favored counter for current kitchens, and Corian, marble, even glass counter spaces are becoming an alternative to standard choices. Keeping an updated look can be as simple as introducing a new color into a room however so, than doing an entire architectural overhaul.
The “green” movement will continue to influence new construction. Toxin-free materials, such as glass, metal and forest-certified woods, are now used in building plans in lieu of plastics and chemical-ridden adhesives. The new consciousness will make a DIY attitude into its own status symbol, a fresh design perspective that never goes out of style.
By Julie Bilotta
