Hello, pals. Thank you all for your kind words and support about our sweet baby girl. I mean, wow. This has been the shock of a lifetime... but one of the most fun things that has ever happened to us! Obviously, I'll be redesigning the nursery so stay tuned for updates on that soon!
Today, you're in for a treat. I've invited some of my absolute favorite design bloggers to share their thoughts about interior design trends in 2014. I've created a supah-star panel and these ladies have some seriously interesting answers to my oh-so-intriguing (if I do say so myself, ha) questions.
Sit back, grab a latte and take notes, because this is some seriously great insight on design trends in 2014!
My amazing panelists include:
And, of course, I'll add my two cents in along the way!
What current design trend do you want to
kiss on the mouth because you love it so much?
Michaela: Poufs and cute ottomans. They're functional, provide extra storage and
seating, and are SO darn cute. Oh, and the style options are endless (as
are the price points), so everyone can find something to fit their pouf
needs.
Kirsten: Incorporating brass. I feel like it takes a room to a different level and everything looks more expensive to me in brass.
Cassie: All of a sudden I can't get enough of dark, moody rooms, with bright accessories.
Sherry: Black and white stripes. Thick, thin, I love them in all shapes and sizes.
Courtney: I want to hug and kiss the return to more classic and traditional
pieces. I can't tell you how much a room sings when it boasts a tried
and true vintage piece or one that shows of gorgeous detail. A think
people feared the traditional as boring or uninspired, but people are
starting to embrace it once again while working in their own
personalities and color scheme.
Michelle: Big, fat floral patterns. They remind me of the fabrics in my great-grandmother's living room! Also, fun metallics like gold and brass.
What current design trend do you dislike so
much that it makes you want to commit some sort of horrible crime like deleting
the season premiere of Downton Abbey
from your DVR before you even watch it?
Courtney: I am not picking up the neon trend. I think it is fading as quickly
as it tried to come back on the scene. It's just not my comfort level in
design.
Kirsten: I tend to like more trends than I dislike. I get really into trend
and I love finding subtle ways to incorporate them into my home.
However, I am feeling a little over arrows and triangles. I think the
tribal trend was so hot in 2013 it may have been a little over-done. But
as long as I'm seeing it used in new and creative ways I can never hate
on a trend too much!
Michaela: Rooms that are too glam or overdone, look too perfect (not lived in) and
rooms that are decorated extremely modern. Those types of rooms make me
feel cold!
Sherry: I don't like anything that's not comfortable or functional. So any
decorating choice that's akin to sleeping in spanks (like a chair that's
pretty but super uncomfortable) is a don't for me.
Cassie: Well, since I don't watch Downton, it's hard to know if my hatred
runs quite that deep! And honestly, I can't think of one thing that
makes me cringe every time I see it!! I think almost anything goes, if
used in the right context. And really, if it makes you happy, bring it
on!
Michelle: I'm really not a fan of anything that's super high glam. It can be pretty to look at, but I think it's so far-removed from being functional in my life (hello, two kids under two!) that I just can't grasp the style.
Whether you liked it or not, what trend
from 2013 do you think will stick around in 2014?
Sherry: I think modern geometrics - like tiled triangles, diamonds, squares or parallelograms - are going to stick around for a while. (Heck yeah, dad, I just used parallelogram in a sentence.)
Michaela: Gold, gold, gold. And I'm not mad about that! I think mixing metallics
(silvers and golds) will continue to go strong all through 2014. This
trend only happens once or twice a decade. I'm certainly happy about it
sticking around for the year!
Cassie: I'm still not tired of painting stuff, especially painting stuff gold.
Courtney: I don't think chevron is going anywhere. And when used correctly, I
still swoon over it. I think it's a bold, easy pattern that brings a lot
of life to a space. Even if it's been seen everywhere, it has a life of
it's own. Really loving the herringbone pattern which seems like a more
sophisticated chevron print.
Kirsten: I think a lot of trends are here to stay. I saw a rebirth of vinyl
wall decals and I think we'll keep seeing decals on walls. The trend is
to use them in really graphic ways which keeps the look from feeling too
overdone.
Michelle: Chevron. It's all OVER the place! And I honestly still kind of love it myself. Keep on going, chevron, keep on going.
What interior design trend are you tired of
seeing being used over and over and over and over? And over?
Courtney: I struggle with this question. I could name a million things but then
I see something done right or well in a home and I am back on board.
For instance, mercury glass. I have it. You probably have it. It's
everywhere and not so exciting anymore. But then I walk into a home that
has a gorgeous pair of mercury glass candlesticks on a rustic farm
table and I love them all over again. I was that kid who never had a
favorite toy, stuffed animal, or color. I kind of like them all. Bottom
line. If it's being done well. . . I don't care what it is. It works.
Cassie: Again, no one trend turns me off...unless someone is only using it
because other people use it. If you create a space just for you, that
makes you entirely happy, then I love it! Even if it's not my exact
style and taste. Ain't no one living in your house but you! (well, and
your family, but they don't get that much of a say. I kid. Kind of.)
Kirsten: I think we are all sensing that chevron is getting tired. But I still
love a chevron pattern that is unique. I like Ikat chevron, thin
chevron or tone-on-tone chevron but just a basic chevron pattern doesn't
do much for me anymore.
Michaela: White walls and white furniture with little color throughout the room.
While I love my neutrals, I'm ready for a bit more color (not
necessarily on the walls, just in general!) I'm so over seeing home
offices decorated minimally with white walls, a white lacquer desk,
white chair, white drapes, a colored inspiration board and patterned
rug. Surely everyone can't truly love the same style!
Sherry: That's a hard one because as my buddy Jonathan Adler once said (just
kidding, I wish he was my buddy) "I hate to hate." It really is true for
me, because I'll think I'm so over something, and then I'll see someone
do it in such a fresh and amazing way. For example, if I think
chalkboard paint has been done like crazy, I'll walk into a cool cafe
and see something amazing done with it. And just like that I'm hooked
again. Darn it design trends, I just can't quit you.
Michelle: Mason jars. I mean, seriously, they're so trendy. And everyone has them. It's like people think they've been around for over a hundred years or something. Ha. Kidding, people. In my own home, I'm tired of seeing white. Lots of white accessories... picture frames, lamp shades, textiles. It's really time for me to add some dimension and weight with black and metallic accents.
Rub your crystal ball and tell me what you
think you see as the biggest design trend in 2014?
Cassie: Balls! Not as in accessories, but like cajones. By that, I think
people will more and more embrace their own style and joy, and follow
the beat of their own drummer. Pinterest be damned!
Kirsten: I hope we see a resurgence of floral patterns. They have been huge in
past years but I feel like people went more towards stripes and graphic
prints last year. I will always love a good floral so I'm hoping my
clients never get sick of them!
Courtney: My magic 8 ball says all signs point to moody rooms filled with
timeless classic pieces. I think people will start spending more money
on classic, well made items and keep the trends to paint colors and
walls. I see moody blues mixed with tufting and a mix of metals.
Michaela: Can I do a top 3? Because I cannot seem to narrow it down! 1. Saturated
colors like turquoise, blues and navy. A cool palette will definitely
reign! 2. As our society becomes even more individualistic, I think the
one-of-a-kind, vintage pieces will be really important to people. I can
see old pieces of furniture upholstered in new, more "modern" fabrics
becoming extremely in. 3. Layering. Layering rugs of different textures,
layering sofa's with tons of plush pillows for a "lived-in" look,
layering your mantle with a hanging mirror and other framed pictures
leaning against it, layering colors, textures and prints. Our culture is
becoming less formal and leaning more toward the casual, cozy look
(which I tend to love!) so this layering trend will reflect that
characteristic.
Sherry: I'm going to go ahead and say "quirk." I think more people want a
room that feels like them, so just like we're seeing cheeky sweaters
with funny and random things on them (like narwhals, mixed tapes, and
llamas), I think people are loosening up at home. So instead of aiming
for an 100% perfect, elegant, or sophisticated home, they're more likely
to add a dose of something quirky, casual, and fun - just to make the
room feel personal and approachable. For example, a print of a squirrel
wearing a three piece suit with a monocle, or a gold lamp that's shaped like a high-top sneaker.
Michelle: I think this is the third time I've mentioned this, but metallics. All the way. I don't know who doesn't love them. I can foresee all of the major retailers launching sparkly metallic (think: gold, silver, copper, brass) lines this year. I know metallics are out there now, but I think we'll see them in full force in 2014.
Alright, now let's hear your thoughts. Leave the answers to your favorite questions in the comments! What do you see on the radar for 2014?!
Thanks to all of my sweet blog friends for participating!
