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What’s hot and what’s not
11/05/08
Trends trends and more trends, we are inundated by trendy clothes and home décor on a daily basis.
Even vehicle manufacturers have seemed to jump on the bandwagon and are making cars more stylish than ever.
It can be difficult to stay away from time-limited trends when decorating your home because we are always seeing so many beautiful things.
I have seen clients take weeks to make a decision on a product only to change their mind at the last minute by seeing something new and exhilarating.
There are always new products being introduced. I have designed hundreds of homes and have not yet run out of ideas or colour combinations. Trends come and go and quite honestly some can stay gone as far as I am concerned.
HOT – Leather: Leather is the buzzword for fashion and home design in all mediums, it is sleek and cool and comes in endless colours – it is this year’s must have textile.
NOT – Poorly imitated leather: If something is trying to look like leather but is clearly not it may be time for an upgrade. If you use armor all to polish your sofa or if your furniture is waterproof, it may be time go to furniture shopping!
HOT – Glass beads/glass tile: Glass beaded trim is necessary for draperies and accessories such as lamps.
Glass tile is being installed in record numbers, glass tile comes in dozens of profiles, shapes, finishes and dozens of colours. It adds a beautiful reflective quality to any wall where you may need a bit of dazzle.
NOT – Smoked or gold veined glass tiles: You know the ones, from that 70s basement bar? Backsplashes and glass feature walls were an influential decorative item back in the days of Woodstock.
Leather vests with fringe have not come back in style and neither have these stick on glass sheets.
HOT – Retro prints (paisley, pin dot, plaid): Some things never go out of style and certain patterns evolve and change and always fit the current landscape.
Paisley and plaid are classic patterns which have always been popular for clothing, drapery and furniture, these classic Scottish patterns will be popular forever. Pin dot is classic and chic, fits into any design theme and is easy to mix with other patterns.
NOT – Retro prints (wagon train/south western): We have all seen or had that couch with the covered wagon retro brown/cream/orange combination. These couches usually have a ruffled skirt on them in some scratchy form of faux velour – yikes!
I am of the mindset that many south-western patterns should be locked in the design vault. Rule of thumb – if it has an animal skull or bones on it, it may be out of style.
Styles come and go, it is fun to remember the various styles we have lived through.
I am constantly amazed at what does return to fashion after being dormant for many years. My daughter is wearing the 80s inspired headbands I used to wear in Jr. high. It is a sight to see!
My most important rule of design is live with what you love. Live with only those things that bring you constant joy. If it is unused or unloved do not keep it around just to have it clutter up your home. Often a renovation can be accomplished in a weekend of clearing out clutter.
Kim Lewis is an Interior designer with Carpet Colour centre. Please feel free to contact her with design questions at 343-7711, email klewis@carpetcolourcentre.com or visit at 5001 19 St. Southpointe Common
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