1. Bright & Saturated Color
If we look back at the 00’s as a decade of neutrals and soft, muted colors, I’m sensing that the teens are going to be all about high contrast and more vivid hues. Peacock blue, coral, orange, cobalt, yellow-gold, emerald green and fuchsia have been popping up all over the place. A great way to get in on this trend is to introduce your favorite color in small doses – maybe re-painting or re-upholstering a piece of existing furniture, or by adding a few decorative accents. I’m totally into persimmon right now.
Persimmon: my latest obsession is this red-orange hue, which started with this little vase I found in a store in Sarasota.
Gold and peacock blue make a striking combination. Photo taken at the March of Dimes showhouse in Charlotte.
Bright orange wingback chair from Anthropologie.
2. The Small/Local Movement
If you read my blog regularly, you know this is one I’m passionate about. And the success of Small Business Saturday this year made it official: there is a growing appreciation and support for small businesses, fair trade, and the work of individual artists. This sentiment is working its way into homes and I think it’s going to be a huge influencer in the coming decade. I think there will be more customization and made-t0-order furniture, more hand-crafted furniture and accessories, and a greater appreciation for where things come from. Even larger retailers like West Elm are getting hip to this movement, with their introduction of limited-run artwork in their “Art For Everyone” partnership with 20×200. Here are a few of my blog posts from this year that celebrate the small brick & mortar retailers and local artists and craftspeople of the Carolinas:
 Alexander Scott |
 Carolina Crafted Gifts |
 Clayton Oxford |
 Liora Manne |
 de Provence et d’ailleurs |
 Shower Me With Love |
3. Wallpaper
There was a time I would have said, wallpaper? No, no, no. Those Laura Ashley country florals of the 80’s scarred me for life. Nevertheless, wallpaper is BACK and I’m kind of into it. No more chintzy florals this time; instead it’s bold, fun and sometimes fantastical prints. They’re being applied with restraint thus far: in defined areas like a single accent wall or on the back of shelving. I adore the prints by wallpaper designer Grow House Grow. There’s also a temporary paper that peels off called Tempaper which I’ve been dying to try (see image below).
“Aleister” wallpaper from Grow House Grow.
“Damsel” in aqua grey by Tempaper.
From the same room that had the green desk, a wallpapered ceiling. Photo taken at the March of Dimes showhouse in Charlotte.
Stay tuned for part two of my favorite trend wrap-up on New Year’s Eve!