Space as Art Interior Design Sarasota FL

By Angela Rodriguez, ASID, Principal Interior Designer

As 2010 draws to a close, Space as Art shares our very own recap of the year’s big trends in interior design. Which trends do you hope to see more of in 2011, and to which do you wish good riddance?

1

Blow it up.

This year we saw more large-scale patterns in every type of product. From dainty, traditional prints blown up big and bold on fabrics, to the maximized and modern geometry of new larger-format carpet tiles, patterns are big. I mean BIG.

^ This graphic wallpaper available from Anthropologie is a magnification of lace; Romo’s “Grandis” collection offers very large-scale patterns in luxurious fabrics.

2

What’s that? Ikat.

Ikat, the Indonesian name for a traditional style of weaving used across many cultures and tribes of the world, has been a visible influence in fashion and interior design in 2010. Ikat-inspired prints have cropped up on fashion runways and interior design textiles for the past few years, and 2010 has been no exception. In fact, this has been a big year for ikat, with a major exhibition of Central Asian Ikats opening at The Textile Museum in October, and the announcement made this year by the Republic of Indonesia that it would pursue “Intangible Cultural Heritage” accreditation for its traditional ikat weaving. Its influence in interior design extends into digital interpretations of the signature ikat look on modern textiles, which have been popular in 2010.

^ “Bayadere” by Brunschwig & Fils; “Ikat” by Dedar; “Khiva” by Fabricut; “Seychelles” by Kravet.

3

Groovy, baby.

Maybe some of you missed this one, but the 60s were alive again this year thanks to the reincarnation of tie-dye. Yes, TIE-DYE. There were some clues, but when Maya Romanoff announced it would celebrate its 40th anniversary this year with the launch of a tie-dye wall covering line, we knew this was serious. (Why serious? Maya Romanoff produces wallcoverings that tend to become iconic. Those glass beaded walls you at first marveled at, and then saw in restaurants and boutiques everywhere? Those exquisite mother-of-pearl shell coverings gracing luxe interiors worldwide? If MR says tie-tye is here, it’s here) If you still doubt me, here are some more hints…

^ Maya Romanoff and Amy Lau’s tie-dye anniversary collection featuring 3 prints; A tie-dye shower curtain available this year from mainstream retailer, Pottery Barn; Lauren by Ralph Lauren tie-dye accent pillow.

4

A flock of… wallpaper?

Think of it as a marriage between fabric and paper wall coverings. A bit of softness, a bit of smooth shine, a lot of dimension. Love it or hate it, flocked wallpaper has been big this year.

^ “Lasari” flocked wall covering from Romo uses velvety modern prints and a hint of metallic shine; “Haddon Hall” flocked wall covering by Cole & Son on a silver foil background.

5

Polite brights.

Neon and bright colors have still been in this year, though used much more sparingly than we saw in the 2000′s. Brights in 2010 were often softened with neutral companions within a pattern, or used as a small accent “pop” on a pillow or accessory.

^ The 2010 palette for home & interiors released by Pantone shows how bright colors are still just as vivid, but used sparingly amongst more natural tones; Ligne Roset furniture exemplifies this color concept in a modern interior; “Spots” textile by Fabricut features bright colors playing nice with black, white, and tan.

6

Smaller footprints.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, American homes are now actually getting smaller. This means a reverse of the supersized real estate trend of the past 3 decades, when average new home size had steadily risen every year. We’re seeing a similar trend in commercial real estate, where many companies are downsizing into smaller spaces to lower their overhead costs. But thanks to the interior design profession, home and business owners can maximize these smaller spaces for bigger style and greater efficiency to make the most of every square foot.

7

Weathered chic.

With every action there is an equal and opposite utterly gorgeous, incredibly fabulous reaction… right? If you’re over the sleek, techie-inspired look we’ve seen in interior design for a while now, you will love this. Natural materials, exposed edges, solid construction, raw beauty… but don’t mistake this for feminine, white beach cottage “shabby chic.” This is completely different. I’m calling it weathered chic. And I am loving it. See for yourself…

^ Restoration Hardware’s 2010 furnishings lineup is all about dramatic, weathered chic; Aidan Gray’s Chandler chair typifies weathered chic style and finishes: natural linen, burlap, and aged wood; Even ultra modern Italian furniture maker, Cassina, gets in on the weathered chic look, showing how it can add a layer of interest to a sparse, modern interior.

8

Tell me a story.

Is there a story behind your wood floors? Did your dining table used to be the roof of a barn, or your shelving the timbers of a ship? Reclaimed wood isn’t appreciated only by environmentalists- it has majorly expanded into mass-market retail this year, and it’s easy to see why. Full of character and equally at home in traditional or modern interiors, there is nothing like the authentic good looks and the allure of the story behind reclaimed materials.

^ Reclaimed wood flooring in a Las Vegas restaurant; Pottery Barn uses reclaimed teak from old buildings to create its “Shasta” coffee tables; No two “Washed Ashore” lamps from Anthropologie are exactly alike, thanks to their reclaimed wood bases; CB2 sources rare saal wood reclaimed from old Indian railroad ties to create the tops of its “Darjeeling” dining tables.

9

Draw me a picture.

In design, there is such a thing as too much precision. These days when everything can be done so perfectly with computers, we have welcomed this year’s hand-drawn looks and artist-inspired product introductions. Vive l’artiste!

^ Offbeat, squid print draperies from Anthropologie are reminiscent of old-school artist’s woodblock prints; Wall decal by David Bray for Blik; The Thomas Paul 2 fabric collection for Duralee delivers hand-drawn, illustrative style; Forget steel & glass media furniture, Restoration Hardware would prefer you to take the artsy approach and mount your TV on this wooden easel.

10

LED rising.

If you’ve been into an electronics store in 2010, you’ve already witnessed the introduction of new LED televisions into the mass-market. LED (light emitting diode) technology is cropping up everywhere, in a big way. With its cost finally dropping, manufacturers are offering more products incorporating this type of light, and designers are eagerly delving into its wide-ranging applications in interior design. Offering maximum output at minimum energy consumption, and maximum lifespan at minimum size, LEDs have been big in interior design for the past decade. However, it is only when the cost for new technology drops that we now begin to see its applications more widely explored…

^ Collection of beautiful wood & LED tables seen this year at Milan Furniture Fair, designed by Giancarli Zema for Avanzini Group. Color-changing LED bed by French designer Philippe Boulet comes complete with programmable remote control.

It’s been quite a year! What do you think? We welcome you to share your thoughts and reactions to this year’s interior design trends. Favorites? Hopes for 2011?