Four of the top interior designers from different parts of the country shared their design predictions for the coming year with Hunter Douglas, the window fashions manufacturer.
Here’s the short list from Martyn Lawrence Bullard, Los Angeles; Martha Angus, San Francisco; John Phifer Marrs, Dallas and Fawn Galli, New York:
| What’s In | What’s Out |
| The “smart” home | Not using your smarts |
| Patinated brass | Brushed nickel |
| Navy, gray, green; bright, accenting, soothing shades | Beige, mustard; harsh, acidic shades |
| Textured wall and floor coverings, textiles | Solid painted accent walls |
| Clean lines | Anything fussy |
| Mixing furniture styles, eras and designers | Matchy-matchy, suites of furniture |
| Softer, more streamlined window treatments | Overworked draperies or bare windows |
| LED lights | Filament lights |
Punch Up With Color
On opposite sides of the country, Martha Angus in San Francisco and Fawn Galli in New York, agree that bold colors are most effective when used in small doses against gently-hued backgrounds.
“A huge blast of amazing color adds drama to a room,” Angus says. Galli often uses bold hues as electric accents for chair upholstery and pillows, not on walls. “Colors bring brightness and happiness to a space,” she advises.
Terrific Textures
Another area the designers mentioned as important for the coming year was texture.
Marrs likes patterned sisal flooring because it’s more au courant than plain sisal, and agreed with Galli who gravitates toward wallpapers with “enigmatic patterns pulsing with energy and color.”
Galli’s also keen on faux fur for everything from upholstery to wallcoverings, saying, “It’s so advanced and cozy, much better than the real thing.”
It’s All about You
All the designers are adamant about mixing furniture styles to create something that is very individualized and original.
Galli calls it the “gypsy look,” done by “mixing items from different designers and periods.”
Martyn Lawrence Bullard’s Los Angeles clients are moving back to buying antiques…and mixing them with pieces from other eras, perhaps an 18th-century commode paired with a 1960s Italian Lucite chair and a contemporary piece of photographic art in a gilded, neoclassical frame.”
Winning Windows
“Window treatments are invaluable for making a room’s design look finished,” says Morse. “John Phifer Marrs in Dallas told me that he likes natural grass shades, because they’re relaxed but ‘dressed.’ Hunter’s Alustra® Woven Textures® feature combinations of fibers that gently filter light, provide the same feeling,” Morse says.
Also on the subject of window fashions, Bullard says, “Fussy draperies and blinds are not fashionable, even in traditional interiors. Today they’re being replaced with softer forms and more streamlined pleats.”
The Right Lights
Polished, tailored, timeless style – nothing fussy, is definitely in for 2015. This trend plays out in sculptural chandeliers and pendants created with LED lights where the light is actually part of the sculpture itself. “The line between lighting and art is becoming increasingly blurred,” Angus says.
Especially smart, she says, are the versatile LED lights that change tone from soft warm light to bright cool light and anything in between.
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Bill Salvatore is a member of Heroes Home Advantage, a cash back program for Real Estate buyers and sellers. The program honors Veterans and Active Military Members, Fire Fighters and First Responders, EMTs and Emergency Medical Personnel, Nurses, and Teachers. Through the Heroes Home Advantage program, Realtors give a portion of their commission back to the hero in the form of assistance with closing costs.
Bill is also President of the Phoenix Chapter of VAREP, Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals. VAREP is focused on education and employment, making real estate transactions smoother and easier for Veterans and Military Personnel, and instructing other real estate related professionals in the best procedures for dealing with these transactions. VAREP is a nationwide non-profit association with an impressive presence in the Phoenix area.
In founding AZVHV, Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans, Bill has spread his dedication to Veterans and Military throughout the real estate industry. An increasing number of local professionals have joined Bill in offering discounts to these heroes, not only when buying or selling a home but in all aspects of homeownership. AZVHV has developed a wide range of services and is gaining momentum every year. Membership is free. Bill’s only requirements are that businesses be legitimate and willing to offer a discount on their services to Veterans and Military Members.
You can contact Bill at Realty Executives East Valley, 1166 E Warner Rd. Suite 117, Gilbert AZ, 85296. Direct Phone: 602-999-0952. E-Mail: golfarizona@cox.net. Web site and blog: www.yourValleyProperty.com
