Home Owner Advice

Jun 1, 2009

10:17 AM

So, What's Hot?

What’s hot each season is always the big question. For many interior designers like me, the High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina is the equivalent of a clothing stylist’s Fashion Week in NYC. I personally look forward to and plan for the Furniture Market for months. While each Market is always exciting, I wasn’t sure what this year’s trip would hold. After all, the design world has a tendency to not only parallel the fashion runways, but to also respond to what is going on in the world. Would what might seem a sensible luxury at another time seem overindulgent and unnecessary in today’s economy? Would artists and designers be less inspired in their designs? Knowing how hard many of us are struggling right now, is it really that important what’s the in color this season? Who knew what to expect to find, let alone what to bring back for my clients.

But another spring arrives and Candy, my associate, and I make our annual pilgrimage. As we make our way through the thousands of showrooms and displays, we find ourselves rubbing elbows with some of the design world’s top designers and magazine editors. Each of us quietly studying one item after another, eyes darting back and forth, analyzing in our own mind what we like and what is important enough to bring back, all the while not lingering too long as we know there are literally thousands of new pieces, along with old favorites, left to see.

What I noticed first is that “What’s old is new again”. We even attended a seminar given by Michael Payne of HGTV named as such. Vintage objects were shown to have a beauty that lies in their simplicity. Precious antiques are of course wonderful, but simple everyday objects also have a beauty all their own once you see them with a new eye. I ordered several green and clear glass wine jars from Europe that would look great displayed in a kitchen or bar area. Also interesting were old fishermen’s buoys, yes buoys. Again, their simple straightforward craftsmanship made them interesting and great for accessorizing. I was also very excited to find vintage mercury apothecary jars that I thought would pair nicely with much of last season’s reproduction mercury pieces.

Monograms were also strong this season. I guess we still like a sense of who we are so why not monogram your initials on a pillow or back of a chair or even on ones upholstered headboard? They were spotted in not only the romantic lettering we have seen, but also in hip bold block lettering.

Of course eco friendly was an important part of the show as well, with fabrics and sofas all made of materials that leave a less damaging footprint. It was also apparent that even if a material wasn’t actually eco friendly, it leant itself to be organically inspired in nature or design. Earthy materials such as tree roots, crystal formations, cork, feathers, animal skins, all seemed to be ingredients in design this market. In fact, one reoccurring item was the single leaf. Whether used as a print on fabric, or instead of a full floral bouquet, a single green tropical leaf made a statement.

Religious pieces have been working their way into home displays ever since Madonna wore a big chunky cross around her neck. It seems many of us still feel comforted having a sacred piece or two mixed into our home for an extra blessing. I hand picked several stone Buddha heads that seemed to be smiling down on me. Their aged appearance lends timelessness to a space and I felt they would work well in either a modern space or more traditional place.

We all like to appear worldly, even if we don’t get to travel much these days. Exotic and ethnic pieces were shown in abundance. Asian, Moroccan, British and tribal pieces all had a beautiful presence. A home or room comes to life when you mix items from different places, different periods or of different monetary value. Asian pieces mix well with modern pieces; Moroccan fabrics shown on traditional lines are fresh. It’s the mixing, not matching, that makes a space uniquely your own. That’s how a room begins to tell a story, your story.

Neutrals like browns, grays and taupes are still popular for large expensive pieces like a sofa or chair that one would want to keep a long time, but colors were certainly popping up all over the place on smaller accessories. Bright greens, purples, pinks and yellows seem to be trying to wake us up from our long hard winter.

So it seemed that accessories would play a dominant role this season in refreshing one’s home. Just as a handbag or other accessory can change an outfit, so it goes for the accessories in ones home. Common elements used in uncommon ways are hot. Vintage and modern are still strong together. Is any of this new? Well, maybe not to everyone, but as I said, “What’s old is new again”.

And yes, I went down with a casual optimism, but came back inspired! Yet another show and Candy and I found ourselves lugging back a suitcase full of ideas and orders placed at Market, excitedly waiting for our treasures to arrive...

If you have any questions about Lifestyles & Interiors by Lisa, or any of the pieces you see featured in this article, please visit our website at lifestylesandinteriors.com.

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