Happy New Year to all! After the fireworks and bubbly have e-v-a-p-o-r-a-t-e-d, we love to look back at 2016 to see which design trends emerged and will continue to influence the way we decorate into 2017 and beyond. Here’s a hint: soft pinks, grays of all kinds and iridescent finishes! We take our cues from Architectural Digest‘s article on the Best Design Trends of 2016. This year trends emerged in sumptuous materials (think faux fur and velvet) and luxe finishes, such as white Carrara marble paired with brass accents. These styles and more were driven home with appearances in familiar places, like the Salone del Mobile design show in Milan and Art Basel Miami, or in high-end projects by principal interior designers. Not all trends arose from the usual suspects, though: Influence arrived from several different scenes, such as the runways during Fashion Week, hole-in-the-wall eateries, and even outer space. While there are certainly plenty of fads that we’re ready to wave goodbye to in 2017, we hope these eight are here to stay.
PLAID
The sleepy pattern reinvented itself in 2016, making us nostalgic for classic checks and traditional tartans. But this fall the standard motif lent itself to cool color pairings, unexpected surfaces, and lush fabrics. Inject the regal design into the kitchen with tea towels, party platters, and bowls.
GRAY
Nothing is quite as calming as a room layered in soft shades of gray, and this year interior designers took note, extending the color’s reach ofrom the bedroom and bath to rooms like the kitchen or even the exterior of the house. With a color this versatile, you can buy your next can of paint in hues ranging from dove-gray to dark charcoal with confidence, as we believe this new go-to neutral will be sticking around far beyond 2016.
SOFT PINK
This year shined a light on the power of pink. The fall 2016 fashion shows featured the hue in details big and small, including blush-color sequins, fur and leather sheathed in bright peony pink, and rosy frills of lace. Models and editors could be spotted at the new all-pink restaurant Pietro Nolita in New York. And after Rose Quartz was named Pantone’s Color of the Year, the vivacious shade launched into superstar status. Opt for an ultramodern look by purchasing homewares in unconventional materials like acrylic and silicone coated in the pretty shade.
IRIDESCENT FINISHES
Star designers like Patricia Urquiola, who sculpted an accent table in a multichromatic finish that shimmers from every angle, first picked up on this trippy trend. Soon thereafter, everyday items were wrapped in a high-gloss sheen, including kitchen utensils and decorative vases. No matter the form, the rainbow-like reflection will insert the right amount of shine into any space.
VELVET
The runway often predicts what will appear in our closets, but it can also have a say in how we outfit our homes. That was certainly the case with velvet: After the tony fabric was draped on the backs of models this fall, it began dressing the rooms of our homes in the form of upholstered walls, pillows, and dining chairs. Interior designer Miles Redd suggests using gaufrage velvet for a custom pattern to be sewn onto a pillow or rug.
CELESTIAL MOTIFS
Galaxies, planets, and stars have found their way onto some of our most coveted home objects. Bottega Veneta’s creative director, Tomas Maier, created sterling-silver trinket boxes topped with jewels that resemble the eight planets in the solar system, while Jonathan Adler took a different approach and stitched symbols of the zodiac into needlepoint pillows. Adding just one of these items to your home will have it looking out of this world.
MARBLE AND BRASS
What could be more luxurious than a flawless slab of Italian marble? Pairing it with an equally opulent material like brass. When Aquazzura’s New York outpost (shown) opened this summer, the world witnessed designer Ryan Korban’s decision to place gold leaf Sputnik chandeliers underneath black-and-white marble arches. The rest of us followed his lead, choosing from a selection of smaller-scale items constructed from the extravagant duo, such as Tom Dixon’s white Morwad marble chopping board with a brass saucer.
FAUX FUR
Walk into any home store nowadays and chances are you will find an imitation fox or alpaca throw, or maybe a mock Mongolian stool. The faux-fur trend has taken the design world by storm, with nearly every object you can think of covered in the fluffy fabric. Its luxurious and welcoming disposition is perfect for winter, so now is the perfect time to decorate your bed or sofa in an assortment of faux-fur pillows to create a cozy sanctuary.
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