From fashion to design, color, and more, it seems like trends come in and out of style before we get a chance to enjoy them. And while fads may be fleeting, they are a marker for great style, often living out—to some degree—longer than their time in the spotlight.
BOUCLé
We are seeing this pop up more and more in great upholstered pieces and from our favorite fabric showrooms. This great fabric adds a dramatic texture and turns a drab piece into something a little more exciting. Also, it is so cozy!
LAYERED LANDSCAPES
A layered landscape in the scale and height of our furnishings is in in 2019. We look for a standard 18” seat height in key seating pieces and try to provide accompanying accent tables and lighting that are scaled appropriately. Lamps that are tall enough to cast light over a shoulder and taller cocktail tables add to a heightened and more refined environment.
FEMININE TONES
Colors we see in for 2020 as well are blush, dusty pink, and bronze. Warm colors and feminine tones for on the walls and dashes of soft pinks to break up expanses of taupe or neutrals will instantly update a tired room.
FLORAL FABRICS & WALLPAPER
The traditional beauty of floral patterns, either abstracted or straight up chintz, will be the pattern to use.
BOLDLY PATTERNED BACKSPLASHES
Simple, monochromatic kitchens have had a good long run, so we will be gravitating toward making a little more impact in their kitchens, whether that’s with bolder color choices or graphic tiles. Either way, I predict we will be seeing more pop and punch in kitchens!
Whether you’ve just moved or are looking for a quick, little home pick-me-up, or perhaps something more significant, there are some well-known interior design tricks that designers employ that you too can easily do with minimal effort and cost.
Sometimes the smallest things make the greatest impact. It could be the addition of a mirror, a painting, a lamp or even a plant. Maybe you want to soften your walls, brighten a room, or add some warmth to your living space. Take a look at these clever design tips and see how they can inspire you!
1. PAINT SMALLER ROOMS IN SOFTER, LIGHTER COLORS TO HELP THE ROOM FEEL LARGER
The living room above is a great example of how to maximize a small living space. A room of this size has the tendency to seem cramped, but the large windows, light colored walls and ample use of mirrors not only reflect the natural light pouring in from the doors and the windows but the use of mirrors also gives the optical illusion of space, making the room seem larger than it actually is. Conversely, darker colors will make a room feel smaller. Even with the abundance of natural light and the strategic placement of the mirrors, this room in a darker shade would have a more boxed-in feel to it.
2. USE DECORATIVE MIRRORS TO ADD INSTANT LIGHT TO YOUR LIVING SPACE
As seen above, mirrors can also be used to make a small space feel larger. For larger rooms, or any room with a more limited amount of natural light, mirrors placed directly across from the windows, will add instant light. Decorative mirrors can also be used in lieu of art to fill empty wall space. Large or small, mirrors add light and dimension to your living space.
3. ADD A HANGING POT HOLDER TO YOUR KITCHEN
Kitchens are meant to be warm and inviting. We spend much of our time in them whether it be for preparing meals, serving meals or entertaining. A hanging pot rack is useful elegance. Kitchens are meant to feel as though they are in constant use and a hanging pot rack certainly makes one feel this way. In addition to looking so wonderful, (there are many sizes and styles available) additional cupboard space below is now freed up to store other items. Seldom has anyone complained of having too much storage.
4. USE AREA RUGS TO SOFTEN HARDWOOD FLOORS
Throw rugs give warmth and can add great texture, color and personality to your living space. Hardwood floors are beautiful and easy to maintain but they lack the comfort that carpeted floors offer, especially in the cooler months. Area rugs can add fun and functionality to your living space. Use several of varying patterns and fabrics together to showcase your character. Or add several rugs of the same pattern and fabric, or different textures but the same color. The possibilities are endless. You can change your area rugs to reflect the seasons using warmer tones and fabrics for cooler months and lighter ones for the warmer days of the year. There are many lovely cotton, washable area rugs which are ideal for those homes with children. There really is no reason why a home with young children cannot also be a stylish one.
With a heady series of updates, the return of printed wallpaper remains high on most decorators design agendas, with continued interest soon going into 2020. We still expect to start seeing inspiring wallpaper updates to bring life and great design to any space, from commercial to residential. Unique floral prints and patterns are also making a big comeback as we’re noting more botanical-inspired wallpapers on the market. Texture also features heavily for the best wallpaper options, helping to create an interesting, cozy environment in your home.
We are also seeing a move back towards more traditional wallpaper designs inspired by the past; there is plenty of flocked inspired paper available, and we are seeing more traditional designs and colors make a refreshing come back as well. There’s such a wide variety of things going on in the world of wallpaper at the moment (even sustainable and eco-friendly options) that are certain to inspire you. Here’s our take on the most stylish wallpaper ideas of 2019 and beyond.
BIRD PRINTS
Add a sense of play in any room in your home with bold bird printed wallpaper with an oversized scale to really maximize the look. Our interior designers love Salamndre’s iconic and wildly popular flamingo and various bird prints.
They’re great for adding depth in a room via an accent wall or for small areas like powder rooms and entryways.
GRAPHIC GEOMETRY
Channel the heady spirit of the Art-Deco era with a graphic and symmetrical geometrically printed wall covering that’ll be sure to never go out of style while adding a sense of every day glamor in your home.
To get the look right and keep it timeless, go for classic colors that you won’t tire of as trends come and go.
ASIAN INSPIRED
It may come as a surprise to see Asian-inspired styles when considering modern wallpaper for your home as they haven’t been popular since the early 90’s, but there’s always an exception when traditional styles get glorious updates.
From metallic finishes to intricate details, there’s something to said about the beauty of Chinoiserie flora and fauna elevating a room. And if Asian-inspired wallpaper wasn’t inspiring enough, look at how clever the placement the dining room wallpaper featured above is. By only placing the wallpaper within molded rectangles, the look comes off as though they are traditional screens. Pretty clever indeed.
TERRAZO
With Terrazo, that 80’s era marble-inspired flecked print, seriously trending over the past few seasons on everything from upholstery to bathroom accessories, it was only a matter of time that it would appear as a riotous contender when considering modern wallpaper for your home.
Playful, abstract, and forever-cool, Terrazo wallpaper ideas are great for a home with transitional or mid-century modern interior design as it works perfectly with the era’s and mood of both. Plus, since its background is usually based around a common neutral, it will help any room appear larger and brighter.
GET IN CONTACT WITH US, TO VIEW OUR COLLECTION OF WALLPAPERS
The fabric of an upholstered piece is the most visible sign of quality and style. Upholstery fabric also is the part most likely to show wear and soil. When choosing upholstery, you should be aware of its durability, cleanability, and resistance to soil and fading.
How will your upholstered pieces be used in your home? Sofas, chairs, and ottomans receiving only moderate amounts of wear will do fine with a less durable fabric. However, pieces subjected to daily heavy wear need to be covered in tough, durable, tightly woven fabrics.
When purchasing upholstery fabric or upholstered furniture, be aware that the higher the thread count, the more tightly woven the fabric is, and the better it will wear. Thread count refers to the number of threads per square inch of fabric.
NATURAL FABRICS
Linen: Linen is best suited for formal living rooms or adult areas because it soils and wrinkles easily. And, it won’t withstand heavy wear. However, linen does resist pilling and fading. Soiled linen upholstery must be professionally cleaned to avoid shrinkage.
Leather: This tough material can be gently vacuumed, damp-wiped as needed, and cleaned with leather conditioner or saddle soap.
Cotton: This natural fiber provides good resistance to wear, fading, and pilling. It is less resistant to soil, wrinkling, and fire. Surface treatments and blending with other fibers often atone for these weaknesses. Durability and use depend on the weave and finish. Damask weaves are formal; canvas (duck and sailcloth) is more casual and more durable.
Wool: Sturdy and durable, wool and wool blends offer good resistance to pilling, fading, wrinkling, and soil. Generally, wool is blended with a synthetic fiber to make it easier to clean and to reduce the possibility of felting the fibers (causing them to bond together until they resemble felt). Blends can be spot-cleaned when necessary.
Cotton Blend: Depending on the weave, cotton blends can be sturdy, family-friendly fabrics. A stain-resistant finish should be applied for everyday use.
Vinyl: Easy-care and less expensive than leather, vinyls are ideal for busy family living and dining rooms. Durability depends on quality.
Silk: This delicate fabric is only suitable for adult areas, such as formal living rooms. It must be professionally cleaned if soiled.
SYNTHETIC FABRICS
Acetate: Developed as imitation silk, acetate can withstand mildew, pilling, and shrinking. However, it offers only fair resistance to soil and tends to wear, wrinkle, and fade in the sun. It’s not a good choice for furniture that will get tough everyday use.
Acrylic: This synthetic fiber was developed as imitation wool. It resists wear, wrinkling, soiling, and fading. Low-quality acrylic may pill excessively in areas that receive high degrees of abrasion. High-quality acrylics are manufactured to pill significantly less.
Nylon: Rarely used alone, nylon is usually blended with other fibers to make it one of the strongest upholstery fabrics. Nylon is very resilient; in a blend, it helps eliminate the crushing of napped fabrics such as velvet. It doesn’t readily soil or wrinkle, but it does tend to fade and pill.
Olefin: This is a good choice for furniture that will receive heavy wear. It has no pronounced weaknesses.
Polyester: Rarely used alone in upholstery, polyester is blended with other fibers to add wrinkle resistance, eliminate crushing of napped fabrics, and reduce fading. When blended with wool, polyester aggravates pilling problems.
Rayon: Developed as an imitation silk, linen, and cotton, rayon is durable. However, it wrinkles. Recent developments have made high-quality rayon very practical.
CA INTERIORS UPHOLSTERY
Reupholstery a piece of furniture can save you hundreds of rands, but the process can be a little tricky. Talk to us about options available for your current and treasured pieces of furniture.
Decades ago, the kitchen was hidden in the back of the house. It was a place where meals were prepared and dirty dishes were washed. Fast forward to 2019 and the kitchen has a much different role. Today, the kitchen is the focal point of the home, the place that brings everyone together at the start of the day or after a long day way. Now instead, the kitchen is paraded in all its beauty and warmth at the very center of the house.
TREND #1: SMART KITCHENS
Technology has entered the kitchen in full force and not just in the form of fancy gadgets and appliances. Today, you can have a kitchen with technology integrated into every function and appliance–from the faucets to the fridge to the lighting. This is what we call a smart kitchen.
Smart kitchens are an evolving aspect of design. In fact, a lot of kitchens today are built smart from the ground up. For older kitchens, sensors, smart gadgets and other devices can be added to for convenience to the homeowner.
TREND #2: STREAMLINED DESIGNS & TEXTURES
While styles like farmhouse and mid-century modern are still popular, homeowners are getting more streamlined in their overall aesthetic, designs and alternative materials for kitchens. Stress-free environments are what you would like to come home too, and drown out the day to day stresses of life. Which usually means, simplicity. Simple looks are all about modern clean lines. They will continue to be a huge hit even in 2020.
TREND #3: EFFECTIVE STORAGE SOLUTION
One of the biggest annoyances with kitchen cabinetry is an unnecessary waste of space. The way the basic shelves and drawers are structured leaves a lot of wasted space. Worst of all, available space is often too small for some of your larger things or the opposite: it’s too wide and does not give you a way to properly and efficiently organize the space.
2020 will also see a range of new kitchen storage options throughout the whole kitchen–focused on making daily lives more effortless and making cooking fun.
TREND #4: MULTIPURPOSE KITCHEN ISLANDS
Kitchen islands are no longer an afterthought or something small to squeeze into space. They have become focal points and the hub of the kitchen. One of the changes emerging is the single level larger sizing, serving multiple uses; especially since we are seeing less wall cabinet space in kitchen design. The kitchen island is meant to create an impact, and its design must make a statement.
TREND #5: CONNECTING WITH THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Literally! Homeowners are connecting the kitchen to an outdoor space or patio. They are also adding entry points from the kitchen to outside entertainment areas. By installing a glass door in your kitchen, you can easily connect these two spaces in your home.
Speak to our team for innovative kitchen design ideas and see what brilliant designs can be brought to life in your new kitchen.
