Home decor for 2012: Top four trends
John cullen
Home style
It’s an exciting time for decorating junkies. Not only does the Interior Design Show open
its doors to showcase the best in Canadian talent, but it’s also the only time international experts
descend on Canada en masse to celebrate all things beautiful. We took advantage of this opportunity
to get the inside scoop on the year’s hottest trends and ask the experts our burning questions.
After wading through almost 300 answers, we whittled it down to the four key trends.
The Interior Design Show, Jan 26 – 29, Metro Convention Centre in Toronto.
Trend #1: One-of-a-kind finds
What's the fatest way to make a big impression in your home? 50 percent of the experts say art. Dust off an overlooked treasure or save up for a fabulous showstopper. Here are three tips to keep in mind when looking for that perfect piece:
1. Follow your heart
"The must-have this year is a piece of art you acquire because you love it and can't live without it. Focus on authenticity. Collect items that reflect your passions. For example, I collect salt and pepper shakers – they're inexpensive and make a dynamic design statement." - Kenneth Montague, patron of the arts and founder of the Wedge Curatorial Project
2. Hot trend
"If there's one trend in the types of things people are buying, it can be summed up in a word: unique." - Michael Bruno, founder of 1stdibs.com, luxury retailer of 20th-century designer finds
3. Find art at any price
"If you can't afford gallery-worthy art, make your own. Sign up for art classes, or just frame a scarf, some wrapping paper, a piece of wallpaper or a poster that you like. People with blank walls make us nervous." - Rick Mugford and Caroline Robbie, interior design art of the architectural giant Quadangle
Trend #2: Organic textures
Draw inspiration from Mother Nature for hot materials and colours. The perfect mix? One colour, many layers. New York-based interior designer Brad Ford says, "I try to integrate natural materials and organic forms into all of my projects. Take beautiful pieces, like a wood table, and mix them with natural fabrics like linen and leather."
Five favourite textures:
1. Wood
"We love its inherent warmth and versatility." - Lars and Jason Dressler, furniture and product designers.
"I love to design with white oak, white ash and walnut" - Shawn Place, B.C.-based boutique furniture designer and manufacturer.
2. Brass
"Brass is back." - Tommy Smythe. Tip: Try it in small touches on hardware.
3. Grasscloth wallpaper
Brian Gluckstein recommends using this natural texture that is perfect to create a quiet space.
4. Handmade
Decorate with crochet, ceramics, quilts and DIY projects. Amy Lau loves "anything that looks handmade".
5. Stone
It's Cindy Rendely's fave natural material right now. Tip: Keep it simple by sticking to a single colour.
Trend #3: Order in the house
Though maxilmalism may be back, most pros agree that less is still more. Designer Tommy Smythe says to keep it organized: "Maximalism without discipline is called hoarding." Here are a couple tips from the experts on how to to stay organized:
1. "Our rule? Keep only what you love. If you don't love it, get rid of it." - Stanley Sun and Ashley Rumsey, the creative minds behind multi-discipline firm Mason
2. "Keep it restful with a minimal palette of materials. Storage boxes of all sizes are my secret tool." - Cindy Rendely, owner of award-winning design studio Architexture
Trend #4: Savvy spending
Save money without sacrificing style. Here are the best buys to instantly tranform a room and other spending tips.
Best buys:
1. Dimmers
"Use dimmers on all your lighting. Changing the lighting is one of the easiest ways to dramatically alter a room's mood."- Jill Greaves, Toronto-based interior designer whose designs embody efforless chic.
2. Textures
"Design with high-contrast materials, between textures, colours or patterns." - Theresa Casey, acclaimed residential designer and media favourite.
3. Floor piece
"Add a great rug." - Aaron Hoey, global style guru for trend-setting retail giant Anthropologie.
Smart spending:
1. Make a room look luxe for less by using seagrass or sisal for carpeting, says Brian Gluckstein, owner of Gluckstein Desgin and a regular on Citytv's CityLine. "It's a modern, and econonical and works well with antiques."
2. If you had $1000 to spend on your home, Theresa Casey recommends spending it on the entrance. "It's the first thing you see when you come home at night and what your family and friends see when they arrive."
The biggest money mistakes to avoid:
1. Matchy matching
2. Giving up before you're finished
3. Not finding a place for everything
4. Having too much stuff
5. Following trends over your heart
6. Forgetting to measure
7. Rushing through the design process
8. Shopping without a plan
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