Before Covid, design was tending toward a more stark look: lots and lots of white, shiny surfaces, blue grey walls and very little decoration…almost to the point that nearly anyone could live in the space, but there’d be no indication of who they were, what they loved, or who they cherished.
A return to valuing face-to-face time with family and friends has changed the direction of design and now we see a trend toward an emphasis on individual expression. Texture and color have come back on the scene. Warmth and storytelling infuse the most magical spaces.
This has led to quite a lot of fun for me, honestly, and to the work that Stephanie Poulsen, my senior designer, and I have been doing. There’s a real freedom in the mix and match, the combination of levels of lighting, interesting objects and materials. It makes each space feel exceptional.
Most recently, we have been working with a family creating their dream home by way of a gut job remodel of a home that was once quite sad. Now it is brimming with personality and color, texture and interest.
Their little bathroom off of their home gym is a perfect illustration of the fun of the mix.
Here, living in perfect harmony, is:
- A geometric pattered cement tile
- The texture of board and batten painted millwork
- Moody floral wallpaper
- Classic carrara marble
- Antique gold fixtures and faucetry..even the “P Trap” under the sink is pretty!
There’s a common understanding among designers that there are 6 surfaces in a room: 4 walls, the floor and the ceiling, and when each is treated with interest and respect, magical things can happen.
Stephanie and I love combining pattern and color to maximize the visual impact of what we propose to clients. If you’re nervous about applying a “maximalist” approach to your space, a bathroom is a great place to try it out. We like to combine “Wow” moments with classic elements…reserving the bold things for surfaces that are somewhat less expensive, for example, paint or wallpaper. That way, should you tire of it, a simple switch may be made for an entirely new look.
Two more projects on the way exemplify our passion for material play. One is a powder bath for a commercial space. In it you’ll notice a more quiet color palette but it’s exciting nonetheless, sporting:
- A floral wallpaper
- Marble mosaic tile trim for interest
- Wainscotting
- Porcelain tile flooring with touches of gold and blue to connect to the floral wallpaper
- A gold wallpaper ceiling for an extra level of glamour.
And another project we are REALLY excited about is for a sweet family out in Oakdale. We think they’re wonderful and she is very fun and fancy, so we came up with this scheme for her.
She’s in love with green and glam….can you tell? Her space will include:
- Liberty of London floral wallpaper
- Spectacular Artistic Tile green and gold mosaic tile
- Classic check flooring
- Painted cabinets
I’d love to encourage you to find things that make you smile when you look at them, collect images, and then see what sort of interesting room emerges. Feel empowered to mix pattern and color, geometric, plaid, check and floral, metal finishes, wicker and wood. Your home is about what makes you happy, and there’s no better time than the present to express what makes your heart sing.
Happy Decorating! Love, Wendy