How do you know if it’s the right time to replace the malachite with honey onyx? Is it still OK to dabble around a with white subway tile? How much open concept is too much open concept? And if open concept is a problem, what do we do about the dining room?
Interiors experts Ann Gottlieb (of Ann Gottlieb Designs in Fairfax), Sallie Lord (of Chantilly-based GreyHunt Interiors), and Paola Martinez (of Warrenton’s Olamar Interiors) share what home trends to they’re ready to retire and what design elements should be implemented in your home.
All-White Kitchens
Time to say goodbye to snow white! Gottlieb says, “I think people want to reveal their personality and personal aesthetic; and we are getting bolder and becoming fearless in our color decisions. Seeing so many examples on social media and in print magazines silences the fear of ‘what if’ or ‘what will bold color look like?’”
“For a couple of years, every client wanted a white shaker cabinet with light or white backsplash and the white marble-like quartz,” says Martinez. “As a designer, I’m tired of seeing it and I’m looking for new, fresh, and unique ideas very different from this.”
One way to incorporate color is through the use of stone. “There are so many incredible natural stones available,” says Gottlieb. “Why stick with what everyone has been using for the last seven decades? How about maroon or green marble? Highly colored quartzite? Dekon/Neolith?”
Builder Grade Trim
There’s nothing like insubstantial trim painted a semi-gloss white to ruin your afternoon (or morning, or your entire day). Gottlieb says to rip it out and invest in some custom woodwork to immediately upgrade your interior aesthetic.
She recommends playing with different types of trim, saying, “I find myself exploring different trims (base, crown, and casement) as a way to integrate a style the client is looking for, and another avenue to brush with color. Removing what comes with that new house is one of the first things I look to do.”
Blue Cabinetry
During the pandemic, it seems like every new kitchen had blue cabinets. “Everyone wanted a navy blue island, a navy blue kitchen, navy blue bathroom vanities — don’t get me wrong, blue is my favorite color—but it’s been used enough and people are looking for alternatives,” explains Martinez.
Gottlieb says, “Why settle for just one color and one style of cabinetry? Play with thinner frames, textured metals, and textured glass inside those cabinet door frames.”
And while you’re at it, Lord says you should get yourself a prep kitchen. “We are seeing more clients turning walk-in pantries into dirty kitchens or food prep kitchens. These sometimes secret spaces hide where all the messy cooking is happening to allow your guests to see only the perfect presentation of your secret dish.”
Gray Monochromatic Rooms
Gray is the color of sleep, and it’s time to wake up. “Most of these trends have been overdone in the last few years,” says Martinez. “Gray has been the go-to color for walls and cabinets for the last three to four years and I think it has saturated the field so much that people are really looking for something fresh and new.”
“While in some cases, shades of gray aren’t dull, we are finding that the all-gray home is,” says Lord. “Some opt to put this color everywhere, thinking it’s the safe answer without the right balance of interest. Now is the time to warm it up — warmer tones are on the front lines of color.”
Perfect Tile
The bathrooms with the perfectly square rectangular tiles — or those giant slab walls, on the other end of the spectrum — are over. Instead, look for authenticity. Gottlieb says, “the look of authentically weathered, worn, and chipped tile is in. Not just as zellige, but terra cotta in different colors and shapes, along with brick.”
If you need a jumping-off point for where to start with the perfectly imperfect type of tile, Martinez says, “Square zellige tile is my personal favorite. You are already seeing this trend on backsplashes and showers on Instagram!”
As for slabs of marble, stone, or granite, try tile instead. Lord says, “Waterfall countertops with large quartz veining are out. I think we can all say we have had enough of that. We love an interesting countertop with movement, but some out there feel really forced. Many families opt not to do the waterfall to get more seating around the island.”
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