May 4, 2011
Photo Gallery: 2011 Decorating Trends
Discover the hottest looks.
Say hello to uptown chic.
Today’s interpretation isn’t all buttoned-up and well-mannered. There’s a hint of the era’s hedonism at play, which adds a dash of flash to a look that could otherwise be beige, beige and more beige. Luxe fabrics and high-shine metallics amp up a pared-down palette of chocolate brown, tangerine and cream. Bring a powder room on trend with paintable wallpaper in a geometric relief. Don’t forget to host a dinner party to show off a chic Bodum ice bucket and Joe Columbo Smoke glasses. At the end of the day, illuminate your home with a Tom Dixon Mirror Ball tripod lamp; the design reads retro, but its glam sparkle is oh so now.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Layer this masculine hue for maximum effect.
Pulled from the different tones of camouflage, this go-anywhere shade’s being used in a way that’s a posh and tailored notch up from utilitarian. Light up Binic, a quirky new modern table lamp from Foscarini that looks inspired by a searchlight, and toss West Elm’s Starlings rug on the floor for even more green-on-green credit. Then, take a spin on Yamaha’s cool C³ scooter — that two-wheeled runabout includes enough storage for stashing important gear like fabric swatches and and paint decks or even an old-school Stanley thermos. It’s a design mission that’s sure to be a success.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Rugged and raw natural materials.
The always-fashionable equestrian look has taken on a Spanish spin, inspired by the perfectly tailored costumes of the traje corto. The rugged style of these Andalucían horsemen is adding a hip element to interiors, too: natural materials, aged finishes and an easy mix of traditional and modern hit all the right notes. Whitewashed plaster walls, rough-hewn ironwork and polished terracotta tiles are the hallmarks of any Spanish villa worth its weight in paella. Meanwhile, the equestrian influence is felt in the sadde-smooth leather and buckes of the Spanish chair by Danish designer Børge Mogensen. In love with the look? Carry it wherever you go with authentic riding boots smart enough for the streets of Seville.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Doris Day, eat your heart out.
A naive ideal of femininity is stepping forward for spring as designers pay homage to cinema sweethearts with demure looks in a delicate palette of buttercream, petal pink and white. The overall look is lighthearted, flower-filled and fun. Kartell’s latest light, aptly named Bloom, delivers a breathtaking bouquet at the flick of a switch, and Anthropologie’s charming floral knobs would put the perfect finishing touch on a painted vintage dresser. With refreshing and unabashedly pretty items, we say: Bring on spring!
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
A breezy summertime staple.
Raffia has shot up the style barometer from tropical kitsch to avant-garde accent. The humble material continues to conjure days at the beach, but designers are now shifting the emphasis from gimmicky to glamorous. As upholstery fabric from Kravet, the inspiration feels almost tribal. Modern types can get in on the trend with Alessi’s Blow Up bamboo collection, which uses raffia to tie together the reeds that form tables, baskets and even a magazine rack. Whether woven, tied or wrapped, raffia is enjoying its time in the sun.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Make a statement with a rainbow of hot summer colours.
Fashion made the plunge into vibrant hues for spring at labels like Jil Sanders and Gucci, which sent a sexy mix of orange, violet and green down runways. But the crush on colour really began in the interior design world, fuelled in part by Pantone’s most recent picks for colour of the year. We’re still into 2010’s choice of Turquoise, followed by this year’s deep pink Honeysuckle; now, designers are dialing things up by using bold tones in maximalist bright-on-bright combinations. For home, punch up a stark living room with a pixelated couch and give your guests something to cheer about with rainbow-hued shot glasses. This summer motto? Go bright or go home.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Add a little zest to midsummer style with this season’s bumper crop of citrus-inspired finds.
Just a drop of these juicy hues helps keep summer fresh, but it’s the latest lemon and lime prints that prove most charming. Max out on vitamin C with a pouf ottoman by Cisco Brothers in dimpled yellow leather and the Emeco 111 Navy chair from Design Within Reach (made from recycled Coke bottles!) in lime green. Or, add zing to a solid sofa with Jonathan Adler’s graphic Lemon wool pillow. For the kitchen, West Elm’s happy Sunshine tea towel references just-sliced lemons. With so many chic choices, it’s not hard to make a splash.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Adjectives like “fresh,” “clean” and “spare” best describe the sophisticated palette of chalky white, greige and inky black.
The doily emerges as the style’s ladylike icon: it’s reimagined as the pattern for a handmade rug by the Finnish duo behind Hooked Design and screen-printed by Beau Ideal Editions on recycled cardstock. For a cutting-edge interpretation, check out the sculptural crochet side table by Moss or take inspiration from Mokuba’s woven trims, which would look stunning on accent pillows to update living rooms and bedrooms.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Team colours have made it out of the locker room.
Delight your inner jock with one of Ralph Lauren’s Big Pony fragrances, then stash your gear in The Conran Shop’s lacquered- steel Classic cabinet. Score the creative equivalent of a home run with Jonathan Adler’s monogrammed Red Letter pillows, and earn extra points with Kateha’s wool Football rug, which riffs on a traditional soccer pitch. High-five the chef with Urban Outfitters’ fun — and wave-able — oven mitt, while keeping time with an old-school gym clock. It all adds up to a win-win on the design front.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
After several seasons of high-voltage colour, this classic duo is back.
Outside of boutiques, the visual one-two punch of black and white is amping up interiors. For a dose of Scandinavian cool, drape Swedish designer Pia Walle?n’s graphic Crux blanket over a solid-coloured bed or sofa. DwellStudio’s new lacquered tray adds pep to coffee tables. Designer favourite Madeline Weinrib answers the call for contrast and drama with her Carlotta runner, while sketches of ornate mirror frames bring wit and whimsy to a stately wing chair by L.A. firm Woodson & Rummerfield’s. Whether you renounce colour altogether or reduce it to a few bold accents, bringing rooms on trend is a matter of black and white.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
Think glitz and glamour and, chances are, the Jazz Age springs to mind.
At home, we’re inspired by the period’s streamlined forms, showcased in Julian Chichester’s polished-vellum Balthazar chest and Baker’s sleek Paquebot chair by Andre? Arbus. For sparkle, display Judith Leiber’s hematite and oynx Tunis minaudie?re on a shelf. And how seductive would Cole & Son’s Feather Fan metallic wallpaper look wrapping a room? Steeped in the era’s opulence, embellishments big and small are equally alluring.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.
A dash of Swiss-style refinement.
Evoke a contemporary chalet feel at home with a few woodsy hits and cosy accents. Curl up with a steaming cup of mulled cider in Lee Industries’ supersoft shearling-clad armchair or layer a tailored sofa with pillows printed with a whimsical antler motif by Archival Decor. Tabletops deliver high style when set with faux-bois candles and holders from PartyLite. Pair them with crested paper napkins by Old Country Design and Indaba Trading’s stag casserole dish, and save room for some Swiss-chocolate fondue. It’s the perfect finale for a fashionable feast.
See more photos in our 2011 Decorating Trends gallery.