Decor trends that are right for our region

Clean, contemporary lines with a minimum of fuss. Midcentury modern influences, updated for 21st-century living. Those are among the decor trends we heard about from area designers, who shared their insights and gave us a peek inside a few of their recent luxury residential projects.

Suzan Decker Ross, of Decker Ross Interiors, says a sophisticated, upscale coastal decor is very popular with Florida homeowners. That’s not surprising given the area’s waterfront and outdoor lifestyle and the desire to open the home to take advantage of our beautiful natural environment.

There’s also a big focus on artwork. “Many homeowners moving here are collectors, and they want to show their artwork to its best advantage,” says Decker Ross. “We’re designing the room around the art and incorporating the colors into the décor.” For a recent project in Clearwater, she designed a gorgeous stacked stone fireplace wall with a long, linear contemporary gas fireplace and bookshelves on either side to hold beautiful art objects.

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The right kind of lighting is also an essential design element. “Lighting is not only functional, it also sets the mood and can emphasize the furniture,” says Decker Ross. “One of the newest trends is to hang two fixtures over a long rectangular dining room table. It makes a statement.”

Michael Mastry, of HavenHome Interior Design & Furniture, says he approaches design not from what’s most popular at the moment, but what style the client prefers. He says there’s a move toward light, airy, spacious interiors with a comfortable and functional transitional style that blends contemporary and traditional. “Not too modern —Tampa Bay is not Miami or South Beach, and not frou-frou,” says Mastry. Color choices are definitely coastal in feel: muted white, neutral walls and splashes of coastal colors in shades of blue and green, including teal.

David Calvin of David Calvin Furniture Studio creates high-end one-of-a-kind furniture that can be found in many luxury homes throughout the Tampa Bay area. Lately, he’s been mixing metal, glass and wood for a unique contemporary look with textures. He and Mastry frequently collaborate on custom furniture to fit a room’s design. One example is a unique sofa table that can be placed behind the couch or against a window. “It’s designed a little taller, so bar stools easily fit under it, and it’s a little wider, so it functions as an additional table, whether for eating while watching TV or for the kids doing homework,” says Calvin. “We’ve even added charging outlets for electronics.”

Creating a beautiful interior is all about selecting the right furniture, accessories, and colors to fit the space and your family’s lifestyle. It’s a marriage of good design and  functionality.

Read more about home design and decor.