Black stainless appliances, cool new wallpaper designs and exotic countertops. Tampa Bay’s design experts share what’s hot in luxury home décor for 2016.
Not Your Grandmother’s Wallpaper: Enrique Crespo of Crespo Design is crazy about wallpaper. “Wallpaper can add a subtle layer of texture and color that you just can’t get from paint,” says Crespo. Traditional toile wallpaper is still beautiful, he says, but it’s the new wallcoverings that are catching attention with their interesting combinations, such as mother-of-pearl, amethyst or recycled newspaper. For families with young children, Crespo suggests commercial grade wallpaper. “It’s virtually indestructible and easy to care for,” he says.
Variety is the Spice: Brigette Pina of Ethan Allen reports that for the first time, this summer Ethan Allen is introducing several distinctly different product lines all at the same time. The new “South of France” features an old-world distressed look with beautiful carved pieces. Buckhead, named after the affluent suburb of Atlanta, showcases bright pinks, rich greens and blues. Santa Monica features California chic, while Brooklyn mixes up metal with stone and heavy wood, or shiny reflective surfaces with a brick wall as a backdrop. “Brooklyn is very hot right now with millennials, who love the idea of taking older classic designs and creating a totally updated look,” says Pina.
Sleek &Sophisticated: Tom Lamb of Thomas Everett Lamb Design andDevelopment appreciates the growing demand for a modern sophisticated look. “This is a style that is increasingly popular with more mature homeowners,” says Lamb. “These are individuals who have been through various stages of life and now want a simpler lifestyle. That’s reflected in their desire for less clutter and a cleaner pallette with fewer, finer things.”
Extra-large floor tiles – tiles that range in size from 24-by-24-inches all the way up to 24-by-48-inches and more – add to the contemporary look. “Large-scale tiles mean fewer lines on the floor and a less busy look overall,” says Lamb.
Nancy Braamse of Olde World Cabinetry is also seeing a growing interest in cleaner lines and less detail as both millennials and baby boomers gravitate toward a more contemporary look that’s been labeled “transitional.” “It’s the bridge between the more decorated traditional style and a more angular modern look,” says Braamse.
Amazing Baths: Olde World Cabinetry is pleased to announce that this summer they will become the exclusive showroom in the area for Crosswater Bathrooms, a leading bathroom design firm that is headquartered in England. “They’re very European in their approach to design and innovation, but also offer a wide range of styles, from traditional and elegant to very contemporary,” says Braamse. “Their products are quite distinctive.”
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery is also an expert in luxury baths. And Marc Hammar, showroom manager, says new trends in bath design are showcasing innovative technology, such as electronic showering and steam generators integrating with your smartphone or tablet, or bath ventilation with Bluetooth capabilities. In addition, he says that manufacturers are developing shower drains that mount to the bottom of the wall as opposed to the floor, creating a seamless installation.
Hammar also notes that gold lighting fixtures that vary in hue from soft rose gold to a deep burnished gold are “all the rage” right now. In addition, he says designers are incorporating linear LED light strips into the ceiling, as opposed to recessed can fixtures.
Gorgeous Woods & Exotic Countertops: Wired-brushed oak and ash are hot as shelving and accents for kitchens and baths, says Ralph Mills of Artisan Design. “Wire brushing raises the grain and gives the wood a textured look without the feel,” says Mills.
Also popular are high-gloss acrylic finishes and a blend of stains, such as an earth-tone base complemented with a transparent grey or white on top. In addition, he reports that countertops and back splashes are going exotic with black, gold and silver combinations. Quartzite adds a pop of interest.
The Little Details Count: Suzan Decker Ross of Decker Ross Interiors points out that unusual ceiling details are gaining in popularity. For example, she and her design team recently created a curved ceiling detail for a client whose living room has panoramic views of the water.
“We dropped the soffit down about eight-to-ten inches and then backlit everything with a ring of LEDs so the light flows over the ceiling almost like a waterfall,” says Decker Ross. The end result adds drama and ambience to the space.
Other new trends? Decker Ross says she is seeing a growing interest in black stainless steel kitchen appliances (they don’t show all the fingerprints like more traditional stainless), a second set of chandeliers in the dining room, especially over a long rectangular table, and color shades of taupe, gray and silver metallic with highlights of blue.
Whatever new trends for 2016 speak to your sense of style, creating a beautiful interior design is all about good taste and attention to details.
