Theo's design blog: trends

Showing posts with label trends. Show all posts

Sunday, January 6, 2013

2013 trends

Hello dear readers,

After a little Holiday hiatus, during which I did NOT take any holidays, I am happy to be back to my blog.
I hope everyone had a great time during the Holidays and that 2013 will simply be a dashing one.

New Year, new beginnings, new resolutions, new projects, new home?

My first article of 2013 will talk about a few trends that I see being in the heart of new designs in 2013. For those thinking of renovating, acquiring a new home or perhaps just adding a new wall colour or decor, I bring 4 trends to watch out in 2013.

Natural Looking CaesarStone - “supernatural” collection

Quarts/Caesarstone countertops have been the top choice for new kitchens. It’s scratch, heat and stain resistant, making it the ideal choice for all kitchens.
Quartz/Caeserstone, however, is a man-made material using natural quartz, resin (for colour) and aggregates. It unfortunately lacks the luster and appeal of natural marble with all its veining and contrasts.

This new “supernatural” collection is the closest thing to the marble look in the caesarstone/quartz family. Making now possible to have a stunning marble looking countertop with the super properties of ceasarstone.

My favourite ones are:
Emperadoro

and Pietra Grey

“In” colours for 2013

So a few weeks ago, Pantone announced “Emerald” is the colour of the year for 2013.
I was not shocked, but pleasantly surprised, as I was seeing lots of blue and deep greens appearing on furniture, pillows and walls.
Here are 3 colours that I see coming out to play in 2013.

Jadite - SW 6459 Sherwin Williams

California Blue - 2060-20

Newburg Green - HC-158 Benjamin Moore

Wall objects/sculpture

Art should be unique, personal and tell a story. It creates a focal point or complements a room.
This year, more than before, we are seeing a detachment from conventional framed prints, photographs and canvases and the return of sculptures or objects attached on a wall as Art.

The choices are endless, from window frames to metal and wood sculptures. Wall art is now all about objects, so creativity is the name of the game.

West Elm Wall Sculptures

Sea Urchins wall Art

Penny round tiles

Whether used on foyers, bathrooms or backsplash, penny round tiles are having a huge comeback. Reminiscent of our own Dupont Subway station, these little round tiles allow you to have a curved and seemless transition from floor to wall, without a baseboard. Also, it’s very easy to create a “rug” effect on a floor, by only using the penny round tiles on a certain area of the floor.

And these are just a few quick trends I am forecasting for 2013.

Time will tell ;-)

Theo Flamenbaum

- Style + Function + Love + You -

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Pantone's 2013 colour of the year - Emerald

Hello dear readers,

Earlier this year, in early Spring, I talked about Pantone, who they are and the colour of the year for 2012, Tangerine Tango, in this article: Colour of the year.

Well well... it`s with lots of excitement that I announce that Pantone has released the 2013 Colour of the year: PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald!

From their press release, Pantone explains: "Emerald, a vivid, verdant green, enhances our sense of well-being further by inspiring insight, as well as promoting balance and harmony".

We see a return to a jewel tone colour, suggesting luxury and sophistication. In many cultures, this is the colour of growth, renewal and prosperity!! Oh do I see people using this colour now!

In terms of Interiors, Pantone also says:

"Enhance your sense of well-being at home by rejuvenating the interior with Emerald paint, accents and accessories. This jewel-like hue will create a luxurious feel in an entryway, powder room, dining room or study, and bring life to a living room as an accent wall. Add a splash of color to the kitchen and dining room areas with Emerald dinnerware, stemware and appliances.
Enliven your home with Pantone bedding, pillows, bath towels and accessories in Emerald available exclusively at jcpenney stores and on jcp.com beginning Feb. 1, 2013.

“As we re-energize our home department next spring, we are excited to partner with the leading authority on color to introduce the first-ever line of Pantone bedding and bath products,” said Paul Rutenis, jcpenney general merchandise manager for home. “The cheerful array of on-trend pieces will make it easy for customers to infuse the perfect color into any home décor.”

I particularly love the marriage between freshness and sophistication that this colour provides indoors.

Because this colour also has a very defined presence you can use it as little as a couple of pillows or a full wall covering to make statement.

And even though it's still December, Pantone also takes advantage of the press release to talk about trend colous for Spring 2013:

The choices are endless.... and it makes me want to run to a fabric store and just go nuts!

Theo Flamenbaum

- Style + Function + Love + You -

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Toronto Fall Home Show 2012

Hello dear TDB (Theo's design blog) readers,

How's everyone doing?
Fall is officially here! Summer, we bid you au revoir ... and it seems I just greeted you last week.
So, today I had a chance to accompany 2 dear friends (thanks Nicole for scoring the tickets) to the Toronto Fall Home Show 2012 edition at the Better Living Centre - at the Ex.

It is pretty much the same year after year. Lots of house hold products and home reno services and companies, which is expected since it's the HOME show, right?

I would like to underline a lovely collaboration between Casa Life and Benjamin Moore. They came up with 6 Design Equations, which are basically 6 different rooms and every day spaces designed with accessories and furniture styles in coordination with different colour palettes.

The result: 6 charming rooms, one very different from another.

Casa Life has a great variety of styles and furniture pieces and accessories and among the 6 design equations rooms, these pieces were my favourite:

Another item the stroke my fancy was this chevron pattern cow hide rug from a Montreal company called "Guanaco":

And lastly, my browsing made a stop at the Bo Concept booth due to this adorable floating shelf:

And if someone was to ask me what trends I noticed while perusing through all vendors and booths, I would say:

Floating Vanities
Mix of different furniture styles and accessories
Green design
Re-purposed items
bye bye granite, hello quartz and ceaserstone
bold fabrics and prints in small quantities

And that`s a wrap!

Theo Flamenbaum

- Style + Function + Love + You -

Monday, June 25, 2012

Trompe L'oeil

The genesis of this amazing technique (French for "deceive the eye") started in the Baroque Period but was perfected in the Renaissance with special credit to Italian painters and their murals.

Andea Palladio mural

In the present time, we are seeing a huge resurgence of this style in corky, fun and fascinating wallpapers.

Basically, the desired effect is to achieve a sense of perspective or 3D on a flat wall.

Mineheart Wallpaper

The new trend is to mimic different textures so that the occupants of the room walk up to the wall and touch it.

Chesterfield wallpaper - Mineheart

Wall Panelling - Mineheart

My fave:

Wrought Iron - Mineheart

The current trends nowadays is to appeal to materials making brick, wood planks and concrete very popular:

NLXL Wallpaper

Tom Haga Wallpaper

Finally, the "trompe L'oeil" effect trend is also moving downwards to under our feet. Companies are now manufacturing rugs and carpets with the same visual effect. However, there is a VERY fine line between "cool" and "tacky":

Urban Outfitters rug

Lastly, in the digital era that we live in, we are seeing photographs digitally applied on wallpaper as well as digitally created images.

One company here in Toronto, Rollout, does exactly that! You bring your high resolution picture and next thing you know, it's on your headboard or accent wall :-)

Rollout custom wallpaper

Theo Flamenbaum

- Style + Function + Love + You -

Monday, January 30, 2012

Interior Design Show

Hello all! Hope all is well.

So last weekend we had here, in Toronto, the Annual Interior Design Show (IDS).

After attending a few in a row, it becomes a little predictable, however, as I am getting into the industry, it is always nice to see people from the trade, exhibitors and people you have only emailed or talked on the phone with.

I did a quick run through on Friday, Trade day, to avoid the general crowd and snap some shots.

If I had to mention the highlights of it, I would say that more attention to materials. Be it stone, wood, glass or metal, the finishes we now see are stunning and give a new purpose to style.

Also a return of gold, brass, and bronze. I am not saying: Chrome and Stainless steel, be gone! but I am saying: oh look, I see gold, yellow and brown hardware and fixtures now.

Trends: green design! Conscientious and responsible design! Reducing, recycling and reusing!

And finally! SMART design: more than ever, when planning and new build, hard reno, or a makeover: save time and use the resources and knowledge of a designer! (moi!)

Below are some snapshots of pretty things I saw: