New Trends For 2009- continued

Sorry I had to cut my blog last night before giving you the rest of the coming trends for Fall 08 and Spring 09. Here's the rest:

Fabrics, Wallpaper & Paint Techniques-
Men's fashion continues to have a major influence in the dressings for our furniture. Sofas and chairs that have been living in linene weaves are expanding further into herringbones, pinstripes and argyles and so are new wallpapers. The look for faux finished walls is (THANKFULLY) turning away from the very Tuscan venetian plaster to leather and alligator prints. I will try to get some examples on this site. The colors for this look are grays, navy blues, browns and blacks.

Metals-
I had an interesting conversation, near quarrel with a client a few weeks ago about the cycles of things coming back in style every twenty years or so. He tried to tell me that the horrid oak cabinets he was spec'ing for his mutli million dollar new build would be coming back in style soon. Yeah, and so will brass! Lol. Nice try... Metals are, however, straying away from the streamlined purity of stainless steel and brushed nickel. Your silver tones will now have some distressing or glazes, overtones of darker colors like black or even other metals in a blend. Coppers and golden tones continue to be the trend for fall and next year- so look for warmer metals and fabrics with metal incorporated into the weave. Nearly everything has a shimmer to it for the coming seasons.

Casegoods (Wooden Furnishings)-
Thanks to the green movement and our retreat to nature, all styles are going to more distressed looks in wood. Bedposts are made from reclaimed elm, tattered oak and blends of many wood joined together to make beautiful variegated tones that can compliment most colors. Look for lightly distressed woods with golden highlights and undertones.
For contemporary and even creeping into more traditional styles, espresso and wenge woods still rule the earth. You will continue to see the sleek, modern sofistication of a neutral dark wood on which you can apply any colored linen you want.

Paint and Color-
Are You ready for some color? It's everywhere. Appliances are even following suit in colors like red and plum and orange. Colors for the coming season take their cues from nature, a sonoran sunrise or sunset. We have the advantage of some of the most beautiful displays of colors in our Arizona skies. A sunset can be bright red and pink and purple and bright blue all at the same time. Every color that we see has massive intensity, greens are extremely infused like green apples and great mid tones. Nothing like the former hunter or sages of yesteryear. Reds border on tomato, oranges are deep. Purples are dusty bordering on grays or browns and yet the pinks are vibrant like fushia. Each color can be adapted into any design style from Traditional to Country to Tuscan to Contemporary- as our interiors get a little more eclectic and less formally done. Designers are still giving you that picture perfect "model home" look, but with more of a laid back, comfortable feel.

Look for all of these trends to come. Some might be a bit overwhelming to you, but incorporating just one or two pieces will help you stay in the now.