by Furnishly | Jan 2, 2023 | Design Inspiration, Style
For many design pros and homeowners alike, indoor-outdoor living has become a tentpole of design over the past few years, with priority given to ways people can seamlessly incorporate outdoor living opportunities into the architecture and design of their homes.
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This ethos only became more emphasized during the pandemic years when suddenly the only means of escape or vacation was in your own backyard (or a balcony or front stoop). Details like floor-to-ceiling windows that take advantage of the views and moving glass wall systems that eliminate any barrier to the backyard were commonplace, especially in new builds.
However, in 2023, designers predict a swap — from indoor-outdoor living to outdoor-indoor living. While the two may sound super similar, the application is totally different. Think of outdoor-indoor living as inviting nature indoors regardless of whether you’re surrounded by towering pine trees or towering skyscrapers. Designers and architects are looking more to traditional outdoor finishes (like stone, slate, and untreated wood) to breathe life into interiors and create a connection between daily life and the nature that surrounds us.
“Instead of indoor-outdoor living, we’re noticing a big swing towards outdoor-indoor living,” says architect and designer Anand Sheth of Studio Anand Sheth. “Pros are using traditionally ‘exterior’ materials in refined ways on the interior of homes. In my residential project in Pacifica, I’m experimenting with mirroring the stacked stone wall we are building outside with a stacked stone backsplash in the dining room/bar area.”
In accordance with this vibe, natural stones of all types will reign supreme in the coming years, with patina-forward finishes like textured walls and unlacquered metals following close behind. “We’re going to see an explosion of exciting stone being used in all sorts of spaces,” says designer Victoria Sass of Project Refuge. “Great colorful slabs in kitchens, bathrooms dipped in breccia, furniture composed of a collage of stones — the list goes on. We are currently designing a space with a stone mosaic floor that is completely reclaimed from the remnants of other projects.”
Delyse Berry, the designer and real estate agent behind Upstate Down, adds, “We’re going to see textured walls and lots of stone in 2023! Applications like limewash are a beautiful way to create natural texture and depth in a space. And while we’ve seen a lot of stone recently, it’s definitely going to stick around — I think travertine and green marble will be very prevalent in the coming year.”
If you’re hoping to bring the outdoor-indoor trend to your own home, you need not look any further than your own backyard or local park for inspiration. Reflecting the natural elements of where you live — like using rustic pine in the Northeast or rich adobe in the Southwest — will automatically give your home depth and a sense of place. Look for opportunities to work natural, imperfect materials and objects into your home, avoiding anything that feels too precious or delicate. The biggest perk of nature-derived materials is their ability to wear beautifully over time, changing with your home in a way that reflects a life well-lived.
by Furnishly | Jan 1, 2023 | Design Inspiration, Style
Alison GoldmanSpecial Projects Director
Alison Goldman is an editor, writer, and TV binge-watcher based in Chicago. She’s held editorial positions at Boston.com, WomensHealthMag.com, and Glamour magazine. She’s also worked as a full-time freelance journalist, crafting lifestyle and culture content with an emphasis on women’s issues for publications including Cosmopolitan, The Lily from The Washington Post, The Boston Globe Magazine, and Chicago Magazine. She is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
by Furnishly | Jan 1, 2023 | Design Inspiration, Style
“This one is complicated, but I’d like to see a little bit of ‘bad taste’ emerge in 2023,” says designer Victoria Sass of Project Refuge. “I think Diana Vreeland said it best, ‘We all need a splash of bad taste — it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. … No taste is what I’m against.’ Be just a little bad and see what kind of fun it brings into your life! If I’m being specific, I’m very happy seeing sour color combinations come into this world — a little mint and salmon, some banana and brown, cherry red and chartreuse. I could write a whole book about the whys and hows of making bad taste work.”
by Furnishly | Dec 26, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
Please join me in giving a big round of applause to the design trend superstars of 2022. Like the perfect pair of blue jeans or a classic cashmere sweater, the following decor styles and vibes topped the charts in 2022 and are showing no sign of slowing down as we head toward a new year, thanks in large part to their versatility and adaptability. Perhaps you’ve already incorporated the below up-and-comers into your home. If not, go ahead and earmark them for 2023.
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“For me, and many of my clients, 2022 has been all about embracing coziness,” says designer Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors. “Swathing a space in rich colors and a variety of soft, textural pieces with plenty of curves is definitely a trend that will be following us into 2023 — and for good reason! The pandemic has forced all of us to evaluate what’s most important and the answer is warm, embracing, and comfortable interiors.”
Portnof suggests layering up a space with plush, cozy furniture, nubby textiles, and plenty of vintage finds to help comfort reign in your home.
“When in doubt, buy a vintage rug,” she adds. “They’re an incredible way to add texture, color, and coziness to a space, as well as a bit of history and sustainability.”
Combining Vintage and Modern
When it comes to design, there’s no reason you have to lean into just one aesthetic. Advice on “finding your style” can sometimes feel prescriptive, but the reality is that many of the most well-designed homes rely on numerous design ethos to find their “look.” And in 2022, we saw a major melding between traditional and/or vintage design elements and modern details, a combination that designer Linda Hayslett of LH. Designs says will become even more popular in the coming year.
“There are many trends that I saw that’ll be sticking around for a while, one of which is mixing vintage items with modern spaces and pieces,” says Hayslett. “People love unique items that give personality to their space, like a Baroque table in a modern room that has clean lines. This mix of opposing styles helps us to see the beauty in pieces, with the space highlighting this mix. We’re seeing this with intricate medallions on ceilings paired with sleek modern lighting, and woven tapestries behind beds that look like they were designed by Mies van der Rohe or Le Corbusier.”
Playing with a Nature-Inspired Palette
One easy-as-can-be take on the trend? Paint! “We saw a surge in earthy tones and natural textures in 2022, and I believe they are here to stay for a while,” says designer Rozit Arditi of Arditi Design. “After two years of pandemic living, everyone is in search of something more grounded, whether that be with color, texture, or materials used in their space.”
She points to muddy hues like terracotta and brown, as well as easygoing fabrics like cotton and leather, as great ways to capture this back-to-nature perspective.
Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling
This one’s for you, Facebook Marketplace and thrift shop fans. Vintage and salvaged furniture and decor were bigger than ever this year, and pros predict that savvy shopping will only increase in the coming years as more homeowners begin to realize the importance of their carbon footprint and the impact of their design choices.
“More and more of my clients are becoming conscientious about upcycling and mindful of their part in sustainability,” explains designer Shari Francis of Dadapt. “They want to preserve items that hold meaning and positive memories. I think people are finally understanding that the word ‘discard’ is better replaced by phrases like ‘resell and reuse.’”
At the end of the day, a house is only as special as the company it contains and the memories created inside it. 2022 was the year when some normalcy returned to our lives, allowing us once again to reconnect with loved ones and pay special attention to all the ways our homes helped (or hindered) us while entertaining and bonding with friends and family.
“It’s obviously not the easiest thing to implement, especially in a rental, but I think we are breaking down the formality of the living room and seeking opportunities to lounge in more than the two to three ways a sofa supports,” he explains. “We first saw conversation pits in ‘Mad Men,’ then in tech offices, and now they’re making a comeback in today’s home renovations. I’m even installing one in a natural wine bar next year!”
by Furnishly | Dec 15, 2022 | Design Inspiration, Style
I’m just going to call it like it was: Most of the builder grade beiges of the 2000’s were bland, boring, and frankly… a little ugly. For the past decade or so, cool grays and crisp whites have dominated the world of neutrals, but these colors might actually be on the outs, at least if Apartment Therapy’s annual designer survey — and 1st Dibs’ trend report — are any indications. Beige has been patiently waiting on the sidelines, and for 2023, it’s back as the choice designer neutral, and I couldn’t be more excited for its second time in the sun.
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For one, there’s a much wider array of tones available, from pale creamy lattes to deep chocolatey beiges. If rich colors are more your thing, think velvety caramels or sun-kissed tan beiges. The spectrum of beiges is so huge that I’m willing to bet even the most skeptical can find a shade that speaks to them.
Perhaps the best thing about this often underrated neutral is its do-it-all superpower — incredibly versatile, it literally works with nearly every other color of the rainbow. Beige doesn’t stop there though; it’s a chameleon that can morph to fit with almost every finish you can think of, too: metals, stones, woods, different types of fabrics… the list goes on. Glam it up (hello, beige and gold mixed with marble), or opt for a modern neutral look with a timeless beige, black, and white combo.
You may be thinking white can do all this, and you’re not wrong. Beige has yet another trick up its sleeve though, which (quite literally) leaves white out in the cold: warmth. Post-2020, the desire to make homes more inviting is greater than ever. That’s a big part of why earthy, beige-based neutrals are back. Nothing says cozy quite like beige; being enveloped in the right shade of soothing beige can feel like a warm hug. It’s also a great choice for furniture and furnishings that will never go out of style and can be a great canvas for more colorful textiles, art, and decorative details.
This piece is part of Trend Month, our recap of the buzziest designs, decor, and more from 2022 — and what to expect in 2023. Head on over here to see it all!
