WRITTEN BY Sarah Pickard of Pickard Design Studio
We have all heard the phrase “what comes around, goes around,” which can be applied to many things in our lives including personal relationships, fashion, and let’s not forget, our interiors. Time can get to us before we actually consider refreshing our interiors and before we know it, the design element has re-emerged but ever slightly changed to take on its own personality. As you are making a statement this summer, consider bringing these items back into your home and pay tribute to the old and the new!
Brass is Back!
Be careful, as it is not the shiny brass of the 80’s, but a warm satin brass. Pair this beautiful finish with the ever-popular Calcutta and Carrera marbles that are so popular in today’s bathrooms and kitchens. Mixing cool gray finishes with warm gold tones, makes a beautiful statement. A great way to pull in the warm satin brass finish is with light fixtures, cabinet hardware, wall accents and accessories. Spruce up your summer mantle with white and gold accessories. With summer around the corner, nothing speaks more fresh and sophisticated than an all-white outfit paired with gold accessories. Your interiors are the same; put your fashion trends into your home and let your personality shine!
Exterior Materials Do Double Time
We are seeing a huge resurgence of materials that are typically used on the exterior of homes or commercial buildings being used in interiors. Concrete floors are frequently used in interior spaces but the twist is, instead of staining them to look like leather or applying a dark stain as in the past, the beauty of its unfinished surface becomes the finished surface with a simple clear sealer. Because so many homes are more transitional or modern, the natural beauty of concrete with distress marks and uneven surfaces adds character. Wood tiles or wood veneer applied to walls and/or ceilings make an otherwise boring wall or backsplash pop. Many tile companies and wallcovering companies make beautiful products from exotic woods to veneers. Combining the concrete floors with the warmth of the wood on the walls and ceilings integrates the look of unfinished building materials with high design.
Obsessed with Exposed Structures
Exposed structured ceilings have been used primarily in commercial applications for years as seen in restaurants and office design. The use of exposed structure has made its way into residential design primarily through the surge of industrial conversion into residential applications. Removing the ceiling gives the illusion of a soaring structure, open spaces, clean lines and dust free environment for health concerns; applying the clean lines and modern feel of industrial design with the warmth and richness of a residential abode.
Great insight, as always, from Sarah Pickard.