For me, the new year brings a renewed sense of possibility, and in turbulent times it feels like this sense of possibility is more needed than ever. As we process the devastating fires in Los Angeles, our focus turns first toward how we can help those who have lost so much. Please give what you can, and remember we truly are all in this together.
Our second focus as we start the year is how we can bring a sense of comfort and possibility to our clients through the design of their homes. We ask ourselves how we can continue to elevate their lives every single day, helping them look at the world with fresh eyes, discover emerging artists, unearthing newly discovered (or rediscovered) materials, or incorporating new technology that makes their homes more safer and more efficient. Every year, themes bubble to the surface – some new, some reminders of timeless design principles we’ve always known. Here’s a look at the trends I’m seeing for the year ahead.
We’ll continue to lean into nature-inspired shapes in interiors, with lots of texture, warm and natural materials to help us connect to the sense of well-being that we find in nature: warm rugs of natural wool underfoot or tactile materials like clay and pottery in our homes. We’ll capture opportunities for softness – ethereal light fixtures that make interiors a bit dreamy, tone-on-tone color palettes, lime washes on walls, patinated materials that add soul to our surroundings.
We all want to live in spaces that exude warmth, character and comfort – places that support our daily rituals, and make us feel safe and well cared for. I naturally tend toward soft, solid colors, and a watercolor feeling to materials, (the marble in my kitchen is a dreamy Calcutta Caldia). Peaceful interiors designed with an emphasis on staying in seem more important than ever.
Speaking of cozy, Benjamin Moore’s color of the year is Cinnamon Slate 2113-40, a blend of heathered plumb and velvety brown that brings a sense of style and a modern sensibility to any design scheme.
At its best, our home is a sanctuary – a space where we can recharge. I see us doubling down on primary bathrooms as wellness spaces and making space for our clients’ at-home yoga or Pilates practice. In my family room, I have my wellness corner with a basket filled with an infrared face mask, a biomat, and a huge concrete La Lavo candle, a small workout room for yoga, and a spot in the garden where I can meditate. More recently I’ve added an outdoor sauna to my garden. You can read more about the potential benefits of saunas for our brain and heart health in the article here.
A growing number of people simply don’t want to waste real estate with rooms that are off limits much of the time. The post-pandemic trend of working at least partially at home is a shift that seems here to stay, and new technologies make exercising at home – even with the benefit of personal instruction – easy to integrate into our living spaces. We can increase square footage simply by expanding our mindset: incorporating book cases in the dining room so it can also function as a library, adding a built-in nook in the living room for a reading spot, or selecting a dining room that splits in two to accommodate work or family game nights.
Here in Northern California, indoor/outdoor living will never go out of style. Blurring the line between indoor and outdoor spaces can be as easy as furnishing your outdoor space so it feels like a natural extension of your indoor life, with similar silhouettes and color palettes. Being mindful of views from various points in your house ensures that you feel connected to the outdoors, even during the blustery winter months.
As our appreciation for the value in things that are made to last grows, so will the practice of saving, refurbishing and giving new life to existing pieces, preserving history and memories in the process. These pieces bring a sense of permanence to our homes, and the satisfaction that we are not contributing “fast furniture” to a landfill.
The sense of connection that comes from supporting our local communities, makers and artisans is priceless. The beautiful show Material Resonance, at our gallery in downtown Danville, celebrates the work of artists Liz Bloomfield, Kristina Nobleman, Bussie Parker Kehoe, Joan Pinto, Amy Torgeson and Kim Cardosois. It’s an important part of our mission to support the artists and artisans who shape the world with their hands. The show is up through January – come visit to see their work.
As we begin the new year, my wish for the world is that we all work together to continue to see the beauty and possibility in the lives we lead and the spaces we inhabit. Safety, community, care and comfort – these are not luxuries, but the essential building blocks of a good life, and everyone deserves them.
Be well.
Kriste
The American Red Cross, provides care and support on the ground at every level.
California Fire Foundation, provides immediate and long-term relief for fire victims.
LA Food Bank, provides food wherever needed throughout the LA region.
World Central Kitchen, a highly-respected organization that provides food in affected areas.
Project Camp, provides trauma-informed pop-up day camps for displaced children.
Baby2Baby, provides free diapers and baby supplies to those in need, and has already distributed over 3 million emergency kits in response to the LA fires.
For more great tips and inspiration from Kriste, please sign up for our newsletter.
