Stylish Space and Posh Places
Local Designers Dish Out the Top Home Furnishing Trends for 2006

By Amy Meadows

     In recent years, interior design has become one of America’s favorite pastimes.
     Look no further than the litany of home improvement shows such as “Designers’ Challenge,” “Fresh Coat” and “Trading Spaces” and the avid watchers who remain glued to the set each week. Today’s homeowners are clearly always in search of the latest styles and freshest looks. So what are the hot home décor trends for Metro Atlanta homes in 2006?
     Fortunately, local residents have a number of options when it comes to updating their houses, whether they want to add some spice to one room or embark on a major decorating overhaul. From paint and fabrics to accessories and furniture, there is an almost endless selection of stylish design elements from which to choose. However, the key this year is for homeowners to fit the trends into their personal style. Bruce Carter, a designer at Designs of the Interior (DOTI) in Johns Creek, said, “I have come to look at a person’s home as their personal museum. Our homes should reflect us and who we are.”
     Homeowners can incorporate the most recent trends everywhere from the bedroom to the basement with the help of an interior designer or on their own. Either way, the process doesn’t have to break the bank because even subtle changes can make a big difference. All it takes is knowing what’s out there to give new life to an old space.

“Hot homes will have espresso trim, gray walls, white linens and cream upholstery for a look that’s modern, clean and chic.” Alan Wyatt - Designs of the Interior

Hot Hues
     Altering the color scheme is one of the easiest ways to change a room’s look. In 2006, the color palette for home interiors, which is influenced by current fashion trends, has opened up and provided endless possibilities. From bold and vibrant to understated and sophisticated, modern shades are as varied as the homes they embellish.
     At the forefront this year are earthy tones. But according to Victoria Posey, interior designer and owner of Legacy Design Group Inc. in Historic Roswell, “These are not the earth tones — the muddy browns and monochromatic beiges — of the ’70s. This is Mother Nature in all her glory. We’re talking about clays and bronzes, blues and greens. It’s the colors of the sea and the sky and the flowers. And there’s a lot of difference in the intensities of the colors,” she said.
     The many hues of blue that are popular today certainly reflect nature. Of course, blue, with its tranquil characteristics, has always been a sought-after color. Yet, homeowners can now use a range of shades to bring a unique alfresco feel to a space. “It’s like bringing the Mediterranean into your home when you have a variety of blues working together,” said Alan Wyatt, owner of Designs of the Interior. In addition, blue can be combined with other colors to create a modish effect, including the color orange.
     The use of orange is actually one of 2006’s most intriguing trends. While many people immediately think about Crayola orange, other options are available. “If you’re traditional, you can go with a warmer orange, like a rust,” Wyatt noted. “If you’re doing a more contemporary space, you may want to go with a pumpkin orange.” Because it packs quite a punch, he warned that orange should not be the predominant color in a room; instead, it should be used as an accent color.
     Orange goes particularly well with chocolate brown, which has been on the scene for a few years now and seems to be growing in its appeal. Chocolate brown can give a room a feeling of richness, and its neutral essence allows it to be the perfect grounding color for blue, apple green and ruby red accents.
     Other neutral colors, such as black, white, gray, cream and espresso brown, also are emerging as trends this year. Both Carter and Anitra Mecadon, another interior designer at DOTI, said that the black-and-white color combination, which provides a very clean and tailored look, is no longer just for contemporary settings. And Wyatt asserted, “Gray, cream and espresso brown are subtle. They’re not too striking, but it gives you a variation of color. Hot homes will have espresso trim, gray walls, white linens and cream upholstery for a look that’s modern, clean and chic.”

A Color Infusion
     Once a homeowner selects a color palette, it’s on to deciding how to incorporate those hues into a room. Paint is an excellent option. “Paint is one of the areas where you get the most bang for your money,” said designer Laura Bloom, who owns Home Expressions Interiors in Alpharetta. “And you can give the whole room a different feel.”
     Wallpaper is more of a commitment, but Candy Lloyd, designer and proprietor of Candler Lloyd Interiors in Atlanta, explained that this design element allows homeowners to put three or four shades on the wall at one time. “Wallpaper gives you tone-on-tone color,” she said. “And it can offer a softer effect than paint.”
     In addition, homeowners can give a room a splash of color with accessories. And today, more fun and funky accessories exist than one can imagine. “Accessories can change your whole world,” Mecadon declared. Pillows, rugs, seat cushions, window treatments, artwork, vases and much more can provide an ideal amount of color in just the right places. Even fresh fruit and flowers can provide a burst of color. “Go get some brightly colored flowers and throw them in a vase; it honestly changes the look of the room,” she continued.
     The same can be said about lampshades. “It’s amazing what you can do just by updating a lampshade,” Posey remarked. “Lampshades don’t just have to be white. You’re seeing a lot of shades in color now. They can be covered in fabric, and they can have fringe attached. We’re even seeing a lot of leather shades and black shades. You can add a lot of drama with a lampshade.”
     As Lloyd opined, “It’s easy to accent with color because it doesn’t have to be a long-term commitment. Today, it’s very easy to give a room a shot in the arm.”

Fashionable Furniture
     This year has also brought about some new trends in furniture. Carter mentioned the return of “Hollywood glamour,” which is found in both furnishings and accessories. For instance, one of the major trends of the day is mirrored furniture. Chests, side tables, coffee tables and other effects offer a certain sparkle that is reminiscent of the 1930s, when opulence reigned in Tinseltown.
    “Mirrored pieces are not just for the wealthy anymore,” Posey concurred. “When they first started coming into vogue, they were very high end. Now we’re seeing them filter down. They can even be found in Target.”
     For homeowners who aren’t ready for such ornate pieces, they can opt to use their current furniture thanks to a movement that calls for mixing the old with the new. They don’t have to abandon their favorite pieces because it won’t match. Eclectic is the look, and those pieces can simply be updated.
    “We’re able to incorporate the things that people have in their homes because we can mix the wood tones and the wood finishes,” Mecadon said. An older mahogany table can get a second life by being paired with contemporary black chairs. Or antique chairs can be matched with a brand new cherry table. It works because people are moving away from the matching furniture concept and embracing more visual interest. “I think some of this comes from the fact that, for a while, people were going to the big box furniture stores and getting a whole room that matched,” Wyatt commented. “While the set matches, it just doesn’t have any flair.” In response to that, when the public buys furniture today, they’re selecting more single pieces, many of which feature the new classic look, with simple, clean lines and a timeless feel.
     People also are finding ways to incorporate technology into their interior design plans, especially since specialty rooms, like home theaters and media rooms, have emerged. Posey attributes their popularity to the political climate in recent times, with events like Sept. 11 prompting people to nest at home. The trend includes entertaining at home, and now people are designing around flat-screen TVs, projectors, audio components and more. “The furniture industry has been really good at responding to that need,” Posey said. “There are case pieces that are made to accommodate all the different [components]. Flat screens can rise and lower out of certain pieces, there are cabinets that can go over the fireplace to hide the TV, and there are companies that make disappearing art for televisions that are over the fireplace.”

Pretty Meets Practical
     With homes taking on so many roles these days, from living quarters to entertainment venues, there’s a much greater need for rooms to be as functional as they are beautiful. So, in 2006, the trend is for interior design to go hand-in-hand with organization.
    “When you think about interior design, it’s about function and about feeling good in the space,” explained Monica Ricci, professional organizer and founder of Catalyst Organizing Solutions. “Organization and interior design can’t help but be related to each other. When you go into a space, it’s important to be able to see in your mind what the finished product is going to be. But the more cluttered and disorganized the space is, the more difficult it is to create that vision.”
     Many homeowners are now starting their interior design projects by getting organized. Oftentimes, they use professional organizers like Ricci, who appears regularly on HGTV’s “Mission: Organization,” to help them break through the clutter. Not only does this clear the path for a whole new look, but it also gives them an idea of what types of storage solutions they’ll need. And according to Ricci, there are many stylish options available from vendors like IKEA, The Container Store and Bed, Bath & Beyond. “Companies are really responding to the fact that people want their storage to have design elements,” she said. “They have a higher aesthetic need now than they used to.”
     Of course, while it’s important to reduce the volume of items in a room, clearing out the clutter doesn’t mean throwing everything out. “Every room is going to be different,” Posey noted. “You have to assess what’s already there, what’s going to be kept and what’s not going to be kept.”
Once those decisions are made and the chaos is under control, the room will be ready for some trendy touches.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?
     According to Wyatt, when it comes to following trends in interior design, “Once you get current, you have to stay current.” However, that’s not as difficult as it sounds, particularly since home décor trends don’t change as quickly as fashion trends. They also don’t change drastically. “It’s more of a constant evolution,” he stated. “Next year, you might see other colors start coming over the horizon or another style that’s going to flow seamlessly into what we’re working with today.”
     That gives homeowners years to enjoy the features they’ve added to their spaces — maybe even longer. Because, as Posey noted, “Good style never really goes out of style.”

Photos courtesy of Legacy Design Group Inc.

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