Washington is a locale that loves interior design trends. In fact, Aly Brooks, Ballard Design’s head buyer, observes that “the DC customer is bold and metropolitan and open to embrace different colors, textures, and patterns. Other markets are more conservative.” Ballard, one of the most high-end of interior designers, is a local favorite. So let’s look at 2017 home construction and interior design trends for Washington DC…
Home Construction & Interior Design Trends for 2017
The new year will see home construction and design trends in which old and new are layered. What was once out is now in, and materials and colors see a changing of the guard.
The Mixing of Old and New Home Design Trends
One of the chief home design trends for 2017 in the Washington-Bethesda area is the mixing of traditional materials and fabrics with very new and modern elements. A single-color velvet sofa and Persian rug, for example, might share the living room with a clear Lucite coffee table. The coffee table and its man-made acrylic might be graced with a fine antique jade vase of Asian origin.
In part, this reflects the area itself, where American historical monuments co-exist harmoniously with brand-new buildings and the vibrancy of the area complements its roots in early America.
So Long Open Concept
One of the most intriguing home construction trends for the new year is that open concept designs, all the rage in recent years, are on the way out. What’s coming “in” is the opposite: defined spaces. That means kitchens will once again have doors rather than being an open area that segues into living and sitting rooms, and living rooms will be demarcated from home offices and bedrooms.
Why? Partly it’s a practicality issue. Open plans became popular because they were thought to foster togetherness. They do foster togetherness, as getting together in the kitchen engenders lively discussions that are carried seamlessly to the entertainment center. But they also cause cooking smells to travel everywhere in the house. (Good if cinnamon cookies; not so good if fish.)
In addition, open plans can place privacy at a premium. If you want to curl up with a book or open your laptop to check the political news, a group of people talking may not be what you need.
And speaking of privacy, it’s a trend for 2017 as well. Large rooms with very large screen televisions have been a trend for the past decade. Interior designers are now seeing a desire for quiet, small, demarcated spaces. Nooks, richly upholstered corners, even window seats.
Metals that were popular decades ago will also be making a comeback. The most popular metals in metal decorations, kitchens, and embellishments in past years have been copper and rose gold. Their warm sheen imparts a glow to rooms from dens to kitchens. However, they’ve seen the height of their run. Coming back? Dark metals and high-tech fixtures like those popular in the 1980s.
Hello Vibrant Colors
For the past five years, lustrous white has been a favorite for nearly every room in the house. In kitchens and bedrooms, white has replaced many a kitchen cabinet and bedstead made of wood. White living rooms have been accented with pastel pink and blues.
In 2017, the new interior design trends will include dark and vibrant colors. The first is green. It’s a deep rich color that blends well with both neutrals and earth tones and materials.
The second favorite rich color will be deep purple. The Washington Post’s 2017 Color of the Year, in fact, is Benjamin Moore’s Shadow, which is described as a “deep, saturated purple.” Like dark green, deep purple has been used in the past primarily as an accent color, but is very versatile as a full wall paint and furniture color as well. Pastel colors ask permission; deep colors like green and purple reflect confidence.
Like deep green, deep purple blends well with both neutrals and earthy materials and colors.
Those earthy colors and materials are making a comeback. Terracotta will be used for tile in kitchens and bathrooms. Some designers predict that terracotta tile walls will be design accents in bedrooms and living rooms.
Cork, another earthy material, will also be used on walls and as accents. Cork serves to buffer sounds, which is useful in homes that invested heavily in open plan styles.
Green and the earthy materials will be found everywhere in the home. For the past few years, kitchens have trended toward white with navy blue appliances (ranges, refrigerators). While navy blue is still strong, look for it to befriend dark green, deep purple, and darker earth-toned materials.
These trends all reflect a movement in Washington-Bethesda and elsewhere to be earth-conscious and environmentally reflective.
Warm materials will dominate bedrooms as well. For the past decade, wood bed frames have been the beds of choice. In 2017, look for upholstered bedsteads to become a hot trend: luxurious velvet, sedate damask, and scintillating embroidery.
Patterned Tile
What about bathrooms? Well, one of the hottest trends for 2017 is mosaic tile. Everywhere. As floor tile, replacing standard bathroom tile (often referred to as a subway pattern). As a decorative wall, replacing paint and wallpaper. One designer refers to the effect of small mosaic tiles on a bathroom wall as creating “a cool pixelated look, tipping its hat to today’s digital world.”
Tile of all sorts will also be laid in new (old) ways in 2017. Herringbone patterns are expected to be hugely popular, as will chevrons and fish tails.
Intriguingly enough, bathroom colors are expected to remain white, as the color is associated with cleanliness and tradition. But bathroom metals will mix it up, with gold and chrome on the same faucets.
The new year will be an exciting one for home design. Contact us if you live in the Washington DC or Bethesda, MD area to discuss your home construction questions.
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