Tuesday Trend Report: Keeping It Natural #tuesdaytrendreport

keeping it natural

CLASSIC.

How would you define the word classic? At Classic Cottages, we certainly make it our business to make each home we create one that is classic — one that is going to last a lifetime. It’s timeless. From each hand-selected interior feature and architectural floor plan, we make sure that what has been selected will stand the test of time for generations to come.

Do not get us wrong, we follow trends.

We research trends and follow the leading trendsetters in the business to see what’s new. There are specific projects where we may go above and beyond with our creativity, testing a boundary or two to try out a “new look”. However, there are other features and techniques that may seem like current trends but are actually timeless techniques that we incorporate into our various projects.

We have several upcoming projects in progress in Arlington and McLean, Virginia that will feature modern farmhouse designs and will include many of the materials and feature within this trend report, playing on classic, neutral interiors that will last a lifetime.

Note: trends are always tweaked, even within a color hue. Take something has simple as paint color. The past few years, shades of grey have been in style; however, this is an example of how a classic neutral stays in style for generations. Sherwin William’s 2017 choice for color of the year is Poised Taupe. Taupe is a blend between grey and brown tones which complement your home easily pulling the two tones into one. You’ll notice in this trend report various interior pictures combining the grey, brown, and taupe colors for an all -natural, neutral ensemble.

If you are thinking about building a new home or remodeling, consider some of these options listed below for your home to transition into an all-natural, timeless look. These selections will not cause you to break the bank and they are so easy to implement that it may even seem like common sense!

Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors have been a trend for centuries. The flooring material itself is a go-to pick for your main level of your home or even upstairs in bedrooms. However, it is the width of the wood planks and the stain that can change with the current trends. From grey and blonde to dark rich brown and black tones, the options are endless and the choice is yours. Right now, we Classic Cottages LLC foyer in home located in have been seeing a lot more Country Club Hills—Arlington, Virginia dark rich tones as well as lighter grey tones for hardwood floors. These complement well with white or grey cabinets in the kitchen. If you are going for a taupe color in your home, we would recommend a rich dark hardwood floor tone to make the taupe cabinets and/or wall color really pop! At Classic Cottages, we have started implementing wider planks into our current projects measuring 5” - 5 3/4”, and we hand-finish each plank of our hardwood floors to ensure quality and care.

Classic Cottages LLC bathroom located in Country Club Hills—Arlington, Virginia

Faux Wood/Stone/Brick Accent Walls Creating texture and dimension within the home has always been in style. However, how to do so on a budget has changed over the years. Using real wood, stone and brick is beautiful but can take a lot of your time and money to do so within your home. In recent years, manufacturing companies have created durable products that are actually faux products of their expensive counterparts. However, these are more inexpensive options that can save you a bundle when you are building your home and when you would prefer to spend money elsewhere.

Consider implementing any of these faux finishes in your home, even as a fun accent wall!

Subway & Slate Tile While Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s Fixer Upper may have made the ordinary white subway tile a huge hit and current trend in the design industry, this classic, white tile choice has been around for decades. An added plus—it also a versatile, inexpensive choice for multiple rooms of your home.

You can change the look from more traditional to modern by playing around with the grout color.

Try a classic white, or for a more modern, industrial look, accent the tile with a grey or taupe grout color. The neutral combination of subway and slate tile is a solid winner for your home bathroom or mud room. There are even other tile and vinyl materials that mimic the look of traditional slate but are suitable for better insulation and durability.

“Natural” Storage Spaces Storage is essential. When asking couples what their three most important “must -have” features of their home, the majority of the time we hear storage space as being one of the top three. How do you incorporate unique, classic storage spaces into your home without allocating a bunch of square feet for various storage rooms in your basement? Get creative! Use built-ins as a way to incorporate more storage in every room of your home. These can be costly, but the benefits usually will outweigh the costs for your home office, closet, family room, kitchen and pantry.

Open, industrial-style shelving is also huge trend these days but we see the mix of wood accents and black-matte finished hardware as a trend to stay for years to come. Don’t hide all of your belongings in cabinets. For the items you frequently use and like to display, consider open shelving options for the home.

For textiles and linens, consider a brush basket to keep beside your family room sofa for throw blankets or your bedside to put extra blankets and quilts for those chillier evenings. These cozy textiles are a staple and you don’t need to take up closet or linen storage space for these types of items!

Mason Jars

Beyond the traditional purposes of canning, mason jars have become a new trend in the home for other purposes—storage spaces included! In your pantry or in your kitchen on your open shelving, display a row of mason jars with your cooking essentials—lentils, quinoa, pasta, beans, granola, etc.

In the center of your dining room table, display a beautiful glass mason jar with flowers. The usage options don’t end there for these classic beauties. We have seen people get creative with their glass jars especially for entertaining and events. For your home office or kids corner, consider filling these jars with pencils, crayons, etc. In the bathroom, fill with cotton balls, bars of soap, and Q-tips so these items are in reach and displayed in a more luxurious container.

Butcher Block Countertops Hardwood cutting boards and butcher block islands have existed for years; however, we are beginning to see entire kitchen countertops made of this durable wood material that is perfect for the at -home chef always slicing and dicing in the kitchen. Though these butcher block countertops can be costly, these are a classic, functional addition to the home and will last for generations when properly cared for.

Copper Accents

Copper in the kitchen goes back for centuries. A copper pot is a chef’s best friend. In the last couple of years, we are seeing copper stretch beyond kitchen utensils and into other rooms of the home. Lighting, hardware, and plumbing fixtures are now incorporating this copper color throughout the home. While a classic, natural aesthetic, we suggest incorporating subtle touches of this trend throughout the home.

Tuesday Trend Report # t u e s d a y t r e n d r e po r t F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t io n a bo u t C l a s s i c

C o t t a g e s L L C , a v a il a b l e ho me s f or s a le , a n d o u r de s i g n + b ui l d p r o c e ss , p l e a se v i s i t www.ccottages.com August 1, 2017

C o p y ri g ht | 2 0 1 7

* S o m e p h o t os u s e d i n th i s r e p o r t ar e n o t o w n e d b y o r r e p re s e n t a n a c t u a l Cl a s si c C o t t a g e s LL C h o m e . Ima g e s e x p a n d o n p oi n t s m a de i n t h e w ri t te n r e p o r t a n d s er v e a s e x a m p l e s t o re a d e r s . *