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DESIGNER’S
NOTEBOOK
Mandy Cheng Homepolish, Senior Designer Los Angeles, CA
Jordan Shields Homepolish, Interior Designer Los Angeles, CA
Ashlie Broderic Homepolish, Interior Designer New York, NY
After making waves for over a decade as a production designer in Hollywood, for clients ranging from Mercedes-Benz to Beyonce, Mandy Cheng now designs homes and commercial spaces, both as the principal designer for Mandy Cheng Design and as a senior designer for Homepolish’s Los Angeles team.
Designer Jordan Shields grew up between Florida and Alaska, attended college in Savannah, GA, and now calls Los Angeles home. There, she runs her own design studio focused on commercial and hospitality spaces, while soaking up as much outdoor time as she can, citing nature as her greatest inspiration for her work.
Ashlie Broderic is a Homepolish interior designer in New York City, where she’s spent a decade working at some of the city’s top design firms—and soaking up all the inspiration New York has to offer.
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When it comes to design trends, Shields uses a decorating strategy that covers all the bases. “Trends do add a feeling of freshness, but they also eventually go out of style, so I try to keep away from big design decisions that are overly trendy.”
“In the past, clients tended to lean towards white or neutral furniture, especially for the larger pieces like sofas and cabinetry,” explains Cheng. “I think people are starting to max out on white-on-white and realizing that by incorporating more color, their personal items can seamlessly blend into the curated design.
To avoid creating spaces that will soon feel dated, Shields suggests creating a neutral base when decorating, and incorporating trends with elements that can easily be swapped out or refreshed down the road, such as wall colors, wallpapers and accent lighting.
“I’m pushing my clients to let go of their white walls and consider bold colors or wallpapers instead. It really heightens the sophistication and helps make the room feel truly custom.”
Shield’s golden rule of decorating? Layer, layer, layer. “Think about layering accessories or elements in your home just like you would when you're getting dressed. Don't be afraid to add that extra layer and then if things feel too busy you can always edit it down.”
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Broderic offers her design forecast. “Art deco is emerging as a dominant design aesthetic and beginning to eclipse the mid-century modern references we’ve been seeing for the last 10 years. The lines are clean and minimal.” New York style tends to be edgier than other locations, and Broderic’s design forecast reflects this style. When discussing color, Broderic sees a distinct lack of it in our future. “Black and white color palettes are trending next. The contrast is dramatic and the combination is classic.” But to warm up what can otherwise be a cold combo, Broderic suggests adding in earthier materials like concrete, plaster and wood.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF: Homepolish.
Cheng’s pick for hottest design trend? Going big with color has been a hot trend on the west coast. Bold colors— those so daring they’re typically reserved for use only as accent hues— are taking over in large design elements like built-ins and sofas.
“My greatest source of inspiration is art,” she says. “Fortunately, I live in a place where I’m surrounded by great museums. I spend a few hours at The Met or The MoMA whenever I need to generate new ideas.”