EDITOR’S LETTER
Should we tame those trends ... or indulge in them?
Kerry Slavens, Editor-in-Chief
A flooring expert says greige (grey and beige) is replacing grey for hardwood trends. Plain ceilings are out and statement ceilings are in. And those cool Scandinavianinspired white walls? Time to replace them with ivory whites and warm creams. When you’re building or renovating a home, it’s so tempting to get caught up in the latest trends in décor and design. They’re fun, they’re fresh and they’re everywhere. Big jungle florals? Sure. Curves instead of angles? Of course. Geometric tiles for backsplashes? You had me at geometric. But as fun as trends are to look at, they also have the power to derail our esthetic sensibilities and mess up our homes, so it’s important to understand which trends you can use and lose easily, and which ones you should say no to because they will become dated in no time. To avoid design regrets and costly mistakes, here are a few “rules” I’ve gleaned from the many interior designers, EDITOR’S PICKS design/builders and architects I’ve interviewed:
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Trendy Geodes and agates are trending in wall décor patterns, but as gorgeous as this Malachite Crystal wall mural from Murals Wallpaper is, its fun and fearless boldness also ensures it will become dated in short order.
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SPRING/SUMMER 2018
Timeless Their clean lines and neutral tones make these Shaker-style cabinets from Harbour City Kitchens a timeless classic.
Choose timeless over trendy for big-ticket items. Unless you have the time and budget to redesign your home every three to five years, this is a good rule. For example, that high-end orange Bertazzoni range might seem exciting today, but ask yourself if you can live with it a few years from now. And those bold granite countertops with the statement swirls? Do you really want them to dominate your kitchen design forever? Neutrals and clean lines are always in style. Neutral colours are versatile and you can easily build upon them by accenting with trending colours (like this year’s Ultra Violet from Pantone) or hip patterns (banana leaf, anyone?). Clean lines are always easy to work with. This is especially true with kitchen cabinets. It might be tempting to go for those of-themoment ornate choices, but clean lines will take you further and you can always add some trending fun into your cabinet fixtures and countertop accessories. Accents are great ways to welcome trends into your home. Think lighting, area rugs and other textiles, window coverings, wallpapers, paint, finishes, fixtures and furnishings you can recover or replace on a whim. Another strategy is to limit your trendy must-haves to small areas, such as backsplashes or feature walls — areas where you can switch up the style without pulling apart your entire home. In this issue of Spruce, you’ll read about the latest in home trends, but we’ve also filled our pages with plenty of timeless ideas and materials to help you create a home that evolves smartly (and not stressfully) with your unique tastes and lifestyle.
