SRQ Magazine | March 2024, SRQ Home & Design Spring 2024

H&D SRQ HOME AND DESIGN

F RO M T H E ED ITO RS OF SRQ M AGA ZIN E | M A RC H 2024

Spring DESIGN INSPIRATION THIS PAGE: RUGS AS ART OCTOBER 2015 | SRQ 87

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H & D

Compiled and written by Emma Dannenfelser and Kate Wight

AU NATUREL

Home design trendsetters share a collection of the brightest trends to revamp and refresh Gulf Coast homes this Spring.

Sunshine Energy With electric bills ascending rapidly and the emphasis on environmentally friendly options becoming more prevalent, Floridians are swapping to solar power every day.

Along with the financial and sustainability benefits, solar panels are also an excellent way to promote energy independence in a state where hurricanes and major storms are common. “There’s the sense of independence you get for it. A lot of people don’t like to depend on somebody else. Here in Florida, we get a lot of retirees coming into their forever home, and they figure they’ll just get their own power so they have to worry about what happens with the rest of the world,” says Todd Sufferling of S7 Solar.

SPRING TRENDS

S7 Solar, Venice, FL, 941-380-2120

S7 SOLAR

Spring is often represented as a time of renewal and rejuvenation. It marks the end of winter and the beginning of warmer, more vibrant days.

The blossoming of flowers, the return of greenery, and the birth of new life in nature all contribute the symbolic significance of the season. But the spirit of growth and change isn’t restricted to the outdoors: spring is also a great time to revamp your home by updating and refreshing your decor.

Spruce up your space this spring with these tips and tricks from local design experts.

COLLINS INTERIORS

COLLINS INTERIORS

Say Goodbye to Minimalism “We’re seeing trends that say this is the end of minimalism,” says Barbara Vanderkolk Gardner, president and CEO of Collins Interiors. “We’re getting back to maximalism, which means more accessories and personal items.

Anything that gives your home a personal sense of you and your lifestyle and your family is always appropriate.” adds Michael Manoogian, interior designer at Clive Daniel Home, “They are wanting their homes not to look like a magazine anymore. They really want it to reflect their personal style. People are getting a lot more eclectic.

I like to call it dopamine decor because people are choosing things that make them happy and inspire joy. And dopamine decor can be anything—it can be really colorful art, or a beautiful pillow that has a really great fabric that reminds you of a trip you went on. I think the word for 2024 is ‘eclectic’. People want their personalities in their homes and they’re unapologetic about it.”

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Compiled and written by Kate Wight and Emma Dannenfelser

COZY NEUTRAL

Size Matters “I think chunkiness has come back into play whether that’s through fun accents or sculptural furniture,” says Manoogian. “A larger piece of furniture that really anchors a room can exude sophistication.” That bigger is better mentality isn’t restricted to furniture.

Choosing a rug that is too small for your space is one of the most common decorating mistakes that people make, and it can throw off your entire design. “When shopping for a floor covering for your dining room, the rug has to work with the size of your table, your chairs, and the size of your room. Ideally, you don’t want the chair legs falling off the rug when guests scoot their chairs back to stand up,” says Jesse Murse, co-owner of Rugs As Art. “We typically suggest an 8’x10’ or 9’x12’ for most standard dining rooms.”

SPRING TRENDS

Get Back to Nature “One of the things we’ve noticed is there is a lot of emphasis on organic things and harkening back to nature,” says Gardner of Collins Interiors. She suggests bringing natural materials into the home like rattan, leather or shagreen, which is a type of rawhide with a rough granulated surface. “We’ve definitely seen at the recent markets and at the recent Palm Beach Home Show much more emphasis on natural products and natural colors,” Gardner adds. “For 2024 we’re seeing style trending toward relaxed sophistication [in rugs],” agrees Murse of Rugs As Art. “The colors are earth-toned and natural, the patterns organic, and the pile soft underfoot.”

RUGS AS ART

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H & D

Compiled and written by Emma Dannenfelser and Kate Wight.

TO THE TOUCH Welcome to the Jungle

SPRING TRENDS

During the pandemic, houseplant sales surged. People were spending more time at home than ever, and tending to plants served as a purposeful pastime for many of them.

Self-identified “plant parents” found that taking care of houseplants made their homes feel more lively and could even be a mental health boost. The plant trend is holding strong, perhaps in keeping with rising interest in organic decor. “I’ve noticed a lot of live plants,” observes Michael Manoogian of Clive Daniel Home. “People are moving away from faux plants because they want things that they can care for, that have life and bring oxygen into their home. And people are going oversized with it. Instead of smaller pots and little orchids, people want these big, beautiful, lush trees that bring color and light into their space. “I always have fresh flowers in my home no matter the time of year,” says Gardner of Collins Interiors. “I try to choose things that look like they would grow in Florida. Succulents do well here, as do different kinds of ferns like asparagus ferns. Impatiens stay in bloom for a long time and they’re very cheerful.”

Tantalize with Textures Any design professional will tell you that adding texture to your decor will enhance the overall visual and tactile experience of the space while also adding depth and complexity. Depending on how you utilize it, texture can make your home feel luxe and sophisticated or warm and cozy. Bouclé, a fabric with a distinctive curly or nubby appearance used in upholstery, drapery and soft furnishings, is a particularly trendy way to add texture to your decor. “Although I saw a lot of growth in bouclé last year, what I’m noticing now is color bouclé or even just a rougher texture bouclé,” explains Manoogian of Clive Daniel Home. “I think a lot of that started with midcentury modern coming back into play.” While textiles are the most obvious way to add texture to your decor, there are also other options. “Wallpaper is not really leaving. It’s still a trend but it is ever-evolving,” he adds. “I’m seeing more grasscloth, more wood inlays, anything with texture.”

Clive Daniel Home, 3055 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota, 941-900-4663, clivedaniel. com. Collins Interiors, 595 Bay Isles Rd. Suite #120F, Longboat Key, 941-383-0131, collinsinteriordesign.com. Rugs As Art, 6650 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-921-1900, rugsasart.com. S7 Solar, Venice, FL, 941-380-2120. Tile Outlets of America-Sarasota, 4088 Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, 941-549-8453, tileoutlets.com/store-locations/sarasota.

Go Bold or Go Home An exciting way homeowners can create a luxurious yet also minimalistic look within the home is by using extra-large format porcelain tiles as an accent wall or accent floor. The term “large format” applies to tiles that have one side that is at least two feet long. However, many homeowners are using tiles that can range up to 118 feet long, taking the tiles from the wall all the way to the floor, making both a continuous design and bold statement. The trend of large format tiles not only applies to plain marbled designs, but homeowners are also gravitating toward both designs and dimensions on the large tiles used within a home. Designs that feature botanicals are an excellent way to incorporate Florida’s lush landscape into the design of a room, and dimensional tiles can add depth and an effortless modern aesthetic. Tile Outlets of America-Sarasota, 4088 Cattlemen Rd., Sarasota, 941-549-8453, tileoutlets.com/store-locations/sarasota.

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