Welcome to 2011! This is more than a new year, it's a new decade. Start this year with a home that reflects your style, sense of well being, and your lifestyle. This season's hottest design trends will add comfort to your home that you'll enjoy for years to come. This issue of Interior Insights will spotlight color trends and wall finishes as well as my ideas for two of the most used rooms in any home, the bathroom and kitchen.

Here's to your design inspirations. --Maureen
 

Wallpaper is making a comeback and with so many beautiful patterns and textures to choose it's a simple and lasting way to change the feel of any size space.

How to Use Wallpaper

Think bold and think texture when choosing wallpaper. You're not painting. Two of my favorite sources are Thibaut and Wallteriors.

Thibaut has several collections to choose and the Grasscloth collection hits on one of the hottest 2011 trends.

Wallteriors will change your idea of wallpaper. These papers can be cut or torn in different shapes and sizes and arranged by the installer to create a unique look. You can even add decorative tacks to your wall. Select the product tab and then new design to see the options.

Paint

I'm not wallpapering every wall I see these days. Paint is still an easy way to make a statement, freshen any room, and add color accents. However, another trend for 2011, and the foreseeable future, is green design. You may not be able to live in a LEED certified green building but you can choose low VOC paints for your walls. Sherwin-Williams has a number of different products that are both low VOC and low odor. The Harmony product is virtually odor free, has zero VOCs, and is anti-microbial. It's great in bathrooms and basement rooms that are damp and attract mold and it's the perfect choice for people who are allergy sensitive.

When I ask my clients what colors they like, most say blue. That means this year's blue trends will make a lot of people happy as we are seeing blues and grays in every shade. Blue is a calming color and great for rooms that you want a quieter feel, like a bedroom. And as blue is a color from nature, think ocean and sky, it pairs well with many other colors. Those other colors and patterns this year are softer yellows, animal prints, geometrics, stripes, solids and Ikats pictured here.

Ikats are handmade natural material fabrics in rustic designs that have an Asian feel to them. I've talked in the past about Tibetan rugs and these beautiful designs often come from the same parts of the globe.

Natural colors and textures fit into any home.

Kitchen and bath upgrades always add value to your home. If you have just purchased a home or are looking for one, consider how you feel about a home with a great kitchen or bath. You generally feel that the home is well maintained and cared for. It's also easier to clean with lots of storage.

Ktichens

When I'm working with kitchens I always consider how the space is going to be used. Not everyone likes to cook or eat in their kitchesn. For other families it is the true heart of the home. And while kitchen and bath magazines have great products and design options, I'm yet to walk into a home that has a kitchen the size of a House Beautiful spread.

I like to use a combination of materials in my kitchen design. I think it's more interesting and personal to use several finishes on the cabinets and countertops. Consider using painted cabinets with stained cabinets.

Granite is still the most popular countertop material but it can be mixed up a bit with stainless steel or wood. I also like the look of a piece of furniture in the kitchen to take a step away from the all built-in look. On the floor, hardwood is always beautiful and comes in a variety of colors. However, if you live in the Southwest, stone floors are better as they keep your space cool and the dust down.

Bathrooms

One of the most important features my clients want in a bathroom is one that is easy to clean. Forza Stone has come out with a product that combines 100% sealed natural stone with a metal backing. They make large sized panels that can be installed in showers. No grout to clean! The panels also pair beautifully with mosaics or glass tiles to add some pattern and texture to your space. You can even install these panels on the floor.

When you're ready to update your space give me a call. While it's great to read about design trends it can be a bit overwhelming to add them to your home in a way that makes sense for you. I can help.

This year's trends fit perfectedly into my philosophy of Dramatic Fusion, combining the best of everything so that it works perfectly for youl.