Design Predictions vs Reality 2011
Every year our designers like to predict what the following years designers and interior designers are going to do.. They predict colors, trends with furniture, interior designs, exterior items, household decor, as well as other smaller items. Lets analyze some of last year's predictions by a group of designers that made several predictions with regards to this years design trends and ideas and see how they are holding up mid-year
1. Design Predictions for Colors: Pantone Color of the Year 2011
Pantone is the yearly and seasonal color planner for all kinds of designers from graphic to architectural, fashion, and even make-up. And Pantone is fabulous at its job, traveling all over the world to find new colors, subtleties, and textures that can change tones just enough to give things a whole new feeling.
For 2011, Pantone has chosen 'Honeysuckle' as its color of the year - that's Pantone 18-2120, for those of you with the 2011 Pantone 'bible.' The color is bright without being bold; reflecting a brighter outlook on the future, but not an ebulient one.
Pantone and other forecasters see a contrast of pale cool pastels with the deeper colors of iron and brick on the interior. Architecturally, stone colors and darker irons will be emphasized.
This prediction in my opinion has held true. 2011 has seen a lot of dark bronze, brick, browns in style. I mean look at my own website www.aghomegoods.com, its full of reds, browns, and the backround image is of course a sharp white with red accents. Its precisely what was predicted by the esperts. The pantone of the year has shown up many times in the interior of homes and the color which is very pink like has shown up in all areas of fashion.. How many times have you herd the phrase "Pink is in" or "Pink is cool" It seem that color is everywhere and using it to accent your house by having it on an accent wall looks absolutely fantastic. The cool pastels prediction is absolutely true.. The summer blues, light lime greens, light yellows, are all trendy and colors at the forefront of today's designs.
This prediction was accurate and true
2. Design Predictions for Architecture: Living and Working Spaces, 2011
Euromaxx predicts that home space will continue to assimilate work activity, satisfying family and work associates, architecturally, as a 'hub.' Also individual offices, either within the home or in modular form just outside the home, will be common. We will see continuity in the creation of large multi-purpose rooms, rather than divided ones. Kitchens will combine eating and meeting spaces - bring dining, cooking, meeting, and recreation all together in one large space - kind of like a home rendition of Google's office environment.
The kitchen is the place to be in 2011. No longer does the chef remain isolated from his guests while he prepares the meal. Family, guests, and business associates can feel right at home while they visit or brainstorm!
Integrated & multi-purpose living spaces are 'in' for 2011: image via charlesandhudson.com
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| A Kitchen using Honeysuckle |
This prediction is also accurate. More and more our homes are becoming places from which we do everything, meet, eat, work, host, and do just about everything we can. Our homes are becoming more and more open with large open spaces stretching from the kitchen to the living and sitting areas as they have become one large room sort of like what Lofts use to have as an exclusive style has now become Universal. These large open spaces have become standard and the new hip and trendy style in the design world. Large open Kitchens that open into a large conglomerate of rooms except for the bedrooms seem to be the style of the day.
This prediction is accurate
3. Design Predictions for Furniture: Minimalism for 2011
The recession has diminished our need for non-essentials and that will be seen in the simple, geometric design of furniture. Flourishes will not be noticeable with the eyes, but with the comfort of a chair that looks austere in a geometric form, but is really quite comfortable. A soft faux fur also serves as a contrast and provides greater comfort.
Here, Neutra, designed by Belgian architect Vincent van Duysen for signature Tribù, represents what I interpret as representing the coming period.
Neutra, by Vincent van Duysen
I wont even talk to much about this point as everyone of my postings throughout the year on my blog has been about this style of furniture and trend.. This is definitely true and accurate. More and more less is better is the term and dictionary definition of designers throughout the world of today's modern, contemporary style of design. It seems to be the key word defining this style and the key element in its planning and execution by all designers. Minimal furniture, minimal decor, minimal everything. This ios one prediction that is easy to verify and is probably one of the ones all of us can agree on.
This prediction is accurate
4. Design Predictions for Materials: Naturals for 2011
Again, basic structures and furniture are minimalist. Materials for building are basic too - various kinds of cement, easily stampable with patterns, will be seen more interiorly. Sustainable woods that are easily replaceable, will be popular for furniture and flooring, giving a more sensual look to geometrical shapes and minimalist design.
While even cushioned furniture will be on the austere side, visually, rich materials can wake up your decor with warmth and color. There is a big swell of material designers investigating new textiles to use as fabrics for draperies, rugs, pillows and other accent pieces... also covered in Prediction 5.
Here is a great example of how color, design lines, and materials combine to make a warmer minimalist decor.
Soft fabric curtains and cool pastels warm up the linear design.: image via expo-port.com
Absolutely.. Hard wood floors the re-emergence of fabric curtains in light earth woodlike tones, the new modern wood chairs without cusions, the lack of impact colors in our fabrickjs, the return of beige, black, and white on their own with minimal impact colors. Earthlike light tones are definitely in and even our hardwood floors have taken a lighter approach with light bamboo taking over from the chocolate dark reds of last year and previous years. Our homes have become brighter and more warm as opposed to the darker trends of last year.
This prediction is accurate
5. Design Predictions for Accent Decor: Global & Ancestral Influences for 2011
A look at the past will dominate accent pieces in everything from materials to lighting. As in food, we will be inspired by our ancestors from the Elizabethan period to the 1940's. Lush velvets and brocades will contrast with the cool pastels of 2011 to make some very interesting (and challenging) color and textural patterns. Lamps, bowls, and vases: anything from antique to art deco!
A broader view of the world will invite different cultures into our homes, particularly indigenous cultures such as live in many parts of Africa and South America. The geometrical shapes and naturally dyed fabrics will bring a sense of global awareness to our living spaces. Below are examples from Maison et Objets...
'Global awareness' is right at home:
Absolutely true and 100% accurate. I have spoken about this very trend in many articles on my blog. One of the reasons I always say that the Modern, contemporary style has been so diverse and everlasting is its ability to swallow up other styles and use previous furniture in those styles as accent pieces in its designs and ideas. Victorian pieces, chests, ottomans, chairs, have been used countless times in modern contemporary homes as accent pieces. They stick out and appear natural in the modern contemporary environment. How many of us have been to homes with a Luis Vuitton chair used as an accent piece and Benzara or Woodland Imports home decor which sells this type of furniture and is readily available on my website has become very popular. Have a look for yourself.
This prediction is accurate
6. Design Predictions for Solar: Solar Beautification for 2011
Of course, there will be more emphasis on creating new sustainable forms of energy, but in the design world, there will be an emphasis on beautification as well. Who says solar panels have to be ugly just because they are?
Now those seriously involved in sustainable design are thinking: make it pretty and they will come. Certainly, I'd be more inclined to buy these portable designer solar chargers by TDK...
TDK designer solar chargers: image via engadget.com
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| solar powered planters |
This prediction is partly true. More and more the trend in countries of Europe, Japan, Dubai, Singapore and a few others, the United States has failed to live up to expectations that many people had. I have written many articles about solar powered houses and greenhouses and a slew of other things that we have seen use solar especially with costs associated with petrol products now a days. My website is full of solar outdoor lighting that seems to be the trend of the day and very in right now with most designers. We have all seen the solar powered lights, fountains, pots, globes, and other items when used in our patios and other parts in the exterior of our homes and gardens. Again I have been selling these items since the begining of the year on my website's outdoor patio section.
This prediction is accurate
7. Design Predictions for Lighting: Windows for 2011
Large, even huge windows, treated for insulation and solar heat are very popular as the prime source of day lighting. Artificial lighting will be recessed, hidden, or camouflaged into the lighting design, as in this futuristic bedroom...
A natural effect comes from the recessed lights in this bedroom design.: image via polopuentearanda.com
Absolutely, windows have become the make or break in designs. No longer hidden and obsolete but now at the forefront of our homes. They are widely visible essential elements of our modern homes. They are floor to ceiling in most cases and they attract attention to themselves instead of away as had been the previous trend. No longer always covered with blinds but by sheets of light see through fabrics that brings attention to the edges of our modern contemporary decorated rooms. They are the new walls in our rooms and serve as a portal of warmth as they let the sunshine into our ever increasing bright and lit homes to show off our minimal decor and furniture pieces.
This prediction is accurate
It seems all the predictions made at the end of last year were accurate for the most part. The modern and contemporary style seems to be growing and still going very strong. It has swallowed up previous designs and made them accent pieces within its own designs and has continued to dominate the design worldby proving it can change and remodel itself year after year.
Hope all of you enjoyed the article and I would love to hear from you any comments and or opinions regarding this article..
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