2017 brought some really fun design trends. We saw a major increase in Scandinavian design and a modern boho look. A lot of that will still be trending this year, however, we’re going to see other new designs take precedence!

Here are some of the TOP trends you can look forward to seeing this year:

Leather Furniture

Leather sofas have always been a home favorite but we’re seeing a rise this year in both sofas and accents! No better way to warm up your living space than with a perfect, cozy leather sofa.

 

Statement Rugs

The fastest way to change the feel of a room is definitely with a rug. This year we are seeing a rise in statement rugs! Out with the neutrals, in with the bold!

 

Dark Blue Walls

2017 was a year for bright pieces and white walls. We’re seeing something a little different this year with more pops of color. One of our favorite wall color trends this year is dark blue! It adds a moody touch to the home and pairs well with metallics and modern pieces.

Velvet

We saw touches of this last year but it is on the rise in 2018! It’s everywhere and we LOVE it! Couches, rugs, pillows, throws. Velvet is a major way to add luxury to any space.

Home Office

A trend we can 100% get on board with! As more and more people are beginning to work from home, the rise of adding a home office continues! Whether you have your own designated room for an office, or need to incorporate it into another space in your home, we love getting people set up with their own, convenient work stations!

Fresh Plants

Okay, maybe not a NEW trend but one that is worth mentioning again! Fresh house plants are so good for the flow of the home, cleanse the air, and instantly boost your mood! Popular plants this year include: night blooming cerus (cactus), king anthurium (similar to banana leaf), and ficus benghalensis (similar to fiddle leaf).

As an interior designer, I’ve studied art history, design, color theory, and application – but a lot of people don’t realize that I’m also certified in Feng Shui and a big passion of mine is to create a healing space for my clients.

What exactly is feng shui? It’s an age-old practice based around the notion that our homes are a direct reflection of what’s going on inside of us. So, the purpose of feng shui is to align our home environment with who we are and where we want to be in life. The goal is to have your home’s energy in perfect harmony with your own energy.

Each room has a specific purpose in the house and there are certain ways to arrange the furniture and accessorize in order to see the greatest benefits of feng shui.

FOR THE LIVING ROOM

The living room feng shui is related to peace and happiness of the whole family, so this is an important area to focus on!

Do:

• Have enough light sources that each area of the living room can be well lit when in use.
• Have fresh plants! They cleanse the air and inspire growth.
• Place the couch or armchairs in a position that allows you to see the entrance of the living room.

Don’t:

• Leave dried flowers around.
• Place a mirror behind the sofa.
• Allow room or shelves in the room to become cluttered.

 

KITCHEN & DINING

The main social gathering space for most homes! These tips are so important to keep an energetic, welcoming energy in a space that undoubtedly gets so much traffic.

Do:

• Keep the countertops cleared.
• All food and kitchen appliances not used on a daily basis should be kept out of sight.
• Keep the dining room as near as possible to kitchen.
• Keep the number of chairs at dining table even.

Don’t:

• Overload kitchen with accessories and gadgets.
• Place the dining table touching a wall.
• Use or even keep broken or chipped utensils and/or glassware.
  

 

BEDROOM

Our bedroom space is critical (as is a good night’s sleep)! These tips will help improve your sleep, your relationships, and your overall sense of peace.

Do:

• Keep underneath your bed clutter-free.
• Use relaxing colors. Earth tones, such as blue, green and brown, are best for the bedroom.
• Arrange your bed so that you can see the entrance to your room while you are laying down.

Don’t:

• Keep electronics in your bedroom. The electronic static in the air can interfere with your sleep, your love life, and your feeling of overall wellbeing.
• Hang a mirror directly in front of your bed.
• Push one side of your bed tight up against a wall. 

 

FOR THE OFFICE

Do:

• Clear ALL clutter! A clean, simple space will bring in vital energy that will help you with mental clarity, focus, and inspiration.
• Arrange your desk so that you can see the door when seated. Ideally, you should be able to see as much of the room as possible. 
• Keep the cords to your office equipment well hidden.

Don’t:

• Work with the TV on.
• Hang any mirrors in your office.
• Buy or use any furniture previously owned by someone who has gone out of business or gone bankrupt.

Feel free to reach out for more tips on feng shui in the home or office or to schedule your design consultation to see how we can transform your own space!

[email protected]
(805) 686-0842

Choosing the right design for you home can take time. If you are doing a COMPLETE
home redesign, the keys are to stay patient, excited, and trust your designer! A home
redesign requires mindfulness, an intimate understanding of the client’s needs and the
home, skills that take years to develop, and impeccable communication-not just with
clients, but with contractors, sub-contractors, architects, artists, furniture builders, etc.

Because there are many moving parts with interior design, systems are crucial! As
designers we follow these basic steps to ensure the process runs smoothly for all
involved, especially the clients!

Listening

Listening is an art. One that must be practiced and developed during each meeting
with the client, especially in the early stages of the project. This requires a series of
conversations to understand who the client is, what inspires them, how they live, and
how they want to be perceived by friends and family.

Connecting

Connecting with our clients and their homes is so important to us. With design, this
involves intimately understanding the detailed imagery and overall “vibe” our clients are
striving to attain.

Planning & Visualizing

Our designer at Dennee’s is an expert in the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui. In
short, Feng Shui aligns individuals with their surrounding environments. For many
reasons, it’s important to visualize the flow of the home and determine where and what
specific furnishings are needed.

Details

Detailing of the home’s interior architecture is the point in the process where all
previous steps come together and begin to mature and make sense. The designer now
understands the vision, both parties have established clear communication, the general flow of the home has been laid out, and now the palette of materials and finishes that will define the personality of the home are ready to be constructed and applied.

Shopping!

Here’s where the real fun begins! Work has been put in to lay the groundwork for the
project, and now it’s time to SHOP! While there are still plenty of details to sort through,
it’s important to take a deep breath and ENJOY the process! How often does someone
get to celebrate their new space by making it exactly as they’ve dreamed up?!

Ordering

People often wonder why a custom interior design project may take so long.
Well, here we are. There is A LOT of detail that goes in to custom furnishings. If you
want your home to be EXACTLY as you imagined, it will be worth the wait!

The Waiting Game

Be patient! As a designer, it’s important for us to stay on top of the orders. With so
many moving parts-manufacturers, artisans, furniture builders, textile companies,
suppliers, shipping companies, etc-there’s almost certainly going to be a hiccup at
some point along the way. It’s the designers job to handle every potential mishap so
the experience is as seamless and enjoyable as possible for the client. So remain calm,
and trust that your designer will take care of everything!

Installation!

The moment we have been waiting for! Everything has arrived from the warehouse and
each piece of furniture and decor are ready to be placed! This process can take
anywhere from a day to 2 weeks depending on the size and complexity of the project.
At Dennee’s we want our clients to walk into a completed home, and experience the
complete transformation. This is perhaps one of the biggest moments in our clients’
journey, aside from the home purchase itself. This moment should be CELEBRATED!

“An interior is a natural projection of the soul.” – Coco Chanel

A well-designed home should be an extension of who you are and what you love most.
This process takes time, but in the end it becomes your legacy! Leave a legacy worth
talking about and LOVE the home you’re in! Contact us now to set up a free
consultation with our expert designer, Mia.