Every January my friends have the same design question – “What is the big trend this year?” I never want to burst their bubble and tell them they are late in asking - the year’s trends were already predicted (after years of research) at least six months ago — and I understand our need to be “current” and “with it”, so I usually do my countdown over dinner. It is in that spirit, I can tell you one of the biggest trend for 2015 is a cautious celebration of the good life, coupled with a restrained revival of old crafts and techniques, updated courtesy modern technology and application. But don’t just take my word for it.
For this very special trend report I’ve happily recruited my award-winning designer friends from across the globe. From the Queen of Taupe, Kelly Hoppen OBE and Hollywood designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard to the Paris design darling Stéphanie Coutas and our very own, Nada Debs, the leading lady of Middle Eastern interior design — they are “the” word on what’s hot in 2015.
Colour is BIG
“No more beiges and browns,” says Debs as she lays down the colour charts. The links between fashion and interiors cannot be felt any strong than through colour and patterns. Pantone, the leader in colour trends has already pin-pointed the hottest colour for 2015 — the deep Marsala. Not surprisingly, the colour — very visible in blocks and print, across the red carpets of late 2014 — now seeps, as is customary, into interiors. Be bold and swathe an accent wall in this decadent shade or nod to the trend with statement furniture upholstered in the colour of the year. Accessories in metallic hues are sure to add depth to the colour, however you choose to play with it. According to Bullard, bursts of green will punctuate the rich wine colour for added drama.
Live openly
“In recent years, people have taken the idea of open-plan living to heart and this trend will continue to inform home renovators and designers” says Hoppen. Homes as we knew them — built with lots of separate rooms that all had a specific purpose — have slowly given way to open-plan spaces. The shift that started with the open-plan kitchen is ideal for people who do not have much space to work. It has now become very fashionable to combine people’s living rooms and work spaces, getting rid of their studies altogether. Not a particular fan of fickle trends, Hoppen has particular affinity for this one as it genuinely changes how we perceive and enjoy spaces.
Light it up
“Focus on lighting design is becoming a very important aspect of the entire design language,” says Debs. Rightly so, for it’s usually illumination that has the power to make any space look warm or cold. Investing in motion-detecting LED lights and recessed LED strip lights would be a good place to start but a big lighting industry trend is to marry industrial materials with crafts and modern technology in a minimalistic manner. Luxe lighting companies like Preciosa and Lasvit are employing cutting edge LED technology to breathe life into their hand-crafted artisan glass chandeliers. Beirut based lighting company PSLAB has refined metal forging to create stunning, minimal light pieces.
The ‘70s
“I see a strong revival of the 1970s and 80s aesthetic,” says Bullard. True to the era, lounging styles of that time are re-interpreted with deep upholstery in organic shapes, marble tables in geometric shapes. This trend also marks the return of brass, tin and metal as the go-to material for everything from bathroom fixtures to coffee tables, chandeliers, decorative accessories and even cutlery. Texture will be key to this revivalist trend and will be seen on everything from fabrics to rugs and wallpaper. The humble embossed tin tiles get an all-star make-over as the material of choice to clad walls, ceilings even flat surfaced furniture like bed head-boards. For a more subtle approach invest in fabric-backed wallpaper that echoes texture from nature such as silk and limestone.
Traditions revisited
“We will see traditional handicrafts reinvented in a modern, minimalist fashion,” says Debs, herself a strong voice for the movement. For 2015, expect to see traditional patterns, designs and even construction techniques updated. Not only does this trend revive flagging crafts, it gives the craftsmen recognition and incentive to continue on their path that the industrial revolution all but eroded. Bold features in crafts from the world over, will receive a refined flourish thanks to new-age detailing. Applied in a simplified, modern manner, regional design vocabularies will find universal appeal.
Understated Luxury
“I feel this New Year is bringing along a strong desire for authenticity,” emphasises Coutas. With the upward looking stock markets, our love for luxury finishes is back but in a more sombre fashion. High gloss and crystal-decked surfaces are now matte. Instead of an entire piece making a bold statement, its noble materials such as brass, silver and mother of pearl in harmony with mass-produced man-made materials such as concrete and acrylic that are making a luxe statement. It’s now the finishing touches — the handles, the knobs, the trims and tiles — where you will find that luxurious flourish. The real worthy of luxury has moved from ostentatious, expensive labels to respect for craftsmanship and original pieces.
Pratyush Sarup edits the design site www.designcarrot.net. You can follow the site on twitter @DesignCarrot.
