CENTURY 21 Fine Homes & Estates X Homepolish

Century 21 Real Estate has partnered with Homepolish, an interior design company that provides an end-to-end design experience for a wide variety of clients, to create a custom interior design guide for our offices looking to re-do their spaces with the new brand look and feel. We took some time to chat with Homepolish designers Jordan Shields, Mandy Chen, and Ashlie Broderic to discuss their ideas on the latest home trends.

Mandy Cheng: Los Angeles

After making waves for over a decade as a production designer in Hollywood, for clients ranging from Mercedes-Benz to Beyonce, Mandy Cheng now designs homes and commercial spaces, both as the principal designer for Mandy Cheng Design and as a senior designer for Homepolish’s Los Angeles team.

Cheng’s pick for hottest design trend? Going big with color has been a hot trend on the west coast. Bold colors— those so daring they’re typically reserved for use only as accent hues— are taking over in large design elements like built-ins and sofas.

“In the past, clients tended to lean towards white or neutral furniture, especially for the larger pieces like sofas and cabinetry,” explains Cheng.

“I think people are starting to max out on white-on-white and realizing that by incorporating more color, their personal items can seamlessly blend into the curated design.

The dark colored island blends beautifully with the white quartz countertops and subway backsplash. It adds a level of sophistication to the kitchen space.

“I’m pushing my clients to let go of their white walls and consider bold colors or wallpapers instead. It really heightens the sophistication and helps make the room feel truly custom.”

Jordan Shields: Los Angeles

Designer Jordan Shields grew up between Florida and Alaska, attended college in Savannah, GA, and now calls Los Angeles home. There, she runs her own design studio focused on commercial and hospitality spaces, while soaking up as much outdoor time as she can, citing nature as her greatest inspiration for her work.

When it comes to design trends, Shields uses a decorating strategy that covers all the bases. “Trends do add a feeling of freshness, but they also eventually go out of style, so I try to keep away from big design decisions that are overly trendy.”

To avoid creating spaces that will soon feel dated, Shields suggests creating a neutral base when decorating, and incorporating trends with elements that can easily be swapped out or refreshed down the road, such as wall colors, wallpapers and accent lighting.

The glass walls create a feeling of openness. Layering with throw pillows, an area rug, and decorative accessories, creates a warm, inviting feel to this modern space.

Shield’s golden rule of decorating? Layer, layer, layer. “Think about layering accessories or elements in your home just like you would when you're getting dressed. Don't be afraid to add that extra layer and then if things feel too busy you can always edit it down.”

Ashlie Broderic: New York

Ashlie Broderic is a Homepolish interior designer in New York City, where she’s spent a decade working at some of the city’s top design firms—and soaking up all the inspiration New York has to offer.

“My greatest source of inspiration is art,” she says. “Fortunately, I live in a place where I’m surrounded by great museums. I spend a few hours at The Met or The MoMA whenever I need to generate new ideas.”

The minimal black and white decor is softened by introducing natural wood flooring and organic materials like a concrete media wall.

Broderic offers her design forecast. “Art deco is emerging as a dominant design aesthetic and beginning to eclipse the mid-century modern references we’ve been seeing for the last 10 years. The lines are clean and minimal.”

New York style tends to be edgier than other locations, and Broderic’s design forecast reflects this style. When discussing color, Broderic sees a distinct lack of it in our future. “Black and white color palettes are trending next. The contrast is dramatic and the combination is classic.” But to warm up what can otherwise be a cold combo, Broderic suggests adding in earthier materials like concrete, plaster and wood.