SRQ HOME AND DESIGN
Compiled and written by Kate Wight.
H & D WALLPAPER
These home interior design trends are incredibly popular this fall, but they’re timeless enough that they’ll stay in style season after season.
Designer Walls
“There are some fantastic wood and metal wall treatments these days that are pretty interesting, but I happen to like wallpaper,” says Sarah Burke. “And with all the different wallpaper houses out there like Vahallan and Phillip Jeffries, there’s so much interest in wallpaper in comparison to years ago.” Burke, an interior designer with Clive Daniel Home, enjoys wallpaper for a lot of reasons. One is its versatility. “I did a customer’s house the other day and chose a very soft, textural wallpaper in a mixture of white and ivory, because all I really wanted to do was bring a little warmth and depth into the room,” she says. “But there are also really high-end specific designs like Jardin florals and Versace wallpapers that have a big wow factor and are also a lot of fun to work with. If you don’t have a lot of art, that wallpaper kind of becomes the art in the room. And there are so many other fantastic wallpapers available, from metallics to mica to grasscloth.” There are also plenty of practical reasons to hop onto the wallpaper wagon. “A lot of new homes have orange peel walls. I’ve heard from contractors they can’t get enough labor to make smooth walls, which I understand,” Burke says. As a designer though, I don’t love the look of orange peel walls and wallpaper resolves that problem. And for people with young kids, a vinyl grasscloth wallpaper can be really great. It’s really easy to wipe sticky fingerprints off the wall.” Clive Daniel Home, Sarah Burke,3055 Fruitville Commons Blvd, Sarasota, 941-900-4663, clivedaniel.com
Top left: Botanical wallpaper is perfect for soft and serene spaces like this bedroom sanctuary. Bottom left: Wallpaper in a dark hue like navy blue looks stately in a study, but alternating gray stripes keeps it from feeling too overwhelming. Bottom right: Strips of wall molding and a graphic wallpaper print combine to create a bold artistic statement. Images courtesy of Clive Daniel Home.
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EARTHY NEUTRALS
Essence of Nature
The leaves may not be changing color in Florida, but the color pale es in interior design are certainly evolving according to Christiana Engert, owner and principal interior designer of Frond and Fern Design. “Earthy neutrals are making a bold statement in interior design,” Engert says. “Where we once saw cool grays and stark whites, interiors are shi ing toward warmer, more calming tones inspired by the outdoors. This pale e evokes the grounding essence of nature with hues that echo soil, sand, wood and foliage. Earthy neutrals are versatile, appealing to both modern and traditional design sensibilities while maintaining a deep connection to the natural world and providing comfort and serenity.” Earthy neutrals are showing up everywhere, from furniture to fabrics to bedding. Even countertop appliances are ge ing in on the fun. The KitchenAid Evergreen Design series is incredibly popular right now and it fully embraces the earthy neutral trend with its ma e olive green base and rich walnut bowl. “Manufacturers are weaving in warm browns, rust, ochre, and my personal favorite, olive green,” says Engert. “Olive is the new gray. Like gray, olive is versatile. It pairs beautifully with a range of materials and colors, from warm woods and brass accents to so creams and terraco as. It adds personality and depth without overpowering the space, providing a refreshing yet timeless alternative to more neutral hues.” Frond and Fern Design, Christiana Engert, design@ frontandferndesign.com. frondandferndesign.com
Top le : The Arteriors Home Alanna O oman in Moss Green brings earthy neutral colors and textural elements. Bo om le : The KitchenAid Evergreen Mixer embodies everything people love about the earthy neutral trend. Bo om right: Crate and Barrel Natural European Flax Linen in Burnt Green brings the cozy fall vibes. Images courtesy of Frond and Fern Design.
Wight
H & D WARM MODERN
Artisanal Details
Sarasota has a rich architectural history as the birthplace of the Sarasota School of Architecture, a mid-twentieth century movement that emphasized modernist principles. Contemporary architecture continues to be perennially popular in the area, and DSDG Architects is a go-to firm for homeowners who are attracted to the clean lines and simple elegance that exemplify the style. Megan Trahin is an interior designer with DSDG Architects, and she’s noticed a movement toward warm modern interiors. “Warm modern is achieved by mixing the clean, minimalistic look of modern design with softer finishes like natural stone,” Trahin explains. “Travertine tile is popular right now, and people are using it in unexpected places. Instead of just using it on outdoor patios, people are putting travertine—or porcelain tile that looks like travertine—into their kitchens.” Materials like metal, glass, and concrete are prevalent in traditional modern design, while in warm modern design, organic elements are introduced to add warmth and texture. In a living room, this might mean grounding a sleek glass fireplace with a rough-edged limestone slab. In a kitchen, it could entail installing some warm walnut built-ins to balance out bright white cabinetry. “Bringing in artisanal details is also characteristic of warm modern design,” Trahin adds. “An example would be installing a mosaic marble tile in a very modern bathroom but keeping the colors tone-on-tone. It’s all about the touches.” DSDG Architects, Megan Trahin, 1348 Fruitville Rd, Suite 204, Sarasota, 941-955-5645, DSDGArchitects.com.
elements like the natural limestone fireplace slab are enhanced by natural decor items like woven baskets.
tile made from natural stone adds an artisanal touch to this modern bathroom. Images courtesy of DSDG Architects.
Top right: Warm walnut builtins, chairs and island accents bring an organic element to this contemporary kitchen. Bottom left: Warm organic
Bottom right: Mosaic
Wight
H & D MIXED METALS
Below: In the Palm Bay Model in Wellen Park’s Everly neighborhood, mixed metals add depth, contrast and a sense of sophistication. Images courtesy of Neal Communities.
While the rest of the country enjoys crisp fall air and colorful foliage, we miss out on those familiar hallmarks that herald the changing of the seasons. If you’re ready for a change of scenery, this may be the perfect time to think about refreshing your space.
Visual Accents
As the design gallery director for Neal Communities, Jennifer Joslin always has a front-row seat to the newest trends in the design industry. “We’re seeing a lot of mixed metals,” Joslin says. “You can see black and gold, brass and chrome, copper and bronze. There really isn’t a right or wrong way when it comes to metals.” Homeowners sometimes shy away from using mixed metals because they feel like all of their metal accents should match. But incorporating different metal finishes can add depth, contrast and visual interest to a space and keep the design from feeling flat. Combining different metals allows homeowners to add a personal touch to their space, moving away from overly coordinated, showroom-ready designs and toward something unique and custom. The key to this trend is balance. Using one metal as a dominant finish (for instance, matte black as the primary color) and others as accents (like gold or brass) helps create harmony without overwhelming the space. It’s not feasible to remodel your home multiple times a year to keep up with the latest design trends, but you can make small sustainable changes when you’re ready for a refresh. The mixed metal trend is perfect for folks who want a facelift for their kitchens or bathrooms, which tend to be the most expensive rooms to renovate. “Your lighting, your faucets and your hardware, that’s the jewelry in your home,” Joslin explains. “Changing the jewelry can transform the whole outfit.” Neal Communities, Jennifer Joslin, 5800 Lakewood Ranch Blvd N, Sarasota, 888-720-4429, NealCommunities.com.
Compiled and written by
Kate Wight
H & D ELEVATED CLOSETS
All in the Details
Below: No longer an afterthought, closets are now as chic and stylish as any other room in your home. Top right: LED lights bring a modern, high-end look to walk-in closets.
The Tailored Closet is a company that specializes in creating custom storage solutions for homes, with a focus on creating wellorganized spaces with a personal touch. The business designs and installs pantries, home offices, laundry rooms and other home storage areas but they are probably best known for their custom closet designs. “The same trends that you’re seeing throughout the kitchen and bath industry are also flowing into the custom closet space,” says Steve Jacoby, owner of The Tailored Closet. “What we’re seeing now is people are moving toward a contemporary look, with clean lines and sleek, understated handles.” LED lighting has always been popular in the custom closet world, and it remains at the forefront of the industry. Jacoby is also seeing higher levels of detail in closet design, like wood-tone drawer fronts and glass doors with aluminum frames. “When it came to design, it used to be that people would focus their attention on rooms like the kitchen while the closet was more of an afterthought,” he says. “Now people are elevating their closet spaces to tie in with the overall design of their homes.” The Tailored Closet, 579 Interstate Blvd, Sarasota,, 941-328-8989.
Compiled and written by Kate Wight
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THE FIFTH WALL
Room Impact
“Obviously, people come into our showroom asking for wallpaper and wall coverings,” says Susanna Ruden. “But we’re finding there is a trend that people are asking for and they don’t really know the term. But this is what it is: it’s the fifth wall of their home.” When you walk into a room and look around, you’ll usually see four walls. When you look up at the ceiling, that’s where you find the fifth wall. While often overlooked, the ceiling is considered the fifth wall of a room because it has the potential to add significant design impact, just like the other four walls. Treating the ceiling as a key design element can enhance the overall aesthetic of a space. Susanna Ruden has an interior design degree and has worked in kitchen and bath design for thirty years. In her current role at M&M Wallcoverings and Blinds, she helps customers figure out the best wallcovering solutions for their particular spaces.
“When you think about your fifth wall you have to factor in how it will relate to other elements that are in the room. You also need to consider the scale and proportion of the room,” she explains. “Some of the things that will affect your selection are how high the ceilings are, and how much natural light comes in. It’s sometimes difficult to use directional patterns on a ceiling, so you might want to use things like grasscloth or marbleized textures.” It’s also important to have a sense of the feeling and look you’re going for when selecting a wallpaper or other wallcovering for the fifth wall. “Metallics help lift up a room and make it feel lighter and more open,” Ruden says. “Darker colors create a sense of intimacy.” A lot of new homes are being built with cove ceilings, which provide the perfect frame for a fifth ceiling. You can also easily install trim to create separation between the walls and the ceiling and make the space feel more elevated. “When someone walks into a room and looks up, the fifth wall can have a calming feel or a really dramatic look,” Ruden says. “It has such a beautiful impact in a room.” M&M Wallcoverings and Blinds, 4801 S Tamiami Trail, Unit 7, Sarasota, 941-925-7800, mmwallcoveringsblinds.com.
Above left: In this recent install by M&M Wallcoverings, a textured wallpaper brought shine and dimension to the fifth wall of a home. Image courtesy of M&M Wallcoverings and Blinds. Right: Cove and tray ceilings make the perfect framing element for homeowners contemplating a fifth wall.
Compiled
and
wri en by Kate Wight
H & D FEATURE WALL
Below: Jennifer Wright of Clive Daniel uses renderings like these to show how transformative a feature wall can be.contemplating a fi h wall. Image courtesy of Clive Daniel Home.
Endless Opportunity
Where there’s a wall, there’s a way. Just ask Jennifer Wright. Wright has worked in design for over two decades and is currently an interior designer at Clive Daniel Home, where she works on a diverse array of projects from model homes to custom builds. No ma er what kind of project she’s taking on, she’s o en asked to include a feature wall in her design. A feature wall is a single wall within a room that is designed to stand out from the rest of the space, typically through the use of color, texture, material or artwork. For Wright, texture is her preferred method of expression. “In design, you want to create dimension and textures. Feature walls start off that whole process in a home,” Wright says. “We have all the textures in the world to work with when designing a feature wall. We have stone, we have amazing wood pieces we can now do. We’ve got Keenon which is like a decorative acrylic with all kinds of different colors and textures and shagreen which is a type of rawhide. The world is our oyster with what’s available out there to work with which is why I like feature walls. It’s just endless opportunity.” Feature walls can also be used to address design challenges within a space. Wright recently finished a villa in the Longboat Key area with an unusual view. “They had a 12-foot slider off the dining room that looked out at another outside wall that was all encased,” Wright recalls. “From the slider to the wall, I don’t think it was more than four feet. It’s very private, but you can’t sit out there or do anything.” Wright’s solution was to transform that outside wall into an exterior atrium, using resin panels made to look like wood slats and installing large boxed planters. “We used faux greenery because they’re not here all the time,” she explains. “It was a bit of a challenge to get the proper greenery that was all UV protected and waterproof.”Clive Daniel Home, Jennifer Wright, 3055 Fruitville Commons Blvd, Sarasota, 941- 900-4663, clivedaniel.com
