Summer Ready: Trends From Miami & New York’s Top Designers

Take your home to the next level this summer with help from Miami’s finest interior design experts, who share their favorite trend of the season.

“After years of white kitchens, I’m loving the return to stain woods for kitchen cabinets. The warmth of a natural wood with gentle graining or cerusing brings interest while staying calm. Pop a lighter wood cabinet with a dark counter-top like a soapstone, or pair a medium wood cabinet with a limestone in a leathered finish to create texture and depth. The wood stains work equally well for a modern kitchen as for a more traditional one. With the possibilities for variation being virtually endless, this trend has some potential lasting power.”

“We are finding that our clients are asking for privacy and tranquility. Most often we are using contemporary furnishings whether the house is traditional or modern. In general we use either a light or dark fabric for furnishings with pillows adding the color and pattern. More and more front entrances in South Florida incorporate water features and interesting steps or stepping stones are very popular. We are using storm and disease tolerant hedges and plantings to be ecofriendly and reduce maintenance.”

“Blush pink has been on trend this year and is certainly a refreshing color palette to incorporate in your home this summer and beyond. We’ve used it extensively – in living rooms, bedrooms and even in a kitchen. We simply love how soft and playful it makes any space feels, and that it’s no longer viewed as a color reserved only for a little girls room, but a color grown ups have fully embraced.’’

“I am intrigued by new lighting that defies the traditional. I think these cool lights from Roll and Hill, that are debuting right now at Salone in Milan, allow you to play with lighting as material and sculptural shape rather than static in a pendant or chandelier.”

“My favorite thing happening in design right now is the liberal use of bold patterns and bright happy colors, especially for summer homes. In this Hamptons bedroom and dressing area, I used a bold tropical patterned Pierre Frey wallpaper in sepia tones to set off saturated pops of red, pink, magenta, and yellow. The walls become a large scale texture which plays nicely with the more subtle consistency of sisal carpet, boucle fabric, and wood flooring. The result is a room that’s very relaxing, fresh, and breezy despite daring elements.”

“Lately I love layering bold ceramics as accent pieces. It’s a fresh departure from curated stacks of books and highlights a unique way for clients to express their personality. I transformed an entryway bookcase in a New York City apartment into a chic cabinet of curiosities by arranging ceramic sculptures and vases which play off each other in color, shape and texture. The result was a first impression of the home that’s both elegant and whimsical.”

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