One might surmise that a happy home makes for a happy life. When our carpet is dingy or the color of our cupboards nags on our psyche, it’s understandably hard to spend time at home. Even the food we eat doesn’t seem to taste as good when we have to stare at an unattractive kitchen.
But before you go redecorating, remodeling or reimagining your space, make a plan. Because just like grandma’s shag carpet, design trends have come and gone. Be sure you know what designs and styles are in and which ones will stand the test of time and get you more bang for your buck.
And have fun! These are the spaces in which we live, grow and thrive. We want them to look their best so we can feel our best.
Get Inspired
Many interior decorators and designers suggest starting with a little online research. Although Pinterest can be helpful, some designers think it should be filed away next to outdated websites like MySpace and Ask Jeeves.
Builder: Ginno Construction
Design: Eric Hedlund Design
These days, Coeur d’Alene designers like Zetta Stam at Aspen Homes and Molly Hustoft at Designer Homes Interiors suggest using Houzz for inspiration. This DIY home website contains helpful articles and example photos, as well as links to buy the products shown and contact information for home designers near you.
You start by creating an account and customizing a room with model photos and products. Then you can send the room plan to a designer or print it out and create it yourself.
Local Trends
To catch a glimpse of the latest trends in real life, look no further than your neighbor’s house. Local designers have noticed trends specific to the homes of the Inland Northwest. What style do local designers say encompasses our locale? One word. Well, two: contemporary rustic.
is a very popular style now. When someone asks for a farmhouse style, we try to use elements of this style integrated into a more traditional design plan. For example, we could use a ship-lapped siding feature wall in the bedroom and more modern streamlined furniture and fixtures to give the sense of farmhouse without going all ‘Green Acres!’”
Builder: Ginno Construction
Design: Eric Hedlund Design
Locals might call this style
“Northwestern,” but those around the world call
it by its proper classification: Scandinavian.
Focusing on a connection to nature, Scandinavian design emphasizes simplicity, functionality and environmentalism. The style is characterized by the use of warm colors, gray walls, natural woods, an abundance of plants and clutter-free decor. As many designers look to the past for inspiration, the Scandinavian style has become extremely popular once again.
Going Gray
For the latest color trend, ask Eeyore. Gray has been the “in” interior color for the last several years. Stam explains gray can be too overwhelming and darken a room, so she suggests using warmer grays and taupes in your palette. She says the modern home tends to have a lighter and earthier feel.
To break up the gray, designers suggest adding a pop of color to a room, which can be done in a variety of ways. For an easy fix, Stam suggests tossing a colorful pillow on the couch or a fun carpet on the floor. Painting an accent wall or a room’s trim can also add some interior spice. For those who aren’t so great with a paintbrush, investing in wallpaper is an option your grandmother and your millennial friends can be proud of.
“I love to merge flavors and styles,” Stam says. “[I like to combine] more than two and have them complement each other. I love when someone walks around the corner and sees something unexpected and different — yet it all flows and looks great and not boring.”
Builder: Rosenberger Homes
Attention Grabbers
Hands-on trends vary from installing a statement lighting fixture to a wall-to-ceiling cabinet or bookshelf. Decorating just the walls is passé these days.
“We try to suggest something for the ‘fifth wall’ (aka the ceiling) to add another layer of interest to the space,” Hustoft says.
Hanging unique art pieces to grab the attention of guests can be a cheaper way to liven up a room without redecorating every corner. The latest DIY decor art involves an old book and a pair of scissors. Designers will prop up an open book on a shelf or table and cut out a shape from the pages, the most popular being a heart. It’s a cheap way to be trendy.
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Many modern decorators often include plants in their designs.
Housing a plant can feel like adopting a puppy, so most designers have hitched on to the newest green trend: succulents and cacti.
Outdoor Living
Indoor-outdoor living is a must-have for the Inland Northwest home. Patios can be a great way to try out the trend without investing time and money in a bigger decking project.
When we think concrete, we often think boring, gray sidewalks. But concrete these days comes in a variety of finishes, textures and colors. Coeur d’Alene Paving Inc., a local ready-mix concrete company, supplies the Inland Northwest with a variety of these innovative patios — including suspended patios attached to the upper floors of a home or apartment building.
“In the past, if a patio was in mid-air, it would definitely not be made of concrete,” says Robert Miller, Coeur d’Alene Paving’s sales representative. “Engineering-wise, we have created thinner and more flexible concrete mixes to withstand a group of people hundreds of feet above ground.”
The most popular patios are exposed aggregates and sand washes that reveal the river rocks and organic minerals deposited inside the concrete. Once a texture is chosen, colors can be added to the mixture as it blends. Miller says some tints and paints with higher viscosities can even make cement look like glass. For a bit of fl are, patios can also be stamped with a variety of shapes and patterns while the concrete hardens.
“In our mountain climate, patios are ground-floor living that is safe, accessible, and convenient to maintain for older clients and clients of every kind,” Miller says.
Builder: Milionis Homes
Statement Room
When ripping up your floor or redesigning your entire house isn’t doable, designers often suggest focusing on a statement room. Select one room you and your family spend the most time in and invest your redecorating budget in that space.
If you’re unsure what room to choose, many designers are in agreement: the kitchen is the way to go.
“The kitchen is the ‘heart’ of the home and it is where memories are made, from holiday meals to baking cookies, and it should reflect the way homeowners live and play,” Hustoft says.
Stam says her favorite way to decorate a kitchen is by adding new tiles, counter tops, sink faucets or statement accessories like glass storage jars and spice racks. Staining, painting, or covering kitchen cabinets can be a great way to reimagine something you already have.
“The kitchen is the place everyone seems to enjoy, be it chatting while cutting up veggies together, or catching up with the kiddos as they grab a fast snack,” Stam says. “When the kitchen is open to the living room, it just functions well for entertaining and for an everyday connected feeling with family. The kitchen is just the place to enjoy great food, family and friends.”
Clear Your Canvas
Once you’ve decided on a design or style you like, Stam says the first step should be decluttering. It’s hard to imagine your future space when you can’t see what you have to start with.
Once you have an empty and clean space to work with and a style in mind, it’s time to start designing. Everything is on the table, but there are some trends the designers think should be left alone.
“Don’t try to exactly copy an inspirational pic you’ve found,” Hustoft says. “Rather study what elements you love about the room and try to incorporate one or two of these. If the room looks too contrived, it won’t feel comfortable or beautiful to you.”
When it comes to anything structural, Johnson says it should be left to the professionals. Fixing DIY renovation mistakes can be costly. You don’t want your redesign project to damage your home or your budget.
One thing all the designers agree on: avoid being boring.
“Do not play it so safe that you end up with a great looking home but not your home,” Stam says. “Different truly is beautiful.” N
By Michaela Delavan
Photography By Joel Riner