Design Trends in Showhouses
Spring and early summer always brings a wave of National Interior Designer Showhouses. These are amazing spaces full of inspiration. I notice some definite trends across the various showhouse and locations.
Let’s dive into the trends at two of those showhouses: San Francisco Decorator Showcase and Kips Bay New York
Pattern
Pattern is showing up on more surfaces than ever. And more patterns are being mixed together in a single space. Pattern mixing in interior design is indeed gaining popularity, adding vibrancy and personality to spaces. You know I’ve always been a fan of colorful spaces and blending patterns, and I shared advice for successful pattern mixing: How to Mix Pattern Like an Interior Design Expert.
Mixing Patterns in a bedroom or living room can be easy because you can use many fabrics to achieve this in pillows, window treatments and furniture. But check out this bathroom below. Using a lot of pattern in a bathroom requires some creativity because bathrooms are primarily hard surfaces.
Design: Vanessa Deleon Associates
To achieve this pattern infusion, the designer was creative in using wall and ceiling coverings as well as an intricate crown molding, in addition to a beautiful patterning on the floor tile. Pattern can even be seen in the veining of the stone on the bathroom vanities.
Spoiler alert, both this bathroom and the following 2 rooms focused on pattern use and pattern mixing also feature my next trend: ceilings.
Design: Redmond Aldrich Design
The room above is a bit different in that they chose one pattern and used it on multiple surfaces, giving it an exaggerated feel. This design team still incorporated mixing, with a strong geometric floor tile that contrasts with the floral pattern on the walls and ceiling.
Design: Lark & Palm
The bedroom above doesn’t have as much of a pattern mix, but I do like that they show the opposite of what most rooms do. The “typical” strategy is to have walls in a sold color and work in pattern in the bedding, window treatments, etc. Here, the designers have made an adventurous choice to put so much pattern in the walls. I like it!
Design Tip – How to Mix Patterns like an Interior Design Expert
Ceilings
The second hot interior decor trend that I noticed in showhouses is the attention given to the ceilings. I’ve often said that the ceiling is the forgotten wall. It’s usually a large, flat surface, meaning it is a prime opportunity to add more character and pizazz to any room design.
In the showhouses, I spotted a clear emphasis on incorporating the ceilings both through wallpaper or wall coverings, and through paint. Check out my favorites below.
Decorating ceilings with wallpaper is a unique way to add character and a touch of luxury to a room. The room above is fairly plain – simple white walls and a large solid colored sectional. The use of a very large scale pattern on the ceiling brings this room to life.
Design: Jay Jeffers
The home office above also gets a jolt of pattern, texture and color from the wall treatment installed on the ceiling. It adds a modern touch to an otherwise pretty traditional room.
Design: Amy Weaver Design
The bedroom design above uses minimal pattern, until you get to the blue and white plaid design on the ceiling. I don’t know if it’s painted or a wallpaper, but the result brings so much more interest to this room.
Design: Phoebe Howard
This room could easily fit with the first trend on patterns. However, this ceiling design is so intricate that it needs to be featured with the ceilings. This room has a strong Chinoiserie style and this ceiling drives it home. What is Chinoiserie? “The imitation or evocation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art, furniture, and architecture, especially in the 18th century.”
Now let’s take our focus to ceilings with paint. This is another impactful way to decorate any room.
Design: Lark & Palm
Color Drenching
Color Drenching consists of choosing a single color and using in generously throughout a room. This might mean that all surfaces are painted this color. Or perhaps the upholstery and wall color are the same. This goes far beyond an accent wall. It’s more of a monochromatic color explosion. I just wrote an article with tips and inspiration on Color Drenching.
This trend is continuing in a strong way and could be seen in the national designer showhouses.
Design: Donna Mondi
The bathroom above is color drenched in Black. This recommendation would terrify so many people. They fear that the room will be dark and feel like a cave. This room proves that using the color black in interior design can be done well and creates a very dynamic space.
The walls are ceilings are color drenched in black. While the floors, vanities and shower start to incorporate a lightness. The large window keep the space feeling large and bright.
Design Tip: Designing Black Rooms
Design: de la Cruz Interior Design
Color Drenching is achieved in this living space by using the same color on the walls and ceiling. We have a lot of crossover through all of these trends, don’t we?!
Design: Margaret Naeve Parker
Another example of how to apply color drenching. Taking a color from the floor tile and pulling it up to the walls, ceiling and baseboard create a dramatic room design.
Dive Deeper here: Design Trend: Color Drenching
And here is some new for you – Beautiful Habitat has been invited to participate in the Denver Life Magazine Designer Showhouse for 2024. The showhouse will open in November for tours, so stay tuned for all of the details.
See our previous showhouse room designs here
Denver Life Designer Showhouse 2020
Home & Garden Colorado Designer Showhouse 2021
Denver Life Designer Showhouse 2023
See more of these Interior Design Showhouses
San Francisco Decorator Showcase
https://www.decoratorshowcase.org/
https://luxesource.com/san-francisco-decorator-showcase-2024-highlights/
Kips Bay New York
https://www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org/
Kips Bay Palm Beach
https://galeriemagazine.com/kips-bay-palm-beach-2024/