Each season that comes and goes also brings along design trends that seem to fluctuate in popularity. With the summer fast approaching, we are going to break down the design trends that will be popping up all over your Instagram and Pinterest feeds so you can get ahead of the game. Below are 5 different trends that we foresee emerging in the world of interior design this coming summer.

Raw Wood and Natural Finishes

Materials like brick, concrete, natural stone, and raw wood finishes are popping up everywhere on the market. Exposed brick has been a trend that seems to go through many peaks and valleys of popularity, but it is rising once again and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Concrete is a material that has really gained traction in the contemporary sector of the interior design industry. However, it is beginning to be seen in other various styles like farmhouse and transitional spaces. There are so many different finishes that concrete can achieve, depending on the style you are looking for. Also, it’s a great alternative for those who are looking to cut back on costs. Compared to other materials used for countertops and fireplace surrounds like marble, granite, and quartz, concrete is almost half the price in some cases.

In addition to exposed brick and raw concrete, natural stones seem to be a popular design choice for things like fireplaces and feature walls. The natural stone feature wall seen above demands attention and creates a cohesive connection which anchors the second level of the home to the main floor. Natural stone is a great way to add subtle depth to an otherwise simple design.

Light, naturally finished wood has always been very popular in Scandinavian design, however, it’s beginning to branch out and diffuse into other design models. In the photo above, our homeowner wanted a contemporary home that felt bright and open, but also warm and inviting. The use of light wood with a natural finish allowed us to keep the space airy, while also bringing in warm tones to create a welcoming atmosphere.

The Departure from All White Kitchens

For the last few years, interior design accounts have flooded our feeds and convinced us that if we want a bright and airy home an all-white kitchen is the only alternative. We have seen all white kitchens take over every design model from modern to farmhouse to traditional to contemporary, with no end in sight. However, our design forecast predicts all white kitchens are quickly losing their momentum.

The all white kitchen is a beautiful thing, however, they are not as practical as they are pretty. With the kitchen being one of the most used spaces in a lot of people’s homes, as well as having the most potential for messes, choosing all white finishes does not seem like the most functional choice. With the use of recessed lighting and large windows to let in natural light,  strictly white kitchens are not a necessity for having a bright and airy home.

Another design trend we are seeing that strays from an all-white kitchen is the duo-toned kitchens. The use of white is still incorporated into the design of the cabinets, however, an alternative colour or material is also added. In the kitchens seen above, our clients wanted to create a visual distinction within the space, which demands more attention. You can see that by adding the wood cabinets we have created depth and definition that the kitchen otherwise, (if it were all white) would not have.

Textures & Patterns

Over the last three decades we have been trying to redeem ourselves from the hectic-ness of the ’70s and 80’s design trends and in doing so, reverted to styles that are more mundane and simplistic. With this being said, more and more patterns and textures are beginning to reemerge with refined hints of the past generations design features. Designers and homeowners are getting more risky with what they are mixing and matching and we think this trend will only continue to grow in this upcoming season.

The use of textures in interior design can be implemented through furniture, flooring, textiles, appliances (as seen below, a hammered brushed nickel sink) and in wall treatments i.e. plaster, wallpaper, faux painting. Incorporating textures into a space can be risky if you don’t find the right balance. However, it can also elevate a room’s design by creating a look that is unique and dramatic. The hammered brushed nickel sink seen below is a perfect example of this. It takes a powder room that would otherwise be a beautiful, but basic space and turns it into a dazzling design feature that will be noticed by everyone who enters the room.

We have also seen a lot of texture being incorporated through wall treatments and papers. In the photos below, our client wanted a design feature that was subtle, yet interesting. This wallpaper doesn’t just have a pattern, but it’s also textured. The texture is hard to pick up in photos, which is what they were looking for – something that you can only truly appreciate if you are in the space admiring the details. It is a stunning design feature that adds a unique focal point to their hallway and mudroom.

Open Shelving

Open shelving is the newest trend in the cabinetry game. They are being used in areas like home offices, home bars, mudrooms, living spaces and most commonly, kitchens. They can make rooms feel more open, while also providing space to showcase design pieces that accent the home. The biggest myth about open shelving is that makes a space look cluttered. If a shelf is designed with balance and modesty in mind, it can elevate the design of a room significantly.

Open shelving can also take on many different forms and can be easily customized to fit whatever design style you’d like. Materials used for shelving vary from wood to glass to metal, to stone. There are so many alternatives to choose from based on the look you want to achieve. The appeal that open shelving has had to our clients is the ability to provide functional storage as well as a place to showcase things like family photos, memorabilia, and decorations.

In the photo above, you can see that our homeowners went for a more industrial look for their open shelving to add a dramatic touch to the display. Some, however, prefer to have open shelving that is more subtle to ensure all the attention is focused on what is on the shelves. It completely depends on what space you are using them in and for what purpose.

Statement Plants

Bringing nature indoors is a design trend that seems to be picking up pace in the industry. Large statement plants have grown in popularity (pun intended) in recent years and they only seem to be becoming more common. These plants are not just something to fill an open space, they are incorporated as an intentional and necessary design feature. The most common plants are fiddle leaf fig trees, palm trees of different styles, snake plants and dracaenas.

Seen in the photo above, this palm tree accents the natural wood tones in this kitchen, adding warmth to the space. This plant is very large in size and demands attention when entering the kitchen. This is what is now being seen more commonly. House plants are no longer passive features in a room that are tucked away or out of place. They are being used very intentionally to add a specific vibe to a room’s atmosphere.

House plants are also great to use in transitional spaces. Areas of the home like an entryway or staircase as well as a screened in porch can be defined as transitional spaces. In these areas of the home, plants can act as an anchor that connects the space to the rest of the home or its surrounding. In the photo above of the stairway, you can see how the use of snake plants lead your eye upwards to the landing of the stairs. This guides the flow of the space and creates a line of vision that is symmetrical.

In the screened-in porch above, plants are used to connect the indoor space with the outside landscape. This creates a balance within the room that works in conjunction with its surroundings. Gone are the days of the dormant house plant that sits and collects dust. We are bound to see even more plants being incorporated into interior design in summer 2019.