Trends and Timeless Design
Balancing Trends and Timeless Design
When designing a space, one of the key goals for our team is to create something that feels cohesive and timeless. But what exactly makes a design timeless, and how do you navigate the ever-changing landscape of trends while still creating a space that won’t feel outdated in a few years?
Explore with us what makes a space cohesive and how you can embrace trends without losing sight of a timeless foundation.
What Makes a Space Cohesive?
A cohesive space feels harmonious—everything works together rather than competing for attention. Here are a few elements we take into consideration when designing a cohesive interior:
1. Color Palette: A unified color palette creates connection throughout a space. Whether you’re using soft neutrals or bold colors, consistency across rooms ensures the design feels intentional. This doesn’t mean you need the same color everywhere, but shades should complement one another rather than clash.
2. Balance of Materials: Mixing materials like wood, stone, metal, and fabric can add depth to a design. However, it’s essential to find balance. Too many competing textures can make a space feel chaotic, while a limited but thoughtful selection brings a sense of harmony.
3. Consistent Style: Choose a design style that aligns with the architecture of the building and your personal taste. Whether it’s modern, mid-century, or industrial, consistency helps maintain cohesion. A hodgepodge of competing styles can lead to a confusing, fragmented space. You can learn more about how to determine your interior style on our blog post “What is your Design Style?”.
4. Functionality: A well-designed space is functional. Cohesion isn’t just about looks; it’s about ensuring the space works for how you live or use it daily. Thoughtful layouts and attention to the purpose of the space keep it feeling grounded.
WHAT MAKES A SPACE Timeless?
Timeless design is all about longevity. It’s design that looks just as good in 10 or 20 years as it does today. Here’s how we achieve that:
1. Focus on Quality: Timeless design prioritizes quality materials and craftsmanship. Invest in well-made furniture and materials that will stand the test of time, both in durability and aesthetic.
2. Simplicity Over Complexity: Often, timeless spaces are built on the principle that “less is more.” Instead of overloading your home with intricate details that may feel overwhelming over time, stick to clean lines, neutral tones, and subtle textures that offer visual interest without feeling overbearing.
3. Classic Elements: Incorporating classic design elements—like subway tiles, marble countertops, or hardwood floors—ensures that your space won’t be tied to a specific trend or time period.
The Role of Trends in design
Trends can be exciting! They introduce new ideas, colors, and technologies into the design world. Embracing trends in small doses is an excellent way to keep your space feeling fresh and current. Here’s why they can be helpful:
1. Experimentation: Trends allow you to play with new ideas without committing to a complete overhaul. This could be adding a trendy color through accent pillows, using statement lighting, or trying out an interesting wallpaper on an accent wall.
2. Keeping the Space Current: Incorporating trends in small ways keeps your design feeling up-to-date without sacrificing timelessness. It’s a way to let your space evolve and feel modern without losing its core essence.
Why It’s Not Always Good to Follow Trends
While trends offer excitement, they can also be risky if overdone. Here’s why you might want to approach them cautiously:
1. They Can Feel Dated: What’s trendy today might be out tomorrow. Bold trends, especially ones tied to specific time periods (like the all-gray interiors trend of the late 2010s), may quickly feel dated, leaving you with a space that no longer feels fresh.
2. They’re Not Always Practical: Trends can sometimes prioritize aesthetics over function. For instance, while open shelving in kitchens became wildly popular, it’s not always practical for those who prefer to hide clutter.
3. Expensive to Redo: Large-scale trends, like installing terrazzo floors or painting all your cabinetry in the color of the year, may require significant investment to change once the trend fades.
How to Balance Trends in Design
Use Trends Sparingly: Incorporate trends in easily changeable ways, like with textiles, accessories, or small décor items. This allows you to refresh the space as trends come and go without the need for major renovations.
Focus on Timeless Foundations: Keep the larger, more expensive items (like sofas, built-in furniture, and countertops) in neutral tones and classic materials. These foundations will stand the test of time, allowing the smaller trendy accents to take center stage without overwhelming the space.
Stick to What You Love: Trends may come and go, but your personal style will endure. Choose designs, colors, and materials that resonate with you and reflect your personality rather than simply following what’s popular.
Creating a cohesive and timeless space doesn’t mean you have to ignore trends. Instead, it’s about finding a balance between what’s current and what has lasting power. By focusing on high-quality materials, maintaining consistency throughout your space, and choosing trends that resonate with your personal style, a home can feel fresh and modern for years to come.
BEFORE AND AFTER: Madrone
The transformation of an old clubhouse into one that merges the indoor and outdoors spaces into one.
The clubhouse at the Madrone Apartments was in much need of some TLC. At the initial concept stage we knew we wanted to emphasize the architectural assets such as the vaulted ceiling and large windows that looked out to the lush landscaping, not to mention the great pool.
The concept that we landed on with our client was “Camp”. We wanted to evoke a feeling of comfort by using a lot of texture with moments of the great outdoors. Given our concept the backdrop was light warm wood, bright white walls paired with raw and textured materials punctuated with green accents such as the Heath tile at the fireplace. To make sure it didn’t end up looking and feeling flat, we added small accents of orange and vintage rugs and pillows for added pattern and texture.
We hope you enjoy looking at the before and after as much as we do.
We love transforming spaces!
CONSTRUCTION: Tile Layout
By the time that construction begins, our design team knows every detail. During this phase, inevitably, questions and problems will arise. Our job and goal as the designers is to ensure that the design intent remains intact and that the drawings are interpreted correctly by the construction team. We are there to answer questions in great detail and solve problems with solutions that are in keeping with the original design.
Our team, collectively, has over thirty years of experience in design and construction. However, every project has its unique challenges, yet we view these challenges not as problems but as design opportunities.
We will be chronicling these construction challenges and solutions on our blog, so come back to see how we transform and construct spaces.
By the time construction begins, our design team knows every detail inside out. During this phase, questions and challenges inevitably arise. Our mission as designers is to ensure the design intent remains intact and that the construction team interprets the drawings correctly. We're here to answer questions thoroughly and provide solutions that align with the original design vision.
With over thirty years of experience in design and construction, our team is well-equipped to tackle any challenge. We see these challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities for creative design.
We'll be chronicling these construction adventures and solutions on our blog, so be sure to check back and see how we transform and build amazing spaces.
Even though the tile design was labeled as "random," we wanted to ensure the installer understood our vision.
Marie created a standard layout to eliminate any doubts about our desired outcome.
Field dimensions don’t always match what’s shown in the interior drawings.
So, we created a new tile layout to fit the as-built dimensions, making it even more detailed for our installers this time.
NORTH BEACH LIBRARY
"The exterior is assertive without being flamboyant; the reading room, in its own modest way, is one of the best interior spaces you'll find in a local civic building." - John King
The North Beach Library was highly anticipated by the community for good reason! You can read more about the library in John King's article "How new North Beach library rewrites architectural rule book". Marie Fisher Interior Design is proud to have been part of such an outstanding design team with Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects.