Pretty patterns and cool hues in decor, fashion
Pale pastels, bold graphics set the tone
TORONTO — Whether you’re seeking to make a minor ripple or sizable splash in your home or wardrobe in 2014, prognosticators are hoping to help make the new year a stylish one with predictions of noteworthy new looks in decor and fashion.
Suzanne Dimma, editor-inchief of House and Home magazine, Benjamin Moore colour expert Sharon Grech and Lisa Tant, vice-president and fashion editor at Holt Renfrew share their views on trends and suggestions on how to incorporate them into interiors, apparel and accessories. HOME: 1. Cool hues. Colour trendsetter Pantone opted for vibrant pop with the selection of Radiant Orchid — a purple hue infused with hot pink — as its colour of the year for 2014.
But the ultra-bold shade seems to be the exception rather than the rule with a sleek yet more subdued palette of colours emerging for home interiors.
Paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore selected Breath of Fresh Air — a pale, sky blue hue — as its colour of the year. While there were several examples of deep blue, teal and purple featured in its 2014 Colour Trends Guide, the company’s standout hue for the new year was among a vast array of softer shades like Distant Gray, Peach Parfait and Lavender Mist.
Grech said the intention was to create a collection of colours which weren’t specific to one particular style as has been customary in the past.
“Even if you spend a ton of money on your new sofa or your Carrara marble countertop, if you get the paint colour wrong, it throws everything off,” she said.
In the vein of paler hues, Dimma suggested opting for a soft grey which she described as “a new neutral.
“That’s a huge change from white, and that will imbue everything with so much warmth,” she said.
2. Pretty patterns. From walls to tables to floors, there is no shortage of spaces to adorn with colourful prints.
House and Home spotlighted blue and white dish ware, painted tiles, whimsical wall murals and geometric wallpaper and fabrics among its decorating dos for 2014.
For those seeking to make a splash with a fresh print, Dimma suggested seeking out a Persian or Turkish rug.
3. Classic and contemporary. While rugs and wall coverings are decidedly more bold, there is a more minimalist approach being seen in other core pieces for the coming year. Dimma highlighted 50s-inspired chairs as well as more contemporary sculptural lighting fixtures both of which conjure a modern vibe.
She isn’t surprised to see the gravitation toward retro-inspired furnishings. “When you think about it, we always find through cycles in design that we look back and then we make it new again, and it’s probably just at that point in the cycle,” said Dimma.
4. The artisanal touch. You don’t need large-scale pieces to lend an ample dose of personality to your space with carefully crafted pieces such as a knitted wall hanging or tabletop pottery.
“Introduce a new lamp and you can completely change the look of your room,” said Dimma. FASHION: 1. Twist on the classics. Whether it’s a basic T or buttondown blouse, these style staples likely already have a home in many wardrobes. But for the coming year, expect to see classics making a comeback with a fresh twist.
“A crewneck tee is being worn with everything from suits to jeans. It’s kind of like that essential piece,” said Tant. Another prime example, Tant added, is the latest incarnation of crew-neck-style sweatshirts showcasing bright, graphic patterns.
2. Pale hues and bold blooms. When it comes to injecting a little extra colour into the wardrobe, Tant suggested opting for a softer touch in the form of a pretty pastel. “We saw pale pink, pale blue, mint green,” she said. “It sounds kind of girlie and you might think that sounds too sweetie pie for a lot of women. But it’s being cut in really simple shapes like a paleblue trench coat or a pale-pink motorcycle jacket, a mint green pencil skirt.”
To make a bolder statement in the form of pattern, blooms are also back in a big way.
3. Cool coats. Biker-inspired chic remains a perennial favourite albeit with a fresh twist for the new year, as Tant pointed to the emergence of cropped jackets in softer shades. “A pale pink motorcycle jacket you can wear with jeans, you can wear with white trousers, you could wear with a dress,” she said.
4. Feeling fringe. Expect to see a little something extra in the form of embellishments on apparel and accessories — fringe. “A really big detail is fringe,” said Tant.
“(On) bags where it’s swinging from the bottom, or it’s going down the back of dresses, almost like a horse’s mane.
5. In the bag. If you’re seeking to go more spare in your wardrobe additions, consider a tried-andtrue accessory — a leather tote. Tant recommended embracing a more unconventional hue. “How amazing would that be in pale blue? It would give your whole wardrobe an instant update.”