Blue and white
Photo by Alise O'Brien
Designer: Meghan Heeter, Castle Design
Inspiration: Featured for centuries on pottery and dishware around the world—think China, England, and Greece, for example—deep blue and crisp white is an iconic blend that never goes out of style. Renowned designers Mark D. Sikes and Bunny Williams recently reminded homeowners how a well-placed vase, a collection of dishes, or even a set of dining room chairs slipcovered in blue and white is classic yet fresh. If the hashtag #blueandwhiteforever is any indication, the look is trending.
How to apply: Start with a neutral color palette on walls, as Heeter did at this Creve Coeur home, and incorporate pillows, drapery, and decorative pieces—vases, a plate collection—that feature bold blue-and-white patterns. She’s used chambray pillows, custom drapery, and a hand-knotted wool rug with a subtle Savonnerie pattern. “Include a bit of a soft gray-blue color within the design,” Heeter says. “That will help soften and merge the strong blue-and-white concepts.”
Colorful gallery walls
Photo by Alise O'Brien
Designer: David Kent Richardson, DKR Interiors
Inspiration: “Museums have been using strong colors instead of white for art installations and special exhibits,” says Richardson, citing an article he recently read about updates to the lighting and gallery layouts at the Ackland Art Museum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “They used the oddest color of gold with brown and green undertones,” he says. “It’s so unexpected, but it really makes the art stand out, giving it more power.” Richardson especially likes the use of colors not commonly thought of as pretty—no old-lady pastels or simple grays: “I feel the contrast makes the art speak.” Plus, he says, “Whites and neutrals have just never been my thing.”
How to apply: Gather the pieces you want to hang and study them under the area’s light, as Richardson did in his own home, shown here. Test paint samples that pair well with the art—but make sure the collection is still the center of attention. Richardson loves olive and gold hues with either green or brown undertones. When framing art, avoid colored mats and opt for white. “Use frames that pull your eye into the piece,” Richardson says. “Then, when you hang art on an odd color, it pops. You have given your art superpowers.”
Antique mirror accents
Photo by Alise O'Brien
Designer: Kelly Johnson, Johnson Design
Inspiration: For centuries, mirrors have been used for both practical and decorative purposes, but a recent attraction to all things antique has brought the faded, tarnished kind into vogue. Johnson uses antique mirrors in moderation to add a bit of drama throughout the spaces she designs. Silvered, tarnished mirrors accent walls, mantels, and bar tops or simply hang in frames anywhere where a touch of light is needed.
How to apply: At this Town & Country home, Johnson incorporated antique mirrors as table surfaces. “This is a husband’s space to enjoy a scotch, but it doesn’t need to be a dark cave with all wood and leather,” says Johnson. “I wanted this lower-level lounge to feel warm and inviting, and the antique mirror table is a sophisticated touch.” Search flea markets and antiques dealers for old mirrors, or contact vendors who apply antiquing techniques to newer pieces.
Floating cabinetry
Photo by Corey Hogrefe
Designers: Maria Lesko and Channing Glover, C&M Interiors
Inspiration: Clutter solutions are always on trend. In small homes, storage comes at a premium, and in large homes, owners want their items out of sight. “Floating cabinetry is a great way to get the appearance of more space,” says Glover, especially in small areas such as powder rooms. “The trend started with ultra-contemporary and futuristic design and was typically done in high-gloss white in sparse and minimal spaces,” she explains. “We decided to take this trend that can often feel stark and sterile and revamp it, using warm wood.”
How to apply: When possible, work directly with a custom cabinetmaker. In this contemporary suite in Wildwood, the homeowner sought a warm but fresh and clean look in the master bathroom. Lesko and Glover designed his-and-hers floating vanities and storage cabinets, then worked with Fiddle Creek Woodworking in Sullivan, Missouri, to create the units. Rather than going the route of high gloss, the team chose a stained walnut veneer to imbue the space with a cozy feel.
