We asked some local home décor and remodeling businesses to elaborate on the trends, both indoor and outdoor, and to weigh in on specifics.
Plumbing Fixtures Flooring Linens and Upholstery Time Pieces
Custom Iron Accents Unique Art Outdoor Living
COLOR TRENDS
Nothing transforms a room like a fresh coat of paint. It’s a simple way to change the look, the style and the mood. Deep, rich tones add depth and character, and soft neutrals can instill a feeling of calm. While everyone has their own preferences, there is always an industry favorite.
Benjamin Moore’s color of the year for 2017 is “Shadow,” a rich, royal amethyst tone. “Allusive and enigmatic, Shadow is a master of ambiance. It is a color that calls to mind a ‘past,’ yet it can also make a contemporary, color-confident statement,” says Ellen O’Neill, Benjamin Moore Creative Director. “Shadow is sophisticated, provocative and poetic; it can bring energy to a space or harmony and a moment of respite.”
Each year, The Benjamin Moore Color Studio conducts color research by attending industry trade shows around the globe, as well as taking note of the influence of fashion, textiles, home décor, art and architecture. This culminates in the selection of the color of the year, as well as a palette of complementary shades, which they call Color Trends.
For more information, visit www.benjaminmoore.com.
PLUMBING FIXTURES
Energy- and water-saving mechanisms are important, such as low Gallons per Minute (GRM) flow showerheads, faucets and toilets—some are even required by law. “With today’s technology, you can have a restrictor on a device, and you wouldn’t even know it,” notes Katz.
Katz says the aging population is also impacting plumbing fixtures, as older adults are selecting items that will allow them to care for themselves as they age. As the Baby Boom generation reaches 65+ years old, people are gravitating toward a higher height toilet. “The ‘Comfort Height’ toilets allow people to get up without assistance and the TOTO Washlet bidet seat that fits on a regular toilet helps in the hygiene department,” says Katz. Showers now include body jets, hand sprayers and steam. “Asthmatic people are putting in steam showers because it’s good for their health,” adds Katz. “We sell things that make you feel better at home.”
Homeowners are also updating kitchens with larger sinks featuring bigger bowls to accommodate oversize pans, touch operated faucets that don’t require moving a handle, and hands-free faucets that use an infrared sensor. All of these conveniences make it easier to clean the kitchen.
Finally, entire-home water filtration needing a filter change only once every eight to 10 years are popular and can remove basic rust, taste and odor as well as bacteria, lead, carcinogens and microbes. “With one of these, bottled water isn’t necessary,” says Katz.
Visit www.h2osupply.net for more information.
FLOORING
If you want to breathe some fresh air into your home, be sure to do so from top to bottom. According to Steven Pidgeon, CEO of Dallas-based Star Floors, Inc., your choice of floors is very important. “Carpet was a high percentage of the business 20 years ago, but today everything except the bedrooms calls for hard surfaces,” he says. “This trend is due to hard surface prices decreasing substantially.”
While wood and ceramic tiles have been recent favorites, wood requires a lot of maintenance and is plagued by issues with pets, staining and moisture. Ceramic tiles make for a cold floor and as a house settles, tiles may become uneven or crack. Pidgeon says the industry has moved away from wood and ceramic to Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT). Companies, such as Kardean (started by former Armstrong Floors executives), IVC (now owned by Mohawk) and US Floors (now owned by Shaw), offer a variety of LVT flooring options.
“LVT is not a low-end material; it looks as good as wood or ceramic and holds up as well or better,” notes Pidgeon. “Patterns are duplicated impeccably; tiles can be printed with patterns; it can be mopped; it doesn’t scratch; it’s easy to clean; and if a tile goes bad it can be replaced inexpensively, as opposed to replacing the entire floor.” In addition, he says, some vinyl tiles have a waterproof core allowing the floor to actually be submerged in water and still hold up. Pidgeon adds that today’s vinyl enhances the value of a house and is even used in $2 million homes.
Star Floors, a family-owned and operated business since the 1950s, conducts business in 42 states in the US and specializes in residential, commercial, senior living facilities and country clubs. Star Floors works closely with real estate agents, and you can even shop at home with a trained professional.
Visit Star Floors at starfloors.com for more information.
LINENS & UPHOLSTERY
If you’re on a special mission to completely revitalize your home this spring, be sure to go under cover. Under the blankets on your bed, that is. Fresh sets of crisp sheets can give your bedroom a whole new look and feeling.
Doris Hart, owner of The Mews, a “collaborative collective” located in Decorative Center in Dallas, is a firm believer in linen. “I love 100% linen sheets,” she says. “It’s strictly for comfort, and linen gets softer and more comfortable the more it is washed.”
The Mews is also selling comfortable, relaxed upholstery pieces in neutral shades and will also be selling headboards, including one that is fully upholstered. While the current trend in upholstery is contemporary styling with neutral tones, Hart says that brighter colors and prints seem to be making a comeback. She closely follows trends in trade magazines and has seen more traditional and eclectic designs on the horizon. “The decorators seem to follow the print publications,” she notes.
Located in an old warehouse building close to downtown, The Mews is an upscale seller of antiquities and decorations. Hart says that until now most clients have been from the decorator trade, but since the area is drastically changing, they are leaning toward a more retail atmosphere and are becoming more specialized. This year The Mews will celebrate 25 years in business, with Hart as its original founder.
For more information, call 214.748.9070 or visit themews.net.
TIME PIECES
Reviving your current home décor or adding finishing touches to a brand-new home? Anytime is the right time for a stunning clock.
Established in 1963 and family-owned since 1992, Promenade Clocks is one of the premier clock retailers in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With one of the largest selections of all types of clocks in the area, the store offers grandfather, cuckoo, wall, desk, rhythm, hour glass, mantle, Melody in Motion, and novelty timepieces. In addition, they carry a selection of custom, handcrafted clocks, Italian clocks, and specialty clocks. Bartholomew adds that Promenade Clocks has a complete on-site repair center staffed with experienced professionals that can answer all clock-related questions. Promenade Clocks is located at the Promenade Shopping Center, 300 N. Coit Road, Suite 158 in Richardson. For information, call 972.644.3979 or visit www.promenadeclocks.com.
CUSTOM IRON ACCENTS
An elegant and unique way to increase the beauty and value of your home is to add custom forged iron accents. Rosa Velasco-Klinghoffer, owner of San Miguel Ironworks in Dallas, custom designs iron treatments for windows, low-profile doors, gates, gazebos, fences, chandeliers, indoor and outdoor balconies, staircase railings and more. “Railings are super popular right now,” says Velasco-Klinghoffer. “Simply by re-doing the staircase railings, you can immediately transform your home.” She adds that houses overall are now trending toward the linear and clean, transitional look, and the same holds true for iron works. Although there are some people who still like the scrollwork pattern, homeowners are generally gravitating more toward geometric styles. “The linear look is best for future resale of the home,” she explains. “New generations like the clean, linear look because it’s timeless and more versatile.”
“There’s really so much you can do with iron to rejuvenate your home, from safety items to decorative home items,” says Velasco-Klinghoffer. “It’s truly amazing.”
Visit sanmiguelironworks.com for more information.
UNIQUE ART
If a picture paints a thousand words, just imagine what it can do for the interior of a home!
The Artists’ Showplace in Dallas can help brighten walls with unique art from both local and national artists, including well-known painters and emerging artists.
Gallery Manager, Terry Ellis says that she’s noticed a trend toward blue and purple tones for spring. “Everyone comes in to see us with their designer and the designer guides them as to what colors will work with their décor.” She adds that a real advantage is the gallery’s “out on approval” program, which allows clients to take six to eight paintings home to see how they look on their walls. “It helps them see exactly how it will work with what they have,” says Ellis.
The Artists’ Showplace can accommodate those looking for traditional sizes as well as those who have odd-sized or very large areas to cover. There is an onsite selection of paintings in various dimensions, with some of the young, emerging artists creating large and unusual sizes. Clients can also commission a local artist to customize the size, color, or image.
The Artists’ Showplace is located in the Shops at Spanish Village, 15615 Coit Road, #230, Dallas. For more information, visit www.theartistsshowplace.com.
The Great Outdoors
LANDSCAPE AND HARDSCAPE
Whether looking to increase curb appeal or longing for backyard bliss, improving your home’s landscape and hardscape makes the outdoors more enjoyable now and increases the value of your property for resale.
President and Owner Lauri Braschler of Lu-Lu’s Blooms Landscape Design in Dallas, says there are many ways to transform an outdoor living space into a private paradise. She explains that it’s important to capture a visual of the setting and to get a sense of the homeowner’s taste, interests and hobbies. The outdoor treatments should reflect the same scale as that of the house, and the landscape design ideally will fit the surrounding area. Braschler notes that if a client doesn’t have a color scheme in mind, the colors can be pulled from the home’s brick. She says the preparatory assessment is a crucial part of the process, as it helps the client set a budget and determine the best end product. “When people spend the money on landscape, they want to be able to enjoy and live in it.”
Braschler says the buzz phrase for spring is “less is more” and lower maintenance is key. There is a focus on succulents, such as plants in the yucca families, Tuscan Cyprus and greenery with a Hawaiian, Moroccan, Tuscan, Mediterranean or Mexican influence. “Natural Texas-grown perennials that bloom throughout the year work best,” says Braschler. “Plant choices should be based on the weather and frequency of storms per area, so they will withstand the elements.” Organic gardens in two-level raised beds with a screen and fence in the backyard are popular, as are perennial pruning trees that flower or smell nice. Landscapes are featuring large, three- to 10-ton boulders, river rock, two- to 10-inch stone and a variety of water features. For more information, visit lulusblooms.com.
OUTDOOR FURNITURE
Is your better-quality patio set starting to look worn, tired, faded or dirty? Don’t discard it. Breathe new life into it with repairs and replacement parts from Chair Care Patio in Dallas.
Owner Debby Martz says family-owned Chair Care Patio can refinish the frame and replace cushions, slings, and other parts to update patio furniture. In addition to extending the life of a fairly major investment, Martz says, “It’s all about creating the perfect, customized, outdoor space by creating a new look for your existing frames.”
In addition to replacement cushions for all outdoor furniture, Chair Care Patio manufactures custom placemats, tablecloths, runners, outdoor drapes, and poufs. They carry classic outdoor fabrics such as those made by Sunbrella, Outdura Fabrics, Phifertex, Twitchell, Richloom, Waverly, and a beautiful textile line called Tempotest by Para that’s made in Italy. Fabrics are soft to the touch, yet durable and fade-resistant.
Chair Care Patio’s main office, sewing facility and 30,000 square feet of warehouse space are located in Dallas. Products are made in the USA, made in Texas, and made in Dallas.
Pickup and delivery are available. Chair Care Patio is located at 8700 Sovereign Row, Dallas.
For more information, visit www.ChairCarePatio.com.
OUTDOOR SURFACES
When one thinks of flooring, the outdoors doesn’t typically come to mind, but talk to Steven Pidgeon, CEO of Dallas-based Star Floors, Inc., and you’ll think otherwise.
According to Pidgeon, another significant trend in outdoor flooring surfaces is non-slip porcelain tiles. Often used in senior living centers, country clubs, and on cruise ships, the tiles’ texture delivers extra traction to help prevent slip-and-fall situations. “It’s being placed in all wet areas such as outdoor showers, around pool decks and in splash pads,” he says. The non-slip porcelain tiles also provide comfort, durability, and a wide choice of designs. The company Life Floor supplies Star Floors with this product, which is slip-resistant without being abrasive, and its built-in cushioning make it soft enough for bare feet (www.lifefloor.com). “Star Floors is the US Preferred Contractor for Life Floor,” explains Pidgeon. “We’re the official partner for installing Life Floor in residential and commercial settings.”
Visit Star Floors at www.starfloors.com for more information.
OUTDOOR LIVING
Looking for a place to enjoy the great outdoors? Look no further than your own back yard! Outdoor living spaces bring the relaxation and festivity of a vacation right into your own backyard with high-tech electronics and appliances, built-ins and upscale furnishings.
The enhancements don’t stop there. Chris Vaughan, a manager with award-winning audio video retailer Starpower, says they offer TVs designed to be used outdoors. “Outdoor TVs are completely encased and weatherproof; if they get dirty, they can be hosed off,” notes Vaughan. “The picture is great, even in direct sunlight.” At Starpower, he says, customers typically request the larger sizes from 55-inch and above for their outdoor oasis. The latest audio systems are designed so sound can envelope the entire yard. Unobtrusive speakers look like landscape lights and buried subwoofers create rich bass and a full, well-rounded stereo sound. Even better, the systems can be controlled by your smart phone.
Visit Ed Kellum & Son at www.edkellum.com for more information.
Visit Starpower at www.star-power.com for more information.