Interior designer Kelly Hoppen MBE shares her secrets to achieving a stylish interior with Home UK Magazine readers.
The world of homes and decorating them has changed so much in the 40 years that I have been in the industry, it has almost gone full circle to the way my grandparents used to live, not necessarily in style but in the way we view the importance of our homes.
The days of fad trends are long gone, thank goodness! Everything today is about “how you live in spaces”, which is what I have always advocated. Of course people salivate over styles and pieces and wish they could have it all, but today and heading forward into 2016 it is about how it fits you. Interior design should fit like a Saville Row suit; perfectly made to measure.
The trends I see coming and staying are more eclectic than ever with a lot of thought behind them. Woods, ceramic and stone are the most important elements in a home as they are a great base and starting point for people to build on. To be on trend it’s all about getting the right balance of each. Mix & match a pale wood with darker stone in flowing lines and pair with ceramic to give the illusion of length and height.
For 2016 I think we’ll see many using colour half way up the wall and leaving the rest neutral. Give this your own stamp of personality by creating an imaginary dado rail using another colour, similar to the way the Victorians would use panel like features.
Unseen lighting is the newest trend for lights but the ones that everyone will want to have are white ironwork lights. They resemble vintage chalk but are so stylish when mixed with wonderful vintage lighting. This will be such a big trend as for a while people have thought hidden lights are great on their own but really you need the textural lighting that comes from lamps in order to make it a complete setting.
Rugs are back in full force and the best is yet to come with a new style that are sunk into the wooden floorboards giving a luxurious 5 star feel.
Mixing grey, taupe, blonde and white woods instead of black will be the biggest trend in wood floors and joinery.
Big coffee tables are very on trend at the moment, and the larger the coffee table the better! Side tables and coffee tables are now taking center stage and the more interesting mix of metals there are juxtaposed with wood and lacquer the easier it is to create a statement piece.
The four metals that are set to be the biggest trend are bronze, nickel, rose gold, white wrought iron, and beaten black metal.
The use of white matte lacquer for internal doors is a chic way to update a room, especially in the kitchen, gone are the days of shiny surfaces, it’s all about matte!
Black and white flooring and vintage floor tiles are going to have a huge come back, especially when mixed with marble as the combination of textures will give an unexpected edge.