Interior Design Trends For 2008

Braquenié Pierre Frey

As the President of Noir Blanc Interiors, I am looking forward to a busy 2008. Odd as it seems, the nation's mortgage crisis may deserve credit for the fact that our business is booming. The design market is thriving, and I think that has to do with the shift in the economy, "People are staying in homes longer, rather than flipping houses. So I feel my clients are now investing in their houses and buying bigger-ticket items."

A few trends that might be making their way to the interior design graveyard.

Goodbye

The all-granite kitchen and the all-stainless-steel kitchen.

The Marie Antoinette influence of damask and decadent, Baroque furniture is becoming last year's style.

Dark finishes on furniture, ebonized wood. However dark finishes just won't die in the world of retail furniture!

Hollywood Regency

The chrome black leather, Design Within Reach phase is winding down and out

Asian modern is really tired and we're all sick of seeing it

Poured-concrete kitchen and bathroom countertop

HELLO 2008

There's a push toward green. Our clients are asking us to, give them more green. Antiques are considered green, and I use them as often as possible in my interiors.

Large, overscaled patterns on fabrics and wallpaper are getting smaller and more elegant.

Multiple looks for a single room - casual/formal.

Waterworks custom metal finishes on faucets.

Golden harvest yellows, rococo pinky red and snorkel blue

Textural finishes on furniture.

Energy-efficient washers and dryers from Miele.

The Kravet Green collection of eco-friendly textiles

Benjamin Moore's low-toxicity Affinity paints.

Fireplaces in the city

Requests from clients to mix contemporary and traditional design elements.

Venetian chandeliers and Lucite furniture-like tables, headboards, vanities. They have a bit of shine and a bit of sparkle to them.

Digital wall-scape imagery. With this medium, the sky is actually not the limit and the possibilities are endless. You can take any image and translate it into a permanent wall or floor covering.

Lavastone

Upholstery is organic hopsack, fabrics will be a green

Designers doing more home for sale staging, in light of the downward housing market

At Noir Blanc Interiors we see clients are customizing rooms, "Home theaters and TV rooms are very lounge-oriented, wine cellars are adjacent to the dining room, home offices are not using traditional built-ins or office furniture but look more like libraries or sitting rooms."