2010 Trend Report
DRS & Associates looks forward
Can anyone really predict a trend? We can spot them, but predicting them is a bit like catching a snowflake – the moment it lands, it melts away, or lands on an existing pile of snow to which anyone can then safely say, “It’s definitely trending towards snow.” We don’t like to make pronouncements of absolute certainty, but we do pride ourselves on being astute observers of design. We work so closely with our clients that it feels as though we’ve designed their products right along with them. This intimate access to the design process does give us a slightly better view of the amazing products being developed. So while we hesitate to jump on the trend bandwagon, we do want to share some of what we’ve seen and heard over the last year. Here is some of what we’ve observed:
Material, maturation and morphing
Ubatuba and Black Galaxy overuse, coupled with concerns about radon emissions from granite have given rise to innovative uses of safer countertop materials. We think the trend towards recycled glass, concrete, tile, wood, quartz, and bamboo will continue and we look forward to the next generation of honed materials and zero-maintenance countertops.
Polished Nickel and stainless faucet finishes will never get old, but they will have to make way for the resurgence of antiqued, rubbed or oiled bronze and various gold finishes. Faucet design also continues to evolve. If you’ve ever wanted to see perfect examples of the saying, ‘good design is in the details”, head to your local showrooms. Touch-screens, hands-free, ribbon designed, waterfalls, crystal or ceramic handles, no design element or detail is too small to be re-imagined.
Flooring products and materials are maturing also. Tiles are becoming slimmer; installers can use carbon fiber that can be placed under tile or other materials to heat a floor without the use of a heater, water or other fluids. Carpets from big manufacturers are moving towards becoming bio-based, which is a process that utilizes corn sugar, thereby reducing petro-chemicals, in its production. Hand-made carpets have been made naturally for years, and now, more than ever, people seem to appreciate the quality of hand-woven, hand-made (not by children), environmentally sound rugs and carpets.
Luxury gets a conscience
Sustainable luxury is no longer an oxymoron. 2010 will usher in products that work hard to make their claims of being both high-design and ‘green’. Get used to discussing these terms when designing or buying products for kitchens and baths:
High-efficiency faucets
Water Sense
Low Water Mark
Low-flow
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Dual flush
Energy Star
Energy-rated
Smart products
We haven’t seen flying cars just yet, but we have seen the future and it’s all about net-zero energy (ZEH) homes. Annually, a ZEH produces enough energy to offset the amount purchased from the utility-resulting in a net-zero annual energy bills. Think about that the next time you pay your utility bill. While net-zero is still some time away, many new appliances right now are using the smallest amount of energy possible, without giving up the results we expect. We’ve seen dishwashers that can calculate the exact amount of soap needed (and will pop it in so you don’t have to), ovens that you can call from your cell phone, and a toilet that both deodorizes and cleans itself (we remain a bit skeptical about the second claim). The biggest obstacle for consumers to ‘buy green’ is the cost of the products, which still seem prohibitive. Signs for 2010 do point to more consumers expressing their desire to purchase ‘green’ products when replacing old ones. Of course some of us are still waiting for the coffee machine that brings you your coffee in bed (no, that’s not supposed to be your husband or wife).
Thomas Alva would be proud
Say bye-bye to incandescent lighting folks. Manufacturing of most incandescent light bulbs will be phased out by 2012. While the future does not look bright for incandescent light bulbs, modern fluorescent, enhanced halogen, and rapidly progressing LED (light emitting diodes) lighting technologies are gaining a stronghold on the lighting industry and consumer preference. If every American home replaced just one standard bulb with a CF (compact fluorescent) bulb, it would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year. Does all of this mean we have to give up good design? Heck no! In fact, our prediction is that lighting will become more dramatic this year. We’ve seen fixtures becoming more of a focal point in rooms, both as a major design element, and because homeowners have been educated in what constitutes good lighting design for their homes. As with other products, look for creative uses and reuses of materials, from brushed metals, glass, plastics and cork (yes, cork).
Color us blue…but just a bit
We’ve heard that Turquoise is the color de jour for 2010, but we are hoping (since it’s not a color for everyone) that what the colorists really mean is that its safe to use vibrant color palettes again (Kelly Wearstler anyone?) Many of the palettes we are seeing in fabrics and paint finishes are wonderful plays on the organic, natural environment we all strive to create. No matter what color palette you choose, try to use saturated colors – remember – nature abhors mauve.
Everything old is new again
Okay, we’ve heard that antiques are big in 2010, because people are repositioning them as being ‘green’, which is like saying that you are justified in buying an ‘old’ fur coat because the animals are already dead. No matter what your justification, adding antiques to your home is never a bad trend. We hope that when buying antiques, homeowners come to appreciate the craftsmanship and provenance of the pieces they are buying. We choose to believe they will.
Comfort and joy, comfort and joy
As the world becomes ‘flat’, we continue to see furniture designs from all over the world brought into our own homes. Not Chinese knock-offs, imported into the states (not that we think there is anything wrong with quality products made in China – we have a problem with “value-engineered-exact-replicas” of luxury products – made with little regard for the blatant copying of successful brands); we are talking about beautiful designs from Latin America, Thailand, Russia, and our long-time favorite, Italy. Ethnic pieces mixed with contemporary designs have become the norm, and we love seeing the boundaries being blurred. Don’t mistake our mentioning international design to mean that here at home we are not equally forward-thinking and designing. This past year we’ve seen the arty enclaves of Brooklyn, New York stake its claim as a haven for innovative product design. Made in the USA has become more meaningful. In fact, all over the United States manufacturers are pushing the envelope. Let’s not forget that LEED building and design was developed by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council). As good design continues to evolve around the world, we remain hopeful that architects, designers and manufacturers continue to design with the end in mind. And that is comforting.