What do you see as a new trend occurring in outdoor living decor?
CHRISTOPHER GRUBB
....founder and president of Arch-Interiors Design Group, Inc. an internationally recognized and highly awarded interior design and exterior design firm.
It's interesting because the last couple of markets, beige and neutrals for interior furnishing were dominating, and the colors were more of simple accent sin muted blue, ocher and burgundies.
But for exterior design, I'm finding people want to be more playful and use color. This isn't just pillows, but an entirely upholstered piece in stripes or a vibrant solid color. This is new after years of us designing the exterior to feel like a flow of style from the interiors. It's also a safe way for someone who wants to use color in a strong fun way, but is fearful to have something as bold in their interior space.
STEPHANIE JAMES
...co-founder of Allen and James Interior Design firm; award winning designer who successfully combines a love of interior decorating with a passion for signature designs.
Outdoor living is extremely important to our clients and is a huge priority when it comes to not only our residential design projects but also within our boutique as we have a unique collection of outdoor pots, rugs, accessories and pieces of furniture.
People love spending time outside and a big trend that we are seeing is to be able to incorporate the same elements to their exterior spaces that they would have on the interior. Our clients always ask for a statement lighting piece over their outdoor dining table or seating area, a fun and unexpected chandelier or pendant that creates a defined welcoming atmosphere.
Outdoor rugs create warmth and are a great way to add texture and also define the sense of space. Just as clients place accessories throughout the interior of their home, they ask how they can incorporate them into their outdoor spaces.
We love to find unexpected, bold pieces, that our clients would not typically choose, but end up being the WOW factor for their whole outdoor space!
LIBBY LANGDON
....an interior designer, author, product designer and makeover television personality, and the creative force behind New York City-based design firm, Libby Interiors, Inc.
Back in Black - Looking for design elements that will provide the comfort and grounding people are looking for in their spaces can be simply re-imagining materials we know and love in an updated way. Out with the old and in with dark oxidized wood or cerused oak. 2019 will bring more furniture and cabinetry that is a blackened version of our tried and true white oak. Black accents are going to continue to be something we will see this year, in outdoor you can use black aluminum frame finish pieces, or wrought iron or cast aluminum collections!
Natural Beauty - Our fascination with natural materials and the visual texture they add to our interiors will continue. Natural stones, quartzite, and even terrazzo, used in unexpected categories, merge luxury and practicality in a way that makes indulgence a little more palatable. Texture is also in play with this trend, layer on the natural elements and showcase them together. Mix willow furniture frames, stone-top tables, wood-look or live-edge pieces with chunky woven cushion fabric and natural accessories with tons of texture. Natural elements are grounding and offer an organic yet luxurious look that warms us to the core.
Ahead of the Curve - Talking about ease of movement, a softer aesthetic, and toning down harsh lines, this is the year to embrace a curvy design aesthetic. Retro-inspired rounded furniture will continue to be a theme we see, it feels approachable and welcoming. Rounded-back chairs are a chic way to bring the curvy trend into your home. Also, a barrel back-style chair gives you the sense that you are being brought into the fold and getting a hug from your furnishings. Even if your outdoor chairs or ottomans have no curves whatsoever, you can still appeal to this trend with groupings of furniture in a circle, surrounding an ottoman or a table; it doesn't always have to be a rounded fire table. This curved trend can take shape in how you arrange outdoor furniture in a space, and it gives the positive feeling of connection and inviting conversation.
Heavy Metal - Metals will be used in more interesting ways and will be more popular than ever, and this is true for interior spaces as well as outdoor spaces. Whether it's gold, silver or blackened metals, they will be used in patterned or artistic ways. They will definitely be more interesting and designed in a more sculptural-based manner than in the past. There's a strong push towards art as function and items like outdoor dining table bases, end tables, dining-chair backs and accessories will be displaying pattern thanks to laser-cut construction or cast metal.
For more information about WaterMark Living™ and its line of quality products, visit www.watermark-living.com
For more information on the designers:
Christopher Grubb
Stephanie James
Libby Langdon