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A new year and a new decade bring significant shifts in some of the most conventional design principals. From unique kitchen layouts and a whole new generation of customizable appliances to the return of the color green, (Bye-bye at last, gray and white!) We caught up with two of Steamboat’s consummate design professionals, architect Sarah Tiedeken O’Brien at Vertical Arts and interior designer Valerie Stafford from Rumor Designs to discover the most cutting-edge trends—and some of what they told us might surprise you.

#1) Go bold or go home.
If 50 shades of gray isn’t cutting it for you anymore, the good news is bold colors are making a comeback. The overall palate remains neutral, but people are looking for a pop of color in bolder ways than just a few throw pillows. “We’ve had a few clients who are willing to take risks with color in their furnishings and in rugs and textiles,” says O’Brien.

Photo credit: David Patterson, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#2) It’s one of a kind.
In the internet age, not to mention living in a rural location like Steamboat Springs where people do most their shopping online, the luxury market demands something more unique, something you can’t get from the usual sources. “People are looking for unique, custom pieces that are going to be one-of-a-kind,” O’Brien says. “It could be something architectural, like a custom barn door or a furnishing like a dining table, but people want something that will stand out against mass internet shopping.”

Photo credit: David Patterson, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#3) Homes are getting smarter.
The rapid evolution of smart home technology has become more accessible because of app-based programs that can be controlled from a smart phone or tablet. “Smart home technology used to be really unobtainable for most people, but every year there are new technologies coming out that are compatible with smart devices,” O’Brien says. “There are more opportunities now than ever to integrate smart phone technology into your home. This is just going to keep growing every year.”

Photo credit: David Patterson, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#4) Let the outdoors in, and vice versa.
It’s no surprise people want more outdoor living, especially in a place like Steamboat. But what’s changing is the seamlessness from indoor to outdoor and a level of comfort that goes way beyond simple patio furniture. “A true outdoor room will be a cozy covered space that is furnished like a room you’d find inside,” O’Brien says. “These spaces are well-furnished –  everything from built-in speakers and lighting to upholstered furniture, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and wet bars. These are spaces you can live in six months out of the year.” On the flip side, outdoor fabrics are also being used inside. “People live active lives – with dogs and kids coming in and out, durability and functionality are paramount,” Stafford says. “Luckily there are great fabrics on the market now that allow that durability while offering plush, soft looks that are also cozy and stylish.”

#5) Lighting that could pass for jewelry.
Say goodbye to the more raw, industrial lighting that has been popular in recent years and hello to a little more glitz and glam. “People are liking pieces with shine and crystals and are pairing that with more modern aesthetic,” O’Brien says. “It’s not over the top, but as a way to polish off the room.” New lighting technology has also created many new ways to enhance room design. “No longer are designers constrained by working around the light bulb. LED lighting has allowed for a new frontier in lighting fixture design,” Stafford says. “LED allows light to bend, twist and stretch in ways we are only just starting to explore.”

Photo credit: David Patterson, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#6) It’s not your grandmother’s wallpaper.
Wall coverings continue to evolve and wallpaper in particular is making a huge comeback in interior design, but not in the way you might remember it. The modern version is being used in a variety of totally new ways. “There are big bold murals, striking patterns or subtle textures like tweeds and felts that create a warm tactile look for the walls,” Stafford says. “Wallpaper has been totally reinvented.”

#7) A whole new kind of concrete.
Just like skinny jeans, we weren’t sure the quartz countertop trend would ever come to an end, but it looks like concrete has eclipsed the old standby with prefabricated concrete products like sinks and slab countertops. “People are excited about concrete sinks and countertops because these new products that are precast, more stain resistant and impenetrable than in the past,” O’Brien says. “Quartz has been so popular for the last decade, people are looking for the next cool thing.”

#8) Back in black.
Our fascination with everything Mid Century modern has apparently not petered out quite yet. “We’re seeing a lot of brass and black accents,” Stafford says. “The black steel look is being used primarily for stair railings and window interiors or other architectural details, and brass (which is now called champagne bronze or white brass) is showing up on plumbing fixtures and cabinet hardware as well as accents on furniture and lighting. It’s still going strong.

#9) Rustic but modern.
Perhaps the epitome of the mountain modern style that dominates so many of Steamboat’s spaces is the juxtaposition of rustic and modern, which is precisely what makes this style so contemporary. “Using rustic materials with modern silhouettes is something that applies to both architecture and interior design. You’ll see homes that are hyper modern but using reclaimed wood as the siding material,” says O’Brien. “With furnishings you might see a floating credenza on the wall but made out of wire brushed rustic European oak. It’s all about mixing rustic with that modern mountain aesthetic and achieving that blend.”

Photo credit: Kevin Dietrich, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#10) Pillow talk.
The good news is you can update your bed décor without having to change the sheets. “Extra-long lumbar pillows for bedding are definitely in,” Stafford says. These larger pillows not only make a statement and create a cleaner, more pared down look (no more need for 50 throw pillows). They’re also functional, ergonomic, and comfortable.

#11) Appliances, revisited.
Concealing appliances with paneling is nothing new, but thanks to an evolution in appliance manufacturing design, the ability to hide otherwise big, clunky pieces is at an all-new level. “More and more appliance companies are offering a suite of different options like double drawers that are freezers or fridges, or side-by-side columns that don’t necessarily have to be next to each other,” O’Brien says. “You might find fridge drawers on a center island and then a smaller fridge hidden below where you would never even know it’s there.” While these specific products are currently available as a higher price point in the luxury sector, O’Brian thinks it will eventually trickle down to the mass market.

Photo credit: Paul Duffy, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#12) Creating a nest.
Nesting tables are back, but not only as side tables but as ottoman/coffee table combos.
“The ottoman is typically a touch shorter than the coffee table, so you can snug them up and layer the look,” Stafford says. These aren’t the nesting tables of old that come in a set of identical tables in different sizes but are paired together. “They can be two separate looking pieces; a glass/metal table paired with an upholstered ottoman for example. Those contrasting looks add variety, but most importantly dual function in the living room.”

#13) Rethinking breakfast bars.
For a long time, breakfast bars were built into kitchens as an upper bar counter that concealed a lower countertop behind it, and that later turned into one large center island with a breakfast bar built in. That’s all about to change. “We are now creating these different raised bar top configurations within the kitchen that allow people to sit around and converse rather than sit in a straight line,” O’Brien says. “We’re doing L-shapes or rectangles that are perpendicular to the kitchen so it’s more like a small table, and more accommodating for guests wanting to congregate in the kitchen.”

Photo credit: Gibeon Photography, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#14) Vanities that are truly two-faced.
We’ve finally taken a step back when it comes to bathroom vanities, literally, by not necessarily having to put them against a wall. “Basically, we’re placing the vanity perpendicular to the wall instead of on the wall to allow that wall space to be used for windows,” O’Brien says. “The double-sided vanities create a his-and-hers side, almost like a kitchen island with a partition wall.” Stafford says this configuration works well for smaller spaces and that the lighting is key because like most spaces, good lighting really enhances the space. “We see a lot of floating vanities with motion-sensor lighting hidden underneath for a soft glow that greets you as you enter the bathroom,” she says.

Photo credit: Gibeon Photography, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#15) For the love of banquette.
It turns out people still want cozy, intimate spaces, even in big houses. “A lot of times these dining rooms are so huge we’re providing a secondary dining area that’s cozy for four people by creating a little booth,” O’Brien says. “These really cool built-in banquette areas are custom, so you can add really fun elements. Even in small condos people are creating custom booths to add an elevated look instead of sticking a round table in the corner.”

Photo credit: Gibeon Photography, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#16) Thinking outside the box, but in the kitchen.
When it comes to kitchen layouts, people are really stepping out of the box, and away from the wall. “Similar to the floating double-sided vanity in bathrooms, we’re doing a lot of kitchens that are floating in the middle of the room,” says O’Brien. “This requires very few upper cabinets, and incorporates cabinetry blocks with islands and floating elements like statement hood pieces. It’s light and airy as opposed to backed against the wall and allows for better flow, not only in the room, but to the outdoors. It’s a different way to think about your kitchen.”

#17) Open the door—and the wall.
Walls that open like doors take indoor/outdoor living to the next level. “This is an ongoing trend that is continuing to progress, but we are seeing it more and more. We’ll incorporate a full glass wall that will open up to provide direct access to the outdoors in summer and in winter it provides an even bigger view.  The new systems are also getting much more energy efficient.” O’Brien says. These glass wall systems come in many different configurations, from accordion-style and massive pocket doors to sliders. Expensive? Yes. But when it comes to that million-dollar view, you get what you pay for.

Photo credit: David Patterson, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#18) Let the light in.
“Most people want casual, easy, breezy-feeling spaces that are not moody or dark but more modern,” O’Brien says. Open living spaces that allow ample natural light and are bright and airy and not too stuffy are a trend that will continue in 2020.

#19) It’s easy being green.
After seeing a lot of blue over the last few years, green is making a comeback. “We’re seeing green on everything from upholstery to cabinets,” O’Brien says. “It’s definitely the next wave of accent color.”

Photo credit: Gibeon Photography, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture

#20) Cool your hide.
Let’s face it, animal hides will always be synonymous with mountain design, a relic of the traditional cabin that gets reinvented over and over again. For 2020, the look is all about long hair hides from winter cows and sheep. “It’s an exaggerated tactile hide that’s less tailored, but more organic than the short hair hides,” Stafford says. “This is also a good example of the rustic/modern trend.”

For more information or help on creating the perfect design for your space, visit Vertical Arts and Rumor Designs websites, or contact Sarah at Vertical Arts Architecture or Valerie at Rumor Designs.

Photo credit: David Patterson, Courtesy of Vertical Arts Architecture


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