What the Design Trade Loves (and Hates) Right Now

So Over It!
Gasp! Dallas designers sound off on pet peeves such as faux finishes, McMansions, and ceiling fans. 

Drum shades and pendant light fixtures anywhere—but especially in hotels and restaurants. Burn, baby, burn them all.
– R. BRADLEY SCOTT, Schumacher >>

Clients paying with credit cards, dark heavy furniture that looks like it was sold by the pound,  and ceiling fans.
– ANN KELLOGG SCHOOLER, Schooler, Kellogg & Company

<< Boring, beige rooms, overdecorated rooms, bad lighting, oversized furniture in rooms that are not human (in size), amateur decorators, McMansions, and unimaginative rooms that are safe. 
– MICHELLE NUSSBAUMER, Ceylon et Cie

Twelve different faux finishes in one room. Faux real I have witnessed this. All I can say is “why?”
– LEE BORIAK, Edward Ferrell/Lewis Mittman

“Country cute. I’m sick of all the junk people call country.”
– LOYD TAYLOR, Loyd-Paxton

Plexiglas.
– JOEL COONER, Joel Cooner Gallery

Brass furniture.
– CHRYSTIE TRIMMELL, Kreiss Collection

 << I am tired of the gimmicks—the nouveau riche design look, such as the forced retro look, which is very outdated.
– TRISHA WILSON, Wilson Associates

Overdone beds.
– JULIO QUINONES, Julio Quinones & Associates

Acoustic ceilings, recliners, heavily sponged walls, and bad and heavy Mediterranean. Hope they’re going fast.  >>
– ALLEN KIRSCH, Allen Kirsch & Associates Inc.

Huge houses with rooms and more rooms that mean nothing and have made-up names!
– PAM KELLEY, Pam Kelley & Associates

<< White ceilings, too much dark woodwork, and faux finishes on walls and ceilings. I am sick of heavy fringes and trims, and fake Oriental rugs.
– MARY ANNE SMILEY, Mary Anne Smiley Interiors

Lookin’ Good!
Industrial-age antiques. High-voltage color with black and white. Opaque glass.  What the design trade is loving now. 

I’ve had several good clients from both coasts over the past few months searching for “Industrial Age” antiques and accessories. Both Diane Keaton and Jewel have purchased several large, wonderful “Industrial” pieces from the three showrooms we have, such as a wonderful porcelain trough from a New York boiler factory and an incredible steel wire locker (now a linen press!) from an old meat processing plant.
 – JOEY EDWARDS, Debris/Lost/Found antiques

<< Toile in traditonal settings or contemporary environments. And GREEN is always fresh.
– DIANNE PEEBLES, Pierre Deux

Walking through a front door and feeling “at home” because the furniture and accessories do not overwhelm the senses.
– CHARLOTTE TAYLOR, Notable Accents

Tables and countertops in thick opaque glass—cool, clean, and available in unbelievably luminous colors. >>
– MARILYN ROLNICK TONKON, Marilyn Rolnick Design Associates Inc.

Strong contemporary design with organic materials, felt throw pillows from Scott+Cooner, and glass chips, which come in many colors, instead of fire logs in a gas fireplace.
– ROBYN MENTER, Robyn Menter Design Associates Inc.

<< I think bright, high-voltage color is really hot right now, paired with black and white. It always has an impact with a lasting impression, which is what we are after as designers. The key is to pull it off successfully!
– STACY E. SAWYER, Sawyer Design Associates

Bits of traditional being introduced back into the modern movement that we’ve been in for several years, large-scaled patterns, anything chocolate brown, throwing some color on those white beds that we’ve seen for a number of years, and anything by LuLu.
– STACY ELLISTON, RDH & Associates Inc.

The new Asko washer/dryer stack with the integrated cabinet front. >>
– KATHY ADCOCK-SMITH, Adcock-Smith Design

Bright sunny rooms with color.
– NANCY LEIB, Nancy Leib and Co. 

Straight lines, geometric—industrial.
– BRENDAN BASS, Brendan Bass Showroom

Photography: Taylor: Vanessa Gavalya; Nussbaumer: Stephen Karlisch, Kirsch: Timothy Kolk; Wilson: Dan Sellers; room: Scott Harben; Tonkon: Kevin Hunter Marple; Sawyer: Phil Bailiff; Washer/dryer courtesy of Asko

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