DESIGNER’S NOTEBOOK Trends for Spring

The color purple is dead, washed greens are in. But being born to the purple is quite another matter, for the largest single factor now influencing all aspects of design is that of Old World Europe.

On American shores, the look retains the Europeans’ attention to detail, quality of craftsmanship, and select design elements, but it is interpreted in a lighter, more liveable way. Its influence is and will continue to be seen in a resurgence of architectural details, luxurious silks and brocades (though not heavy ones), textured walls, a renewed interest in flooring, windows dressed with an assortment of fabric treatments, period furniture, antique finishes, and personal collections.

European cabinets and handpaint-ed Portuguese tiles claim the market for kitchens while Queen Elizabeth would feel right at home in the increasing number of formal gardens with clipped hedges and teak benches.

If you’re not ready for a European invasion but still want to update an interior for spring and summer, Crickett Seal, ASID associate, of Crickett Seal Associates, Inc., suggests some quick and relatively inexpensive projects to give a room a fresh look.

For starters, paint walls a light, bright color or opt for a crisp, bright while. The current trend is towards a total color look, so moldings, frames, and walls should be painted the same shade. Seal prefers painting the ceiling, however a soft turquoise blue.

It is almost indiscernible as blue to the eye, but the shade brings the sky into the room, lightening the environment even further.

Next, furniture can be updated with the addition of slipcovers in pastels or floral chintzes. “Slipcovers are making a resurgence,” says Seal, “and it’s refreshing that we are able to produce so much here in Dallas. We have a wealth of artists and seamstresses, a better supply than we used to have.”

A quick lift for a room with a hard-surface floor is to change out the rug, substituting a light-colored dhurrie or rag rug in its place. Or, take up the rug completely and leave the floor bare for a sparse, clean look. Overall, pare down elements and lighten up on accessories.

Last, and the simplest to do, add a bouquet of fresh flowers or some green plants to help brighten the room.

“Most clients are in a continual process of changing, but want very fine basics and are willing to pay for quality,” says Seal. She sees Europe as having the biggest impact on design, attributing the trend to the influence of numerous art exhibits that have passed through Dallas and America’s desire, as a young country, to have roots. “We want tradition in the sense of quality and in having something that perhaps is not old but is made to look so.”

“Dallas people tend to be well-versed, traveled and read,” she says. “They are collectors and that’s reflected in their interiors. They collect, be it antique furniture or enamel boxes, with the idea of passing things down to their children.” Seal always encourages clients to buy things they love, believing that both his and her favorite things as well as tastes can blend in one home.

She also sees Dallas homes as having a distinctive look. “In California, there is a very definite look; clean and contemporary with strong turquoise and coral colors. Dallas is much more sophisticated. People here want a very classical, contemporary look, something timeless. For example, lacquered furniture is not as strong an influence here as it still is in California. Most Dallasites want real tradition.

Seemingly, the European influence in design this year is right at home in Dallas. And Dallas design as a whole has benefitted from two trends that Seal has noticed in the industry as of late.

The first is that of architects and interior designers working together from the beginning on a project rather than independently of each other. More often than not, landscape and lighting designers are brought in as well. The days when a homebuilder thought he could design a house, landscape the yard, and decorate the interior of a home are passing. The very pleasing result is that the exterior and interior of a home are beginning to relate to each other because each was planned at an early stage with the other in mind.

“Even when remodeling a home, you want to make the interior and exterior relate,” says Seal. That’s not to say that a Georgian exterior dictates strictly Georgian-style rooms inside. A mix of styles is very desirable, but the tie-in, the balance would come in the architectural elements such as moldings used in the room which could then be decorated with very contemporary furnishings without jarring the eye.

The second trend concerns men; it seems they have become more active-ly involved in the design process. “I never cease to be amazed at how much good taste men have today,” says Seal. They are very interested in their environments, both home and office.” When it comes to a couple’s residence, Seal finds that men get just as involved with the project as women. “They’re exploring possibilities, thinking, learning, and contributing,” she says. Seal thinks their interest is due partly to the return of architectural elements in the home. “Most men think in terms of details. They see the foundation and basic elements of a home as being important. They probably won’t look at fabrics but they will be involved with the basics.”

Seal sees architectural elements from Europe as being very strong, as evidenced by the emergence of wonderful stones being used on floors (the result of great architects being brought to Dallas to do buildings, she explains). “In the last Few years, people have become very conscious of what their floors look like,” says Seal. “Stone, marble, and all kinds of tile are being used for a wonderful base. And expect to see more state as well.” Plain wood floors are given a face lift by using an interplay of different woods, cherry and oak for example, in an innovative pattern. Ebony banding is another new look.

Washed celadon will be a very good color for interiors for the remainder of the Eighties and pastels will continue to stay strong. Seal sees some neutrals coming back in but they will be used in conjunction with colors. Monochromatic color schemes are still good, but only if kept monochromatic.

Texture seems to be the key word for fabrics this year, as already witnessed by the fashion industry. The European influence is felt in the beautiful silks and light silk brocades flooding the market. “People now want very fine fabrics,” says Seal. “They know the difference between polished cotton chintz and a hand-screened look.” Linen is still superb in the spring and, if applied correctly, does not wrinkle.

Texture will also be seen on walls as the European influence takes over with applied moldings, leather wallcovering, and faux marble finishes. Colored mirrors in peach and pink are coming in and, if used correctly, can be very effective. “There’s a lot more interest in what’s happening to walls,” says Seal. “’People are looking for something special.”

In furniture, though, it’s back to basics. The European trend is seen here in a return to period furniture. English furniture is always good in Dallas, but French will be strong along with Italian. Portuguese and Dutch furniture will present something new to collectors. “Portuguese furniture has a Mediterranean look,” explains Seal, “but with more style and character. It’s heavy, but an occasional piece mixed in with other furniture can be effective.” “It’s important to mix and blend styles of furniture correctly.”

Antique finishes will also be very popular. “If people can’t afford to buy antiques, they still want their furniture to have that patina, that look of something old,” says Seal. So they will have a piece custom made and finished to look antique.

Artwork is also being custom-made, so to speak. “We do a lot of commissioned art, perhaps a portrait or a trip-tich to hang in a corridor,” says Seal. That trend will only get stronger. People are into commissioning fine pieces. They’re influenced by the Dallas Museum of Art showing us how creative we can be.” With the influx of artists now in Dallas that can produce works to suit specific environments, much is of local origin. But there will always be that aura of having a piece commissioned in Paris or New York.

Because of Dallasites’ interest in art, lighting has become more important as they have learned to light works properly with low voltage lighting. This interest has carried over to the rest of the home with a concern for mood lighting and ambient environments created with cove lighting. Halogen lighting remains strong, and recessed lighting, candelabras, and candlelight are here to stay. Seal finds the European influence in what she terms eye-level lamps done in antique urns or ginger jars and topped with shades with silk fringe.

Window treatments will make more use of fabrics, again, following the Europeans. Look for many versions of swags, jabots, and draping, but all done with a light hand. These will frame or dress a window rather than cover it. “1 don’t like to see a window totally covered,” says Seal. To control the view, use blinds, shutters, or shirring as the Europeans do (take lace, shir on a tension rod, and hang in the lower half of window). There is more lace being used on windows, but only as an accent, not as heavy drapes.

When it comes to the kitchen, women today want a pretty yet functional room. They prefer a lighter, brighter look and will most likely have European cabinets in a light, pickled finish, handpainted Portuguese tiles, and smooth councertops.

The European cabinet lines are being very aggressive on the market. Women seem to prefer this designer look over a “job-made” piece. “It used to be important to have job-made cabinets,” says Seal, “but no longer. The Europeans have the quality and engineering ability. After all, they have been doing it longer.”

The trend in countertops is toward smooth surfaces. There is a move away from formica however towards the use of more granite and Corian, though price is something one has to overcome. Marble could be installed at the same price, although being very porous, it is not a practical alternative. It is being used on backsplashes, though, for its decorative effect. Granite, on the other hand, is very practical, being resistant to heat and cracking. It now comes in several colors including rose and white with tiny colored flecks. Because of its high price, it is usually used as an accent piece rather than in large quantities.

Tiles are still very strong and the trend is toward handpainted or Portuguese tiles that lend an Old World feeling to the kitchen. Villeroy & Boch made a big impact on the tile industry with the introduction of their ceramic tiles offered in every color imaginable.

Wood floors (which can be treated for practicality), are being seen again in kitchens, often in combination with marble or vinyl tile. There has been a major improvement in tiles recently resulting in a range of designer colors rather than the two previous choices of colonial red and taupe. Armstrong produces a pure vinyl tile that can be custom colored and edged in a contrasting shade. “It’s still very expensive though,’ says Seal, “more expensive than some woods. But then, we don’t find people here use linoleum or sheet goods.”

Because exteriors are tying in so closely with interiors of houses for aesthetically pleasing transitions, gardens are also putting on a European look. But there is also a move in the other direction, towards employing native plants in a natural environment for those who like that particular look or do not have the time for the upkeep that a European-style garden requires.

Seal sees her clients picking up on the European influence. “They want a controlled, natural look. They want things in place, but not to appear too set-looking.” Their choices for outdoor furniture tend to be carved, weathered redwood or wrought iron, a resurgence of the villa look.

William Eubanks, ASLA, partner at Naud Burnett And Partners, sees a return to more traditional, formal spaces with pruned boxwood hedges and very regimental type plantings. “For a while, everyone was quasi-modern,” explains Eubanks, citing jagged-edged pools as an example. “Then the Oriental garden was in, but that has faded as well. Now it’s the European look. There’s a romanticism now for the English and French styles and more concern for the way things used to be. We have many requests for period-style gardens.”

He attributes the trend to the fact that Americans have always thought of themselves as a bit behind the Europeans. But also because the style is so conducive to the period houses found in the Park Cities where Naud Burnett does most of their work.

The formal look also ties in with their manner of outdoor entertaining, yielding brick and stone terraces and lots of landscape lighting. The look requires wrought iron furniture and teak benches painted white, reminiscent of nineteenth-century England.

The trend applies to sculpture as well, as clients tend to choose traditional, realistic figures as opposed to abstract pieces. Wall fountains are big again, many being imported from England and Italy, that being part of their allure as clients pick them out on visits abroad.

Pools are viewed as more than just recreational areas in these formal gardens. The addition of fountain jets in the pool or spa turns it into a water feature or fountain as well.

European architectural elements are also making a comeback in the garden with balustrades and elaborate wrought iron gates and fences.

John Armstrong of Boyd, Heid-erich, Armstrong And Berger, Inc., notes an upcoming trend toward xeriscaping, that is, using native, drought-tolerant plant materials to create a natural-looking landscape requiring low maintenance. (Armstrong’s firm just finished the landscape renovation at the Santa Fe Hilton using xeri-scaping.) Natives such as Texas sage and yucca are used rather than azaleas, for example, with wildflowers and native grasses used in landturf areas.

He too notes a trend towards conspicuous indoor-outdoor spaces, the concept of creating an outdoor space that has a compatible look to the inside. Choice of outdoor furniture, lighting, and the feeling created by selected foliage help balance the two areas. If the interior is strict and classical, the exterior can respond by having a softening effect. Even in a current situation, Armstrong says a house can be opened up with the use of new glass, decks, and terraces with skylights helping to make the transition.

At the same time, clients seem to be catering to their own lifestyles, seeking personal expression through their gardens rather than copying that of the house next door. Such gardens are viewed as private spaces, an oasis within the city, and are frequently used for entertaining. For these, the trend seems to be to seek out new and different furniture that retains a sense of classicism. Clients want something a bit different, unique perhaps, but still classic, to relate to their lifestyle. Armstrong sees a greater use of English teak furniture, especially the classic wood benches.

The importance of exercise is reflected in the use of pools. Usually they are one of two kinds; a lap pool or a spa with a Jacuzzi incorporated into the pool. Armstrong sees the lap pools as becoming almost an architectural element in the garden, being very sculptural and bold with dark tile and resembling a reflection or plunge pool.

He cites the importance of tying in architecture with the landscape and house. “Professionally, there’s a greater awareness of the interior designer, architect, and landscape architect all working together,” he says. “Hopefully, this awareness of the professional team as a whole will continue.”

LIGHT TOUCHES



You don’t have to sell the condo in Vail to redecorate your home. In fact, change can be affordable with the right approach. Here are a few quick and relatively inexpensive suggestions that can help you brighten your surroundings for spring.



PAINT



It’s amazing what a new coat of paint can do for your home. For a quick mood change choose a light, bright color and paint the walls, frames and moldings all the same, or if you’re already using color try white. It’s a simple way to open up your rooms and make them appear lighter and larger.



FURNITURE



Slipcovers in light-weight pastels and florals are a useful way to update furniture. Or you may want to use them for a quick seasonal change of color.



FLOORS



Take a fast look at your floors. If you have hard surfaces change out the rugs opting for lighter weight, lighter colored rags or dhurries- or take up rugs entirely for a sparser look.



ACCESSORIES



The best direction for warmer months is to ease up on accessories. Pare everything down and remember-one of the best accessories for your home for spring are flowers. Use them as accents or to bring color into an otherwise neutral room.