Denise Morrison is the Founder and Principle Designer of renowned Southern California interior design firm, Denise Morrison Interiors. In 2017, Denise launched her first retail venture, House of Morrison, located in Newport Beach, CA. Through her many avenues of design, Denise and her team frequently turn to Hallmark flooring for the impeccable quality and reasonable price point. We appreciate her sharing her time and expertise.
A Look Back – 2017 Interior Design Trends
What did we learn from this year of change? How did it impact our design selections? As 2017 comes to a close I decided to take a look back at the best and brightest moments this year had to offer in Interior Design. From earthy and natural, to unique and sourced, this was a year for the records, and one I’ll be a little sad to see go.
Textured Longevity
With a collective movement towards more sustainable construction practices, it only followed suit that we looked for design materials with greater longevity and fabrics that aged more gracefully such as cotton, linen and leather. We embraced a little imperfection and opted for comfort every time as evidenced in these beautiful options.
Artistic Movement
Instead of focusing on collecting things that are mass-produced there was also an movement to find something unique, of high quality, and made from ethical sources. Collecting stuff for stuff’s sake became pase. Purchasing meaningful pieces, such as this Walnut Grid Cocktail Table, is the new definition of luxury and forming curated collections became a focus for consumers and designers alike.
Tribal Nomad
Along with collecting the unusual came a movement towards textiles (such as these Porcelain Bells and Porcelain Pottery pictured below) rich in earthy colors like terracotta, mustard, mellowed blue as well as embellishments such as embroidery, block prints, and Aztec motifs. With travel and ethnic boundaries becoming less evident, spaces that had a global appeal were very popular (view the Hilltop Hacienda Project to see for yourself).
Mellowed Naturalist
Wood continued to be a favored flooring choice with a movement away from cerused, fabricated finishes to more natural color tones showcasing the wood’s true essence. Lighter and mid-tones were definitely trending and this white oak flooring by Alta Vista was my favorite by far. I used it on multiple projects and loved the wide planking. The oiled finish makes it a low maintenance beauty with total ability to be refreshed without the hassle of sanding.
Shine Away
Along with the practical came a little desire for the tried and true done in a fresh way. Unlacquered brass as well as copper and rose gold sparkled in a variety of applications but not only in traditional settings. Using these warm-toned accents in modern ways (Such as the L’Horizon Resort & Spa in Palm Springs Project) was definitely the trend. The beauty in letting these metals dull and age gracefully only added to their re-emergence.
So how do you sum up this year? It was a movement toward the luxury feeling of things. The luxury came forth in the uniqueness, in the way it felt to touch or use, and the way it withstood wear gracefully. It was less about looking fancy but more about being fancy for years to come. And that’s something we can all enjoy.