LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Stylish Solutions


Jean-Louis Deniot collection at Baker Furniture has some classic pieces. This chest is a favorite this spring. www.bakerfurniture.com

Welcome to May. I absolutely love this time of year, when the spring flowers are popping and the air is clear but still cool. It's the perfect time to start dreaming about fresh design options. This month I want to share highlights and relevant observations from my team's recent trip to High Point, N.C., so you, Stylish Suburbanite, are squarely in-the-know on the back-room world of interior design.

Every year, twice a year, designers and decorators descend upon High Point for one of the world's largest wholesale furniture markets. You must be an industry trade member to attend, and many showrooms require additional credentials for access - even after general registration. That's why recapping the trends we've seen is one of our most popular free webinar series. (The Spring Trend webinar has already passed and filled quickly. So you don't miss out next time, visit www.couturechateau.com and sign up for our email list.)

This season's top trends include fresh, clean lines and splashes of metal or color. They also include the classic quilting or channeling on upholstery, ala Chanel. These are both easy to live with. Clutter is put away, and frankly, they encourage "tidy," something my heart yearns for these days.

Spring, 2016: From traditional luxury showrooms like Baker Furniture to more accessible price points at Arteriors, the white-and-gold or white-and-brass looks were everywhere.

The new Jean-Louis Deniot collection at Baker showcased one of my favorite new pieces, the Heliodor Decorative Chest. From my designer's eye, it's a perfect piece because it works into a traditional home looking for a quick pop, and into a completely modern space in all white.

At left is a photo of the white and brass chest. With subtle accents like doors cut as jewels, and practical inside drawers, this piece works from bedroom to office to entry hall. Top with traditional lamps, a blue and white pot of orchids or antique books to complete the look. Links are below, adjacent to photos.

My team saw the gold and brass trend in other places as well. I have always liked this look. Below is a press shot from Arteriors Home, trending their new collection of white and gold. I liked the picture because it gives some options from small ottomans to side tables and lamps.

When my husband and I remodeled our home in 2008 and everything was polished nickel, I put in brass. The looks from my suppliers was "eye roll, don't you know anything?" It was funny explaining to them, that brass would come around again, and that those of us in the know were actually buying and holding statement brass from the 1970s for savvy collecting clients. Needless to say, trust the designer who has been around a bit. I will keep to myself what we are buying and holding now but for a hint: take a look at this month's Veranda Magazine. See if you can spot a trend in the making.

The truth is, for many of us in the luxury market, brass and gold never went out; neither did hand-painted wallpaper. All you have to do is observe closely the design elements in major cities that hold their own, from Hong Kong to London to New York City. Good design never goes out of style.

The key to using traditional standards in design? Be careful to avoid inexpensive, poorly executed versions. There is nothing as bad as a poor copy of something that can only be executed properly by a true artist. From metalwork to hand-painted finishes, inlay to fabric, true skill shows. I always counsel clients to purchase the best they can afford.

The quilt and channel. Arteriors has a channel-quilted line. The Christophe Sofa, at $5,600, is a good price point for a mid-priced piece. Other brands showcased quilting as well. The Nathan Anthony vanity stool I find irresistible. Why? Because it can live at home with the most traditional Lamorinda designs as well as thrive in the contemporary hilltop estates nestled among us.

Enjoy these tips, Stylish Suburbanites. Until next month, live beautifully.