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It’s All About Contrast

The New Year is not only reining in personal resolutions, but some trendy new home décor ideas, too


By Sarah DiVito | December 21, 2009


Forget 2009. Designs this year did step up a notch from the previous year. However, compared to our home décor predictions for 2010, people are going to be forgetting designs that redefined 2009 as soon as that clock hits midnight.

Expect the Unexpected
Who ever said things had to match? In this décor trend report for 2010, matching is definitely out and bringing contrast into the home is what’s in. “I think the biggest trend is harsh contrast colours,” says Alicia Sass, designer for Carey Mudford Interior Design (CMID). For 2010, there will be a lot of mixing punchy colours like an electric blue and flaming red with pastel shades or very dark tones, and complementing them with neutral shades. If you have a neutral tone and don’t want to paint your whole space, choosing a wall and repainting it with a punch of colour is a fabulously chic alternative. Sass recommends freshening up the rest of the décor by introducing colour through accessories, bedding or rugs, like a yellow pillow or purple vase, which is stylish and elegant. 

2010 is also bringing on the bold and large graphic patterns in fabrics, and wallpaper – yes, wallpaper – is making a huge comeback. This style is dramatic by playing up the shimmer, metallics, and what Sass says is even the biggest trend at the moment, black and white. She says black accent walls with a plain white or patterned drapery and furniture is a huge trend running right through 2010. Trend is showing us how their “Glorious.” The soft geometric pattern and glimmer of woven gold add that extra oomph to the room. 
wallpaperintrend.com

Something Old and Something New
The New Year is also all about contrasting contemporary and vintage designs. Emphasizing the universal design in the kitchen is what’s happening in 2010. “Stainless steel appliances are everywhere now,” said Sass. There is no longer a trend to cover them up with custom-made panels. Simple stainless steel appliances and fixtures are being made easy to handle for those of us with physical limitations, or just lazy folk. Delta Faucet has made this possible with their Pilar ToucH20 ($549.55). It’s a faucet, coordinating with any décor design, that has a full-arc spout with no knobs because it’s touch-operated.
deltafaucet.com

In the kitchen and living room look for Plexiglass, solid chairs and exposed metal. While accepting these modern home décor trends, you can still stay true to your classic style in 2010 by incorporating vintage pieces that will compliment the new designs. “One thing that Canadians should have in their home is something reclaimed,” says Sass. “In the living room look for reclaimed coffee tables and end tables along with big chunky lamps and frames.” The vintage item contrasts with the new pieces but also looks great mixed with anything in the home. Sass also says that we should be looking for fur in the bedrooms. Big cushy carpets and pillows, which gives the room dimension, are in. •



READ MORE: Shake It Up, The Return of Wallpaper, Book Review: London Design Guide 2012-2013, Made in... Alberta, Serving Up..., Sleep on It, A Cut Above the Rest, Gifts that Give Back, Bright Ideas, Higher Education, A Sky-High Celebration, Wicked Do-It-Yourself Halloween Decorations, Bedside Boutique: Hotel Gault, Fresh Furnishings, October’s Finest, It's All in a Name, Literary Havens, Bathroom Bliss, The Best... Home Accents, Brick by Brick, Decor by Design, Let the Outdoors In, Personalized Living, Three Men and a Garden, Raising the Bar, Golden Years on the Green, Muskoka in Alberta, The Door to Your Dream Home, A Consideration of Art and Mechanics, Contemporary Landscaping, Pushing the Boundaries, Relaxation by the Bay, Expert Opinion, At Your Fingertips, From the Ground Up, Outdoor Landscaping Refined, Sky-High Luxury, A Putt Above, An Amusing Affair, From Pavement to Paradise, An Amusing Affair — Alberta, An Amusing Affair — Atlantic, All in the Swing, A Blossoming Business, Rooms with a View, Ritz-Carlton opens its doors in Toronto, Student-Directed Teaching, All that’s Old is New , Home Staging Tips To Help You Sell Fast, Environmentally conscious living in the heart of Victoria , World-class Interiors, Staging to Sell, Retirement R&R, Terminal Bound, Realtor of All Trades, Stylish Slumbers, Beyond the Standard , Natural Beauty , Haute Hotels , Living Luxuriously , A Personal Sanctuary, All Hung up with Amaryllis , Home Sweat Home, Make it Drake, It's All About Drake, Breaking into the Biz, Grandoise Galleries Toronto Style, Lofty Intentions, Centre of Attention, Ontario's Haunted Theatres, Lifelong Learning, Vancouver’s Hollywood mansion in the Sky, Stay like a VIP, Transforming the West, Waterfront living in Fort Langley, An Experiential Education, Acres of Independent Excellence, Inquiring Minds, Innovative Teaching, Rediscover Residency, Teacher-guided, Student-directed, Sinking your paws in the Greens, Four strands of success, Celebrating Academics, Languages of Learning, Head start for success, New world qualification rules, The Suite Life, An Experiential Education, International appeal, community feel, Living meets learning on the pacific coast, A personalized education, An intimate approach, Welcome to classic cottage country, Sleeping with the Outdoors, Independent Learning, Bombay presents The how-to summer office, Living and learning at Pickering College, A Kitchen Garden Gone International, The all-girl advantage, Beautifying Your Walls, A prairie oasis, Play Time, This Spring, Grill Up a Storm, Tabletop Eggstravaganza, From Clutter To Clean, Livening Up Patio Furniture in 2010, Companion Planting, Living Outside the Box, How green does your garden grow? [Alberta Edition], How green does your garden grow? [Atlantic Edition], How green does your garden grow? [BC Edition], How green does your garden grow? [Ontario Edition], See it today, own it tomorrow, Revitalized Refurbished Rooms, Turn your bathroom into a spa, Bringing the Va-Va-Voom to your Bedroom, It’s All About Contrast, Spice Up Your Home This Holiday, Eco Retreats, Here Comes the Sun, Clear Water Revival, The new 100 percent program, Room with a new view, Solar Eclipse, Boutique Clique, Office Overhaul, Holmes’ Sweet Homes
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