In this contemporary landscape in the Hudson Valley, in upstate New York, the landscape architects used block plantings of ornamental grasses to create a modern meadow look that would complement the minimalistic lines of the home. Unlike block plantings of sheared shrubs, the ornamental grasses take little maintenance — just an annual cut-back every winter.How and where to use them: To complement contemporary architecture, as backdrops for perennials and as living walls, screens or edges to define planting beds.
6. Create a gallery wall. Sometimes what a room really needs is a statement piece of art, but purchasing new art can be expensive. Instead, consider creating a gallery display using pieces you already have. Possibilities include botanical or Audubon prints or old magazine covers or a collection of old photos, as seen here. In this Washington, D.C., space, the central piece, a round mirror, mimics the radiating pattern of the rug. This repetition of shapes helps the gallery wall feel cohesive in the overall design. These 10 Familiar Objects Are the Wall Art We’re Looking ForMore6 Questions to Ask if Your Living Room Feels UnfinishedHow to Refresh Your Living Room on Any Budget
Rugs Add Pattern and PersonalityDesigners know that an important element to consider in any decor is pattern. Whether dramatic or subtle, a dose of pattern adds important energy and personality to a room, even without introducing any color.In a transitional- or cottage-inspired home, look to rugs with a geometric pattern in a tone-on-tone palette to add some life while preserving a serene atmosphere.
When you run your hand over a tight-weave rug, you shouldn’t be able to feel many individual fibers or yarns, but rather a solid surface of tight material.One way to examine the density of a rug is to pick it up and bend it on the diagonal. If the rows of fibers are loosely spaced, the channels in between them will be revealed when bent, and these channels are where dirt can take up residence.
1. Last year: You piled your clothes on your bedroom bench or chair. This year: Hang up your clothes daily to free up your sitting space. It takes just a few minutes to hang clean clothes or toss dirty ones in the hamper. Of course after a long day, it would be much easier to simply drape your clothing over a chair. But doing this robs you of a place where you can sit and wind down, as well as a space that is visually free of clutter. How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Bedroom
4. Natural selection. The heart of this Dallas kitchen is the island-breakfast bar, which features rich materials and a double waterfall structure. The raised breakfast bar is made of warm walnut, while the island top is white marble with gray veining. Homeowner and builder Chris Dauwe covered the space beneath the breakfast bar in reclaimed wood, sourced from a barn in North Carolina. Using natural-looking materials helped Dauwe achieve his goal of “a contemporary home with an industrial twist,” he says. Island and kitchen countertops: Mountain White marble; leather stools: Halo Styles
Problem and solution. The vintage door that leads to the master bedroom was a special find that led to a bit of a challenge. “Somewhere along the line there was a miscommunication about the door’s dimensions and the door framing was built too high for the door,” Ggem says. It turned out to be a happy accident since the creative solution was to add a capital detail above the door. Ggem made the most of that and included the millwork detail over all of the windows and doors in the room for cohesiveness.Vintage door: Olde Good Things; lamp: HomeGoods; shagreen nesting tables: Palecek
22. Fewer white or stainless-steel sinks. White and stainless steel sinks have had their day, says designer Ott. Expect more concrete, stone, copper and granite composite sinks in darker hues of gray, bronze or black.Your turn: What’s big on your design list this year? Have you spotted the next big trend of 2018? Give us your predictions in the Comments!See last year’s design predictionsBrowse the most popular photos on Houzz right now
Used as an entryway marker, a pair of conical boxwoods frame a view to the bistro table and clearly demarcate the place where you leave one garden area and enter another.How and where to use them: To define entryways, as accent plants and focal points, in mixed borders, in containers and in groupings.
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