It’s been 3 years that I have been writing for Southern Oregon Magazine as a design contributor, and I thought some musings on design is the best subject at the moment.
Although the digital world is powerful, I still believe the printed word and image is so much more dynamic and reflective. Images printed on paper have a sense of permanence and thoughtful purpose. Far better than the fleeting image on a screen which gets scrolled past on Instagram, or a pop-up ad that’s there just to be annoying. Good design is a process that is slow and measured. Interior Design is a tactile endeavor, and print is a direct reflection of that dynamic.
Shelter magazines bring the reader the best of the best, the most innovative ideas for art and design. Many times, you will find a source that you would never have seen without the great research of the editorial team. Bringing together photographers, writers, editors and layout artists is a skill and a gift.
But you know all this right? If you’re reading this magazine, hopefully, you too are one of us who appreciates going a little slower, appreciating the artisan qualities of life here in Southern Oregon, and can perhaps appreciate that a well-designed space is also part of that equation that steps away from technology a little bit more.
This brings me to my subject for this issue: What is happening in the world of Interior Design?
The answer is a more esoteric question. It does not lie with new paint colors or types of tile. It doesn’t begin with brands or bloggers. What’s happening in Design right now is a renaissance. I was recently in NY on a design and buying trip. My design partner-in-crime, ML Stockwell, and I traipsed the city and immersed ourselves in the hippest, coolest, latest hotels, restaurants, and shops to see what was happening.
What I saw is that artists, writers and designers are having a bit of a backlash against technology. Although the tools in place now make things easier and more efficient, it’s the thrill of searching out things that are one-of-a-kind that immerges as far more interesting. Just as we all have our own style in our homes, it’s the collecting of art, books, objects and textiles that is very unique and individual. This is what is happening. No one wants their home to look like a boring grey catalog!
One of the hotels we stayed in had a vast collection of art, floor to ceiling. It was old, new, and everything in between. There were sculptures in the mezzanine, poetry tacked up in the elevators…shaggy furs draped over chairs in the restaurant, and rooms had murals painted on the walls by art students.
Our fabric companies that we carry like Kravet, Lee Jofa, and others are introducing graphic patterns, lots of color, lots of texture. The feeling is so warm, and individual. It feels a bit retro as well. I think the fact that our politicians are so divisive, and the news media can’t wait for the next big blow-up, it’s influencing how we want to live in our homes. We just want to go home and relax! People are nostalgic for the days when things were graceful, and there was dignity on all levels. So what does this have to do with interiors? It is all related in terms of my research and what I see happening…
We want comfort, we want cozy, we want original art that isn’t from a factory. We want our home to wrap it’s arms around us with warmth , soft light, living plants, and textures that are yummy and inviting. That’s the trend. Are you interested? Does it resonate? How does your home feel in terms of trends? Pretty good I bet.