Bring on Summer - 2007 Design Trends

It’s summer…and the living is easy.  So it’s time to “summerize” - bring on a more simple, relaxed and casual vibe in our homes.  What’s the best way to change your decor for the season of the sun?  Overall, we need to shed the layers, and lighten and brighten our interiors.  Make your decor reflect what’s happening outdoors!  Here are a few design tips to keep your interiors fresh and in-line with the latest summer design trends:

• Keep it natural - the trend toward using natural materials and fibers in the home is still very much “in.”  Incorporate natural fabrics like linen, cotton and silk, along with natural materials like bamboo, wood and woven paper shades, stone and slate throughout your home.  Add a jute or sisal rug.  Or bring in a woven bowl filled with brightly colored fruit.
• Mix in metallics - think of the summer sandal in silver, gold or bronze.  Bring in a metallic accessory like a small mirror, pillow or vase, and you’ll see it sparkle and shimmer in the light.
• Bring in a Faux Bois accent - the French technique of faux bois, creating graining and texture to imitate real wood, is all the rage this year.  Just a small accent will do.  A faux bois mirror, lamp or picture frame won’t break your budget, and you won’t feel guilty letting it go when the next summer trend makes a splash.
• Lighten up - slipcover dark, heavier upholstered pieces with oatmeal or white cotton duck.  Replace heavier, patterned draperies with lightweight linen sheers that can billow in the breeze.  Instantly you’ll create a more relaxed, resort-like atmosphere.
• Pare down - put away the throws and heavily textured fabrics.  Swap out and pare down your tablescapes, leaving more air between items. 
• Relax - swap out an upholstered armchair with a wicker or caned chair.
• Color your world - if you go white with your slipcovers, bring on the brights.  Primary colors are big this season - cobalt blue, tomato red, sunshine yellow.  Ground them with a touch of black.  If you prefer a softer palette, combine oatmeal colored slipcovers with soothing ocean hues - pale gray blues, aqua greens and sandy neutrals.
• Punch up the patterns - add accents (pillows and accessories) that combine large scale florals with graphic geometric patterns for an up-to-date look.  Think cabana stripes and tropical garden.
• Garden indoors - bring in fresh cut flowers and arrange greens clipped from your yard.  Add a few large, leafy plants like the lady palm, parlor palm, philodendron, or cast iron plant.  Create an indoor terrace, and you’ll feel connected to the Great Outdoors, even on a hot day when you’re inside enjoying the air conditioning.
• The hottest trend for Summer 2007 is the outdoor room, and it may be here to stay.  Buy an outdoor rug with a great pattern to ground your outdoor space.  To liven up your patio or deck, add some potted plants.  And for the soothing backdrop of trickling water, plug in a fountain or make your own water feature.  Accessorize with some bright, all-weather throw pillows and hang some outdoor art or a mirror to reflect your garden - and you’re all set to live large outdoors!  

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