DECEMBER 2019
“THE USE OF TEXTURE AND MIXING DIFFERENT MATERIALS IN A SPACE ADDS SO MUCH DEPTH AND DIMENSIONS”
“I tend to design for the long term, since most clients want longevity with their spaces,” says Tara Engelberg of Tara Felice Interiors, adding, “but it’s hard to avoid trends altogether as I always love the collaborative process of working with clients, which means hearing and executing their feedback and wishes.” And with social media-savvy homeowners picking up on trends from Instagram, HGTV and Houzz, among others, Tara has found creative ways to satisfy that craving for a trend.
2019: Incognito Trends
“A lot of times, clients will want the ‘in’ wallcovering or pillow design or paint color, which is great. What I try to do, though, is mix it up to make it less ‘trendy’,” explains Tara. One of her clients loved the trending green palm leaves that have enjoyed the spotlight for the past few years. “I loved the look for a client’s powder room walls, but didn’t want to date the bathroom,” says Tara. “So we went with black-and-white palm leaves instead, which is a nod to the trend, but doesn’t shout to everyone who enters, ‘I was designed in 2018!’”
2020: Mixing Materials
“People seem to be embracing textures of all sorts — rattan, woven and cane furniture is everywhere this year and continues to be so for 2020,” says Tara. “The use of texture and mixing different materials in a space adds so much depth and dimension! I want to see natural elements, like wood, beside a lacquered piece of furniture, mixed with a concrete side table and velvet sofa!” Mixing trendy pieces like a chic cane chair with other antiques and classics allows a client to partake in a trend while keeping it from feeling dated.