It’s almost an oxy-moron to suggest a “trend” can be a “personal expression,” because by definition, a trend is usually a collective directional phenomenon. Wilsonart’s Natalia Smith tells how to make a trend your own.

By Dianne M. Pogoda

 

“Tell your story.”

Natalia Smith, manager of design at Wilsonart, described the trend toward customization in interior design at NKBA’s Chapter Officer Training, at KBIS 2018. The main message was that cookie-cutter decorating is on the way out, and relating a personal journey or story is the way to create a meaningful home environment.

“We collect experiences, not things. You can translate these experiences into interior design,” Smith said. “As a designer, you can tell your client’s personal story.”

She explained that in trends developing today, there’s a lot of personalization and customization. Having lots of choices allows us to put together these elements in a way that conveys a journey.

She identified a number of themes at the Chapter Officer Training breakfast session, which was sponsored by Wilsonart, and later elaborated.

The first is Mixology.

“We make the trends our own through Mixology,” she explained. “The combinations of styles, colors, and materials we choose provide a window into our personalities and our stories. Our experiences influence and infuse our choices, and we only incorporate the items that mean the most to us, or support our story.

“If we remember that individualism is celebrated, which opens the door to personalization and customization, then the trend Mixology always allows a personal stamp on interiors,” she added. “Helping the client customize a ‘trendy’ look by taking only the parts that speak to that client and his or her desired end result is the key.”

Designers play into this idea by taking cues from popular media — whether HGTV or magazines or design websites — and marry them with their client’s personality.

“It’s important to remember that the looks we are exposed to are aspirational, but only resonate if the personalities within the home are taken into consideration,” she advised. “Take, for instance, a young family: the father loves to cook, the couple both enjoy wine, and the kids do crafts in the kitchen. A pristine natural white marble countertop may not suite this family due to a natural stone’s proclivity to staining and high price point. An engineered surface, such as Wilsonart Quartz, could very easily give the family the look of a white marble with the added benefit of durability, ease of maintenance and stain resistance.”

That ties into the theme of Material Celebration: Mixing man-made elements with things from nature; Engineered plastics mix together with natural elements. The engineered quartz, for example, takes inspiration from nature, but it’s man-made and lauded for its performance qualities.

Another theme, Double Agent, is centered around doing more with less. Living spaces are becoming smaller, so they have to do double duty. For instance, accessories can act as serving pieces and artwork in one, while open shelving can be functional and also can display art. Part of this idea is the inside-outside nature of Alfresco Living, which stems from the term “Biophilia,” an innate human desire to be outdoors in nature, she explained.

“This is such an important aspect of our lives and our research shows that doctors are prescribing their patients more time in nature for the simple fact that natural elements help lower blood pressure and open the mind to greater creativity,” Smith related. When we consider that our homes and our possessions have to accomplish more with less, it makes sense that some of the outdoor furniture available today would be so nice that you could use it both inside and outside.

“If we can’t spend as much time as we’d like outdoors,” she added, “we can at least bring it inside through surface materials such as Wilsonart’s Woodgrain Laminates, furniture, plants, and accessories that graphically represent nature. Designing with Nature’s Neutrals, colors and decors inspired by nature, can help infuse calm into the home.”

To avoid a lack of individuality or sameness in decorating, Smith advised that getting to know a client’s story and what he or she connects to is the best way to create a truly personalized space.

“Where have their clients been, what’s impacted them and stays with them to this day, and are there any pieces from their family or adventures that are meaningful?” she asked. “Understanding these important aspects of the client’s experiences will guide both the designer and the client to choices that celebrate the unique stories that make the home a reflection of those that live there.”

Ultimately, she said, “We’ll always see changes as our stories and trends evolve. Have fun telling your story. That would be my message to consumers. Uniqueness and individualism are celebrated today, so enjoy and celebrate your experiences. After all, they are what makes you, you. The most important thing is to love this story you tell.”