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Fresh fruit
colors, white furniture and earth-friendly designs are among the
hottest trends in home decorating.
Photo
courtesy of Rubin’s Contemporary Furniture, Milwaukee
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Spring is here, but how fresh is your home feeling on the inside?
To reinvent your home interior no matter what your style, three home
interior and design experts share their tricks and trends of the
trade: Koren Gierach, design consultant at Rubin’s Contemporary
Furniture in Milwaukee’s Third Ward; Barb Brinkmann of Barb’s
Interior Design, Cedarburg; and Mary Jo Reed, of M.J. Reed Interior
Design Studio, Oconomowoc.
Color is key
All of our designers agree nothing packs a punch like new paint.
Brinkmann advises clients to make color your friend: brown with aqua
mint, green-toned yellow and gray and gold are emerging as favorites.
Gierach has her eye on fresh fruit colors — a delicious combination
of kiwi, sunshine yellow and mango orange. Reed says she is working
with red, white and navy and also notes: "The ’70s are back.
Orange, yellow, green and pink are making a comeback."
Go eco chic
"People are willing to spend more to save the planet,"
Brinkmann says. "‘Sustainable’ is the catch word. Build with
a conscience. Save the earth. Recycle." She also notes:
"Glass is a pure, clean and simple choice."
 Wrap
it in texture
"Various textures, like grass cloth on walls, cork and bamboo
floors, and sea grass and rattan rugs, add richness to your
home," Reed says.
Accentuate your accents
"Use brightly colored, vibrant throw pillows, vases, rugs and
window treatments on a neutral backdrop," Gierach says.
"Pull out your favorite color from an area rug and go from
there."
Fun with floor lamps
Gierach likes the cool cardboard floor lamps from Roland Simmons.
"Use them in odd-number arrangements to soften up a corner or
behind a sofa," Gierach says.
Go white
"Use white furniture as a backdrop to add an instant
spark," Gierach says. If a client desires a less-dramatic
approach, Gierach recommends using white accessories to make all your
other colors pop.
Recognize the pattern
Wallpaper is growing in popularity, Brinkmann says. "Believe
it or not, flocking will become popular again," she says. "
Try flocking on silk for a rich look."
Old is new again
"A growing trend for baby boomers is to enjoy the treasures of
the past by using it for a new purpose," Reed says. She has seen
a vintage 1940s radio console be reinvented as a new media center to
hold CDs, and as a charging station for iPods and cell phones.
Crazy for cottage
Many of Reed’s clients crave "the comfortable feel of a
grand and elegant cottage." It’s timeless, classic and
relaxing. "The elegant cottage features grand fireplaces, rich
wall colors, wide moldings and timeless, classic furniture," she
says.
Keep it simple
Brinkmann says you’ll never regret buying that special item you
really want for your home, but beware of too many impulse purchases.
"An uncluttered, simple look is still the freshest look
around."
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