Guest Blogger - Natalie Surles

Design Trends for Spring 2008, from Natalie Surles, Design Coordinator at McKee Builders' Delaware communities (Spring Arbor and Foxfield)

Although the temperature has been slow to reflect it, spring is here, and with spring comes new design and color trends. Here are a few of my favorites:

Beach Style
Spring Arbor and Champions’ Club’s close proximity to the Delaware beaches provide residents loads of inspiration for the ‘beach house’ feeling – casual and simple, with pastel patterns and stripes in soft shades of aqua, cream, peach and khaki are perfect for a bathroom or comfortable bedroom retreat. Add seashells or a small piece of driftwood for the perfect finishing touch!

Paint Color
Every season, Sherwin Williams releases several color palettes based on fashion trends. The palette called ‘No Place Like Home’ showcases classic, elegant colors inspired by a desire to balance the old and new. The colors focus on wonderful neutrals, such as Evening Shadow and Fleur De Sel, and earthier colors, such as Bateau Brown and Classic Sand.

Black and White
There is nothing that I love more than the combination of black and white – traditional silhouettes or black and white photographs matted in white and framed in black, or even white kitchen cabinetry and black granite countertops. I think the combination acts as the perfect backdrop for another color, and can be changed from season to season with little effort. My dining room is black and white, with different accent colors for each season – daffodil yellow and spring green for the spring and summer, pumpkin orange and cranberry red for the fall and winter.

Eco-Friendly Style
Bamboo rugs and pillows are more popular than ever with the green design movement. Consumers are trying to use natural colors, textures and materials in their homes. My favorite way of doing this is incorporating bamboo sticks or branches from the yard in floral arrangements.

On a personal note, something that I love to see is the mixing of old and new. I love to see traditional 18th century bedroom furniture with contemporary glass lamps, or a home with a flat-panel television on one wall, with an heirloom quilt on another wall. For some people, the thought of moving their current furnishings into a new state-of-the-art home is overwhelming. It can absolutely be done, and can be stunning!

Happy Spring!