Top Trends Coming Your Way In 2020 and Beyond...
Trends are such an emotive topic aren't they? They really annoy some people, including me. But I don't get annoyed because I don't like the concept of them, I get annoyed because the ones that reach mega status (like er, dark grey and tropical prints) stick around for SO long, get done to death, and I get sick of the sight of them, and well, really rather irritated. Irrationally irritated. This is a personality flaw that I probably should address one day. Maybe.
The Manzoni
ANYWAY, while some trends drive me irrationally insane, there are others that are still on the up that I can't wait to see more of. Then there are some that never seem to take off as much as I'd like them to, which also annoys me. But it's probably just as well because if they got too big, I wouldn't like them anymore anyway. Ha! Difficult? Moi?
So here are my top trend predictions for the coming year (or so, because although some hang around for a ridiculously long time, boy can they take a long time to filter through!), based not just on my week in Milan for Design Week but what I've noticed popping up here and there elsewhere, repeatedly, over the last six months or more...
Muted (Dirty) Mint
Pinks and nudes were still in fine form in Milan this year, but they're pretty much neutrals now and not at all unexpected. We've seen deep dark greens around for a while, but dirty muted mints (and powder blues) are about to have a moment. And I'm not mad.
Lensvelt
I spotted mint at Lensvelt (above) on their New Chesterfield chair, the walls of the brilliant Wallpaper Handmade Exhibition, in carpet form at the über cool Besana apartment and mint tiles in Tom Dixon's Manzoni restaurant all in Milan. Whilst I keep seeing 'Neo Mint' being referred to, I say dirty it up a bit with a touch of grey to make it more liveable and you're onto a winner.
The Manzoni
Besana
Wallpaper Handmade
Textured Walls
Moooi
Textured walls were everywhere, from Moooi to Nalesso with textured wallpapers, textured stone cladding at Salvatori, and sublime leather wall tiles at Studioart. Micro-cement graced the walls of Tom Dixon's Manzoni restaurant, adding movement and depth, completely negating the need for art. It's almost as if a plain smooth painted wall will be be frowned upon soon. Uh-oh...
The Manzoni
Moooi
Moooi
Nalesso
Nalesso
Studioart
Anthuriums
Hem
The sculptural beauty of Anthuriums have been on my radar for a long while and have appeared on the Instagram feed of artist and photographer Maisie Cousins since 2016 on more than one occasion, and they have just kept on popping up ever since. Still tricky to find, but starting to appear in florists near me which I'm pretty damn pleased about - you only need a single stem or three and they will last for weeks if you change the water and add flower food regularly. The coolest blooms on the block and they last
way
longer than blousy peonies, though I have to say they'd also look fab together. Spotted at Gucci and Hem in Milan.
Hem
Gucci
Gucci
Neon Sunset
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton and Versace were both championing the Miami ombre neon look or as I like to call it Neon Sunset. It was also featured at the Time Printing installation by At Ma, then I spotted it on the cover of the Italian Elle Decor Salone edition at the airport on the way home, so that has sealed it really, so like it or loathe it, you can expect to see it more and more over the coming year.
Versace
At Ma
Elle Decor Italy
Ivory Upholstery
Lara Bohnic
This one has been coming for a while, and oh how I wish I could justify an ivory sofa! Alas, with two children and a cat it's not on the cards for me any time soon (although perhaps I could issue a flat 100% ban from the room? Too harsh?), so I'll just have to drool over beautiful images of them instead. Spotted at Lara Bohnic's Planetaria exhibition at Wallpaper Handmade and Louis Vuitton in Milan, but they've been popping up in the magazines for months. Join in if you dare. And make it bouclé for extra trend points.
Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton
Lara Bohnic
Incense
L'Objet
I know this is a bit of a random one, but it's coming. My mother always burned incense as I was growing up and I have to admit, I hated it as a kid, and have kind of held a grudge ever since. But over the last year I've spotted it in the odd design shop and my stance has softened. A cheaper habit to feed than scented candles (well, potentially!), and I'm ready to dip my toes back in. I've already earmarked a burner or five, so testing will begin imminently. Spotted in all the cool design shops, Gucci and Fornasetti and L'Objet in Milan. You can run, but you can't hide.
Gucci
The Trio of Keepers
Pink as previously mentioned isn't going anywhere any time soon, nor brass or marble. There was SO much of all three of these around in Milan that I'm pretty sure they no longer sit in the trends realm, but have now earned themselves a spot in the classics category.