Design trends for the new year

This time of year many design blogs and magazines present trend forecasts for the coming year.  They are interesting to read, but one has to recognize they are best guesses based on the knowledge and intuition  of the individual writer or design group.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtgGh3GXXPFptZ4Z3zLHh7ujV2JEZZL6sMPyW_jP7QPS3Dj-ppkXaosBRSmiZGT8C-0jZz8Hqh41L83AsNJwFFSZ_qLtgOLV2-w232qrfmglfh93RDwvCjwTRIpBcisIMwefxnDO0IQ53/s1600/images+HH+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTtgGh3GXXPFptZ4Z3zLHh7ujV2JEZZL6sMPyW_jP7QPS3Dj-ppkXaosBRSmiZGT8C-0jZz8Hqh41L83AsNJwFFSZ_qLtgOLV2-w232qrfmglfh93RDwvCjwTRIpBcisIMwefxnDO0IQ53/s1600/images+HH+.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfMEY8oWN6LTXF1hi7apfj6rVpVSnWoB2SKhKrS-ocWpclvV6w2uvru5JPewxj3NFXkW0TTJloles4O3RQWZNcXynzVXIgW2TBu1CBGZLFtrRAPz9iEt5Q_afbFyzI6fk9nlHTAL4MiZi/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfMEY8oWN6LTXF1hi7apfj6rVpVSnWoB2SKhKrS-ocWpclvV6w2uvru5JPewxj3NFXkW0TTJloles4O3RQWZNcXynzVXIgW2TBu1CBGZLFtrRAPz9iEt5Q_afbFyzI6fk9nlHTAL4MiZi/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div><br />On every newstand this month you'll see design magazines with design trends a prominent feature on their front covers. On closer inspection you may find there isn't a great deal of overlap from article to article and you have to work to piece together exactly what the trends are.  Exploration online offers almost too much information on the subject and the sheer quantity boggles your mind, but I keep reading.   Over the next several posts I'll  explore the  trends that appeal to my design aesthetic.  <br /><br /><b>Re-purposing </b><br /><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">This is a continuing trend from 2010 and I predict with the focus on everything green it will continue well into the future.  Finding creative ways to use what you have or to recycle furniture and objects from other sources  provides satisfaction on many levels. Re-purposing will be combined with buying new to develop a more unique, individual look that has a history. </span></b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKjTfocxMbtXB8dStuVTkNhcOXgJanJ452ZSKUKuN6QfG0yMbTsfOlLUIfrGnXhzyyuxUf8nyOCHUs6Ro6Jt9N2hyphenhyphenJQUPaD-vtNnYIq4f1tMyr9WkdwdzFC1TEC7eNrhAMu8EScyHjUwj/s1600/kitchen+chair.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKjTfocxMbtXB8dStuVTkNhcOXgJanJ452ZSKUKuN6QfG0yMbTsfOlLUIfrGnXhzyyuxUf8nyOCHUs6Ro6Jt9N2hyphenhyphenJQUPaD-vtNnYIq4f1tMyr9WkdwdzFC1TEC7eNrhAMu8EScyHjUwj/s640/kitchen+chair.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b></b><b> </b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">photo: Margaret Ryall</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> artwork:  <a href="http://www.williamgill.ca/painting.html">Will Gill  </a></span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">This wicker chair acquired from a second hand store is one of my favourite pieces of furniture. I was attracted to it because of its unusual shape and I could see  beyond the horrible orange wicker and brown seat pad.  After four cans of spray paint it took on a new life.</span></b><br /><br /><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I like a comfortable, more casual feel in my home,  therefore re-purposing has always been part of my design approach. I'm on the look out for a new chest of drawers to replace my sad little wicker set which is lost next to the chair. Then a  long overdue reorganization of this  space will be necessary.  The hunt is part of the fun.Yes, decorators have design problems like their clients and solutions need patience. </span></b><br /><br /><br /><b>Sculptural White Objects: </b><br />The simplicity of grouped white pottery and sculpture has always appealed to me and I've used this interest in different ways over the years.  Finally it's a trend according to Canadian House and Home!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJhsUT6uByddSgN20xv0-J1WRbn1rglneZQE4RC1KtjGqTcl16GEToPOMLbJ8QJudSucjBeUc1QTe-V09kKLEJZGbLH3Pt_zQwCGwO0dZsUzclvMi-RAuVZOBrFkcSSzt3Gxc3lFMOlMC/s1600/DSCN552966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJhsUT6uByddSgN20xv0-J1WRbn1rglneZQE4RC1KtjGqTcl16GEToPOMLbJ8QJudSucjBeUc1QTe-V09kKLEJZGbLH3Pt_zQwCGwO0dZsUzclvMi-RAuVZOBrFkcSSzt3Gxc3lFMOlMC/s400/DSCN552966.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRi4n90UNeUdDUm5kymYCT8LrWP5TcZh2HVNQL9J3MkYuZaPH9jPm2QdIvHnDhV5DMzVVjq3AcQplNkxqntxKDHiGyKwfrJ2aU9H7NLD0q2nDwwdoxo3xftNE1FdP94OOsSHM3FYSm-AQy/s1600/end+table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRi4n90UNeUdDUm5kymYCT8LrWP5TcZh2HVNQL9J3MkYuZaPH9jPm2QdIvHnDhV5DMzVVjq3AcQplNkxqntxKDHiGyKwfrJ2aU9H7NLD0q2nDwwdoxo3xftNE1FdP94OOsSHM3FYSm-AQy/s640/end+table.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYwc6VTid1dT2EZedZFVfT9sS6lgf8gUBWZpeggzRIFTClZvrYnONxQUI3i2jkxlCOcuyR3zg0w4zIL_lwV6xSGAqEpjKoQ4sWkFzFTdYYeOZXZq-GX3GoWrNwMbdaGkNXkWC6cUQbaAB/s1600/DSCN55276666.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYwc6VTid1dT2EZedZFVfT9sS6lgf8gUBWZpeggzRIFTClZvrYnONxQUI3i2jkxlCOcuyR3zg0w4zIL_lwV6xSGAqEpjKoQ4sWkFzFTdYYeOZXZq-GX3GoWrNwMbdaGkNXkWC6cUQbaAB/s400/DSCN55276666.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">photos: Margaret Ryall</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>White vases to covet.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxoQqU-X9w5Vbelp4iiwCvCXOUlvKNPqbN6x0Zsyb1vddhZzKlLNT1lv_0k95vlYkecn8_de0kBL0GMCwjiF9NoggW3QzqjV2yLUDi-D00ePlLAsvmiwdpQ4aSaYrJ2Ks8SXYVrqGSYpg/s1600/Green-Thousand-Petal-Vase-by_075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYxoQqU-X9w5Vbelp4iiwCvCXOUlvKNPqbN6x0Zsyb1vddhZzKlLNT1lv_0k95vlYkecn8_de0kBL0GMCwjiF9NoggW3QzqjV2yLUDi-D00ePlLAsvmiwdpQ4aSaYrJ2Ks8SXYVrqGSYpg/s320/Green-Thousand-Petal-Vase-by_075B6404.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/3954E0F3/6EAB6248/Green-Thousand-Petal-Vase-by">source </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcBEl5eOqvhGgJ-LwHx-6vGOxw0yxDHzoIYqxJKjXr_8BJ-PTno3t2nsxsuIOpP5WQzxpZ1zXpyyl91JQqy2DdUbkZLXSLQ2M5vieob3diSejV8GBPl-7I-L3CZ2OHKzSR9opY9DpWFeA/s1600/White-Amoeba-Vase_6E36A2D3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcBEl5eOqvhGgJ-LwHx-6vGOxw0yxDHzoIYqxJKjXr_8BJ-PTno3t2nsxsuIOpP5WQzxpZ1zXpyyl91JQqy2DdUbkZLXSLQ2M5vieob3diSejV8GBPl-7I-L3CZ2OHKzSR9opY9DpWFeA/s320/White-Amoeba-Vase_6E36A2D3.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/42138810/6563DA42/White-Amoeba-Vase">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PCSh8oPKneHLx1Lxr9jFp9ew-fB2DIH7LlxOOy6SVJg65GJXCDi7F3HPbTfHM3Ty6OjK6Uzui6J1COCv_ctWknUzsu0VoYvMfeDTG9K81zIz4g4Mc16Owi8Gb_Fxj_sP8NN0ENhSbeMK/s1600/large-white-ceramic-vases_FF87DED5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0PCSh8oPKneHLx1Lxr9jFp9ew-fB2DIH7LlxOOy6SVJg65GJXCDi7F3HPbTfHM3Ty6OjK6Uzui6J1COCv_ctWknUzsu0VoYvMfeDTG9K81zIz4g4Mc16Owi8Gb_Fxj_sP8NN0ENhSbeMK/s320/large-white-ceramic-vases_FF87DED5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/2DBC48C0/5FAEBF2D/large-white-ceramic-vases">source</a></span></div><a href="http://www.thisnext.com/item/2DBC48C0/5FAEBF2D/large-white-ceramic-vases"><br /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JF7tQ610Vt8dFiS8qd-izR1Eq7xZhsrpz65nt-g_G6O7EnjDmDfwcBEL492jA8a0LFLlDzZhZGNyZcuB9n4CQTsQJ_W5wCFLQPKADb2pcfPxiVjCe9wQQ7-ll9yOW-agsfFD56KT4B5s/s1600/White-Coral-Metal-Vases_12281AFE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JF7tQ610Vt8dFiS8qd-izR1Eq7xZhsrpz65nt-g_G6O7EnjDmDfwcBEL492jA8a0LFLlDzZhZGNyZcuB9n4CQTsQJ_W5wCFLQPKADb2pcfPxiVjCe9wQQ7-ll9yOW-agsfFD56KT4B5s/s320/White-Coral-Metal-Vases_12281AFE.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">source</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1RUoRj9cH8ZiufmXcRqn2VGFtFDUz-LBldrOBIEmDGBFAp02TngUd1sLmYkJgKLhcwUcPI62wv6K_XKppe1-f4L7Yd0nntYt4Q6MipQOHBDz_xfFO_gCVdZ-tUg6oVEPaEefzlgqnH90/s1600/ceramic-tapered-vase_050508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1RUoRj9cH8ZiufmXcRqn2VGFtFDUz-LBldrOBIEmDGBFAp02TngUd1sLmYkJgKLhcwUcPI62wv6K_XKppe1-f4L7Yd0nntYt4Q6MipQOHBDz_xfFO_gCVdZ-tUg6oVEPaEefzlgqnH90/s320/ceramic-tapered-vase_050508.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">source </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Check out the attic and the back cupboard, talk to your family and friends. Perhaps you can re-purpose white objects into a beautiful grouping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OXmsv_hkN9bf3ABtL3L5wxg25YbWF7XV1OT4BAPSH_CMOieQmqEVjfjJTseBrRe2kzjMcIZfA2m6UUDxbxJT05MjuZE3jkqGgrUybGD9TU7d-YFMcqzUJiW_FJeBQeOC4Uq752AmLnu5/s1600/075B6404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div>

Design trends for the new year

This time of year many design blogs and magazines present trend forecasts for the coming year.  They are interesting to read, but one has to...

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