A Look Ahead

To find out, we asked a trio of top Jacksonville interior designers: Larry R. Wilson of Rink Design Partners, Lin Rainey of Lin Rainey Interiors and Ann Wingate of Ann I. Wingate & Associates.

All are members of the Florida North chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and all have clients both in Jacksonville and in other markets, giving them a non-provincial perspective.

But most important, Wilson, Rainey and Wingate are trendsetters in their own right, and fully versed in what's new and what's hot. Here's what they had to say:

What are some of the general interior design trends you see upcoming in the new year?

Wilson: We're moving away from the retro trend that's been popular for the past few years. I'm glad to see that softening. Design is becoming more forward-thinking.

Furniture is cleaner and softer, with a strong movement toward modern classic design. People are learning that contemporary doesn't mean hard edges, chrome and glass. This year's furnishings have cleaner, softer lines instead of the heavy, overstated pieces of the past.

Designs seem to have more integrity now; we're not trying to re-create a previous era. Modern classic design works for many lifestyles, and we're adapting design to how we really live.

And here's an interesting trend: with the recent downturn in the real estate market, more people are staying put and remodeling or adding onto their existing homes. Removing the emphasis on resale enables them to make these spaces more personal, reflecting what's really important to the owner.

Rainey: I'm also seeing a lot of clean lines, mixed together with unexpected elements like paisley or large-scale prints like those from the '60s or '70s, but done in black and white instead of colors.

For the past year or two, I've seen a trend toward more subtle colors, reflecting a more serene mood. Perhaps this is our way of dealing with today's hectic times. This was evident again at the fall furniture market at High Point. Major companies are offering so many new paint techniques to reflect a hands-on approach, or to emulate the feeling of age.

I've always enjoyed mixing the old with the new, the funky with the classic. Antiques add a lot of charm, with the patina of use and appreciation. And shells were in every showroom at High Point in some form. While they're very familiar to Floridians, their beauty always amazes me.

Wingate: There's still a very strong move toward renovating kitchens, updating the appliances and the look to make them more into true living spaces instead of just utilitarian places to prepare food.

Wood floors are huge; everybody wants them. Although there's some interest in the vinyl and laminate versions, most everybody wants real wood.

Today's wood floors have been engineered for our climate. I'm not seeing as much oak or maple as in the past, but more interest in the exotic woods, such as teak and cherry. And wider boards are popular. Instead of two-and-a-half inches wide they're now three-and-a-half inches wide-and sometimes even five or six inches. Also, people are asking for medium finishes, not too dark or too light.

Naturally, with wood floors people will be using a lot of area rugs. Nobody wants just plain, bare floors. The rugs are patterned, but not like your grandmother's were. Although similar to traditional designs, they may be overscaled or exotic in some other way, like use of non-traditional colors.

Contemporary design is very popular, with its clean lines and more timeless styles, rather than the hard edges of the past. But, surprisingly, there's still a lot of interest in French country design. That's a more comfortable, relaxed look than formal French furnishings. The wood tones are warmer and richer, which suits today's casual lifestyles.

What are some specific trends that are emerging for 2007? For example, is green [environmentally friendly] design finally catching on in Jacksonville?

Rainey: I feel we're all more cognizant of the environment. I've been using bamboo flooring for a number of years, and just love the fact that it's so easily grown and harvested. It can be done vertically, in long pieces, or in smaller pieces, and it comes pre-finished, which is nice.

I also love to use cork flooring. When I go in to redo some of these older Ortega homes, the original flooring is cork, and it's just beautiful. Cork is hard to seal yourself, but you can get it pre-finished; the durability is wonderful and it provides a little cushion. It's also very competitive, price-wise.

This trend toward green design is really a natural for this area. Jacksonville has so much local beauty in the river and our natural surroundings; how could we not consider their well-being?

Wilson: I'm also seeing green design catching on. Designers tend to embrace a trend once clients start asking for it. We saw this first in commercial design, but now homeowners are also paying attention.

Younger families are more aware of the effect various chemicals found in some home products can have on their children, and manufacturers are starting to respond to this demand.

Wingate: Oddly, none of my clients have requested green design. I do offer it, and they're accepting it, but not initiating it. When I explain the concept to them, they're interested in the production aspects of green design, and that the materials are manufactured with environmentally friendly standards. They've read about things like emissions of volatile organic compounds, and want to keep their families safe.

What will the hot colors be this year?

Wingate: I'm still seeing a lot of the soft greens and blues, the spa-type colors. Those will be enduring in this area because of our close relationship with nature and the water. This year, there's more of a move to the greens rather than the blues.

There are also more coral-hued shades, everything from a pale, almost peachy color to warm reds. And if you don't say "orange," people like that color, too.

Wilson: The neutrals of the past few years are still strong, but have become more saturated and intense. There's more of a richness there. Even the pale, soft colors are now more intense. Brown has been paired with blue, but is now also being teamed with oranges and other warm tones. And I'm seeing a counter movement toward strong, bright, rich, tropical colors such as hot hibiscus, tangerine, burnt banana and sunset red.

The latest wood tones in furniture include a natural walnut that hadn't been seen much since being overdone in the '60s. Now it's returning, but it's updated.

Also becoming more popular is limed white oak in soft white, black or other colors. The liming process puts pigment right into the grain of the wood, giving it more depth.

Toned maple and poplar are also hot, with light color washes on the wood, such as amber and green, or espresso and ebony finishes. Exotic woods like zebra wood and macassar are also being seen.

Rainey: Orange and pink are being used in every imaginable way. They were all over the fall market. You'd see both colors of pillows against black and white pieces. If those colors are too strong, you can always throw in a neutral pillow or two to soften the look.

There's also a new lamp line from Waterford that's contemporary, but almost looks retro. They're using beautiful colors in those; I bought a tapered one that had blue, green and clear glass in it. You'd never know it was Waterford.

At High Point, brown and blue were less evident, but still being used. They were found in more subtle colorings, such as pale aqua with beige.

Neutrals were everywhere, with lots of texture. I love working with neutrals in natural fibers. They're more comfortable, and just have a better appearance than synthetics. And if I'm doing a neutral room, I love to use color on the floor.

How about some of the hot accessories?

Wilson: Anything ethnic, such as tribal artifacts and everyday objects that are used in other cultures. These are better if they show wear. The hand-hewn, worn look brings depth and warmth. Framed fabrics and textiles and architectural fragments used as art objects are also big.

Items that show the hand of man are popular now-original 3-D art like pottery and small sculpture, but with less emphasis on so-called decorative objects. The pieces being used today have relevance to the owners, such as pieces from their travels or pieces that reflect their interests. There's much more depth to accessorizing.

Wingate: There's a huge interest in hand-wrought pieces. The materials vary; they could be wood, pottery, glass or metal. But people like the bold styles of hand-hewn pieces. They're also utilitarian. There's concern for the earth and recycling, and we're seeing many more items made from recycled materials.

I'm also still loving crystal lamps with silver metals. Although I've been reading that gold is coming back, I like the charm of the silver.

Rainey: Shells are being used everywhere, in every size and shape. Hand-crafted items are also big. With today's world marketplace, folk art is more available. Some of these pieces are so lovingly done that they almost have a childlike innocence about them. They're the kinds of things you'll find in local fairs when you're traveling.

There's also less clutter. For example, identically sized modern pictures of single leaves grouped over sofas. I'm seeing a lot of artwork leaned against walls on mantels rather than hung on walls.

Do you have a favorite accessory?

Rainey: My favorite is something unexpected, like small-scale chairs, chests and so forth juxtaposed with full-size pieces. Frequently a piece of folk art, old or new. Anything that will make you smile.

I like to use my clients' collections to their advantage, even if it's a group of family pictures.

Wingate: Big bowls and pots. I use them everywhere, from shiny metal to rough pottery, and they're not all just for decoration. I actually use some of them.

Also, interesting little tables in clever designs. They may be painted or made of ceramics, metals or woods. The main thing is that they're novelties, conversation pieces. They're just a delightful accessory that's also functional.

Wilson: Well, our house is filled with American crafts and artwork collected over the years. I have a fondness for antique fabric remnants, many from places like Indonesia, Bali, Burma or Panama. They're like little jewels. You put them in frames, and they become art. I also have a fetish for small chairs and stools, but that's another story entirely.