INTERIORS

Either way, interior designers play a crucial role. So, what’s hot and what’s not? Orlando Homebuyer asked some of the region’s most accomplished interior designers to share their insights.

We found that eco-friendly materials are much in demand—no surprise considering the rapid surge of the green building movement—and that homeowners are more comfortable with modern approaches as long as they’re tempered by traditional touches.

"Designers also transition through time, and as we get older, we tend not to want to leave everything behind," says Troy Beasley of Beasley and Henley Interior Design in Winter Park. "So we’re mixing the traditional with modern influences."

Beasley says that Lucite furniture is making a comeback while glass and porcelain lamps are being incorporated into more designs. "They’re doing fabulous things with glass," he notes.

Speaking of lighting, Kim Deddens of Brown and Deddens Interiors in Winter Park has been using new lighting concepts to accent rooms, including huge six-foot drum lights and LEDs that change colors.

Deddens adds that color is also a huge factor in creating a unique design. "I like to use spots of intense color surrounded by whites and creams," she says. "Go for bold, not primary colors."

This year, Blue Iris is likely to be at or near the top of most designers’ color lists. Pantone, an international provider of color standards for the design industry, has selected this beautifully balanced blue-purple hue as its Color of the Year.

"Combining the stable and calming aspects of blue with the mystical and spiritual qualities of purple, Blue Iris satisfies the need for reassurance in a complex world, while adding a hint of mystery and excitement," notes the company in announcing its selection.

Putting existing square footage to better use is also a top priority for designers and their clients, according to Christy Scanlon of Masterpiece Interiors. "People are definitely looking for out-of-the-box designs for using wasted space," she says. "We’re even turning formal living rooms into playrooms."

Although Scanlon is also noticing a resurgence of ultra-modern elements such as Lucite furniture, she has her doubts. "It’s one of those trends that won’t stick around," she says. "It’s not practical; besides, it’s not very comfortable."

Of course, trends are just trends. They can be followed or they can be ignored, depending upon the designer and the customer.

In fact Deddens says her company isn’t market driven at all. Instead, she creates looks based solely upon her customers’ lifestyles, tastes and desires.

And in the end, isn’t that all that really matters?