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Danley Portfolio - Summer 2015

ber is well over half according to Sutton. “Everything is trending with a very contemporary flavor,” he says, even traditional themes such as French Country. But don’t expect to see the stark interiors typically associ-ated with modernism. Instead, today’s contemporary is warmer, softer and more transitional, a bridge between traditional and modern. It’s an on-going change that in recent years has tipped even more toward contemporary. Finishes, from trim to materials, are more detailed, of a higher quality and give each space a distinct persona and feeling. They are, Meek says, becoming “more like a jewel box.” In fact today, beyond a certain price point it’s rare to see a ceiling without some type of a unique treatment. NEUTRALS RULE, ALMOST Grey and putty dominate color overall, and expectations for 2016 are that lighter, softer hues will continue to be important. These preferences, according to Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing at Sherwin Williams, reflect a desire to “disconnect from the chaos of life.” But jewel box tones are also part of the 2016 palette. So look for deeper colors in plums, blues, pinks, all sorts of greys and hints of metallic. Colors are saturated but not bright. Even the most intense hues appear subdued. Open concept spaces continue to be central but today’s design story is also about how these public areas intersect and connect. “What’s next to the space is super impor-tant,” says Meek. For example, what matters for kitchens is how they connect to general entertaining spaces and also to those outside. “Kitchens literally are the heart of the home” where almost everything occurs from the business of manag-ing the home to dining to entertaining, says Peterson. And, yes, cooking goes on there too. Most upscale homes include something behind the scenes, such as a tricked out pantry or small second area for caterers, to facilitate entertaining. Two islands are almost standard. This year, transitional outpaced traditional as the preferred design style among kitchen designers. Looking ahead, expect to see a mix of finishes and even some color. Today’s focus on kitchens also goes back to all the quali-ties of hearth and home that pull on our heartstrings, and that’s one aspect of homes that seems impervious to change.


Danley Portfolio - Summer 2015
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