Who doesn’t get excited for the New Year?

New possibilities, new mindsets, new goals and achievements to look forward to.

And new ideas, materials, color schemes, and gadgets for our homes!

How many design trends do you see in our blog cover photo? The spa-style bath with calming neutral colors, accent walls, large format tiles, picture windows that integrate the interior and exterior, mixed materials with warm woods, tile, glass and metals. Keeping things light, bright, and natural. All of which we see continuing in 2023 and beyond.

What do we expect for 2023? 

Two-tone kitchens that combine the timeless popularity of the white kitchen mixed with other tones for a more modern and personal touch continue to be a favorite; the kitchen island as breakfast table, homework space, and entertaining area; large spa-style master baths; the necessity of the home office/study space; fireplace makeovers; and accent walls with wood, wallpaper, and tiles for unique and interesting use of color and pattern. Neutral wall colors continue to be favorites. See Sherwin Williams Top 50 Colors here, loaded with whites, grays, beiges and greiges, and a few leading to black which can be great for accent walls and paneling. In the coming year we also expect to see major home renovations and additions that create highly functional mudroom and laundry room facilities and leverage outdoor spaces as an expansion of the home.

Two-Tone Kitchen

A frequent question we receive from clients - is the two-tone kitchen a dying (or dead) trend? Absolutely not. In line with today’s love for eclecticism, the two-tone kitchen is a great way to combine a classic white kitchen with a pop of color or subtle gray that creates visual interest. Black hardware, gold hardware, and mixing finishes are all still trending as well.

Spa Bath

For years homeowners have been forgoing the master bath for upgrades in other areas of the home. Not anymore! We are seeing more and more clients treating themselves to the relaxing spa-style master bathroom they deserve.  Large walk-in showers with beautiful tilework, double shower heads or rain showers combined with traditional shower heads, large format floor tiles. Wet rooms that house the shower space along with a soaking tub are a great option for couples and families with kids (see our earlier Blog "Should we do a wet room?") Common features in these baths include clean neutral colors, windows that bring in light, and using cabinetry, shelving, or benches to mix in wood tones with that bring a natural warmth and beauty to the space.

Fireplace Facelift

What to do with that old fireplace? One change we have seen in the last few years, since Snowpocalypse of 2021, more homeowners are deciding to keep their natural or gas fireplace for the heat it can provide when the lights are out. That said, many homeowners are still deciding to get rid of natural or gas fireplaces for a cleaner looking electric fireplaces that provide more aesthetic than heat and come in a variety of options from a natural look to options with fun colors that change with the click of a remote. 

And as for the surround - everything from simple sleek modern tile work, to TV mounts, wood mantles, and even bookshelves! So many options make the fireplace a more versatile space than ever, from a cozy reading area to a dramatic centerpiece of the home. Stone, ledger, and brickwork remain beautiful natural options for fireplace areas, while tiles are becoming more and more popular for a smoother finish, lighter and less bulky look. Large format tiles are great for fireplaces as well as accent walls, especially when going ceiling height.

Accent Walls

The popularity of the accent wall continues, from wallpaper in the powder room, to full tiled walls in kitchens and bathrooms, to beautiful wood accent walls.

Geometric patterns still trending, but really anything goes in terms of color and pattern for these displays of a homeowner’s unique tastes.

Adding Functionality with Laundry Rooms, Mud Rooms and Islands 

Laundry rooms and mudrooms are no longer the hidden corners of the home, these rooms are taking on a beauty of their own with custom shelving and cubbies, tiles unique to just these rooms (we love the weathered bohemian floor tile our Austin client chose for their custom designed mudroom/laundry room, and the blue/gray penny wall tile for this Georgetown family). These highly customized and functional spaces are a great place to add special family-friendly features like dog baths, and custom cubbies for kids gear and Amazon packages. 

Another winner for functionality - the breakfast table island. Replacing a traditional breakfast area, these islands provide under cabinet storage for homework materials, computers and home workspace items, and items for entertaining. More families are leaning away from traditional breakfast and dining areas, and to more functional multipurpose workspaces and gathering spots for sharing a meal … or a cocktail!

Home Additions Taking Advantage of Outdoor Space

We have many clients adding outdoor spaces and converting existing patios into indoor space, both with the goal of making the existing home and property more functional. Likewise in 2023 we expect to see many homeowners decide to invest in their current home as opposed to buying and relocating their families to get the features they want or need.

The use of large windows and sliding doors to connect the indoors with the outdoors is a trend we expect to see continue for years to come. The use of natural warm wood combined with white/black/charcoal for both indoor and outdoor areas is another beautiful design trend we expect to see continue.

Home Office 

See our November 2022 Blog on Home Office Design for photos and ideas for designing the home office!

What we love most about today’s world of home design - almost everything is “in.” From eclecticism with its varied combinations of color, style and pattern, to sleek cool modern finishes, and ever popular deco combinations of white, black, and wood tones. Every day we get to work with clients' individual tastes and needs and create something truly unique and fully functional for their family. 

Check out our Services pages and  Instagram for more photos from recent projects, and Contact us to see how we can work with you to create the beauty and functionality you seek for your home!