This article originally appeared in the December 2013 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.The homeowners of a once pedestrian, now chic yet understated house in Aspen are unconditional fans of Paris-based decorator Caroline Sarkozy. We love everything about her style, the wife raves. Its classic but modern, comfortable, and warm without being fussy. And we like that our house doesnt feel like a clinic. Were not keen on everything being bare and spare. Sarkozy herself attributes her eclectic aesthetic to her nomadic childhood. Although she was born in Paris and is half sister to the former French president, her upbringing took a global route when her mother, Christine de Ganay, married American diplomat Frank G. Wisner, who has served as the U.S. ambassador to Zambia, Egypt, the Philippines, and India.Eric PiaseckiA Harvey Probber table and 1950s Wegner chairs in the kitchen.The clients have a similarly international profile. The husband was born in Iran and raised in England; his wife is Swedish. They were drawn to Aspen not simply by the allure of winter sports but for the sunny, culturally rich summer months, a highlight of which is the season-long Aspen Music Festival. Ive never been to a place that offers so many things, she says. Theres music every day, everywhere. Theres hiking, fishing, and biking. Plus, if you want Prada and Gucci and Nobu, you have that too.Eric PiaseckiIn the entry, an 1880 Belgian table, a 1940s Kaare Klint sofa, and a 1937 Josef Frank cabinet found at Christies; the staircase is made of antique oak, and the floor is paved with Belgian bluestone.The couple have a decade-long relationship with Sarkozy, who initially revamped several rooms in the husbands London apartment and decorated a home for his mother. For the Aspen project, Sarkozy collaborated with French architect Laurent Bourgois, who oversaw the renovation of the structure while Sarkozy handled the furnishings and finishes.Eric PiaseckiThe kitchen features Belgian bluestone counters, custom-made painted-pine cabinetry, and a pendant fixture by LB Studio. The stove is by Viking, the ovens are by Miele, and the sink fittings are by Blanco.Built in the 1980s, the house itself was no architectural gem. It was run-of-the-mill, Sarkozy explains. It lacked charm and personality. The walls were covered in stucco and painted bright yellow. There were lots of cheap-looking terra-cotta tiles, a circular staircase with a wrought-iron banister, and arches everywhere. It was like a bad interpretation of a Spanish hacienda, says the wife.Eric PiaseckiHans Wegner chairs from the 1950s in the dining room; the table base and chandelier are by Christian Astuguevieille, the walls are lined in a grid of birch veneer framed with split branches, and the rug is by FJ Hakimian.The location, however, was breathtaking. The eight-acre property is situated in the foothills of the Rockies, near the Snowmass ski resort, with views of the sweeping plain. The landscape is so vast, its astonishing, Bourgois says. The view is like something out of a Western film. The house is surrounded by nature yet just a 15-minute drive to the bustling town. It feels so remote because you cant see other houses, adds Sarkozy. Its more like a ranch.The view is like something out of a Western film.Only minor changes were made to the exteriorBourgois simply tweaked the facade by moving some windows and repositioning chimneys. He did, however, extend one side of the house to create a spacious new kitchen and expand the master suite above it. The terrace off that suite is where the wife spends her early mornings in the warmer months. I like to have my cappuccino up there and watch the world wake up, she says.Eric PiaseckiIn the primary bedroom, the linens are by Linge au Coeur, the wicker chair is by Ron Arad, and the artwork is by Robert Longo. The curtains are of Rogers & Goffigon linen, and the carpet is by Godfrey Hirst.The interior, on the other hand, was completely gutted. The proportions of the rooms were off-kilter, Sarkozy explains. They were not very big, but had cathedral-like ceilings. In their place, lower, but larger, spaces were created. The sloping ceilings on the second floor, for instance, are six feet beneath the actual roofline.Style-wise, the owners initially wanted interiors that had the feel of a log cabinbut thats not what we inherited, says Sarkozy. That would have been at odds with the exterior. Instead, she and Bourgois sought to conjure the look of a European chaletless hokey, more luxe. They imported wood from Canada for the door and window frames, wall paneling, bookshelves, ceilings, and beams. They also installed a stone fireplace in the library. The most rustic-chic touch is the wall treatment in the dining room, which consists of a geometric pattern created with birch marquetry. Its a material that has a life and peels, Sarkozy says. To avoid disintegration, she applied a layer of varnish.Eric PiaseckiThe guest rooms walls are sheathed in a de Le Cuona linen, the artworks to the left are by Cordy Ryman, and the bench is palm wood.In contrast, the furnishings steer clear of mountain clichs. In deference to the origin of the lady of the house, there are smatterings of Scandinavian design. One of the first items found for the home was a Josef Frank floral-print cabinet. It reminds me of my childhood in Sweden, the wife says.The use of muted reds, greens, and blues was inspired by old American barns It was one of those iconic pieces of furniture when I was growing up. Others have a more local provenance. The use of muted reds, greens, and blues was inspired by old American barns, and the artworks include a Clifford Ross photograph of nearby Mount Sopris.The chandelier in the entry hall, meanwhile, is one of the rare exceptions to the antilog-cabin rule. Its made of deer antlersas classically Western as it gets. Bourgois says, There had to be at least one thingan homage to the spectacular surroundings.Tour this Fresh and Fabulous Aspen HouseThis story originally appeared in the December 2013 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.These days it takes a lot more than a simple CB2 haul to impress a guest. For your apartment to be dialed in by contemporary standards you need a mix of thingsmaterials, colors, scales, and most definitely, periods. But how to go about collecting antiques if you are new to the field, or new to design as a whole? Here at ELLE DECOR weve been obsessed with all things beautiful, antiques included, for eons, profiling up-and-coming antique dealers, and always highlighting how designers of today infuse their clients homes with personality via a clever dose of vintage. But just because something is old (take your grandmothers glass vase), doesnt mean its special. And just because its finely made, doesnt mean its of the moment. Paradoxically perhaps, antiques have their peaks and their troughs like any other fluctuation in the world of interior design. Below, weve gathered the top antique and vintage trends that will pick up speed in 2025, according to dealers and experts. 19th-Century American Quilts Courtesy of Ry Fillman and Marin KirkseyAmish Diamond-in-the-Square quilt, mid-20th century. During the social upheaval of 2020 all many antiques insiders were hearing about were Gees Bend quiltsthe narrative patchworks made by a society of Black women in Gees Bend, Alabama. Gees Bend quilts are very collectiblecolorful, bold, and graphic textiles made by African American women in Gees Bend, Alabama, says Marin Kirksey, one-half of the popular Instagram @catsonquilt. Like many movements, this rich and expressive body of work was flattened and funneled into a bid for diversity in the design world. But the beauty of the material is unarguable, and the popularity of these quilts has spawned a reinvestigation of American quilts from the early 1800s to the early 1900sand that trend shows no signs of slowing down in 2025.David MitchellAntique quilts used in a Nina Farmer project.While quilts are designed to serve a straightforward function, a good antique quilt can serve as unexpected abstract art. (Antique dealer Paula Rubenstein tells us she hangs her quilts backwardfavoring the interesting details that reflect how quilters worked.) Whats more, theyre a unique slice of American craft: Quilts are a strong part of American textile history throughout the 19th century with a renaissance in the 1930s as a result of post depression thriftiness, says Kirksey, adding that quilting is also a huge part of womens work and women's history. While authentic Gees Bend works will set you back well over several thousand dollars, there are also more affordablebut no less beautiful or historicalternatives. The geometric patterns seen on Amish and Mennonite quilts from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana are increasingly sought after, according to Kirksey, likely for their quality but also for their ability to blend in with more contemporary surroundings. Early 19th-century American quilts using chintz imported from England are also a consistent favorite among collectors, as well as Hawaiian quilts with their detailed appliqud surfaces. Amish quilts were much more expensive 20 to 30 years ago then they are now, though they have retained their popularity, according to Rubenstein. (For further reading, we recommend this Stella Rubin book for beginner quilt collectors.)Victorian Wicker Courtesy of Charlap Hyman and Herrero.Victorian wicker in Adam Charlap Hymans former apartment.Another word we never thought we would hear again is wickerspecifically the Victorian wicker chairs and tables exploding with curlicues and decorative elements that weve started to see spotted through our favorite interiors.ELLE DECOR A-List interior designer Adam Charlap Hyman, of the ELLE DECOR A-List firm Charlap Hyman Herrero, works wicker in wherever he can. Two brands in particular have a hold on Charlap Hyman: the American brand Heywood Wakefield and the French brand Perret and Vibert. For furniture that is over 100 years old, the wicker pieces by these brands look like something out of the future. What draws me to Heywood Wakefield is that the forms are very abstract and kind of odd, says Charlap Hyman. They almost connote sea creatures or aliens. Sometimes you see them in these 1920s and 1930s houses alongside surrealist art.Maura McEvoyA vintage Wakefield Brothers wicker chair in a Maine vacation home designed by Angie Hranowsky. The Victorians, in particular, stretched the material to its limits, bending wicker into rocking chairs, side chairs, chaises, tables, and lamps. There are varying levels of quality available, like any other antique, with prices ranging from the low hundreds to high thousands. 1stDibs is always well stocked with great examples, but many designers, including Charlap Hyman, have found their favorites at Paris flea markets. When you find the Victorian wicker thats right for you, remember context: There is something refreshing about having something made out of a grass in your New York City living room, says Charlap Hyman. The coolest thing is when it doesnt belong.Surrealist Paintings Frank FrancesAn Earl Swanigan painting in Sheila Bridgess Hudson Valley home.Weve already told you about the jolie laide, or pretty ugly, trend thats swept our social feeds in which designers are embracing objects and accessories that surprise or disgust. Fortunately, the antique world is way ahead of the curve here, with bizarre surrealist and nave artworks poised to pop up everywhere in the year ahead. And while most of us cant afford a Leonora Carrington, Max Ernst, or Salvador Dal painting, no one can deny the impact of a dreamscape in a home that is decidedly rooted in real life. For those of us with midmarket budgets, an entre into the dreamworld can come via a few lesser-known artists. Less expensive than the leaders of surrealism but still a reach for most are the works of Gertrude Abercrombie. The bohemian artist was an engaged member of Chicagos music scene in the 1920s but fell into obscurity during the middle of the 20th century. Her psychologically tense yet playful landscapes and interiors started selling like hotcakes after a wildly successful solo show at Karma Gallery in New York City in 2018. Her work is still available through the gallery and at auction, with newly available paintings listed frequently on Artsy, generally upward of $10,000. More recent, and more humbly priced, are the paintings of Earl Swanigana self-taught artist working in Hudson, New York, until 2019. His portraits embody the at once disturbing and playful energy of early 20th-century surrealists, usually picturing famous historical figures as cats, dogs, or birds. Before his death he became a favorite among Black contemporary artists and designers on the East Coast. ELLE DECOR A-List Titan Sheila Bridges often uses Swanigans paintings in projects and owns several, which she hung in her Hudson Valley home. Swanigan has been something of a secret, so getting your hands on a painting can take a little while. If you are lucky enough to visit downtown Hudson on a weekend, try White Whale Limited. If you arent a local, set up alerts for online auctions. The plus side to his relative obscurity is that his prices are still extremely accessible, with paintings almost always going for under $1,000.Winsdor Chairs Courtesy of Olde Hope Antiques.An 18th-century Windsor chair.In a Netflix era when seating is designed mostly for watching TV or working at your laptop, it follows that weve grown used to the upholstered, cushioned, and swiveling. But for those who like to look at their chairs as much as sit in them, the classic 18th-century Windsor chair holds as much interest as it did when it became a staple in American Colonial homes. To the contemporary eye the form of these chairs is graphic and simplea wooden seat carved out of one piece of hardwood, with spindles threaded into the seats back, held together by a softly rounded piece of wood at the top, and balanced on four simple feet, sometimes with a stretcher connecting them. These chairs can range vastly in price, depending on age, condition, maker, material, whether they are painted or not, and who might have owned them. The least expensive, still functional examples can be had for as little as a few hundred dollarsusually lucky finds at a coastal antique dealers shop. The best examples range from the low to very high thousands. Battle Brown in Hudson always has a few on offer, generally from the 18th or 19th century. Olde Hope Antiques always has several in stock, of the highest quality, usually in the mid-thousands. 1stDibs has a wide range of styles and sometimes even matching pairs (which generally hold their value more than single chairs). Courtesy of Historic New EnglandHenry Davis Sleepers seaside dining room at the Beauport-Sleeper McCann House with mismatched Windsor chairs. For decorators and collectors these chairs are a clean, simple way to communicate a sense of place and time. They are one of the purest 18th-century furniture forms that are still useful (and reproduced) today. Their simplicity can also lend themselves well to more eclectic interiors. We have all been sort of drawn to these kinds of pure and puritanical furniture forms lately, says Charlap Hyman. But my personal favorite example of these are the mismatched sets of Windsor chairs in Beauports dining room that are all painted uniformly in teal. Knole SofasCourtesy of Klismos GalleryWilliam IV Knole sofa, open.No one is unfamiliar with the fold-out couchthat scourge of 1990s hospitality. Few know of the earlier and altogether more stylish predecessorthe Knole sette (no, not that Knoll!), which functioned as the sleeper sofa of yesteryear. They originated in Kent, England, in the 1600s for monarchs to receive guests (sessions that could last for hours and hours) and are typified by a straight, long back, seating for at least two, and foldable arms that can be positioned to create something closer to a chaise longue. In a contemporary context, they are the perfect sofa for an overnight guest. Finding period or stylistically appropriate upholstered sofas is challenging. And finding ones that you can comfortably sink into for a long conversation or a drink or two is extremely rare, says antiques dealer Collier Calandruccio of Klismos Gallery. Knole sofas, at least by the 19th century, had achieved that level of comfort. They roamed scores of drawing rooms in historicist mansions of the Gilded Age and their simple geometry and versatility make them an easy fit for modern life. I see a clear through-line from Knole to the long sofas of Le Corbusier.Early examples are extremely hard to find, with many designers opting for reproductions over the real thing. On the accessible end of the price bucket are Victorian and Edwardian versions, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 usually. Knole sofas can range from several thousand dollars to tens of thousands. Really good examples, and pairs particularly, are scarce, but well worth the search and investment, says Calandruccio. The fun thing about this type of antique is that old and valuable though it may be, you still have a degree of control about how it looksreupholstery is a perfectly acceptable way to keep the old form fresh. And like everything weve listed above, these sofas offer a direct link to the past while remaining functional for contemporary life, a feature thatif handled wellcan launch you into a stylish future.

Theres nothing quite like the magic of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree to capture the holiday spirit. Its radiant glow can turn even the darkest winter night into a warm, festive haven while also serving as a beacon for Santas arrival. But a trees greatest asset is its endless decorative possibilities, whether you choose a real one or an artificial option, go for a classic style, or embrace a bold, maximalist theme. And if youre feeling extra festive, follow the lead of the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, and place a tree in every room!However you choose to spruce your spruce, virtually anything goes. But even still, there are a few tips and tricks to making your Tannenbaum showstopping this year. Twin Citiesbased designer Bria Hammel, for instance, recommends between 15 and 20 ornaments per foot of tree to achieve a balanced look. She advises piling on additional garlands and baubles if youre going with a lighter color palette. More is better, or else it will look too spotty, she adds.If youre decorating as a first-timer this year or are merely one to switch things up, fortunately youll find ideas aplenty out there to help you achieve your dream living room scheme. You could take a page out of ELLE DECOR A-List designer Darryl Carters book and festoon your tree in citrus-colored ribbon. If its fantasy you seek, cover your Tannenbaum in whimsical animals or, in the case of party planner Bronson van Wyck, swans! Below, weve selected 82 awe-inducing Christmas tree ideas to keep your home merry and bright all season long. 1Lunar Christmas TreeHenry BourneIf you peer closely at this tannenbaumcourtesy our favorite gothy-c00l design studio, House of Hackneyyou'll see ornaments with various sized moons on thema fitting theme for a bedroom tree. We're also loving the whole green monochromatic moment that's happening. 2Ribbon-Happy Christmas TreeCourtesy Birch LaneWe're loving the elongated ribbons that nearly drench this tree. A three-color theme (red, yellow, and green) on this Birch Lane Christmas tree brings a festive and vibrant touch to the holiday season. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Maximalist Christmas TreeCourtesy House of HackneyNobody does maximalist Christmas quite like House of Hackneyand this Christmas tree, a smattering of effortlessly-tied ribbons and character figurine ornaments, is proof. If your wallpaper isn't the statement piece of the room, your wrapping paper could stand to be more pattern-happy to compensate.4Less is More Christmas TreeCourtesy ArhuasGrandeur doesn't always require excessiveness, as Arhaus's artificial Christmas tree proves. This 90-inch tree features faux branches, gold ornaments, and copious lights for a look that is as simple as it is jaw-dropping. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Christmas Village TreeShaun SullivanEvery now and again, we like to turn standard Christmas decor practices on their head. This charming faux tree, Pottery Barn's pre-lit, flocked Vermont tree, looks fabulous with Christmas village houses interspersed between its branches. Because putting them on the mantel is so last year. 6Big-Bowed Christmas TreeCourtesy AnthropologieFeeling coquettish? You're not alone. Bows are having a moment, trending on TikTok and rippling across the fashion and design world. So, of course, we are putting them on our Christmas trees. This year's Anthropologie house revealed a festive display of Christmas trees with larger-than-life bow toppers that had us rethinking our traditional star adornments. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Tall and Skinny Christmas TreeCourtesy AnthropologieWhoever said a tree needed to take over 10 square feet at the base? For urban dwellers, two tall and skinny trees can offer just as much personalitywithout overtaking basic seating options. 8Glowing Glass Christmas Tree Courtesy Soho HomeThis towering parlor room, decorated with furnishings and fixtures from Soho Home, is the epitome of Art Deco elegance, with its Venetian glimmering chandelier, velvet seating, and deep tones. Needless to say, it doesnt need much to get us into the holiday spirit. The tree, therefore, was kept relatively simple, with a string of twinkling lights and jewel-toned glass baubles, which nod to the delicacy of the glass fixtures and the hues of the surrounding room. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Lush Greenhouse Tree Lacey SombarIts no secret that we love a green room. Clearly, interior designer Bradley Odom does too. In this light-filled apartment, he took evergreen to the next level with coordinating fabrics and lots (and lots) of plants. The Christmas tree was hung with similarly natural items, like dried orange slices, faux mushrooms, and simple wood garlands. But its the cheeky details in the rest of the room that heighten the fantasy: Look closely and youll even spy mini mushrooms in the planter on the cocktail table!10Pretty-in-Pink Christmas Tree Katie Nixon PhotographyCaitlin Wilson literally wrote the book on pretty, so its no surprise that her Christmas decor would be like a sugar plum dream. Here, she decked out everythingfrom presents to boughs to treein pastel ribbons. The tree, meanwhile, with its frosted branches, feathery birds, and poodle ornaments, looks straight out of a confectioners window. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Winter Whites Christmas Tree Courtesy The Enchanted HomeAre you dreaming of a white Christmas? So is Enchanted Home founder Tina Yaraghi. She opted to deck out her tree entirely in delft-inspired blue-and-white baubles, with a few cutesy dog ornaments thrown in for good measure. With its matching rug and a mantel resplendent with pine cones and paper whites, this look is keeping us staunchly indoors. 12Celestial StunnerCourtesy AnthropologieICYMI, a Christmas tree in the bedroom is a total thing, and we cant get enough of boudoir beauty from Anthropologies holiday house. For some night-before-Christmas magic, its style experts hung this conifer with star garlands, moon-shaped ornaments, and wintry birds and pine cones. A sprinkling of flocked snow makes this look the stuff of midwinter dreams. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Full Glam Christmas Tree Balsam HillIt doesnt get more luxurious than New Yorks Plaza Hotel. Which is why the experts at Balsam Hill decorated one of its suites with dazzling holiday decor. The show-stopping tree features a combination of gold, silver, and white ornaments and is artfully draped with glittering crystal garlands. Feathers, lights, and a wide gold ribbon add extra twinkle to this uptown tree. Bonus: For a starlit backdrop, drape the wall behind your tree with cascading lights! 14Decor of YoreLucy CallNostalgia and the holidays go hand in hand, so why not bring a little old-world magic to your tree this year? Shea McGee of Studio McGee festooned her tree with handmade ornaments (we love the dehydrated orange slices), bead garlands, wicker bells, and whimsical ribbons. Relaxed ribbons tied or draped onto the trees branches add a softness to the overall look, she tells ELLE DECOR. Loose, flowing textiles like velvet or silk feel fanciful and romanticlet them hang long or used oversize ribbon for an extra dose of drama.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Silver, Gold, Something New, Something OldJulie SoeferLooking to bridge old and new? We love how Houston interior designer Chandos Dodson Epley decked out her tree with a mix of vintage and contemporary baubles. Our trees color scheme blends with our living rooms interior, filled to the brim with neutral metallics that glimmer and festive baubles in antique glass, she says. I wanted it to be festive while still being classic. I prefer lights that have a warm glow, and I draped beads to give it a more collected and unique aesthetic."16Woodland WonderSpacecrating PhotographyWhimsical, woodsy touchesthink forest creatures, mushrooms, and other adorable plucked-from-nature elementsare trending in a big way for Christmas this year, and interior designer Bria Hammel nailed the look in this festive forest tree. Here, birds perch on branches chock-full of acorns, pine cones, and berriesjust how Mother Nature would want it. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Regal Roost Christmas TreeSpacecrating PhotographyFor a more sophisticated variation on the nature theme, Hammel layered neutral-colored elements, like the white bells, light brown pine cones, and cream-colored birds. We love to either wrap real (or faux!) garland around the tree or pop stems and branches into our trees for added fullness, she tells us. Its incredible how much more lifelike your tree will feel.18Velvet GoldmineMichael SinclairLeave it to the Gothy-cool design duo behind House of Hackney, Frieda Gormley and Javvy M Royle, to create a tree look straight out of a Victorian tableau. Here in their London home, the pair decorated their Christmas tree with tiger-emblazoned ornamentsa reference to House of Hackneys signature velvet pillows. And (our favorite part) they piled complementary cushions high beneath the tree in place of a traditional skirt. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Whimsical WonderlandCourtesy Houses & PartiesRebecca Gardner, the tastemaker behind Houses & Parties, always has a few fanciful decor tricks up her sleeve. In the case of her Christmas tree, that means going all out with old-timey ornaments collected over the years. I love to hang the ornaments and unwrap each with the excitement of seeing an old friend, she tells us. One of my favorites is a giant blown-glass moon. Hes magic. Follow suit by sourcing whimsical vintage ornaments and festooning your tree with tinsel and strands of beads. 20Chic Charlie BrownJohn DerianLike our favorite Peanuts character, John Derian knows that a little love (and a chic design sensibility, of course!) can transform even the scrawniest of trees into something special. Here, the decoupage artist set a charming mini tree into an antique urn and packed it with tinsel and metallic vintage ornaments. Other treasures, like the shell, print, and sculpture, give the mantel tableau a cabinet of curiosities vibe. Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ElleDecor.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the worlds most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, shes spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.

When designers Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch describe the light fixtures theyve created since starting their firm Roman and Williams 22 years ago, they speak of them endearingly, as if they were zany aunts, uncles, and cousins. Woodruma wood lamp with a slotted shadeis heavy and grumpy, per Alesch, while Oscara pendant with a gleaming, disclike brass shade is friendly, chubby, and gregarious. Felixa more angular variationis a little edgier.Its a family tree, Standefer says.Robert WrightBeginning this week in New York, Standefer and Alesch are staging a family reunion of sorts through a poetic new installation installed in a stately Queen Annestyle warehouse. The exhibition, titled A Certain Slant of Light, showcases 100 lights that the ELLE DECOR A-List Titans have designed for Roman and Williams Guild (their studios product arm) by suspending themconstellation-likefrom the ceiling of a towering, triple-height room.Lighting has been a category that really captivates us, Standefer explains. It just has a combination of art and science that Steven and I love. After more than two decades designing, experimenting, and obsessing over lights, the pair thought, This is career spanning, and it's time.Lighting has been a category that really captivates us.Not only is A Certain Slant of Light a celebration of Roman and Williamss achievements in lighting design, but its also an homage to the changing of the seasons. The name of the exhibition, in fact, is derived from an Emily Dickinson poem. Standefer remembers the poem from her days at Smith College, where she studied art. I remember not only this poem, but also several poems about light, the mood of the season, and about the life and death of plants, she says.The perfect antidote to winters gloom? A room illuminated by the warm glow of dozens of fixtures. There's something uplifting and strong about having all these lights together, like a night sky in one place, she adds.Robert WrightStarting Tuesday, A Certain Slant of Light will be free and open to the public to experience. As soon as they step into the soaring space at 6 Harrison Street, visitors are welcome to sprawl on Roman and Williams chairs to gaze upward at the various glimmering discs and orbs, or sit quietly and contemplate the fading autumn rays stream through the arched Romanesque windows.The installation includes a dozen newcomers to the Roman and Williams clan. Theres the Axil pendant (a cousin of Oscar) with concentric glass diffusers and a polished brass shade made in a 150-year-old French workshop; the delicate Seed, with its aubergine glass shade and cast-bronze chain; and the hand-carved alabaster Petra pendant. Then theres the prim-and-proper Dahlia table lamp, with a demure alabaster shade that Emily Dickinson herself would have definitely approved of.Everybody, says Standefer, is here.Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ElleDecor.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the worlds most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, shes spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.

ELLE DECOR A-List designer Elizabeth Graziolo, of Yellow House Architects, was in a downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, hotel when she had an epiphany. Wow, its starting to feel like a lot of the same thing, she recalls thinking as she took in the spaces white oak furniture, brass finishes, and warm tones.Graziolo conceded that she and her team too were guilty of these choices in some of their projects, but that it was fine time for a literal palette cleanser. I was sitting in that lounge, waiting for my room, and thinking that I need to talk to my team. We have to be ahead of the curve and figure out like what else is coming out. What else do we want to be?Trends, as it happens, can be a designers worst nightmare, manifesting in downtown hotels, yes, but also in scarily same-same Instagram feeds. It seems that most industry professionals are skeptical of fleeting fascinations because theyre just thatfleeting. In that spirit, weve tapped interiors experts, A-List designers, and trend forecasters to predict what home decor trends, precisely, will be out in 2025. We promisethis will spare you from making design decisions that will go out of style faster than you can say white boucl armchair.Skip SectionJump toMindless MaximalismFernando Bengoechea//Getty ImagesPattern on pattern for days? Its time to ease up a bit.Were all about playful experimentation, which includes soaking spaces in color (something many of our A-Listers, like Uchronias Julien Seban and Martyn Lawrence Bullard, are known and celebrated for), but next year will be the year of cutting back on maximalism, mindfully. Per ELLE DECOR A-List designer Jessica Davis: [Clients are] tiring of granny chicpattern on pattern on pattern. I think pattern play and even Memphis modern items were a reaction to everything being neutral and greige, but now people are pulling back on that a bit.With color-happy decor, it's all too easy to go overboard. Striking a Goldilocks balance lies in making selections that are a result of your own tastes and desires, not those of your TikTok FYPs latest players. While [maximalism] might be in decline when addressed from a flamboyant, over-the-top, and more-is-more point of view...a more curated take to maximalism will remain relevant in 2025, says Gemma Riberti, head of interiors at WGSN, one of the worlds top trend forecasting agencies. This means focusing on the narrative, with a craft-driven and resourceful mix-and-match approach to pattern, material, and styling.In other words, maximalism itself wont face a total downfallrather, maximalism sans curation has no chance. Anthony Barzilay Freund, editorial director at e-commerce powerhouse 1stDibs, echoes that sentiment: We continue to be drawn to spaces that envelop us in rich narratives achieved through the artful curation of unique pieces. Emphasis on artful.Vanilla Girl Boucl Aesthetic FollowTheFlow//Getty ImagesThis just in: 2025s design ethos is going to shun the vanilla girl aesthetic in favor of color and authentic curation.The end of greige interiors or a kind of white-box-gallery vibe has been years in the making, but 2025 is when a particular subset of this stylethat of the hot-on-TikTok vanilla girl, who loves creamy neutrals, owns a boucl accent chair, and always seems to have a luxury candle litis finally getting killed off. Designers everywhere, including Seban, are sighing in relief.Im so tired of the white boucl! he tells ELLE DECOR. Clients are [also] increasingly tired of generic, cookie-cutter designeverything looking the same, especially in Instagrammable interiors. They want spaces that feel unique and authentic. They want more color in their life.While boucl as a material might have staying power, it will appear in a different, bolder form than what youre used tosomething the ELLE DECOR team spotted at this years Milan Design Week. Boucl is here to stay, though were seeing new versions of it with thicker pile and in different colorsthe skimpy cream and off-white boucls feel down-market, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Oliver Furth told us earlier, and we couldnt agree more. Home OfficesMorsa Images//Getty ImagesOne day, well all forget that nailing down the perfect Zoom background was even a thing. The year 2025 will mark five whole years since Covid usurped our normal ways of being, and people are all too eager to part with its relics. Companies everywhere are rolling back lenient WFH schedules and demanding in-person presence, so the era of home offices, it seems, is over. 1stDibss report highlights the following: Only 13 percent of designers expect that home office renovations will be their most requested projects in 2025, down from 32 percent for 2023.Real estate giant Zillow predicts the same. According to Zillows home trends expert Amanda Pendleton, Zoom rooms are falling out of favor with home buyersbased on data pulled from millions of listings on the site. As more workers return to their offices, the Zoom room is now appearing in 34 percent fewer Zillow listings, Pendleton shares. Thats not to say specialty rooms are disappearing for good. In fact, British designer Nicola Harding has direct proof of the contrary. Im seeing more craft spaces where people really feel like they can exercise their creativity, like an art studio in a house. Also music rooms...where they can listen to interesting music, she says. I think people want these different moments in their house: things that create experiences.Cottagecore Kitchens Andreas von Einsiedel//Getty ImagesRustic, cottagecore kitchens are getting a reality check come 2025.Kitchens are rooms that receive as much foot traffic as they do unsolicited opinions about how any given one must and throw it If youre like us, your immediate associations with this aesthetic feature one (or all) of the following ingredients: a spacious farmhouse sink, brass hardware, a sprinkling of wood elements, and a collection of exposed pots and pans. All this, as it turns out, is old news. In her work, Davis is witnessing the decline of brushed gold faucets, knobs, and the like. Zillows data expands this beyond just gold: The share of listings mentioning chrome and satin nickel is down 13 percent and 12 percent, respectively, shares Pendleton. And what of cabinetryone of the most essential make-or-break aspects of a culinary space? It looks like shabby chicadjacent curtain fronts or fabric skirts that sub in for cabinet doors will not be starring in the next season of your kitchen's show, particularly if they boast a scalloped edge. This kind of curtain thing has been doing the rounds and is certainly a useful solution in places where you want to hide things, Harding says. But you need to think about the practical aspect of it getting caught on doors or getting dirty or someone using it as a tea towel.As for the frilly edges, Davis puts it best: Im tired of scallops! They had their day.70s Color PalettesH. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock//Getty ImagesThis vignette looks straight out of Halstons house, and while we saw the appeal this year, retro interiors will favor Y2K. We wont judge those that are wearing 70s-inspired bell bottoms and corduroy jackets, but as far as home decor is concerned, were moving on from the #70s hashtag on TikTok and into the future. Retro will favor a mixing and matching of epochslooking at 1990s and early Y2K aesthetics, WGSNs Riberti tells ELLE DECOR, adding that a similar shift can be witnessed in todays fashion sensibilities.This will be particularly palpable in the color department. Rich, dark colors are supplanting the relaxed 1970s paletteof rust, mustard, and olivethat recently dominated, Barzilay Freund insists. Does this mean bright tones should be on your 2025 radar? Time will tell, but Davis thinks it just might be the factory reset, so to say, that youre looking for: Instead of a ton of pattern, people are really diving into rich colors with jewel undertones.If youre running to repaint your walls after this intel, though, you might not want to go with green (sorry, Charli). After several years of various shades of green topping the [1stDibs] survey, greens appeal is not evergreenthis year it was supplanted by chocolate brown as the top color choice of surveyed designers," says Barzilay Freund.If there are any parting words we want to leave you with in terms of how to tap into timelessness when creating a home for yourself, its these wise ones told to us by Julien Saban: Focus on creating spaces that reflect personal history, local craftsmanship, and lasting quality. Use fewer but better materials, and choose design pieces with enduring character, not just whats popular right now. Timeless style grows out of authenticity and restraint.New Years resolutions? Made.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.You dont need a therapist, they said, you need a newly painted kitchen. And you, in your post-pandemic flight of fancy, hopped on that trend bandwagon with hasty zest, giving your kitchen a Barbie pink-on-pink-on-pink color wash that would make Greta Gerwig proud. But now, a year in, youve had to live in this pink hellscape and youre slowly descending into madness. Thats why designers in 2025 are rethinking kitchens with longevity (and sanity) in mind.Its less about bold, attention-grabbing shades and more about crafting an ambience that feels calming and timeless, says ELLE DECOR A-List architect Hannes Peer, who was recently inspired by a Mark Rothko exhibition in Paris, where he saw powerful color combinations that, as he put it, felt almost eternal. The colors that feel most relevant have a sense of ease and adaptability.How does that translate to kitchens? Were seeing a more comforting but nuanced take on color, says Hannah Yeo, Benjamin Moores color marketing guru. There is still a strong interest in embracing color, but the colors that feel most relevant have a sense of ease and adaptability. Yeo calls out the brands color of the year, Cinnamon Slate, a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown that is tonally ambiguous. U.K.-based designer Nicola Harding says shes seeing what she calls in-between colors everywhere across the pondand shes here for it. Is it pink or is it brown? Is it cream or is it yellow? Its not purple, its not mustard, she observes. These colors, in particular, prick my interest. They are less obviousand they drive a sense of curiosity. While muted tones and rich hues are cropping up across the design universe with impressive staying power, we arent fully ready to walk away from our love of all things retro, it seems. The interior design world has been drunk on disco fever for the past year, with the hashtag #discodecor amassing 38 million views on TikTok since fall 2024, paving the way for what Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson is calling a Chrome-mas. What does this have to do with kitchens? Pinterest mood boards are rife with kitchens doused in colors that complement this cool metallic. Shoppers are going nuts over warm neutrals like taupe, as well as rich earth tones like rust and deep olive, Isom Johnson explains. These combinations merge warmth and sophistication with a modern edge.In the same vein as the unexpected red trend, Isom Johnson is betting that well take that ethos one step further in our cooking spaces next year. There will also be a shift toward using color on unexpected surfaces, like countertops, accent walls, and even fixtures, she explains. Smaller design elementssuch as open shelving, barstools, and even tile backsplashesoffer a great way to add pops of color.Ready to talk color shop? Below, weve tapped the crme de la crme of color forecasters and interior designers for insight into what paint colors are poised to shape modern kitchens in 2025 and far beyond, from rich reds to earthy wood tones to custard yellows. Finally, you can retire your paintbrush and meet your forever kitchen.Skip SectionJump toOxblood RedStephan JulliardThis Paris pad designed by Hugo Toro is literally gleaming with a custom shade of burnt sienna from Redfield & Dattner topped with lacquer and accented with handsome brass finishes. A red kitchen doesnt have to scream with the boldness of Paolo Castellarin and Didier Bonnins color-saturated, fire-engine red universe (though we love that they went there). Instead, a more muted, sophisticated tone can transform the space into something warm, inviting, and exude a sense of understated luxury. These deeper, subdued redslike shades of crimson, burgundy, and oxbloodare on high demand in the paint world, according to Joa Studholme, Farrow & Balls color curator. We are generally looking at earth tones in the kitchen, so clay shades or deep greens that connect us with the earth and reflect the peace and tranquility of nature while adding a flourish to our homes that has an old school feel," Studholme says. Studholme predicts that the U.K.-based paint companys deep clay tone Etruscan Red will spotlight in many a kitchen next year, which Studholme says, feels luxurious and atmospheric on a central island with warm neutral Stirabout on walls and Jitney on cabinets.Plum PurpleJoshua McHughThe kitchen in this Manhattan apartment was converted into a functional showpiece, with bold marble and cabinets lacquered in Farrow & Balls sultry Preference Red.Purple is having a moment in the design world. As this years COTY announcements trickled in, it became clear that were poised for a bona fide purple fest: with Minwaxs Violet, GLIDDEN Paint by PPGs Purple Basil, Benjamin Moores Cinnamon Slate (which is really just a muddied purple), and Behrs ruby red Rumors (infused with cant-be-missed purple undertones). Its simply a matter of time before these trending colors find their way into the kitchen decor arena. With its rich, dusky hue, a muted plum purple adds depth and warmth to the kitchen, creating a space that feels both inviting and unique. Muted plum evokes a sense of luxury without being overpowering, creating an environment thats subtly bold yet calming and adds a touch of drama without overwhelming the rooms ambience. When incorporating this hue into your home, Emily Kantz, Sherwin-Williamss color marketing manager says these muted tones lend themselves well to a color drenching opportunity. I see these deeper colors being used primarily as the cabinet color and even as the corresponding wall color to give that immersive color experience that we have seen gain popularity over the past few years in color drenching, she explains. We have also seen these deeper shades paired with wallcoverings to add in a dose of pattern and personality.Earthy TonesChris MottaliniIn the kitchen of his parents California midcentury residence, designer Garrett Hunter gave it a wash in Sherwin-Williamss Van Dyke Brown.Trends are cyclical, and deep earth tones, it seems, are continually ripe for a comebackor are they simply timeless? Weve seen natural wood cabinetry and flooring take over kitchen design this past year, and people are gravitating towards authentic wood tones that bring that innate warmth into the space especially the kitchen which is the main hub of the home, says Kantz. People are moving towards colors and materials that bring comfort and that enhance natural materials such as marble, granite, and quartzite.We practically have an amen from ELLE DECOR A-list designer Christine Gachot. Chocolate brown takes the cake, she holds, adding that earthy browns are the firms It color of the year. Call it Caramel, Cinnamon, or Camelthe warmth of a tawny brown defines our Gachot Palette DNA, bringing an earthy sophistication to any space. This deep hue is both timeless and refreshingly modern, providing a grounding presence that resonates throughout the room.An earthy wood-tone kitchen brings the outside in, blending simplicity and elegance in a way that feels modern, but with a deep-rooted connection to the natural world. When using it in the kitchen, Gachot recommends highlighting this hue with a soft blush to create a delicate balance between warmth and freshness or, for a bolder statement, pair it with deep jewel tones to enhance its luxurious quality. This shade serves as a canvas for both subtle elegance and bold statements, offering versatility that feels at once familiar and refreshingly new, she adds. Deep Olive GreenTim LenzThe very 70s avocado green kitchen had its comeback moment for one hot minuteand now we're moving on. According to Farrow & Balls Studholme, that means turning the dial way down on the color wheel, with deep greens kitchens poised to be all the rage next year. We are generally looking at earth tones in the kitchen, so deep greens that connect us with the earth and reflect the peace and tranquility of nature while adding a flourish to our homes which has an old school feel, she explains, noting that Farrow & Balls classic Studio Green is a fan favorite for cabinets as of late. It reads almost as black but with some extra subtle character, feels reassuring and sophisticated, she adds. As people seek environments that promote well-being and serenity, Yeo of Benjamin Moore says designers are increasingly drawn to this sophisticated hue. Green hues have staying power with their flexibility, appearing rich, calming or refreshing, she says. These colors beautifully highlight the millwork on cabinets and trim, and instantly create a wonderfully moody kitchen, perfect for hosting.Muted YellowBjrn WallanderGreek architect Lilia Melissa gave this kitchen a paint treatment that she likens to seaweed. In 2025, yellow is poised to be a big hit in kitchens. But it wont be the yellow you think you know. A tonally ambiguous yellow could have undertones of greens, grays, and even blues. It might appear more like chartreuse or a desaturated gold. Hardings favorite rendition of this hue is what she calls custard, a brownish yellow that she has observed appear in English gardens. Nature is so clever, she creates a palette that works with our murky British skies, the designer explains. The light we have here is subtler and more gentle than other places, so we get these softer, muted tones as a result.When incorporating this into the kitchen space, Harding likes to paint joinery in this hue for contrast. To keep that tonal approach and get away from it feeling blocky, Ill break it up with different in-between shades to create soft, subtle contrasts, she explains. Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

Forget the occasional spa outingtheres no better way to treat yourself than by giving your far-more-frequented home bathroom a bona fide face-lift. Sure, a backsplash is fun. And of course, a few trendy touches or a luxurious tub can take your space to the next level. But the true showstopper of any well-designed bathroom is a bold and brilliant paint shade. A heavy-toned teal sets the stage for a moody space, as designer Pierre Gonalons boldly brandished in this eclectic Paris apartment. A preppy pop of high-gloss aubergine acts as an ideal backdrop for ELLE DECOR A-List designer Katie Ridders clients black-and-white photography collection in this color-drenched Manhattan remodel. Even the right neutralsee Marc Valeanus layered bathroom, awash in Farrow & Balls lilac-undertoned Dove Talecan sometimes be the furthest cry from the default flat white paint job in most bathrooms. The object of any bathroom is to feel nurtured and pampered, says designer Sara Bengur whose redo of Michael C. Halls New York City digs is the stuff of any design enthusiasts wildest color dreams. This can mean different colors for different people. Bengur says some of her clients like the idea of their primary bathroom feeling like a roomwith a rug, ottoman, decorative cabinets and antique lightingwhile others prefer a neutral-toned spa look. Before youre confronted with the full spectrum at your local paint store, its worth considering a few key factors. North-facing rooms tend to get softer, warmer light, while southern exposure brings in brighter, cooler tones. Paint finishes also affect how a color reads in a space: glossy finishes tend to deepen colors by reflecting and absorbing light, whereas eggshell or matte finishes generally keep the color true to the swatch. Bengur has just one word of warning: steer clear of the color yellow and green with a lot of yellow. "These colors are not ideal for making us look our best and brightest when looking in the mirror," she says.Are you feeling paralyzed by choice? Below, weve culled 30 0f our favorite colorful bathrooms from the ELLE DECOR archives for inspiration. Read on for bathroom paint ideas to spur on your next renovationits sure to be dripping in style.1Lulworth Blue by Farrow & BallYves DriegheBelgian designers do it their own way. If Jean-Philippe Demeyer wants a bathroom in his East Flanders manor to have a custom tub painted a shade of blue that clashes ever so slightly with the Lulworth Blue painted over the brick wall beside it, then that is whats going to happen.Buy Now2Razzle Dazzle by Benjamin MooreKirk Davis SwinehartDont adjust the brightness on your computer. Just let your eyes adjust naturally to the loudness of this wall. William Cullum paid homage to Elsa Schiaparellis trademark Shocking Pink in his Greenwich Village studio bathroom. Buy NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below3Angels Landing by Portola PaintsTrevor TondroSophia Bush is a huge fan of terracotta. So much so that the One Tree Hill star had decorator Jake Arnold paint the walls of multiple spaces of her midcentury modern home Hollywood Hillsnot just the bathroom.Buy Now4Setting Plaster by Farrow & BallPatrick BillerNude is a fitting hue for a bathroom. In the primary bathroom of an 1880s Victorian row house in Toronto, decorator Tommy Smythe opted for dusty pink to cover the walls above the Acritec soaking tub. Long live the new flesh (tone)!Buy NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below5Oriental Blue by Asian PaintsFabien CharuauBelieve it or not, this is one of the more subdued color schemes in the Mumbai apartment of Srila Chatterjee and Mahesh Mathai. This regal shade of blue contrasts perfectly with Indian brass wok and custom wall tiles are from Jaipur.Buy Now6Tea by Benjamin MooreEric PetschekHaven't you heard? Rich browns and reds are having a major moment. A warm terra-cotta hue, though, melds the best of both worlds. For this Manhattan home, designer Bachman Clem used the water closet as an opportunity to break out of the shell so painted the walls and ceiling in this sultry brick red. Buy NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below7Calamine by Farrow & Ball Richard PowersNeed a pink-me-up? If youd like to live la vie en rose on the daily, consider this flattering hue, which adds whimsy and softness to Michael C. Halls New York City apartment. A pale pink wall paint timelessly goes beyond the bold bubblegum pink that emerged from the Barbiecore craze (and, lets be honest, well before that). This particular blushing hue pairs perfectly with dark-toned accessories like an assortment of John Derian decoupage plates and trays.Shop Now8Hague Blue by Farrow & BallWilliam Waldron For a subtle take on a classic color, opt for Farrow & Balls Hague Blue, which is featured in the powder room of this homespun, old-world Lake Tahoe Retreat. In this jewel box of a space, designer Palmer Weiss says she took the governor off the design engine and let it rip. That entailed pairing the trimmed walls with poppy wallcovering (a reproduction of a 19th-century C.F.A. Voysey Arts and Crafts design by Trustworth Studios) for contrast. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below9Chantilly Lace by Benjamin MooreTREVOR TONDRO PHOTOGRAPHYThis soft hue is just as elegant as its name suggests. Described by Benjamin Moore as a classic go-to white that elicits images of fresh cotton and pure silk, this lovely hue is a graceful complement to a white-on-white scheme or, as in this rustic bathroom, a fitting counterpoint to anchoring Moroccan tiles. Shop Now10Pelt by Farrow & BallEric PiaseckiIf youre hesitant to take the color plunge, a diminutive powder room is the ideal place to experiment with bold colorand for an extra dose of glam energy, give your bathroom a high-gloss finish. In this luxe retreat, designer Katie Ridder began considering the wall art first. Our client wanted to start a collection of black-and-white photography here, she tells ELLE DECOR. So we painted the walls high-gloss deep aubergine as a backdrop for the artwork. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below11Chappell Green by Farrow & BallDouglas FriedmanGreenin all of its variationshas taken over virtually every room in the house, especially kitchens. Were equally obsessed with it in a bathroom. Here, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ken Fulk coated the walls in his Cape Cod cottage with Farrow & Balls Chappell Green, a versatile sage tint that, per the paint company, reads blue when contrasted with warmer tones and green when paired with cooler shades.Shop Now12Skylight by Farrow & BallDaniel SchferHomeowners will obviously gravitate toward blue in bathroomswater, water, everywhere!but this hue from Farrow & Ball gives you a little bit of gray, too. The company notes that the color reads as pale blue in small spaces, while larger rooms bring out its cooler undertones. For an example, see Elad Yifrachs home in Portugal, where he used the shade in this airy primary bath. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below13Orange Coloured White by Farrow & BallWilliam Jess LairdThis tint by Farrow & Ball is precisely what it says it is: white with a dash of orange. Together, the colors make for a creamy neutral (not dissimilar to Pantones 2024 Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz) that creates an exceedingly flattering cast when youre gussying up, regardless of the hour. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Michelle R. Smith shows us how its done in her elegant New Orleans bathroom. Shop Now14Blue Gray by Farrow & BallLaure JolietWant your next bathroom makeover to give you some serious serenity? Try Farrow & Balls Blue Gray, a hue made from a little bit of black, a dollop of blue, and a dose of green. These ingredients make it an especially versatile shade, allowing it to read as a soft sage or even a duck egg, depending on the light. In the context of a soothing primary bathroom by ELLE DECOR A-List designer Frances Merrill of Reath Design, it feels like a hue plucked straight from nature. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below15Newburg Green by Benjamin Moore Haris KenjarSmall spaces such as powder rooms offer opportunities for bold design choices. Designer Anne McDonald, in this charming Minnesota lake house, painted the half bath in Benjamin Moores Newburg Green, a smoky teal shade. Depending on the light and the time of day, it can read as a deep blue or a dusty green. Shop Now16Naval by Sherwin-Williamscourtesy of Nicole FranzenNaval was named as Sherwin-Williamss 2020 Color of the Year, but obviously, this sophisticated shade has staying power. In a stylish New York apartment, design firm Le Whit used this deep, deep blue to create an enveloping, sophisticated atmosphere in the primary bathrooma feeling accentuated by a painterly wallcovering and dramatic, burgundy-colored marble. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below17Dimpse by Farrow & BallStephen Kent JohnsonDont ask us to define Dimpse. One thing we do know, however, is that it makes for a great bathroom neutral. This cool gray creates a peaceful, serene atmosphere, making it a good option for virtually every sort of space. But dont take it from us: Amanda Seyfried painted the walls in her own primary bathroom in the hue. Shop Now18Setting Plaster by Farrow & BallNicole FranzenNews flash: Pink, when used correctly, can function as the chicest neutral. One designer favorite is Farrow & Balls blushing Setting Plaster, which serves as an ultra-flattering backdrop in bedrooms, dressing rooms, and bathrooms. In the same Manhattan apartment designed by Le Whit, the color skims the walls of a half bath. Add brass fixtures, a sparkling chandelier, and a bold tiled floor andvoil!its me time perfection. Shop NowAdvertisement - Continue Reading Below19Monroe Bisque by Benjamin MooreFrank FrancesThe right neutral can make even the smallest spaces feel luxurious and serene. Take, for instance, the unabashedly classical bathroom in this Federal-style farmhouse in upstate New York. Swathed in Benjamin Moores Monroe Bisquedescribed by the brand as a rich, creamy neutral with a touch of honeythe rooms historic treasures are given a museum-worthy backdrop.Shop Now20Dove Tale by Farrow & BallTrevor TondroWhoever said the loo cant be your favorite room in the house? In the bathroom of this Parisian apartment, Marc Valeanu chose to drown out the street noise just beyond with a calming toneFarrow & Balls Dove Tale. When paired with bespoke Maurizio Scianna bathroom tiles and Charvet and Prada bathrobes, we daresay hes created a bath-lovers nirvana. Shop NowCharles CurkinArticles Editor, ELLE DecorCharles Curkin is ELLE Decor's Articles Editor, covering everything related to luxury watches, design, and travel, and has previously written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Paris Review.Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

The French have gifted us many thingsChampagne, croissants, and now, a fancy word that gives us permission to embrace the wonderfully weird in our homes: Jolie laide. If you played hooky during French class, allow us to interpret. Jolie laide (pronounced zho-lee-led) literally translates to pretty-ugly, and is the latest interior design trend taking over the internet. And while ugly might be the last word we want associated with our carefully curated homes, dont let it scare you. This isnt about collecting aesthetic disastersits about curating pieces that raise a few eyebrows, spark some conversation, and reveal your true personality. Hear us out, sil vous plat.What is jolie laide?If youve ever walked into a home so perfectly styled that it feels like no one actually lives there, the jolie laide trend is the antidote. You know that bizarre brass lamp thats absolutely ridiculous but makes you smile every time you pass it in the vintage store? Or that unsettling portrait that your mother swears is disturbing but you find utterly mesmerizing? Thats joile laide territory.Garrett RowlandThe portrait of the incredulous little girl in this bedroom designed by ELLE DECOR A-Lister Ghislaine Vias proves that this is indeed your party and you will cry if you want to. (Art: Awe by Jill Greenberg)I think it might be difficult for some people to digest but that is also the beauty of it, says New York and Palm Beachbased designer David Lucido. Every home should have pieces that make people stop, think, and start a conversation. These bring energy and personality to a space.We first heard the term from author and design expert Virginia Chamlee, who explained in an Instagram reel that ugly, in this sense, is used as a term of affectiona painting that is a little jarring, a sculpture that is maybe a little gaudy, a wooden chair that, on its own, might be a little ugly.If it makes you shudder, thats a bad sign, but if it makes you go, waithuh? that might be a good one. Chamlee tells ELLE DECOR that jolie laide is fundamentally about balance: Its really all about tempering those really pretty, precious pieces with a dose of what some might call uglyor pieces that most of us think of as unconventionally beautiful, she says. When paired with pretty things, the one ugly or weird thing becomes more attractiveand it keeps everything else in the space from looking too serious.Ori HarpazIn this Los Angeles home designed by David Lucido, a toe sculpture provides a delightfully surreal moment. I really had to push for that, he told us. I dont like when projects are too seriousyou need things like this to shake it up a bit.Christie Ward, coprincipal of Ward + Gray, agrees: Something that feels a bit off or wrong is sometimes exactly what the space needs, she tells us.But how do you know when something is so wrong its right versus just plain wrong? Chamlee offers a simple litmus test: There has to be something thats drawing you to it. If it makes you shudder, thats a bad sign, but if it makes you go, waithuh? that might be a good one. She points to historical examples like Jackson Pollocks abstract art or even Crocspieces that initially faced pushback but eventually found their place in the mainstream aesthetic.OK, is this really a thing?Joyce Huston, lead interior designer at Decorilla, has taken notice of the trend: Ive really been noticing this interesting shift lately, where more and more of my clients are embracing the quirkier, more unusual elements in their homes, she tells ELLE DECOR. Its a nice counterpoint to the very curated, magazine-ready looks that were so popular for a while. I think a lot of people are craving something with a bit more personality and soul.Not only are clients craving itbut designers are too. For designers like Ward, helping clients embrace the unconventional is part of the excitement. Creating a new world is what draws us to design, Huston says. Theres usually a more right answer for a room, but it will likely be something someones seen before. Were always trying to work in a piece that is unique to both the space and the people who visit it.And shes not the only one who loves upending some rules: Breaking the mold is what good design is all about, and incorporating unusual pieces moves the needle forward, Lucido tells us. The best spaces are the ones that feel authentic and personal.In an era of algorithm-driven design, where our social media feeds are flooded with what Chamlee calls the fifty shades of greige look, jolie laide feels like a breath of fresh air. For so long, design was about symmetry and balance, she tells us, but these days, tension and juxtaposition feel so much more fresh.Yves DriegheA lime green paint job and an aristocratic pooch painting make Jean-Philippe Demeyers living room the ultimate pretty-ugly moment.Interior designer Darlene Moinar agrees, noting that algorithmic design has made it increasingly difficult to challenge conventional choices. I think we get inundated with algorithms that push a specific, popular look, she says. That makes it difficult to challenge design choices or go outside the norm.The trend can manifest in various ways, whether its a taxidermied fish or a bold pattern combination that conventional wisdom would advise against. These are the pieces that make a space truly distinctive, even ifor perhaps becausethey challenge traditional design sensibilities. I think some of the most successful designs are ones that not everyone likes, Moinar tells us. If youre appealing to everyone, youre doing something wrong.The beauty of jolie laide lies in its deeply personal nature. Unlike the cookie-cutter aesthetics that have dominated in the past, this approach encourages genuine self-expression. Shannon Askinasi, lead interior designer at Ash & Pine Interiors, has seen this philosophy bubble up organically in her practice. Sometimes this approach gets birthed with a client simply asking to incorporate their grandmothers eclectic painting, or maybe its an avant-garde chair one of my clients purchased from a recent trip, she explains. For me, an ugly-pretty piece creates a strong jumping-off point, and both inspires and challenges me to create a unique design experience in a room.I think it changes the way we look at the world and gives you the confidence and power to believe in your own point of view.For Moinar, this isnt just another fleeting trend. I actually dont think its as much a trend as it is a deeply rooted design philosophy, she says. Its about creating spaces that tell your story, whether through that garishly gilded mirror you haggled for in a Parisian antiques shop (the one that made your partner question your taste but reminds you of that perfect spring weekend) or those mismatched dining chairs inherited from your grandmother (they're falling apart but remind you of childhood summers).Perhaps most importantly, embracing jolie laide can change your entire perspective. I think it changes the way we look at the world and gives you the confidence and power to believe in your own point of view, New York Citybased designer Ghislaine Vias says. Everyone has their own taste and sees beauty in different things. There should be no judgment.Embrace your own jolie laide moment.Ready to inject some personality into your space? Askinasi suggests starting small. Dip your toe in the water by starting out with room decor or accessories, she advises. Reconsider a family piece thats been gifted to you thats been relegated to your basement, or keep an eye out for an antique market find that elicits a reaction from you.Even [if it] freaks them out a bit, it usually ends up being the part of the room they love most.When hunting for these conversation pieces, Ward suggests looking beyond the obvious sources. Its always a good idea to use more obscure websites or visit antiques markets in person, she says. I love to dive into Live Auctioneers and try to find something really obscure that will be a statement piece. Estate sales are another goldmine for unique findstake time to see what catches your eye and consider why.Garrett RowlandThis little piggy went to the market, this little piggy stayed home, and this little table piggy, in a home designed by Ghislaine Vias? He gave us major jolie laide vibes. (Pig Table by Moooi)The key is finding pieces that spark what Chamlee calls a good WTF momentitems that might raise eyebrows but ultimately make your space more interesting and personally meaningful, whether its a crazy pillow fabric scheme or a kitschy chair. As Askinasi puts it, The goal is to create something disruptive.Also, consider wallpaper. I love when a client reacts strongly to a bold or jarring wallcoveringsomething that may seem gaudy on its own, but can actually be a powerful moment to elevate a room design, Askinasi says. Ive found if a wallpaper speaks to my clients in some way, or even freaks them out a bit, it usually ends up being the part of the room they love most.But honestly? There are no rules here. There doesnt have to be a reason for everything in your home other than that it makes you happy, Chamlee says. Buy the big weird painting. Re-cover your grandmothers couch in a fabric that might have horrified her. Lifes too short not to have a little fun while were here.Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE DECOR, where she manages the brands social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Her eye for emerging styles helps bring the latest in interior design to ELLE DECORs audience across platforms. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, design, and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Ken Fulk may be one of the worlds most in-demand designers, but hes really more of a cinematographer, with his genre-bending amalgams of glam rock and Tudor; out-to-sea and down-to-earth; and Howard Hughes and hacienda across countless interior projects. Rooms, as he likes to say, take shape like movies in his head.Fulks latest blockbuster? A brick-and-mortar store opening today in Los Angeles, whose script goes a little something like this: I was inspired by Bunny Mellon, thinking that she had kept a little tucked-away bungalowmaybe in the Kennedy erasecretly in Hollywood, the designer tells us. Translation? Interior design heaven.Douglas FriedmanYou can find the Ken Fulk store tucked into a squat building at 555 Norwich Drive (conveniently across the street from the Pacific Design Center), shielded by hedges and painted in an eye-catching pea-green with trompe loeil stonework. It has almost a secret feeling, Fulk tells us.I was inspired by Bunny Mellon, thinking that she had kept a little tucked-away bungalow.Its a secret that wont be safe for long. Beginning Friday, visitors can shop Fulks magical universe, from vintage furniture thats been lovingly reupholsterered (or Fulked up, as the designer says) to dandy-ish prints in tramp art wood frames to all the accouterments needed for a fabulous Fulked-up dinner party.Douglas FriedmanThen theres custom things that weve madecustom candles and pillows, adds Fulk. Theres also china. Ive been obsessed with china since I was a kid like, I used to literally climb on a step stool and empty my mothers and my aunts vast collection and I would lay it all out on the tables, and then I would reorganize it into the cabinets.Of course, references to the late Bunny Mellons legendary Virginia estate are close at hand. Fulks team created a replica of Mellons mint-green potting shed to showcase gardening tools, wicker baskets, as well as delicate paper blooms from the Green Vase.Douglas FriedmanI really wanted it to feel like a home, Fulk says of the building, which will also be home to his firms five-person Los Angeles office. All of our studios tend to feel more like fabulous lofts or apartmentsnot like a workplace.I really wanted it to feel like a home. That residential sensibility permeates virtually every nook of the store, for which decorative artists created elegant trompe loeil drapery and where timber case goods overflow with cushions and textiles. The message? You may not be able to afford a full Ken Fulk home makeover, but you can live the fantasy by dropping by the store and by bringing a piece home for yourself.We [design for a] rarefied few, says Fulk, whose clients range from Instagram founder Kevin Systrom to Vice President Kamala Harris. How could we share some of our creativity, some of our ideas, and the things we make with a greater audience?Douglas FriedmanThe store marks the first for the ELLE DECOR A-List designer, though he has designed countless products for brands ranging from Pottery Barn to the Rug Company to Pierre Frey. Fulk credits this venture to his companys CFO, retail veteran Dave DeMattei. He really believed in me and my business, and so he came from a retail background, which also sort of helped plant the seed of like, why dont we manifest our great ideas into more product and also just things we love?It may be the first store but it wont be the last, Fulk teases, hinting that an outpost may soon be headed to New York.As with everything the designer does, its the beginning of a bigger story.Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ElleDecor.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the worlds most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, shes spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.

With the holidays comes the inevitable shopping ramp-up: Youve got gifts to buy, parties to plan, and halls to deck. You alsoespecially if youre expecting houseguestshave an excellent reason to say yes to those little (and perhaps even not so little) decor luxuries youve had your eye on. And the place to turn to for enhancing your home with one-stop-shop efficiency is The Home Depot. The retail giants definition of home improvement has expanded well past tools, paint, and lawn care: Youll also find a broad selection of stylish furnishings, lighting, and decorative accessories to spruce up any room. Plus, it can all be delivered, a true plus in this crazy-busy season.1Furniture of America Reina Rustic Wood Trestle Extendable Dining TableNow 20% Off$822 $658 at Home DepotCredit: Courtesy of The Home DepotA new dining-room table is a big purchase, but what better time than when the whole family is due at your house any day now? Intricately carved curves and a double-trestle design make this one feel special, and the 18-inch insertable leaf lets you accommodate extra diners with ease.2Madison Park Chunky Double Knit Handmade Throw Blanket$77 at Home DepotCredit: Courtesy of The Home DepotDrape this chunky throw across the bed in the guestroom. Toss two over the sofa in the den. Place one on every seat around the firepit to make late-night gatherings even cozier. In addition to the indigo blanket shown here, there are eight other color options, a mix of neutrals and soft hues that will work with any and every decor palette.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Home Decorators Collection Priscilla Cotton Seersucker Duvet Cover Set$123 at Home DepotCredit: Courtesy of The Home DepotStriped seersucker bedding in sophisticated gray, greige, or soft blue adds a crisp look to the guest room, no matter what style youve decorated it in. The 100 percent-cotton duvet cover and shams can lean classic if your furniture is on the traditional side, or clean and minimalist if youve got a more modern aesthetic.4Home Decorators Collection Royce Black Hall Tree with Bench and Storage Cubbies Now 40% Off$1,599 $959 at Home DepotCredit: Courtesy of The Home DepotMaybe when they first arrive, youll greet your visitors at the front door. But once youre all hanging out, tossing the football in the yard, and making last-minute shopping trips, its more likely everyone will come tumbling in through less-formal entrances. Be ready with mudroom storage that can handle the whole gangs coats, boots, and packages.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5StyleWell Natural Water Hyacinth Decorative Baskets (Set of 2)Now 40% Off$109 $65 at Home DepotCredit: Courtesy of The Home DepotThese casual woven-water hyacinth storage baskets can house throw blankets or bathroom towels, serve as guest-room laundry bins, or encourage kids to stash their toys. The fluffy white wool tassels elevate them beyond mere utility.6Home Decorators Collection Calluna Gold Round Metal Coffee Table with Lift Top StorageNow 40% Off$329 $199 at Home DepotCredit: Courtesy of The Home DepotShiny, stylish, and a source of secret storagewhats not to love? This adorable drum-shaped coffee table is made of hammered metal and has a top that lifts off so you can stash stuff. We love it in gold, but for cooler color schemes, it also comes in silver.

Ah, Christmas: the time of red-and-green everything, more flocked Tannenbaums than you know what to do with, and reindeer statues in every corner. Not so in 2024, howeverthe year you finally break out of the mold and do Yuletide on your terms. There's no better area of the home for some holiday experimentation than the front porch, given the fact that it's the first thing guests (or solicitors!) will see when they approach your dwelling. And first impressions, as we all know, count for a lot. A great place to start is with greenery. I like to add faux snow fabric from the craft store inside my plant pots, and then top them off with twinkle lights, sprigs of greenery, and shatterproof ornaments, interiors guru Courtney Fitzpatrick tells ELLE DECOR. Its an inexpensive way to add something festive to your porch, and it looks beautiful at night! From there, layering on additional decor can create a truly showstopping exterior.Houston-based designer Marie Flanigan believes lighting is key when it comes to decking out a porch for the holidays. It brings ambience and warmth and a festive glow, instantly elevating the overall atmosphere and creating a welcoming space for guests, Flanigan says. If you are only doing one thing, I say go with statement lighting. Still iffy on design directions for your homes entryway this December? Weve rounded up the very best Christmas front porch decorating ideas and tips from the experts. Onward!1Lead with LEDsCourtesy AnthropologieAs part of Anthropologie's holiday house, this prim-and-proper brownstone's porch and steps boast glowing LED spheres from the brand that turn it into absolute eye candy. Interspersed with live trees in pots, they're must-haves for your outdoor holiday setup this year.2Repurpose Fall DecorCourtesy Serena & LilyStill have pumpkins laying around from last month? Impressive, first of all, and also perfect for reusing in a front porch holiday display. Take a page from this Serena & Lily scenewhere the gourds' slightly distressed colors are in fluent conversation with a pine cone wreath and white chrysanthemums.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Don't Neglect the Railing Imagesbybarbara/Getty ImagesYour doors are clad in wreaths, garland frames your entryway, and you've even got mini trees surrounding your doormat. The only thing missing? A festive wreath specifically for your porch's railing. If you think this one's conventional, think again (and look closer at the faux artichokes and apples dotting it!).4Rock the RedSiri Stafford//Getty ImagesWe said it was time to stop making Christmas synonymous with a red-and-green color scheme, but this vignette proves that there's something inevitably heartwarming about the traditional hues. Have your front porch go red this year via two simple poinsettia plants flanking the door and a wreath to match.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Curate a NookAnastasiia Krivenok//Getty ImagesFight your hibernation urges by creating an outdoor space you'll actually want to spend time in this winter. Here, a seating area is made all the more inviting via blankets, cushions in many textures, and (of course) that lighted wreath! It's the ultimate spot in which to cuddle up with a good book and hot chocolate.6Incorporate a Seasonal SwagSven Olof JonnIn lieu of a wreath or garland, opt for a seasonal swag over the front door. We love how this one pops against the citrus entrance and the frame of ivy. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Go for Simplicity lillisphotographyHouston designer Marie Flanigan encourages incorporating natural greenery into your Christmas porch decor. Integrate natural elements such as evergreen wreaths, pine cones, and seasonal foliage, she adds. Done and done.8Think Beyond the DoorTammi MildHoliday decor doesnt have to be focused on the door. Think about surrounding structural elements for garlands and decoration. Here, evergreen garlands studded with pine cones and lights do just the trick. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Unify Your Color Palette Philippe GerberSick of green and red? Same, so we suggest going for an analogous color scheme. Simply pick a color you love and decorate your front porch in its variations. In this example, that means moody hues like black, deep red, and green. 10Slay with Merry Metallics Anastasiia KrivenokSam the Snowman sang about silver and gold decorations for a reason: Theyre a total classic on the tree... and your front porch. Add in visual interest without veering into excess through layering natural greenery, metallic accents, and subtle lighting, Flanigan suggests. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Play with SymmetryLiubomyr VoronaLooking for balance around the holiday season? Us too, which is why keeping things symmetrical on your front porch is a great way to go. We love how this lookwith evergreen garlands framing the door, deck railings, and banisterlends a sense of harmony, not chaos. 12Harmonize with Your Hedges The Enchanted HomeOK, we realize this isnt technically a porch, but we love how the existing hedgesalong with a promenade of potted plantscreate an ensconcing (not to mention grand) sense of entry in this look, courtesy of Enchanted Home. Here, a shaggy garland contrasts the buildings regal architecture, while sprigs of greenery make veritable holiday bouquets of the planters. Bonus: The vegetation choicesconifer boughs, pine cones, and a whole lot of magnoliasmake this a safe bet for warmer climates too. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Choose Crisp White-On-WhiteCourtesy of @lizzydesigns_Snowed in again? No problem. Work with the all-white backdrop rather than against it, pairing the natural environment with sky blues, muted grays, and (of course) some evergreen. I love to decorate my porch using neutral and natural elements, says Liz Meier of Lizzy Designs. The greenery and the color of the door get the spotlight!14Meld Old with NewCourtesy of @a.little.love.designs Its always worth stocking up on some new holiday bling, but sometimes, the things you already have can really give a front porch some character. I love to mix old decor with new decor, says Amy Allen of A Little Love Designs. For example, using your grandmothers dishes or decorating the tree with your moms favorite ornaments. Follow suit with a cute assortment of baskets, lanterns, and watering cans brimming with evergreens.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Cozy Up Courtesy of @shady_pines3interiorsA wraparound sofa can transform a porch into a gathering space for friends and family. Bring everyone together for the holidays by adding some plaid throw pillows and wreaths like in designer Beth Coxs setup. Dont be afraid to bring the indoors out, she says. I make my porches feel welcoming and cozy by adding lots of texture and warmth.16Think Small but MightyCourtesy of the Six Bells Some front porches would rather whisper happy holidays than shout it from the rooftops. If thats more your speed, then this subtle felt mistletoe wreath from The Six Bells will be right up your alley.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Embrace Flower PowerCourtesy of Venus et Fleur Just like any other time of year, you cant go wrong with florals. Poinsettias are often the holiday flower of choice, but roses, holly, and other selections can also make quite the statement. If youre not blessed with a green thumb, a few botanicals from Venus et Fleur will save you the hassle of maintaining flowers that are actually alive.18Deck the WallsCourtesy of Tempaper Sometimes, a cheery decal can make all the difference. Tempapers peel-and-stick Winter Village option makes for a great peek-a-boo moment behind a wreath; in general, its a beautiful addition to a door or window. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Keep It Classic Courtesy of Joanna BuchananAll we want for Christmas is a chic wreath, a bit of garland, and a stately entryway. Not only does it make a statement, but it never goes out of style. I like to create a strong, central display that signals a bold Happy Holidays! says designer Joanna Buchanan. We wholeheartedly agree.20Go All Out Courtesy of FrontgateIf youre the sort who looks forward to holiday decorating year-round, why not go all out? This front porch, featuring products from Frontgate, shows exactly what a blinged-out Christmas can look like without feeling one bit tacky. Those white, gold, and green accents are everything.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.Helena MaddenMarket EditorHelena Madden is ELLE DECORs market editor, and covers all things product and trend, from flatware and furnishings to kitchen and bath. She previously worked as a staff writer at Robb Report, where she covered luxury news with a focus on interior design.

When December rolls around, all anyone wants to do isyou guessed it!hibernate in the great indoors. This is all fun and games on the cozy blankets and hot cocoa front, yes, but it also has the unwanted consequence of making your abodes exterior spaces take a back seat to the seemingly more pressing priority of zhuzhing up your living room, kitchen, and bedroom for the holidays. In 2024, do it different by turning your attention outward. Outdoor Christmas decor is all about finding that Goldilocks sweet spot between no-holds-barred, exuberant touches and sophisticated subtlety. Easier said than done, right? When in doubt, start with what you have on hand (many indoor items can be taken outside, after all!) rather than trying to concoct a megawatt display with animatronic Santas and snowflake light projectors. You can always make the most of things and work with what you have, insists designer Young Huh, who draped her front entry in elegant evergreens and filled her planters with foliage she already owned.For some much-needed Yuletide inspiration, scroll through these 50 outdoor Christmas decor ideas that are guaranteed to leave Santa (and all your visitors!) speechless. Who knows, maybe youll be tempted to keep them up well beyond January 1. 1Achieve Wreath-Powered Curb AppealJosh Yung Design HouseYou cant deny it: Designer Josh Yungs D.C. townhouse, which we spotlighted back in 2020, has some serious curb appeal. Want your home to similarly turn heads? All you need is garland, natural wreaths, red ribbons that can double as hangers for said wreaths, and string lights. Voil! 2Repurpose Some BranchesCourtesy ArhausHave a bunch of loose branches left over after doing winter yard work? Take a page from home furnishings company Arhaus and use them to add some holiday drama to your doorway. Wrangling the branches into a perfect arch shape might be tough, but if this scene is any indication, the result will be so worth it.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Elevate an ArborCourtesy AnthropologieAs this shimmering arborcourtesy of Anthropologiemakes clear, commonplace structures in your backyard can easily be upgraded to Santa-approved status by simply adding lights (we recommend warm white ones!). Just picture enjoying this setup on a warmer night, mulled wine in hand. Convinced yet?4Invest in a Firewood BundleCourtesy AnthropologieWe're loving everything about these simple yet effective holiday adornments from Anthropologie but especially have our eyes on that bundle of firewood, topped by globe lights. Whether in your backyard or on your front porch, natural wood is bound to provide an instant touch of rustic charm.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Make Use of MagnoliaCourtesy Serena & LilyIn this life-affirming front door display, luxe home company Serena & Lily bypassed pine wreaths and garlands in favor of all things magnolia instead. The leaves' brown-orange underbellies contrast remarkably well with their glossy green frontscreating a scene that's elevated yet homey.6Create a Holiday Bar SituationCourtesy Serena & LilyIn this outdoor bar scene, courtesy of Serena & Lily, a pine cone wreath takes center stagewith the rattan elements underneath playing supporting roles. If you live in a warm climate (jealous), consider hosting a well-oiled holiday get-together outdoorswreath and bow included.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Win with Window SwagMaryna Terletska//Getty ImagesYour windows deserve a little Christmas-related attention, so what better way to grant them that than with some festive window swags? The one seen lining this particular window goes hand in hand with the wreaths, nearby conifer, and similarly hued front door. We appreciate a color-coordinated moment!8Test the 'Unexpected Red' Theoryninavartanava//Getty ImagesSurprising flashes of red in a space work to boost its overall appeal, or so the viral unexpected red theory states. Tune into this folk wisdom in a minimalist way, by adding tiny red bows to the greenery standing on your front porch. Better yet if your window frames are red too!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Mix Natural and Faux ElementsCyndy AldredWhen decorator Cyndy Aldred prepares for the holidays, she likes to surround her stoop with small evergreens in large natural baskets, bringing in texture and a forest feel. When I create Christmas garlands and wreaths, I always start with a strong base of faux greenery, and then I work in organic elements like magnolia branches, large sugar pine cones, pine branches, and bundles of juniper berries, she says. By mixing together the faux and the real, Christmas decor will last longer and look fresher. 10Dine Outside in StyleKara WillliamsYou dont have to ditch alfresco dining come wintertimejust make sure you have a fire going and plenty of warm blankets. Interior designer Kara Williams also suggests including lots of warm light and old-timey elements for ambience. I love to add vintage touches like old sleds, buckets with Christmas trees in them, and vintage signs, she says. Adding all of that to cart, ASAP!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Double Up on WreathsYoung HuhIf your home has double doors, this is the perfect opportunity to double up on wreaths: exactly what designer Young Huh did in this inspiring visual. She also created a festive atmosphere through draped garlands and evergreen-filled planters galore. 12Go Big or Go HomeSavannah Kay with Classy ClutterOversize decorations take Christmas to a new level. These bulbs beautifully fill up the space and give a dramatic pop of color. In the back, the nutcrackers are ready to welcome all your friends and family. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Embrace Trad ChristmasPottery BarnWreaths, garlands, trees, bulbs, lightsthis house, as featured in a Pottery Barn catalog, has it all! Follow suit and keep things classic, with a red-and-green color palette and garlands wrapped around your porch columns. 14Curate a Reindeer EntryBallard DesignsNothing screams Christmas like reindeers. Treat your entryway to an enchanted forest vibe by decorating the doorsteps with these beautiful critters from Ballard Designs. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Incorporate Pops of ColorKara WilliamsIf you think its time to pack up the patio furniture, think again. With the right touches (aided by a firepit or heat lamps, of course) your outdoor lounge can become your own aprs ski paradise. Seasonal decorator Kara Williams loves to add hints of red in the pillows, blankets, and decor to make it look even more festive. I chose a Christmas plaid theme here, which I love, she tells us. Williams also set up a hot cocoa bar to keep guests warm (bonus points if its spiked!).16Fashion a Forest Sara Ligorria-TrampCreate your very own winter wonderlandsnow optional!akin to this stunning tableau by Emily Henderson. The mix of lush garland, a pint-sized tree, and a bunch of leafy greens is idyllic without being ever going overboard.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Channel Chalet ChicSara Ligorria-TrampTurn your front door into a cool ski chalet, just like Emily Henderson did here. The abstract wreath, geometric lanterns, and sleek wooden ski set give this front porch a truly modern touch. The best part? Since this arrangement isnt over-the-top Christmas, you can leave it up all winter long.18Go with an Unexpected SurpriseAnnie SloanMaking Christmas look a little different is something I strive for," says paint and color expert Annie Sloan, who also founded Chalk Paint. "Mixing the traditional with the unusual makes you take a second look." We're surely taking second (and third!) looks at her bright yellow front door, decked out for the holidays. Move over, red and greenthere's a new cool kid on the block.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Keep It CozyMatt KisidayA table set with a sheepskin on every chair and a thick plaid wool throw on the back of every seat, plus plenty of garlands and candlelight, can make even the coldest December day feel warm and bright," designer Allison Babcock shares. Essentially, make sure your guests are well taken care of during your outdoor Christmas fete... to the point of not wanting to leave. Ever.20Step Up Your Layering GameJoy WilliamsThe holidays dont happen every day, so why not pile on the accessories (in a classy way)? Chicago-based designer Joy Williams packed on the festive fripperies with poinsettia plants and gilded trees. Rounding out the look are ribbons and ornaments on the topiaries. Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.Kelsey MulveyKelsey Mulvey is a freelance lifestyle journalist, who covers shopping and deals for Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, and ELLE Decor, among others. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.

How do you cowboycore? Or maybe you call it coastal cowgirl? Whatever your preferred terminology, the rich ranch aestheticpopularized on shows like Yellowstone and beloved for juxtaposing rustic farmhouse style with contemporary furnishingsis everywhere lately. Its not confined to the Lone Star State, though youll see traces of the aesthetic in homes in Austin and Houston, nor does one have to have a sprawling Napa Valley estate. But why is rich ranch decor so popular right now, and how does one bring the look home? We spoke to a few ELLE DECOR A-List designers for their yee-haute takes.Douglas FriedmanA rustic kitchen in a Sonoma, California, home designed by Ken Fulk.What Is Rich Ranch Decor?Surprisingly, the rich ranch decor trend may have started thousands of miles from the nearest corralin Switzerland. Or ELLE DECOR A-List designer Miles Redd cant help but think so, given the similarities between the look and the aprs-ski vibe of a Swiss chalet. A-List designer Ken Fulk considers the rich ranch aesthetic a mix of the Mexican vaquero and the gaucho culture in Argentina with the rustic charm of Provence and the romantic agrarian lifestyle of Tuscany. You see roots of ranch style throughout all cultures and continents.I think that people have been recently drawn to luxurious ranch living because it feels casual and approachable with an emphasis on organic materiality, says designer Augusta Hoffman. Being from Texas, I gravitate toward a Mexican hacienda influence: considered layers of limestone, terra-cotta, wrought iron, and reclaimed wood. Even better if there is a tequila bar welcoming the cowboys when they come home!I gravitate towardconsidered layers of limestone, terra-cotta, wrought iron, and reclaimed wood. Even better if there is a tequila bar welcoming the cowboys when they come home!Augusta HoffmanDallas-based Jean Liu similarly advises considered layersor what one might call restraint. Part of achieving the rich ranch look is to not infuse this type of home with as much of the expected patterns, fabrics, and decorative objects, says Liu, i.e., plaid, cowhide, and antlers. The gist of the trend is that the elements are similar, but the amount of the expected design ingredients is adjusted and refined to feel more sophisticated, elevated, and polished.A delicate touch is key when melding such disparate influences. The styles versatility shines through in its detailsfrom hand-stitched leather pillows to vintage Navajo textiles and burnished bronze fixtures, says designer Alfredo Paredes. Whether its a city-ranch vibe with dark, industrial contrasts or a California ranch with laid-back light wood, each setting can reinterpret the classic ranch look with fresh, tailored details while honoring authentic craftsmanship.Tim LenzIn a New York City residence designed by Augusta Hoffman, an antique Spanish Missionstyle table serves as a sideboard.What Makes Rich Ranch Decor Controversial?The look is not always PC, says Redd, since it can be heavy on the furs and spoils of trophy hunting. But Redd advises having luxurious faux sables and minks tossed over sofas, instead. [And] I do think antlers are a must. I love the Black Forest variety, which are often carved entirely out of wood.If youre a hunter, it makes sense to display the trophies, says Liu. But perhaps the mounts feature just the horns and not the entire head. Retailers including Pottery Barn also sell faux antler chandeliers, a sort of country lodge tiara for your living room. Fulk, wholl soon open his first standalone retail space in West Hollywood, California, suggests shopping for vintage trophy mounts and mixing them with Belgian boucl throws and pillows, to pay tribute to the classic California ranch.Chris MottaliniA Vermont ski house designed by Alfredo Paredes.How Do I Get the Rich Ranch Look at Home?Thematic decorating can get tricky, acknowledges L.A.-based designer Oliver Furth, whose firm has designed mountain homes in Aspen; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and Park City, Utah. How to imbue a sense of place without it feeling clich or trite? To avoid getting too literal with your decorating, Furth suggests using pieces that will develop a patina with age and incorporating wood and stone to reference nature.Playing with contrastsplaster walls combined with a wood floor and wood ceilingcan provide a beautiful end result, adds New Yorkbased designer Shawn Henderson. I love adding richly textured fabrics and leaning into pattern, whether a plaid, a crewel, or even a large check for depth and warmth.The moral of the story is that no matter where you are in the world, you have a place at the rough-hewn, well-patinated, plaid-tablecloth-covered table of rich ranch decor. Giddyup!Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality, travel, and luxury. He writes the So Courant! column for the magazine and elledecor.com.

This article originally appeared in the April 2012 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.Its only fitting that ELLE DECOR A-Lister Lorenzo Castillo happened upon the Madrid apartment building that would become his future home while en route to El Rastro, the citys famous flea market. Madrids old neighborhoods harbor hidden treasures, he says. Its one of the things I love most about the city. Simon UptonIn the sitting room, a steel-and-ostrich-egg mirror hangs above a sofa upholstered in a 1960s David Hicks fabric; the Jacob Frres armchair is covered in a Rubelli velvet, and the cocktail table is from the 70s. The artworks include paintings by Xavier Vilat, bottom left, and Jos Mara Yturralde, center, and a Josep Maria Subirachs engraving and Miguel Macaya painting, right.Castillo was immediately drawn to the building. Its very madrileo, he saysin other words, its quintessentially Madridwith a neoclassical stone faade that is noble in scale but remarkably simple. The portera, or doorwoman, told him the history of the building, which was constructed in the 17th century and was once a convent: Located on the border between the now-trendy neighborhoods of Lavapis and Barrio de las Letras, it became one of the most prestigious addresses in the Spanish capital during the 18th and 19th centuries. A new facade added in the 1770s by Ventura Rodrguez, the architect of many iconic monuments in Madridincluding the sculptures of Neptune and Cybele on the Paseo del Pradoheightened the buildings allure. Simon UptonAn 18th-century rug covers a table in the entrance hall; the bench is in the Rgence style, the desk is by Marc du Plantier, and 18th-century engravings fill the walls. Two days after Castillos first visit, a half-floor apartment on an upper story was his. That was 10 years ago, when he was building a reputation as a leading antiques dealer in Spain. Now he runs his own interior design business, with assistance from his partner, Alfonso Reyero. Castillos projects range from a historic Andalusian country house to a London restaurant slated to open this summer. He recently renovated Madrids Santo Mauro, giving the hotel a five-star upgrade. As Castillos business has grown, so have his domestic needs. Nearly four years ago he sold that first apartment, along with his collection of furniture and art, to purchase and renovate an 11,000-square-foot space downstairs, spread over two floors. Simon UptonThe center table in the drawing room was designed by Castillo, and the Louis XVI daybed is upholstered in a Josef Frank fabric; the 18th-century portrait is French, and the screen is Japanese. After the Spanish Civil War ended in 1939, the rooms that now house Castillos apartment served as the warehouse for one of the citys theatrical costumers. Such legendary figures as Maria Callas and Placido Domingo were fitted there for productions at the nearby Royal Opera House, Castillo says. By the time he bought the apartment, most of its signature architectural details were gone. The marble fireplace surrounds had been sold off or stolen during the war, and huge pieces of the decorative stucco moldings had crumbled or fallen off, he says. He spent a year supervising the renovation and traveling around Europe in search of period floors, fireplaces, fittings, and hardware. He became friends with the costume companys former owner, who could still conjure up memories of the apartments once-glorious appearance. Simon UptonThe armchairs, tables, and mirrors in the dining room are by Castillo, and the light fixtures are 19th century.Castillo managed to make the apartment look both classic and up-to-date. He wove a rich and sumptuous tapestry of timeless design by mixing pedigreed antiques and vintage pieces, including a desk of green leather and gilt bronze made in the 1940s by Marc du Plantier for the prince of Bavaria, tapestries by Rubens, a massive plaster bust from Pariss cole des Beaux-Arts, and 1970s Op Art. A carriageway behind the massive iron front doors leads to a glass-enclosed courtyard used as an indoor garden and decorated with chaises upholstered in a Madeleine Castaing fabric, the cast of a sculpture by Michelangelo, and an abstract painting by Lorenzos brother Santiago Castilloone of many throughout the house. A grand staircase, the type one expects to find in a Roman palazzo, ascends to a gallery where Castillo has continued the courtyards motif of plantings and black-and-white floor tiles. He cleverly deployed white trellis as a baseboard and as molding around the doors and balconies. Simon UptonA Louis XVI marble-top table and 1970s Italian chairs in the kitchen; the lacquer cabinetry is custom made, and the walls are painted in Farrow & Balls Lulworth Blue.Indeed, many of the room-defining elements are Castillos own subtle but beautifully executed designs, such as the coffered, mirrored panels that cover the walls of the glittering dining room, or the shimmering black-lacquer bookshelves with brass inlay that fill the library. A grand staircase, the type one expects to find in a Roman palazzo, ascends to a galleryThe upper floor is dominated by the 120-foot-long drawing room, the kind of space usually seen only in the backgrounds of princely portraits at the Prado. With five balconies and four seating areas, it is a sophisticatedand sometimes irreverentmix of periods, styles, and materials. French Second Empire, 19th-century Swedish, and 1950s Italian furniture share the stage with faded antique maps and crisp steel sculptures from the 70s. A massive hand-loomed carpet designed by Castillo provides the finishing touch.Simon UptonThe primary bedroom includes a tapestry by Rubens, a 17th-century octagonal mirror, and a 19th-century neo-Gothic dressing table; the wallpaper was designed by Castillo.Needless to say, such singular spaces make for fabulous parties. Castillo has hosted many, from intimate dinners to private couture fashion shows. But first and foremost, the home is where he and Reyero live and work every day. In the heat of summer well have lunch in the gallery, and on cold winter evenings we dine by candlelight in the mirrored dining room, he says. And since the home also serves as Castillos studio and showroom, he frequently slips into the guest suite to find a quiet place to concentrate. We truly live in the entire house, he declares proudly. Tour this former 17th-century convent in the heart of Madrid This story originally appeared in the April 2012 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

The worlds premier trade show dedicated to natural stone wrapped up this fall after four event-packed days in Verona, Italy, and suffice it to say, it rocked. Marmomac 2024 drew more than 50,000 attendees representing every link of the stone-production chain, from quarrying raw materials to designing interiors with finished itemsand even beyond, exploring still-experimental applications for manufacturing, architecture, and design.Ennevi VeronafiereThe immense show comes together each year in the vast Veronafiere exhibition spacepicture 12 show halls and seven outside areas stacked with stone slabs, stone interior installations, stone decorative pieces, and high-design stone creations the exact identity of which might present a mystery but whose beauty cant be denied. The venues Plus Theatre was also home to the astonishing Walk of Stone (shown above), a riff on the Hollywood tourist attraction, composed of squares of stone from around the worlda magical carpet, as the projects mastermind, architect Giorgio Canale, put it, that served as an ode to the materials diversity of colors, textures, and finishes.Ennevi VeronafiereA crown jewel of the show is the A Matter of Stone pavilion. Curated by ELLE Decor with an interior layout designed by the famed Italian design studio Calvi Brambilla, the hall showcased innovative uses of stone in architecture and construction, home furnishings, and interior and exterior design. The exhibitorssome 20 companies from nine different countriesare all in contention for the ELLE Decor-sponsored Matter of Stone Award, as well. EffezetagroupThis year, top honors went to Italian limestone company Pimar for its exhibition La casa di pietra (House of Stone), curated by Gumdesign, which demonstrates the role of marble in our homes through a collection of functional, iconic, and poetic objects. First conceived for Marmomac in 2014, the exhibit has gone on to be widely shown, along the way adding pieces and evolving in concept to reflect sustainability and the ideals of conscious design. It made a triumphant return to Marmomac for its 10th anniversary.EffezetagroupSpecial mention went to the Portuguese company Natstone, for its display featuring stone-processing innovations including honeycomb technology, which allows for natural-stone constructions such as furniture to be both strong and lightweight. EffezetagroupMarmomac serves as a microcosm of the industry, bringing together manufacturers, importers, equipment makers, buyers, architects, and designersanyone and everyone connected with this age-old, much-prized, and endlessly versatile material. All were there this year for exhibits by nearly 1,500 major players in the industry representing 55 countries; a jam-packed schedule of lectures, seminars, and workshops, including talks by renowned designers Henry Timi and Ron Arad organized in conjunction with ELLE Decor; and ample opportunities for professional development and networking.The show, a confluence of art, science, engineering, and design seen through the lens of natural stone, takes place annually; Marmomac 2025 is scheduled for September 23 to 26.

Kitchenswe all have em, but how often do you neglect whats underfoot, in favor of focusing on the delicious meals youre busy whipping up? Guilty as charged! The truth is, there are few features that spice up a kitchen like an amazing floor, so its fine time we start paying attention to it! Eye-catching design aside, your chosen floor (as with your backsplash, cabinets, and kitchen island) must stand up to the occasional chocolate cakerelated mess, making it essential to pick one that sits at the precise intersection between looks and practicality.Where to begin? Per San Franciscobased designer Noz Nozawa, you have to consider what kind of space youre working with. The first factor is where the kitchen lives in your home, Nozawa tells ELLE DECOR. Is it part of an open-concept great room, where there will be a very visible flooring transition between kitchen and living space? Is the kitchen in its own room? Then the balance of style versus utility really comes down to the people who live there! If youre, indeed, prone to making messes (err, happy accidents!) and thus prioritize easy clean-up, go with forgiving surfaces like porcelain tile. Craving a rustic farmhouse look straight out of the Strega Nona childrens book? Commit to gorgeous terra-cotta tiles. As ubiquitous as they are, I absolutely love hardwood floors in a kitchen. Theres something very warm and easy about them, Nozawa says, offering another alternative. But I also love large-format tiles where there are fewer grout lines to keep up with. As with most kitchen design elements, the modus operandi here is: You do you. Dont let fear of water damage or spills influence your kitchen flooring choices! the designer insists. As someone whose dishwasher has absolutely flooded my kitchen before, I get it, but try instead to make design choices based on the best life you can dream of for your kitchen space.Our list of 32 gorgeous kitchen floor ideas from the ELLE DECOR archive represent just this kind of mentality. A word of warning: Youre going to be floored. 1Mix-and-Match FloorsAdrian GautYou'll be seeing quite a few checkerboard floors in this roundup, but what's special about this onefound in a Spanish-style Houston house designed by ELLE DECOR A-List firm Ashe Leandrois the fact that it combines materials. At first glance, the tile is homogenous (aside from its contrasting colors). The reality is far more attractive, however: The floors feature both reclaimed terra-cotta tiles from Chateau Domingue and acid-washed limestone tiles from ABC Stone. Talk about a mix-and-match moment!2Oak Floors (with a Twist)Joshua McHughThere's something so timeless about kitchen floors crafted out of natural wood. In the kitchen of designer Kimille Taylor's Upper West Side apartment, timeless is not equated with boring: seeing as how the oak floors are painted with a custom geometric design. Tired of your own wooden floors but don't want to overhaul them completely? Whip out the paintbrush!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3'Unexpected Red' FloorsMaura McEvoyThe unexpected red theory proves true with this exuberant floor from Forbo, in the Berlin Red color. The pictured kitchen of a Maine vacation home also includes matching cabinetry finishes and a vintage pendant (by Paavo Tynell)creating a truly put-together, fun-loving, retro space.4Poured Concrete Kitchen FloorsSam FrostIn the kitchen of a Venice, California, Frank Gehrydesigned abode, industrial materials take center stage... and are instantly made warmer through all those timber touches. The room's concrete floors pair exceptionally well with the sleek granite breakfast table and its surrounding chairs.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Lava StoneTiled FloorsMatthieu SalvaingThis Ibiza kitchen, brought to life by Madrid-based interior design studio Casa Muoz, has us in awe. Sure, that patio access is great and all, but the glazed lava tilesin a turquoise hue imitating the sea beyondare the real showstoppers. Decking out the countertops in the same material is yet another way Casa Muoz outdoes itself in this Mediterranean tableau.6Classic Checked FloorsChristy KosnicIn this galley kitchen, courtesy of Washington, D.C.based design studio Third Street Architecture, a marble checkerboard floor is exactly what saves the space from feeling too constricted. The pattern has potential to visually expand your kitchen's square footage, all while adding an element of play to the whole setup. More exciting meals incoming!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Exposed Brick FloorsStephen Kent JohnsonExposed brick isnt just for your walls: Designer Shawn Hendersons rustic floors in the kitchen of his upstate New York farmhouse stand out against the bleached oak cabinetry. 8Out-of-the-Box Terra-Cotta FloorsWilliam Jess LairdIn a 1950s California ranch, renovated to tip-top shape by design firm Studio Muka, the kitchen isn't decked out in your average terra-cotta tile. Instead, the flooring is not only hexagonal but also reclaimed from the client's 16th-century family homea double whammy when it comes to building a cooking space with character.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Red-and-White Checkered Floors Douglas FriedmanIf youre looking for a French touch in your cooking space, take a page out of ELLE DECOR A-List Titan Robert Couturiers book. In this Manhattan townhouse, he paved the floor in a country-chic pattern of red-and-white cement tiles. 10Multihued Kitchen FloorsNova Soul ImageryWant to rebel against the all-white kitchen aesthetic? Do so with a quirky, multicolored floor like the one seen in this Reston, Virginia, kitchendesigned by architect TJ Monahan and inspired by the hit show Only Murders in the Building. The hardwood floor planks from Mirth Studio are in competition with the kitchen cabinets for the "most vibrant" award, but we're equally obsessed with both.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Dark Wood Floors Christopher StarkThis Bay Area kitchen, by Noz Nozawa, is blessed with sky-high ceilings (not to mention towering redwoods within view outside). Nozawa accentuated the height via white walls, cabinets, and ceilings but kept the look grounded with chocolate-y timber floors. Bonus: The vintage rugs add an endearing dash of color!12Glazed Terra-Cotta Tile FloorsKaryn MilletThe kitchen in this Spanish-style home, the residence of design-world insiders Joe Lucas and David Heikka, features glazed terra-cotta floors that were original to the house. The couple opted to keep them and simply douse the cabinets in a complementary bright blue. We're charmed.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Quartzite Floors Billal TarightThe creative challenge for this Parisian apartment, designed by architect Elliott Barnes, was to use a single material throughout the home. Barnes selected Vals quartzitea durable and luxurious stonefor all of the homes floors, including here in the kitchen where its smoky hue is in perfect contrast with the stainless steel cabinets. 14Blue Tile FloorsPaul RaesideWe love these hypnotizing Emery & Cie floor tiles that British design firm Retrouvius used in the kitchen of this London townhouse. Like Picasso, your floors just might need a Blue Period.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Painted Wood FloorsStephen Kent JohnsonLiterary couple Darryl Pinckney and James Fenton, whose Harlem townhouse is drenched in color, painted the floors of their kitchen in Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore. As a result, they're now in fluid conversation with those bright red dining chairs and exposed brick wall.16High-Gloss Black FloorsDouglas FriedmanArchitectural designer Sandra Arndt went bold in the kitchen of filmmaker and collector Dorothy Berwins New York apartment. A bubblegum-pink table by Sabine Marcelis pops against the kitchens gleaming black floors, creating much-needed visual drama.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Terrazzo Kitchen FloorsNathalie KragIts no wonder that a pair of Capri restaurateurs have a standout kitchen in their home, designed by Giuliano Andrea dellUva. The wall tiles are custom, and the hand-poured terrazzo floor was influenced by the late-19th-century Villa San Michele on the island. 183D-Effect Parquet FloorsEric PiaseckiDesigner Steven Gambrel, whose name is synonymous with vibrant kitchens, created a custom 3D-effect floor in this Chicago home with oak that had been ebonized, fumed, and waxed. Trompe l'oeils for the win!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Stone Tile Floors Kelly MarshallYou cant get much sleeker than this minimalist kitchen in the Los Angeles home of Mara Brock Akil. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Tiffany Howell opted to keep the existing cool gray stone tile floor: a move that matches the twin stainless-steel islands and Arabescato marble walls. 20Patterned Tile Floors Guido TaroniArt historian Carolina Vincenti naturally selected antique cement tiles from 1925 to cover the kitchen floors of her Rome apartment. Matching yellow walls (and a feline companion!) complete the sunny look. Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.Anna FixsenDeputy Digital EditorAnna Fixsen is the deputy digital editor of ELLE DECOR, where she oversees all facets of ElleDecor.com. In addition to editing articles and developing digital strategy, she writes about the worlds most beautiful homes, reviews the chicest products (from the best cocktail tables to cute but practical gifts), and reports on the most exciting trends in design and architecture. Since graduating from Columbia Journalism School, shes spent the past decade as an editor at Architectural Digest, Metropolis, and Architectural Record and has written for outlets including the New York Times, Dwell, and more.

This article originally appeared in the March 2012 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.Federico de Veras life revolves around three-dimensional objects: a set of cut-steel Georgian shoe buckles, a polychrome santo figure, an array of Victorian mourning pins crafted in garnet, jet, seed pearls, and human hair. A jewelry designer and proprietor of two ethereal, eponymous Manhattan shops that are favorites with decorators and collectors, de Vera travels the world to find things that, he says, have absolutely nothing wrong with them, a task that is far more difficult than finding something thats simply beautiful. William WaldronIn the living area, a painting by Greta Frau hangs above a Maggie Wells side table and a sofa by Thomas OBrien for Hickory Chair; the Japanese lacquered cocktail table holds a collection of June Schwarcz vessels and a Svres bust by Jules Dalou, and the aluminum armchair is upholstered in wool. De Veras original store in San Francisco, which has since closed, was widely credited with inaugurating the boom in cabinets de curiosits in the 1990s. Today, he tends to confine his more avant-garde finds to his two-story store in SoHo, while his newer Upper East Side location is a feminine place, where, he says, Marie Antoinette might have shopped if she had an open mind. In 2010, two lavish books celebrated his twin obsessions: the jewelry he fashions from found gems and tiny curios, and the precious objects he has bought and sold over the years. William WaldronIn the dining and kitchen area, the steel-top table is by Gregor Jenkin, a 19th-century Louis XVstyle chair is upholstered in a Richard Saja embroidered toile de Jouy, and the chair on the left is in the style of Gerrit Rietveld; the cabinetry and countertops are by Armani/Casa, and the cooktop is by Miele.While his stores have always been temples of displayas much galleries as retail environmentshis 1,200-square-foot apartment is perhaps the ultimate expression of his unique eye, a living and lived-in testament to how arranging objects is as important as the things themselves. With its hundreds of rare finds often quite closely arrayed, the apartment still, almost impossibly, conveys a Zenlike sense of airiness. The space things live in is part of them, it sets them off and completes them, says de Vera, who was raised in the Philippines and started his career at Japonesque, the legendary San Francisco emporium of Japanese high design. William WaldronDe Vera designed the offices aluminum-and-nylon-rope chair and metal bookshelves; the table lamp is by Luceplan, and the artworks include, from left, a Darren Waterston painting, a David LaChapelle photograph, and a portrait by Cindy Sherman. It is no accident that the condo where he lives with his Chihuahua, Diego, is in a 1920s-era building in Manhattans financial district, a neighborhood that is nearly deserted at night. Despite its recent growth in residential development, the area, with its rambling streets and historic buildings, retains a certain spookiness after hours that dovetails with de Veras love of off-kilter antiquity. Originally, the draw for him was the buildings amenities, including a pool and Armani/Casa kitchens, but now he cant imagine living elsewhere. His schedule can seem franticwhen he is not searching the world for new pieces, hes conferring with clientsso its not surprising that de Vera craves silence. I need the isolation for my thoughts to flourish, he says. William WaldronA 1930s Czech light fixture and a 19th-century nickel display case in the dining area; a 17th-century Spanish sculpture sits atop an aluminum pedestal by Paul Smith. Inside, in addition to a sort of best of collection from his shops, including cabinets stocked with Venetian glass, Asian cloisonn, and enough religious artifacts to open his own monastery, he nurtures a taste for portraiture. His love of faces is vividly expressed on the dramatic, black-painted wall that dominates his living area. Not for him groovy abstracts: I always like things that are very realistic, figurative. He considers his passion for portraits a natural evolution of his interest in body partshis stores are known for their collections of wood and ivory limbs and appendages. I like all those sides of humanness, he explains. I would spend hours trying to find the absolutely most perfect rock, he recallsNevertheless, de Vera insists that his aesthetic has inanimate origins. As a child, he collected shells and driftwood on the beach near his parents weekend house. Later, he added rocks. I would spend hours trying to find the absolutely most perfect rock, he recalls, a habit he indulges even today whenever he is near an ocean. He glued the shells onto driftwood to create key chains, an early indication, he says, of his interest in jewelry design. Today, his own pieces, made of antique elements and often simultaneously organic and baroque, account for about half his sales. In his home, symmetry, a religion to many decorators, is virtually nonexistent. To me, relying on that artificial balanceone sconce there, and another on the other side of the fireplaceis very simpleminded, he says. If you understand each objects essential nature and how it speaks to the things around it, you will know how to create balance without needing everything to be a pair.In his home, symmetry, a religion to many decorators, is virtually nonexistent. For de Vera, chairs, those building blocks of decor, provide a perfect example of this ethos. In his dining area, a steel-top table is surrounded by mismatched seating, including a Rietveld-style chair and a Louis XVI covered in mohair. In his office, a chair he designed out of aluminum and nylon recalls the textiles of Anni Albers. As a shopkeeper searching high-end sources, he often has no choice but to buy chairs in pairs, but such sets bore him: I find them uncreative and very mechanical.William WaldronIn the primary bedroom, the bed is by e15, the cashmere cover is by Bryce & Co., and the 19th-century silk rug is Turkish; an antique Japanese sword chest holds terra-cotta busts and Asian cloisonn, and the artworks include a landscape by David Gremard Romero and two Czech nudes.While most of his objects are at least a century old, he throws in plenty of contemporary work too, such as a rug of woven silver-plated copper wire by Colombian design firm Hechizoo. Such pieces speak to his unwillingness to be confined to a single period, price, or milieu. To me, being alive means being able to transcend all that, he explains. De Vera isnt much for moving pieces around. Other designers may rearrange their possessions to keep the tableaux fresh, but aside from occasionally bringing in a new item, he mostly lets things stay put. When they find their proper place, their perfect place, the place where there is nothing at all wrong, he says, I never tire of seeing them there.Tour Federico De Veras uniquely curated Manhattan apartment This story originally appeared in the March 2012 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

There are few times of year more breathtaking than autumn in New England, particularly with its kaleidoscope of falling leaves in every conceivable shade of orange, yellow, and red. But for one family, the love affair with nature is all year round.Just about two hours from their primary residence in Boston, interior designer Nina Farmers clients found the perfect 1.6-acre plot of lakeside land in New Hampshire to build a modest vacation homea place the family of five could retreat to whenever inspiration strikes.Theyre a very active familywith three children in their upper teenswho go for swims in the lake every morning, climb the nearby mountain, and basically take advantage of everything the property has to offer, says Farmer, whose eponymous Boston-based interiors firm outfitted the familys retreat to mirror its laid-back lifestyle.David MitchellCompleted last year and conceived by Cambridge-based architecture firm Charles R. Myer & Partners, the red cedar Shingle-Style 5,400-square-foot main housewith its screened-in wrap-around porch and idyllic lake viewsfeels as though it could have had a starring role in On Golden Pond and that Henry Fonda and Katherine Hepburn might just row out from behind the towering pines at any moment. The house is very typical for the region, explains Farmer. And [for a ground-up build] it was important to them that it fit with the local vernacular.That sense of belonging also meant the interiors needed to reflect whats on the outside. They didnt want it to feel like a massive new construction home might, so they were very thoughtful about the layout and wanting it to feel like a very cozy space.David MitchellApplying her design philosophy to the full three-bedroom, three-bathroom propertywhich also includes a second story that houses a generous bunk room and an additional full bathroom, making it possible to host another four guestsFarmer began from the ground up.I always start with the rugs and build the spaces from there, she shares. And then we always do a combination of new and vintage pieces; sofas tend to be new elements, while accessories and things like side chairs are usually vintagethey wanted everything to be used in real life, not just feel like it.And now, thanks to Farmer, theres absolutely no question how her clients will while away many lazy days and nights on the lake. Take a look inside this pine-walled getaway.1Great RoomDavid MitchellThe design of the this room was based on the rug that Farmer custom designed. From there, she mixed modern pieces like the 1960s French Pierre Chapo leather chair with aesthetic movement stools and rustic pottery. The tufted sofa was custom designed by Farmers studio, the wall sconces were sourced through Jamb, and the Bogart cocktail table is from Shoppe Amber Interiors.2Great RoomDavid MitchellIts one long space bookended by two monumental stone fireplaces, explains Farmer of this cozy space. They actually picked the specific stones for each. The wrought-iron chandelier is from Formations.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Great RoomDavid MitchellTo the right of the fireplace is a rustic early-18th century open-front bookcase with Gothic reliefs. And the window seat is really long. They wanted places to read, relax, and curl up with a book and, of course, the lake is right outside the window, says Farmer,4Dining RoomDavid MitchellThe family opted for a less formal dining room that includes a custom table with room for 10 and a set of aesthetic-style chairs upholstered in Jennifer Shorto fabric. Again, Farmer designed the generous rug that grounds the space. I felt it was important that each piece had a beautiful hand to it, she adds. And that the materials imbued this idea of a simpler, somewhat disconnected lifestyle they have when theyre here.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Dining RoomDavid MitchellThe parchment and iron pendants are from Roman Thomas, and the leather console is from BDDW.6KitchenDavid MitchellIts a very functional kitchen, and they wanted it to feel approachable, so it has a lower ceiling than the rest of the space it opens to. The cabinetry around the sink has been painted in Studio Green by Farrow & Ball. The wall behind the sink is clad in Moroccan Zellige tile, and the handmade ceramic pendant lights are by Natalie Page.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7StudyDavid MitchellIts a very cozy room, reminiscent of being on a boat, explains the designer. Its meant to feel enveloping and snugthe opposite effect you get from being in the great room. The sofa is by Dmitriy & Co., the chairs are from Nickey Kehoe in Los Angeles, and the Guillerme et Chambron cocktail table is from 1960. Overhead is a vintage midcentury Swedish pendant by Erik Hglund, and softening the floor is a vintage Moroccan rug.8Primary BedroomDavid MitchellFor the homeowners, this space is a retreat within a retreat that takes full advantage of the lake views no matter the season. Next to the chaise is a standing lamp by Jacques Adnet, and at the bedside is a ceramic lamp by Danny Kaplan Studio.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Primary BedroomDavid MitchellThe bed is from Shoppe Amber Interiors, and the oversize pillow is in a fabric from Zak+Fox. On the floor is a Moroccan flat-weave rug.10Primary BathroomDavid MitchellThey wanted it to feel elevated but have a certain simplicity to it thats in line with the rest of the property. The freestanding bathtub and fixtures are from Drummonds, the pendant light is from Jamb, and the flat-weave rug was a vintage find.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11BathroomDavid MitchellRustic and charming, this bathroom is right in line with the homes overall aesthetic. The shower and walls are clad in yellow Moroccan tiles. Jaspers Corsica wallpaper in dark saffron is a pleasant juxtaposition to the earthy tile. The pedestal sink is from Waterworks, and the Double Bubble light fixture is from Olampia in New York City.12Children's BedroomDavid MitchellIt isnt a huge spacenone of the bedrooms are overly large, shares Farmer. But all the childrens bedrooms have these Dutch doors to let air flow through and really encourage that indoor-outdoor feeling. The matching beds are from Rose Tarlow, the vintage armchair has been upholstered in Jennifer Shorto fabric, the fabric for the window treatments is from Lisa Fine Textiles, and the vintage Kilim rug was, of course, the inspiration for it all.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Bunk RoonDavid MitchellIt has a relaxed, no-fuss feeling, says Farmer. They really wanted to be able to have a lot of people sleep over, so we put in all these single wrought-iron beds and layered in vintage dressers. The beds are from Cottage Home Shoppe and the blankets are all from Pendleton. A combination of 19th- and 20th-century dressers dots the room, and for a bit of fun Farmer painted the floor in Farrow & Balls Indian Yellow. All the light fixtures are from Urban Archaeology.14PorchDavid MitchellThe epitome of indoor-outdoor living, this expansive porch is one of the familys favorite spaces all year long. The porch swing is identical to one the homeowners family had when she was young, so we custom built this one to look exactly like it as a nod to her vacations as a child. The lighting fixtures are from Urban Electric, and the mix of furnishings include pieces from Bielecky Brothers and Hollywood at Home.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15The ViewDavid MitchellThe clients built their house on a 1.6-acre plot of lakeside land in New Hampshire. Its a place the family of five can retreat to whenever inspiration strikes.

Everyone always talks about curating the perfect primary bedroom, but the guest bedroom is often a space thats left in the metaphorical (or literal!) dustfunctioning as unadorned sleeping quarters for those once-in-a-blue moon guests. To that we say, no more.Its time guest bedrooms got the respect they deserved, in the form of intentional design that either aligns with the rest of your homes decor direction or goes against the grain. After all, such rooms are tucked-in pockets of square footage that lend themselves especially well to some experimentation.Designer Melissa Lee puts it best: People redecorating a small guest room tend to default to a neutral theme to make it feel bigger, she told ELLE DECOR. That just makes me sad. Small bedrooms are the perfect opportunity to go bold with patterns and colors that make it feel cozy and inviting.Still not sure where to begin while the clock is ticking on that Christmas drop-in from the in-laws? Pretty up the space for them (it always pays off, trust us) with these 14 ideas from our ELLE DECOR archive that show the guest bedroom should be anything but secondary.1Install Contrast LightingWilliam Jess LairdIn Melissa Lees Long Island summer home project, one of the guest bedrooms features a green wall sconce from Soane Britain that serves as the true cherry on top of the space. It contrasts remarkably with the walls and ceilings red floral patterning, and we can only imagine how much more glamorous the sconce gets when its lit up. It turned out to be everyones favorite room, Lee says of the guest chambers. Why are we not surprised?2Add Softness Underfoot Noe DeWittELLE DECOR A-List designer Nick Olsen has succeeded at making the guest room in his recent Hamptons project feel homey and invitingvia spectacular yet classy pops of color, including those provided by the pictured striped wool carpet by ABC Carpet & Home. Let this be your sign to grant your guests something soft to land their feet on each morning, without sacrificing style.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Wallpaper It Up!William Jess LairdThe guest room in this breezy Key West abode, courtesy of interior design firm General Assembly, is unabashedly retro. Have a little fun with the space by wallpapering it according to the more is more approach. The wallpaper seen here is Linwoods Bangkok Nights, and its a perfect match for those striped Dedar curtainscreating domestic paradise in a paradisiacal location.4Show Them You CareBjrn WallanderWho doesnt love a personalized stay at someones home that includes touches that signify the host actually cares? This guest room, in a fashion executives home on the Greek island of Patmos, has just these kinds of touches: thanks to a coverlet sourced from a Paris flea market and a goats-wool rug crafted by local women on the island as a traditional wedding gift. Things in a guest bedroom should feel like they arent last-minute, careless additions, and this particular room is nothing if not caring.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Create a Canopy Moment Patrick BillerIn a Toronto 1880s row house, designers Tommy Smythe and Colin Baird paired up to create a guest room, among many spirited ones in the abode, that wed honestly take permanent residence in if we could. The secret ingredient? A canopied 19th-century bed decked out in blue and green fabrics, which create a visually interesting place to rest your head.6Go with a ThemeRoger DaviesFashion designers Mark Badgley and James Mischkas horse farm in Kentucky is the definition of elevated equestrian. Every stately room fits the bill, including this second guest room, which nails the theme via a vintage blanket by Ralph Lauren Home, steamer trunks used as a side table of sorts, prints with equestrian motifs, and splashes of brown and dark green throughout. The TL;DR to all this? Choose a theme for your guest bedroom redo and let your imagination run like wild horses.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Work Within Space ConstraintsPablo ZamoraIf your guest bedroom isnt lofty, dont fret: Your overnight visitors will be happy with anything more than a couch. That being said, approach a small secondary bedroom space creatively, which is what Iigo Aragn and Pablo Lpez Navarro, cofounders of the design studio Casa Josephine, did in their own Madrid apartment. The bedroom here can only accommodate a twin bed, yes, but its a carved late-18th-century walnut onecatapulted into contemporaneity by its bright cushions and linens. You heard it here first: The best things come in small packages!8Envelope the RoomSimon UptonWant to ensure your guests feel like theyre wrapped in your embrace the whole time theyre staying over? Literally envelop them in a cocoon of color and patternexactly what interior designer Emma Jane Pilkington did in a Fifth Avenue guest bedroom she created for her mother. The walls, bedspread, and lampshades are all dolled up in a Fermoie splatter print. After spending a few nights in sleeping chambers like these, theyll be seeing purple for daysss (and penning a thank-you card after).Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Go the Two-Bed RouteRoger DaviesIf you frequently host couples (or else people who wouldnt mind sharing a room with each other while they crash at your place), maximize the space with a two-bed situation. In the Ojai, California, vacation home of ELLE DECOR A-List designers Eric Hughes and Nathan Turner, the couple made sure to bypass dormitory vibes through side-by-side beds that are as fun-loving as they are upscale: boasting headboards in a Colefax and Fowler check and similarly checkered bedspreads by Schoolhouse. Are the beds matchy-matchy? Maybe, but in an ultimately endearing way tich were eager to replicate ASAP.10Add Airy and Modern TouchesTrevor TondroThanks to the help of interior designer Jake Alexander Arnold, actress Sophia Bush renovated her midcentury Hollywood home to tip-top levels: A fact thats clearly proven by this guest bedroom, which benefits from a certain kind of California-cool aesthetic. Want to achieve similar results? Take a page from Arnold's inclusion of those vintage stools at the foot of the bed (from County Ltd.), pendants that sub in for bedside lamps (the one you see is by Gubi), and a sunny color palette.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Try Some TextilesDan ArnoldOf course Pat McGanna prominent L.A.-based furniture and textiles dealerwould curate a textured paradise in the guest room of her 1930s Spanish-style home in the Hollywood Hills. On the daybed (another space-saving hack for such spaces, btw), Pat McGann Workshop pillows in an Indian block print and a Guatemalan blanket come together to provide a pitch-perfect global look. That early-20th-century Mahal rug from Iran, however, is the real zinger.12Give Em Space (with an Armoire)Simon WatsonEvery guest, especially if theyre the kind to stay long-term, wants space at some point (from you, for their clothes, etc.). Give them just that in the form of an armoire flanking the bed, like the pictured one in the guest bedroom of this Veere Grenneydesigned London townhouse. It comes in a pair and holds a secretits got scooped-out cubbies that function as a nightstand! Absolutely genius.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Dont Forget the GreeneryWilliam WaldronIn late author Julia Reeds New Orleans dwelling, the guest room was clearly a spot her beagle, Henry, favored a lot. Wed favor it, too, if we got to hang out amid that sourced-from-Afghanistan suzani, sophisticated furniture, and mood-boosting walls (in Benjamin Moores Elephant Tusk, for the curious). What elevates the room to new heights, however, is the sculptural, voluminous plant arrangement on the bedside table. All this is to say: Dont forget the flowers (or the branches!) when your guests move in.14Play with the HeadboardKelly MarshallThough this is technically not a guest room but the kids room in what was once ELLE DECORs Manhattan penthouse (designed by ELLE DECOR A-List firm Fox Nahem Associates), we chose to include it in this roundup for that headboard alone. Yes, the plush one in four distinct colorsmade by Savoir and upholstered in Dedar velvet. Its certainly bright, working in tandem with the rooms equally eye-catching nightstands, contemporary artworks, and blue-trimmed bed linens. Go ahead, upholster the guest rooms headboard in your own home. Your visitors will soon be telling everyone that youre the best DIY designer, and friend, theyve ever known.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.

As far as design showcases go, Salon Art + Design is unique in its position as the nexus of its dual namesakes: fine art and collectible design. Founded in 2012 by the late Sanford L. Smith, Salon, which opens this Thursday at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City, is now in the hands of executive director Nicky Dessources. Her goal? Expand the fairs mission while upholding Smiths legacy of creativity and passion. I want to continue the atmosphere of warmth and accessibility, Dessources tells ELLE DECOR. Gallerists can essentially bring whatever they want. That freedom is excitingfor them and for the audience, because you never know what you might find.To that end, Dessources inaugurated a Design and Art Advisory Council, including many ELLE DECOR A-List talents: Kelly Behun, Jeremiah Brent, Andre Mellone, and Christine and John Gachot. The fair will also offer dynamic programming like Salon Conversations, a highlight of which is a panel discussion between David Kleinberg, actress Julianne Moore, author and gallerist Evan Lobel, and New YorksBrad Thornton, a dedicated caf space by frenchCALIFORNIA dubbed the Parlor, and a display of miniatures by Studio Giancarlo Valle. I want design to be present in every aspect of the space, says Dessources. It has to function, but I also want it to be creative. From cocktail rings to cocktail tables, here are a few of the most exciting booths well be checking out at the 13th edition of Salon Art + Design. 1Studio Giancarlo Valles Miniatures Courtesy Studio Giancarlo ValleIn addition to a unique entryway design and dedicated caf space, the fair will also host a site-specific miniatures installation that highlights Studio Giancarlo Valles use of dollhouse-like maquettes. I think its really important to see, in terms of understanding an interior designers process, says Dessources. Pieces on view will include a handmade clay sofa, a 3D-printed table, and a detailed model of the dining pavilion for a recently completed villa in St. Barts.2Head-Turning JewelsCourtesy Fernando JorgeWe added jewelry [to our programming] for the first time last year, says Dessources. Its something that weve always wanted to do but werent sure it was the right time. It turned out to be hugely successful. This year will see Brazilian jeweler Fernando Jorge debut his sculptural pieces on the floor, while Elisabetta Cipriani will showcase a collaboration with renowned artist Michele Oka Doner.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Sequined Lampshades Angela HauFor the first time this year, the Female Design Council (FDC) has a designated space to highlight women designers of the moment. Organized by founder Lora Appleton, the FDC Member Presentation will showcase eight women from six studios, including Megan Somerville of Materia, who will be showing her studios latest lighting collection, Plateau, which features lampshades comprised of hundreds of handsewn parchment sequins.4Global GalleristsMorgane Lay & Jonny CochraneA number of young galleries will debut at the fair this year, including London-based Crosta Smith, with a booth designed by Martin Brl, and the Brazilian studio Bossa Furniture, which opened a space in Chelsea earlier this year. [Bossa] founder Isabela Milagre is a trailblazer in the industry, says Dessources. Their collection features masterpieces by renowned designers such as Lina Bo Bardi and Sergio Rodrigues, along with contemporary artists like Juliana Vasconcellos.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Black Folks in DesignKelly MarshallThe nonprofit network Black Folks in Design, founded by the award-winning interior designer Little Wing Lee, will unveil their its exhibition with Amauri Aguiars collectible design gallery Verso, also making its Salon debut. Entitled Spotlight III, the booth will feature work by artists and designers including Michael Bennet, founder of Studio Ker, as well as Jonas Damon, Asmite, and more. I want the fair to be a space that fosters a diverse range of backgrounds and genres, says Dessources. By creating inclusive spaces and opportunities, we can challenge the status quo and celebrate a wide range of perspectives.6Jeremy Andersons Inventive CeramicsEthan HerringtonLondon-based Gallery FUMI is turning over their entire booth to the ceramic artist Jeremy Anderson, whose debut solo presentation, The Space Inside, will feature table lamps, chandeliers, sconces, and floor lamps made of wheel-thrown components. The emotive lights, outfitted in beads and with new material combinations including blown glass and wood, will be shown alongside a series of Art Nouveauinspired tables.Sean SantiagoDeputy EditorSean Santiago is ELLE Decor's Deputy Editor, covering news, trends and talents in interior design, hospitality, travel, and luxury. He writes the So Courant! column for the magazine and elledecor.com.

paint companies and trend forecasters are placing their bets on what colors are poised to dominate the design worldand now its time to take stock of whats in store for the coming year. But first, context: Last year, we saw a jolting amalgamation of preppy pinks and moody darks (inspired by the Barbenheimer infatuation), alongside a collective obsession of any rendition of blue (which we saw manifest in living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, and yes, even cronuts). It was a year of warm tones, quiet interiors, and an embrace of the chromatic hits of the 90s and early aughts (with pops of unexpected red).Moving into 2025, however, the Y2K conversation has started to wane and designers are looking to the decades earlier years for inspiration. Art Deco is roaring back into style, alongside anything folky (not to mention all the Renaissance princes and Tudor kings Vogue spotted on the runway this fall). What does that mean for 2025 color trends? Were poised for a resurgence of colors that are, as experts seem to keep putting itmuddied.Complex muddier pink, purple, green, and yellow tones that have earthy, grounded bases, ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ghislaine Vias says is what she anticipates.Shades that evoke the calm patina of natural materials, A-Lister architect Hannes Peer adds.Earthy and moody tones that are, well, muddied, Etsy trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson echoes.Sure, brown isnt going anywher, but were looking at it in a whole new way. Think desaturated greens, understated ochers, and dusty blues that speak not to brawniness but to the idea of soft power.I foresee a shift toward introspective colors, tones that feel familiar yet nuanced, with a subtle complexity that invites reflection, Peer says. Rather than fleeting trends, these colors carry a depth that feels enduring, rooted in a timeless narrative thats meaningful and lasting.Even the color queen (and ELLE DECOR A-List designer), Vias, known for experimenting with bold colors and unexpected color pairings that push the envelope, says shes open to muddying her paint palette this year. Everyone is saying that brown is back and going to become the new millennial pink, Vias says. Personally, I am more drawn to complex muddier pink, purple, green, and yellow tones that have earthy, grounded bases.So without further ado, we present to you the six colors that are poised to reign supreme in 2025. From sophisticated eggplants to dusty terra-cottas to rich chocolate browns, were ready to get down and dirty.Truffle BrownRich StapletonA rich brown bedroom in the Los Angeles home of David Alhadeff.First things first, the mother of all colors this year: brown. Earlier this year, brown was being championed by paint companies on both sides of the Atlantic as the It color of 2024. They werent wrong. Having crept in slowly on the heels of neutrals like flax, oatmeal, and cream, the color is showing no sign of slowing down.Stainmaster, a flooring and paint brand from Lowes, named Truffle, a rich chocolate-meets-taupe, their COTY. Truffle complements a wide range of styles, from modern minimalism to rustic chic and layers beautifully with a broad palette of colors from soft neutral hues to deep bold palettes, truly elevating the style of any space, Monica Reese, Lowes director of trend and style, said in a press release.For Etsys Johnson, these earthy tones are already beginning to pop across a wide range of categories in the retail world. From wooden ornaments, wall art, and dried florals and garlands to soft blankets and soothing palettes of neutral browns, were seeing a strong trend of shoppers embracing these colors in all aspects of their homes, she explains. These hues represent a return to comforting neutrals that showcase relaxing creativity unlike the recent bold colors that have been taking over.Eggplant PurpleDavid LandDanielle Fennoy brazenly drenched the bedroom in this Brooklyn residencein Farrow & Balls richly colored Brinjal, a gorgeous aubergine hue.Trend forecasters have been purporting that purple is the interior color of the moment for some time now, and it seems were seeing that play out as predicted. On the runways, the hue was proudly brandished in the form of periwinkle suits, lilac knitwear, and lavender-patterned dresses. That was before a new hue named Digital Lavender unseated Millennial Pink with Prince-like zeal. And then the COTY announcements rolled in: Minwaxs annointed hue? Violet. Glidden Paint by PPGs follow-up announcement? Purple Basil. Sherwin-Williams crowned Mauve Finery among its colors of the year. By the time Benjamin Moores color bet slid in (Cinnamon Slate, a muddied, heathered plum), it started feeling ridiculous.ELLE DECOR A-List designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard says hes seen eggplant purple everywhere lately, and hes here for it. Ill see all sorts of fabrics in this tone as the background to patterns as well as solids and textures, he says. This deep sexy tone will be used in both painted rooms and lacquered rooms and in furniture. The color has a sensuality to it that radiates warmth and drama.And that doesnt just go for paint. Katibelle Sharkey, the creative director at BAS Stone, a stone yard located in New York City, is calling purple the new neutral in interiors, seeing demand for it in everything from veined marble to cabinet finishes. We anticipate purple staying strong in 2025, with new variations like purple stone interlaced with greens and oranges adding distinctive layers to designs, she adds.Dusty RedTim LenzA sophisticated dusty red dining room in a Manhattan apartment designed by Pappas Miron.Red had its moment in the spotlight last year, hitting the fall 2023 runways and interiors with unabashed bravado. This year, weve evolved, opting for a muted version of this dramatic shade. Paprika is a little more serious than terra-cotta, but not as predictable as red, says designer Elizabeth Young. I caught a glimpse of this color recently on travels and then noticed it popping up all over, in leather goods (the most amazing Loewe bag) fabrics, and tile.This rich hue pairs well with most colors, adding a little drama and bringing even the dullest spaces to life, Young adds. For softies, try it with a beautiful cream or apricot, and for those who want to make a statement go with black. And although I love it taking over the room in either paint or tile, the color is equally dramatic with just a splash either as a sofa or drapery.Vias, too, has taken a liking to this dialed-down version of red, opting for pops of terra-cotta that bring warmth without feeling overwhelming. In the past Ive mainly used color to energize a space; however, as our world becomes ever more chaotic, Ive been searching for calm in colors, she explains. I find they work best as more foundational tones that are ideal for sofas, chairs, or the bases of any significant pieces in a room. How very unexpected.On the stone front, Sharkey says theyve noticed a demand for rich, vintage-inspired colors in light of the resurgence of Art Deco in interiors. When it comes to stone selection, designers are gravitating toward reds, burgundies, and bluish greens swirled with warm yellow coloring, she says. We recently debuted a selection of Calacatta Turquoise, which quickly became a new favorite and has nearly sold out.ChartreuseWilliam AbranowiczFor his Paris pied--terre, So Paulobased decorator Sig Bergamin tastefully brought in chartreuse accents.After the meteoric rise of the red trend last year, its not surprising that were ready for a cheery hue that can take the back seat. Enter: chartreuse. Its not exactly lemon yellow nor brat green. In fact, it acts as more of a neutral when paired with darker tonesand were betting that its about to go supernova. It has been everywhere for the past five seasons, says Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williamss color marketing director. Were seeing it on the runways, on the streets. And more recently, it was included in their colors of the year rollout. As for implementing it in the home, Wadden recommends using it in small doses in accent pieces. It can be paired with a rich gold like Bosc Pear, which Wadden says is also on the rise.Dusty BlueSimon UptonIn the living room of aMiddle Eastern princessAnother introspective color that Peer predicts will hit it out of the park in 2025 is what he calls dusty blue, a hue he says he expects to see become central to creating personal and curated spaces at home. For Peer, this color will likely appear as a subtle accent, as people gravitate toward palettes that evoke memory and history, transforming spaces into places that feel deeply rooted. Its less about bold, attention-grabbing shades and more about crafting an ambience that feels calming and timeless, the architect says.This muted blue is a versatile color with universal appeal that works with various aesthetics, Arianna Barone, the color marketing manager at Benjamin Moore, tells ELLE DECOR. If youre hesitant about bringing bolder or deeper colors to your space, this color is a great introduction to more colorful hues, she says. She advises bringing it into common areas and transitional spaces like living rooms, kitchens, and hallways for an added layer.Muddy PinkKelly MarshallWith blush-tinted walls in her Los Angeles home, Mara Brock Akil call this her ros room.The past year has seen a revival in all things girlhood. Trends like Barbiecore, balletcore, coquette, and bow-tied everything are a reclamation of femininity. So of course, pink is on our radar (and all over TikTok). And in the same vein that burgundy is the new red, were here for a pink with brown undertones. Paint company Little Greene called it early on in color trend season, naming Mochi, a rich light brown with peachy pink undertones, their COTY. Rich warm colors deliver cocooning, restful, and charming spaces and are perfect for creating enticing and sumptuous spaces within our homes, Ruth Mottershead, creator director at Little Greene, said in a statement. Mottershead recommends playing up the more traditional elements of a room by pairing Mochi with greens and grays for a grounded, earthy feel. A rich, dark brown too would make for an inviting contemporary space.Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

The term French country kitchens gets a lot of love in the interior design world, seeing as how this aesthetic effortlessly merges form with function, as well as lived-in rustic charm with a kind of understated glamour. Think of such kitchens as adhering to a kind of straight-out-of-Provence cottagecore styleto the tune of exposed wood beams, slightly weathered finishes, vintage furniture finds, soft fabrics, and lots of space to cut Comt cheese for your backyard picnic.French-born ELLE DECOR A-List designer Robert Couturier, who recently parted with his Normandy villa in favor of living in New Yorks Harlem neighborhood, shares a few precious pieces of advice for anyone trying to nail the look. A [country] kitchen has to be clean, very bright, and have tons of antique copper pots and pans. It should always smell of pastries cooking! he tells us. Mine in France was like that. I am not so keen on eating in the kitchen, so I only kept a bridge table and four chairs [there].Realistically speaking, you dont need to reside in the French countryside to have a country kitchen of your own. Here, weve rounded up 20 ideashandpicked from the ELLE DECOR archives and beyondfor replicating the look no matter what your abodes coordinates are. One things for certain: Youll be saying oui to these endearing cooking quarters in no time, and well be right there with you.1Embrace Folksy LightingWilliam Jess LairdCountry kitchens skip the bling and instead tap into decor that exudes warmth, like this vintage oak chandelier by Guillerme and Chambron in a Connecticut country home kitchen designed by Jenna Chused. It's a perfect match for the vintage oak table beneath, and those fabric shades add to the room's overall aura of elevated softness.2Play Around with ColorStephan JulliardWhile country kitchens frequently bear neutral or earthen hues, this tableau from ELLE DECOR A-Lister Jean-Louis Deniot's le de R home proves that a little vibrancy never hurt anyone. The white-and-blue cabinets seen here are custom-made to fit into the residence's larger theme of "bright colors and some slightly childish touches, per Deniot.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Buy a Wooden TableDominique NabokovBored by the typical kitchen island? Replace it with a farmhouse table, like this one in French clothing designer Agns b's home outside Versailles. She sourced it at a Parisian flea market, and the natural wear-and-tear blends perfectly with the overhead lamp's patina. Sleek and shiny surfaces begone!4Go with a Checkerboard FloorPascal ChevallierName something more classic than checkerboard flooring, we'll wait. In the kitchen of Jean-Louis Deniot's historic manor near the Chteau de Chantilly, this particular design element is all too happy to be the star of the showcontrasting with the walls, painted in Cooking Apple Green by Farrow & Ball, and striped curtains made out of a fabric by Deniot himself. For pushing the "French country kitchen" vibes to the max, consider decking out your floors with intentionally weathered tiles.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Keep it Out in the Open!Rachael SmithCountry kitchens would have a field day with concealed, nothing-on-the-countertops kitchens of today. As this scene from Suzie de Rohan Willner's English country home so clearly conveys, keeping all your ingredients and cookbooks visible and within easy reach will achieve a homey, lived-in feel. De Rohan Willner intentionally designed her bright green kitchen cabinets to resemble the shelves in a French grocery store. Spectaculaire!6Go the Floating Shelves RouteDouglas FriedmanNot a fan of cabinets or short on space? Place your pots, pans, and other Julia Childapproved kitchen essentials on floating shelves, as Robert Couturier did in an New York townhouse's kitchen. It might all eventually devolve into a lovable, stainless steel mess, but that can always be remedied via the orderliness of a classic checkerboard floor (see design idea #4!). Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Expose Those TimbersHaris KenjarI didnt want anything fancy or overly designed, but instead more casual and collected," says interior designer Heidi Caillier of the kitchen in her 18th-century Bedford, New York, home. The ceiling's original timber beams and wood counter stools from Summer Studio surely contribute to the whole cool, calm, and collected look, so it's safe to say Caillier's wishes manifested in the best of ways.8Let the Range Hood Speak VolumesJames MerrellOver-the-stove range hoods have potential to be the most eye-catching element in a kitchen, so why not make them as striking as can be? In this retreat off the coast of Scotland, Vanessa Branson (Richard Branson's sister) made a custom hood that benefits from a chalky black paint job and is in fluid conversation with that vintage table and chairs set.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Avoid Being Too Matchy-MatchyDouglas FriedmanThe key (or at least one of them) to nailing a country kitchen aesthetic is to tie together seemingly disparate elements, as George Kolasa did in his Hamptons cooking spacebypassing a kitchen island in favor of a table made of salvaged wood from the houses shed, topped with gleaming white marble. The distressed wooden touches save the space from being predictable, and we're so here for it.10Decorate with FlowersWilliam AbranowiczWe have a small confession to make: This actually isn't a kitchen but fashion consultant Michael Carey's potting and laundry room in his upstate New York residence. Still, it demonstrates the power of invigorating country-like interiors with floralsspecifically, with a lot of them. This jubilant mix makes it seem as if the homeowner has just come back from cutting bouquet selections from their own garden, and isn't that a fairytale scenario?Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Fall for FabricsDylan ThomasAs this dining area adjacent to decorator Rita Konig's English farmhouse kitchen makes clear, an abundance of fabrics is never a bad idea. Here, curtains of a Lee Jofa stripe play off the cushion fabrics (of particular note is that gingham-printed chair next to the artichoke artwork in the background!). The result? A space we'd love to linger in over a nice bowl of lentil soup.12Skip the White CabinetryWinnie AuLeave it to star chef Daniel Boulud to renovate his Westchester County, New York, country kitchen in the most optimal way possible. "My city kitchen is sleek, with clean lines and lots of chrome, but I wanted my country kitchen a little softer, calling to mind a Provenal farmhouse," Boulud told ELLE DECOR back in 2020. "My wife and I designed it together, settling on cabinets in robins-egg blue, creamy quartz countertops, and a chandelier that drips with lemons, which we brought back from a flea market in the south of France." If incorporating all of those touches seems too overwhelming for now, we recommend absorbing just one bit of inspiration from this airy vignette: the cabinetry's life-affirming hue, specifically Benjamin Moores Lake Placid. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Adorn with Brass HardwareRoger DaviesIn the Kentucky kitchen of fashion designers Mark Badgley and James Mischka, the subway-tiled backsplash and chic pendant lights are gorgeous, no doubt, but what really stands out is all that brasssink fittings by Newport Brass included. Let this be your sign to not overlook cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, and other hardware when masterminding your upcoming country kitchen design!14Hang Up a Pot RackOfficine GulloItalian kitchen design company Officine Gullo knows how to outfit the perfect space for whipping up some bistecca alla Fiorentinadesigned a kitchen that is the epitome of Tuscan country chic, and we particularly adore that pot rack anchored to the vaulted red brick ceiling. Such a decor choice merges style and functionalityultimately making it easier to have everything you need on hand for a legendary cooking night, every night.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Give the Floors an Organic FeelEric PiaseckiSay no to linoleum and install floors that have a more down-to-earth feel to them, like these reclaimed French limestone ones in Istvan Francer's rural Connecticut kitchen. This material may be understated, but that will allow it to serve as a kind of carte blanche for bolder elements to take center stage (case in point: those red metal stools).16Throw In an Accent PieceDouglas FriedmanWhile this kitchenpart of designer Jeffrey Bilhuber's Jackson Hole, Wyoming, projectmight look too appliance-heavy to qualify as "rustic," that bleached-wood side tabl comes in to save the day and, indeed, make the kitchen fit the farmhouse bill. Standing on a chevron floor, it's a truly delightful addition.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Place the Sink in the Kitchen IslandSimon UptonEvery country kitchen needs a sink where you can wash the fresh produce you inevitably have on hand (it fits the whole "cottagecore" image, okay?), and placing it in a location as central as the kitchen island makes this especially easy. The pictured island, part of a kitchen in London designed by ELLE DECOR A-List firm Studio Peregalli Sartori, has another swoonworthy peculiarity: It's made from a 19th-century cast-iron stove!18Curate a Pitch-Perfect BacksplashAndreas von Einsiedel//Getty ImagesIf you end up not keeping your OG kitchen walls intact and want to get more creative with the backsplash, consider replicating the look of this country kitchen in the Cotswolds. A part of it is outfitted with Delft tiles, whose ornate designs add visual interest to a space otherwise dominated by lots of wood and copper.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Savor SeasonalityAnna Efetova//Getty ImagesHow would a 19th-century French countryside dweller dress their own kitchen? Why, they'd let the fresh harvest do all the talking! For truly tapping into the aesthetic's earthiness, pepper your kitchen interiors with out-in-the-open produce and, as seen here, seasonal finds like gourds. They add a pop of color without much effort on your part, and you can have a ball swapping out the selections depending on what grows in your garden as the months go by.20Make the Room GlowAndreas von Einsiedel//Getty ImagesFor a truly moody and sensuous setup, add the following finishing touch to your new country kitchen: real candles. And not just anywhere, but dotting a chandelier that hangs above a wooden farmhouse tableexactly what's been done in this cozy German home. Choose black tapered candles for some intrigue if the room is pastel-dominant.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.

This article originally appeared in the October 2014 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.Jean-Franois Lesage used to live above the embroidery workshop he runs in an Arts and Craftsstyle house in Chennai, India. As the business grew, however, space became an issue. One day, I found myself with craftsmen embroidering just outside my bedroom door, he recalls. I figured it was time to move before they ended up working on my bed!The spacious apartment he discovered, in a nearby area called Poes Garden, is on the top floor of a 1980s Art Deco-style building that stands out for its grand entry hall. The buildings slightly idiosyncratic designer was an engineer and astrophysicist named Basu John, whose widow still lives across the hallway from Lesage. There are lots of square feet that serve no purpose and rooms with strange angles, he says. Richard PowersThe sitting rooms hand-embroidered rug is by Lesage Intrieurs, the votive dolls are early 20th century, and the gilt-wood wings on the floor are Baroque; Lesage bought the lamp 20 years ago from a surgery-tool shop and found the 1920s fresco fragments on the street.Lesages unit has a triangular dining area and an immense kitchen. There are also countless balconies, a central courtyard open to the elements, and a staircase that leads from the mezzanine overlooking the living room to a roof terrace. With all the air circulating, it feels almost like living in a ship thats run aground, he jokes.Lesage comes from a family with beads and gold thread in their blood. They have been embroiderers since the 1860s, and his late father, Franois, was a legend in the fashion world who worked on couture collections for everyone from Coco Chanel and Cristbal Balenciaga to Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. Richard PowersThe spiral staircase that leads from the mezzanine to the rooftop was installed by the buildings architect, Basu John; an embroidered-velvet panel remains on its original embroidery frame, the Indian model of an English villa is 19th century, a 17th-century bronze oil lamp sits atop a 19th-century table, and the mirror is a Lesage design.His own commissions have been no less distinguished. They include the restoration of Louis XVs crown for the Louvre and a set of red-and-gold curtains for the presidential palace in Delhi. Lesages specialty, however, is creating embroideries for interiors, and he has collaborated with top French designers including Franois-Joseph Graf and Jacques Grange. His work is unbelievably luxurious, declares another client, Jean-Louis Deniot. Adds the ELLE DECOR A-List Titan Robert Couturier, The sense of creativity and level of sophistication Jean-Franois brings to his work is really quite exceptional.Richard PowersA cabinet in the dining room holds 18th- and 19th-century fertility figurines, a painting by Lesages sister, Marion, and a photograph of fashion designer Jeanne Lanvin. Lesage, who grew up in Versailles, first visited India at the age of 19 and immediately felt like a fish in water. Im much more at home in societies where theres a certain sense of chaos, he explains. With his business associate Patrick Savouret, Lesage settled in Chennai in 1993, after discovering an age-old community of embroiderers in the nearby town of Sriperumbudur. Today, 200 of them are under his employment. And while hes clearly found an extraordinary talent pool to craft the yards of embroidery for his business, its the locals themselves who make these fineries come to life.Theres also a sort of languor, which I find agreeable.In many ways, his apartment is in complete contrast to the aesthetic of the region, with its abundance of bright, candy-color temples. His walls are mainly white, and the floors are a dark green slate from Rajasthan. There is also a certain sobriety in the choice of objects. Its very soothing, he explains. When youre surrounded by vivid hues all the time, and its so hot, you dont want to be stifled by an overabundance of things. Richard PowersIn another bedroom, the rosewood bed and wall behind it are covered with re-embroidered Indian textiles, and the 1960s lamps were designed for film shootsThe majority of the furnishings he surrounds himself with were acquired in India. He avows a love of portraits, collects votive temple lamps from the 17th to 19th centuries, and has a host of statuettes offered as fertility gifts at religious festivals. Lesage comes from a family with beads and gold thread in their blood.Many acquisitions have interesting stories attached. An armchair in the living room originally belonged to the Madras high court, which transported itself to the mountains during the sweltering summer months. It has screws everywhere so it can be completely dismantled, he points out. Nearby are a pair of terra-cotta temple statues, bought from a well-born antiques dealer who resisted social pressures to open her own gallery, since it is taboo in the state of Tamil Nadu for women from important families to have careers.Richard PowersA daybed on the mezzanine is covered with a fabric by Lesage Intrieurs, the chair is from the 1950s, and the 14th-century sculpture is of a Hindu deity. Even embroidery is kept to a minimum here. Exceptions include a few prototypes still on their looms, the curtains in the dining room edged with a Louis XV motif, and an assortment of trompe loeil animal-skin rugs sewn with wool thread. I like little poetic nods to the British Raj, he says.Perhaps another gesture that harkens to those earlier times is his open-door policy at home. Ive never had keys to any of my homes in India, he says. One of the luxuries of living here is you can have full-time staff, so you dont need to worry about security. Often, Lesage will come home to find his neighbor from across the hall in his sitting room. When we leave both our flats open, it forms a huge space filled with beautiful things, he says. She feels at home at my place, just as I do in hers. It really is such an agreeable way of life!Tour Jean-Franoises quirky apartment in India This story originally appeared in the October 2014 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

Its been said that a friend in need is a friend indeed. If that reliable friend happens to be in-demand interior designer Joe Lucas, even better. So, when a flair for help shot up over Los Feliz, its no surprise the Los Angelesbased designer answered the call without hesitation. Theyre two of our best friends, Lucas says about homeowners JP Richards and Michael Elder, who landed an incredible 6,100-square-foot Spanish Revival property hidden at the end of a cul-de-sac. JP grew up in Los Angeles and had always dreamed about having a big Spanish house in the hills.Karyn MilletThis was actually the room we did last because it was such a beastit could have taken up the budget for an entire house, A custom rounded sofa from Harbinger, a pair of chairs from Soho Home, and two live-edge wood cocktail tabletops found in France create a layered conversation area.Built in 1928, the five-bedroom, four full- and two half-bathroom property, dubbed Casa Vista, offers sweeping views from Pasadena all the way to Santa Monica but, on the inside, required Lucass design savvy to make the homeowners dream a reality. When they moved in, it needed a lot of love, recalls Lucas, who founded his eponymous firm in 2005 and, three years later, opened the first of two Harbinger design showrooms. The kitchen was out of date and the bathrooms were a wreck, but the bones were really goodand the views! It had been left somewhat dilapidated and poorly renovated in 60s and 70s, and almost completely stripped of what made it so special, adds Richards, an entertainment industry executive currently helming Lionsgates worldwide marketing division. We really wanted to bring it back to its former glory. Karyn MilletIn the entry, the table is from Obsolete, the ceramic vessels were found at Lawson-Fenning, and the lighting above the staircase is from Apparatus. The sculptural piece underneath the railing was found on one of the groups excursions to France.The first order of business was to refinish the floors and slap a fresh coat of white paint on the walls throughout the three-level manse. After that, they just lived there trying to figure out whether theyd want to spend more time on one side of the house or the other, Lucas says.Once the homes optimal flow was figured out, the designer enlisted award-winning architect Tim Barber to redesign several spaces, including the kitchen and dining room, and immediately got to work himself outfitting the hillside residence. Karyn MilletThis seating area includes a table from Lawson-Fenning and a set of vintage chairs that belonged to the homeowners. The carpet is from Stark.The couple also joined Lucas on a few European buying trips for his showroom where, occasionally, the designer had to lay some ground rules. Id say, Remember I have first right of refusal for Harbinger, otherwise, if you like something, we can buy it for your place, Lucas says with a laugh. Actually, theyre constantly shopping for the house on their ownwhich is usually a designers worst nightmarebut thankfully they have really good taste!Karyn MilletJP Richards and Michael Elder with their twins, Jack and Vivian, and three dogs. This house wouldnt be this house without Joe, says Elder.In the midst of outfitting the home, Lucass friends announced plans for another expansionone that would entail the addition of a nursery. Through the help of a surrogate, and after many heart-pounding months of planning, the couple became first-time parents to twins Jack and Vivian. From the beginning, they definitely saw the house as a place to raise kids, shares Lucas. Now, a year and a half into parenthoodwith three dogs to round out the householdthe young family is embracing life at Casa Vista thanks to a little help from their friend. This house wouldnt be this house without Joe, says Elder.Step Inside This Breathtaking Los Feliz Home

Wreaths are nonnegotiables come Christmastime, but that doesnt mean its easy to choose precisely which one to buy. Should you go the fresh wreath route, spice up your entryway with a bauble-based one, or else stick to an unconventional color scheme and invest in a yellow (yes, yellow!) wreath? There are as many opportunities to play around with this essential decor piece during the holidays as there are tastes and styles. We can all agree on one thing, though: Sprucing up your doors with a pretty wreath is an elegant and simple way to add cheer to your home. I love to decorate with live, lush wreaths, Charleston, South Carolina and New Yorkbased event designer Gregory Blake Sams tells ELLE DECOR. They highlight the unity and warmth of the season.Before you break out the boughs and bows, however, take the size of your space into consideration. Sams, for one, suggests to scale appropriately when selecting them. Oversize items can make a dramatic difference, he says. Any room can be brought to life by placing overscaled greens and garlands to add drama. In other words, wreath the roomliterally. To make your wreath acquisitions easier in 2024, weve rounded up the 30 best Christmas wreath ideas to shop right now. Theyre all guaranteed to bring sheer glee to your holiday season, and who doesnt need more of that?1Oriental Cherry Norfolk Pine Wreath $40 at AmazonIt's hard for us to pick just one thing we love the most about this wreath, because its jute twine, velvet bow, and cutesy lil' bells are all tied in that category. Though this product isn't fresh, it sure looks that way. (No one has to know.)2Creative Displays, Inc. Grapevine WreathNow 10% Off$139 at PerigoldHydrangeas, wheat, and magnolia leaves make this wreath a picture-perfect addition to your home in any season. Yes, you heard that right: Feel free to reuse it after December comes and goes (it's artificial, after all, so it will never, ever dry out on you).Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Global Goods Partners Felt Holiday Wreath$52 at Food52This gem is handcrafted from felted wool by female artisans in Nepal, so it's safe to say purchasing it is a win-win. The texture will also instantly soften sleek, modern interiors. 4Sggvecsy Red Berry Wreath$19 at AmazonThough this wreath initially comes in tightened form for packaging purposes, you can easily fluff out its iron wire branches to ensure those faux red berries achieve their full potential. After that, go wildhanging it in whichever corner of your home needs the most seasonal TLC.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Yastouay Christmas Wreath$31 at Amazon"The price is really good...for this slightly chaotic yet festive wreath," one Amazon reviewer candidly reports about the item. "I've never seen a wreath quite like it." Slightly chaotic wreaths are right up our alley in 2024, and we're quite starry-eyed for the pine cones, acorns, cottage houses, green ribbons, and candy canes that stud this one.6Salzburg Creations Brilliant Frost Candle Wreath$90 at Bergdorf GoodmanNo detail is unaccounted for in this wreath, decked out as it is with glitter, gems, beads, and baubles. Its white, gold, and silver color palette will make it an easy addition to any interior. Eye candy incoming!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7World Market Snowy Bottlebrush Wreath with Deer$25 at World MarketBased on trend forecasts, 2024 is shaping out to be the year of anti-traditional Christmas decorspecifically manifested in "a return to the jubilant palettes of the 90s," as our associate editor Rachel Silva recently reported. This retro wreath certainly fits the bill, and if you think that pink deer with tinsel around its neck is too kitsch, think again.8Pottery Barn Lit Twinkling Cluster Wreath$229 at Pottery BarnThis particular wreath's LED lights blink on and off, mimicking twinkling stars. Get it in "warm white" or "cool white" colorways, depending on the vibes you want to channel this Yuletide.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Rosecliff Heights Coastal Shell Wreath$95 at WayfairThis wreathmade out of shells, driftwood, and twigsis giving "sold all my assets and moved to the coast." We love its slightly faded shades of blue, coral, and turquoise, making for a counterintuitive take on Christmas decor.10National Tree Company Pre-Lit Star-Shaped WreathNow 29% OffOh, baby: This wreath's a stunner. Its frosted, LED-studded branches and pine cones are charming, but what really seals the deal is that star shape. Circles are sooo 2023, after all.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Balsam Hill Lit Wooden Advent WreathNow 10% Off$179 at Balsam HillA wreath that doubles as an advent calendar is our definition of a Christmas miracle. This one allows you to illuminate a tiny, wooden house for each passing day in December. If you love it, buy it ASAP: Reviewers report this item selling like hotcakes and then being unavailable for many consecutive seasons.12Williams Sonoma Red Velvet Live Wreath$130 at Williams SonomaThis 18-inch beauty is lush and real: boasting dried botanicals like celosia, salal, phalaris, globe amaranth, myrtle, and cedar (if you had to Google what half of those are, we're right there with you). Hang it over your front door to play it safe, or else be bold and experimentative by placing the wreath over your bed, say, or stove.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Terrain Fresh Boxwood Wreath$88 at TerrainThere's nothing like a fresh wreathespecially one that smells like a winter forest!to evoke the true spirit of Noel. This boxwood one is your solution to having a trad yet stylish holiday. Terrain recommends spritzing it with water daily to keep those leaves as buoyant and green as possible. 14MacKenzie-Childs Jubilee Christmas Wreath$349 at Bergdorf GoodmanIf you don't hear the brand name MacKenzie-Childs and immediately think of the most whimsical, Alice in Wonderlandadjacent home decor, well, you should. This wreath has us wishing Christmas was a biannual occurrence. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Pottery Barn Faux Lit Mixed Berries Wreath$149 at Pottery BarnMixed berries, crabapples, pinecones, and evergreens? All in one artful and sophisticated wreath arrangement? Brb, we're buying 20 of these for good measure.16Crate & Barrel Faux Red Mini Berry Wreath$149 at Crate & BarrelThis wreath is nothing if not vibrant. Its tiny, ruby-red berries (faux ones, of course!) will ensure your holiday setup is as eye-catching as can be this year. When placed over an off-white door, the wreath will look especially stunning. Trust us.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Afloral Norfolk Pine Wreath$58 at afloral.comThe Norfolk pine wreath is an artificial option that could fool family and friends with the greenest of thumbs. Never again will you have to worry about branches falling off or drying out with this gift that keeps on givingyear after merry year.18Williams Sonoma Magnolia Live Wreath$100 at Williams SonomaThe velvety brown undersides of magnolia leaves, combined with their rich green top sides, make for the most elegant holiday wreath. Your homes forecast this December? Utmost freshness.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Golden Aspen FoliageNow 50% Off$119 at Balsam HillWho said Christmas is all about the red and the green? For those who arent willing to part with autumn quite yet, this uplifting yellow wreath is the perfect cure. Trust us, it will turn heads and start conversations.20CB2 Faux Bronze Pine Holiday Wreath $60 at CB2This is a wreath for sophisticated homeslike yours. Its bronze color is the perfect way to dilute the palette of bold hues and textures that characterize interiors during Christmastime. For the ultimate matching moment, buy it alongside CB2s faux bronze pine Christmas tree.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.

Its almost 2025 (we can hardly believe it), which means a bit of reflection and a bit of looking ahead. In the world of design, the past year had so much to offer, marked, as it was, by tropes as varied as soft finishes, unexpected red, andyesfridgescaping. What does the upcoming year hold? Thats an overwhelming question, so we chose to narrow in on 2025 kitchen trends, specifically.Kitchens will never go out of style (no matter what your Uber Eats order history might tell you!), and there are still endless ways to personalize them: from bespoke storage to tasteful paint colors to eye-catching floor tiles. Were no oracles, but weve tapped some top designers to provide their forecasts for the kitchen trends that will absolutely rule next year. Grab your aprons: Its time to hop on this bandwagon early.Dirty Kitchens Will Be Your New Sidekick James MerrillThis jewel-toned secondary kitchen by designer Lee Ann Thornton proves that glam and practicality can, and should, be on a first name basis with each other.If you actually cook in your kitchen, as nature intended and also frequently host cozy get-togethers, youll no doubt be obsessed with this trend for 2025: the dirty kitchen. You might be more familiar with this concept by its other names, like butlers pantry or scullery kitchen. Gone are the days of messy countertops and overflowing piles of dishesthe dirty kitchen is a dedicated, covert, and, in most cases, pint-size space reserved for the messy work of food preparation and cleanup that is hidden from view of the heart of the home, says Brett Sugerman, interior designer and cofounder of the firm Modulnova. Per Tara Lenney of Tara Lenney Design, these secondary workhorse cooking quarters should ideally include small appliances, a sink, dishwasher, fridge-slash-freezer, and oven thats behind a closed door, letting your main kitchen act more like a gathering space.Courtesy ModulnovaAs part of Modulnovas Miami showroom, this setup makes it clear that butlers pantries and scullery kitchens dont have to follow the trad farmhouse template. Dont believe the hype? Perhaps Zillows home trends data, which analyzes more than 300 homes mentioned in for-sale listing descriptions, can put you at ease. The report cites that the share of Zillow listings featuring a second kitchen is up 8 percent compared to last year, and we anticipate it only gaining more traction come 2025. So does Clea Shearer, cofounder of the cult-favorite home organization company The Home Edit. "I think this trend will continue to grow, as more people recognize the value of these versatile spaces," says Shearer, whose own butler's pantry is painted a dark color to contrast with her bright, white kitchen. "Ive really maximized vertical storage in this space, which alleviates the usual storage stress in the main kitchen," she adds.Make no mistake, though: Such kitchens are far from dirty. In fact, the culinary offshoots might even start to overshadow your regular kitchen. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Mark D. Sikes chose to grace a Palm Beach villa project, featured in our October 2021 issue, with just this kind of room. According to Sikes, a butlers pantry is always a place to have a bit of fun, much like a powder room. I personally like to paint the millwork a color and do a fun printed wallpaper on the ceiling, he tells us. I also like shirring a fabric behind glass cabinet doors. Sikess ultimate advice? Decorate the butlers pantry, not the kitchen.Fabric Fixturesand Other Soft TouchesWill Trump Hard Surfaces Max BurkhalterDesigner Georgia Tapert Howes renovation of a Park Avenue apartment included an intentional kitchen lighting choice: foregoing glass globes in favor of fabric bucket lanterns.During Milan Design Week this spring, our editors zeroed in on the fact that natural materials are kingand will be for the foreseeable future. In the heart of the home, aka the kitchen, this can manifest in a few different ways, including a reliance on natural stone (emphasizing the rich patina and character that [it] develops over time, per Bria Hammel, CEO and creative director of Minnesota-based Bria Hammel Interiors) and the use of light fixtures with fabric shades.These are a specific item that Im seeing more manufacturers create and more designers utilize, designer Hillary Cohen of HCO Interiors tells ELLE DECOR. They add some warmth and interest to lighting where glass globes have been predominant for so long.You heard that right. Many industry experts that we tapped for this piece echoed the sentiment that people want warmth again, in the words of Mark Williams and Niki Papadopoulos of Williams Papadopoulos Design. Sconces, pendants, or even simple table lamps with textural, cream-colored fabric shades are sure to provide just that kind of warmthwhich will subsequently encourage more cozy cooking nights in your future. Walls and Backsplashes Are Becoming the Artworks Chris MottaliniIn this Upper East Side kitchen, designed by ELLE DECOR A-List firm Hendricks Churchill, the star of the show isnt the city view... its the floral wallcovering!If 2024 wasnt your best year in the love department, you can change the narrative next year...by way of the kitchen. We are entering our romance era. More ornate touches and romantic details are emerging in designs, says TK Wismer, the creative director and lead designer of the Style Studio by Caf, which provides kitchen design consulting services. That means youll see more organic shapes, nature-inspired motifs, and delicate intricacies [that] are creating special moments in a design, Wismer adds.Heather TalbertThis kitchen, courtesy of Chicago-based interiors studio Centered by Design, is dolled up with floral toile wallpaperwhich creates a feminine, spectacular scene.What could all this mean for your own kitchen reno? Well, embracing wallpapers, for one. Take a page from what ELLE DECOR A-List firm Hendricks Churchill did in an Upper East Side apartments kitchen, making it life-affirming via bright, floral wallcovering by Jennifer Shorto. Or else stick to something more subtle, like the creation of Centered by Designs Claire Staszak abovean art wall made of a few close-to-the-heart pieces over a floral toile wallpaper, which adds an element of prestige to the place where leftovers are reheated."The kitchen design by Molteni&C is very sleek, minimal, and monochromatic with its white cabinetry and marble. As a result, we needed to sync the mood of this kitchen with the more textural and colorful design that we utilized throughout the apartment," Hendricks Churchill's Heide Hendricks explains of their New York kitchen design. "The punchy orange paper with its luscious strawberries and undulating vines brought a rhythmic and vibrant energy to the space."If you want to rebel even harder against the all-white kitchen, go with painterly backsplash tiles. In his Paris apartment, Valentin Gouxpresident of interior design company Rinckcreated his own tiles in collaboration with his wife. As a result, theyre quite personal: bearing stylized chili peppers, mimicking the ones Goux likes to grow at his country house, and harissa tubes with the couples names in Arabic.ELLE DECOR A-List Titan Pierre Yovanovitch also got on this trend early, outfitting the kitchen in his clients apartment with hand-painted backsplash tiles by artist Matthieu Cosse depicting birds in flight, lush trees, and a blue sky straight out of a childrens book.Hendricks, too, gives painterly tiles the seal of approval: "More recently we have started to embrace illustrative tiles of William De Morgan or William Morris, as well as historic Delft tiles. A fresher and more modern application of these old-fashioned tiles is to insert them randomly or sparingly into a solid monochromatic field of tile."We're taking notes!John Daniel PowersValentin Gouxs Parisian kitchen is nothing if not Romantic. The backplash tiles literally have harissa tube illustrations with his and his wifes signatures in Arabic on them.Giulio GhirardiAlso in a Parisian apartment, ELLE DECOR A-List Titan Pierre Yovanovitch chose to pamper the kitchen backplash with some hand-painted tiles.Earthen Hues Will Dominate Maureen M. EvansIn Elena Reygadass Mexico City apartment, terra-cotta and earth tones join forces to create a vibe Strega Nona would approve of.As we close out the year, one particular fascination seems to prevail online (especially on TikTok). Yes, its the obsession with the 1975 childrens book Strega Nona but, even more than that, a true desire to emulate what this Italian grandmother stands for: lots of pasta, wholesomeness, and a countryside aesthetic. People the world over have been tapping into Strega Nonafall vibes vis--vis their kitchensemulating the books illustrations of rich earthen hues, contrasting jewel tones, terra-cotta objects, hanging herbs, and mismatched pots. Members of the millennial gray cult beware: This design direction, specifically in the color department, is something well be witnessing even more of in 2025.MARC MAULDINA kitchen by Silo Studios Gabriela Eisenhart, which merges homey, earthen hues with utter sophistication.Lenney is in agreement with the whole goodbye, neutrals! ethos when it comes to trendy kitchen colors next year: Natural tones will likely dominate, which is great because earthy, nature-inspired colors are easy to live with and have staying power. Greens and blues will remain timeless favorites, while edgier clients will start experimenting with rust and red tones for a bolder look. When in doubt, just think, What would Strega Nona do? Fridgescaping Will Have Staying Power (but Not in the Way You Might Think) Courtesy Lynzi JudishSummer of 2024 saw the meteoric rise of fridgescaping, testament to the looming trend of flaunting, versus hiding, your kitchen essentials.We know, we know. We just spoke of keeping your kitchen gleaming and spotless by virtue of having another one in which you actually cook and arrange your ingredients into Gordon Ramseyapproved works of art. Yet experts are also predicting the rise of a kind of shameless exposure of ingredients and kitchen tools. In other words: Get over yourself, drawers and cabinets and appliance garages!Continuing from this year, we anticipate that the trend of organizing kitchen essentials in an easily accessible manner will remain strong, say Autumn Oser and Andre Golsorkhi of design firm Haldon House. Elements like hanging pots, stacked mugs, and exposed plate racks not only enhance convenience but also contribute to a welcoming, lived-in atmosphere, particularly in busy family kitchens.Fashion designer and lifestyle guru Peter Som has taken this blooming trend to heart, making sure everything in his kitchen is out and proud, sans the tackiness: I love Sub-Zeros Glass Door Refrigeration to not only preserve fresh greenery, flowers. and herbs, but keep them proudly on display. I love a vase of fresh cut flowers, but the glass front allows me to take it a step further and enhance the look of my appliances as well.Given the internets recent obsession with fridgescaping (essentially, dolling up your fridge and thereby making late night snacks a more aesthetic adventure), its no surprise that the exposed look, beyond the fridge itself, is set to continue.Bold, Veiny Stone Is *the Moment* Kelly MarshallELLE DECOR A-List designer Mark Grattan's work in Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird's SoHo home included a kitchen dressed up in striking, bold Brazilian quartzite.Katibelle Sharkey, creative director at the women-led stone yard BAS Stone, has a good feeling that people will only go bolder with their stone choices next year, want[ing] more of a field of color in their materials. Stone trends change like clockwork (vivid marble slabs were all the rage in 2022, for instance, and black-and-white marbles high-contrast simplicity made a return circa 2024), but next year will definitely experience a push for materials that have a lot to say either through colors or veining, according to Sharkey.The oxblood burgundy that dominated the past few years is now being requested in new variations, she tells ELLE DECOR. People want this coloring but with a mix of gold and green within the stone or with a more painterly striking vein. Shes also seeing more clients gravitate toward earthy dark greens and bright reds for their homes. White marble hasnt colloquially left the chat quite yet, but its being spiced up through intricate patterning. Courtesy BAS StoneEarthy dark green marbles? Why are we not surprised, considering the push for all things earth-toned when it comes to the kitchen?If you want to zero in on just one stone with which to doll up your kitchen counters, look no further than BAS Stones most sought-after slab: the gray, veiny Truffle marble, whose detailed topography truly takes monochromatism to the next level. In fact, this material has such sway that its used for the floor of BASs own showroom in Long Island City! The proof is in the pudding.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.

What would we do without kitchens? These spaces are the epitome of home, especially during the holidays, when they turn into gathering places for loved ones and thus the epicenters of many a cheerful memory. Considering just how much foot traffic kitchens get in December (just think of all those cookie-baking nights and mulled winefueled gatherings!), its only right that yours is treated to the very best decor this time of year. Christmas, indeed, offers a prime chance to deck your halls and your countertopswreath treatment, or going all out with tinsel. You heard it here first: 2024 is the year you finally stop overlooking your kitchen when it comes to holiday decor. Ready to get started? Weve tapped our favorite designers for Christmas kitchen decor ideas that are sure to please. Upon entering via the chimney and sitting down in front of a plate of decadent cookies, Santa will see it all and be absolutely delighted.1Hang a GarlandCourtesy Studio McGeeAs interior design firm Studio McGee proves here, wood accents pair exceptionally well with a fresh garland. The beauty of this kitchen arrangement is that its not too much, and the way the garland is positionedframing the marble backsplash and the two white pendantsadds an indispensable feeling of symmetry, precision, and order to the whole thing. That latter part is something we all need more of during the hectic holiday season!2Create a Classy Bar NicheCourtesy CB2If theres one thing well never be around the holidays, its tacky. This chic kitchen corner, courtesy of CB2, is anything butits polished stainless steel bar tools, tray, and ice buckets signify (in a very subtle way) that the holidays have arrived. And that means one thing: Its time for a well-oiled celebration.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Incorporate Mini TreesCourtesy AnthropologieAs this holiday display from Anthropologie makes clear, sometimes the most life-affirming and joy-bestowing Christmas decorations come in small packages. Enter: the brands extremely cute sisal trees with bows and baubles on them. Outfit your bar cart with these tiny treasures, or else use them to line your kitchen counters.4Make It as Homey as Can BeWill EllisChristmas is supposed to feel like a cozy embrace, and this tableau, courtesy of Coral & Tusk, channels just those vibes. Tapered candles add an element of moodiness, while the embroidered tea towel and napkins (all from the hand-drawn designs of the companys founder, Stephanie Housley!) are guaranteed to make your holiday a whimsical dream.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Reach for the StarsLiubov Kaplitskaya//Getty ImagesAt Christmastime, stars shouldn't be exclusively reserved for topping your tree. In this kitchen design, paper star lanterns are aglow with twinkle lights, a rattan star rests on top of a shelf, and hanging baubles seal the deal on a look that's both fun-loving and quintessentially Noel.6Have Fun with Christmas TchotchkesViktoriya Skorikova//Getty ImagesHave holiday figurines, tiny wreaths, LED-powered candles, and other seemingly random tchotchkes on hand? Dont be shy: Place them on your kitchen shelves! Yes, it might get busy up there, but as this picture shows, sticking to a theme (in this case wood interspersed with touches of blue and green) will help keep it integratedcreating a feast for the eyes and the heart.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Wow with a Window GarlandCourtesy AnthropologieTall windows, like in this Brooklyn Heights kitchen vignette, lend themselves perfectly to some garland bling. The pictured display is bedecked with a hearty Anthropologie garland, transforming the space into an evergreen winter wonderland.8Get in Your Feelings for FoliageMadeline HarperA garland loosely draped across an open shelf is seemingly suspended across this earth-toned lakehouse kitchenbelonging to Anastasia Casey, founder of boutique creative agency IDCO Studio. Using a layer of faux as a base is cost-effective while also giving that coveted full look, she tells ELLE DECOR. Her other hot tip? Think ahead, but allow for versatility: I like being able to use the same base layers year after year and only swapping the color palette. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Commit to a Rosemary Kitchen WreathMadeline HarperThis rustic rosemary wreath is the secret ingredient to Caseys Texas kitchen during the holidays. The corresponding sage-green cabinets ground the room, while flourishes of varying greenery echo the outdoor-indoor theme. Our favorite detail? That floppy gold velvet bow! As we head into the holidays, I always pick a color to focus the theme on and purchase 15 yards of velvet ribbon in one and a half-inch and three-inch widths, Casey explains. Cutting the ribbon in long, loose, uneven bows layered in two slightly mismatched hues creates an editorial, yet still festive, look. 10Don't Neglect the Kitchen SinkJenn VerrierAmarylliss Rick Davis takes advantage of the windows above his kitchen sink with a trifecta of botanics. It doesnt feel like Christmas until we hang these wreaths in the kitchen, he tells us. The kitchen is the room most people dont really think about decorating for the holidays, yet its the most daily used room, besides the bedroom, in the house. Here, an arrangement of amaryllis, ilex berries, pine cones, and evergreens sits atop a circa-1800s trunk in Daviss Maryland farmhouse. Who knew cooking in December could be so much fun?Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Toy with Some Twinkling Kitchen LightsSvetlana Voroshilova//Getty ImagesFairy lights are the ultimate way to create magical ambiance and soften an industrial-style cooking space. In this Belarus kitchen, the oh-so-charming wall lights create a warm luminescence against the garland flourishes placed strategically across the room. 12Flock Your Trees (and More!)Maryna Terletska//Getty ImagesFlocking, it turns out, isnt just for full-scale Tannenbaums. A few tabletop trees give a festive punch to this Ukrainian kitchen, and the similarly flocked wreath ties it all together.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Prop a Gnome on a ShelfMaryna Terletska//Getty ImagesNeed some company in the kitchen this season? While your kids might be more hesitant to pitch in on the food prep, these charming Christmas gnomes, perched atop an open shelf in a Ukrainian loft-style kitchen, are the perfect companions. They wont even try to snitch!14Fall for a Cheery Home BarSara Ligorria-TrampThe best way to spread Christmas cheer is with a home bar and drinks so dear. A subtle change in some side nook of your kitchen (like this one, curated by Emily Henderson) can instantly make it merry and bright. Here, Henderson brought in a gilded deer candelabra, smoky glasses, and a red cake stand to incorporate festive but modern colors. This is a setup worth toasting to!Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15Embrace a Countertop Fruit DisplayCourtesy The Enchanted HomeMove over, coastal grandpa: Grandma knows best. A traditional decorative ceramic bowl and glass stand are the ideal countertop receptacles for seasonal fruit. A few evergreen sprigs infuse true festivity into the bowl of tangerines. 16Create a CenterpieceTamara AnkaA thoughtful centerpiece is a fail-safe way to make a statement on your dining room table, so why would a kitchen island be any different? Tamara Anka of Citrine Living spiced up this spacious countertop with a modern assortment of miniatures. Thanks to its textured palette of silver and white, this setup would look right at home in an all-white kitchen.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17Put a Bow on ItCitrine LivingWhile Christmas has different meanings for many, some people boil it down to one thing: Presents. Turn your kitchen into the gift that keeps on givingliterally!by tying some ribbons on jars, as seen on Citrine Living.18Layer Lush Touches on Light FixturesRebekah Westover PhotographyNeed a bright idea? Take a cue from Gatehouse Style, who spruced up professional dancer Whitney Carsons home just in time for the holidays. For a look thats jubilant without overdoing it, the Utah design firm added mistletoe-like bunches to the kitchens pendants.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below19Set BoundariesDouglas FriedmanThis elegant holiday kitchen decor idea, courtesy of ELLE DECOR A-List designer Ken Fulk, brings the snowy Montana landscape indoors. Here, Fulk delineated the cooking area with an evergreen garland draped from the ceiling and emphasized the powdery views by outlining the windows in fresh magnolia leaves. A rustic pail full of blooms and branches adds an extra heap of cozy romance. 20Have an Unconventional Tree MomentZeke RuelasContrary to popular belief, a Christmas tree doesnt only belong in the living roomor even right side up! In this metallic kitchen, John McClain turned the foliage into the ultimate wow moment. One item that had always been missing from this space is a central light fixture, the designer shares. Cue the conifer decked in baubles and battery-powered twinkle lights. This special touch really sets the mood and makes the kitchen feel special.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacias culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

When turn-of-the-century dandy decorator Henry Davis Sleeper started to outfit his Gloucester, Massachusetts, home, Beauport, in 1908, he famously assembled a wall of glass vessels not distinguishing between the luxurious and the rare and the mass produced and the cheap. Next to two-penny Depression glass, made by the hundreds in factories, sat rare 18th-century handblown Venetian and Czech treasures. Sleeper proved that glass of any kindboth rare and inexpensivecan be deployed to brilliant effect in your home, and his Beauport estate remains a touchpoint for many interior designers today. Skip SectionJump toWhatever your preferred period or aesthetic, there is some form of decorative glass waiting for you, whether its a family heirloom, an estate sale score, or a serendipitous thrift store find (it happens!). But how do you go about identifying antique and vintage glassware? For starters, you have to know what to look for. For help, weve consulted the experts and broken down a few vintage-glass-collecting tips and names to know. Who knows? There may be treasure in your attic.How to Identify an Antique or Vintage GlassMassimo Ravera//Getty ImagesDo your research so you know what to look out for when glass shopping. Like anything, glass has followed trends through time. At one point the thinner the walls of a vase the more valuable. Later, thicker, more highly textured surfaces were favored. Fashionable colors, patterns, and methods of decoration ebbed and flowed with each decade. The only way to tell if something might be of value today is through close observation. Small irregularities, like a glass knob at the bottom of a vase or cup, can indicate a piece was handmade. Spy a seam? It was likely mass-produced. Watch a glassblowing view on YouTube to see where glassblowers hold, mold, shape, and cut the glass while its malleable. Aspects of a cup or vase's fabrication will often show themselves in its finished form. If a glass is too regular and too easily replicated then it might not be very valuable. If glass is signed, which is an easy first step towards ascertaining its value, that signature will usually show itself on the underside of an object. I recommend handling and close-looking, affirms Samantha Robinson, director of decorative arts and design at Heritage Auctions. Any collector, regardless of experience level, should examine the quality of the glass itself its weight, the thickness of its walls, its color, its surface before turning to any mark or signatureMarks or signatures vary from firm to firm and also within a single firms output over the course of years or even decades. Courtesy of Heritage AuctionsLoetz Argus Glass Vase designed by Koloman Moser, circa 1902.Also familiarize yourself with styles and periods. Often craftspeople will reference or copy styles that originated a century or more before, but there are always distinctions between a period original and something in the style of or just plain fake. Generally, the later version is slightly more crude with fewer details. You can train your eye by visiting auction previews or museums with in-depth collections like Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Virginia; Tacoma Museum of Glass, or the Morse Museum in Winter Park, Florida.If after your studies you happen across something of interest, dont hesitate to confer with an expert. While collectors have a tremendous amount of information at their fingertips literallyon the Internet, not all of it is correct. The best way to confirm authenticity is to reach out to an expert, such as an auction specialist, who can examine the piece and determine its maker, says Robinson. She once spotted, for instance, an iridescent Loetz piece on a Loetz Facebook fanpage that someone had purchased at Goodwill for $4.99. As a member of this group, I saw the post, reached out to the owner, secured the consignment, and sold the piece for $21,250. With the right training, you could be $20,000 or one chic glass vase richer, but an anonymous piece can be of just as much decorative value. Steuben Glass MCNY/Gottscho-Schleisner//Getty ImagesWorks by Steuben Glass, shown here in the 1930s. Origin: EnglandEra: Early 20th centuryMarks:Potential value: $$One name to prioritize when buying cut glass is Steuben. The company was founded in 1903 by English glass genius Frederick Carder and pieces made during his lifetime can be found at auction houses of all sizes. Not all pieces by Steuben were signed, so best to familiarize yourself with the craftsmanship and style of signed originals. You can start by ordering The Story of Steuben Glass, reproduced in 2021. Auction records also provide invaluable information on current market value and markings. One rose quartz Steuben vase sold at Sothebys in June for $7,200, but smaller, unsigned works can be found for a steal at smaller auction houses or even your local antiques mall.Depression Glass Adrienne Bresnahan//Getty ImagesDepression glass is characterized by bright colors and is easy to find at antiques stores. Origin: United StatesEra: 19201940 Marks: NonePotential value: $During the Great Depression, very few could afford real cut glassworks with carefully etched, hand-done decorations on their surface. Enter Depression glass, a nearly identical style of mass-produced glassware that could be assembled in minutes at interwar factories and sold for a fraction of the real deal. Since it was made in larger quantities, today Depression glass is generally less valuable but still gorgeous and accessible, even more easily online. A key to identifying original Art Decoera pieces is by colorthe more garish the better, as this was the fad at the time. Think acid green, royal blue, and mustard yellow. Also keep an eye out for a telltale seam, usually down the center of the vessel. Lalique Glass Courtesy of Heritage AuctionsLalique Poissons vase, circa 1921. Origin: FranceEra: Early 20th century Marks: Signed Lalique, R. Lalique, and R. Lalique FrancePotential value: $$Also popular during this era was Lalique glass. The French glassmaker was founded in 1888 and is still in operation today. Heritage Auctions set a record for the maker when they sold a bright blue glass Poissons vase for $55,000 last year. Ren Lalique, the companys founder, was known for a softer touch than Steuben and depicted dreamy depictions of birds, dancing figures, and flowers across vases, glass objects, and even hood ornaments. Lalique operated with a high level of quality but was able to produce at a broader scale thanks to innovative production methods.His finishing touchesenamel and frosting in particularhelped distinguish his work and will help you distinguish an original 100 years on. If the bottom of the glass is signed R. Lalique, that indicates the vessel was made before 1945; the initial was dropped after Laliques death that year. Because many early Lalique works were made in large numbers, identification can occasionally be straightforwardif you find a piece out in the world, a simple reverse Google image search will give you a clue. But be forewarned: Lalique glass is catnip for forgers, so consult an expert to confirm its authenticity, should you find a frosted beauty on a thrift store shelf. Tiffany Studios Glass Courtesy of BonhamsTiffany Studios Favrile glass and bronze Wisteria table lamp, 18991918.Origin: United StatesEra:Marks: Potential value: $$$We cant talk about glass without touching on Tiffany Studios, which has been having a renaissance over the past few years. As far as 19th- and 20th-century glass goes Tiffany is likely the most well-established and well-known name in glassmaking, achieving the highest prices at auction and really the only name that could be considered a blue chip commodity, says Ben Walker, Bonhams global head of modern decorative art and design. Robinson, of Heritage Auctions, says the same: Over the past two years, prices for Tiffany Studios glass have remained remarkably robust. She adds that prices for Loetz, a rival of Tiffany known for vibrant, delicately decorated designs, have been gradually increasing, so the maker may be one to watch for new collectors.Tiffany lighting, desk sets, and paperweight vases perform particularly well at auction if you happen to find these out in the world. One Tiffany Studios Dragonfly lamp doubled its estimate, selling for $275,000 in 2022. But before you give up your collecting quest, its important to remember there are still inexpensive buckets within these makers oeuvres. There are numerous Tiffany Studios and Lalique pieces that sell below $1,000 at auction, says Robinson. Fantastic pieces of Victorian era glass and examples by later makers such as Steuben, Loetz, Galle, and Daum are also available to emerging collectors.Murano Glass Courtesy of BonhamsA rare Carlo Scarpa Variegati vase designed for Venini, circa 1942.Origin: Murano, ItalyEra:Marks: Mostly unsignedPotential value: $$$$Murano and Venice have long been centers for Italian glass production. Glassmakers from all over Italy still flock to the islands to train under masters. Venetian glass was a popular collectors item for royalty, aristocracy, and the merchant class from the 16th to 18th centuries. More recently, craftsmen reinvigorated glass production in Murano during the first half of the 20th century. Midcentury and postmodern Murano glass is a great avenue for new collectors. One name that Walker, the specialist at Bonhams, shared with us was Lino Tagliapietra. He is a good example of an artist glassmaker who worked and trained in Venice and brought his knowledge over to U.S., he says. Finnish architect and designer Alvar Aalto, which we tend to think of for his innovation in bentwood, also worked in glass, designing the amoeba-shaped Savoy vase that has regained popularity in recent years. Though still in production, vintage 1960s examples of Murano are available on the secondary market and often identifiable by original stickers or hand-etched signatures that follow the bottom edge of each vase. Paolo Venini and Carlo Scarpa are two Italian legends to keep an eye out for as well.Czech and Bohemian GlassHeritage Images//Getty ImagesA Bohemian sweetmeat dish, circa 1750. Origin: Czech RepublicEra: 16th century through the mid-20th centuryMarks: Various makers marksPotential value: $$Czech glass has also had several heydays, starting with Elizabethan-era production under the patronage of Rudolf II. Bohemian glass of the 1930s is accessible on sites like Etsy and eBay, but youve really got to know what you are looking for. Much Czech glass of this period was unmarked, but the colors of the era are instantly recognizable: soft amber browns, eggplant, hyper greens, and deep reds were popular. Pressed Czech glass from later in the century can be identified by two vertical lines running from the top to bottom of the object, indicating that it was made with a mold. Stanislav Libensky and Jaroslava Brychtova generate some of the highest prices of all the modern glassmakers, says Walker. Petr Horas work, following in the Czech tradition of glassmaking and design, combines bold colors and strong forms. His work would seem undervalued compared to that of Libensky and Brychtovas work.For real Czech-heads theres also Borek Sipek, the lesser known but critically beloved designer known for his extremely wacky and technically impressive designs. Czech glassmaker Lasvit still offers a small selection of new products by the designer. (Fun fact: Their headquarters in Nov Bor, Czech Republic, is covered in glass shingles and sits between two 18th-century buildings that housed glassmakers workshops when they were first built.)

This article originally appeared in the September 2013 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.Often described as the most beautiful house in Ireland, Russborough is certainly the longest: Its granite facade stretches 700 feet. Designed by German-born architect Richard Castle, the Palladian building dates from the 1740s and was commissioned by Joseph Leeson, whose father had made a fortune in brewing and property speculation.On coming into his inheritance, Leeson decided to buy himself both a seat in parliament and a seat in the country, in County Wicklow. Soon Russborough was filled with treasures acquired during Leesons two Grand Tours across mainland Europe. The rooms in which these were displayed offer outstanding examples of 18th-century Irish craftsmanship, with mahogany parquet flooring and elaborate plasterwork covering ceilings and even wallsall on shining display since 1978, when the property first opened to the public.James FennellThe George II console in the drawing room is flanked by a pair of 1794 chairs, the plasterwork is Baroque, and the 18th-century seascape is one of a quartet by Claude-Joseph Vernet.As befitted the owner of such a house, Leeson decided to acquire a title, becoming Earl of Milltown in 1763. Two decades later he died, in the words of a contemporary, extremely rich, an old debauchee.His successors were, without exception, less colorful: The death of the seventh and final Earl of Milltown, in 1891, went almost without notice. At the start of the 20th century, Russborough passed into the hands of a distant Leeson relative who preferred to remain in England. Eventually the estate was acquired by Colonel Denis Daly, and it remained in his familys possession until 1952. That August an advertisement in Country Life magazine heralding the sale of the historic property was spotted by Sir Alfred Beit, who had long been interested in the estate. Together with his wife, Clementine, a first cousin of the famous Mitford sisters, Beit restored not just the fabric but also the spirit of the old house, replenishing its rooms with glorious paintings, such as the only Vermeer then still in private hands, along with works by Goya, Velzquez, Rubens, Frans Hals, and Gainsborough. James FennellIn the dining room, 20th-century lacquer-and-parcel-gilt chairs in the style of Giles Grendey surround an 18th-century mahogany table; the gilt-wood consoles, attributed to William Kent, are from the same period, the Louis XIV tapestry depicts formal gardens, and the walls are hand-tinted with casein paint.The Beits were glamorous, and their parties and entertaining were legendary, chronicled in a succession of fat leather-bound albums. English historian John Julius Norwich, a regular guest, recalls evenings in the dining room complete with superb silver, the Waterford glass, the tall candles, and, as I remember, at least two liveried footmen in blue tailcoats, yellow waistcoats, and shining brass buttons. Overseeing the ceaseless festive activities was John Pollard, Russboroughs butler for more than 40 years. Among the Beit papers are Pollards daily instructions from Sir Alfred tactfully advising on the idiosyncrasies of individual guests, as well as indicating the correct pronunciation of names and titles. James FennellIn the tapestry room, the English State bed and settees, all covered in matching silk, were made in 1794 by Wilsons of the Strand; the mahogany-and-brass center table is Regency.The Beits had no children and, in 1976, established a charitable trust to ensure that the landmarks future would never again be in doubt. Sir Alfred died in 1994, his wife 11 years later. Their finest paintings were donated to the National Gallery of Ireland; some others were stolen (and recovered) in a series of robberies. But a majority of the works remain in placealong with exquisite pieces of furniture, tapestries, silver, and porcelainas they have been for more than 250 years.Tour this grand 18th-century estate in IrelandThis story originally appeared in the September 2013 issue of ELLE DECOR.

Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.Christmas decor trends have their own way of reflecting the spirit of the times. Take the 1800s: Amid an indulgent obsession with gold finishes and regal embellishments, the Victorian Christmas tree was often anointed with gilded acorns and holly tipped with crystals, no less. A century later in the 1940s, decorators went tinsel crazy, creating a metallic moment we could never forget. That was followed by kitschy leg lamps, Hallmark ornaments, and, more recently, a decidedly understated elegance that leans into the quiet luxury trend. Yet, in 2024, homeowners are poised to give their homes a holiday moment that is anything but quiet. At least, thats what weve surmised after speaking with designers, trend forecasters, and retail authorities who are keyed in on whats trending this year in the holiday decor universe. Whether its mirror-ball baubles, a profusion of ribbons, or edgy, neon-colored tablewareits clear were ready for a season of unrestrained jubilance. Anti-Traditional Christmas DecorAriel GarneauPBQfortwos Ariel Garneau used her sideboard to display an adorable collection of colorful miniature vintage Christmas trees. If your visions of sugarplums involve something resembling a Lisa Frank pencil case, consider this your sign to go beyond the orthodox red-and-green scheme. You certainly wont be alone, according to Lauren Chiu, head of color and material trends at trend forecasting company Stylus, who foresees a return to the jubilant palettes of the 90s in homes this year. We predict an avant-garde approach to holiday styling that brings a youthful energy, Chiu tells ELLE DECOR, predicting that, come December, we wont be totally over the ubiquitous Brat green trend that hit our TikTok screens this summer. Expect decorations in high-impact hues like Brat green, hot pink, and striking black accents to appeal to junior markets wanting to create a lively, party-ready atmosphere at home. Anthropologie Homes chief merchandising officer, Katherine Finder, says theyre also seeing an appetite for such hues, in a pastel palette. From mugs to ornaments and candleholders to glass trees, our customers are loving fun pinks and lavenders that give energy and an unexpected pop. This punkish, rebellious take on festive decor will likely inspire bold, nontraditional trees, newfangled combinations, and tongue-in-cheek decorations. Think unceremonious pink-and-lavender tableware, upcycled tinsels, colorful maximalist patterns, playful design references like a Gumby nutcracker, and edgy pairings that will stand in equal weight to the austerity of a traditional scheme. Nonconformists might bring in contemporary finishes like natural stones and rose gold metals for a modern touch. Uncommon components are free game here, such as bird feathers, felted symbols, and anything mirrored or metallicall combined to create an eye-catching show that is decidedly bespoke and bombastically insubordinate in the best of ways.Retro Disco DecorCourtesy H&MDisco balls can be placed anywhere from Christmas tree branches to fireplace mantels. The 1970s called, theyre bringing disco back. While we all might have assumed the glamorous aesthetic will stay in the shimmering dance floors from whence it came, the interior design world has been drunk on disco fever, it seems, for the past yearand the trend is only gaining steam. Since fall last year, the hashtag #discodecor has amassed 38 million views on TikTok. Naturally, the magical glittering flecks of light created by this retro gem are screaming put me on a Christmas tree. Mirror-ball baubles and glitter-embellished glass are poised to gain momentum this season, adding excitement while evoking nostalgia, Chiu says, adding that it plays into the plethora of playful ornaments hitting the shelves this season. What does that look like, exactly? Disco balls can be hung from tree branches, perched overhead as tree toppers, strung along a window pane in garland form, or casually propped at the base of a tree. And dont get us started on their party potential (after Taylor Swifts last U.S. Eras tour offered a lavender cocktail in a disco ball cup, these retro gems are cropping up everywhere in the form of cups and cocktail picks). Can you have too many mirror-ball baubles, one might ask? But the disco ball isnt the only thing thats rolling. Anything goes, from groovy retro ornaments to colorful LED lights. Were especially loving that the look segues perfectly into a pumping New Years Eve bash, complete with a ball drop. Ribbons and Bows GaloreCourtesy AnthropologieAnthropologies 2024 Holiday House featured copious amounts of bows.Bows are clearly having a moment. Perpetuated by TikTok trends that demonstrate a reclaiming of girlhoodlike Barbiecore and coquettethe bow seems to be everywhere a ribbon can be tied. To wit: Sia wore an oversize pink bow on her head while performing for Christian Sirianos 15th-anniversary show; Sandy Liangs fall 2024 New York Fashion Week show was a total bow fest; not to mention the endless at-home styling videos on TikTok, ranging from bow placement on pants, purses, and, yes, even Apple headphones. And yet, we havent reached the saturation point of bows just yet, Anthropologie is betting. In the brands 2024 Holiday House, the annual townhouse takeover that displays their upcoming seasonal collection, bows were the true stars of the show, cascading across fireplace mantels, lording over Christmas trees, even taking center stage on the table display, perched atop a Jell-o dessert. Ribbons and bows are the Christmas accessory of the year, and were totally here for it, says Finder. The brand is offering everything from billowing satin tree toppers to velvet bow clip-on ornaments. ELLE DECOR A-List designer Nathan Turner says it has taken little convincing for him to jump aboard the proverbial bow train. I love anything old-fashioned, he explains. I like seeing Christmas in old films and how much more simply they decorated, like tons of ribbons on Christmas trees and bows on wreaths and ribbons tied to candlestickssimple but charming.For those of you looking to bring a touch of traditional simplicity to your home this season by means of the bow, were seeing larger-than-life bows that cascade down trees, as well as many dainty bows placed across tree branches. Many come on clips for easy installation, and some are even made of brass for a modern twist. However you tie the string on your festive decor, you cant go wrong with a bow-na fide ribbon moment. Folky Felt Critter OrnamentsCourtesy DiptyqueDiptyques 2024 collection features felt creations from English artisan, Lucy Sparrow.Maybe its because theyve garnered a cult community of Etsy crafters; maybe its because they lean into the artisanal realm; or perhaps its just because the people will love felt critter ornaments as innately as they love puppiesfelt critter ornaments are exploding online. Whether its a curious-looking porcupine, an ber-fluffy sheep, or an inexplicably adorable mouse on skis, these specimenscrafted using a needle felting techniqueare taking the place of the standard bauble with impressive staying power. Our felt critters are always a bestseller, says Beth Smith, Terrains managing director, noting that their squirrely little critters nearly sold out last year. Theyre an easy, family-friendly way to add holiday cheer to a mantle, tablescape, or tree. Diptyque, the luxury French fragrance house, even hopped on the trend with their cult-favorite advent calendar by collaborating with English artist Lucy Sparrow on an assortment of adorable felt gingerbread, pine cones, candy canes, and Christmas trees. These little guys play into a broader trend that Chiu calls the festive folk aesthetic, made popular by nature lovers, DIY enthusiasts, and craft makers looking to add a touch of warmth and character to their holiday decor. This cozy look is emerging as a charming trend, inspired by traditional art and ancient woodlands, she explains. This year, she predicts that handcrafted decorations like wool felt stockings and hand-painted ceramic baubles will take center stage, while ornamental mushrooms, woodland creatures, and pine cones create a personal, homely feel. And if youre feeling really extra, give your new guests a room of their own by means of a tiny built-in door. We can practically hear them skittering about.A Regency-Inspired Return to DecadenceLiam Daniel/NetflixBridgertons opulent interiors had us all looking at our own interiors with a quizzical eye.With the release of the salacious Netflix hit series Bridgerton, on top of its stateside sister series on Max, Gilded Age, came the ushering in of a new buzzword that is making the rounds on social media with interminable staying power: regencycore. And just like that, three centuries after its original debut, women everywhere are ditching their casual jeans for something more befitting of a debutante. And of course this trend has made its way into our interiors, standing poised to be the Christmas trend of the year. What, dearest reader, does this look like? Ask yourself, WWQCD (what would Queen Charlotte do)? The old-world Regency style is replete with romantic accents, lavish materials, gilded everything, and rich jewel tones. When possible, make it sparkly. A standout direction is the plush, lavish aesthetic thats perfect for creating a decadent escape, Chiu explains. Think inky blues, deep burgundy and rich chocolate browns paired with brilliant golds that feel frivolous and celebratory. Homes will embrace these tones, she says, through textural fabrics like velvet and flocked designs, giving holiday decor a tactile quality. Vintage-inspired elements, like lace and tassels will enhance tablescapes, while over-the-top decorations like jewel-encrusted baubles and liquidlike glassware will add opulence to interiors.Balsam Hills director of merchandising, Mercedes Fuller, says its collection this year certainly leans into this trend. Customers are really gravitating toward our mercury glass ornament sets, which we carry in the traditional Christmas colors of red and green, as well as our silver and gold and burnished metals collections, she explains. Theyre a timeless and beautiful addition to the Regency-themed trend and can complement customers own vintage finds that they show off each year, creating a rich, layered look. Fuller says shes also seeing an appetite for varying shades of blue, seen in icy and snowy themes that are paired with metallic neutrals like champagne and gold tones. But opulence isnt only seen in texture and color. Were also seeing people decorating with multiple Christmas trees in the home, Fuller explains. It might be smaller trees in every room and decorated with different themes from vintage, family heirloom pieces to whimsical trees in a childs room to travel themes that might reflect where they or their families have visited. Proof that you can never have too much joy. Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publications feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the best spa gifts to the best faux florals on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.

The TikTok video started out innocently enoughthat is, until the jigsaw appeared. Watch as I turn this old vanity into nightstands! a Houston-based home decor DIYer, who runs the account @ourhoustonsmithhome, cheerily wrote over footage of the vintage wood desk being cleaved in two, sanded down, and painted white. The backlash was swift. This is why we dont let millennials near vintage or nice things, TikTok user @ethereal.ashlyn wrote in a reaction video, which garnered close to 1 million views. IF U WANT PLAIN WHITE NIGHT STANDS [sic] GO BUY SOME FROM IKEA another user seethed. My cousin did this to our 1800s china display case, added another. She is no longer present at Christmas. Courtesy @ethereal.ashlynThe user @ethereal.ashlyns reaction video is one of many that lives under the hashtags #furnituremakeover and #millennialsruiningthings.In another postwhich has been viewed 6.5 million timesTikTok content creator Ann Upton transforms a stately armoire into a rainbow-colored one, inspired by the movie Encanto. This feels illegal, one TikToker snipped. Take one look at content filed under TikToks #furnitureflip or similar hashtags, and youll encounter thousands of similar videos, with just as many enraged onlookers. Content creators are sourcing antiquessometimes pricey ones and sometimes affordable steals courtesy of Facebook Marketplaceand completely redoing them, either for their own enjoyment or to resell post-flip. Disapproving comments have been so pervasive on clips...that furniture flippers have started to performatively embrace the hate.Disapproving comments have been so pervasive on upcycling clips that furniture flippers have started to performatively embrace the hateto the point of beginning their videos voice-overs with cheeky yet incendiary phrases like come with me to ruin this buffet.Our Houston Smith Homethe account behind the nightstand debacleeventually clarified that the wood desk was already in poor condition when it was given to her, and she was able to breathe new life into it by selling the resulting nightstands as a bedroom set. But the backlash, nonetheless, gave her pause. I learned that a lot of people on the internet dont like you messing with perfect vintage wood pieces, she wrote on Instagram last December. Ill just say thisif you dont have anything nice to say then dont say anything at all. PARNTAWAN / Getty ImagesProponents of FlipTok are quick to argue that flipping antiques is an innocent pursuit and completely justifiable if it makes the DIYer in question happy.DIY upcycling or furniture hacks are hardly new concepts. Painted furniture in the United States, after all, experienced a heyday in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. When Mennonites from Eastern Europe immigrated to the country, they started to decorate everything from wardrobes to chests to chairs with floral motifs and beyond. During the Victorian era, too, furniture was upcycled by cobbling together influences ranging from rococo to Gothic. Even in the times of ancient Egypt, commoners painted wood furniture to make it look more expensive.In recent years, though, DIY furniture has been aligning more with a dated mid-aughts Etsy aesthetic than it has with expensive-looking design. The word upcycling has, for a long time, put the fear of God into a lot of people, explains Adam Hills of the ELLE DECOR A-List studio Retrouvius, known for its considered use of salvaged furniture and materials. It became a byword for painting everything and anything in pretty artless, trashy pop colors. He specifically cites a penchant for the kind of bubblegum colors popularized by filmmaker Wes Anderson. Courtesy RetrouviusThe London-based ELLE DECOR A-List firm Retrouvius has an ethos of giving salvaged, reclaimed, and vintage materials second chances.On TikTok, furniture flips can often feel especially arbitrary and directionless, inviting the question of whether DIYers are taking drastic aesthetic liberties for the sake of going viral, i.e., rage baiting. Granted, many FlipTok proponentsincluding social-media users who come to the defense of content creators getting bashed in their own comment sectionswould be quick to object, saying that its never a bad idea to do what makes you happy. If this happens to include painting a 19th-century chest of drawers in an off-white shade, well, why not? The word upcycling has, for a long time, put the fear of God into a lot of people. Denver-based antiques dealer and TikToker Anna Kinsel, who runs a business called Chic Antiques, has mixed feelings. As she sees it, chalk-painting and spray-painting are some of the most clichd ways to modify original furniture. In a post from February, Kinsel overlaid a video of a crying Margot Robbie as Barbie on a photo of an antique cabinet, painted in a mint green hue. Shabby Chic Farmhouse needs to be left in 2023, she responded to a users comment that vocalized a similar sentiment. Still, Kinsel is willing to be somewhat open-minded: At the end of the day, everyone has a different opinion. For some people, when they paint that mahogany dresser hot pink, thats what brings them joy. Thats how they hold those antique pieces near and dear to their heart and give them new life.Courtesy @a_hunnAnna Kinsel urges her followers and clients to preserve the rarity and value of antiques by abstaining from modifying them in any way.Katja Hirshe is the owner of Bernd Goeckler, an antiques and collectible design shop in New York Citys East Village, where Louis XVI and neoclassical furnishings find themselves right at home alongside contemporary art pieces. She finds nothing wrong with having a little fun and putting personal touches on antiques, as long as you dont actually do it yourself. Ive been in this business for 26 years now, Hirshe tells ELLE DECOR. We were always asked if you should restore a finish or not. I think it depends on your taste. Will it ruin the value? Not if you do it professionally.If anything, Hirshe is hopeful that the hype this trend is generating will encourage young people to develop a more antiques-oriented mindset when it comes to furniture acquisition, or at least to be less wasteful where buying habits are concerned. The general public looks for replaceable things because they change their mind every two years and need to redecorate, she says. Nobody can sustain that kind of Energizer Bunny energy. I think that in the next 10 years or so, there will be a slowing down of sorts. The curated mind will [prevail]. Want to Upcycle Your Own Furniture? Heres How to Do It the Right WayVerify ValueIts hard to pinpoint the exact price of antiques with an untrained eye, but certain steps can, indeed, be taken to determine if its ok to take a belt sander to that vintage dresser. Do your own research: Google reverse-image search can at least put you on the right track, says David Trujillo, head of sale at Bonhamss modern decorative art and design department in Los Angeles. If you think that something has value, before you do anything with it feel free to reach out to an auction house. He mentions that most, like Bonhams, provide complimentary estimates.Start SmallIf youre still undeterred from a bit of personal upcycling, just remember to go the low-stakes routeat least at the beginning. If its your first project, start on something that isnt precious, something thats low-value, and just see how you get on, Hills urges. Dont start on your grandmothers heirloom.Dont (Always) Get Precious with the Old StuffPSA: Age isnt always synonymous with value. We get people coming in and saying, This has been in my family for 150 years, it must have some type of value. Thats not necessarily the case, Trujillo says. Still, think twice before you whip out that can of spray paint.Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska, Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, decor, and architecturewith an eye towards trends and culture at large. She has previously written for USA Today, the Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Apartment Therapy, and more.

Every New Yorker had those friends. The ones who, in the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, traded cramped city apartments for capacious houses in the quiet isolation of the NewsNew Canaan, New Rochelle, New Jersey. Many residents of San Francisco who looked to escape the urbs for the burbs in 2020 found their refuge in Marin County. The writer Alice Gregory, a native of the famously laid-back rural area on the northern side of the Golden Gate Bridge, described it as a place where billionaires dress like off-duty park rangers. It was there, in the farming community of Nicasio, where George Lucass Skywalker Ranch is located, that interior decorator Eche Martinez created a cozy retreat for a family who had decamped from San Franciscos Pacific Heights neighborhood. Drew KellyIn the dining room, the sawhorse table and Paul McCobb chairs are vintage, the pendant is by Urban Electric, and the ceiling covering is by Michael Smith.Originally, the 3,600-square-foot home built in 2002 on a former golf course was purchased to be a weekend getaway. The clients felt they needed more space and nature, Martinez says. They were living in a very urban environment, and they wanted a pool and a garden. Things, he says, that cannot easily be had in San Francisco. Built in 2002 on a two-acre lot, the two-floor, five-bedroom house provided Martinez with a big blank canvas to work with. The look he achieved is a warm and inviting mix of the glossy brown hues of vintage and antique furniture, traditional patterns, and neutral wall colors. It was a let-your-hair down project, he says. Beyond the calm, there are a few statement flourishes, like the wild Piet Hein Eekdesigned mural wallpaper in the guest bathroom.Inside This Cozy Country House in Marin County, CaliforniaThe project was not without its challenges, which is to be expected given the time in which it began. For one, the family had moved in before it was completed, so Martinez and his team had to decorate around them, he says. We did it little by little and didnt have some big reality-show reveal. The fact that the original floors throughout were made of concrete also presented an aesthetic challenge. To bring in hardwood floors while they were living there would have been impossible, he says. To solve it without the need for demolition, he deployed many sundry floor coveringsin some areas, Martinez put down what he describes as inoffensive wall-to-wall jutes topped with vintage rugsaround the house, which worked well in softening each space. Drew KellyIn the primary bedroom, the French dresser is antique, the inlaid bench is custom, the lamp is by Blackman Cruz, the window coverings are by the Shade Store, the Decorators White paint is by Benjamin Moore.And then, there was the outdoor pool, which can be something of an albatross for any designer, including Martinez. The contractor took forever, he says, pointing out that the family couldnt swim at all during their first summer there. Putting the pool in was a pain in the butt, he says, but imagine how much business a pool contractor in Marin County had during the pandemic. The pool is there now, so alls well that ends well. And what started as a weekend home and has evolved into being the familys permanent residence. Once you go remote, Martinez says, you can live anywhere. Charles CurkinArticles Editor, ELLE DecorCharles Curkin is ELLE Decor's Articles Editor, covering everything related to luxury watches, design, and travel, and has previously written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Paris Review.

When one Beverly Hills couple found out that their beloved neighbor had sadly passed away, they went over with condolences for her familyand an offer. How do you make the transition from Sorry for your loss to Can I make a bid? the husband wondered at the time. They had good intentions. Not only did the couple want to ward off a real estate developer who was putting up soulless spec houses in the area, but they also wanted to turn the home into a place to accommodate their aging parents. The neighbors children were amenable to the idea, and a deal was struck. The problem was, neither of the couples parents cared to move in. It turned out, for us, says the wife, who works in talent representation, if you build it, they wont come.Laure JolietA custom basalt mantel is the focal point of the living room of a home in Beverly Hills designed by Standard Architecture with interiors by Eric Hughes and landscape by Matthew Brown Landscape Design. The daybed is by Bassam Fellows and the vintage chair by Roche Bobois, the 17th-century cocktail table is French, and the wood sculpture is from the Window.To mastermind combining the two properties, they called upon ELLE DECOR A-List interior designer Eric Hughes, who had helped them with a previous, less intensive renovation. Whats unique about this project is that there are two separate structures, but theyre connected visually with the landscaping, Hughes says.For the architectural work, Hughes suggested bringing in Jeffrey Allsbrook and Silvia Kuhle, whose firm, Standard Architecture, is known for its streamlined, inviting spaces for California creatives. They had a vision of combining it and making it an estate, Kuhle says of the owners. Rather than work around all the existing stuff, Allsbrook says, we took it all out and let the nature flow down. The result is a romantic sweep of land, including a gracefully sloping hillock dotted with wild grasses and stone steps that join the upper house to the lower one. (The lush landscaping was done by Matthew Brown Landscape Design.)Laure JolietThe original house where the homeowners reside (at left) sits beside the new building behind the pool. The chaises are by Paola Lenti with fabric by Peter Dunham Textiles. More significantly, that newly acquired home was razed and rebuilt to complement the existing one, its pitched gables echoing those of the main house, though rendered in white to contrast with the originals black facade. The result nearly doubles the living space to roughly 10,500 square feet between the two buildings, now set on a lot that amounts to about an acre and a half, which hosts a pool, a barrel sauna, a firepit, and an outdoor shower. That signature California connection to nature is ever present: Its not uncommon to see a family of deer sipping from the pool some mornings or hear a hooting owl on a nearby oak tree branch.See More of This Sprawling Family CompoundAesthetically, the wife made her preference known. She wanted something you werent precious about, something loftlike, Allsbrook says. She brought them an image that helped guide the process: a space with wooden furniture, concrete floors, and oversize windows divided with thin metal mullions. Concrete and steel can sometimes feel austere, but I wanted something cozy, inviting, with a warmth to it, the wife says. A place where people feel like they can throw themselves on the sofa. There was a Sea Ranch vibe that was calling to me. Concrete and steel can feel austere, but I wanted something cozy, inviting, with a warmth to it.This tension plays out quite effortlesslyeven playfullythroughout the homes. Take the concrete floors, walls, and floating staircase in the office: They give off an industrial vibe softened by the slatted wood ceiling, a nubby shearling armchair, and a wall of mounted guitars. Or, theres the overlapping textures of rugs and curtains in the primary bedroom. And in the living room, the artfully arranged stacks of books and earthy ceramics, the twisting rope coils by artist Jim Olarte, and a grooved wooden totem atop a marble base break up the sleek, white foundation. It pulls away from that stark aesthetic, Hughes says. Maybe its the new modern. Laure JolietThe custom rope chandelier makes a statement in the dining room. The dining table is custom, the chairs are by Richard Wrightman, and the sisal rug is by Marc Phillips Rugs.The family has since hosted a range of events, encompassing the whole spectrum of human emotions, from a shiva to a wedding to their rabbis book party. They can easily accommodate their daughters impromptu swim dates, with the parents oftentimes joining in. Theyve even gathered as many as 75 guests for a holiday meal. So it appears that if you build it, they will, indeed, comemaybe just not the they you were first expecting.This story originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

Ah, coffee. Call it java, call it joe, call it dirt, or call it mud: At the end of the day (or, should we say, at the start of the day!), this beverage is one most people cant live without. We can all argue on and on about ideal coffee ordersand the right answer is dirty chai latte with oat milk, per this editorbut one universal truth everyone can settle on is the fact that consuming your daily coffee ration in a chic way, from the comforts of home, is objectively a win. How exactly does one achieve this? Enter: a personal coffee bar, which can be integrated into your existing kitchen setup for a look that will inspire you to rise and grind. Thats right, bar carts have had their moment in the Pinterest spotlight, and now coffee has entered the chat.Creating a from-scratch coffee bar thats equal parts modern, functional, and personalized to your tastes is quite a tall order, so allow the following designer advice and ideas to inspire you. Trust us: Theyre absolutely brew-tiful.1Tiny but Mighty Coffee BarEmily FollowillJessica Davis, founder of the women-led ELLE DECOR A-List firm Atelier Davis, tells us she love[s] to use warm wood and a really unique stone for the counter surface of coffee bars. Based on this picture, its not hard to see why. The pocket-size niche also proves the theory that bigger and bolder is not always better when it comes to creating the perfect spot for your daily coffee-chugging routine. Actually low on space? Per Davis, use what you can. In a tiny space I like to use a small vintage furniture piece for a coffee bar. Maybe a little dresser with drawers...or even a vintage bar cart, she says.2Backlit Coffee Bararchigram//Getty ImagesThis collab between wine and coffee makes for a perfect day-to-night transition, without ever leaving the kitchen. Especially worthy of a mention are the coffee bars marble backsplash and backlit shelves. The latter adds an undeniable element of moody sexiness to the whole tableau; in conjunction with the rich aroma of coffee beans, the whole thing becomes simply irresistible. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below3Incognito Coffee BarPeak VisualsIn this sleek and chic kitchen by Liz Potarazu of the Maryland-based design firm LP & Co, the coffee bar is in incognito mode, surrounded by floating shelves that display art objects versus kitchen essentials. Per Potarazu herself, Creating a space for a coffee machine and its accessories within your kitchen cabinetry, complete with pocket doors or a lift-top door, provides you with all the function of a coffee bar without showing any of the mess that can go into it. When paired with open shelving, it makes a beautiful yet functional space for your morning routine. We absolutely couldnt agree more.4Coffee Bar Meets SinkKong Ding Chek//Getty ImagesEspecially in small quarters, you have to make do with limited opportunities for expansion when it comes to creating your dream coffee bar. This one, which works in unison with the sink, has a kind of old-school charm to it: all vintage lamps and trinkets and warm wood panelling. It's your excuse to mix-and-match decor elements you already have at handdisplaying them proudly next to the main event (the actual coffee maker!). Advertisement - Continue Reading Below5Space-Saving Coffee BarMIXA Co. Ltd.//Getty ImagesThis coffee bar setup is not only space-saving but also budget-friendly. All it takes to replicate the look is a simple storage cartwhich you can tuck into the corner of even the smallest apartment kitchenetteand all the fixins you need to make your coffee experience worth it each time. Not a fan of anxiety-inducing caffeine? Use this storage solution for your tea habit too by tastefully displaying loose-leaf tins or accessories like matcha whisks.6Multifunctional Coffee BarChristy KosnicImagine making your fancy-shmancy coffee here and then taking it a literal two steps over to sip while answering some work emails. With this kitchen-slash-office setup, courtesy of D.C.-based architecture and design company Third Street Architecture, you can. That undercounter fridge and those charming pendant lights? Priceless additions to any modern coffee bar design.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below7Retro Cabinet Coffee BarMirageC//Getty ImagesRan out of counter space? Hit the antique mall this weekend and scavenge for a vintage cabinet that can accommodate everything from your coffee maker to glassware (for those iced lattes, duh!). Theres something so markedly retro about this coffee bar look, and it surely doesnt take much to achieve similar results in your own abode.8Coffee Bar with Tile BacksplashCourtesy Pascale de Fouchier InteriorsMaking a statement in your kitchen via bold tile backsplashes is nothing new, but this particular coffee bar is an anti-statement in a way: subtle and demure as it is. For this project we used zellige [tiles] for the backsplash, quartz slab for the countertops, and white oak and brass hardwarebringing warmth to a purposely seamless design, says Pascale de Fouchier of Pascale de Fouchier Interiors. Mugs, vases, and other objects that match the tiles hue make the whole look even more picture-perfect.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below9Coffee ShopLike Coffee BarMaridav / Getty ImagesYouve probably heard the legend that if you skip out on your $7 daily flat white, you could eventually become a millionaire (validity of that statement very much pending). If you do, indeed, choose to embark on this get-rich-quick experiment, having a coffee bar that basically replicates coffee shop interiors will make it easy. Here, the look is made complete via a peg letter board and a sign that takes us back to mid-aughts Tumblr. Embrace the nostalgia, and dont forget to add fresh florals, like this orchid, for good measure!10Coffee Bar in Unique LocationCourtesy Dana Schwartz DesignThink coffee bars are only reserved for kitchens? Think again. This one, created by Dana Schwartz, who runs an eponymous design firm, is actually in the middle of a hallway of guest bedrooms (because going all the way to the kitchen for your daily dose of energy is too much work).The wallpaper and the paneled appliance cabinetry mimics the wood tones of the hallway, Schwartz tells ELLE DECOR. Instead of doing closed cabinetry above the bar, we opted for floating brass shelves to modernize and add a touch of glam to the warm tones. We also included refrigerator drawers in the bar for ease of use and storage.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below11Color-Coordinated Coffee BarJevgenija Zukova-Cernova / Getty ImagesWhile mismatched tchotchkes littering your kitchen counters or coffee bar have readily apparent charm to them, sometimes going the matchy-matchy route is preferable. Most gadgets in this space, kettle and espresso machine included, are eggshell colored and glossy. This aesthetic, in turn, goes seamlessly hand in hand with the cabinets. Perfection.12Appliance-Laden Coffee BarCourtesy Four Brothers Design + BuildThis coffee bar visual, as part of a kitchens renovation in Great Falls, Virginia, shows that having a lot of appliances doesnt necessarily detract from the suaveness of the space...as long as you properly embed them. The drawer inserts and pull-out shelves were custom designed to perfectly fit [the clients] coffee makers, toaster oven, mugs, and all other needed items, says Kate Donahue, architect and team leader at Four Brothers Design + Build, the company behind this design. The nooks white oak interior finish marvelously contrasts with all that stainless steel. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below13Bedroom-Based Coffee BarLissa GotwalsCoffee bars in bedrooms? Anything is possible! In this cozy project by Carrie Moore Interior Design, the luxury of coffee in bedevery single dayis made all the more accessible. When the doors open, a built-in, fully automatic coffee maker is revealed, Moore describes. The small space also has a sink, panel-ready drawer dishwasher, panel-ready refrigerator drawer, and storage cabinets for...coffee accoutrements. In other words, enough bells and whistles to fully justify your bed rot.As far as what Moore thinks is essential to have in any coffee bar: bean storage, a grinder, a coffee/espresso maker of choice (whether its a simplistic pour-over carafe, top-of-the-line espresso maker, or a fully automatic maker), a milk frother, a place to discard used grounds, and mugs! Brb, adding all of that to cart.14Chic and Feminine Coffee BarTomas EspinozaThis coffee bar situationcrafted by Gabriela Eisenhart, principal designer at Silo Studiosis kind of glam, lets be real. The cabinetry colors and pink teapot make a perfect match, especially in the context of that white subway tile backsplash. For those who dont know how exactly to proceed with their own coffee bar endeavors, Eisenhart has some precious advice: Treat the coffee bar like you would the kitchen design, but avoid overcomplicating it since coffee machines already have a strong visual presence. Choose a clean, natural stone for the countertop and an easy-to-wipe backsplash. Check, check, and check.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below15White Oak Coffee BarKeyanna Bowen of East and Lane Photography / Karlton Kelley InteriorsWhite oak finishes seem to be the common thread that runs through many coffee bar ideas in this roundup, and were not mad about that. After all, just look how subtly elegant the wood is in this arrangement by MV Architects. Go a step further and echo the surfaces hue in nearby decor elements, like the dining chairs. A kitchen this nice will have you setting all your future alarms to 6 a.m.16Mirrored Coffee BarSimon UptonWe know, we know: This isnt technically a coffee bar. But use your imagination for a sec and pretend the top-shelf liquor lining those shelves is actually a selection of the finest roasts. We pulled this visualfrom Timothy Haynes and Kevin Robertss reno of a London townhouseto illustrate the beauty of using mirrors and silvery mosaics to create a coffee nook. All your guests will be jealous.Advertisement - Continue Reading Below17High Culture Coffee BarRichard PowersMorning coffee, but make it highbrow. In this wet bar, from a Studio Piet Boondesigned home in Amsterdam, the red sculptures by Lars Zech and Lieve Rutte, from left to right, are just the cherry on top that was needed. The mirrored backsplash and Gaggenau wine cooler also contribute to elevating the scene. You can use the cooler, by the way, to store nut milks instead of alcohol!Stacia DatskovskaAssistant Digital EditorStacia Datskovska, Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, decor, and architecturewith an eye towards trends and culture at large. She has previously written for USA Today, the Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Apartment Therapy, and more.

Never underestimate the power of a niche. This is one lesson you learn upon exploring this coolly elegant Upper East Side residence with interior design and architecture by the firm of Nannette Brown. Take the vestibule, where a semicircular recessed seating area sheathed floor to ceiling in zellige tile offers a striking perch for changing shoes. Or the primary bedroom, where a cashmere-upholstered daybed built into an alcove serves as an inviting spot for lounging. And dont forget the wood-paneled library, where a snug little wall niche makes the perfect display shelf for a piece of sculpture. Everywhere you look, functional nooks and recesses abound.Adrian GautIn a Manhattan residence designed by Nannette Brown, the walls in the living room, and throughout the home, feature plaster finishing by Geri Menaged of Couture Faux Arts. The sofa is custom, the iron table bases have a custom glass top by Lucid Glass Studio, the curtains are of a fabric by Brentano, and the rug is by Patterson Flynn. All space is valuableespecially so in New York City, where one never wants to waste an inch, says Brown. But it wasnt simply the economics of scarcity that inspired her unique approach to the apartments plethora of recessed areas. Located just off Park Avenue, the 4,000-square-foot apartment was a blank slate, as she puts it, when she was brought on by the clients. Too blank, in her opinion. As many of these new luxury buildings tend to be, the apartment was bereft of interior architecture, she says. My goal was to un-white-box the apartment.The homeowners are a creatively minded couple (he works in fashion; shes a former DJ) who had moved out of the townhouse where they raised their children, now grown. Ready for the next phase of their lives, they were keen on starting fresh and decided not to bring a speck of their old furniture with them.Adrian GautA guest room was converted into a study for the wife, with a custom sofa in a Castel fabric. The shutter panel insets are in a Dedar fabric. As they told Brown, known for her clean, edited, monochromatic interiors, they wanted their new home to feel light, serene, and modern. Their proclivity toward modernity, especially, piqued the designers creative instincts. The apartments in this neighborhood tend to be very traditional, as the architecture is mostly prewar, Brown says. I loved that this couple wanted to go a different way. And so the clients agreed to rip out the pristine walls and fancy developer finishes in order to realize Browns vision.Tour This Upper East Side ApartmentOne of the first major elements to go was a vaguely Art Deco metal railing that divided the dining area from the sunken living room. In its place, Brown added an understated wall of brushed white oak, which provides an earthy materiality as well as a more defined separation of the two spaces. The living room needed a focal point, so Brown installed a stone fireplace (electric) with an overmantel of the same knotty white oak on the living rooms formerly blank wall. A pair of floor-to-ceiling plaster doors, lying flush against the fireplace, unfold to reveal a bar and buffet. All space is valuableespecially so in New York City, where one never wants to waste an inch.In the entry hall, where there had been plain drywall between the dining area and sunken living room, Brown placed a monumental vertical column of honed silver travertine. I wanted it to look like this stone had been emerging from the ground below, she says. Its somber shade of gray is echoed by the silvery gray tile lining the vestibules seating nook, which Brown created by stealing space from a deep closet in the adjacent powder room.Adrian GautThe guest room features a wallcovering by Rose Tarlow. The bed and linens fabric is by Brentano, the curtains are of a Claremont fabric with trim by Pindler, and the rug is by Nordic Knots.The designers most dramatic transformation involved the north wing of the apartment, which originally housed four bedrooms, including the primary suite. The couple really needed only twotheir own and one guest roomso Brown duly removed the two spares as well as a bathroom and, with some sneaky reconfiguring, created a large oak-paneled library and TV room that flows into their bedroom. The entire wing is set off by graceful doors of blackened steel and ribbed glass that Brown says she designed to look like they had been there forever.In all, it took almost nine months of heavy lifting before the apartment was truly ready for the owners to move in. But the couple, who took residence last spring, say it was more than worth the wait. Everything came together seamlessly, says the wife. And we continue to have the pleasure of discovery.This story originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of ELLE DECOR. For more stories from our archive, subscribe to ELLE DECOR All Access.Janet Mavec knows a thing or two about beauty. An authority on antique jewelry, she once ran a jewelry shop on Madison Avenue and for a while designed her own line, including a collection with garden-themed motifs. I understand the concepts of beauty and design, she says, and Im able to focus on things at a microscopic level. But in 1997, she married Wayne Nordberg and moved to his New Jersey farm, where she was confronted with nearly 100 acres of land in need of taming. I knew I had to have help, she says. Andre BaranowskiYellow irises and daffodils by the pond.The property was a hodgepodge of buildings; trees and plantings had grown up in every direction. A hardscrabble German farmer had constructed a stone cottage on the property around 1800; subsequent landowners had left behind a Sears kit house and two barns. Nordberg, who runs a money-management firm in Manhattan, grew up nearby and had lived on the farm since the 1980s; he had built a rambling, contemporary wood house when his first wife was alive. Mavec found herself trying to figure out a way to pull together the old and new buildings and the ragtag fields, fruit orchards, and gardens. Mavec is a gardening enthusiast who has served on the board of Wave Hill, a lush public garden in the Bronx, and is now on the board of the Horticultural Society of New York. She wanted her own property to reflect a sense of continuity with the landscape as it existed for generations. At one point she even researched the life of a famous former owner, Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, a childrens book writer who oversaw the syndicate that produced the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. Adams had moved to the farm in the late 1930s and, for the next half century, wrote in the stone cottage and gardened on the property. Mavec dug through old magazines and newspapers for period descriptions or photographs of the grounds. Frustratingly, nothing turned up. Andre BaranowskiAutumn joy sedum, amsonia, hosta, dahlias, and a banana tree are among the plantings in the vegetable garden. In 2000, Mavec discovered Guy Cooper and Gordon Taylors book Mirrors of Paradise: The Gardens of Fernando Caruncho. Drawn to Carunchos love of ancient Greek philosophy and classical garden design, she and Nordberg visited him at his house outside Madrid and invited him to take a look at their gardens back in the states. Carunchos visit the next year led to only his second American commission.I think the simplicity of the landscape is what gives it its own invisible being.Rather than attempting a historical restoration, Caruncho conjured his own mythical history of the landscape. When I arrived at Janet and Waynes property, I had the perception of reaching a little medieval town in the middle of the forest, he says. To bring that imagined town to fruition, he didnt relocate the older structures or erect new ones; instead, he moved the land. The geometry of the existing architecture was incomplete, he says. He began with some drastic editing: He altered grades, removed ledges and a parking area; he hauled away truckloads of trees, bushes, and flower beds. Then he redesigned the driveway, created paths between the buildings, and constructed a series of fieldstone walls (which Mavec calls cheap Richard Serras), which not only gave shape to her kitchen gardens but also created a sense of enclosure and protection, like the walls of an ancient village.The final touch was the placement of an elliptical reflecting pool in front of the original stone cottage. The pool echoes the contours of the natural pond nearby, assuming a sculptural presence that contrasts with the strict geometry of the new house. Andre BaranowskiThe vegetable parterre contains carrots, Mexican cucumbers, celery, parsnips, lemon verbena, and 27 varieties of tomatoes; the fieldstone used for the walls was found on the property. I think the simplicity of the landscape is what gives it its own invisible being, says Caruncho. In Spanish we call it duendea hard-to-define word that roughly translates to inspiration or soul. In what Mirrors of Paradise coauthor Taylor calls a typically exquisite Caruncho move, the garden designer brilliantly and simply moved back the forest on the rise of the hill at the back of the new house, which had previously been cluttered with trees. What remains is an open field shaped into a loose ellipse. Mavec compares it to the colonnades that form an oval in St. Peters Square in Rome; at the same time, this back field acts as a firebreak. Caruncho may be a classicist, but he never lets practical considerations out of sight.Tour the Misty Grounds of This New Jersey GardenNordberg, who had always looked at the farm as a working environment, was initially skeptical of Carunchos grand plans. He didnt want a formal estate or an art installation. Now hes a total convert, says Mavec. We love working together outdoors. We have lunch in the vegetable garden, eating the foods weve grown. Well take a walk around the back field, and if we have houseguests, we might have a drink up there. One of the barns is used for celebrations and events, including an annual cider party. Mavec says she fusses and plants and plays with the vegetables and flowers on a weekly basis. Fernando created the framework of the garden but left the details for us to fill in. Each spring I replant the vegetable garden, which for me is like getting the chance to redecorate. This story originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of ELLE DECOR.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Those are the words Tom Joyner, the retired longtime syndicated radio show host, repeated over and over during his first walk-through with the designer of his revamped seaside apartment in Sunny Isles Beach, part of the Miami metropolitan area. When Joyner bought the 5,000-square-foot, three-bedroom residence, located on a midlevel floor of the 60-story Porsche Design Tower, a few years ago, he was attracted by the panoramic views, the large balcony, and the car elevator that enables him to park his Rolls-Royce Cullinan in an attached garage. Not to mention the fact that the building has room service. You can order an espresso martini in the morning or the evening, he says. Whats not to like?Douglas FriedmanIn Tom Joyners apartment in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, which was designed by Rodrigo Albir of Studio Roda. The living rooms nubuck suede sofas are by de Sede, and the Seungjin Yang balloon chair is from the Future Perfect. The cocktail and green side tables are by Objects with Narratives, the glass stool is by Sebastian Herkner for Pulpo, and the rug is custom. The artworks (from left) are by Ernie Barnes and Blair Thurman. But the apartments decor, conservatively styled in wall-to-wall neutrals, was too bland for Joyners tastes. Architect Wesley Kean, who had worked on Joyners previous home, recommended Rodrigo Albir, whose Miami firm, Studio Roda, is a regular collaborator. So Joyner invited Albir for a meeting at the apartment, where Joyner greeted him wearing sunglasses and a Versace kimono, with a Swarovski- crystalencrusted canehis preferred chilling-at-home look. Tom gave me a tour and said, I need color. I want the apartment to be fun, to have a wow factor, recounts Albir. He used the phrase beige came here and died.Joyner had just a few specific requests, such as more space in his bedroom for storing and displaying his extensive collections of kimonos and shoes, including several pairs of Christian Louboutin studded loafers. The follow-up meeting to discuss Studio Rodas concepts was a breeze. Tom approved everything on the spot, Albir says. He was like, Just go with it. Shoot for the moon.Douglas FriedmanThe dining table is framed by three artworks (from left): a Picasso tapestry, an Anish Kapoor wall piece, and a Rob Pruitt panda painting. The resin table is from Antica Collection, the Jorge Zalszupin chairs are from Espasso, the Hannes Peer chandelier is by 6:AM. The plaster wall finish is custom.A native of Tuskegee, Alabama, and a friend of Lionel Richies since childhood, Joyner was briefly a member of the Commodores in the late 60s. But he left the group before it became famous and started his own storied career as a radio DJ that lasted for nearly half a century. Albir sought to channel elements of disco-era glamour in his design, incorporating lots of mirror and shimmering metallics, along with pops of retro color. Walls and ceilings were refinished in sumptuous Venetian plaster throughout.Tour This Luxury Oceanfront ApartmentWhile the designer left the apartments layout unaltered, he introduced some separation between the entry and the living area by installing a chrome-and-glass folding screen that refracts natural light during the day and casts an elegant glow at night, thanks to uplights along its base. The sleek partition complements the elevated groovy-chic vibe that permeates the living room, where Albir added a bronze-mirror fireplace surround and anchored the seating area with a pair of de Sede suede sofas, designed in the early 70s by Ubald Klug, with a sculptural form Joyner describes as extremely comfortable. Albir rounded out the furnishings with an organic tiered cocktail table, side tables in smoky glass and lustrous lacquer, and a silk rug with lava lamplike swirls of maroon, burnt orange, and ocher.Amping up the panache, the adjacent dining room features a spectacular chandelier composed of textured panels of amber, smoke, and clear glass suspended above a lime-green resin table and svelte Jorge Zalszupin chairs. The surrounding walls, finished in an eye-catching mottled green plaster, host a Picasso tapestry, a glittery panda painting by Rob Pruitt, and a mirrored stainless steel disc sculpture by Anish Kapoor that casts animating reflections.Douglas FriedmanThe primary bedrooms custom headboard conceals shoe storage on the other side. The bed linens are by Sferra, the custom chandelier is by 6:AM, and the CTO Lighting sconces are from Avenue Road.The art in the apartment was selected from Joyners collection, highlighted by a canvas of a radio DJ he commissioned in the 80s from Ernie Barnes that hangs in the entry. I told him I wanted a piece about what I do, and he said, All right, tell me some stories, recalls Joyner. I talked about DJs I looked up to when I was young, including this old guy at a radio station in Montgomery, Alabama. Its all in this painting, called Father Rock.Before setting off for Las Vegas, where he lived during the six-month renovation, Joyner threw the Studio Roda team one curveball, as Albir puts it, insisting that the apartments study be converted into a lounge. And it needs to have a dance pole, Joyner told the designer.Douglas FriedmanIn the lounge, the custom bar cabinet has a finish inspired by disco balls. The Moon Light sconce is by Ben & Aja Blanc for the Future Perfect.Albir outfitted the space with serpentine banquettes in cognac velvet, added expanses of mirror, and finished the walls and ceiling in a plaster flecked with gold dust. A bespoke bar cabinet, surfaced in disco ballinspired bronze mirror, has an interior in cherry red, Joyners favorite color, while the brass dance pole ascends to a custom lighting element lined in gold leaf. Asked if the dance pole gets used, Joyner merely replies, Mm-hmm. Albir admits to feeling nervous the night Joyner arrived for the big reveal. He hadnt seen anything. He just took this leap of faith, says the designer, whose fears were allayed as soon as Joyner uttered his first Oh, yeah. Stepping into his bedroom, Joyner announced, Im finally home, recounts Albir, adding, when we got to the club room, he said, Were ready to party.This story originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE

Sherwin-Williams is rethinking this whole Color of the Year business, today unveiling not one but nine Colors of the Year. Theyre calling it the Color Capsule of the Year.We wanted to tell a different color story, Sue Wadden, the color marketing director at Sherwin-Williams, tells ELLE DECOR. This concept gives us a lot of runway to help people think about color in new ways and inspire designers without confining them to just one shade.Courtesy Sherwin-WilliamsGrounded is a warm brown hue with red undertones. The palette contains three brownsClove, a deep dark chocolate; Grounded, a warm, caf au lait; and Malabar, a creamy tan. There are also two whites: White Snow, a bright white, and an off-white called Sunbleached. These act as a great combination color to the browns, creating a quiet luxury feel, Wadden explains. Courtesy Sherwin-WilliamsRain Cloud is a muted teal that pairs well with every color in the nine-hue collection. There are also some pops of color. Theres a yellow-green called Chartreuse, which Wadden says is omnipresent as of late. It has been everywhere for the last five seasons, she adds. Were seeing it on the runways, on the streets. As for in the home, Wadden recommends using it in small doses in accent pieces. It can be paired with Bosc Pear, a rich gold that Wadden says is on the rise. And finally, the Sherwin-Williams team also pulled in some cooler colors, including Rain Clouda cloudy teal that Wadden defines as a restrained, muted spin on a teal classicand Mauve Finery, a soft purple, because as Wadden predicts, purple will definitely be part of the conversation in 2025. While the palette balances brightness and subtlety, the deeper, richer tones in the group signal an interest in turning the dial down on the color wheelespecially when compared to the color authoritys anointed 2024 color, a soft, whisper blue that was revealed in the form of silky-smooth frosting atop a cronut. This year? The paint company partnered with floral design company East Olivia for an elaborate bouquet that brandishes the collections nine hues. Clearly, colors grown up. Courtesy Sherwin-WilliamsSherwin-Williams teamed up with floral design brand East Olivia to create a bouquet that features the palettes nine colors. Indeed, the paint companys choice to release a nine-color collection reflects a rising interest in thinking of color dualistically. On the heels of the 2023 color-drenching trend, which involves painting every surface of a room in a single paint color, paint brands evolved the concept to double drenching, the use of not one but two (or three or four!) colors in a space. Thats definitely part of the conversation were having, Wadden says. Whether its using bright jewel tones or more restrained hues together, people are still, I think, going to be excited about taking a risk and trying something new.While the paint brand says their divergence from the standard one-color rollout is in celebration of their 15th anniversary of the COTY initiative, Wadden says it remains to be seen whether they will continue to release more than one color in future years. It might stick, Wadden says. Who knows, maybe midnext year, Ill give you a call and say, Its nine or nothing now!Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva, the Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, architecture, trends, and anything to do with haute couture. She has previously written for Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Citywire.

Benjamin Moore has called its 2025 Color of the Year (COTY), and its a royal knockout. The paint company announced today that the trending hue for the year ahead will be Cinnamon Slate, a delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brownbasically, purple but quieter. Purple is poised to be pervasive in 2025, if design authorities have anything to say about it. We saw it on the runways in the form of periwinkle suits, lilac knitwear, and lavender-patterned dresses. That was right before a new hue named Digital Lavender had staked its claim across the internet, dethroning Millennial Pink with zest. And then came the COTY announcements: Minwaxs annointed hue? Violet. GLIDDEN Paint by PPGs follow-up announcement? Purple Basil. Even Behrs peppy red, Rumors, had purple undertones. Benjamin Moores interpretation of purple, however, is certainly more understated. The color story really unfolds differently every year, Sharon Grech, the brands color and design spokesperson, said in the video reveal. This year, we really started from a more emotional level. We talked a lot about this need for balance and reassurance, and we felt strongly that that can be captured in the home, really, with restorative color.Looking at Benjamin Moores previous Colors of the Year, Blue Nova and Raspberry Blush, this years hue has a similar confidence that those did but is more understated. Its got a lot more nuance to it, Grech explains. There is something about those in-between colors that we felt we were ready for. The color can be paired with more neutral tones like the brands creamy off-whites, Glacier White or Sea Salt, or more contrasting hues like the caramel-y Chownings Tan or Stained Glass, a saturated teal. All of these hues are part of the brands Color Trends 2025 palette. Rachel SilvaAssistant Digital EditorRachel Silva, the Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, architecture, trends, and anything to do with haute couture. She has previously written for Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Citywire.

The designers Heide Hendricks and Rafe Churchill are known for a visual language that pulls the past into the present. Call it Shaker with a twist. Based in Connecticuts rural Litchfield County, their ELLE DECOR A-List firm, Hendricks Churchill, is a go-to for renovations of period architectureupdated country farmhouses, prewar city apartments, 19th-century brownstonesinfusing them with a traditionalism that works in a contemporary context. But to judge from their latest project, the duowho are a married couplearent afraid of jumping out of the history books and several stories off the ground. When a young family approached them to decorate their apartment in a new-build high-rise on New Yorks Upper East Side, all they could think of was the modernist architecture in Ayn Rands The Fountainhead. It was a space that could have been designed by Howard Roarkand the polar opposite of our style, Hendricks says. It was almost surreal. Chris MottaliniIn the living room, the sectional is by B&B Italia, and the vintage Italian armchair in a Dedar fabric is from Holler & Squall. The custom cocktail table is by Christopher Williams, the midcentury chandelier is by Stilnovo, the piano is by Yamaha, and the rug is by Christopher Farr. The walls are painted in Dusty Road by Benjamin Moore and the baseboards in Smoked Trout by Farrow & Ball.The clients, who have three young children, were determined. They first read about the designers in a 2021 story in ELLE DECOR and were drawn to the warmth of their spaces as well as to their sustainable approach to design. At the time, the family was lumbering through the pandemic in a monochromatic apartment in Lower Manhattans East Village. They found a spectacular apartment in a luxury tower designed by the developers DDG in Carnegie Hill, a neighborhood more known for townhouses and Gilded Age mansions than soaring spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. They were attracted to the brightness and high-tech features of the new building, but the atmosphere was far from homey. As soon as they closed on the apartment, they knew just whom to call. We had worked with designers who can make your place look great in pictures, the husband says. But it takes a different level of experience to make a good-looking home that is also functional. Heide spent a lot of time with our family to figure out how to make this an embracing home for us and our kids.Chris MottaliniIn the breakfast nook, the midcentury Danish sofa is in a Rose Uniacke fabric, the bleached-maple table is by Brian Persico, the Paul McCobb chairs are vintage, the sconces are by Hector Finch, and the artwork is by Lizzie Gill. The wallcovering is by Jennifer Shorto.As you step out of the elevators and straight into the foyer, the husbands study, with its unobstructed views of the city, is the first thing you notice. To the left are the bedrooms, and to the right is the living room, which opens directly onto the dining room and kitchen. Each room flows into the next, physically and visually, to allow the family to be together as the day and its activities shift. The living room is the homes focal point: Its here, in this shared space, that the wife plays her Yamaha piano, with her daughters occasionally accompanying on their toy flutes.See More of This Warmed Up High-Rise ApartmentHendricks sheathed the studys walls in painted tambour paneling, a design device with a double-duty benefit: It both provides sound insulation and has a ridged surface that echoes the chunkier ones in the living rooms walnut sideboard by Stephen Bukowski. We spend a lot of time together in the living room because its connected to my study, the husband explains. The girls toys spill into the room when I leave the doors open. And because the kids are always complaining about my phone calls, Heide insulated the room, so my voice doesnt travel throughout the house. The space was the polar opposite of our style. Heide HendricksFlorals are a Hendricks specialty. She used Guccis Chinese landscapeinspired wallpaper in the primary suite and a Josef Frank fabric for the wall behind the beds in the daughters room. The starting point for her design scheme, though, was not flowers but fruit, in the form of Jennifer Shortos strawberry vine wallcovering, which wraps the walls of the kitchen. Meanwhile, the living room armchairs are clad in a Dedar floral, and even the dining rooms cabinet sports a botanical pattern. Chris MottaliniThe primary bedroom is wrapped in Gucci wallpaper, and the curtains are of a Rogers & Goffigon fabric. The bed is by Roche Bobois, the nightstand by Crump & Kwash, the lamp by Marianna Kennedy, and the rug by Beni Rugs.Hendricks Churchill chose a palette of oranges and pinks as a unifying color, from the kitchens apricot to the deeper mauve tone in the foyer, which lends a softness in a space that sees less natural light. In the dining and living rooms, Hendricks employed a visual trick: She elongated the baseboards and painted them in dusty lilac. The gesture is one of many design techniques that ground this high-flying family home, bringing it back down to earth. Even up in the sky, Hendricks Churchills saturated Shaker aesthetic feels at home, proving the truth behind the Shaker wisdom: If you focus more on how you work rather than where you work, the results will speak for themselves.This story originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of ELLE DECOR. SUBSCRIBE