The urge to purge is a decor trend
Blog entry for Lance Phillips of Macdonald Realty, North Shore and Vancouver Real Estate Specialist, 604-926-6718 or 604-861-6767
The urge to purge is a decor trend
Design diva Lynda Reeves gives us the scoop on the latest looks
Jeani Read, The Province
Published: Sunday, January 29, 2006
When pre-eminent Canadian design diva Lynda Reeves spoke at a Canadian House and Homes breakfast last week, her message was clear: finally, it looks like less really is more.
“People want to purge,” says Reeves. “Everywhere I’ve gone I’ve seen no clutter, wide open spaces, lofts, tons of bare counters, lots of storage, small electronics, great sound — perfection.”
The need to get rid of stuff transcends generations, says Reeves. There are baby boomers thrilled to be starting again with less — especially without their old furniture — and young couples managing to exist in gorgeous clean spaces, even raising kids. “They have their own taste and know what they want, and they don’t want the junk,” says Reeves.
What’s Reeves’ reaction to the get-rid-of-everything phenomenon? “I’m really surprised,” she says. “I’ve been watching this intensely for years, but in 2005 I saw the turning point.”
If you wonder how de-cluttering reconciles with the new buying trends, they can go hand-in-hand, says the unflappable Reeves. “This is a redefinition of luxury. People are shopping differently. We’re buying a lot more carefully.”
And if you were looking for the catch, here it is: “When you live with less you need better stuff,” says Reeves. “Better colours, better floors — it’s worth it. Bigger art, bolder statements, the perfect bowl. It snaps things into focus.”
TOP 10 TRENDS FOR 2006
-Paris apartment: All curls and swirls, big damask patterns on everything from Baroque throw-pillows to Philippe Starke chairs. Ooh-la-la.
-Playful modern: Have fun. Get some candy-coloured tableware. Go.
-New neutral: Forget beige and taupe, so old. Dare to go grey.
-Saturated colour: When you mix rich hues they cancel each other out with high-voltage concentration and don’t jump out as accents. Who knew?
-Wall art: Release your inner kid, after you’ve taken the art classes.
-Eco home: Kyoto would be proud. Soy candles, biodegradable bamboo flooring — eco chic is now really chic.
-Boho bedroom: You always wanted to star in those bodice-rippers, didn’t you? Floral patterns, gilt frames, nothing matches, you’re too busy being wild and rebellious. Yes!
-Modern Western: Freedom and adventure, but this time in subdued colours. Weathered stone. Warm woods. Aztec this time, not Santa Fe.
-Folklore: Go for nomad culture, native weaving, needlecraft, anything Eastern European.
-The new formality: It’s fun, strangely, for the kids. Call them the young fogies.
© The Vancouver Province 2006
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