It’s a common battle when designing a space: How to create a look that will last while also making it appear fresh and edgy. Timeless does not equal trendy and trendy can quickly become dated, but it’s often the trendy that gives a space that edge.
So, how do you find balance and avoid being a slave to trends?
A simplistic answer is to apply trends sparingly, say several top Ottawa designers. But it’s also not quite that simple, they say.
“Part of it is using restraint when it comes to certain things that are trendy,” says Nathan Kyle of Nathan Kyle Studio. “When you use it in limiting amounts, it creates the sense of intrigue, but it also lets somebody move on past that trend and see the rest of the space rather than it being this overpowering feature that’s the most predominant thing.”
Take, for instance, matte black, which is all the rage, he says. “If you did matte black on every bathroom fixture, including your toilet, your mirror, the light — that’s a trend, you’re done. But if you use matte black on just the plumbing fixtures because there’s a cohesiveness to it, then your mirror happened to be a different metal, your light a complementing metal or something completely different, then all you’ve done is capitalized on that matte black feature and it almost feels architectural and classic.”
Creating a look that will last
Classic is a word that comes up frequently in discussing timeless spaces. That doesn’t mean it’s traditional, but it does draw on traditional design elements and pairs them with the clean lines of modern style to create a look that transcends both, which adds to its timeless appeal.
Throw in a few well-chosen trendy accessories and you’ve got an easy way to appear of the moment.
But, again, it’s not that simple. The architecture of the space and the overall design concept are also key.
“There’s so many things you have to take into account,” says Tanya Collins of Tanya Collins Design. Her approach is to look at the location, the architecture, the client’s tastes, and take those influences into account, usually with an eye toward creating a look that will last.
“If someone wants to look of the moment, I would find out from them what it is that they like that they’re seeing in the market. Is it a particular type of furniture, is it archways… and then bring in that influence but still look at the overall design concept.”
It’s also helpful to take trending elements and put a fresh spin on them, she says. For the past four years, Collins has spearheaded the interior designs of the grand prize Minto dream homes in CHEO’s Dream of a Lifetime lottery.
In them, she’s artfully mixed styles and both current and upcoming trends, interpreting them in ways that are “not formulaic,” which helps make them timeless. “It’s all how you mix things.”
MORE: Tour the 2021 Minto Dream Home
If a client is asking for a trend, typically “it’s because they’re sick of what they have,” says Anne-Marie Brunet of Sheridan Interiors, Kitchens + Baths. “They don’t really know how to get out of that rut that they’re in and it’s always nice to see something new.”
But it’s important to explore with them why they are attracted to it, she says. It might not be the trend; it might be the colour or the shape.
When it comes to creating a space that’s forward-thinking or fresh without having to incorporate trends, it’s a combination of the space and the materials, she adds. “The space is going to dictate what we can and cannot do.”
And to keep it timeless, “stay away from trends,” she laughs. “I would tend to keep the classics,” and have fun with accessories.
Ultimately, whether a space is trendy or not, the most important thing is what appeals to you, says Catherine Pulcine of CPI Interiors, who also favours longevity in design.
“When people do things that are trendy and it’s not who they are, they are the people who are constantly looking to make changes,” she says. “If you love what you have, then you won’t be inclined to change it.”
