The holiday trappings have been put away until next year. The January clearance sales have made way for Valentine’s Day ads attempting to convince romantics that one day is the sum of an entire relationship. Writing “2018” instead of “2017” on documents has become the go-to. And now that everyone has time to take a breath and look forward to what the new year holds, the adage “out with the old and in with the new” takes on a more urgent meaning—especially when it comes to home interiors.
But where to begin? We reached out to three Orange County designers to get their takes on what’s new in 2018 in luxury interior design.
Mixed Metals
While it may seem that combining brass, iron and other metals in a room would result in an unbalanced look, designers say the trend is spot-on for 2018.
“I am currently loving mixing a variety of metals, whether it’s bronze and brass or black and chrome,” says Corona del Mar-based designer Brooke Wagner of Brooke Wagner Design. “It gives a home character and more interest to have more than one finish represented.”
The key, designers say, is choosing a dominant metal with one or two accent metals.
Warmer Paint Palettes
Many designers see 2018 as the year warmer, deeper and bolder colors will take on the cool grays and whites of 2016 and 2017.
“White is (still) the perfect background for accent colors in accessories, such as pillows, paintings, sculptures and more,” says Shala Shamardi of Haute Design Studio in Costa Mesa. “Other colors to accompany whites are deep, rich blues, saturated greens and, of course, grays in both cool and warm tones.
Wagner says, “Warmer tones in general are more on trend now than the cooler grays that have been so predominant in the last several years.”
Shamardi agrees and adds that, “It looks like gray is here to stay, and it’s just been refreshed with new life. It is used in cabinets, as well as doors, windows and other accents. When gray cabinetry first made a splash, it was mostly with cool hues mixed with chrome hardware. Now you can see warm-tone grays used with brass hardware.”
‘Wow’ Wall Coverings
Wallpaper, the paint alternative that enjoyed its last heyday around the same time of pastel Miami Vice-styled jackets, has returned to fashion, thanks to ultra-stylish prints, dimensional fabrics, and new materials.
“If you’re looking for something to really elevate an accent wall,” says Jackie Steward of J. Steward Design, “try a sophisticated floral wallpaper.”
To assuage fears of those who remember the farm-animal wallpaper borders of their youth, the Orange-based designer says, “We’re not talking about your grandma’s floral walls. We’re talking about (designs) ranging from beautiful, understated prints to bold, vibrant patterns.”
Front-Row Seats
The bayfront home at 2476 Bayshore Drive in Newport Beach sold on Jan. 25 for $7.4 million, under its May list price of $8 million.
Located on a 5,280-square-foot waterfront lot just four houses from Bayshores beach, the home provides uninterrupted viewing of morning crew workouts, sailboat races and paddle boarders, as well as the Christmas and Fourth of July boat parades. There’s also a waterfront patio with spa, a fire pit and a barbecue area.
The 4,967-square-foot, five-bedroom, six-bath home is designed for indoor/outdoor living, with a wall of retracting glass doors in its waterfront great room.
Steve High and Evan Corkett of Villa Real Estate represented the seller, and High also represented the buyer.
Sought-After Address
The home at 2301 Pacific Drive in Corona del Mar sold on Jan. 23 for $6.23 million, surpassing its July list price of $5.5 million.
Its 4,373 square feet have a classic California coastal Spanish design and sit on a 5,761-square-foot, front row lot on the bluff that delivers panoramic views of the ocean, Catalina Island and Newport Harbor.
The open floor plan encompasses four bedrooms and four baths. A chef’s kitchen is appointed with the finest finishes and appliances, dressed with limestone floors and concrete/Calcutta counters.
Leo Goldschwartz and John McMonigle of the McMonigle Group represented the seller, and Goldschwartz also worked for the buyer.
