Influencing Design

Written for The Spiral Notebook Online Magazine.

Well, who would have thought that this year is all about the wonderfully confident, diverse, adventurous, and nomadic millennial? Yes, it's you I'm talking about. You are influencing design and trend-setting for 2017!

Daousser Chennoufi from the Draw Links Group believes that the five pillars or changes for 2017 are the influence of travel, the East, budget, lifestyle, and colour.

I couldn't agree more!!

Chennoufi believes that "we are travelling more than ever before, and this has brought about increased competition within the travel and hospitality industries and, as a result, in the modularity of furniture and flexibility in design."

Travelling more is always on our yearly list of things to do when planning the year ahead, and who doesn't love to travel and broaden their horizons? Beautiful hotels provide some of the best sources of decorating inspiration for us in the home. Having had a trip away, I come back with many ideas, and I always buy something from every place I visit to add to my worldly home.

Ultimately, we are always looking for something different! East meets West is certainly a new trend or one we are unfamiliar with, but this year, more attention is being given to statement eclectic Eastern pieces that we can showcase in our homes. Chennoufi says, "Previously Eastern design trends were not widely popular, yet they are now adopted in the Western world, with travellers preferring Eastern elements incorporated into the Western design."

Marble is another significant element this year; everybody needs a little marble to finish their interior look, but not in the traditional sense; instead of kitchens and bathrooms, we see marble tabletops, marble shelving and marble ornamental pieces. Also, our love for brass, copper and metal finishes is still hanging around this year, and if you still need to add metal to your scheme, now is the time to do it.

Chennoufi believes there is an increased demand for new, innovative materials that offer a cost-effective and practical solution.

So, keep your eyes peeled for all things shiny and new!

Long gone is the time when we were just concerned with showcasing our living room. We now showcase our entire home—even the laundry area looks like something from a glossy magazine! We are constantly competing with our design-savvy friends and striving for the most complete interior, and we don't forget the outdoors, either. Our outdoor spaces are complete with lounges, tables, side tables, chairs for all purposes, and even art.

Chennoufi also points out, "Several people are looking to connect with nature; however, they spend most of their time indoors.' Let's not make that the case for the rest of our cooler months."

Going green this year is another way of trying to connect with nature and bring the outdoors inside. Pantone, the global influencer of everything from fashion to design, has announced 'Greenery' as the colour of the year for 2017. Also influencing colour charts are the more earthy tones like burnt oranges, siennas, and muted shades of blue and warm grey. Chennoufi says, "As people, we enjoy a hospitable atmosphere within their homes, and we see an increased popularity in colours that are warm and welcoming."

Are you getting the picture? What we are saying is our interiors are going to be spectacular this year, so stunning you may never need to leave; maybe you already feel you are in the