Interior Style Trends We’re Loving

We love how science and art intersect when building a custom home. Architecture and interior design are all about the vision for the home – how you want it to look, feel, and live. Science is how the home is built – think physics and engineering. Construction is a science, but how the home looks, feels, and lives is very much an art.

Our selections coordinator LaShawn Thomason plays an important role in bringing that art to life for our clients building a building or renovating a home or commercial project. She’s got a pretty sweet gig that requires her to say up to date on trends, and trends reflect art. She sat down with us recently to fill us in on what’s on point, what’s trending, and what’s enduring in 2023. Style trends have evolved a bit since 2022.

Q: Please introduce yourself.
I’m LaShawn Thomason, and I’m the selection coordinator at Sineath Construction. I work with clients to ensure their selections are made with our vendors in a timely manner. I coordinate with our construction team about lead times and scheduling so that I’m working several steps ahead to help prevent any construction delays.

Q: Can we talk a minute about trends? What does it mean when something is on trend?
For my job, trends are so much fun because I can live vicariously through each build. I absolutely love it when clients bring me their Pinterest or Houzz mood boards with all the amazing ideas from HGTV, home parades, designers, vendors, etc. They get a sense of what they like, a mood or setting they’d like to create in their home, and I help them bring it to life.

Essentially, something on trend means it’s in style. It’s what’s fashionable right now. Design trends are ever-changing and really are subject to the times. The opposite is timeless or enduring design where generally form follows function. The purpose of the design element guides the final form. It’s important when making selections to have a mix of enduring and trendy finishes that’s appropriate for your budget and goals for the home.

Q: What are some kitchen trends you’re seeing? Is open shelving still popular?
Yes, open shelving is still in, but even more minimal. I’m seeing more and more designs that only have one shelf. One open shelf eliminates visual overload and creates more bare walls and spaces that are essentially clutter-free. One way to achieve that visually spacious look and feel is to say goodbye to upper kitchen cabinets. It means you’ll need to be more intentional with the lower cabinets, as well as your island and pantry for storage.

I’m also seeing a lot of statement stone selections, too, often used as a slab backsplash or as a waterfall edge of the kitchen island. Blending wood and stone on the island is also as trendy as it is luxurious. Brushed gold tone fixtures, faucets, and hardwood are on trend right now, too.

Q: What’s a kitchen function trend not often thought about?
Outlet placement. It’s vital. Most kitchens built five or more years ago had outlets placed on the wall within the backsplash or on the side of an island. Neither option is aesthetically pleasing. Imagine you’ve picked out a gorgeous piece of statement stone for your backsplash and island. Why would you want to interrupt that beautiful clean line with outlets? Today, you can get under cabinet units or pop-up plugs that are hidden when not in use. It gives you a clean look with a much-needed function.

Q: What are some of the color trends you’re seeing right now?
I am absolutely loving the black color trends. Do you realize there are over 100 shades of black? My favorite is Sherwin Williams Iron Ore. We’re seeing the black trend on exteriors and interiors, whether it’s a garage door, accent wall, ceilings, or cabinets. Black always brings you the drama. Various darker shades of blues and greens also bring moodiness, but black is drama. Especially when mixed with the gold tones we’re seeing in hardware and accent pieces right now.

Q: Not to be overlooked, let’s talk flooring. What’s in?
Another favorite topic of mine. Your flooring is what you live on, it covers every room, right? So, to me it’s one of the most important selections to make. Trending now are wide planks. Wide plank flooring can only be in an engineered application here in Western North Carolina, because a wide solid plank will warp in our environment. Another trend is the rustic, natural finish like a clear-coated, circle-sawn hickory plank.

Given that we live in a temperate rainforest, which is considered a high-moisture climate zone, the layered construction of an engineered wood floor is the smarter choice for wide plank floors. The combination of plywood and hardwood in an engineered plank can withstand humidity and moisture. If you want solid wood plank (no layers), traditional, narrow plank hardwood is a good option.

Q: What about texture? We read somewhere that wallpaper is making a comeback. Is that true?
Everything is all about the natural elements right now. What could be prettier than a linen and cotton wall? Seriously, an actual fabric wall! Designer Phillip Jefferies makes the most beautiful wallcoverings you’ve ever seen or felt, and it’s true, wallpaper isn’t just for the powder room anymore. It’s making a comeback. In fact, we’re building a custom home right now with a cork and cotton wall. It’s exquisite. It’s so pretty.

Q: How is lighting being used these days?
We’re seeing layered lighting, and it is an art. Layered lighting gives a place its own sense of space in the open concept rooms like the combined kitchen, dining, and living. Having different designs helps define that space and definitely adds character.

For example, in a kitchen you’ll likely have overhead lights that can fill the entire room with light. However, overhead lights can cast shadows if you’re working at a counter. Under cabinet lights becomes important task lighting for anything you’re doing at a counter. Island lights are often statement fixtures that add character and help with task lighting. Many times, you’ll see ambient lighting above the cabinets that adds a warm glow to the space. Ambient lighting like this is helpful if you want the kitchen darkened yet still be able to move around safely. I think the layered lighting concept will endure, and this style of lighting can be used in combination or individually to give each area of the kitchen definition.

Q: Is there anything that endures, yet stays on trend?
Yes. Anything that replicates nature. Like a layered lighting concept, wood tones aren’t going anywhere. Wood ceilings and cabinetry have lasted through every decade and century. Today, we see lots of reclaimed wood accents, whether it’s on an island, wall, built-in, or even flooring or siding, if it’s there, it can withstand time.

Natural stone is something else that endures time. There’s nothing more elegant than a marble countertop or soapstone hearth. Innovation has allowed us to incorporate a sensitive material “look” with an engineered material. Quartz and porcelain are maintenance free materials that replicate these natural stones.