Playing it safe is overrated, Cinda Vote says. The owner of Cinda Vote Interiors cajoles her clients to make design choices that feel good — including (and especially!) those that could be considered bold. Trends back up Vote’s approach: Whites and cool grays are shifting to warmer whites and deeper shades of beige and charcoal. Also in, she says, are moody tones such as steel blue, mauve, yellow golds, “and literally any shade of green.”
“At the most recent market I attended, I rarely saw anything in (white and gray),” Vote says. “In all our new fabrics and wallcovering books, color is everywhere. It’s definitely on the rise.”
Bolder patterns are making a comeback too, according to Vote, who explains that designing your space “is basically creating a mood. Taking that first step into color might be scary, but what’s scarier is living in a home that doesn’t make you feel anything at all. Buy the bold paint or wallpaper or patterned sofa. Enjoy your home.”
Spring often is a season to refocus on the home. To those thinking about redesigning a room, Vote says a good starting point is to identify an inspiration keystone and let that guide decisions on items such as lighting and fabrics.
Keystones could be a rug, art piece, family heirloom, or cherished photos.
Thinking of a floor remodel? Luxury vinyl plank “is great for families with kids and pets because it’s so resilient and easy to care for, and it looks like wood,” Vote says.
Larger floor tiles — think 24-by-48 and up — in porcelain or luxury vinyl also are trending, Vote says, and so is engineered wood in wider-width planks.
And in carpet, “we are seeing a lot of bold geometric patterns,” Vote adds.
Vote’s own design style? When asked, she demures. “I like to be open to any style,” she explains. “I enjoy creating functional spaces that reflect the personality and needs of my clients.”
