Trending Interior Renovation Projects for 2021 by Max Shafer

Max Shafer asked to use some of our images of projects to illustrate his writing about what is "Trending Interior Renovation Projects for 2021". There are some wonderful projects featured. The cover photo was a project I did with https://www.mdarch.net

https://innovativebuildingmaterials.com/trending.../

Photo courtesy of #IanStallingsDesign and #AaronLeitz

"Interior design trends come and go, but the COVID-19 pandemic has helped spur some of the most drastic shifts in design sensibility seen in recent years. Whether it be replacing “safe” wall colors with more vibrant choices or putting a new twist on what is deemed elegant in furniture pieces, the following 8 interior renovation projects are sure to be popular choices for the remainder of 2021."

https://www.ianstallings.com

Interior design trends come and go, but the COVID-19 pandemic has helped spur some of the most drastic shifts in design sensibility seen in recent years. Whether it be replacing “safe” wall colors with more vibrant choices or putting a new twist on what is deemed elegant in furniture pieces, the following 8 interior renovation projects are sure to be popular choices for the remainder of 2021. 

Everybody Has the Blues

Throughout the better part of the past decade, white and other neutrals were the preferred choice for walls and cabinet facings. However, 2021 is primed to see an increase in more vibrant colors, with blue being a particularly hot choice for interior design projects in the year’s first three months.

While blue provides a touch of personality to a home’s interior, some shades have the potential to be slightly depressing, so be sure to balance the blue with strong contrasts to capture the type of mood you want. For example, explore hardwood floor trends to pair your blue walls with a vibrant, natural look on the floors and choose gold or other brightly colored furniture pieces to help make the blue seem more lively. 

A Fresh Touch of Texture

Although shiplap is one of the most straightforward means of adding texture to interior walls, homeowners will likely be looking to change things up a bit in 2021. Creative molding, plasters, and living plant walls are primed to be some of the more innovative projects to add texture to interior spaces throughout the remainder of the year. 

Wallpaper Is All-Paper

Wallpaper has long gotten a bad rap in the interior design community, a product typically associated with seldom-used powder rooms or forgotten attics in antiquated homes.

However, with the pandemic spawning a DIY remodeling revolution, homeowners and renters of modest means are looking for lower-cost ways to make changes to their homes. While papering the wall will never be a value-adding renovation, 2021 is likely to see renewed interest in all kinds of wallpapers as people look to give their spaces a fresh feel without breaking the bank.

Let the Light Shine

The free flow of natural light has been a trend for a while now, but 2021 will see homeowners redoubling their efforts to install larger windows. With safer-at-home recommendations likely to continue throughout the year, having highly translucent windows is an important renovation to allow homeowners to enjoy views of the outdoors and release the serotonin that accompanies ample amounts of sunlight.

Statement Fixtures

Another change wrought by the pandemic has been the increased attention paid to rails, fixtures, doorknobs, and other frequently touched surfaces. Just as expressive masks have become a fashion statement arising from the pandemic, elegant brass, and stainless steel sink fixtures and modern black handrail choices are sure to be at the center of renovation projects in 2021 as homeowners adapt to this new phenomenon.

More Is More

Although minimalism pervaded as the classy and trendy choice throughout the 2010s, homeowners became a bit stir crazy staring at their sparse confines while stuck at home in 2020. Expect to see an increase in patterned walls, multi-purpose furniture pieces, and decorative ceiling ornamentation throughout the remainder of 2021 as homeowners try to make their interiors a bit “busier.”

It’s Not a Match

As the world becomes increasingly accepting of individuality and unique expression, the matching drawer and cabinet sets that have been popular over the years are likely to be spurned in favor of creative mismatching. Look for salvaged wood shelving and repurposed furniture pieces to pervade throughout the rest of the year.

Glass Entryways

“Barnwood entry doors have made a statement in homes for several years, but they may no longer be the preferred choice, as homeowners shift more toward sliding glass entryways. Not only does this help put an elegant face on the front of the home, but it aids in the all-important transmission of natural light.” – Chuck Waltman.

Conclusion

Through the year’s first three months, trends in interior design have taken a noticeably bold turn. By considering any of the aforementioned interior renovation projects, you can help keep your home consistent with what is unfolding in 2021.

International Autumn

Something Old, Something New

An International Wedding 

Enjoying Preservation & the Arts 

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Recently, I was fortunate enough to attend the wedding of my dear friends Yoko and Stephan at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.  The English countryside and the college were the perfect magical backdrop to their storybook wedding.  The Wren Chapel and the private rooms of the college were breathtaking and full of interesting history.  It was a magnificent weekend spent with family and friends, celebrating the love of this delightful couple.  

On the way home to London from the wedding my little London family and I stopped at Audley End House.  Audley End was the site of Walden Abbey, a Benedictine monastery that was granted to the Lord Chancellor Sir Thomas Audley in 1538 by Henry VIII.  The abbey was converted to a domestic house for him and was known as Audley Inn (how very Downton Abbey of him). It is a largely early 17th-century country house outside Saffron Walden, Essex, England. Audley End is now one-third of its original size, but is still large, with much to enjoy in its architectural features and varied collections.  One of the highlights of the property are the Kitchen Gardens.  My Godson, his brothers, their parents and I were completely fascinated and inspired by the beautifully ordered rows of plants growing glorious food.  It really makes one think about our relationship to the food we eat.  

Recently the house and grounds have been used in popular television shows. During 2017, scenes were filmed at Audley End for ‘Trust’ produced by Danny Boyle and based on the life of John Paul Getty III. On 7 September 2018, scenes were shot for ‘The Crown’.   

I could not help but think of the Lagro House and the Wabash River Valley Artist in Residency Program I have been working to build, with the help of my hometown friends and family. I hope Wabash County continues to be a mecca for artists and thinkers for years to come, the same way Audley End House attracts history, art, gardening, and design enthusiasts.  

Fall Art & Antiques 2018 THEME

THE SUN, THE MOON, & THE STARS

Celestial Imagery in Art, Antiques & Design

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Putting all of our heads into the clouds, the Fall Antique Show kicked off this week!  As Florence Welch so boldly sang to us in the fashion of San Francisco’s very own Grace Slick, “The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out”.  They were blown out by the beauty of another perfect year of fine Decorative Objects showcased at the show to benefit Enterprise for Youth.   The show never ceases to amaze me with how it is able to make the history of decorative objects relevant for new generations of collectors.  What is old is new again.  

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out
You left me in the dark
No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight
In the shadow of your heart

I took the stars from our eyes, and then I made a map
And knew that somehow I could find my way back
Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too
So I stayed in the darkness with you.

~ Florence + the Machine

IS Fine Art

“Safe People”

New Paintings by Casey O’Connell

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I have had the privilege to show many fine artists at IS over the last few years and this season

I had one of the biggest honors of my career thus far.  The story begins years ago when I met a muralist and fine artist by the name of Casey O’Connell while she was painting a commission for a mutual friend of ours.  If I had ever doubted it before, I knew never to do so again: Love at First Sight is real.  Seeing the subject matter of the commissioned piece she had finished for our friend, knowing the recent romantic developments in his life after the mural was completed, and seeing this powerful creative force standing before me I knew this woman was someone I had to be close to for the rest of my life.   I could tell she was going to be one of my “Safe People”.   One of those special people you can trust to lead you down a path of joyful introspective bliss.  Casey is a seeker who shines through her work.  She is a kind, insightful, vulnerable, genuine person that makes us all smile.  It is impossible to have a bad day around Casey, or her work.  “Safe People” is a collection of skillfully rendered and well thought out figurate paintings that would impress the likes of David Hockney, Frida Kahlo, Henri Matisse, and Georgia O'Keeffe.  In the political climate that we find ourselves in at this moment, these joyful paintings and our “Safe People,” are more important than ever.  

All of this season’s glorious experiences of Art and Design find a special place in my heart.   I have shared them all with my dearest friends and family, which adds to their importance.  Sharing different perspectives and creating memories in inspired spaces is the driving charge and reason why designers and artists produce culture.  We are trying to mold, shape, and enlighten our audience to see the world for not only what it is, but what it could be.  

(Click to Scroll Through the 200 Photographs)

Ian Stallings Design: Art Gallery & Design Office Grand Opening and Opening Reception with Colleen Flaherty

It was a proud moment, as the IS Design Team adjusted the lighting, set the tone with music, laid out the hor d'oeuvres, while our well-dressed bartenders polished our wine glasses. After a deep breath and excitement in the air, the window shades were raised to the line of guests waiting outside for the Grand Opening of my new Art Gallery & Design Office.

It was a very proud moment to have our doorman allow our first guests into the space, who were all smiles as they looked around and explored the expansive Gallery & Office here in the newly coined Central Arts & Design District of San Francisco.

By my side, stood the beautiful and talented artist Colleen Flaherty, whose works were featured at the opening show at my previous Gallery in Noe Valley and whose sophisticated works lined the walls of our new gallery, on this very special night.

I could not feel more loved and supported, from the many clients, friends and loved ones who joined me in the celebration of our Opening Reception.

Collen Flaherty's work will undoubtedly continue to draw attention in San Francisco, as it has internationally for years. To see her artwork up close, visit Ian Stallings.com and select her work in IS Fine Art. 

We look at the New Year ahead with great optimism. 

We could not have gotten here without your support and business. 

Thank You!

Ian Stallings & The IS Fine Art & Design Team