2020 Design Trends

By Jaqueline Miller

From colors to furnishings to high-tech gadgets, who doesn’t love to see the latest home trends? Experts say that for 2020 and for this decade, off-trend is on-trend. Anything goes! Mixing unique materials and colors shows individuality—so create spaces that show your personality. To help you mix things up, we asked some local experts to share their favorites of the latest.

BATHING BEAUTIES

Our bathroom is our sanctuary—a place we like to take our time, relax in comfort, and relish our surroundings. Transforming this space into a true sanctuary may just be one of the most uplifting things you can do. Where do you start? With the friendly and knowledgeable staff at The Plumbing Place, of course! (941.378.5678, theplumbingplace.com) The huge showroom displays an outstanding array of high quality kitchen and bath products and architectural hardware. For more than 30 years, owner John Smithman and his team have delivered products and service second to none.

John Smithman:

“Freestanding tubs are in demand with designs that fit all tastes from modern to traditional and everything in between. The latest back-to-wall tubs, which have the feel of a freestanding tub while using wall plumbing, make it more affordable than using a freestanding tub filler and drain. 

A very popular back-to-wall tub is BainUltra’s “Vibe” model. It’s the perfect choice for smaller bathrooms and especially for Downtown condos. Exterior designer finishes are also available, including the trendy black-on-white combination.

No more is individuality more attainable in bathroom fixtures than with the Axor “My Edition” faucet. This sleek, low profile faucet comes with six different cover plate options that top the faucet, including leather, wood, two types of marble, and mirrored or black glass. The plates can be changed out for personalization or to coordinate with other elements in the bathroom. 

While polished chrome is still the choice for contemporary styles, matte black is a hot trend. The color is carried across faucets, showers, and mirror frames. Fluerco’s Skyline In-Line Door and Panel in matte black is a great choice.

If you hate the look of bulky, institution-looking grab bars, then you’ll really like the new sleek grab bar designs offered in Keuco’s “Elegance” accessories. Designed for both showers and the commode areas, they flow with the design of the other bath fixtures and look great.

Another trending product is Elkay’s ezH20 built-in filtered water dispenser. Not only does it save you trips to the grocery store for bottled water, just think about all the plastic water bottles you don’t have to dispose. This hand-free clean water source can be installed in your kitchen, a recreation room, or your master suite. It’s convenient and healthy. 

From sinks to faucets to tubs and showers in many styles and designs, The Plumbing Place is at the forefront of the latest industry trends.”

OUTDOOR DREAMING

Furniture that endures for generations is always trending and you can be sure it is always made of solid hardwood. And when it comes to beautiful made-to-order hardwood furniture made in the USA, there’s no better source than Miller’s Dutch Haus Furniture (941.952.5646 and 941.960.2942, dutchhausfurniture.com).

Abby Schlabach, Marketing Director:

“Poly outdoor furniture has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Poly is made of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a recyclable plastic derived from post-consumer waste such as milk and detergent bottles. It is environmentally friendly.

Poly is appealing to buyers because it does not splinter, rot, or warp like wood outdoor furniture. It is essentially maintenance-free because it requires no waterproofing, staining, or similar recurring maintenance.

Poly is available in a variety of colors, the most popular being neutral brown tones and textured finishes which are made to look and feel like wood. Tropical colors such as Aruba blue and lime green mixed with crisp white are also a trendy pick.”

UNIQUE INTERIORS

When it comes to fine living, interior designer Barbara Vanderkolk Gardner, President of Collins Interiors (941.383.0131, collinsinteriordesign.com), has been wowing her clients for years. Whether its designing interiors for condos or homes, Ms. Gardner has created spaces that capture the individuality as well as the desires of each homeowner.

Barbara Gardner:

“Last Spring, our team was tasked with completely redesigning the interiors and updating the exterior of a lovely large home on Longboat Key. The new owners, an executive couple from New York, wanted their first vacation home in Florida to have a less Tuscan look, be less formal, and be more family friendly. 

We put in an entirely new kitchen with high-end appliances, a large new island with a stunning quartz countertop, new lighting, custom cabinetry, and expanded storage. In each bathroom we refreshed the vanities with new paint, new countertops, luxury grass cloth wall coverings, and updated lighting. We removed a heavy Mediterranean looking stone fireplace and designed a fresh approach with custom millwork and lighting.

In High Point Market, we sourced beautiful case goods, mirrors, carpeting and fabrics for custom upholstery, bedding and window treatments, as well as fun accessories. A visit to Sarasota’s Rugs As Art showroom yielded dramatic rugs for the living room and foyer. All to these reflected the tastes, interests and lifestyle of this fun family.

For the exterior, we put on a new roof, reconfigured the driveway, redid the landscaping, updated exterior lighting, and refreshed the pool area. We then made it turnkey with new sheets, towels, housewares, a security system, and audio visual updates.”

ORDERLY LIVING

An uncluttered home usually makes for a calmer, happier and more efficient life. There are so many ways we all can get better organized whether it be for our wardrobe, office or library, wine, pantry, laundry, garage, arts and crafts or all of the aforementioned. For optimum custom organization, we asked the professionals at California Closets (941.366.1315, californiaclosets.com/locations/sarasota) what’s trending with their discerning clients.

Lora Van Balen, Marketing Manager:

“California Closet designers work with clients to meet their personal tastes and needs. With our extensive line, we can offer a wide range of exclusive finishes, color palettes, and accent choices, so we can meet every aesthetic preference. It’s all about individuality. 

Very popular right now are systems with streamlined profiles that are transitional modern in design—a fusion between modern and traditional. You can choose between different wood finishes in the latest tones, beautiful countertops, high grade leathers and vegan leathers, frosted, back painted and clear glass, and lots of hardware choices.

With 15 customizable drawer styles, jewelry organizers which can be customized by adding, removing, or adjusting snap-in dividers, vanity drawers, shoe organizers, sock drawers and more, our systems make organization so functional and beautiful.

More and more, clients are asking for accessible wine storage. We have incorporated wine star storage systems in dining rooms, offices and other rooms and can customize each wine star to fit the exact specifications of your space.”

ART ANCHORS

Nothing pulls a room together better than great art—and the same can be said for floor art, aka area rugs! Selecting the perfect rug to anchor a room not only showcases the personality of the buyer, it completes the room. From solids in many colors and textures to patterned rugs that can be as subtle or as bold as you want, the place to go for the largest selection of eclectic rugs is Rugs As Art (941.921.1900, rugsasart.com). Owners John and Lucy Murse and their family have served this community for more than 30 years. 

John Murse:

“We work with over 100 manufacturers representing over 40 countries around the world, and if you don’t see what you want in our huge showroom, we also can create custom rugs in just a few weeks to ensure you get the color and design what work best with your interior. Today it’s all about individuality, not what everyone else is doing, and we can easily find or make what you need. 

Some of our best-selling rug designs come from our collaboration with a small weaving family in India. These 100% hand knotted wool rugs are not like anything currently found in the marketplace. They are a unique combination of new world/old world with traditional patterns in the fresh, trendy colors of today. 

The mirrored pattern and reverse coloration of the rug featured above is a close up of a traditional design with untraditional vibrant colors that has been broken apart and antiqued giving it a very contemporary feel. It is a great statement piece and works beautifully with many colored upholstery fabrics, especially rich blue, which is so popular right now.

The soothing coastal pallet of the blue abstract rug is designed with a pattern overlay. The organic nature of the design makes it a true work of art that will give your room a peaceful, harmonious feel.

COLUMN COOL

Unique finishes and purposeful innovation are behind 2020 appliance trends. Smart appliances must be meaningful to our lifestyle and needs, easy to use, intuitive and customizable. To see what’s trending in kitchen appliances, we recommend visiting Mullet’s Appliances Showroom (941.921.5531, mullets.com), which showcases products from many of the top brands including Jenn-Air, Sub-Zero, Wolf, Thermador, Miele and many more.

Scott Mullet:

“While steam ovens are a hot trend that will live on, when most people imagine their dream kitchen, built-in refrigeration is a major component. 

Pioneered by SubZero in the 90’s, column refrigeration gives your kitchen a seamless, contemporary appearance, offering homeowners the freedom to design kitchens that look the way they want and reflect the way they live. 

Column units offer superior customizability allowing you to pair any size refrigerator column with any size freezer column. Whether you want a wine cellar built directly in between your refrigerator and freezer or a freezer the exact size of your refrigerator, luxury brands like SubZero make it easier than ever to seamlessly merge quality, innovation and functionality with your kitchen decor. ” 

STATEMENT PIECES

Always trending are beautiful and unique pieces of stone that make a room come to life. Whether its countertops, flooring, or backsplashes, no one wants the “same old same old”. There have been jaw dropping new choices in this arena. On the forefront of this trend is Asli Gunsel, owner of 301 Granite & Marble (3800 N Washington Blvd., 941.360.0301), who has imported some incredible works of art.

Asli Grunsel:

They are being used in both homes and businesses in place of traditional art and can be customized so you get exactly what you want.  Everything from size, color, look and design are made to satisfy. Made of epoxy resin, the panels are all incredible works of art.  They are also UV resistant and waterproof so they can be used to create dynamic backdrops behind bathtubs and outdoor garden and pool areas.

“Whether it’s art for your walls, ceilings, backsplashes, vanity, bar, or other creative spaces, decorative art panels are becoming wildly popular in the interior design world. Groundbreaking artistic pieces from designer Alex Turco are crafted from photographic and digital imaging resulting in awe-inspiring artistry. 

So, if you want to a look that sets you apart from the rest and makes your home or business the standout that it was meant to be, I highly recommend that you stop by and talk to me about these breathtaking designs.”

SOPHISTICATED COASTAL

Dream. Decide. Design. Done!  That’s what today’s discerning homeowner wants and that’s just what they get working with a Design Works professional (941.355.2703, floridadesignworks.com). For 2020, it’s all about getting everything you need—tile, stone, cabinetry and countertops— to personalize the look of your space from one convenient source.

Chris Dowling, Vice President:

“Living on Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, many people want a coastal yet a sophisticated vibe for their home. The kitchen in this model home captures just that. We chose Mir Mosaic’s Seagate, a Mother of Pearl shell, as the focal point of the kitchen. With this product, we use no grout since it has a seamless interlocking system. It is a very pretty, sophisticated look that is easy to clean and care for. 

To ensure a look that would not compete with the striking Mother of Pearl backsplash, we chose Lyra, a Silestone quartz with a very refined, clean look. It has a wide chromatic range of grays, browns and beige on a white background that allows for versatility. 

The cabinets, from the Woodharbor Breeze Collection, were done in Platinum to complement the countertop and backsplash. To give the room a pop of color, the center island was done in Blue Spruce, which was the perfect choice for an upscale, coastal feel.”