2023 Timber + Plumb Trends Forecast
It’s really no secret that trends can vary and change every year but what I always like to remind my readers is that just because something is trendy doesn’t mean you have to do all of it or any of it and you especially don’t have to love it.
What I personally love about forecasting trends, is that it may inspire some new ideas for clients and/or other professionals in the industry and helps us push our creative boundaries. I could go on and on about the importance of trend forecasts and how things shift every year but instead I would rather introduce my thoughts on what our 2023 forecast will look like for interiors!
Thin Countertop Profiles - When I say thinner countertops this can be accomplished in many different ways and in any space that requires a countertop. You could simply go with 2cm thick style countertop or simply pick a countertop edge profile that gives the illusion it’s thinner. A great example of this would be Cambria’s “Shale” countertop edge (scroll through down page to explore edge profile options)
Darker/Richer Wood Tones - Light wood tones were all the rage for the past couple years but I’ve been noticing a huge shift to medium/darker toned woods that have a rich hue vs being that “white-washed” look. I’ve been doing walnut for many years and have been installing cherry cabinets in clients home for the past year. So if the lighter wood tones aren’t for you, you’re in luck because it’s time to go back to that warm and cozy feel. Find some wood inspiration here!
Range Ledges - For those of you who don’t love open shelving because it can look cluttered, this detail is great option for you! In designs I’ve been creating, we’ve been working in a 3-4” in depth ledge above the range region. This ledge can hold small items like spices and oils but also can be used to tilt small artwork pieces on it. It’s narrow so it never really looks cluttered and it’s pretty easy to keep clean within your regular kitchen clean-up habits. If you don’t have any idea how this looks, find some inspiration here.
Mixed Hardware Styles - Mixed metals has been all the rage for the past couple years as well and we have some clients who have mixed and matched hardware finishes and fixtures finishes in their space so they aren’t so “matchy-matchy”. This trend will remain in place this year but with hardware, we will see a shift away from spaces with all handles in varying sizes and see designers pushing hardware combos that include, knobs, bin pulls, and handles all combined together. I love it because it can be a different customized look for every client and depending on the knob style you have, you can always add in a back-plate for a little extra “spice”. Find some inspiration here for mixing hardware styles.
Semi-Open Concept Spaces - I think if the past two years have taught us anything it’s to wash our hands more but also that open concept spaces aren’t for every family. I for one, love a semi-open concept home. It creates some separation when you need some alone time or creates some separation if you’re entertaining and your home is messy or gets extremely loud when filled with guests. I don’t think we will see a shift away from an open concept kitchen combined with a living space but I do think that the trend of having a separate formal dining room or den will become huge in the next decade.
Bolder/Pops of Colour - I still love neutrals but I do miss having interesting pops of colour in spaces… so needless to say I’m excited to see more bold choices in our spaces. The popular colours will be shades of mossy greens, teal and ultramarine blues, blushes and raspberry inspired tones, citrus and rusty oranges, as well as bold monochromatic dark blacks and browns. If you can’t commit to your walls being a bold colour, don’t worry! Bold pops can be worked in with accessories like pillows, artwork, wallpaper/decals, and rugs.
Multi-Function Appliances - How many of us wish that we had appliances that could do “more” so that we had less appliances to store… I think all of our hands are up right now (especially if you have a small space for storage). We are seeing a shift to more major appliances being able to do more and what I mean by this is; ranges and wall ovens that have an air-fry function. Ranges being able to sous-vide and function as a steam oven and have a gas cook-top as well as a section for induction cooking as well (example of what that looks and works like found here). Working with a designer will help you navigate this tricky world of appliances to ensure you’re picking the best appliances for your space and able to live a more “simple” minimalist lifestyle.
I think this year we will be seeing a big shift from the past five years of trends and style which is super exciting (especially for the pros who have been executing the same style projects over and over again). There are other big things on the horizon as well for this year so who knows, I might have a second trend prediction in the summer!
Anyways, if you have any questions about trends or want some help navigating your style, send me an email and we can connect!
Cheers to 2023 Folks - Let’s make this year a good one!
Markie.