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Christy Scanlon
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WINTER PARK, FL — The New Year is here and with its arrival comes a tsunami of new and exciting design trends and ideas for today’s homeowners, says Designer Christy Scanlon of Winter Park-based Masterpiece Design Group.
While far too numerous to list them all, Scanlon has touched upon some of the key design trends homeowners can expect to see in 2010 in new model home centers and showrooms around Central Florida – and many you won’t.
Say good-bye to heavily textured rugs. Flokati – wool rugs whose history goes back to 5th century Greece – and shags hold a lot of allergens.
“With the new trend toward green and healthy living, these old styled rugs are no longer appropriate,” says Scanlon. “The focus now is on a healthier home environment with rugs, flooring and accessories that are conducive to providing it.”
Entertainment armoires – a staple in most people’s family rooms and bedrooms – also are passé.
“With the current sizes of LCD and flat screen televisions, the traditional entertainment cabinets are being replaced with low storage consoles,” says Scanlon.
Dark rustic kitchens also have seen better days. Scanlon says today’s new kitchens are taking a cue from the industrial chef’s kitchen. Kitchen designs are sleeker and streamlined, creating a clean look incorporating melamine, concrete, stainless steel and granite.
The traditional living room also has changed. “We are finding that the room people once called a living room on a floor plan is now called a ‘flex room’ – and for good reason,” says Scanlon. “It has to be flexible to accommodate today’s diverse lifestyles. The buyer now wants to use every bit of square footage. As a result, the room that previously housed beautiful furniture you rarely stepped foot in is now being used as a family game room, crafts area or home office.”
Big is better – especially when it comes to accessories, notes Scanlon. “You will see the use of larger, bolder accessories in lieu of the small, dust gathering items we have seen in the past,” she says.
“This is the ideal time to look around the house and make sure that you’re not dating yourself with your design elements,” says Scanlon. “While there are some things you can’t do much about such as buying all new furniture, there are lots of thoughtful things you can do to contemporize and energize your home with very little effort and cost.”
Scanlon is the President and co-founder of Masterpiece Design Group, an award-winning, full-service design firm that has provided services to both individuals and corporate clients throughout the Southeastern U.S. state since 1998. Included among its roster of builder clients are Reunion Resort, DR Horton Homes, Lennar Homes, Neal Communities, MI Homes, Ryland Homes, Imperial Homes, Mobley Homes, McNally Homes and Royal Custom Homes.