Expert Advice from Our Parade Designers

Have you ever walked into a Parade home and thought “this home is beautifully decorated – I wonder where they got all this stuff?” We asked a couple of interior designers who regularly decorate Parade homes for advice on the latest trends and where they shop for those amazing pieces.

Most Popular Colors: Gray and Greige

“All forms of gray are in — from the soft white with a hint of gray to a taupe greige to the deep charcoals,” said Terri Stolz, who is a designer for Don Julian, Builders Inc. “Usually you will find these on the canvas of the home (like walls, trim detail, cabinets, etc) then with a pop of color on an accent wall or furniture/accessories in blues for coastal feel, orange or red for vibrant fun feeling, purples or navy for a majestic sophisticated feel or bright green for an organic and grounded feel.”

Sarah Twenter, interior designer for Pfeifer Homes, Inc., agrees that gray and greige, which is a combo of gray and beige, are still very popular. “Also, ‘off white’ walls are making a comeback,” she said. “Navy and other shades of blue and tangerine are setting off the grays nicely. Some of my favorite grays are Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray, Sherwin Williams Anew Gray, Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray, Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige and Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray.”

Wood — Not Just for Floors Anymore

It seems like using wood in other places besides the floor is growing in popularity — and the closer to its natural state the better!

“From an accent bed wall — not just plank style but in chevron or herringbone configurations — to ceilings in masters, dens, kitchens and baths woods are showing up everywhere in homes,” according to Twenter.

Stolz agrees. “Bringing wood elements, like the strip wood and beam treatments, into the ceilings create cozy spaces,” said Stolz. “Unique wood walls in lower level bars or recreation room TV walls help personalize a space with warmth, character and dimension.”

Besides wood, there are a few other trends the designers are seeing.

“Unique tile selections and creative installation designs are customizing the home more,” added Stolz. “Light fixtures are more of a jewelry statement piece in a home, instead of just function. White kitchen cabinets to the ceiling, with lots of storage, are becoming a staple piece. Light and bright color selections with tons of natural light seem to be attractive to buyers today.”

Twenter says to watch for metal mixing — even golds and brass. Additionally, different fabrics are popping up such as velvet and geometric shapes. Twenter also is seeing a resurgence of the 1980’s bold floral prints and even patterned floral drapes and — if you can believe it —swags are coming back.
Where Do the Designers Shop?

Twenter says she shops at a variety of places, including antique shops, Arhaus, Z Gallerie, Home Goods and Target — just to name a few of her favorite places.  Stolz says she stops everywhere. “I’m always looking for a fun ‘memory’ piece that will cause people to remember our homes and talk about them to their friends,” she said. “One example: there is a pair of oversized metal eyeglasses sitting on an end table as you walk into the living room of a model home. We’ve heard so many people refer to the Julian model with the eyeglasses to communicate to us which home they wanted to discuss.”

No matter what, Twenter suggests you “follow your heart and create rooms that are meaningful to the you, the homeowner!”