The New Face of Home Design (an essay by guest writer Mary Douglas Drysdale)

photocourtesyswedishfurniturecom

Friends and blog readers,

The economic down turn in America has influenced the face of design and will continue to do so in the coming years.  The look and feel of today's home is the extension and reflection  of a broader range of attitudes and sensibilities.  In the year to come expect to see in the pages of magazines and on the boards of designers a more streamlined, simple and direct aesthetic. Perhaps once again, Le Corbusier's famous credo "Less is MORE" may become the tag line of the coming decade.

Everyone I know is paring back - wanting less in their interior spaces, this translating into fewer objects and a decidedly unfussy look. The excesses of the 80's, and the hard-edged minimalism of the 90's are no longer relevant at this time.  It seems that the Modernist tendencies of the last many years has given way to a warmer and softer look. The biggest shift between what we call 'current' or 'contemporary' today, and Modernism, is the architectural environment itself. I find that my clients are now interested in a more traditional architectural setting with attractive moldings and defined rooms. I would go so far a to say that the  room itself is now king. Decoration is not wanting to take over and fill any and every surface; the look of today is soft, ecclectic, and comfortable. Art and object are better balanced.

It is the beginning of a Neo-traditional time where the simplicity of the modernist aesthetic, unpretentious, clean and lean mixes with the traditional architectural details and ideas. The notion of taking an older home and stripping out the detail, while never a good idea in my view, has been a strong trend in the remaking of the urban household. Today, most are approaching their home improvement projects with a eye to preservation. The house of today reflects a continium of history, family and time, not just a snap shot in time.  I am excited about the many projects scheduled for 2012, and relish the opportunity of new challenges in the coming year.

Sincerely,

Mary Douglas Drysdale

Mary Douglas Drysdale,

Principal, Drysdale Interiors

(www.marydrysdale.com)