FUTURECASTING: CURBED LOOKS INTO THE MAGIC 8 BALL FOR COMING TRENDS

Happy 2013 Stylebeat readers! 

When Sarah Firshein, the force of an Editor of Curbed website asked me what my design predictions are for 2013, it was hard to limit what I had to say.  So much to come!  Her round-up of design industry voices proves there are a slew of directions design will take in the coming year. Keep your eye on this list to see what materializes. What do you think will prevail? Check out Firshein's cross-section to get a handle on what will be coming at you soon:

To close out the year, Curbed asked interior designers, decorators, shelter-magazine editors, design bloggers, and friends of the site to prognosticate about the decor and design trends of 2013. Many interviewed talked about pattern (chintz, tribal, florals), color (gray, lavender, pastels, and, of course, green), and a tactile take on luxury in the form of lacquer, wool-felt upholstery, and hand-finished metals ("brass is the metal of the moment," according to Elle Decor editor in chief Michael Boodro). Anyway, "shake" the Curbed's Magic 8 Ball, above, for some crystal gazing; find the full roster of predictions below.

Orli Ben-Dor, senior editor, House Beautiful

We'll see more Mexican influence in global looks—I don't have to tell you that everything has been 'ikatified.' Expect bold, graphic folk imagery and bright, vibrant hues.

Julia Noran, founder, The Editor at Large

· Victorian
· Tassles and trim
· Glocal (global+local)
· Heirlooms
· Crescent-shaped sofas

Dara Caponigro, editor in chief, and Eugenia Santiesteban, Veranda

· Pattern, pattern, pattern!
· Pared-down opulence
· Chintz is back!

Marcia Prentice, photographer and Apartment Therapy contributor

More bench-style dining tables. I have seen many of these types of tables popping up in contemporary homes of young creatives in Los Angeles. I think they may be on to something. The local furniture store Croft House provides a few different options.

Sarah Gray Miller, editor in chief, Country Living

· We'll see more and more personalized textiles, thanks to companies like Spoonflower and Tempaper, which allow people to design their own fabrics and wallpapers.
· Anything that combines homespun and high-tech motifs—say, a pixelated take on floral cross-stitch—will be big next year.
· The line between utility and beauty will blur further—as we continue to demand good design from even the most workaday items (like mops and trash cans), and as we continue to see beauty in simple, purposeful objects.
· If your company has any of the following words in its title—"mercantile," "dry goods," "supply"—2013 should be gangbusters for you!

Alexa Stevenson, decorator, Alexa Stevenson Interior Decoration, and Curbed columnist

· Gray has been the go-to for a clean, neutral background, but next year lavender is the new gray! Lavender is such a pleasing, sophisticated color. It can go so many ways.
· Pretty is making a comeback—away with the plain, plain, plain. Traditional prints are going to be big next year, but applied in a modern way. Hello again, chintz!
· Malachite will be everywhere and on everything. I mean, how fabulous is DwellStudio's malachite fabric?
· Midcentury decorating is going to take a back seat to more comfy and cozy pieces.

Kelsey Keith, senior editor, Dwell

· Elegant utilitarianism, i.e. pieces that make function look sexy (think anything by Jasper Morrison, and UniformWares watches).
· Pale, ash, and gray-tinted wood. Designers are starting to get out of the super-rustic, "reclaimed" everything rut. We're going to see a little more polish in wood furniture, though in lighter stains that still show the natural beauty of the wood's grain and hue.
· Wool felt upholstery. The European companies have been showing this move a lot in the past couple of years, and it's not stopping any time soon. From chunky knit ottomans to trimly tailored sofas in bright hues to felted accessories, wool is omnipresent.

Marisa Marcantonio, founder, Stylebeat

· Embracing the natural world: there is a big fascination right now with all things malachite, marble and rock crystal. The variegated surfaces make for a wonderful decorative accessory with natural beauty.
· Exoticism. We are still captivated by far-off lands. Block-printed textiles, embroidery, bone inlay, hammered metals: these will continue to be big in 2013.
· Over-the-top luxe: designers out of Europe like Tino Zervudachi prove there is a return to over-the-top luxe, using the most glamorous finishes like lacquer, gilding, and inlay next to bespoke furniture from companies like Mallet's Meta line. The "more is more" effect will be making its way across the pond with buildings like 157 West 57th Street. It's about what no one else has: Bespoke. Bespoke. Bespoke.
· The art market will continue to blow up. A Gerhard Richter belonging to Eric Clapton sold for more than £21M. This is the highest price ever paid at auction for a living artist. It's all about the best of the best at the highest end of the market. The rarer the better. Collectors want to set themselves apart amassing a collection and interiors to show they can play the game and own what their neighbors don't.

Sara Peterson, editor in chief, HGTV Magazine

· Rethinking the coffee table: We'll see a lot more options beyond glass and wood-top tables. Upholstered ottomans, poofs, and X-benches are gaining popularity because they can add fun pops of color and pattern to a living room. They'll come in all shapes and sizes, from extra-large round tufted ottomans to petite, striped cubes.
· Year-round melamine: Melamine dishes are not just for backyard parties and picnics anymore. The patterns are pretty and more sophisticated, so we'll all want to use them as our everyday plates, bowls, and glasses. Bonus: they're dishwasher safe and won't chip.
· Color-packed kitchens: Color will have its moment in the kitchen. You'll see candy-colored sinks and (yay!) lots of affordable accessories in a rainbow of cheery shades.

Michelle Workman, interior designer, Michelle Workman Interiors

Spring and Easter-like color palettes: think warm aquas, sunshine yellow, and delicate pink. Lines are softening, still modern but softer: think Art Deco and Nouveau rather than midcentury modern. More prints, and florals. I see...chintz! And more blasts from the past but again 1920s and 30s rather than 50s and 60s. A big dose of Chinoiserie. Plus, continuing to see animal heads and tufting. There is also a definite move toward Victorian but I think it's still another year before we see it fully realized.

Sabine Rothman, market editor, House Beautiful

· Sleeker lines, smoother surfaces—authentic, but less earthy.
· We're loving brass—whether shiny and bright or unlacquered for a rich patina.

Philip Erdoes, CEO and "futurist," and Scott Procops, social and digital media manager, The New Traditionalists/ducduc

· Aggressive use of color, particularly submarine/sunburst yellow. Gloom is dead! Americans are looking toward a brighter future, and this positive outlook will be reflected in their homes.
· Rawness: the use of raw materials for texture (unfinished and natural).
· The acceleration of rapid prototyping: the process of laser cutting, fabricating your own unique pieces with porcelain, and other materials will be commercialized, and more readily available for decor.
· Supporting local artisans!
· Glen plaid in unexpected places (not your grandfather's plaid).
· The deceleration of "fast fashion" and everything that comes with it. Fast doesn't last. People will be willing to wait a bit longer for a product of a higher quality and will last them longer.
· Transparency in everything, from glass side tables to transparency of materials used and the creation process to interpersonal transparency.
· The color gray for kids!
· Pieces, patterns, and designs that will last past childhood
· An aesthetic that's reflective of a new generation of parents. Slightly less traditional, but not overly modern.

Anne Maxwell Foster and Suysel dePedro Cunningham, interior designers, Tilton Fenwick

Looking to fashion trends, we're seeing a lot of mega-mixing of patterns like floral with polka dot, or camouflage (think Marc Jacobs 2012 Resort) and stripes. We can see this bold layering trend showing itself much more in interiors in 2013. We've had our eye on a camouflage striped rug from Studio Four NYC called "Ocean" from Elements Collection. The olive green and grays on ivory create a striking graphic and, if mixed in a room with a great multicolored floral chintz fabric, the rug could be quite striking.

Michael Boodro, editor in chief, Elle Decor

· Lots of brass: With its rich gleam and sculptural weight, this metal is experiencing a resurgence. With so many designers looking to the '70s, it's inevitable that brass and bronze will show up more—from accessories by Carl Aubock to cocktail tables by Gabriella Crespi to virtually entire rooms by Kelly Wearstler, brass is the metal of the moment.
· Green: Pantone named Emerald the Color of the Year for 2013, but we're seeing all shades of greens and expect more in the future, from bright spring greens to olives, and especially lots of different blue-greens and teal.
· Embellished walls: We expect this trend, already strong, to continue at full strength. The options now are limitless, from simple grass cloths to hand-painted papers to coverings embellished with glass beads and crystals.
· Lace: Your grandmother's tablecloth is now hip. Already big on the runways, lace is showing up in the home collections of Zara and H&M, so you know it's ready for its close-up. Count on seeing lots more see-through in the months ahead.
· Beige: A surprise, but it's showing up more often, and in quieter room settings. The danger here is going corporate bland, but very talented designers are using a variety of shades of cream, off-white, and yes, beige in a variety of textures to create serene settings. This could be the start of a backlash against all the vivid colors and layered rooms we've been seeing for the past few years.

Drew McGukin, interior designer, Drew McGukin Interiors

· Hand-finished metals
· Large scale and painterly prints
· Whimsy is in
· Blue is still big
· Grey is not gone
· Red is boring
· Tribal patterns

Tamara Eaton, interior designer, Tamara Eaton Design

Quirky glamour: brass and bronze are glamorous materials and being used in lighting, furniture, hardware, etc., in fascinating new ways. I think clients are looking for unusual shapes and sculptural elements, but in warm, inviting tones.

Karen Vidal, interior designer, Design Vidal

Dream kitchens! 2013 is the year of the kitchen. Renovations are on the rise and people are focused on getting the kitchen of their dreams. The center of the home, the place where guests congregate, the new family hang out room, kitchens are the star and people want them to shine.