And so it begins.
Don’t look now, but as we kick off 2016 today, the 20-tens – is that what this decade is called? – is half over.
For Detroit, it’s been a decade of renewal and rebirth. As the city continues to find its footing after emerging from bankruptcy, one word could probably sum up its mantra for the new year: momentum.
New restaurants and stores continue to open their doors, especially in Midtown and downtown, and that should continue in the year ahead.
Shoe giant Nike this fall announced plans to open a store on Woodward downtown. Industrial-chic retailer Restoration Hardware also plans to open a store. And Art Van Furniture founder Art Van Elslander predicts he’ll open a store downtown within a year.
Meanwhile, Detroit continues to develop its reputation as a mecca for artists and designers from all over the world. Earlier this month, UNESCO, an arm of the United Nations, named Detroit as a city of design in its Creative Cities Network.
Across the nation, Detroit isn’t the only place feeling a renewed sense of hopefulness. Nationally, as the economy continues to grow stronger, that’s rubbing off in home decor.
Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore both chose white hues – Alabaster and Simply White, respectively – as their Colors of the Year for 2016.
“Alabaster represents a straightforward and necessary shift to mindfulness, well-being and an atmosphere that is pure,” says Jackie Jordan, Sherwin-Williams’ director of color marketing.
Some may question whether white is actually a color, but Susan Todebush, general manager of the Michigan Design Center in Troy, loves the white hues.
“It’s a warmer white,” she says. “It’s a different looking white then that cold, sterile white.”
Elsewhere at home, texture will continue to be big in the new year – textured walls and carpeting; funky light fixtures; and cool accents such as wood sculptures, minerals and metal.
“It’s all about the texture,” says Todebush. “That’s the biggest thing.”
And technology is changing how we create texture at home. At Cercan Tile at the design center, owner Elizabeth Uberti says porcelain tile that looks like faux wood or marble is growing in popularity and it’s more durable and easier to maintain. Meanwhile, the tiles are getting bigger. At a recent show in Italy, tiles were 4 feet by 4 feet.
“Everything is bigger,” Uberti says.
Tiles may be getting bigger, but our homes are getting smaller – along with our furniture. The tiny house trend isn’t going away any time soon. If anything, it’s likely to get bigger as more baby boomers retire and downsize. And smart home technology will continue to evolve in 2016, allowing us to control everything from our thermostat to our garage door with a tap of our phone.
And design-wise, we’re feeling more confident. Gone are the days of perfect matching sofa sets. People want rooms and furniture with personality and character, including fringed pillows, live edge tables and multifunctional pieces.
“People are really wanting to bring their personality into a room,” says Faith Phillips, vice president of retail store experience for Monroe-based La-Z-Boy.
Let’s hope the momentum of 2015 continues in 2016 – with housing, economic activity and job growth. And as we prepare to elect a new president this year, can we add civility to the list? We can at least hope, right?
Happy 2016!
mfeighan@detroitnews.com
(313) 223-4686
IN
Alabaster, Sherwin-Williams’ Color of the Year
Simply White, Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year
Black and white decor
Textured rugs, carpet or walls
Funky light fixtures
Updated mid-century modern decor
Jewel tones
Copper
Brass
Lucite and lacquered furniture
Tribal motifs
Faux wood or marble tile
Bohemian chic
Smaller profile furniture
Fringed accent pillows
Quartz stone countertops
Rose Quartz & Serenity, Pantone’s Colors of the Year
Geometric tiles
Geometric shelves and mirrors
Textered walls
Ruffled throw pillows or mirrors
Tropical prints
Industrial chic
Curbless showers
Indoor gardens
Handcrafted furniture
Home offices and standing desks
Micro apartments
She sheds
Bar carts
Seaweed
2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
Girl Squads
Blanket scarves
Vinyl records
Grocery delivery services
Upscale Ramen noodles
A new U.S. President
Melissa Gilbert, Congressional candidate
Female “Ghostbusters” reboot
“Batman v. Superman” (filmed in Detroit)
“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
“The BFG” movie
FreeForm
“Fuller House”
“X-Files,” the miniseries
Caitlyn Jenner
Digital wallets and credit cards
Self-balancing boards
OUT
Sterile White
Cold white
Monochromatic decor with one pop of color
Flat carpet
Boring light fixtures
Boxy furniture
Old neutrals
Stainless Steel fixtures
Chrome
Plastic furniture
Grandma’s floral patterns
Linoleum
Matchy-matchy decor
Oversized furniture
Solid pillows
Formica counters
Marsala, Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year
Bland tile
Chevron
Flat walls or typography
Basic knit pillows
Dated prints
Hard industrial design
Inaccessible showers and bathrooms
Cheap fake plants
Mass produced furniture
Working from a laptop in bed
Bigfoot houses
Unused sheds
Dated liquor cabinets
Kale
2012 London Summer Olympics
Glam squads
Knit scarves
CDs
DIY grocery shopping
Traditional Ramen noodles
President Barack Obama
Melissa Gilbert, actress
Original “Ghostbusters”
The original “Batman”
“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”
“The BFG,” the book
ABC Family
“Full House”
“X-Files,” the series
Bruce Jenner
Old-fashioned wallets and credit cards
Hover crafts from “Back to the Future”
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