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Six Autumn 2019 Interior Design Trends at the Vancouver Interior Design Show

artwork by Emily Forgot
Selwyn I. Artwork by Emily Forgot, in the entrance installation at IDS.

September means teens are back to school, leaves are changing, and it’s time for the Vancouver Interior Design Show!

Design DNA is the theme for 2019. This year’s show offers a “deep dive into the fundamental ingredients that shape the West Coast’s design landscape”. IDS definitely took a different direction this year, with less focus on exhibiting designed rooms and more emphasis on product lines.

This year’s opening party was busy as ever. DJs kept the vibe energetic as fashionista designers jostled for glasses of bubbly. Conceptual installations were mobbed by selfie-taking enthusiasts. An older gent confided that he attends to party to see beautiful women.

It wasn’t until yesterday’s Trade Day that I got the chance to take my time and explore the exhibits. IDS is a good place to see this year’s interior trends once they have settled down at the level of the home.

In this post, I cover seven autumn 2019 interior design trends at IDS that stand out to me.

dining table with rattan chairs
70s-influenced neutral colours at Benjamin Moore

1. Neutral colour palette trend

Colour is being used in a much more restrained way in autumn 2019. What I’m not seeing at IDS this year: maximalist colour palettes and patterns. Designers are offering simple and soothing colour palettes. Black adds drama, sometimes contrasting with white. Shades of grey make up most of the in-between.

A modern free-standing tub with black and white geometric wallpaper at Benjamin Moore
Modern free-standing tub with black and white geometric wallpaper at Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

The beloved paint manufacturer’s exhibit was designed by Sharon Glech. It features a few trends:

  • black and white geometric pattern with a black feature wall
  • greys, whites, and creams (pick up some large paint chips!)
  • soothing neutrals with a 70s influence
  • dry-erase paint that actually works

Dark + moody

Lock & Mortice’s solid wood furniture in a dark and moody setting
Lock & Mortice’s solid wood furniture in a dark and moody setting
  • Lock & Mortice’s booth features modern solid wood furniture in a moody and atmospheric setting. People are loving this exhibit.

2. 70s autumnal colour trend

upholstered Scandi style chairs at J & M Home
upholstered Scandi style chairs at J & M Home
  • Colour lovers will enjoy artist Emily Forgot‘s entrance installation. Her palette combines 70s autumnal olive, ochre, brick, and peacock blue, updated with 80s pastels: mint, pink, and powder blue.
  • Muratto: 70s colours are prominent in cork wall panels
  • Formica: this historic company has new collections in colours we remember from the 70s
  • J & M Home‘s exhibit includes 70s coloured upholstered accent chairs
Muratto's three-dimensional cork wall panels in 70s colours
Muratto’s three-dimensional cork wall panels in 70s colours

3. Irresistible surfaces trend

People are really responding to surfaces that they can’t help but touch. It’s all about, matte, leathery, three-dimensional and tactile materials:

  • Muratto: three-dimensional wall cork wall coverings—great for sound installation
  • Formica: check out the new 70s coloured felt-textured laminate. There was much fondling! Amazingly, it still has stain-proof properties
  • Matt Concrete: concrete wall panels in dark and light neutrals
  • Capital Tile + Stone: lots of three-dimensional geometric tiles in neutral colours
  • Caesarstone: natural grey stone looks in leathery, matte finishes
New felt texture laminate at Formica
Amazing new felt texture laminate at Formica

4. Apartment scaled trend

maroon chair with lamp
Small scale Danish design featured at the “The Apartment”

Those of us who don’t have palatial homes appreciate exhibits that highlight apartment-scaled furniture and fittings.

oak kitchen cabinet
Danish Reform oak kitchen cabinet topped with Corian at “The Apartment”
  • The Apartment features Danish furniture, lighting and interior objects curated by CASESTUDY STUDIO. The solid oak Corian-topped kitchen cabinets by Reform brings restrained luxury to the small home. “Rooms” combine sculptural lighting with dainty seating pieces. Maroon adds some colour to off-white, light wood, and black tones.
  • a simple, dainty navy sofa is the focal point in EQ3‘s neutral palette living room exhibit
  • J & M Home‘s Scandi-style furniture pieces combine natural wood with light neutral upholstery and accent pieces in 70s colours
  • The Kompact kitchen by Bauformat brings some serious wow factor to IDS. The astonishingly small footprint kitchen hides a fridge, a microwave/oven, a mini dishwasher, a washer/dryer, a table, and a TV!
Navy Oma sofa at EQ3
Navy Oma sofa at EQ3
Kompact kitchen by Bauformat
Kompact kitchen by Bauformat with everything hidden away
Kompact kitchen by Bauformat showing hidden features
Kompact kitchen by Bauformat showing hidden fridge, dishwasher, microwave/oven

5. Modern free-standing tub trend

sculptural Victoria + Albert tub at Norburn Lighting and Bath
sculptural Victoria + Albert tub at Norburn Lighting and Bath

A must for today’s luxury bathroom. The IDS features a variety of modern free-standing tub styles:

  • House of Rohl has gorgeous Victoria + Albert volcanic stone tubs on display. Cleverly, the plug releases when the tub gets too full, thus eliminating the clutter of the overflow.
  • Norburn Lighting and Bath has a sculptural Victoria + Albert tub that is a must-see
  • ROBINSON features a white tub that sits in a black metal frame
  • Cantu Bathrooms & Hardware‘s display includes a black marble-like fluted tub
  • Native Trail‘s tub has an earthy modern vibe
Black marble look tub at Cantu
Black marble look tub at Cantu

6. Statement faucet trend

white, black and gold faucets
Theory tapware collection by Blu Bathworks at Cantu

For kitchens and bathrooms, a European style sculptural faucet feels luxurious. IDS has so many on display this year:

Over to you…

Did you check out the Vancouver Interior Design Show this year? Are you seeing these trends where you live? Tell me in the comments.

 

 

 

 

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Curves, Not Colour: Tom Dixon 2019

OPAL collection: new dining chair, lounge chair, and barstool by Tom Dixon for 2019
OPAL dining chair, lounge chair, and barstool // Tom Dixon Studio

Inside: Tom Dixon and his new furniture and lighting collections for 2019.

I recently spent half an hour sitting on a chair that’s destined to become a classic.

Tom Dixon has a reputation for being “rebellious and unpredictable”. Last year, the British designer ruffled some feathers by not showing up at Salone del Mobile. This year he previewed his 2019 collections in North America—before launching in Milan.

Dixon’s “FAT America Tour” wound up at the end of February. Eight cities got to peek at pieces from his new OPAL lighting and FAT seating collections. Vancouver was one of them.

living room with Tom Dixon OPAL floor lamps, pendants and wall lamps with FAT lounge chairs
OPAL and FAT collections // Tom Dixon Studio

That’s how I came to be sitting on the new FAT dining chair, chatting with Dixon about his studio’s new lines. When I expressed my excitement about North America seeing them first, he responded:

It’s rewarding to kind of go a bit beyond, and not just do the normal circuit of London – New York – London – New York – Milan – Paris – where people are actually quite blasé.

Tom Dixon OPAL pendants with black SLAB dining chairs and table, and CARVED vase
OPAL pendants, SLAB chairs, CARVED vase // Tom Dixon Studio

Tom Dixon has gone monochromatic and “dull” for 2019

Last year, Dixon’s collections made a strong colour statement: electric blue, glossy black, and silver. The 2019 collections represent a significant change in direction:

We’ve actually gone monochromatic. We’ve stripped out colour completely and just concentrate on shape and comfort and luminosity. We just decided to clean up. This year is about being a bit more dull.

Dixon also commented on the collections coinciding with Bauhaus’ 100th anniversary:

You think of Bauhaus red, blue, and yellow. It’s also black and white, and subtle. So I think we’re on trend.

Tom Dixon living room with FAT lounge chairs and OPAL floor lamp
OPAL floor lamp with FAT lounge chairs // Tom Dixon Studio

The Memphis design movement of the 1980s also comes to mind. In vogue again, the group’s furniture was once described as “a shotgun wedding between Bauhaus and Fisher-Price”. The globes, cones, cylinders, and curves of Dixon’s new collections seem to reference that movement, but in grayscale.

On trend, certainly, but the neutral colours of OPAL and FAT will give these pieces some longevity.

They will be on view at The Manzoni, a new restaurant by Dixon’s Design Research Studio. It will open in Milan during Design Week in April. Dixon envisions The Manzoni as:

a place where people slow down and experience our products in a live setting. There is nothing dustier than a conventional lighting and furniture showroom. But with The Manzoni, people are able to experience our new collections in an active context.

FAT dining chair, lounge chair, and barstool

The chairs and stools have a cartoon-like appearance. They are sturdy and compact, yet astonishingly comfortable. As Dixon commented: “you can flop about in them”. The foam is the perfect density for a leisurely, but lively, dinner.

Tom Dixon Studio on the new upholstery line:

FAT our new upholstery range is designed to hug the body and allows for multiple sitting positions. Available as a dining chair, barstool and lounge chair, the extreme simplicity of the components is a testament to reductionism, whilst maintaining an instantly recognizable and faintly humorous silhouette. Quite a balancing act…FAT is made from moulded foam with metal legs, launching in high gloss lacquer and made to order upholstery.

I was particularly taken with the barstool. Dixon and I chatted about the challenges of picking counter and barstools. He noted that there’s a lack of selection, and most are expensive and “nostalgic”. He’s expecting the FAT barstools to be popular.

Tom Dixon OPAL pendants on display
OPAL pendants on display at Inform Contract

OPAL lighting

I hesitate to call this collection “statement” lighting. OPAL is more like understatement lighting.

OPAL lights are hard to photograph and describe. Don’t mistake them for the simple glass globe lights that were once ubiquitous.

Deceptively simple, the subtle beauty of OPAL is best seen in person. Light emanates from a glowing lens within an opalescent globe. The collection includes pendants, floor lamps, and wall lights. Black cones, balls, and cylinders ground the ethereal bubbles.

The Studio’s description:

OPAL is a family of translucent globes using our own custom recipe of tinted white Opalescent polycarbonate. Semi translucent, they maintain an ethereal ghostliness in the daylight and at night, form a perfectly illuminated sphere. Coupled with our new dimmable Tom Dixon LED, the OPAL range emits a soft, diffused and flattering light.

I’d love to see these in a home setting.

Tom Dixon talking about his rock and roll beginnings in Vancouver
Tom Dixon talking about his rock and roll beginnings
Teenage Engineering performing in Vancouver
Teenage Engineering performing in Vancouver during Tom Dixon’s Fat America Tour

Tom Dixon’s rock and roll tour

With the Fat America Tour, Dixon disrupted the standard formula. He has admitted to becoming bored easily. This is a pitfall for most, but for Dixon it’s a strength. As a relatively small company, Dixon feels his studio has to do things differently:

It gives you that need to constantly reinvent your narrative or your products or the means of distributing. Coming here before Milan, launching things that normally we’d save up til April, doing it in America first, and doing it with music rather than just doing dumb lectures, it’s all partly to do with me not being bored, but also, it’s sort of necessary for us to survive.

Along with Dixon’s talks, tour events featured performances by Teenage Engineering. They make retro-styled synthesizers that are reminiscent of pocket calculators. The little gadgets act as drum machines, synthesizers, and controls for light shows. This is the geeky passion project of one the founders of Swedish Acne Studios.

To Dixon, design is design. He sees a lot of overlap and blending between different fields:

Although it’s a completely separate field that has not a lot to do with what we do, it’s all part of the same interest. Which is, creativity and “what’s next”? So [Teenage Engineering is] very interesting and I’ve learned good lessons from them as well. I think they’re fascinated by the fact that they can come into an environment which is completely not the music scene…and actually thrive.

Tom Dixon playing bass with Teenage Engineering in Vancouver
Tom Dixon plays along with Teenage Engineering in Vancouver

This collaboration with Teenage Engineering is an example of how Dixon avoids stagnation:

I have been pigeonholed a few times in my career. And it’s quite hard to break away from what people expect you to be and do. So it’s kind of nice to just experiment a bit. I mean, we’ll make a hideous noise tonight. Something will come out of it eventually that will be interesting and unexpected. And I think you need to constantly put yourself in unexpected scenarios to just push forward.

In Vancouver, Inform Contract hosted the event in their cool new Railtown space. Throngs of interior designers and design aficionados squeezed in to see Dixon’s talk and slideshow.

Tom Dixon electric blue task lamps at Teenage Engineering performance in Vancouver
gadgets by Teenage Engineering, lamps by Tom Dixon

Once Teenage Engineering started their music and light show, the party was on. Far from a “hideous noise”, the rhythms and energy were lots of fun. Curious about the gizmos, onlookers crowded in, taking turns watching close up. Performers were a mix of Teenage Engineering regulars and local recruits.

Dixon was excited about the vintage bass guitar that he had picked up in Portland. He strummed along with the music several times that night. You can get a sense of the vibe from my saved Insta Stories.

The FAT pieces were on hand during the party. We took turns sitting on the dining chair, lounge chair, and barstool. My husband didn’t need to spend half an hour in a FAT barstool. He quickly figured out that he wants a pair for our kitchen island.

What do you think?

What’s your take on Tom Dixon’s new collections? Let me know in the comments.

More

Note: interview quotations have been condensed for brevity.

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How to Pick Kitchen Counter Stools (You Need to Avoid These 6 Mistakes)

counter stools at Fayucaville Restaurant | Scott Cohen Design

Inside: absolutely everything you need to know about choosing kitchen counter stools…plus a free guide!

Live jazz, soft lighting, and my husband. As I sat down at the bar, I was contemplating indulging in a Manhattan.

Suddenly, the mood shifted from romantic to absurd. Sitting at the too-low bar stool, I felt like a child. Even my tall husband looked a bit silly with the bar hitting high on his chest.

There’s a lot to consider when picking counter or bar stools. Homeowners agonize about it in kitchen forums. Even professional designers sometimes get it wrong—as my husband and I experienced at that posh hotel bar. The truth is that counters and stools aren’t as standardized as dining room tables and chairs.

In this post, I’ll go over six mistakes to avoid when you pick your kitchen counter stools:

  1. too high or too low;
  2. uncomfortable;
  3. not child-friendly;
  4. swivel stool back smashes against counter edge;
  5. buying too many or too few; and
  6. stools don’t work with room decor.

Oh, and be sure to grab the No Regrets Guide to Picking Counter Stools at the bottom of this post. It includes worksheets that help with measuring and planning your counter seating.

black kitchen counter stools in a kitchen
Restoration Hardware Vintage Toledo Bar Chairs in my kitchen

Mistake #1: counter stools are too high or too low

This is one of the most common mistakes people make when picking stools. Either the stool is too low and you end up feeling like Goldilocks sitting at a counter that is too high. Or, the stool is too high and there’s no room to cross your legs under the counter.

Why does this happen?

  • a bar stool is mismatched with a standard counter (36 inches);
  • a counter stool is mismatched with a bar height counter (42 inches);
  • the stool is a non-standard height; or
  • the counter height is non-standard.

This mismatch is easy to prevent. When selecting a counter stool, measure the height of the counter. A good rule of thumb is that the seat of the stool should be 12 inches below the underside of the counter.

Product names can be misleading. Don’t assume that a “counter stool” or “bar stool” will match your standard counter or home bar. Check the seat height before purchasing, by measuring or checking product measurements online.

Also, be aware that seat height will be lower than expected if the seat has soft cushioning.

Matching a non-standard counter height to a stool is a common challenge. Our kitchen has a 39-inch island to accommodate my husband.

The simplest solutions are to:

  1. pick an adjustable stool that falls within the right seat height range or
  2. buy a taller-than-needed stool and cut the legs to measure.

We picked adjustable counter stools inspired by 1940s draftsman’s chairs. See the photo showing the Restoration Hardware Vintage Toledo Bar Chairs in our kitchen. They adjust perfectly to match our taller-than-standard island.

diagram of adjustable stool
counter stools are trickier to pick than dining chairs

Mistake #2: counter stools are uncomfortable

You’d be surprised to know how often people regret buying uncomfortable stools.

Do you see yourself sitting at your counter for a quick five-minute coffee? Perhaps you’ll be perching there while you open mail? If so, comfort may not be a big deal.

But maybe you imagine your kids doing homework at the kitchen island? Or guests lingering over cocktails and appetizers while you finish up dinner? For longer and more relaxed seating, you’ll want to make comfort a priority.

Padding and upholstery

For comfort, pick stools with a bit of cushion in the seat and back. Especially if some family members or guests have less “built-in padding”. Some options:

  • pick stools that are padded and upholstered: if spills will be an issue, consider wipe-able materials like Crypton fabric, leather, or vinyl (also known as “vegan leather”);
  • add detachable seat pads: many can be washed, and they can be replaced if necessary.

Also, keep in mind that fabric will be more comfortable in rooms that are hot and sticky, or chilly.

Footrest

Unless your counter has a built-in footrest, you’ll want to pick a stool with a footrest. See the Fayucaville photo for an example of a built-in (copper!) footrest. Unlike a dining room chair, most people will not be able to rest their feet on the ground when sitting on a counter stool. People tend to feel uneasy when their feet dangle, so a footrest is a must for comfort.

Stool back

Backless stools do have their merits. They’re perfect for the minimalist look, and they tuck nicely under the counter too. But if comfort is a priority, you’ll want a stool with a back. For relaxed lounging, a backless stool won’t cut it.

counter stool with black and white patterned seat
Backless stools are best for quick perching. The Triangulation Counter Stool designed by Ksenia at Society6.

Seat size

There is no tactful way to put this. Seats should match bums. For most adults, wider and deeper seats are more comfortable. But there are constraints to this:

  • if your countertop overhang is shallow, a deep seat will cause knees to bump the underside;
  • a too-deep seat may also cause the stool to extend too far back from the countertop edge—especially if there’s a passageway; and
  • if your countertop width is narrow, fewer wide stools will fit along that space.

Swivel

Swiveling is a feature that can add to comfort, allowing people to move around a bit while they sit casually.

Some disadvantages:

  • swiveling stools take up more width along a small countertop and
  • see mistake #4 below.

Mistake #3: counter stools are not child-friendly

You’re unloading the dishwasher or chopping veggies. Your kids are eating breakfast or doing homework at the kitchen island. For a family-friendly kitchen, the key is picking seating that works for kids.

Seat with back

Kids generally do better with stools that have a back. Having a seat back seems to provide some grounding, especially for wiggly little ones. But, see mistake #4 below.

Padding/upholstery

In my experience, kids tend to sit longer when seats are comfortably padded. As adults, we tend to forget that kids often have less padding on their behinds. If the goal is to have kids doing homework or eating full meals, some cushioning may be a good idea.

Of course, kids often mean messes and spills. More child-friendly options for upholstery include:

  • Crypton fabric: I’ve seen this stain-proof fabric hold up very well on 16-year-old dining chairs used by all ages in a common space;
  • dark and/or patterned fabrics;
  • leather with wipe-able finish;
  • vinyl (also known as “vegan leather”); or
  • add a detachable seat pad.

Swivel

Most kids love to sit on stools with a swivel. But, watch for mistake #4 below.

Mistake #4: swivel stool back smashes against counter edge

diagram of swivel stool back vs. stone counter edge
swivel stool back vs. stone counter edge

Do you have restless folks sitting at your counter? We do. In that case, you might want to rethink pairing a stone counter with a swivel stool that has a hard back. Over time, a hard stool back that bumps against the counter edge will weather some damage. We’ve definitely seen some wear on our stools as a result of this.

Solutions include:

  • pick a stool that doesn’t swivel;
  • pick a stool with no back—best for stools that will be used briefly; or
  • pick a stool with a cushioned/upholstered back.

They weren’t available at the time that we purchased our stools (and they definitely are spendy), but the leather version of the Toledo Bar Chair may have been a better choice for us.

Mistake #5: buying too many or too few counter stools

Too many

Kitchen space constraints typically determine the number of seats that will fit. In addition to the width of the actual stool, you’ll need enough space between stools to sit down or stand up. You’ll need more space if the stool swivels: to make room for knees as the seat rotates sideways. Grab the No Regrets Guide to Picking Counter Stools below to figure out how many stools you have space for.

Too few

If you’re on the fence about how many stools to buy, err on the side of buying more. You might find the perfect stool and buy three of them. If you later decide that you want to add a fourth, you risk disappointment. Many open stock counter or bar stools go out of stock when you least expect it.

Mistake #6: counter stools don’t work with room decor

Counter stools should complement and add to the room’s decor. In this section, I’ll go over some design principles that can help.

Sightlines

Does it really matter what the counter stools look like? Yes and no.

Go for visual impact if your counter stools will be seen along important sightlines. Focus on what you see when you enter a room or sit down, rather than what you see as you walk through a room.

If counter stools are less visible, focus on comfort and practicality.

Overall style

In general, you’ll want a counter stool that fits the overall style of the room. Some interior decor styles include:

  • modern
  • traditional
  • transitional
  • boho
  • Scandinavian
  • industrial
  • country
  • coastal
  • rustic
  • shabby chic

Many spaces are a blend of styles. Avoid picking counter stools that clash with the room style—unless you’re doing it as a statement.

Open concept rooms

Picking counter stools for an open concept room can be more complicated. The counter stool style, colour, and material should complement:

  • flooring;
  • kitchen finishes;
  • dining area furniture and finishes (if applicable); and
  • living area furniture and finishes (if applicable).

Contrast

Contrast is one of the most important design principles. Some positive contrast is great when counter stools are highly visible. Here are some suggestions for how to add contrast:

  • your island or peninsula is patterned or highly textured or visually busy: consider simple stools with clean lines;
  • the island or peninsula is neutral: consider stools that add a pop of colour or have a complicated shape (we did the latter in our kitchen—see the photo);
  • for a dark peninsula: consider stools that are light in colour/tone;
  • if your island or peninsula is light; consider stools that are dark in colour/tone;
  • for a space with lots of wood: consider stools that have metal, fabric, leather, or plexiglas; and
  • when there are lots of hard surfaces in the space: pick stools that bring in some softness with fabric, leather, or cushioning.

Notice how often contrast is used in the photos of kitchen counter stools that inspire you.

Inspiration

I created a Pinterest board with some counter stool inspiration. Click on the board below to see what I’ve been pinning. You’ll see great examples of some of the design principles that I’ve discussed here.

pinterest board

Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest!

Free! No regrets guide to picking kitchen counter stools

Are you choosing kitchen counter stools? Get the password to access exclusive content (including the guide) by filling out this form:

WANT TO REMEMBER THIS? SAVE THE NO REGRETS GUIDE TO PICKING COUNTER STOOLS TO YOUR FAVOURITE PINTEREST BOARD

printable on counter

Do you already have kitchen counter stools? If so, do you love or hate yours? Let me know in the comments below.