Fall decor trends 2009

Twice a year, fashion runways around the world spring energetically to life, graced by the elegance and beauty of models sporting the season’s latest clothing trends. Similarly, home shows like the Fall Home Show (October 1-4, Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto) kick-start a new season for design and decor enthusiasts, introducing what’s new, what’s hot and what’s most exciting, emerging from the ever-evolving world of design. So, what’s on trend for fall 2009? We checked in with Janette Ewen, stylist and CityLine guest expert, to find out what’s hot, hot, hot in home decor for the season. Here's what she had to say!

Q: What decor trends are leading the way for fall 2009?
A: Rustic glamour, reclaimed furniture and design elements with modern, glamorous additions are hot for fall 2009. Also, 80s-inspired living spaces – sunken living rooms, oversized bathrooms – all done with modern materials. Investment furniture and creating a luxe look is hot. It’s all really about a reaction to the economic downturn. People want to escape into their interiors.

Q: What are we seeing when it comes to:
Colour

A: Shades of white are very strong. Grey continues to be a strong colour, with soft mixes of brown, inspired by nature, stone and soil.

Furniture
Green is making a play. We’re seeing a lot of 60s-inspired lime green, leaf green, muted pastel and earthy tones, but done in luxe fabrics with graphic patterns.

Walls
Wallpaper has gone 3-D and technical. Three-dimensional fabric and layered, torn pieces of paper create a 3-D installation. Wallpaper has gone even more over the top: 3-D, hand-drawn, sketches. It’s very handcraft-inspired.

Accessories
Again, homespun, upscale crafty chic is evident in accessories. Jonathan Adler’s needlepoint cushions come to mind. Think: Accessories that incorporate old and new, like an old oversized, ornate mirror wrapped in a modern rubber wrapping. Surrealism is shaping accessories as well. This really started in Paris with the Le Meurice Hotel, redesigned by Phillipe Starck. Every element is actually different than it appears, like chairs with swan heads and tables with women’s shoes on the legs. It is done so seamlessly, it just seems like ornate furniture at first. Eclectic "found" objects, such as old signs, bottles and curiosities continue to be popular.

Q: What is this season’s one must-have item?
A: A cabinet of curiosity. A small frame boxed or glass display cabinet, full of obscure and random "finds", natural elements like butterflies, eggs and nests, mixed with vintage cameras, postcards, etc. Really, anything that tells a story.

Q: Is eco-design/decor still a “trend”? How can people make greener choices for their homes?
A: Yes, I think it has surpassed being a "trend" and become a way of life. People think before they buy. I think it changes how we shop. We ask ourselves what or who was harmed in making a particular product, will it last, will it end up in a landfill? If everyone starts thinking this way, a greener way of life (and probably a more stylish one) will evolve. One exciting eco-trend is soy products (made in Canada). Brentwood has soy foam sofas (super-stylish!), soy board kitchens, soy-based, no VOC paints.