From the birth of hip hop to artisanal cupcakes, if there’s one thing New York City is famous for, it’s pioneering trends that hit the rest of the world a few months (or years) later. If there’s something beautiful and cool and new, chances are it happened here first.
When it comes to interior design, you can be sure that even the most die-hard LA designers are checking out trends in Manhattan and Brooklyn before deciding what to buy for their well-heeled clients.
That’s why we decided to talk with seven top real estate brokers in New York City to check the pulse of the interior design world, and see what trends might be coming your way.
Monotonal Palettes in Shades of Gray
Bonnie Lindenbaum of Warburg Realty in Manhattan told us that monotonal palettes, like the sumptuous shades of gray in her listing at 15 W 63rd street (pictures below) are a hit with her Manhattan clients.
“I have a beautiful listing at 15 W 63rd 23B. It is almost 3,000 square feet, done in different shades of gray. I found most buyers love the monotonal palette and when I have showings or open houses, I bring bright orange tulips for a splash of color.”
David Dubin, a broker with Douglas Elliman Manhattan, also noticed designers and clients alike being taken with the monotonal look. One of the best things about the monotonal shades of gray look is how it makes adding brightly colored accent pieces really pop. Check out how the blue velvet sofa, another trend we think is here to stay, accents the living room at 11 Fifth Avenue in the second picture below.
“Gray is the new white in kitchen cabinetry. The tone is very often on the pale side of gray, paired with white marble or caesarstone for a clean look. This look can either be contemporary or traditional, depending on the style of the cabinetry.”
Book-matched Calacatta Marble Accent Walls
When it comes to natural materials, it doesn’t get more elegant (or pricey) than marble. When it comes to marble, it doesn’t get any better than Calacatta marble, a strain that comes from the same Carrara region of Italy as Carrara marble, but with more distinct veins and a brighter white color:
Book-matched marble is rarer still, as it requires one slab of marble cut in half, ending up with two mirror images of the same organic veins and color. Elliman Brooklyn agent Jack Chiu, told us that buyers are noticing the luxe stone features in new developments:
“We are seeing the book-matching marble Calacatta veins in a ton of new developments. This is something agents and buyers are pointing out at showings.”
Here’s an excellent example of book-matched marble at Five River Park in Cobble Hill:
Another notable use of book-matched marble was in superstar interior designer Nate Berkus’ apartment at 39 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. Looks like this gorgeous but expensive trend is here to stay:
White Glossy Kitchen Cabinets
One of the interior design trends that might spell the inevitable demise of farmhouse chic or industrial kitchens are gloss-white cabinets and induction burners or other electric stovetops that blend into the countertops. Think iPad Chic, instead of farmhouse.
Warburg Manhattan agent Jeremy Kamm brought this one to our attention:
“Light-stained wooden cabinets and drawers are also definitely out. White glossy kitchens with white subway tile backsplashes are definitely the most popular among current homeowners.”
Check out how the white gloss cabinets make this Manhattan-size kitchen at his listing at 240 give East 35th Street feel much bigger and brighter:
Jessica Levine, a broker with Douglas Elliman Manhattan, clued us in to the case of the disappearing stovetops.
“Electric stovetops versus gas stove tops, even when there is a gas line, because it looks nicer aesthetically.”
Looks like your kitchen stovetop might have the same sleek look as your iPad soon. From the looks of this kitchen at 111 Morton Street in the West Village, we’re thinking of swiping right on this new trend.
Agent Sophie Harris of Warburg Realty gave us a secret recipe to make any listing ready for its close-up.
“With so many trends to consider, there are three staples I often turn to: mixed textures, pops of color, and clean lines. Incorporating textures such as velvet and mohair can elevate a space immediately. Adding accent pieces like marigold plush pillows or thick emerald green throws will add a pop to any room.”
Keep in mind that you don’t have to go overboard with accent colors and texture. In fact, sometimes less is indeed more, which is the case with this living room design from Restoration Hardware:
Georgia Kaporis, an agent with Douglas Elliman Manhattan, is noticing the iPad look sneaking its way into bathrooms too:
“The biggest trend I am seeing is when a shower has a mirror on the walls … so instead of the glass we are used to, the glass is now covered with a mirror. This makes the bathroom look larger, as if the shower is non-existent.”
Over to You
What interior design trends are you noticing in your market? Let us know in the comments or join the discussion in our private Facebook Mastermind Group.
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