Millennium Design Trends Focus on Tranquility & Opulence

Art Business News, August, 2000 by Jennifer Wong

Recognizing new trends in furniture design and color is an important way for framing companies to stay in tune with the needs and desires of consumers

Like any other design industry, the framing industry must constantly keep on top of the trends shaping consumer choices in fashion, furniture design, and home decor. Attending furniture shows, watching color trends, consulting interior designers and traveling around the world are just a few of the methods framing companies employ to keep their frames and their frame shop owners happy and successful.

And as we enter the new millennium, several trends in design and color have emerged. In general, trends today reflect consumers' desire for a slower paced life filled with more tranquility and tradition in their home environments. There is a renewed interest toward living in harmony with natural elements, and designers are combining wood, metal, glass and stone in many of their looks.

In direct opposition to that trend, designers are also seeing a resurgence in formality led by opulent `Old World' furniture and the use of luxurious fabrics like silk and damask. There is also an increased interest in discovering one's heritage and blending that with other styles resulting in an overall eclecticism in style.

A Look At Color & Texture

Two notable color and trend forecasting organizations that influence interior design and the frame industry are the Color Marketing Group and the Color Association of the United States.

"Moving into the new millennium, everyone is anxious about keeping up with the rate of change that's going on in the world fueled by the Internet, e-commerce and mass media," said Hall Dillon, chairholder and president of the Color Marketing Group, (CMG). "We need calming, soothing and relaxing atmospheres.

CMG has forecasted blue as the most important color of the next decade, supported by an array of pale neutral colors. Blue evokes tranquility and serenity and acts as a counterbalance to the frenzy of technology in our lives.

As a complement to the blues and neutrals, spicy oranges, reds and golden browns from Morocco and Australia add excitement to their forecasted color palettes. "We need some lightheartedness and a little energy, as well," said Dillon.

When color tones down, texture becomes paramount, adding character, detail and color enhancement. "We are becoming more tactile," said Dillon. "It's not just about what we see, it's about what we feel. You can layer many translucent colors to create a richer, more complex color."

"Color is really about life," said Margaret Walch, director of the Color Association of the United States (CAUS). "We expect to see more complicated color because Americans are realizing how important color is in their lives. We are really responding to art exhibitions and the colored wall. We've never really explored until now how frames and matting can make their own statements."

"One of the more interesting things I saw recently was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art," continued Walch. "It was an exhibition from the Mary Griggs Burke Collection of Japanese ukiyoe prints. The museum used patterned mounts instead of wood or paper. They used several fabrics, rather like a kimono of many patterns. Not only were they beautiful, but I think people appreciated the elaborate, multifaceted mountings."

The Influence of Home Decor

Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of Public Relations for the American Manufacturers Furniture Association (AMFA), discussed the major trends in the furniture design and home decor industries.

"Naturally there are two absolutely opposite trends happening at the same time," said Hirschhaut. "The first trend we've been watching is a continued trend that is 10 years old. It can be defined as casual living, sort of like `casual Friday has come home.' It is comfortable, stylish and informal. We've seen light colored woods and soft slip-covered upholstery."

"Let's shift that exactly 180 degrees," Hirschhaut continued. "One of the trends that we saw in this market was a return to formality with very strong, traditional lines." She described a line of furniture that included rich, ornately carved mahogany pieces and very crisp, tailored upholstery in silk and damask. Hirschhaut mentioned another successful collection that was inspired by Malcolm Forbes' family's collection of furniture from their European chateaux.

"The beauty and formality of classicism continues to be an important part of design today," said Linda Omelianchuk, designer for Larson-Juhl, Color Marketing group member and co-chairman of the CMG International Trends Committee. "The sense of history from European architecture, art and furniture will always be a significant influence in home interiors and picture framing."

The Larson-Juhl new designs targeting this classic look have been extremely well received, confirmed Steven McKenzie, senior vice president of marketing.

Walch, of CAUS, definitely sees the return to formality. "We are seeing a return to a richness that is being rediscovered by a whole new generation of newly married, young householders," she said. "This is the year of formal furnishings. There is a movement to antique silver and also a very patina-ed, gold-leaf color. This is a natural for framing."