Dave Abbott and his team at Abbott Paint & Carpet fill us in on decorating trends just in time to start preparing the nest for winter.
What’s trending right now for colors and textures?
Soft greens, blue and greige (gray/beige). Monotone color schemes are in—vary textures rather than colors.
What's trending for window treatments?
Roller and Roman shades (Roman shades are made from a piece of fabric that folds up accordion-style and is pulled by a cord which raises the blind.) The ability to control light efficiently is important. Top-down/bottom up features are popular.
How can our readers incorporate texture into their home decor?
Carpet and wallcovering with varying texture and patterns.
What is trending in wallpaper?
Wallpaper is hot right now. Natural textures and metallic designs . Large geometrics, chinoiserie, mid-century modern wallpaper—just not on every wall and every room in the house.
Choosing colors for paint can be hard for some people. What advice can you offer to help them make choices that they'll be happy with?
Don’t worry about trends. Work with your taste and then think about lighting and what you're trying to achieve with color. Painting is a big task — choose a more neutral color for the walls and bring in bursts of color in décor pieces that are easier to change out, such as throw pillows, rugs and lamp shades.
What do you think the biggest pitfalls to avoid are for color?
Making a decision on the small sample chip and choosing a color by placing them side by side on the wall. It’s best to use a whiteboard to paint the sample onto and then move it around the room, and look at the color at various times of day and on a sunny versus overcast day.
What do you think are the biggest pitfalls to avoid for window treatments?
Choose the color of a functional shade to coordinate with the trim, rather than wall color. The wall color will change and then new shades and blinds would be needed. Save the color for the draperies, cornice or valance.
If customers make choices that you think won’t look good, do you say anything?
I work around their reasoning for the choice and try to help them through the choice. But it's their home and they are living with the color and it is for them to decide on. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Being a designer is about listening to the client, learning what they're looking to accomplish and helping them find the perfect solution to their unique situation—not forcing our own preferences on them.
What's the best bang for the buck in terms of making the home cozy and inviting for the winter?
Faux furs and lush throws.
What's your favorite part of your job?
Developing relationships with clients, helping them through some of the most stressful moments of their lives like moving, selling, renovating. And expanding my own knowedge about design possibilities.
