Top 10 Interior Design Trends for 2010According to a group of interior designers who were asked to make predictions, consumers will be looking for handmade crafts from here and around the world to decorate their homes. If you look at trend # 7 and #8 below, our indigenous crafts from Mexico are just the thing to bring more "personality" into your living spaces! We have known for a while that pieces of traditional art or crafts made by human beings can help to create a beautiful home, but I also believe they can give a house more character-- personality if you will. A unique, handmade piece that you fall in love with becomes a part of the family, almost like a pet. You don't have to feed it or take it for a walk, but you do have to care for it and treat it well. If you do, you will be rewarded with years of pleasure. Here is an excerpt from the article in the San Francisco Chronicle 12/27/09:
7. Artisanal goods
Just as artisanal foods have taken off, expect the same for home
furnishings and accessories. "Artisanal work will continue to be strong,"
said interior designer Benjamin Dhong. "Even modernists want to see
natural materials or the hand of the craftsman brought into their homes."
8. The well-traveled look
The Sundance Channel series "Man Shops Globe" follows Anthropologie
buyer-at-large Keith Johnson as he visits country after country, looking
for special pieces and inspiration for the company's 135 stores worldwide.
Whether you're scouring the stalls in Paris or browsing shops during a
quick weekend getaway, incorporating souvenirs in a space can give it a
bit of personality.
7. Artisanal goods
Just as artisanal foods have taken off, expect the same for home
furnishings and accessories. "Artisanal work will continue to be strong,"
said interior designer Benjamin Dhong. "Even modernists want to see
natural materials or the hand of the craftsman brought into their homes."
8. The well-traveled look
The Sundance Channel series "Man Shops Globe" follows Anthropologie
buyer-at-large Keith Johnson as he visits country after country, looking
for special pieces and inspiration for the company's 135 stores worldwide.
Whether you're scouring the stalls in Paris or browsing shops during a
quick weekend getaway, incorporating souvenirs in a space can give it a
bit of personality.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2009/12/27/HOUE1B42T3.DTL#ixzz0b29jzFPl
In the years I have been sharing the indigenous crafts of Michoacan, Mexico with folks here in the U.S., I have happily witnessed many customers literally fall in love with a piece of artesania. Some times they spend a long time gazing at it, stroking it. I have seen people walk away, only to return to the same piece several times saying they can't decide. They'll say, "I don't need it", or "I can't afford it", but they are somehow drawn to it and just can't let go. One woman recently told me when she came to my booth, "I can't stop thinking about the plate I saw here yesterday"... She couldn't stop thinking about it all night. Sounds like love to me. Who can explain why something speaks to us, why we are drawn to an object, just like we are drawn to a person? For me, my affection for the art is often wrapped up with the artist behind the piece. Learning about the history, the process, and then of course best of all, meeting the artisan who lovingly used his or her hands to create a traditional piece helps to give it even more meaning. That's why I try to provide information and photos of the artists, and encourage everyone to come see for yourselves on one of our tours. It's about having a relationship with the art and the artist, and we don't get that when we buy mass-produced objects made in a factory. If a home is more than a house, if it's a place where relationships form and grow and nurture us, then it makes sense that we try to adorn our living spaces with art that touches us and makes us feel connected to other humans. And if the art is from another country, a different culture, and represents a community's historical tradition and present-day struggle for survival--that's even more meaningful. So if you would like to be part of this 2010 trend and need some decorating ideas for your home, check out: www.mexicobyhand.com.
I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year...one of good health, peace in our world...and more beautiful art!
In the years I have been sharing the indigenous crafts of Michoacan, Mexico with folks here in the U.S., I have happily witnessed many customers literally fall in love with a piece of artesania. Some times they spend a long time gazing at it, stroking it. I have seen people walk away, only to return to the same piece several times saying they can't decide. They'll say, "I don't need it", or "I can't afford it", but they are somehow drawn to it and just can't let go. One woman recently told me when she came to my booth, "I can't stop thinking about the plate I saw here yesterday"... She couldn't stop thinking about it all night. Sounds like love to me. Who can explain why something speaks to us, why we are drawn to an object, just like we are drawn to a person? For me, my affection for the art is often wrapped up with the artist behind the piece. Learning about the history, the process, and then of course best of all, meeting the artisan who lovingly used his or her hands to create a traditional piece helps to give it even more meaning. That's why I try to provide information and photos of the artists, and encourage everyone to come see for yourselves on one of our tours. It's about having a relationship with the art and the artist, and we don't get that when we buy mass-produced objects made in a factory. If a home is more than a house, if it's a place where relationships form and grow and nurture us, then it makes sense that we try to adorn our living spaces with art that touches us and makes us feel connected to other humans. And if the art is from another country, a different culture, and represents a community's historical tradition and present-day struggle for survival--that's even more meaningful. So if you would like to be part of this 2010 trend and need some decorating ideas for your home, check out: www.mexicobyhand.com.
I wish you and yours a very Happy New Year...one of good health, peace in our world...and more beautiful art!
