In with the New: Experts share modern, vogue choices in the world of home and design

_{This Allard + Roberts renovation utilizes stylish, authentic, and practical interior design sections.}

Like the diverse topography of Western North Carolina, home trends follow grand peaks and deep valleys. For the inside buzz on which residential fashions are on the rise and which have started to slide away, we turned to a panel of high-end design professionals: architect Scott Huebner, architect and principal, Harding Huebner; Talli Roberts-Early, president, founder, and principal interior designer, and Sarah Brewer, vice president and interior designer, Allard + Roberts Interior Design; and Courtney Hinton, founder and design principal, Hearth + Home Interiors. Informed by the landscape of today’s culture, environment, economics, and technology, these styles, preferences, and approaches have consistently surfaced in these experts’ most recent projects.

COMMIT TO COLOR

Goodbye, gray, with your cold blue undertones; color is heating up. “People aren’t as afraid of color as when everybody wanted gray and white everything,” says Roberts. “Clients are more willing to step out of their comfort zones,” agrees Hinton, clarifying the trend is more about how color gets incorporated than vividness. “Bold colors don’t necessarily equate to bright, neon hues.” Instead, folks have cozied up to warm palates (think earthy terracotta, deep green, and inky blue). And the designers are all in—literally. Roberts sees momentum behind color drenching, which saturates an entire room, including walls, ceiling, and trim, in one tone.

^{BOLD & BRIGHT This Biltmore Forest kitchen remodel by Hearth + Home Interiors demonstrates the impact of deep teal blue accents against a neutral color palette.} 

Kitchens have also abandoned the gray-white monotony in favor of two-tone cabinetry, pairing painted and stained finishes for versatility. “I like to reference the colors characteristic of old English kitchens. Those classics never go out of style,” says Hinton, who recently launched her own cabinetry line. Another shakeup worth noting? Mixed metals. “All black or all brass appliances and finishes can feel trendy,” Hinton continues. So blend in polished nickel or stainless steel.

^{What’s hot in the kitchen? Coffee stations, wet bars with integrated beverage centers or wine coolers, professional-style induction ranges, and integrated appliances.}

STYLE WITH PERSONALITY

The style pendulum has also swung from stark minimalism to cozy maximalism, a shift Roberts attributes to the pandemic-era desire for comfort. A softer take on traditional, “grandmillennial style” gathers heirloom pieces, vintage collections, rich color, and patterned coverings under a modern lens. “We’re pulling together new and updated upholstery with existing antiques and artwork in a way that looks intentional,” remarks Roberts. The lived-in look is achieved with creatively mismatched furnishings; textural and patterned wallpapers; and over-the-top prints like country florals, nature motifs, and intricate toiles.

^{ADDING CHARACTER Allard + Roberts’ Linkside Court Renovation showcases modern furnishings with patterned curtains for a layered feel.}

Even streamlined styles have been softened. “You don’t have to give up the warmth of historic architecture for the sake of modern design,” says Huebner, who relies on wood and concrete finishes to affect a feeling of old-world craftsmanship in projects. (Know, too, that the light oak popular five years ago is giving way to darker options like walnut and mahogany.) “With ‘soft modernism,’ a house might have glass walls and black windows but also features cozy upholstery and comfortable furnishings,” adds Roberts.

CONNECT TO NATURE

^{ALL TOGETHER Harding Huebner’s Raven Cliff Knoll project uses expansive windows to create a connection between the home's interior and the world outside. The ceiling is made of walnut—a good example of warm modernism.}

In a seemingly ironic twist, modern mechanical advancements are helping root homes in the natural environment. As manufacturers become more sophisticated in their production of larger, high-performing windows, home dwellers can take advantage of outdoor views through oversized walls of glass that require very little maintenance. Many contemporary designs then further emphasize a relationship to nature with cantilevered floorplans that seem to float inside forests and over mountainsides. “Where we once required thick columns that stretched up three stories, the cantilever now allows us to build on our steep terrain without a regrettable underbelly,” says Huebner.

Our design experts also noted clients’ continued desire for indoor-outdoor living, with many opting to blur the line between interior and exterior via double-duty spaces like covered outdoor rooms, courtyard firepits, and outdoor kitchens. “We’re also doing more pools than ever before,” adds Huebner, noting the popularity of small lap pools and plunge pool/hot tub combos.

CHOOSE AUTHENTICITY

^{ORGANIC MODERN Exposed steel beams and board-formed concrete generate an authentic, industrial feel inside this Southcliff project by Harding Huebner.} 

Forget the dupes. Today’s homeowners value goods and services that are true. “People want homes that are honest reflections of the materials and structures,” explains Huebner. His firm has moved away from exterior stone, for example. “The old-school stone facade is very labor-intensive to quarry and install, and it’s simply a veneer.” Alternatively, he utilizes board-formed concrete, a durable, maintenance-free product for inside or out. And the wood grain patterns imprinted on these concrete panels fit nicely into the region’s architectural vernacular.

Steel, too, is enjoying a moment, with architects exposing beams rather than burying them inside walls, as was popular a decade ago. “Steel is a very honest material—what you see is what you get,” Huebner says. Sure, a project may warrant applying a paint color or oil protectant, “but we try not clad raw steel in another material.”

The authenticity ethos carries over to the hiring of professionals as well. Roberts feels honored to connect clients with local talents, from artists and smiths to carpenters and installers. “This way, people are reinvesting in the community while also receiving something tailored to them.”

MAKE PRACTICAL SELECTIONS

When it comes to outfitting a home, think beyond fast fashion. “People want to invest in pieces that are going to last, which is refreshing,” says Hinton, who believes overall price increases have buyers carefully considering the quality of their purchases. “They don’t want a crummy sofa from a big-box retailer; they want a couch that’ll last 10 years.” To that end, folks are also forgoing precious upholstery fabrics like chenille and mohair for more functional choices such as canvas and leather.

Practicality cooks in the kitchen, too, where the preferred backsplash is now a quartzite slab (no grout to clean), user-friendly counter height has overtaken bar height, oddly shaped islands are a no-no, and induction ranges can be hidden beneath countertops.

^{BESPOKE Sturdier materials and personalized design, as seen in the Grand Highlands Contemporary (left) and Reynolds Mountain Modern Retreat (right) by Allard + Roberts, make for more practical furnishing choices.designed the interior of this Grand Highlands Contemporary custom home.}

Sustainability is now the name of the game in home building, as well, in the way of solid materials and livable construction. “The nicks and imperfections collected along the way tell the story of a home,” muses Huebner, who appreciates dwellings that endure in style and quality despite of-the-moment trends. “Like people, houses need to age gracefully—they’re not stark museums preserved in time.”

Resources:

Allard + Roberts Interior Design
59 Charlotte St., Asheville
Monday-Thursday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
(828) 271-4350; allardandroberts.com

Harding Huebner Architects
573 Fairview Rd., Ste. 1, Asheville
(828) 333-9018; hardinghuebner.com

Hearth + Home Interiors
53 Orange St., Asheville
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
(215) 595-4768; hearthandhomeinteriors.co