Toronto's Interior Design Trends for 2019
As Toronto emerges from another mind-numbingly cold Canadian winter, our collective thoughts turn toward springtime and the promise of renewal.
We say goodbye to parkas and winter boots & hello to spring jackets & warm-weather shoes.
We say goodbye to snow & hello to green grass.
And when it comes to us design nerds, we also say goodbye to outdated interior design & hello to the new interior design trends for 2019.
In today’s article, I have interviewed a handful of Toronto’s design leaders for their feedback on Toronto's Interior Design Trends for 2019.
Wallcovering Trends for 2019
Katie Hunt from Katies Wallpaper is Toronto’s wallcovering superstar. Here’s her forecast on Toronto’s wallcovering trends for 2019….
As the technology of wallpapers continue to improve, the scope of wallpaper applications and designs will be continue to expand. For 2019, we will be seeing more Murals, and Oversized Patterns, and designs which are whimsical and colourful.
From custom wallpapered furniture, to built-ins, new and exciting wallpaper applications will add custom details throughout the home.
Textural wallpapers, such as Grasscloths, continue to be popular. And with specialty finishes, like Wood Veneers, pushing the boundaries of what wallpaper can do.
We will also be seeing more Artisan wallpapers, as they are customizable, and add that special one-of-a-kind look to your home.
Wallpaper is one of the most diverse creative design applications for your home, both from a price and design perspective. You can budget $60 per Roll to $2,000, and from a design standpoint, the possibilities can be virtually anything you imagine
Lighting
Universal Lamp is one of Toronto’s leaders in lighting design & fixtures. I would like to thank Universal’s Shayla Young for her take on Toronto’s most important lighting trend for 2019….
The biggest lighting trend that we noticed this year at Universal Lamp is matte black lighting. Coming in all kinds of styles, from modern to traditional, and all types of lights, chandelier to wall sconces, etc. Black lights are a great choice for people who do not want to commit to a metal finish, or if they plan on mixing finishes.
Custom Furniture
Markham Furniture is one of Toronto’s top builders of fine quality, custom-built furniture. A favorite of interior designers for 20 years, Markham Furniture sells made-to-order furniture to perceptive clients across Canada at an extraordinary value. Below are their thoughts on Toronto’s top furniture trends for 2019…
When Interior Designers and decorating clients shop for fine custom upholstery, a concise palette of colour usually guides their project selections. Designers will always shop fabrics with that prevailing consideration in mind. For 2019, leading designers are increasingly exploring textured fabrics to shelter their focal point settees.
“Clients are not just looking, they’re touching more than ever. They’re opting for something with a discernible, gratifying touch. It’s a decidedly tactile approach” says Julie Rizk, a Furniture Designer and Fabric Consultant at Markham Furniture.
“They want their fabrics to feel delicate, natural, breathable. Designers are consciously exploring all the options. They’re asking about Linen, Wool, Cotton, and Bamboo and asking for silky-velvet, and chenille fabric swatch books.”
Markham Furniture tells us that textured fabrics with beautiful, subtle patterns woven-through have been in demand pre-Spring, and expect texture to be a significant consideration for designers and home decorators in (Toronto in) 2019.
Tile / Stone
Marble Trend is one of Toronto’s best suppliers of natural stone slabs, porcelain, glass tile, terrazzo, quartz, concrete & wood flooring. For 2019, Marble Trend’s Gabriella Luchetta sees two products leading the way in Toronto for 2019….
With advancements in technology, natural stones have been mimicked into porcelain tiles & slabs giving the look of expensive natural stones but offering a cheaper alternative.
NOTE: I have included a link to Marble Trend’s selection of porcelain products, but to be honest, the pictures don’t do them justice. They need to be seen in “real life” to make a accurate comparison to natural stone.
Lately people seem to be getting tired of the marble look that has been popular for so many years and are now really into terrazzo.
Traditional terrazzo is natural stone chips held together with cement or resin. It was popular for many years for commercial projects like airports, hotels, shopping malls, public transit stations etc. but it wasn’t as popular as it has become for the multitude of applications it is being used for today. Popular applications include countertops, floors, walls, sinks, tabletops etc.
With advancements in technology, manufacturers have created new adaptations of traditional terrazzo.
Ex 1: Vetrazzo is created with 100% recycled components such as beer, wine and vodka bottles, condiment jars, oyster shells, mother of pearl, traffic lights, windshields as more.
Ex 2: DNA Urbano is a product that instead of using stone chips is made with (gravel that builds up along pavement edges), designed by CEM Ambiente Spa –a company that engages in the collection and treatment of waste for a cleaner environment.
Ex 3: Retrostone is a digitally printed version of Terrazzo. It is also eco friendly, 100% natural & recyclable, kosher approved, greenguard certified, emits no VOCs etc.
Contributors
I would like to recognize all of the contributors who helped put this article together :)
Katie Hunt
Professional Wallpaper Installer
Katie’s Wallpaper Installation Inc.
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Katie Hunt is a leading professional wallpaper installer and expert, appearing on several HGTV television series, including The Property Brothers, Holmes and Holmes, Reno Set Go and Home to Win. She is a regular guest on several television talk shows, including The Marilyn Denis Show.
Her wallpaper installations are also featured in national publications across Canada and the United States. Working with leading interior designers, Katie specializes in luxury wallpaper installations, from hand-painted silk wallcoverings to crystal-beaded wallpaper.
Her work can be seen in various luxury custom homes and five-star hotel residences, including The Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-La Toronto. Katie also provides consulting for major wallpaper manufacturers and distributors, having established herself as one of the premier experts in her field.
Shayla Young
Universal Lamp
Lighting Design & Fixtures
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Universal Lamp is one of Toronto’s leaders in lighting design & fixtures. Their #1 goal is to provide a complete selection of lighting products for every application and every budget while maximizing quality and style. Universal understands the dramatic effect lighting can have on the way a space looks, feels, and functions. Their experienced sales staff are there to help you get your lighting right, and have have a great reputation for outstanding customer service.
Lighting is their only business. With so many recent changes in lighting technology, Universal’s sole focus on lighting ensures that they can continually provide the expert advice and award-winning lighting consultation services that they are known for,
Julie Rizk
Furniture Designer and Fabric Consultant
Markham Furniture
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Markham Furniture is one of Toronto’s top builders of fine quality, custom-built furniture. A favorite of interior designers for 20 years, Markham Furniture sells made-to-order furniture to perceptive clients across Canada at an extraordinary value.
Gabriella Luchetta
Marble Trend
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Marble Trend is one of Toronto’s finest suppliers of natural stone slabs, porcelain, glass tile, terrazzo, quartz, concrete & wood flooring.
