2013 Trend #5: The Glass Cloche

"When it doubt, put a cloche on it!"
With what I am seeing out there you can use that motto whenever you are unsure or want to accent something in your home. The cloche is popular because of it's amazing ability to put something that would normally be out of context into one. Just like it's original "functional" purpose, you can put just about anything inside and shield it from it's surroundings. Put anything from a creepy doll head to a stapler inside a cloche and voilà! It works with your decor!

Many versions of the cloche are available and I've never see them more popular than then are right now. Particularly, with the emergence of another trend (next post) that is a natural for the cloche. In fact, this surge in cloche use may be a direct result of that but still, the cloche deserves respect on it's own.

HGTV Magazine

A recent HGTV Magazine issue showed a clear glass jar with cute little note cards inside. In addition to being a fun holiday activity it also demonstrates the influence the cloche is having in other ways. Clear glass containers, terrariums and cloches are all part of the same family doing essentially the same thing in different ways. Taking objects or items and giving them some visual context. If you wanted to utilize this in a more home & hearth type decor you could do clear glass mason jars filled with something interesting for instance.

Go ahead and experiment with this in your home and in your art work. Play with the elements of it too like the clear glass. So many of these things are interconnected it's very easy to make your own interpretation and still be on trend.

Next Trend: Victorian Science, Specimens & Skulls

2013 Trend #4 : Humanized Animals & Stencil Forms

Illustrations of Animal Heads on Human Bodies

Humanized Animals

Not that this is a new art form but this emerging trend has some clearly defined rules. The examples I found at both trade shows and in my retail explorations had a genre focus on those all to familiar portraits from the middle ages up. To me they appear mostly to resemble renaissance portrait paintings with a dark, serious and at times almost menacing appearance. Except rather than a bunch of bourgeois rich guys who want to commission paintings to show status, we've been replaced by the Animal Kingdom's royalty and middle class.

Emeowly Bronte by ChetArt

Just about every animal you could think of was represented. Dogs, cows, lambs, monkeys, etc. They look really great and the appeal is they add a little fun and unexpectedness to an other wise stuffy and ordinary image. I took dozens of photo's of people doing this so the idea has definitely caught on within the home decor trade.

I couldn't help but immediately think of my artist friend Chet Phillips of ChetArt who has been working this genre for years. If I want to get in on this trend in earnest I need look no further than his website which features literally hundreds of his original works. If you are thinking about exploring this art form I would certainly suggest exploring his website. He's such an amazing artist that I hope this trend will increase his exposure now that it's hitting the mainstream.

It's a bit early to tell on this one but I hope this sticks for a while in this form or another. Historically with trends like this it will mutate quickly and when it does it will be interesting to see where artists take it.

Stencil Forms

Stencil Bear (Note: Goat Men in Back)

Stenciled constructs are not new either but there seems to be a few places that are toying around with them. I'm not sure necessarily that this is up and coming. I only saw a few places doing this but it's worthy of mention. The large bear pictured to the right is one of a handful these guys were doing including a rhino, antelopes and an ostrich to name a few. Note the creepy upper class goat men sitting on the back wall behind. :)

Outside of this particular use of laser cut stencils there has been for years quite a few products in lighting and other trades doing a form of stenciling. In fact, in a recent October edition of HGTV magazine, one of dozens of such products was featured. (see below) I don't know if that's just coincidence or planned timing but this one will have to be watched as well.

Since I just invested in a laser cutter I suppose I can toy with this trend too. The hard part is figuring out which trend to work on first. :)

Left: Moose Stencil | Right: October 2012 HGTV Magazine

Ostrich & Antelope

2013 Trend #3: Birds Today, Horses Tomorrow

Birds used in various decor applications.

HGTV Magazine October 2012

There is no doubt birds are HOT right now. So hot in fact, it's difficult not to run into a decor item featuring a bird anywhere in retail. And why shouldn't they be? They are cute, create calmness and anything nature inspired you put in your home will aid serenity. You may as well get used to them because they have been trending up since 2010 and really don't show signs of stopping.

Looking to your right at the October HGTV magazine image of David Bromstad cheerfully discussing art you might be thinking, "Hold on a sec! What do you mean birds are trending? I've been seeing owls everywhere for years!" Well, that's true. Owls really never go out of style and have been cyclical in popularity. This bird trend is much broader than owls but does include him nonetheless. Bird trend gets a mention in the caption and David's designer owl wallpaper was on the opposite page.

Elle Decor October 2012

Outside of the obvious the bird is also a very versatile subject for decoration and design. You may have noticed the huge success Restoration Hardware had when they introduced the birdcage chandelier. A product that has spawned endless imitations and a truck load of other birdcage inspired products. Clear proof that when a hot trend hits you can design around the edges of it and make new related trends. A great example of that was brought to light in the October issue of Elle Decor Magazine (left). They put out this interesting collection of items that use the feather as the primary theme. Before you get any weird idea's about using beaks or bird feet as related elements let me stop you there. I already vetted those out for you and they aren't going to work! Try looking at nests and eggs instead. :)

For designers and artists it's a perfect time to try working with birds in your products and art work while it's on the top of the trend curve. For decorators, it's a perfect time too since there are already so many items to choose from. Birds will be with us for awhile so you have some time.

Alternatively, if you like to live a little on the edge and in front of the curve there is something else bubbling on the horizon. Horses are starting to pop up here and there as well. I have seen it both in person at the trend shows in Paris as well as in retail. Right now it's subtle sporadic uses as small accents here and there. Almost as if to plant subliminal mental impressions for a ramp up to 2013 or 2014. The most blatant use I have seen were these horse head sculptures placed in a grouping of four. Horses are beautiful creatures and I'm confident this will pick up steam. I'll be keeping a watchful eye on this one though the next year. Again, if you like horses I don't think you would be wrong to go ahead and jump on this one without knowing if it sticks.

Ballard Designs October 2012 | Note the horse painting.

 Next: Humanized Animals & Stencil Forms

2013 Trend #2: Vertical Lines

Vertical Line Pendant Lights

Vertical Line Trend

This particular emerging trend has all the earmarks of being a flash in the pan expression of something different. Artists and designers will need to take it as inspiration and build upon it in order for it to have real staying power. There are however some great examples supporting this trend in trade magazines that lead me to believe it has a real shot at hanging around.

I would characterize this trend as any object whose form is defined by a series of vertical structural elements. Usually having few or ideally no horizontal support through the center. Many examples I have seen so far involve lighting and tend to lean towards the contemporary. The inherent visual qualities and rhythm of a vertical line structure almost force it towards modern but there are some softer examples. The image in the upper right is a nice attempt at a casual interpretation but then consider the hard contemporary lines of these fixtures below.

These images are indicative of what I have been seeing but if this takes off I can easily see many applications for more transitional and traditional pieces. In fact, I am playing around with this concept myself. I'll reveal later! :)

At the same time I was observing this trend in Europe small examples were popping up in October editions of House Beautiful and Elle Decor. Again, that suggests it has some support and credibility in the broader community or at least they are trying to get it to catch on.

I'll be keeping a watchful eye on this over the coming months to see how it grows and evolves. Maybe you can take some inspiration from this in your own work or your own decor. Try something different or unique with it. Either way it's making people think.

Next Trend: Birds

House Beautiful | October 2012

Elle Decor | October 2012

2013 Trend #01: Nature Inspired

Large Branch Sculptural Lighting

This is a now long enduring trend spanning a few years now. What we were referring to as "Natural Wood" we have now chosen to classify in a much broader sense as "Nature Inspired". This is because of the continued use of literally interpreted forms like branches and tree trunks into decorative art.

Large Branch or Driftwood

This is a new direction moving away from the smaller thin twigs and bunched grasses of only a year ago. In these new forms we can see thicker, meatier interpretations. Most examples both at shows and in retail are knurled and twisted as if found on a creek bed twisted and bleached by the hot sun.

Below is an example of a more artistic use of the trend. It also plays within the even more broad Ethnic Chic trend with it's primitive hut motif. I ate a lunch inside one of these huts. The hut was great, the sandwich failed to impress. :)

Large Branch Driftwood Huts

Bundled Wood

Bundled Wood

This is again a trend that's been with us for awhile. I feel like it peaked in 2010 but it still remains strong. The trend is characterized by a number of lengths of wood tied together in a bundle but cut flat on two side. It tends to be rectilinear for a contemporary form while at the same time playing heavily on the warmth of natural wood. I see this a lot in seating, planter boxes and in store marketing. There haven't really been too many fresh idea's using this technique but since it still has a pulse there may be time yet to capitalize with something new and interesting.

Distressed Wood Collage

Distressed Wood Collages

Last year this was all over table tops but instead of the bleached color pallet your see on the left it was more colorful and distressed. Before, it would have appeared as though you tore down an old barn side that had a 50 year old billboard painted on it, cut it in little pieces then randomly pieced them together for the collage. Today, the distressed colors have been abandoned for the cool greys and whites of the bleached look. This seems to be the new interior color palette a la Restoration Hardware. However, don't worry color lovers! Bold pop colors are being used to inject a little spice into these spaces. But that's a post for another day.

Coming up next: Vertical Line Trend

Maison & Objet | Trends in 2013

The Hemingway Pose

I know, I know. I haven't been in the blog in a long while but I plan to make up for that the next few weeks with this series. As some of you may know I spend a lot of time examining and studying trends that I use in my work. I recently returned from Maison & Objet with a report that was over 100 pages in length! Over the next days and weeks (if that's what it takes) I will reveal a trend or two per day with background and analysis. My hope is that you will be inspired and use the information in your work. If you are more the admirer of art type (you would have to be if your reading this blog!) I think you will find the information interesting and fascinating none the less.

It is in the Cafe Panis nestled on a corner between the Shakespeare & Co. bookstore and the Notre Dame that I took this self effacing photo. (Yes, that's a joke. The self effacing part anyway) :) Paris is so inspiring and I'm so privileged to be able to travel there each year to study trends. To not share the information with my friends would be unforgivable. Besides, keeping a trends to yourself is the fastest way to destroy it. It needs to be known to grow and thrive! So, without further ado . . . the trends!