Before we get to our featured conversation this week, I feel compelled to share my annual grievance with you. Again. What is this annual grievance you may ask. It is the endless and ridiculous list of “trends”that many love to create and share at the end of and into the beginning of every new year. Did you see them this year? They looked a lot like last years didn’t they?

Designer Resources

Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise.

Monogram – It’s the details that define Monogram

ThermaSol – Redefining the modern shower experience. Without steam, it’s just a bathroom.

Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home!

– Where service meets excellence

TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep

They did. They always do. Now listen, I’m not trying to call anyone out. Embarrass anyone. And, while I am going to point out a few of the ones that caught my attention, and post links in the show notes so you can see them for yourself, I am going to say this again so you understand why I am so non-plussed by the annual barrage of opinions and predictions. It’s because they are based on no real data, only conjecture. Here are a few examples;

House Beautiful and their Design Trends of 2025 article dated 12.30.2024. Some things you will see in 2025 include…

Kitchens Packed with Color
Sculptural Lighting
“Drenching”
Dramatic Drapery
Art Deco Era Antiques
Moody Hues
Cottage Core Gardens
Immersive Bathrooms

This all sounds fine, right? But keep in mind that what ends up happening is that clients who are new to this will now ask push designers for this because it came out in a well-respected magazine. The people who pick up on this are “influencers”, those with a large following and very little industry knowledge. Just to break this down a bit, “kitchens packed with color” sounds great until a skilled designer has to employ this strategy with a lifespan of 15-20 years. With a “color of the year”, promoted by 5-6 different companies, all with different ideas as to what that color of the year will be, this is not really feasible. And let’s all just remember for a moment that Avocado Green and harvest Gold owned the 1970’s and reviled in the 1980’s. But, for every season, am I right? There was even an article written in May of 2021by the BBC touting the return of Avocado Green to contemporary interiors. The interesting thing about this, the article I’m referencing was incredibly well written, sourced and delves deep into the science and theory of color choices. But the headline… “Why ‘avocado green’ is back for interiors” does imply that the color was back en vogue in 2021. I don’t think is was and if it did pop up here and there, not many are still touting it today. And if a client says to their designer that they are going all-in on this and buy Avocado Green appliances, cabinetry or tile, they will be living with it for quite some time. This idea of “drenching” seems completely misaligned with the very nature of interior design. From a vernacular stand point, “drenching” means to get something completely wet, yet color drenching is described as painting every surface in the same shade. Sooooo, monochromatic. Why not just say that? It’s funny really, monochromatic ideas have been in popular design styles for centuries and can be referenced back to the Greek word, monochromos, meaning, to have one color. While I have read articles that source the French word envelopper, or “to wrap” with the idea for color drenching. And yet, every year there are many who also tout the end of the white kitchen. But white kitchens also appear on many of the trends you will find for every coming year. The white kitchen is also a sort of “drenching”, is it not?

Just to put a finer point on this idea, in November, 2023, an article appeared in Vogue entitled, “2023’s Latest Interior Design Trend? Matchy-Matchy Rooms”. The article showcased a Kip’s Bay Dallas room designed by, Mark D. Sikes that featured a floor to ceiling blue and white checkered wallpaper in a style called, Vogue quotes unnamed designers as Mono-Print.

I believe that the prevalence of social media, that creating a value system where “influencers” gain status by the number of followers instead of by the level of their expertise has created an environment for ideas to be promoted not by their true design value but how ‘buzzy’ they can get and how many clicks they receive. That’s not how great design is created, nor enjoyed.

If you want to talk about emerging trends, that’s great. But let’s make this less about ephemeral design looks and styles, and more about functional relevance. Here are some thought starters;

Integrated Technology, mixed-fuels and materials
Safe rooms/ Security
Purposeful Connectivity
Advanced Kitchen Design
Tech Focused/ Spa Inspired Bathrooms
Smartly Designed Outtdoors
Outside in / Biophlic Design, indoor grow rooms and healthy spaces

Why the rant? I’ve been shining a light on this very subject for a few years now because after having so many conversations with exceptional designers, it makes zero sense to me why media outlets would just speculate about what the developing trends are. And yes, I know that most contributors to the design pubs do cite designers regarding these trending ideas, because they are not in the context of a specific project with individual clients, it doesn’t make any sense, iit’s not really actionable and further confuses clients about how they can best communicate with their designer, assuming they are working with one or they are using this information to circumvent the need for a designer. Look back at each of these “trends” listed and tell me if you think any of them are new and compelling or just click-bait. That’s my rant, now, the great part of todays episode, a full conversation featuring, Debbie Mathews.

Debbie Mathews launched her design business in 2013, the same year I launched Convo By Design. It’s been a minute. Debbie is a Nashville based designer and watched the world move in around her as Nashville became a world class music, sports and entertainment destination. During that time, Debbie built her firm and focused on antiques, which she credits for adding a unique charm to her work. It’s in the layering and as you are going to hear, she really has mastered the process and by doing so, has created a truly unique look all her own. What is really interesting about Debbie and the following conversation is how it’s juxtaposed against my previous rant. As you listen to this episode, please check the show notes and click on Debbie’s portfolio as we go through some of her work. You will find many of the ideas espoused as upcoming trends when in reality, these ideas have been in Debbie’s work for many years. Trends? Please. You are going to hear all about it, right after this.

Thank you Debbie, for your time and willingness to share your experience and craft.

Thank you to my incredible partner/ sponsors; ThermaSol, Design Hardware, Pacific Sales, Monogram and TimberTech for your support for the show and the industry as a whole. We are a stronger because of industry partners like you. And of course, thank you for listening to the podcast, subscribing to the show and sharing it with friends and colleagues. Please keep the show and guest suggestions coming, I do appreciate them and do my best to respond to every one. Convo By Design @ Outlook dot com and on Instagram, convoXDesign, with an “X”. Thanks again for listening. Happy New Year, make this the year you’ve been hoping it would be. Until the next episode, Stay focused and rise above the chaos.

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