Anything goes, apparently
Recently I was reading an article in a “popular trade publication” about current design trends. I was hoping to get a take on what was hot and what was not….
Recently I was reading an article in a "popular trade publication" about current design trends. I was hoping to get a take on what was hot and what was not. But all I got was confounded! The current trends were presented in a bulleted list format and it seemed like every "trend" presented on the list was the antithesis of the previous item.
The first thing mentioned was that straight grained woods were extremely popular. The next item stated that highly figured woods were "hot." Rustic styles are "in," according to the article, but so are slick high gloss finishes. Uniform color schemes are "big" but so is the use of contrasting woods.
The article went on like this for two pages, leaving me with the sense that the design words have become completely schizophrenic. The best conclusion I was able to come to is that, in today's market the rule is that there are no rules. When it comes to design, anything goes. There is no one big thing that everyone wants.
What this means for makers is that in order to be competitive, it is important to be able to work in as many styles as possible. You can spend years becoming proficient at producing high gloss finishes but if the customer standing in your office wants the French Country look, you better be able to provide it or you are not getting the job.
D.D.
David DeCristoforo possesses an extensive resume as designer/maker of fine furniture, high-end cabinetry and architectural woodwork. His experience in professional woodworking spans a period of 35 years. For the past 20 years David DeCristoforo Design has been located in Woodland, California. During this time David's shop has ranged in scope from a "full on" cabinet production shop with as many as 15 employees to a small fine furniture and custom millwork shop, working with his son, David RBJ, a highly skilled maker in his own right.
