The Iconic ’70s Design Trend That’s Back in a Big Way

If you’ve ever added to cart a boldly striped tea towel, admired the optical illusions of Heath Ceramics tiles, or dreamed about how Marimekko’s classic Lokki pattern would look covering your couch, then you already know the power of bold graphics on a…

If you’ve ever added to cart a boldly striped tea towel, admired the optical illusions of Heath Ceramics tiles, or dreamed about how Marimekko’s classic Lokki pattern would look covering your couch, then you already know the power of bold graphics on a space: They add energy, vibrance and eye-popping personality. What you may not know is that many of these graphics have their roots in a style of wall art called “Supergraphics”.

Supergraphics was born in the 1960s, created by the pioneering San Francisco-based artist Barbara “Bobbie” Stauffacher Solomon for The Sea Ranch, an iconic 7000-acre coastal community in California. Conceived as a way of brightening the area’s often-foggy mood, Solomon’s high-impact combination of bold forms and primary colors have inspired artists and designers ever since, finding their way into public art (think: this pedestrian bridge in Jersey City or the punchy postcard typography of this mural in Austin’s historic 6th Street) and homes alike.

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15 Terrazzo Decor Pieces That Prove the Material Is Here To Stay

My affair with terrazzo began in a tile store in Paris last November. In search of flooring that had the elegance of marble but a little less cold (and generally, less expensive), a large, creamy slab of terrazzo with bright chips in sage, gold, charco…

My affair with terrazzo began in a tile store in Paris last November. In search of flooring that had the elegance of marble but a little less cold (and generally, less expensive), a large, creamy slab of terrazzo with bright chips in sage, gold, charcoal, and terracotta caught my eye. So elementary-school chic! Color me a millennial, but I was instantly hooked.

From the Italian word for “terrace,” terrazzo is a composite material made with irregular-shaped pieces of marble, quartz, granite, or glass, all combined together with a neutral binder. A sustainable option from the outset, it was created by 16th-century Venetian artisans to repurpose marble pieces leftover from the production of marble slabs.

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The Latest Floral Trend is Right in Your Backyard

I didn’t always buy into the idea that fresh cut flowers and plants make a space come alive. For a long time, I would either decorate with faux plants (I definitely didn’t have a green thumb) or forgo the inclusion of botanicals altogether. Looking bac…

I didn’t always buy into the idea that fresh cut flowers and plants make a space come alive. For a long time, I would either decorate with faux plants (I definitely didn’t have a green thumb) or forgo the inclusion of botanicals altogether. Looking back now on photos of those spaces, I realize that something was severely lacking, and it wasn’t bright green leaves or vibrant petals—it was simply something natural.

On the surface, it can seem sort of new age-y to say that plants, flowers, and foraged bits make a space feel alive. But once I started treating myself to flowers most weeks to scatter around my apartment, my mood would instantly be lifted whenever I spotted them.. Not to mention that cutting, clipping, and arranging is my favorite post-grocery store ritual (less so the actual grocery haul).

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13 Decorating Rules We Love to Break

The other day, I was on the treadmill, distracting myself with one of my favorite home decor podcasts”), and my attention latched on to something the hosts were chatting about: design crimes, specifically the ones they’d like gone in the new year. High…

The other day, I was on the treadmill, distracting myself with one of my favorite home decor podcasts”), and my attention latched on to something the hosts were chatting about: design crimes, specifically the ones they’d like gone in the new year. High on the list of offenders were karate-chopped pillows, overly styled coffee tables (ya know, the kind with no space to put down your drink), and matchy-matchy decor. I chuckled at most of them, but it did get me thinking: What “design crimes” am I guilty of in my own home? And is it an offense if it works for me?

At the start of each year, design trends are on the minds of a lot of people. Which ones are we happy to turn our backs to? Which new ones will capture our imaginations (and wallets)? As a home editor, I’m obviously very invested, but I’m also firmly on Team Do-What-Makes-You-Happy. Trends expand our creative possibilities and rules give us a framework for action—to determine the height of your pendant light, for instance—but there’s nothing wrong with letting a trend (or many) bypass you completely, or taking a rule and stretching its boundaries.

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7 Kitchen Trends We’ll Be Seeing Everywhere in 2022

There’s a good reason why many people refer to kitchens as the heart of the home. Sure, they get a lot of foot traffic daily—from family dinners and intimate date nights to post-school study sessions—but more than that, they act as a microcosm for our …

There’s a good reason why many people refer to kitchens as the heart of the home. Sure, they get a lot of foot traffic daily—from family dinners and intimate date nights to post-school study sessions—but more than that, they act as a microcosm for our daily lives, routine, and outlook. The forms our kitchens take—and the way they morph year over a year—says a lot more about us than just what color we’re loving lately. They reflect back on our priorities, our struggles, and our goals, both for our homes and our lives.

For that reason, the expert-driven trends below for 2022 are really more than just trends. Granted, there are a few mixed in just for the pretty factor they provide but the majority of these new kitchen upgrades are a prime example of our collective shifting priorities amid life in a pandemic. From the return of color—and a reinvigoration of a positive perspective—to the prioritizing of natural materials and do-it-all finishes, they encapsulate a time and a place that we all hope is filled with more love, laughter, and yes, good food—just like a kitchen (and life) should be.

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Um, Why Are People Releasing Ladybugs Inside Their Homes?

The other night, while scrolling through social media, I came across a video of someone releasing a jar full of 1,500 ladybugs into their home. My initial reaction was something along the lines of, “Oh my gosh, why would you do that?!” Growing up, hund…

The other night, while scrolling through social media, I came across a video of someone releasing a jar full of 1,500 ladybugs into their home. My initial reaction was something along the lines of, “Oh my gosh, why would you do that?!” Growing up, hundreds of ladybugs moved into our house every winter, swarming the windows and forming little clusters in the corners of every room. In response, my family spent a lot of time trying to get them out of the house. To watch someone release them indoors on purpose? It just seemed wrong!

Digging a little further, I found a number of houseplant enthusiasts who swear by the practice, regularly setting hundreds—sometimes thousands—of ladybugs free in their homes in the name of… pest control. Obviously, I had a lot of questions: What, exactly, do they control? Do you really need that many of them? And, most importantly, does it actually work?! I reached out to a few bug and gardening experts for answers—here’s what they had to say.

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The 5 Shows We Can’t Wait to Watch on Magnolia Network

Joanna Gaines is… kind of perfect. She makes Birkenstocks look chic, has given us all the gift of farmhouse-style decor (on a budget, thanks to her Hearth & Hand collection at Target), she’s a supermom and she’s a super designer Naturally, we were …

Joanna Gaines is… kind of perfect. She makes Birkenstocks look chic, has given us all the gift of farmhouse-style decor (on a budget, thanks to her Hearth & Hand collection at Target), she’s a supermom and she’s a super designer Naturally, we were elated to learn that DIY Network (another old fave) was relaunching this year as Magnolia Network.

The Gaines’ first show, Fixer Upper, first premiered on HGTV more than a decade ago, but after the couple quit filming to work on their own network, home designers everywhere (including us aspiring designers) couldn’t wait to see what they would produce next. Now that Magnolia Network is live, here are the five shows we’ll be streaming on repeat.

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9 Home Decor Trends that Surprised (& Delighted) Us in 2021

2020’s home trends were… kind of all over the place. Mirrors and furniture made with spray foam insulation (what?), lots of squiggly lines, colors reminiscent of the ’80s, and every kind of hunkered-down-in-your-home DIY project imaginable. But we’ll…

2020's home trends were... kind of all over the place. Mirrors and furniture made with spray foam insulation (what?), lots of squiggly lines, colors reminiscent of the '80s, and every kind of hunkered-down-in-your-home DIY project imaginable. But we'll cut last year some slack because let's be real—we were all over the place.

Thankfully, 2021 mellowed out in the decor department, and we've seen a return to more palatable colors and more intentional choices. More than anything, though, the trends have pointed in one direction: the past. Design and decor is always cyclical, and we know that what was once cool will probably become cool again. That certainly is true if we look back at what was popular this year, and look back we will! Read on for 10 of the most surprising interior trends we saw in 2021.

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The Predictions Are In: 12 Home Decor Trends We’ll See in 2022

Over the past 18 months, many of our homes have received more love, care, attention, and introspection than in the last five years combined. And who could blame us? Time hunkering down indoors meant we all naturally turned our attention to our interior…

Over the past 18 months, many of our homes have received more love, care, attention, and introspection than in the last five years combined. And who could blame us? Time hunkering down indoors meant we all naturally turned our attention to our interior surroundings, sussing out once and for all what works for our lifestyles and what reflects our personalities best in our homes. Because of all this TLC, we’ve seen a surplus of home decor and design trends cycle in and out over the past year or so—some picking up steam and becoming full-blown phenomena (we’re looking at you, dramatic marble), while others are just on the cusp, waiting to catch fire with homeowners.

At the end of the day, trends are about more than just a color or pattern du jour—they’re a great reflection of where we are as a collective society, what we’re prioritizing, and what we’re impacted by. As we look forward to 2022—and the fun trends we’re rounding up below—consider this permission to lean into these expert-approved ideas as much (or as little!) as you want. If the past year-plus has taught us anything, it’s that home should be a reflection of the people who inhabit it, a place to create your own version of happiness. Here’s what you have to look forward to in 2022 and beyond.

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The Furniture Material that Continues to Dominate Year After Year

In the past few years, we’ve seen geometric accent walls, ’80s-inspired colors, and all things squiggly soar with viral popularity, but peter out almost as quickly as they arrived. While those trends faded, others were establishing themselves as interi…

In the past few years, we’ve seen geometric accent walls, '80s-inspired colors, and all things squiggly soar with viral popularity, but peter out almost as quickly as they arrived. While those trends faded, others were establishing themselves as interior mainstays, like layered neutrals, zellige tile, and of course, cane furniture.

Woven textures are as classic as it gets so it should come as no surprise that cane furniture has remained so popular. Cane, in particular, has reigned supreme, possibly for its ability to blend in with so many different decor styles and design eras. Read on for more about the material and why we simply can’t get enough.

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