I admit it: I'm kind of obsessed with decor.  As such, I can be said to keep a close watch on the world of interior design, and today venture to share with you my opinion on what all those concerned should be keeping, buying and storing with respect to furniture and accessories in the New Year.  Please feel free to disagree, and leave me your comments below...

KEEP

Clockwise form the top; pillows from Pottery Barn, "Lilly" wall mirror from Koodiker,  room from Domino Magazine, mirrored tray as seen on Prescious Style blog

Mauves
Your lavender/lilac/dusty mauve walls and anything else that falls into that colour range.  Mauves and other cool colour palettes such as blues and grays are still going strong.

Your Ethnic Pillows
Ikat, bamboo print, Suzanni, Moroccan as well as anything from sub-Saharan Africa are motifs that will extend well into 2009 and beyond, with regards to fabrics and printed accessories.  

Mirrored Furniture and Accessories
Did you splurge on a sparkly side table, commode or vanity during the mirrored furnishings craze that hit a few seasons back? Perhaps you have a mirrored cube that survived from the ‘80s?  Well don’t retire the Windex just yet – mirrored furniture and accessories such as the tray pictured above are still a great way to brake up matchy decor as well as add that little bit of glam.

Baroque/Gaudy Mirrors
Still a hit!  Pair it with a smart, streamlined writing desk or feature it above the fireplace, but certainly don’t put it away.  The elaborately framed looking glass is here to stay for some time to come.


BUY

Clockwise from the top; pillow from Pottery Barn, Brass Bowl from Crate & Barrel, photo from U Vintage, Faux Bois rug from Martha Stewart Living via It's Not Wood blog

Vibrant, Water-Colour-Inspired Florals
It’s not quite Chintz, but close.  Swimming florals are top of the trend for printed accessories, if you’re open to a little romance in your style, that is.

Gold, Brass and Sparkle
Chrome is not completely out, but 2009 will see it trumped by the warmer toned metallics.  If you can’t shake the bad memories you have of your parents’ house with brass everything, then start out with baby steps, such as the brass bowl (pictured above) from Crate & Barrel.  

Vintage, vintage, vintage!
When has anything budget-friendly ever been in style???  Now, is the answer.  Mix and match, unearth forgotten hand-me-downs, re-claim and refinish!  Most importantly, scour your neighbourhood thrift and vintage stores for great, salvageable finds.  Remember to keep an open mind and a virtual paintbrush in your minds eye when out hunting for those diamonds in the rough.  

Faux Bois
As in imitation wood-grain, and yes, it’s a big spike on the trend radar for 2009.  I certainly don’t mean bad paneling that would enrage your paneling wardens, Colin and Justin from HG’s Home Heist, but rugs, pillows, and other smaller accessories in Faux Bois are perfect finishing touches for the new modern.  (And mind you, even paneling could work if treated with attitude – I’d be willing to challenge the boys on that one, one day.)


STORE

I’m prepared to take some flack for this and would like to proceed with a disclaimer: there is a way to integrate anything – and I mean anything (except for maybe those awful pastel-printed, Floridian ‘80s couches, and if you have them, don’t even store them but haul them out to the curb!) – into your décor in this day and age, as long as you give it some thought and a generous shmattering of flare.  But there are some things that, although of merit, have been grossly over-used, and need to be retired for a few seasons.  So here goes;

Orange as the “Pop” Colour
Just pick another colour.  I can’t look at another orange pillow or bohemian orange vase as the cheerful “splash” of colour in an all white/chrome/wooden room.  

The Coloured Glass Chandelier
To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of this trend, but could at its height see the appeal.  Now however, as soon as I see these chintzy danglers – especially the red ones – all I can think is “copout”.  It’s the biggest crutch in design history – all bad choices can be swept under the rug as long as you slap one of these babies up on your ceiling.  I know this is an inflammatory statement, as many of our shows have in fact deployed the very ornament, but I’m sorry, I’ve said it: I don’ t like coloured glass chandeliers.  

Regal French Flock
It has been a beloved print on everything that can bear one, but I’m afraid its time of tireless giving has come to an end.  At least for now.  And don’t worry, it will always be back.  Hopefully you only did the one accent wall in the flocked paper and not the whole room or house, and for many of you it may be just a pillow, but aren’t you also kind of tired of this as the go-to print for all things ‘glam’?  Glam has so many exciting incarnations these days….

The Starburst Mid-Century Mirror
Unlike the elaborate frames of centuries gone by, covered above, this emblem of mid-century modern style has been beaten to beyond dead.  Reproduced by every furniture and décor manufacturer in business, it’s time to take this glaring it’s-so-that-mirror down, in lieu of something with more imagination.  Admittedly, many are true originals, so with respect, demote those to a spot of lower real estate (like the basement.)


Anyone have a different opinion?  Please do share!