This text is part of the special Pleasures notebook
Years go by, trends come and go. This style that everyone dreamed of gradually evolves, this color or this pattern that we saw everywhere fades little by little and gives way to something new. The house is transformed to offer its occupants well-being and comfort. With a crystal ball in their hands, two award-winning designers offer us their predictions for 2024.
Audrée Kemp Bélanger, designer and founder of AKB Design
The year 2024 will bring us deeper colors such as brown, burgundy and dark green without darkening the decor. “We have had white spaces for a long time, white curtains, white furniture, we will now prefer textures and warmer atmospheres. We will work with light and vary the lighting sources. We think of a table lamp on the kitchen counter or a pendant light in an unexpected place,” explains the woman whose name appeared, in November 2023, on the magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 best Canadian designers. Canadian House & Home.
Marble and natural stones with a lot of personality in terms of veining as well as dark wood and the combination of wood tones are making a comeback. We are looking for a more natural environment, with more character, explains the designer. But the thing to remember is the importance we give to the soul of the house. “We are going to mix new with old, grafting imperfect or handmade elements. Even for new construction. We don’t want a house that doesn’t have a soul. We want a story. » This is undoubtedly why white kitchens are giving way to rooms in greige and cream tones: “It remains bright, but we add warmth, we mix the shades,” she continues. We will also see fewer patterned ceramics, and we will instead create them during installation. For example, you can play with tiles vertically or horizontally with models of the same format.
For the next year, Audrée Kemp Bélanger predicts that open areas will be less popular. The rooms are now defined with glass partitions or transoms, without however being completely closed: “We want to avoid revealing everything at once. We give a purpose to each space. » Under the sign of comfort, we prefer enveloping atmospheres, colors that evoke a return to nature, warmth and light. Finally, the designer insists on the choice of noble materials, of high quality or which can be repaired: “Concern for the environment leads us to make choices that are more expensive to purchase, but durable. »
Gatline Artis, interior designer and owner of Entre Quatre Murs
Like her sister, Gatline Artis observes the return to more distinct and defined spaces. “They also offer integrated storage solutions allowing you to hide as many things as possible and allow the space to breathe and the materiality to assert itself. Particularly in kitchens, the attraction for rooms completely open to the living areas is diminishing. Requests for pantrys or service kitchens, for leaving small household appliances and dirty dishes lying around, have exploded in recent years and will continue,” she says.
She continues by adding that we still prefer calm and serene interiors: “A certain minimalist remains desired to keep the space clear. However, the enveloping aspect, with plain materials, slightly darker woods and certain more assertive, but well-balanced, colorful gestures, is certainly back. »
In terms of materials, raw and natural textures, faux finishes and stones that add character will continue to be pronounced in 2024. “Tapered glass and smooth metals will take up more space. Soft, enveloping curves will coexist with the introduction of elements such as stainless or tinted steel. Thus, sharp visual contrasts in textures will be at the heart of spaces. Finally, in the last year, we have also observed the rise of more visually intense elements and bright colors that contrast with the rest of the space. This brings a more joyful and dynamic side for people who want more character in their space,” notes the designer whose projects have won numerous awards at the Grands Prix du design. This competition celebrates the excellence and talent of creators and companies that stand out through exemplary practice.
Does the year 2024 mark the end of Scandinavian aesthetics? According to Gatline Artis, the trend has run out of steam and will continue to fade. The characteristics associated with it will remain: simplicity, minimalism and functionality. “I would say that a transition will continue towards other similar styles, including japandi, following the emergence in recent years of concepts such as hygge and wabi-sabi. These genres opt for a more artisanal materiality and the search for a more harmonious visual balance. » The art of imperfection contrasts with the omnipresence of uniform white and strict and impersonal minimalism.
This content was produced by the Special Publications team at Duty, relating to marketing. The writing of the Duty did not take part.