Luxurious styling has layers, and not every one has to be pricey. What’s trending today, experts say, is to commit to “big progress” in the specific areas where that will make the most difference, and to pair these elements with a diverse, balanced design that builds character and has function.
“Luxurious design comes from texture, rich colors, organic pieces, and most importantly, the finished spaces,” said Andrea Zappone, a self-made interior designer at Saratoga Springs. “No empty corners, no stark white walls.”
Zappone launched her design career after receiving recognition for working on her living spaces, which won a Times Union home design competition in 2020. Now, she’s helping her clients with what she calls “finishing work,” taking rooms that are almost there in terms of design. , then add layers to it such as mills, wallpaper, curtains and decor.
Marble is one of Zappone’s favorite luxury trends right now. Everywhere. Her kitchen island is a slab of Calacatta Viola, an upscale, veined Italian marble known for its rich burgundy and white hues. She often shares photos of other creative uses of materials from interior designs around the world via her Instagram Story.
“The marble on the walls, around the arches and fireplaces around, and on the furniture is very high-end,” Zaboni said. She’s exploring different ways to implement this trend with a client in kitchen remodeling, but in a more doable way.
“Porcelain Neolith is a man-made material that looks like marble from afar,” a customer said. She says the thin material can be attached to walls, wrapped around hood vents in the kitchen or carved into arched driveways.
“We will be able to offset the costs by using an alternative material, but we still provide this moment when someone walks into their kitchen. Which is literally what I live for.”
The Zappone client is also striving for high-quality custom kitchen cabinets, which architectural designer Kennedy Taylor of Studio K Design said is another popular trend.
“In architecture, we are seeing a return to formalities,” said Taylor, who served as design director at John Witt before setting up her design firm in October 2021. She’s on her way to opening a furniture store in downtown Saratoga. Springs in late autumn.
“Things have been minimal for many years, and I love that the decorative moldings, formal dining and living spaces, and grand master suites are making a comeback.”
Taylor said her definition of luxury in a home has more to do with what the space feels like, versus the size of the footprint or the cost of materials.
“Thoughtful elements create a sense of luxury no matter how the space is finished,” Taylor said.
One of her projects over the past year has been in Greenfield with the DeMeo family, who have expressed an interest in embracing contemporary color and style for their home’s interior renovations.
“We bought this huge house and totally lost it in terms of design,” said Derek DeMeo, who shares the house with his wife, Becca, and four young children. “We wanted to turn it into a space that feels hip and functional, but we weren’t like any other home in Saratoga.”
Taylor recently completed the design of a moody formal dining room at DeMeo’s featuring extensive artwork, brass finishes, and custom drapes. The space offers a refined and elegant design that serves a purpose, while also allowing the family to express their style in a smaller space inside the home.
She presented a concept that included a set of blues, which was then used to paint the walls, ceiling, crown molding, and complete a custom metallic Slim Aarons print for the couple, a photographer that both love.
As an architectural designer, Taylor works from the inside out, focusing on sight lines and how one room leads to another. Its intentional design is felt throughout DeMeo’s home upon entry, as the intricate, wallpaper-covered ceiling draws your eye into the newly reconstructed adjoining dining room.
When it comes to finishes and other luxury design elements, Taylor Trends matches Zappone’s enthusiasm for texture, especially when it comes to wallpaper and millwork, from molding to custom wall panels.
“Wallpaper is an investment, both in materials and in work,” said Zaboni, who covered the walls of her home in bold, vibrant patterns from powder rooms to the ceiling of her children’s bedrooms. “I have another project where we wrap the bedroom in pretty dark green and light blue murals, but get the table lamps and furniture from Target and cb2 to keep other items within easy reach.”
The cost of wallpaper varies, but one quote she recently received for the upper half of her dining room will run her client about $1,000 in work and another $1,500 in materials. DeMeo’s powder room uses earthy tones and an organic marble-circular wallpaper pattern to make a strong statement, while still looking soft with warm ambient lighting and copper finishes.
For both designers, achieving luxury in design comes from daring to be different. While inspiration can be found everywhere – from luxury furniture stores to the focus on hashtags on social media – the satisfying outcome of the project comes from creating an authentic end product.
“My style is simply to be there to help the client achieve their vision,” Taylor said. “Their personalities speak for the space, which is why each design of mine is so unique. The clients I attract are equally creative; they want something you haven’t already seen on Instagram.”