Tips from Sheila

You’ve invested time and money into your spaces. From offices for your employees to playrooms for your kids, you’ve carefully crafted what you need. And yet, something just isn’t quite right. Maybe the rug is the wrong color or maybe the finish on the doorknobs doesn’t blend the way you’d hoped. Maybe the style worked once, but now it just feels…dated.

At InterOffice, Residential Expert Sheila Hanson knows a thing or two about style. This month, Sheila weighs in on the current design trends that lend themselves to longevity and timelessness.

“I typically don’t design based on the trends that are happening at that time,” Sheila said. “I design spaces that fit my clients’ needs, creating spaces that function for them and the lifestyle they live.”

When you’re making a meaningful investment into your space, Sheila wants to make sure that your space works for you, not for a fad. The result? Spaces that feel fresh and new while maintaining a sense of place, ensuring you’ll be happy with the style long after you pick the final color of paint.

01 Sustainability with Longevity

Recently, sustainability has become a hot topic of conversation and marketing. The demand for pieces that will stand the test of time continues to increase as folks turn away from the disposable products that have dominated the industry for years. Further, using environmentally-minded approaches that reduce waste, are sustainable, and protect habitats has grown in popularity in other industries, suggesting a larger cultural shift.

And that shift towards endurance means that the fabrics that comprise the piece need to hold up as well. Sheila anticipates a rise in performance fabrics that are both durable and easy to maintain. Even better, that means that your space will stand up to the wear and tear of the years to come. The fabrics are versatile too, able to adapt to many different style palettes and tastes.

Check out the Martine Sofa from Stickley to see some of those performance fabrics in action.

02 Breaking Old Rules

It’s hard to resist a strikingly minimalist piece of furniture. Sheila predicts mid-century inspired furniture will make a strong comeback. With clean curves and solid shapes, mid-century pieces combine the nostalgic with the fresh, creating a surprisingly versatile

aesthetic that will fit in with many different environments.

With that versatility comes options to break previously established rules, too. No longer do we need to pick and stick to a single texture or metal. Mixing metals, finishes, and textures adds a depth that is at the forefront of style. And Sheila couldn’t be happier about it.

“I love mixing metals and textures, adding a rug to anchor the space, and then accenting it with art, lighting, and a few accessories,” Sheila said.

Even better, when using mixed elements, it makes the room easier to adapt to changing wants and needs. And when combined thoughtfully instead of thrown together willy-nilly, those mixes add character to any room. One Shelia is especially proud of is a home on Ottertail Lake that she had the privilege to work on from start to finish.

“It’s those finishing touches that you put in a room that complete it,” Sheila said.

03 Cultivating Calm

Sheila is also seeing a rise in handcrafted tilework and earth-toned color palettes. When combined, the character and texture of natural imperfections in handmade (or seemingly handmade) tile blend well with the soft and deep colors. They can blend well with both new and old pieces in your space. Even better, they are a wonderful callback to our beloved region.

“I think they fit the midwest perfectly–especially with the uncertainty in the world today,” Sheila said. “They create a sense of calm.”

And that’s really what design is all about. It’s creating a space where the people using it can find

their sense of calm. Maybe they find it when they flop onto their mid-century-inspired sofa, or maybe they feel it when they’re absentmindedly admiring the deep pile of a rug. Whatever creates that calm for you, Sheila can offer insight into timeless pieces. After all, you deserve a space that is a sanctuary suited to your style.