Modern interior design has been very popular in homes for decades. While it may not be suitable for everyone’s tastes, modern design can be a strong selling point for a home. Buyers are likely to appreciate the clean lines and simplicity. With a rising demand for Mid Century Modern homes in Orange County, I figured it was time to explore the biggest trends in modern interior design.
At the forefront of modern interior design in Orange County we find the iconic Modern Studio store on Broadway Street in Laguna Beach, which specializes in selling custom as well as ready-made furniture. I was very excited to be given the opportunity to sit down with co-owner and interior designer Heather Bedford to discuss the five biggest trends in modern interior design.
1. One-Of-A-Kind, Custom Pieces
In 2015, the most important interior trend is personalization. “We all want to be unique in our own way, and a home should reflect who we are. We no longer desire a one-size-fits-all approach to interiors. More often than not, people are looking for custom furniture that reflects their personality and is optimized for the way they live. ” says Heather. “Many of our costumers however, don’t know how to go about truly customizing their home and furniture. That’s where we come in. Our store specializes in creating custom interiors and pieces of furniture that are tailored to a specific room and style. Our clients are encouraged to be creative in the design of their furniture and home, and they enjoy the freedom and ability to make it their own.”
2. Natural Elements and Mildly Industrial
In the world of Mid Century Modern real estate and modern design, the use of natural elements and exotic or beautifully stained woods is making its comeback. “The consumer appreciates the modern aspect now more than ever, but the desire to have a warm environment is also very strong.” Heather explains. “A common misconception is that one must be sacrificed for the other to work, but that is simply not the case. Creative minds are finding resourceful ways to soften the often cold feel of ultra modern or heavy industrial.
One way to do soften up contemporary design, is to incorporate Live Edge. An example of Live Edge would be a table featuring an organic, wooden tabletop in combination with a base made with hard material that really adds a pop, such as a polished or brushed stainless steel. “It’s all about the right piece for your home: you’ll know it when you see it” says Heather.
3. Motion and Flexibility
Today’s furniture is designed to improve quality of life through form and function. Heather explains that ‘we are seeing a lot of pieces with motion and unpredictable features’. One piece of furniture will have several functions and elements that can move in different directions. A coffee table for example might consist of three pieces which move independently, so you can configure the table whichever way you want.
Part of this design trend are the modular sectionals -furniture consisting of individual, transitional pieces that can be moved around to create different configurations. We have seen modular sofas successfully making their way into many households over the last few years. Yet, modular sections are not just to be found in sofas. Imagine dining tables and side tables with extension pieces that can be neatly hidden, allowing you to expand and decrease the size of the table at all times. Your table now offers an intimate setting for a candlelight dinner for two, as well as enough room to host the entire family at Thanksgiving.
Everything comes back to the idea of being able to play around and customize your interior.
4. Innovative Lighting for Ambiance and Impact
Lighting is no longer just functional; it has become a major design element in the modern interior. According to Heather we will be seeing a lot more LED lighting in homes. Backlighting a mirror or underlighting a bed will give a room a playful new look and different feel. You can also play around with different colours to change the atmosphere of a room. At the touch of a button you can change the colors of your lighting to create the perfect mood for a romantic dinner, or fun cocktail party.
5. Bold Accents
Whether a wall cabinet, custom bed, piece of art, lamp or couch, everybody needs a true statement piece in their home. Heather explains that the item should really showcase your personality, and flow and enhance the room. It is the perfect wow-factor piece and conversation starter that puts the finishing touch to your interior.
About Modern Studio Furnishings
Modern Studio Furnishings is a boutique store that specializes in selling custom made furniture as well as high-end, ready-made pieces to both residential and commercial clients. The shop is family owned and operated by Mike and Melissa Embury and John and Heather Bedford. It all started when co-owner Mike was driving down the I-405 in 1997 and noticed a furniture store on the side of the freeway. On a whim, he took the exit and walked into the store. He fell in love with the furniture and Mike asked the manager for a job. He got the job and his passion for interior design was born.
In 2001 Mike happened to drive by an empty space for lease on Broadway Street in Laguna Beach. He and his wife Melissa took a leap of faith and decided to open up their own furniture store together with their friends John and Heather. Together they created one of the most iconic and inspirational furniture stores known to California. Modern Studio now proudly serves the residents of Laguna, Southern California and all over the world.
Heather explains what makes their store unique: “There really isn’t another store quite like ours; we’re not just a furniture store, we’re an experience. We love the challenge of new designs and excel in thinking outside of the box. We make turning your home into your dream home a fun and interactive process, and all in a comfortable and personable environment. Everyone’s home or space is different and each person wants it to be unique. We help the customers achieve this. What we do feels more like design work rather than selling furniture and we truly value being the missing piece of the puzzle to many of our customer’s needs.”
Are you in the Los Angeles or Orange County area? I would highly recommend you contact Modern Studio Furnishings for your interior design or home staging needs. You can call Modern Studio Furnishings at (949) 376-0103 for an in-home design consultation, or you can drop by in their beautiful showroom at 290 Broadway Street in Laguna Beach.
Special Thanks
I would like to give special thanks to Heather Bedford for her time and help with this blog post. I really enjoyed working with you on this little project! I would also like to give thanks to Jeri Koegel for allowing me to use her spectacular photographs.
About Jaleesa Peluso
Jaleesa Peluso is a Real Estate Agent who specializes in Laguna Beach and Orange County Real Estate. For more Orange County homes for sale visit: www.jaleesapeluso.com. Contact: (949) 395-0960 or Jaleesa@JaleesaPeluso.com
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