Newest model homes showcase best interior design

The spring new housing market blooms with design trends that reflect simplicity, serenity and seamlessness.

Colors are quiet and calming with a move away from cold grays to warm grays with yellow or reddish undertones and stone hues such as alabaster, symbolic of new beginnings.

Vibrant colors wake up neutrals, and the colors of the year, quartz rose and serenity blue, make an appearance. As an alternative to our high-tech and fast-paced lifestyle, there's a focus away from the digital screen and an emphasis on the balance of mind, body and spirit.

In addition, there's an increased interest in sustainability and designing spaces that promote health and well-being.

Designers blur the line between indoors and outdoors so homeowners can connect with nature and natural surroundings. You'll see use of handcrafted items, organic pieces made from nature, natural materials and warm woods.

In keeping with a clean and simple look, homes feature options for clutter control with storage integrated into the home design.

Area designers weigh in on these concepts and note what's hot and not.

In the world of color, gray and mushroom (greige) reign, and we're adding lots of other colors — every blue you can think of from navy to teal, bright green, orange, fusia, terra cotta and the Pantone colors of the year — rose quartz and serenity blue, said Helen Velas, owner of Eleni Interiors in Naperville. The company designs interiors for several area builders.

Leslie Frazier sees the dusty rose and pale blue as a throwback to the Eighties with more pastels coming back.

“We're seeing the warm rose that looks really soft and pretty,” said Frazier, owner of Frazier Design Group in Chicago. “I'm starting to feel it. It's a departure for a lot of people, but when used sparingly, it's really beautiful.”

And Kate Brennan of Mary Cook & Associates in Chicago also sees a big surge in brights. In the Campbell model at Townes at Sagebrook, a new community in Lockport by M/I Homes, the vivid florals in the rug blend with pale pinks and balances with neutral tones and textures.

“We're also seeing a ton of very soft and subtle color played up with texture and patterns, and pattern with tile and wood planks are also in. For example, floors may create a herringbone pattern or the chevron zigzag, which is very popular.”

Furniture shows clean, simple lines; it's straightforward and functional in a simple modern way — like a Crate and Barrel kind of modern, not in a cold contemporary look, Frazier said. Frazier designs model interiors for William Ryan Homes.

Velas sees woods trending from the espresso, super dark brown, to walnut, which is dark but not real dark.

“We're mixing that with gray stained and painted woods, reclaimed woods and rustic pieces,” Velas said. “Wood is everywhere, from floors to ceilings. It adds texture and warmth to a room.”

The model home at Springbank of Plainfield by New Generation Homes shows wood planks on the ceiling and patterned tile on the floor.

In sync with simplicity, we're moving from a pretty ornate paneled door to a Shaker look with flat board fronts that are popular, and slab doors — just a flat wood door with no framing, no detail, Velas said.

For the kitchen, white cabinets are very strong along with gray cabinets, both painted and stained. Quartz countertops reign with a clean and consistent look, and it comes in a variety of colors. This is shown in Remington Glen's model home in St. Charles. Its design is by Eleni Interiors for Ryland Homes, now part of CalAtlantic Homes.

Stone also makes a statement. “We're using more stone than in the past, especially on fireplaces,” Velas said. A floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace is very beautiful. You also see stone on the front of a bar to add texture and a rich, masculine feel.

Linear fireplaces, super long, lean and sexy, bring a fresh look for the fireplace that hasn't changed looks for so many years. At Springbank of Plainfield, the model's great room shows a stone facade and the sleek fireplace as a warm visual focal point.

Warmer metals are also stepping into the spotlight, which goes along with nature-inspired decor. This trend is seen in warm brass and aged brass lighting and plumbing fixtures, Frazier said.

“I think there's a move from the shining glamour look, which is still around and will continue to be, to more of a calming, serene look,” she said. “There is definitely a trend of mixing metals. Nothing has to match.”

Mixing metals and finishes and incorporating them in various accessories opens the door for more interest that is really cool, Brennan said.

Velas agrees. To keep the look current, mix it up whether aged gold, silver or chrome — chrome being the most contemporary. Gold is in jewelry, fashion and definitely in homes.

“We're mixing woods and metals, gold and silver and bling, like you've never seen before,” Velas said.

We're also using light fixtures in many new ways other than above the dining room and kitchen tables, Velas said. “Chandeliers and pretty pendants are everywhere — in master bedrooms and baths, and we can't get enough of them. It's jewelry for the home that adds a real pretty sparkle.”

With the emphasis on connecting with nature, there's a big trend of combining outdoor and indoor living spaces, Brennan said. The NanaWall removes the visual and physical barrier between indoors and outdoors and expands the sense of space. “This is a curtain of glass, or movable glass wall, that we're integrating in family rooms, kitchens and breakfast areas,” Brennan said. “We're doing this for Toll Brothers and M/I Homes.”

Organization is also big. There's a huge effort in designing multifunction for high performance areas such as kitchens, laundry rooms and mudrooms, Brennan said. “We increase function of everything we can. The kitchen might have one or two islands that offer storage, warming drawer and microwave.”

Velas agrees. New-home buyers are seeing a lot of ideas to stay organized, including various wall components. There are bulletin boards, eraser boards, laundry room drying racks, shelving for detergent and a clip to hang a sock waiting for its match. The eating nook in the model at Lexington Crossing, a townhouse development in Rolling Meadows by Lexington Homes, shows storage that doubles as a buffet counter.

There are benches and lockers for backpacks, wicker baskets for gloves and scarves. The idea is that everything is in its place, and it's easy to find items when you're living in the fast lane. California Closets now does built-ins for every room in the home that makes use of space to the best of its advantage.