Beyond the Trend: Designing a Home That Feels Like You

If you’ve spent any time looking at design lately — whether it’s on social media, in magazines, or walking through parade homes and showrooms — you’ve probably noticed one thing. Trends are everywhere. And honestly? I love a good trend.

Trends give us direction. They give us inspiration. They help narrow down what can feel like an overwhelming amount of choices. Because let’s be real, most people don’t walk into a project knowing exactly what they want. They might like a little bit of everything, feel pulled in different directions, or not quite know how to define their style yet. That’s where trends can be incredibly helpful. They act as a guide and a starting point. A good trend is a way to focus a scattered brain and begin making decisions with a little more clarity.

As designers, we use trends in that same way. We look at what’s emerging, what’s resonating, and then we ask our clients what they’re drawn to and what they’re not. It gives us a common language to start building from.

There are so many times where a trend is exactly what a client is looking for. They see something, connect with it, and it becomes the perfect jumping-off point for their home. And in those cases, we lean into it. We refine it, personalize it, and make sure it works for their space and their life.

But then there are other times. Times when a client’s style just doesn’t align with what’s currently trending. And that’s not a problem. In fact, it’s one of the best parts of design.

Because not everyone is going to love every trend, and aren’t we glad? How boring would it be if every home looked the exact same?

Some clients are drawn to styles from the past. Pieces that feel collected, storied, or rooted in something a little more classic. And that’s okay. Actually, it’s more than okay — it’s an opportunity.

Because great design isn’t about recreating the past exactly as it was. It’s about taking what you love and bringing it into the present in a way that feels fresh, intentional, and still aligned with how you live today. There are always ways to honor older styles without

making a space feel dated. It’s all in how you mix, layer, and refine.

Sometimes trends are a starting point. They become a place to begin the conversation, not where it ends. We might take elements from what’s current and blend them with something more personal. Or we might pull in pieces from different time periods to create a look that feels layered and unique.

And sometimes? We throw trends out the window completely.

Here’s a fun little truth about design. The most exciting spaces, the ones that feel fresh and different and inspiring, are often the ones that didn’t follow the trend. They created it.

When we work with clients who are willing to step outside the box, who trust the process and lean into what they love (even if it’s not what they’re seeing everywhere else), that’s where something really special happens. We start blending past, present, and future. It allows us to experiment. We can create something that hasn’t been seen before. And that’s how trends actually begin.

At the end of the day, your home doesn’t need to be for everyone. It doesn’t need to check every box of what’s current or popular. It just needs to feel right to you. That might mean following a trend closely. It might mean pulling pieces from multiple styles. Or it might mean going in a completely different direction altogether.

All of those are valid.

All of those can be beautiful.

This is something I’m really passionate about, so we’re turning it into a series. We’re going to explore different styles, ideas, and design directions that might not be “trending” right now and talk about how to incorporate them in a way that feels current, intentional, and anything but outdated.

Because just because something isn’t trending… doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful.

And sometimes, those are the spaces that end up being the most memorable of all.