Design Directions, With Intention

Trends are often described as something to follow for a moment, before moving on to the next. But the design directions that truly matter are rarely about what’s new. They’re quieter, more intentional, and rooted in how a home is meant to feel — not just how it’s meant to look.

Thoughtful design has always been about intention. About making choices with purpose. About creating spaces that feel layered, personal, and grounded — spaces that reflect the people who live there.

Below are three design directions we’re drawn to right now, and how we love to interpret them in our work.

1. Past Meets Present

This isn’t about recreating the past or living in nostalgia. It’s about bringing history forward in a way that feels relevant, personal, and alive.

One of our favorite ways to do this is by incorporating a piece from the past that carries meaning for the family. A piece that already has a story — and invites new ones to be told.

That piece can be a substantial one, like a dining table passed down through generations, or something much smaller: a vintage vase, an old painting, a sculptural object collected during a meaningful trip. What matters is not scale, but story.

When a home includes an item like this, it instantly gains depth. Guests ask questions. Conversations start naturally. The space feels lived-in rather than styled.

Blending these pieces with contemporary elements — clean-lined furniture, modern lighting, simplified palettes — keeps the result from feeling heavy or dated. The contrast allows the past to stand out even more, while still feeling fully at home in the present.

Today, this thoughtful mix of old and new creates interiors that feel timeless rather than trendy — spaces that could only belong to the people who live there.

Here is a stunning coffee table, a commissioned piece of art from the 1960s, created through MoMA and inherited from his mother. A meaningful piece where art and family history meet.

2. Quiet Details

Some spaces reveal themselves slowly. And those are often the ones we remember most.

Quiet details are small, often unexpected elements that catch the eye just long enough to spark curiosity. A subtle piping on a chair. An unusual seam. A carved edge. A piece of hardware that feels considered rather than decorative.

I love when a guest pauses for a second — not because something is loud or dramatic, but because something subtle drew their attention. These are the details that invite closer looking. The kind that makes someone lean in, touch a surface, or ask, “Where is this from?”

Right now, design is becoming more intimate in this way. Less about instant impact, more about discovery. Pieces that don’t reveal everything at once, but reward those who take the time to notice.

Quiet details also speak to craftsmanship. They reflect care, intention, and a respect for process. They remind us that good design isn’t always about what’s immediately visible — sometimes it’s about what’s felt.

In a home, these details add layers without clutter. They create interest without overwhelming the space. And they make interiors feel personal, thoughtful, and quietly special.

3. Intentional Contrast

Contrast has always been part of good design, but in 2026 it becomes more deliberate — and more expressive.

While contrast can certainly come through color, one of my favorite ways to create it is through material. The tension between hard and soft, smooth and textured, refined and raw adds incredible depth to a space.

Think stone paired with warm wood. A plush upholstered chair next to a metal side table. Linen against lacquer. These combinations create balance, but also emotion. They make a space feel tactile, human, and layered.

What makes this contrast work is intention. Nothing feels accidental. Each material is chosen for how it interacts with the others, and for the role it plays in the overall story of the space.

When done well, material contrast brings energy to a project. It keeps the eye moving. It adds interest without relying on excess decoration. And it helps a space feel dynamic while still remaining cohesive.

This approach allows interiors to feel expressive and grounded at the same time — bold in feeling, restrained in execution.

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These three design directions share something important in common: intention.

Homes this year are less about following rules and more about reflecting the people who live in them. They’re spaces shaped by stories, details, and thoughtful choices — not trends for trend’s sake.

Design becomes more personal. More layered. More meaningful.