Interior Design of the past 30 years

              Looking Back: 30 Years of Interior Design

 

           When we opened our doors, located on Broadway in 1992, Nancy Smith had one goal in mind: Providing Saratoga Springs with a place to find quality home furnishings and interior design services. It’s hard to believe, but this April will mark our 30th year in business doing exactly that! In honor of our 30th anniversary, we are rewinding the clock. We are taking a look back at the interior design trends of the last 30 years. From pastels and shiny brass fixtures to the revival of midcentury modern designs and the tiny house movement, we will be revisiting some of the most popular design trends of the last three decades. So, hop in our time machine and get comfy as you journey back in time with us!

The 90s

Let’s start out on our journey where it all began: 1992. The 90s brought fun pops of color; bright neon hues paired with cool pastels; shiny brass fixtures everywhere you looked and open shelving, think Monica Ghellar’s kitchen. As the 90s took off, so did our business! We were pretty busy in the 90s, working on design projects like: The Gideon Putnam hotel, The Batcheller Mansion Inn and Amtrack to name a few.

The backside of an old 90s newsletter.
an old 90s newsletter talking about our big Savannah party!

When I sat down with Nancy and Dan to reminisce about 90s design trends, they told me that brass fixtures and honey oak woodwork was EVERYWHERE you looked. Every kitchen had honey oak cabinets, and honey oak flooring. Every bathroom faucet and doorknob was finished in shiny brass. Big frilly window treatments, oversized furniture and sponge painting were all the rage. The most popular colors of the decade were hunter green, pastel pink and grey.  Seems like grey never goes away! Ralph Lauren’s career took off as the “Preppy” style gained popularity in both dress and home decor.

Color blocking was a pretty big deal in the 90s

While the world was getting online, design trends started shifting towards more ergonomic designs.  The digital age was born. It very much became the driving force for design both in the workplace and in the home. Suddenly families needed a place for their new home computers to go, and since most households owned only one at this time, it needed to be in a centralized location. Herman Miller created the famous “Aeron” chair. It’s ergonomic and futuristic looking design was a must have for the cutting-edge business and home office alike.

   The Early 2000s

Our journey back through time has landed us in the early 2000’s. If you’re anything like me, that doesn’t seem so long ago. Where does the time go?  The early 2000’s brought with them the housing market crash, popular sitcoms like “Madmen” and a shift to more minimalized interiors. Infact, Axel Vervoort’s peaceful and minimalist design will become the most copied look of the next two decades!  The early 2000’s was a very exciting time period for Saratoga Signature Interiors. Nancy and Dan were named as the exclusive designers for the 38 High Rock Hotel and Condo project completed in Saratoga in 2009. As we were busy working on that project, design trends were shifting.

As the show “Madmen” took off in popularity, it drove the Midcentury Modern design, so popular in the 50’s – 70s, out of retirement. Suddenly every businessperson wanted Don Draper’s office, and every homeowner wanted Betty Draper’s Livingroom. Thayer Coggin made famous by Milo Baughman’s revolutionary midcentury modern des-

A midcentury modern dining room.

igns in the 1950’s was selling like hotcakes. In the same breath, the housing market and stock market crashed in 2008. The housing crisis brought with it a new trend in home design, the tiny home movement. Even if you didn’t jump at the idea of living in a tiny home, you might have subscribed to the idea of living with less. Exchanging oversized furniture with big, rolled arms, in for new sleek, streamlined pieces. A Minimalist movement began and brought a new sense of calm. Relaxing colors such as light brown, tan, shades of white and blue, blue-grey, and blue greens were very popular.

            Today’s Interior Design Trends

As sure as the changing of the seasons, Interior design trends are ever shifting. Current events often are the driving force of change when it comes to interior design trends.  It comes as no surprise that COVID has vastly changed the landscape for all industries, and interior designers are working hard to keep up. Production times are taking as much as 10 times longer than what they used

sleek track arms have replaced the large, rolled arms of the past.

to be pre-covid. It’s no wonder why our customers have shifted to purchasing more of our in-stock items, leaving custom orders for another time. Families are spending an incredible amount of time at home. With this added time, comes added wear and tear on upholstery. Customers are looking for comfortable seating that will hold up to the added stress of extended use.

The inner workings of a quality made chair.

Outdoor areas have become an important part of the home, adding much needed space and a relaxing change of scenery. We have seen a push for outdoor furniture, seating and dining in the last 2 years. Customers are looking for a way to get out and enjoy, without wandering too far from their home.

As our society continues to move at breakneck speeds, we are always looking to make things more convenient. Smart furniture has become increasingly more popular. Nightstands and side tables with built in USB ports, Recliners that connect to your smart phone and automated blinds are here to stay!

 

As we look to the future, there is no telling what interior design trends might pop up next, but one thing’s for sure: Saratoga Signature Interiors will be ready to provide our customers with everything they need to make their house a home.