DesignNJ_OctNov 22_Digital Issue

editorinchief | LETTER
I’m often asked what we at Design NJ
see as the latest trends in home design.
I’m always reluctant to answer. First, home design isn’t constantly changing like
apparel design, nor should it be. No one wants to spend thousands of dollars on
a sofa that will be out of fashion in six months. Second, your home should reflect
your tastes, not those of a trend-setter (though there’s great value in getting input
from a trained professional).
Having said that, we are seeing more interior and architectural design that
pays homage to the natural world. Perhaps spending so much time at home
during the pandemic has focused our attention on the colors, shapes and textures
we see in our backyards and throughout our communities. This appreciation of
nature does appear to be influencing how we design and furnish our homes, and
that’s reflected in the projects we feature in this issue.
In Short Hills, architect Matthew Rosenbaum designed a home with walls of
glass so his clients can enjoy the wooded views. Rosenbaum also used natural
stone and wood to help define spaces in the open-plan design and chose earth
tones for the furnishings (“Modern Geometry,” 24).
The new owners of a traditional home in Monmouth County wanted to update the interiors with a clean,
modern aesthetic and to take advantage of their views of the Shrewsbury River. Designer Yelena Gerts selected
rich upholstery, textured wall coverings, exotic wood veneers, natural stone and a neutral palette that allow the
expanse of river views to act as an ever-changing backdrop (“Contemporary Edge,” 32).
Water views also inspired Kelly Mericle’s design of an oceanfront vacation home in Longport. Seafoam green
and soft blues echo the colors of the waves that lap the shore just steps from the home, but the beach theme is
subtle rather than kitschy — a coral sculpture on a shelf, a beach-themed painting on a wall, a gray and white
wallpaper showing whales frolicking in a frothy sea — all intended to create the restful atmosphere the owners
requested (“A Sea of Tranquility,” 42).
As we know, nature is beautiful even in its imperfections. That’s evident in Wendi Jay’s design of a Stone
Harbor home where the great room coffee and side tables have wood tops with imperfections that send glints
of sunlight streaming through the room. The same is true for the wood flooring throughout the home. Linen
upholstery and iron frames for the great room tables and the kitchen island offer even more salutes to nature
(“Character Study,” 52).
Even the Shop section celebrates an infusion of soft curves, organic shapes and natural materials as we all look
to reconnect with nature (“Natural Leanings,” 19).
With temperatures beginning to cool, take a leisurely walk to spot elements of nature like those that inspired
the designs in this issue. Then decide how to demonstrate your appreciation of nature in your own home.
REN MILLER, EDITOR IN CHIEF
rmiller@designnewjersey.com
14 October/November 2022