While stenciling tile is nothing new, creators are steering away from the overdone encaustic tile patterns in grey, black, white and blue and experimenting with contemporary motifs. “Choose starkly contrasting colors for a crisp and fresh look,” suggests Annie Sloan, paint and color expert based in Oxford, England, and creator of Chalk Paint, who has utilized household objects including cereal bowls and magazines to create one of a kind stencils. “These simple shapes look fabulous in block bright colors. Pastel square shapes reference ’50s diners, perfect for grandmillennial interiors, while curved designs reference Vernor Patton and ’60s cool.”
11. Upcycle housewares in a glam way
Before you dispose of dishes, pictures frames, and even large furniture items that have seen better days, think about ways in which you can repurpose these pieces to add some new life. Saw down that dining table and turn it into the coffee table of your dreams, as Lance Thomas of Thomas Guy Interiors in Lake Charles, Louisiana, did in his own home.
12. Embrace the ’70s mirrored backsplash
Take a look back—50 years back—when tackling the backsplash, suggests Alex Alonso of Mr. Alex Tate Design. “So much of the ’70s has crept back into fashion,” he says, noting that a smoky mirrored backsplash is “very chic and trendy.” The Miami-Los Angeles–based designer adds that people are looking to make kitchens warm but still keep them modern and interesting, and a mirrored backsplash can do just that. Or you can create a vibrant custom backsplash with watercolor, marbled paper, even a piece of pretty fabric that’s protected behind a pane of tempered glass.
13. Enhance walls with limewash paint
