After the ball drops in Times Square, will we still be eating tasting-menu small plates? Will cupcakes continue to enchant? Will home decor remain neutral? And which appliances will be must-haves? Three home and food experts share what will have us buzzing next year.
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Design Diva Says: Think Green, Think Details
Nadia Geller's one-two punch of Midwestern charm and funky, creative solutions to design challenges has garnered attention from coast to coast. She can be seen on TLC's Home Made Simple and Trading Spaces, she recently left New York to hang her Nadia Geller Designs shingle in Los Angeles. Nadia says, "I love the new and have a deep respect for the old." She predicts 2007 will usher in "fun, smart and personal decor."
iVillage: What will be the hottest home-fashion trends next year?
Geller: Decor will set a new, responsible trend in 2007. Sustainable materials and the Green Design movement will be much more prevalent. There will be a tendency to reuse pieces that are already in your home, like reupholstering furniture. I also see pattern, color and texture taking it to the next level.
iVillage: Will any particular colors inspire?
Geller: Color will experience a caffeine jolt next year. Bright colors mixed with geometric patterns seem to be the new wave. Green will take on new hues ranging from avocado to kelly. Neutrals like metallic silver, violet and taupe will hang out in the background to contrast with bright colors such as magenta, teal and yellow.
iVillage: What can we expect from furniture design?
Geller: Furniture will be more stylized and smaller in scale. Furniture design will be all about details. Elegant pieces that have a bit more personality but retain a timeless look will replace bland, oversize pieces. Look for tufted chairs, carved arms and legs, lattice-backed seating and hand-stitched pillows.
iVillage: What accessories will freshen up our homes in 2007?
Geller: Textural and handmade-looking items with repetitive patterns will be a big trend, along with collectibles from foreign lands. Gold will make a comeback. We'll see it on hardware, picture frames, fabrics and anywhere silver and platinum had their way.
Photo: Becker Sofa by CR Laine.)
America's Hottest Foodie Encourages: Do It Fresh, Healthy and Local
As host of FoodNetwork.com's series Dave Does, Dave Lieberman hits the streets in search of culinary trends and hot eateries. A personal chef and author of two cookbooks, he looked into his culinary crystal ball and saw a growing Slow Food movement and a return to intimate, cozy restaurants.
iVillage: What dining trend from 2006 will be passé?
Lieberman: Asian food as dramatic theater.
iVillage: What food trends will gain momentum?
Lieberman: An increasing emphasis on seasonal and regional ingredients. I'm passionate about food that I have a personal connection to in some way. And Slow Food, an interest in and care for how and from where your food comes to you, is a movement that will continue to gain strength at a rapid pace. I also think wood-burning ovens will become more prevalent. We're going to see entire menus cooked or finished in a wood oven.
iVillage: Whole grains had a banner year. What's the healthy buzz?
Lieberman: Healthy oils such as canola and sunflower oil will become more and more popular. These oils are great for high-heat cooking such as searing as well as for salad dressings and other raw applications, because they have a light, neutral flavor.
iVillage: In home entertaining, what will be the "It" food?
Lieberman: Simple Italian. We're starting to see Italian-themed cookbooks and TV shows become blockbusters, which will influence how we're preparing and serving food at home.
iVillage: What flavors will satisfy our sweet tooth?
Lieberman: We'll see more fusion of cultural tastes. Savory flavors such as chili and salt with chocolate. Traditional desserts like panna cotta paired with exotic flavors like lychee and ginger.
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Appliance-Trends Expert Predicts: More Opportunities to Customize
As editor in chief of Home Appliance Magazine and Appliance.com, Diane Ritchey spends her days perusing the latest innovations and styles in home appliances. For the last eight years, she has reviewed and reported on industry designs and trends. Diane says appliance innovation in 2007 will give us more flexibility in creating living spaces.
iVillage: How will appliance innovations affect us in 2007?
Ritchey: Appliance innovations will allow people to customize their kitchens more. The refrigerator/freezer is the only major appliance that has not been tweaked much, in terms of design. Refrigerator/freezer columns don't need to be side-by-side or on top of each other. Appliances in drawers, like refrigerator drawers in a center island, are convenient for storing vegetables or water and soda. Dishwasher drawers are nice because you don't have to bend over, and they have functions for cleaning special dishware like wineglasses and cutlery.
iVillage: Will cooking at home be altered by appliance trends?
Ritchey: Induction cooktops have long been popular in Europe and in restaurants, and I think they will finally start catching on in the United States as consumers become more educated. Induction cooking is faster, safer and easier. The induction cooktop never gets hot to the touch, and it boils water much faster than gas or electric. It's not just for professional cooks either. I also foresee steam ovens becoming more popular. Cooking with steam keeps the flavor, moisture and nutrients in the food.
iVillage: What other rooms will welcome appliance advances?
Ritchey: Laundry rooms will be the trend center of dry cleaning at home. Whirlpool's Fabric Freshener takes the odors of out of clothes and freshens them up. You'll have fewer trips to the dry cleaners, plus it's easy to use and store. If ironing is a must, try the horizontal iron by Oliso. It practically irons by itself.
iVillage: Are there product trends that excite you?
Ritchey: I really like the small tea makers that are coming out and some of the products that help people entertain, like this gadget (Isi — Whip It Up) that helps make dessert toppings. I'm also excited about vintage-style appliances. They allow consumers to make a statement and get away from the traditional boxy-looking appliances.
Photo: Induction cooktop available at iVillage shopping.
