Highlights from Vern Yip’s Presentation at the 2015 Granite Transformations Convention

Last Updated on January 7, 2020

Granite Transformations holds an annual franchise convention that is used as a platform for the franchise network to discuss new ideas and trends in the home remodeling industry, share strategies, network and celebrate success. At every convention, there is typically a keynote speaker, and at this year’s convention, it was celebrity designer Vern Yip. So, we wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the key design trends that he predicts for the very near future.

Vern Yip was the star of TLC’s Trading Spaces, NBC’s Home Intervention, and more recently, he starred in his own HGTV show  called Deserving Design with Vern Yip.  He was also host and judge on HGTV: Design Star. In addition to this already impressive resume, Vern has his own line of home décor products, is an ambassador for UNICEF, and is a contributing writer to HGTV magazine.

Vern focused his presentation on the primary design trends he sees for the future, which we will summarize here. He stressed that the home is the physical manifestation of the people who live there. It’s the biggest investment that most people will make in their lifetime, and it is where most important events in life take place. With that in mind, we’ll talk about design trends.

Color

Colors used in interior design are moving toward saturated, rich and deep palettes of deep gold, warm orange, and soft blue (with a pairing of navy blue and deep orange as a rising color combination).

Pattern

There will be an increased popularity in the layering and mixing of patterns, which will be featured through the use of stripes, geometrics, abstract florals, and ethnic prints. An example of this might be the use of three different sized tiles in the same room that are pulled together by the thread of color.

Style 1: Urban Warmth

Eclectic style will be mixed with warm materials like exotic woods to visually and physically texturize the space. The concept is about infusing warmer, softer materials into urban environments – harder lines juxtaposed with softer lines.

Style 2: Eclectic Transitional

Clean, classic lines are being mixed with global influences (such as accent pieces from Asia or Africa), which create a melding of the east and west. This style is presented in a modern way through curated, thoughtful style and graphic colors.

Style 3: Modern White

White will continue to remain popular (especially in kitchens), but will be contrasted with one or two key accent colors. We will continue to see white cabinets taking center stage; however, white will begin to move into the countertops and backsplashes more often, and even move into other areas of the home, balanced by warmer elements.

If you are renovating your kitchen, Vern says the one thing you should not skimp on is the countertop. They get the most wear out of any other surface in the kitchen. Patterns can be layered through the backsplash, countertop, and floor and provide an element of continuity that tie them together (like color).

In North America, cabinets tend to be the neutral foundation of the kitchen, with color being used on the walls or in the backsplash. In Europe, colored cabinets are seen much more frequently. By 2017, Vern predicts that North America will catch up with Europe and start exploring more colored cabinets.

Vern also talked about the importance of meeting both functional and aesthetic needs when designing a space. You must think about how you will actually use the space, which will in turn dictate the type of materials that are best to use. And aesthetically, it’s often beneficial to look through a magazine, and pull images of things that appeal to you or make you happy. These could be anything from a favorite food, part of the world, person or even clothing. Any of these can be used as the basis of inspiration when designing a space in your home.

Don’t forget to sign up for a free in-home consultation with one of Granite Transformations’ design consultants – they can help make your dream kitchen or bathroom a reality!