PAGODA RED founder, Betsy Nathan, has been a go-to tastemaker for more than 20 years. Designers and collectors know they can rely on her expert curation to bring them objects that will make their spaces memorable. We asked Betsy to share which design trends she predicts will make the biggest waves this year. Here are her five favorites.

Lacquered Finishes

Lacquer has a warmth and glamour to it that feels just right for now. When applied to interior walls, it creates deeply atmospheric rooms, packed with personality—like the beautiful green example (above), designed by Wendy Labrum Interiors for the Lake Forest Showhouse. When people think of lacquered pieces they often imagine ornate Chinese antiques, but the material can also be used in an understated, contemporary way that appeals to minimalists. We love that this ancient method of embellishment hasn’t changed much—lacquer (or, in the case of the room above, a full-gloss Farrow & Ball paint) is applied layer by layer, until the surface gleams.

Ultra-Violet

Pantone went mystical with 2018’s Color of the Year, Ultra-Violet 18-3838. Their description is right in line with the kinds of extraordinary objects we’re most drawn to for our galleries. Namely, one-of-a-kind pieces that bring soul to a space. According to Pantone, the blue-based purple “takes our awareness and potential to a higher level.” Who wouldn’t want to surround themselves with the powerful hue? This hallway vignette by Elizabeth Krueger is a great example of the shade working its magic.

Chinese Art Deco Rugs

Made of machine-spun wool, with more density and shine than traditional Chinese carpets, Art Deco rugs are beloved for their vibrant colors and lustrous feel. The rugs were made to suit the style of glamorous Jazz Age America in the 1920s and 30s, and the results awere both beautiful and remarkably durable. Today, the clean lines and saturated color feel wonderfully fresh and luxe. We imagine them energizing any room—from a minimally appointed bright-white loft, to a sumptuous, cocoon-like bedroom.

Stone Objects Indoors

Design: Kenneth Walter for the Lake Forest Showhouse. Photo: Werner Straube.

Whether polished or rough, a stone piece indoors is the perfect counterpoint to a room of otherwise refined finishes. The rich history of a stone can be seen and felt, whether through veining (in the case of the side table on the right) or its time-worn organic texture (like the stone troughs on the left). We love how Kenneth Walter employed both in the nook he created for the Lake Forest Showhouse. When paired with patina’d brass and plush velvet, the stone pieces add a delicate tension.

Top image: Design: Wendy Labrum Interiors, for the Lake Forest Showhouse. Photo: Wendy Labrum Interiors.

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