REAL ESTATE
The Top Design Trends in
Luxury Real Estate
As REALTORS®, we wear
many hats in order to help
our sellers maximize their
net equity. We take into
By Terry and Tanner Tillung
account homebuyer’s feedback and
are continually watching trends – all
of which point to a year of richness,
warmth, and modern maximalism
in design.
What’s that about maximalism?
While 2017 might have been
the year of minimalism, 2018 is
just the opposite. It’s about more
pieces, more colors, more textures,
bolder accents and patterns. It’s
purposefully over-decorating and
creating a warm welcoming vibe.
What’s changing about the use
of living spaces?
The average square footage of
luxury homes is decreasing and they
are being designed with family time
in mind. Open floor plans and great
rooms are the luxury trend that
seems to have staying power. It has
become more about spending time
together and less about extravagance
for the sake of extravagance.
What’s cool in the kitchen?
Today’s modern luxury kitchens have upscale cabinets that
are as beautiful on the inside as on the outside. We also expect
the trend in smart appliances to continue with even more
thoughtful integrations in 2018, adding more convenience as
well as safeguards.
What is coming in 2018 in the way of the smart
home gadgets?
Nest.com released a few new products just before the New
Year and now, the highly anticipated Nest x Yale smart lock is
available for ordering. It’s exciting because it integrates with
all of Nest’s gadgets and does away with keys altogether.
Tanner and Terry Tillung
116 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MARCH/APRIL 2018
Wallpaper?
Believe it or not, wallpaper is back
and we’ll be seeing a lot of it in 2018
design. Digital printing has opened
doors for boutique wallpaper
companies to create designs that are
bolder and more unique. Textures,
metallics and pearlescent finishes
will be prevalent in upcoming
trends as will new application
techniques. Forget what you know
about wallpaper!
What’s happening with color?
Beige and brown are back in place
of the grays we’ve been seeing and
saturated shades are making a bold
statement. As far as finishes, the
movement is more toward brass
and copper for warmth.
What sort of art and style
might we see in 2018?
The overarching trend in design is
setting up to be louder than years
past. We wouldn’t be surprised
to start seeing an over-the-top
use of florals, street art in place
of something more expected, and
designs with a more retro/’80s vibe. 9
BRANDY DEMARZO
EDITOR’S NOTE: Terry and Tanner Tillung are real estate
agents with Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate and have
more than 23 years of experience selling homes in the Tampa
Bay area. For Terry, call (727) 560-8819, or terry.tillung@
floridamoves.com. For Tanner, call (727) 479-4548, or tanner.
tillung@floridamoves.com.