Interior designer Maria Viola-Kuttruff finds inspiration in fall’s hottest runway trends.
Over-sized coffee tables mimic cuff bracelets, says Viola-Kuttruff, and hint at fashion’s recent fascination with metallics.
If you think personal style doesn’t influence home décor, guess again. Maria Viola-Kuttruff, of Viola Interior Design in Merion and president of American Society of Interior Designers Pennsylvania East Chapter, has formulated many a floor plan just by sizing up a client’s wardrobe.
For a Philadelphia wealth management office, Viola-Kuttruff—whose role as regional head of ASID is to spread the word about design—found inspiration in a suit jacket. “My client had his jacket hanging on the back of a chair in his office,” she says. “It was conservative looking but very tailored.” The resulting scheme—a darker color palette with clean, masculine touches—was spot on for the corporate environment.
Fashion and furnishings are constantly colliding (just look at the number of fashion designers touting home interiors collections or teaming up with existing brands for collaborations), and this fall, many of the season’s hottest runway looks are finding their way into homes in the form of subtle detailing, Viola-Kuttruff says. The same boho fringe dripping from clothing and accessories is now adding new interest to contemporary seating styles while tassels, currently adorning earrings and necklaces, are reappearing on window coverings, tie-back seating cushions, and even bar cabinets. In a pop-culture-meets-décor moment, bar carts are back and especially popular with both millennial men and women thanks to ’60s-set Mad Men, she says.
Mixed metals have been trending in jewelry with layered looks of gold, silver, and rose-gold accessories. The same aesthetic can also be spotted in contemporary interiors, with an emphasis on balancing shiny and matte finishes. Accent tables are one simple way to make the trend work at home, says Viola-Kuttruff.
One of fall’s biggest trends is leopard, with designers from Givenchy to Anna Sui, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana using the notice-me pattern as a kind of neutral. “Leopard is really never out of style,” says Viola-Kuttruff, adding that when incorporated into the home in a tasteful way—think luxe carpeting or textiles—the look can easily stand the test of time.
Interior design often hinges on adding several layers to a room, but Viola-Kuttruff says parting with furnishings and accents is essential. “[With design], editing down is just as important as putting pieces into a space. It’s sort of like when Coco Chanel said to take one thing off before leaving the house.”