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The most controversial interior design trend at High Point (Part 3)

Annie Elliott | October 26, 2022

Quick review! Trends we’ve seen so far are: light wood, natural materials, curved furniture, and bouclé upholstery. Here’s Trend #5 of 6!

Trend #5: 1980s revival

Describing the interior design style of the late 1970s/early ’80s is difficult, but to paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, you know it when you see it. First, there are the curves. 180-degree curves — rainbow-shaped arches, not organic kidney beans (that’s ’60s!). Then you have the cylindrical legs on chairs and tables. And THEN there are special questionable quirks such as smoked glass.

I credit interior designer Kelly Wearstler with resurrecting the 1980s. In her furniture, light fixtures, and accessories, she captures the hallmarks of ’80s design. Some of it I like, some of it I don’t.

Barrel back wood and upholstered dining chair
Kelly Wearstler’s Zuma dining chair. I swear there was a fully upholstered version of this, but I can’t find it
Crate & Barrel
Ambella at High Point

Having survived both the ’70s and the ’80s, I’m not thrilled to relive them, design-wise. There *is* some overlap between the ’80s and 1920s and 30s Art Deco, but I can’t in good faith say that Deco is a full-fledged trend. We keep thinking Art Deco is going to come back, and it just won’t! Ah, well. Back to the ’80s…

This is headed in the deco direction though, don’t you think?
Double rainbow
Curved chaise
Smoked glass table
Smoked glass lamp
Under the “hard to explain why” heading
Cylindrical legs – no taper. This is the most ’70s part of this throwback trend to me
See? These rugs have echoes of Art Deco, but they fall neatly into the ’80s category right now

One final trend to tell you about tomorrow, Gentle Readers! Oh, the suspense! (If you just can’t wait, we’re putting lots about High Point on my TikTok account. TikTok: it’s not just for spying on your teenagers anymore.)

Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, and we have offices in St. Michaels, Maryland, and Middlebury, Vermont. Wondering how to incorporate antique rugs into your design scheme? We give you some tips in this article in Mansion Global.

Category: Furniture + upholstery, TrendsTag: 1970s, 1980s, 70s style, 80s, 80s style, curved chair, curved furniture, curved sofa, design trends, High Point, interior design trends, Kelly Wearstler, smoked glass

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