“Modern Folklore” is the Trend You’re About to See Everywhere — And This Collab's Got You Covered

It’s Christmas time… at least in editor land. That’s because many brands are having their annual holiday previews right now. It feels a little strange to be drinking hot cocoa and listening to seasonal music when it’s 100 degrees outside. But hey! I’m not complaining. I love being able to see the hottest gifts — and decorating trends — before they’re truly mainstream come November and December. That way, we can bring you a sneak peek so you’re also ahead of the curve and know what to snag before it’s gone.

Speaking of trends, if you haven’t checked out Apartment Therapy’s New/Next List, here’s a shameless plug to do that now. The stories aren’t going anywhere, of course, but we’re truly excited about all the ways the design conversation is going to unfold over the coming months and into the new year. Plus, it’s just plain fun to see what designers and companies are doubling down on.

We’re in the thick of the dog days of summer, so I hope you’re enjoying these quieter (and hopefully, lazier) days. Let these links be your guide this week — and if you only shop one collab, check out what Pierce & Ward just dropped with West Elm. Every last item is perfect, especially if you love a vintage look. It seems like the design duo was aware of some of the trends we called (”Modern Folk” below in particular).

Think cottagecore with a side of Little House on the Prairie — and yes, it’s as cute and cozy as it sounds.

The design show darling that’s the next big color trend.

The throwback ceiling light designers are shopping for right now.

Designer and architect Gabriel Yuri of New Operations Workshop just made Apartment Therapy’s New/Next List as one to watch in interiors. I caught up with him to hear a little bit more about his decorating philosophy and what change he thinks is coming for the industry. Don’t forget to check out his full profile to see more of his work!

Q: In just one sentence, what does good design mean to you?

GY: Good design is when things that shouldn’t work together do, and it feels inevitable rather than contrived because it’s responding to the space’s unique context — not only imposing ideas on top of it.

Q: What’s one design “rule” you’ll always follow — or happily break?

GY: I happily break the rule that a space has to commit to one genre or era. I’m working on a mid-century home now, and while I can certainly appreciate homes that function as a time capsule to a particular moment, that’s never been my approach. I’d rather let the different periods it’s lived through sit together, honestly, with room for what’s new and exciting from emerging designers, too.

Q: Is there a trend you can’t get enough of right now, and why do you love it?

GY: Raw, natural materials — plaster or grasscloth wall coverings with a lot of movement, unpolished stone, anything with real texture rather than a flat surface. I’m especially obsessed with stone right now, [specifically] the way I used it in the Silver Lake bathroom as shelving and stepping stones, and I’ve been increasingly working it into custom furniture pieces, too. It keeps a more minimal space from reading as sterile.

Q: What’s the shift in design you think we’ll all be talking about next?

GY: Less conventional homeownership — friends splitting a house, home-swapping, people living in arrangements that don’t map to the traditional single-family model. Real estate is pushing people there, and architecture is finally starting to catch up.

Q: Is there an object in your own home you could never part with?

GY: My Bang & Olufsen Beogram TX2 turntable — it’s as much a piece of industrial design as it is a functional object. I get happy every time I see it while changing out a record.