Surviving design trends

From Indian silk lanterns to sunburst mirrors; glass lamp bases to fluorescent pillows; trendy home décor attention getters are best enjoyed in moderation.

Kimberley's Ten Percent Rule

Similar to a food pyramid that apportions fat and sugar with miserly precision, the tip of the home design pyramid is "trends". Ten percent refers roughly to the percentage of trendy items a well-designed room might contain. It's also the percentage of decorating dollars the smart consumer allocates to purchasing these fashionable finds.

Stick to a neutral palette for large investment pieces, such as sofas, armoires, and other items which are infrequently changed - remember the avocado fridge and harvest gold oven? Then, incorporate trends judiciously - a little goes a long way.

Trends with Lasting Value

Some trends are destined to have staying power, marked as classics almost as soon as they appear. Here are my choices for the season's surest bets.

1. Wallpaper. Do-it-yourself faux finishes move over. Wallpaper has always been a sophisticated choice. Grass cloth and textured papers are extremely hot, lending instant warmth and depth to traditional and contemporary settings. Look for unique ways to use patterned wallpaper such as on ceilings or lining the back of glass front cabinets. Toiles, damasks, florals and stripes have never looked better.
2. Stripes. Non-directional stripes are turning up on everything from stair runners to pillows, dishes to bath towels. Their precision and order is a welcome note of strength in any room.
3. Glass tiles. With the high gloss, slippery-wet look of water, glass tiles are a refreshing splash of dash in tired kitchens and bathrooms.
4. Wall-mounted faucets and vessel sinks. Commercially inspired, Delta Faucet's newest line of wall-mounted faucets pair perfectly with countertop vessel sinks. Both are destined for residential classics.
5. Chimney vents and wide drawer systems. No longer strictly utilitarian, today's chimney vents are dressed in fine metals such as copper, zinc and brass or cleverly disguised behind wood panels or trendy tiles.
6. 18" mattresses. Deeper and more luxurious than ever, the newest beds are all about pampering.
7. Compartmentalized bathrooms. Separating the toilet from the rest of the ensuite, even if it's only with a half wall or a frosted glass or acrylic wall, connotes a feeling of graciousness in this hardworking room.