Fashion Forward

Edited by Lisa Casinger -- Home Accents Today, 2/1/2005

ORIENTAL DESIGNS are reinterpreted and Southwestern statements are coming on strong. Country-styled accents remain in demand.

Area rugs feature deepened colors, sculptured or "hand carved" effects and needlepoint designs.

Sketchbooks cover trends like The Orient Revisited, Slick & Urban Contemporary, Southwestern, Nostalgia, Machine Age Modern, Glory of Ancient Times, Folk Traditions, East Meets West, Art Deco Drama, Garden Greens, Naturally Terra-Cotta, Going for the Gold, Pretty in Pink, Formal Traditions, Classical & Mediterranean Spirits, The Bleached Finish and The Post Modern Mood.

Terra cotta becomes more and more popular, spurred by the success of Southwestern design.

Animal motifs are top sellers. Warm wood and hand-carved items regain appeal for consumers.

Mimicking Mother Nature is the magic word in permanent botanicals.