Growing up in Chicago's North Shore district, Jodi Morton has always been surrounded by sophisticated yet livable spaces. When Jodi founded 2to5 Design in 2010, she could be
Jodi Morton
expected to design just that, a livable yet elegant space. Jodi uses the homeowners' personal style to help create a space that's both beautiful and functional. She has been recognized in numerous publications including CS Interiors, Chicago Tribune, NS, and many others. We had the opportunity to sit down with her and chat about design trends.
What would you say are some top design trends for 2019?
Patterned tiles: Patterned tiles are very popular and are continuing to gain strength. Our clients like to use them as a backsplash in kitchens and bathrooms, as well as floors throughout the home.
Keep it simple: My clients are moving away from eclecticism and opting for cleaner, more simple spaces. The interest in statement fabrics is waning. Gone are ikat and trellis patterns as people are opting for rooms that feel more peaceful and serene.
Color palettes: The color gray is being replaced with warmer, more ambient tones. A California vibe of fresh, clean, lighter spaces is dominating, with fewer pops of color.
Textures: Textures will continue to be popular in 2019, in both wall coverings and textiles. I like to mix linen with cotton and velvet when selecting fabrics for a room, and always consider stain resistant fabrics when working with a family with young kids.
Farmhouse Prevails: The modern farmhouse look is still popular. This style is often dominated by floors in lighter shades and dark painted or stained windows with white trim.
Tell us about your favorite project to date.
Last year we completed the interiors for a ground-up transformation of a beautiful historic home on the north side of Chicago. We partnered with Morgante Wilson Architects to transform the classic Victorian era house into a modern home that was both sympathetic to the original architecture yet totally customized to the needs of a busy family with four young kids. The overall vibe is classic yet fun and fresh.
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What is your favorite space to design?
Kitchens. The kitchen is the most well-used room in any home and makes a big transformation. The options and combinations are endless depending on the space and the needs of the client. It's a fun puzzle to put together and incorporate clients' requests for their favorite things, like a beverage center for coffee or tea.
Do you have any tips and tricks that you'd like to share with us?
One of the biggest errors I see clients make is choosing items that are the wrong scale. Most often, they select furniture and lighting that is too small for the space. Scale has a big impact in a room. When shopping, don't be afraid to go big!
Some great examples are:
- Change out lighting in a space - go bigger with scale
- Change the finish of the hardware in kitchens and bathrooms
- Change the paint color. Pain is always the most affordable update you can make in a home. If your room was dark, go light; it was light, go dark. Paint is fun, affordable, and makes a big impact.
In wrapping up, what is some advice you could give homeowners? Something that might inspire them to start the design process.
I find that clients are often afraid of their own taste. Let your space be unique and specific to you! Not everything needs to look like a West Elm catalog. Don't be afraid of your own unique taste and style.
See more of Jodi's design work on her website.