Bold is Big
The folks at Envie have two words to summarize this spring’s home decor trends: sophisticated and practical. These days, the popular designs embrace bolder color schemes, rich embellishments and exotic new treatments of traditional materials.

Customers are demanding tools for self-expression in their home designs, which means widely varied, creative offerings are taking the place of one-size-fits-all decor. Furniture pieces are decorated with throws and jeweled accessories, or swathed in exotic materials such as stingray or ostrich. The home is becoming a global bazaar.

And the past is always being reinvented to suit these contemporary styles. Envie’s new Cary Buffet ($2,100), inspired by art deco and mid-century modern designs, combines the past with a modern edge. The black lacquer buffet has a detailed antique white-resin overlay. Reminiscent of World War II-era furniture, the sleek, bold design is also available in what were then considered outlandish colors: green and white.

Kitchen Sink Now Included
Basic house-sitting simply doesn’t do in Sarasota, which is why Key Concierge provides peace of mind by attending to every detail of property management and maintenance while homeowners are away. But it doesn’t stop there: The company also covers the gamut of services for homeowners when they’re near as well. Lifestyle management as well as concierge services makes sure present homeowners have everything they need to keep their home life running smoothly, from receiving deliveries to party planning. The latest trend? “We are seeing a surge in requests for personal chefs,” says Susan Robinson, president of Key Concierge. “Our clients are finding that the ease and convenience of having a personal chef, especially during busy holiday times or when they have a house full of company, is priceless.”

Sea and Be Seen
Marine life artist Wyland, whose work can be seen in his gallery on St. Armands Circle, has long been a pioneer in the environmental art movement. His commitment to ocean preservation is rapidly being adopted by the mainstream as the “green movement” gains momentum. “We cannot stress enough that the 21st century must be an environmental renaissance,” says the artist, whose Wyland Foundation offers programs to provide young people with information to spark environmental responsibility. “Our hope is to inspire children and classrooms everywhere about the beauty of our water planet.”

Chosen as an official artist of the 2008 Olympics, Wyland will complete his 100th massive “Whaling Wall” mural at the Great Wall of China prior to the Beijing Games in August. Sarasota’s Wyland Gallery, which also represents the work of other leading ocean and environmental artists, recently moved to 314 John Ringling Blvd. on St. Armands Circle.

Selling Seashells
Speaking of the sea, using seashells in your home design may bring to mind images of quaint motels or seafood shacks. But Fanta Sea on St. Armands Circle stocks home accessories and tableware that are both distinctly Florida as well as high style. Colors and textures—mother of pearl most notably—that have found their way into today’s wallcoverings and upholstery are available in bowls, platters, napkin rings, pillows and countless other accessories to bring an elegant sense of the sea to contemporary homes.

Dressing Up
Just as that silver necklace highlights your face, ceiling medallions serve as accessories for chandeliers and ceiling fans. Now available in many beautiful finishes at Franklin Lighting, ceiling medallions complete home design much the way accessories enhance and complete a dress.

If your ceiling medallion is to be mounted in your dining room or bedroom, it can be either larger or smaller than the diameter of the chandelier. On the other hand, entry spaces or foyers, especially, two- or three-story foyers, should have a ceiling medallion that is much wider than the width of the hanging fixture.

The Franklin Lighting pros have come up with a mathematical rule of thumb to simplify the process. For a nine-foot ceiling, multiply the length of the room in feet by the width of the room in feet and divide by seven. This will yield the approximate diameter of your ceiling medallion in inches. If the ceiling is higher, the ceiling medallion needs to be larger.

Show Time
In February, Sarasota design standouts brought the latest design trends to a Whitfield Estates home for the 13th Annual ASID Showhouse. Focused on the theme “Southern Splendor,” the event featured an 18th-century home that displayed the work of more than 20 local designers. Among them, Cook’s Custom Cabinetry took charge in the oversized kitchen, which featured a walk-in pantry, lighted built-in china displays, wine storage and architectural elements like molding and etched glass-front cabinets. Likewise, Gary Ficht of Pedlar’s Village took charge of the wall décor. Ficht incorporated the home’s stairwell, using a mural of a garden both to tie together the home’s color scheme and to make the stairs as much of a featured space as the rest of the house. Proceeds from the charity event benefited Ringling College of Art and Design and the Boys & Girls Clubs.

Real Estate
Two of Southwest Florida’s powerhouse RE/MAX agencies have joined forces. RE/MAX Properties, which was founded in 1989, and 16-year-old RE/MAX Gulfstream Realty announced their merger in late January. Together, the two form RE/MAX Alliance Group, which serves Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties. Offering insurance, mortgage and title services with more than 400 agents in 12 offices, RE/MAX Alliance is now Florida’s largest RE/MAX agency.