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Home and design store enjoys more space for furniture and accessories.

After moving several times since she began Trieste Home & Gifts in 2005, owner Diane Young has settled into new space at 595 S. 60th Street at Stagecoach Drive in West Des Moines. Signage on the building indicates the 595 Tower.

Her curated collection of furnishings and accessories offers a transitional look at home design. “We offer an upscale boutique of luxurious home decor and furnishings,” she points out.

She grew up on a farm in nearby Booneville and attended the former Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, where she majored in home economics and piano. Her moves have come from a desire for more space to share her love for design.

“I have always loved design, and I was thrilled when Terrill Bailey of the former Roberts and Williams store in Windsor Heights told me she liked my taste in design,” she says. “When my three kids were grown, I decided I might want to go into business.”

Her husband, Dennis Young, was retiring, and he encouraged her to go into business. She worked at Roberts and Williams for a time, then worked with shops such as Statements, Imaginations, Expressions, and Finer Things before going out on her own. Her previous shop locations were at West Glen and Ponderosa in West Des Moines.

She started a shop that focused on European antiques at first before taking on furnishings and accessories. Ultimately, she purchased the business of designer Sue Kenney, a design collaborative IDG (Interior Design Group) in which a cadre of 25 designers work independently and separately, in a space at 2437 106th Street in Urbandale. “We set it up like a country club, where there are three options or levels of membership. It works beautifully, and designers draw from each other and often work together on projects.”

So why the new shop? “It gives us a little more space so we can have more emphasis on furnishings but still offer boutique items such as baby items and seasonal trims for Christmas and Halloween, for example.”

The result is a clean-lined look with a soft and calm feeling. “We tend to focus on neutrals in our furnishings and then accent with smaller color items,” says Tammy Burmester, store manager, who has been with Diane for 10 years. She, too, is a designer, a graduate of Iowa State University in Ames. She says, “I have worked for By Design and on my own, but I prefer the retail end of the business.”

Tammy says the shop designs for the person, the customer, not for the desires of the designer. “Diane is amazing and talented. I cannot say enough good things about her. It’s so fun to go to market with her because markets are mind-boggling. She retains a calm approach. I love it.”

Trieste Home & Gifts
595 S. 60th Street, West Des Moines (at Stagecoach Drive)
515-240-8842
triestewdm@gmail.com
triestedesign.com

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Houzz Reveals Seven Emerging Home Design Trends for Summer.

Houzz identified the top emerging home design trends based on the latest search insights* from our community of U.S. homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home professionals. The trends reflect a desire to bring a sense of calm into the home through organic modern design, Japanese influences, wellness features and reading rooms. And yet, some homeowners are seeking to make a bold statement with dark and moody interiors. This summer, we’re also seeing a growing interest in creating dedicated spaces for leisure activities that suit adults and kids, alike!

Organic Modern Style

Organic modern design elements form a balanced mix of sleek lines and crisp white or neutral-colored surfaces, contrasted with natural forms and materials. With searches on Houzz for “organic modern bedroom” jumping nearly 3.5x year-over-year, homeowners may be looking for a soft place to land at the end of a long day. But that’s not the only area of the home well-suited for this style. “Organic modern” searches have also grown over the past year for dining rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms.

Dark and Moody

In contrast, dark and moody decor is also gaining popularity, with searches for “moody living room” and “moody kitchen” more than doubling compared to the same period in 2023. This is likely a reaction to the bright whites and light grays that have dominated interiors in recent years. We see designers on Houzz use dark and moody colors to help make spaces feel cozy and intimate, or bold and dramatic. For example, layers of rich browns and dark reds can create a warm atmosphere in a “moody bedroom,” for which searches are up by 85% year over year. A dash of darkness can also bring about the desired effect. Searches for “dark ceiling” have reached new heights, up 60% compared with the same period last year.

Reading Rooms

“Dark academia” went viral in recent years, describing a scholarly subculture dedicated to reading, writing and learning. Initially tied to fashion, the trend has moved into the home with searches on Houzz jumping 3x in the first quarter of this year, compared with Q1 2023. Searches for the British-style “snug” also grew 2.5x, as homeowners may be looking to wall off a cozy area for reading or solitary relaxation. With searches climbing for terms like “library wall,” “reading corner” and “book nook,” it seems that many homeowners will have the perfect space to check off their reading lists this summer.

Japanese Influence

Japanese design, which embraces simplicity, natural elements and harmonious living spaces, is experiencing a resurgence, reflected in notable increases for searches related to kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. Searches for “Japandi living room,” a term which relates to a hybrid design style that merges Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality, have risen 48%. Two Japanese design aesthetics often associated with presenting the home as a sanctuary—”wabi-sabi” and “zen garden”—have also seen growth in searches on Houzz (up 44% and 22%, respectively).

Wellness

Wellness features continue to surface in trending searches on Houzz, with “cold plunge,” “indoor sauna,” “home spa” and “backyard sauna” all rising in the first quarter of the year, compared with Q1 2023. Homeowners are also finding professionals on Houzz to help bring in more natural light, which is important for maintaining the body’s intrinsic rhythm, with searches increasing for “large windows” and “skylights.”

Leisure Spaces

There is growing interest in creating leisure spaces within the home, as reflected in recent search trends on Houzz. “Listening room” searches have more than doubled, and searches for “living room pianos” have increased by 39%, indicating a desire for dedicated areas to enjoy high-quality music experiences. Outdoor leisure activities are also gaining traction, with searches for “bocce court” up by 23%, and indoor recreational spaces are on the mind with searches for “bowling alley” and “game room” up 18% and 16%, respectively.

Kid Zones

Creating spaces for kids to express their personality and feel ownership within the home is growing in importance for homeowners, according to trending search data. From “race car bed” and “Jack-and-Jill bathroom” to “teen lounge” and “kids gaming bedroom,” which have all jumped in search traffic compared with the previous year, parents are turning to Houzz for inspiration as they think through new ways to meet their children’s changing needs.

Homeowners who are looking to begin renovating or decorating their home can get inspired and find the best home professionals for their projects on Houzz, and browse a curated collection of products inspired by these trends in the Houzz Shop.

Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing an all-in-one software solution for industry professionals and tools for homeowners to update their homes from start to finish. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals and shop for products.

The 2024 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study is a report of homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed an outdoor renovation. The online survey was fielded to U.S. Houzz users in May 2024. n=1,106.

You can read the full 2024 U.S. Houzz Outdoor Trends Study here.

* Generational categories follow Pew Research Center’s age ranges: Millennials (27-42), Gen Xers (43-58) and Baby Boomers (59-77).

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Morris Lare Interior Design honored by House Beautiful.

Awards and accolades are nearly always the result of years of hard work and conscientious skill development, often motivated by the desire for recognition. The class valedictorian, Olympic athletes, even movie stars—all of them, at some level, are pursuing that public recognition as confirmation of their success.

Industry awards typically follow the same process. Professionals complete an entry form and undergo a series of reviews before being named to an industry “best of” list.

House Beautiful’s annual list of Next Wave designers bucks that trend. So when West Des Moines’ Morris Lare Interior Design Studio was named on the 2024 list, it was completely unexpected for owners Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare.

To anyone who’s seen their work, though, it was no surprise.

“In the annual Color Issue, House Beautiful named 12 design studios from across the country as the most exciting, up-and-coming interior designers of the year,” says Jillian Lare. “We are incredibly honored to be selected for this recognition amongst such a talented field of designers.”

Unlike compilers of many industry award lists, House Beautiful does not accept nominations or applications for its Next Wave recipients. Winners are chosen from a group of designers that the magazine’s editors have been watching and have found worthy of recognition.

“The House Beautiful editorial team meets early in the year,” says Held-Morris. “Each editor offers names of designers they think should be recognized. Then the entire team narrows down that list to the final 12 studios.”

Morris Lare Design wasn’t even aware it was in the running until the firm received an email in March notifying the owners that they’d been named to the 2024 list.

“We had no idea,” says Held-Morris. “The first we knew about it was when they emailed to say they’d like to schedule a photographer to come do a photo shoot for the story.”

Recipients were recognized in the May issue of House Beautiful and were hosted in New York City early that month for a Next Wave event that included tours of the new Warren Street Hotel, the fifth-generation firm Kravet Inc., and the former home and studio of legendary designer Donald Judd. The weekend culminated with a party at the New York Design Center recognizing the 2024 Next Wave recipients, who were each awarded a plaque and given the opportunity to meet other designers and industry professionals from across the country.

“It was a fabulous experience,” Held-Morris says. “There were designers at the New York Design Center party whose work I’ve admired for years. And we got to see the Kravet archives and view the next two years’ design collections, some of which won’t be released until 2026. It was amazing to be part of that.”

Held-Morris and Lare both attended Iowa State University, where they met during graduate school. The two kept in touch but went their separate ways after graduating in 2013.

“I worked full-time for a Des Moines design firm that I’d interned with in college,” says Held-Morris. “Jillian worked for a design firm, taught at ISU, and worked on her own for several years.”

The two share a similar work ethic and approach to design, and they’d talked about working together someday. But it was COVID that spurred the change. The pandemic caused many Americans to rethink how they worked and how they balanced work and life, and that was true of Held-Morris and Lare.

“We both loved working for other studios,” says Held-Morris. “I learned so much in my nine years with that team. I really learned the ropes of the business, not just how to create beautiful designs but the ins and outs of the business side of design.”

Lare had seen multiple facets of the business as well, from education to business management. 2020 reignited that desire to work as a team and create the type of studio the two had always imagined. Morris Lare Interior Design Studio officially opened for business in Valley Junction in 2021.

“Being named by House Beautiful is a real pinch-me moment for both of us,” Lare says. “We had never pursued this kind of recognition, and when we founded our design partnership three years ago, we never imagined we’d be here now.”

Past recipients of the New Wave award include Texas designer Marie Flanigan and the well-known Nate Berkus. But both Held-Morris and Lare say they have no desire to be “famous.”

Held-Morris says, “It’s such an honor to be recognized by the design industry for the quality of our work. But I don’t think the award will change what we do. Both Jillian and I love to collaborate with great clients who want to create a beautiful space that’s unique to them. That won’t change.”

Morris Lare Interior Design Studio has earned a national reputation in only three years because the owners have focused on just that, a collaborative approach that reflects the client, combining the homeowner’s ideas and tastes with the designers’ expertise and talent.

“There are so many things I love about this job, from designing custom cabinetry and millwork to repurposing vintage pieces and giving them new life, mixing fabrics and colors and patterns, just working with clients and helping them incorporate their lives into their homes,” Held-Morris says.

Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare may not have been pursuing the spotlight as they built their studio’s portfolio over the past several years. But when you do great work, you get noticed.

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Middlebrook’s agrihood concept is thriving.

In the five years since Diligent Development broke ground on the Middlebrook neighborhood in Cumming, this quiet suburb south of Des Moines has become the community gathering spaces developers had envisioned from the start.

And this summer that vision continues to grow. “We already have about three dozen single-family homes occupied,” says Kalen Ludwig, Diligent Development’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “And the first townhomes are available now, both one- and two-story styles, with more underway.”

The neighborhood now includes about 100 residents; The Middlebrook Mercantile, a coffee and wine bar and party venue in the renovated schoolhouse; a 2-acre farm and farm stand with a new high-tunnel greenhouse for year-round growing; a 70-acre orchard that includes apple trees, tulip gardens, strawberry fields, a shop, and a restaurant with patio; a community park; hiking trails; and soon a 50-acre meadow with grazing sheep.

“Everything we envisioned for Middlebrook is becoming reality,” says Tim Portzen, Vice President of Diligent Development. “The master plan hasn’t really changed. The farm is right where we planned. The trails are connecting the neighborhood to the retail and farm space. The neighborhoods are being built and occupied. When you drive or walk through the area, you can see that we’re investing in the long-term.”

This summer, dirt began moving on the newest phase of that development vision—extending Cumming’s Main Street retail area to connect the old and the new. “We’re basically adding a full block of mixed-used commercial to tie the Cumming Main Street district and the Middlebrook retail and agrihood area.” Portzen says.

The first phase will feature 5,000 square feet of retail space with 26 apartments above. By the end of 2025, Diligent anticipates completing the second building, another mixed-use space that will anchor the expanded public plaza and back up to green space.

“Peoples Company will be relocating its offices there, and we’ll have boutique retail spaces for local vendors and artisans,” Ludwig says.

“We really want the Main Street district to provide a place where small start-up businesses can find a place to establish themselves without all the overhead of a huge retail space,” says Portzen. “At Middlebrook, they’ll be able to introduce their products to shoppers, and people can just stroll through the district and explore shops they might not discover otherwise.”

Already, the current activities at Middlebrook draw thousands each summer weekend with live music at The Merc and at Wilson’s Orchard and Fridays at the Farm. Wilson’s Orchard, which began in the Iowa City area, anticipates its first Middlebrook apple harvest this fall, but already held an inaugural tulip festival and has begun harvesting the first strawberries.

“The shop also sells apple treats, like donuts and cider, and there’s a restaurant with wood-fired pizzas,” Portzen says.

“The patio is amazing,” adds Ludwig. “Wilson’s is finishing the pergola and putting in vines so you can sit out there in the shade overlooking the hills. It’s just beautiful.”

Middlebrook was also the site of the 2021 HomeShowExpo. Its vision caught on with not only the wider metro audience but with potential homeowners from farther afield.

“We’ve gotten a lot of interest from outside the metro,” Ludwig says. “Homeowners who are moving to the Des Moines area from rural communities in Iowa or people relocating to Iowa from other states are looking for a place that fits their hometown vision. They’re wanting the community feel of a small town with the benefits of a larger metropolitan area.”

Middlebrook offers all of that. Just minutes from West Des Moines and the Jordan Creek shopping area, Cumming remains a small-town community at the outskirts of both Des Moines and Norwalk. The school district is large enough to provide everything families desire while still retaining its local culture.

“For a while, as the market slowed down, builders were hesitant about doing spec homes, but we’re definitely seeing more spec activity,” Ludwig says. “Middlebrook is the perfect location for that because builders can highlight their work and reach a much wider audience. Our inquiries come from all over, not just from local residents.”

Because of the growth south and west of the metro, Middlebrook is really at the heart of both those worlds and offers the amenities of the city and the connection to the country. A new distribution facility and two gas station/convenience stores have opened just off the interstate to the west of Cumming, and Norwalk continues to grow to the east of town.

But Cumming, buffered by Middlebrook’s farm, orchard, and green spaces along the Great Western Bike Trail, remains a thriving pocket of small-town life that represents not just the best of the past but also the best of what the future could look like.

Learn More. To learn more about the latest development activities, available lots, and construction opportunities, check out middlebrookfarm.com/live-in-the-agrihood#4 or contact Kalen Ludwig at Kalen@PeoplesCompany.com.

For the latest on events and seasonal products at Middlebrook, visit:
middlebrookfarm.com

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Authenticity, connection, impact of Gen Z top trends for design in 2024.

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) released its 2024 Trends Outlook, a research report identifying shifts in societal and demographic trends impacting, or predicted to impact, interior design in the year ahead. Key findings in 2024 explore four overarching trends that will impact the design practice in transformative ways: consumers’ desire for connection, the allure of quiet luxury, blurred lines between live-work-and-play, and the intersection of sustainability and wellness with life and business.

Compiled from a broad scan of media sources, as well as the Pew Research Center, the U.S. Census Bureau, along with ASID research and surveys, the report offers a comprehensive view of American life and assesses the implications for the interior design and adjacent communities.

The findings of the 2024 report underscore the importance of authenticity and connection, which serves as an undercurrent to many of the trends affecting design—from generational and familial shifts to work-life balance and quiet luxury. Highlights include a wide range of topics including sustainability, health and wellness, family and home, the future of the workplace, AI, and the impact of Gen Z, among others:

  • Living With & Learning From Gen Z: As the most racially and ethnically diverse generation, those in Gen Z have distinctly different priorities than prior generations. Following recent health-related, political, social, and cultural issues, Gen Z’s experiences over the years have shaped and shifted their desire for genuine connections. Moving forward in 2024, designers should consider this change in consumer culture and use the generation’s evolving empathies and concerns to inform future design decisions.
  • Solo Living & Seeking Connection: The American family has undergone significant change in recent decades, and Americans are experiencing family life in increasingly different ways, including through the rise of one-person households. With solo-living on the rise, Americans are seeking connectedness to loved ones and their communities. Through gathering spaces within the home, considerations of family pets in design, and amusement and “eatertainment,” designers can use their practice to further their clients’ connections in 2024.

The 2024 report also details trends impacting the different sectors of design, highlighting the effects of these trends in both residential and commercial spaces:

  • Wellness in Gathering Spaces: Like many restaurants and bars, kitchens are now using large window walls to connect visually with the outdoors, while living rooms are using retractable window panels to extend spaces onto patios. Beyond increasing the ease of entertaining, connecting both visually and physically with nature has been shown to reduce blood pressure and heart rates and improve engagement, attentiveness and cognitive performance.
  • Aging in Place: More than one in four adults fall each year and the fear of falling can limit older adults, resulting in further physical decline, depression and social isolation. According to the National Institute on Aging, many people want to stay in their own home and maintain independence for as long as possible, and they will need help to retrofit their homes. “Innovative solutions that enable the elderly to remain in their own homes for longer, rather than taking up space in hospitals, hospices and nursing homes” are increasingly important as a significant number of the population ages.
  • Blending Sustainability & Wellness: As companies and designers think holistically about creating environments that support better human health, many are increasingly recognizing the interconnectedness of individual health, community health and environmental stewardships. With many firms implementing tactics in both buildings and employee programs to synthesize sustainability and wellness, we’re seeing an increase in design decisions contributing to personal wellness and building health including better indoor air quality, increased natural light, and other amenities. Sustainability is especially prevalent in 2024 as we tackle extreme weather events with most Americans believing that climate change is harming people in the U.S. and likely to get worse.

Finally, the report provides insight on trends impacting the business side of interior design and how practices are shifting in the year to come. This year’s finding include:

  • AI & Technology have been revolutionizing the design industry: AI has long been utilized in commercial practice, but in 2024 it is gaining usage in residential markets with early adoption from younger designers. Generative AI applications are being used in a variety of applications: organizations are using AI to generate floor plans, design iterations, occupancy, and energy models, coordinated sets of construction documents, specifications and reports; while others are using it to increase autonomy, create experience-driven design and deliver environmental settings that occupants can customize. The personalization of the consumer experience is just the newest means of the impact of AI.
  • Blurring the Lines Between Live-Work-Play: Recent changes in the post-pandemic workplaces have influenced a preference for unique and authentic travel experiences, and blurred the lines of living, working, staying, and playing. As the lines between work and play fade, designers need to be well-versed in cross-specialty design, blending the sectors of design through the incorporation of “eatertainment” spaces in residences, informal living rooms in corporate offices, team workspace and conference rooms in hotels, and more.

The American Society of Interior Designers was founded in 1975, and is the oldest, largest and only multi-disciplinary professional organization for interior designers, interior design students and the manufacturers and suppliers who support the profession.

The Trends Outlook Report is the first of ASID’s three-part Outlook report series; with parts two and three, the Economic Outlook and State of Interior Design, to be released later this year. The three-part research series is generously sponsored by Sherwin-Williams. Available for download, the Trends Report is included in ASID membership.

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