The Lofts of Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Photography by Joe Angeles/Washington University and James Byard/Washington University

We asked local design professionals to share their opinions on ceiling medallions. These decorative moldings have been gracing ceilings for hundreds of years, but are they still a widely used design element? Here's what the professionals had to say.

For the first time ever, PANTONE, the industry authority on color, has named two colors for their annual Color of the Year. Rose Quartz and Serenity offer a softer take on color. Striking a balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and a cooler tranquil blue, this year’s Color of the Year is Rose Quartz and Serenity.

Quatrefoil designs are popping up everywhere in home accessories. You’ve probably seen the fancy shape hundreds of times and thought, “what is that?” Defined as a type of decorative framework consisting of a symmetrical shape which forms the outline of four partially overlapping circles, quatrefoil patterns are gracing fabrics, wallpapers, mirrors, lamps and more.

one. Structure cream chain link, by Brewster Wallpaper, available at The Fabric Co.

The right blend of color, texture and pattern in fabrics and wallpaper can create a stunning scheme. LuLu Belles Fabrics is stocked with thousands of yards of the most current fabrics and trims to help pull together the right looks for your home. Punch up a room with the perfect pillow, drapery, bedding or furniture fabric.

Kat Kissick painting is a roar of color that wakes you up and draws you in. Vibrant acrylic paints and markers are layered on wooden panels – and, sometimes, skate board decks – then carefully edited away in a process Kissick calls “create and destroy.” Her subjects aren’t so much painted as they are revealed, with stories that pivot from whimsical to wary. The occasional white line lends contrast, but Kissick is clear that she doesn’t work with neutrals: “My art is for people who understand color and let it speak to them,” Kissick says.