Bed, bath décor returns to tradition

Most everyone wants to know what's in and what's out, what's hot and what's not. That's why trend spotting is such a popular pastime. Whether tracking the lives of celebrities, the fashions of the times or the world of interiors, there may be no such thing as a "new idea," but what goes around can once again come around with a fresh new twist.

"Coming after the more austere interior styles we've been seeing and living with over the last few years, there appears to be a return to softer traditional looks that have been updated to fit today's mood and lifestyle," said designer Elaine Griffin of Elaine Griffin Interior Design located in New York City.

Adding a distinctive new brand of hospitality to this traditional design segment is Kmart's new private label Abbey Hill collection. With sophisticated fabrics, a wide range of colors and attention to detail, it's perfect for those people who appreciate quality choices at affordable prices and want to make a classic statement.

At-home hotel

Carisa Perez-Fuentes, owner and creative director of DesignStudio3b in New York City and Miami, Fla., and runner up in the Bravo series "Top Design," thinks the hotel aesthetic is one of the hottest trends in bedroom design at the moment.

"People are starting to realize that they can live like they're staying at a high-end hotel while remaining in their own homes," she says. "The look is always elegant, uncluttered and ultraluxurious."

And it's so easy to achieve with a choice of six comforter sets from the Abbey Hill collection. Covered in silky, jacquard-woven designs and finished with delicate embroidery and graceful trims, they can be purchased as a coordinated collection with pillow shams and bed skirts ($91.99 to $114.99) or as individual items, including 12 patterned and solid 250-thread-count sheet sets ($29.99 to $57.99 and $22.99 to $57.99, respectively).

According to a company spokesperson, the collection's options were designed to make decorating simple.

Abbey Hill's range of color choices, from calming pastels to soft earth tones, work well with the color trends for 2008. Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Rohm and Haas Paint Quality Institute said, "Green may just become the newest 'neutral' reflecting a growing eco-consciousness and social responsibility.

"The sophisticated glamour of black, soft whites, creams, metallics and high sheen will be seen enriching fabrics, while 'crewel' hues like cranberry red and warm brown help to create a nurturing and caring environment," she added.

For those who want to pile on the color, the collection's versatile decorative pillows ($14.99) provide a multitude of different shapes, sizes, stripes, patterns and textures that will pull every look together effortlessly.

Spa effect

Designer and author Roderick Shade of Roderick N. Shade Interior Design based in Harlem, N.Y., says many of his clients are asking for "sumptuous home sanctuaries that look and feel like luxury spas." This space has become a personal retreat where family members can spend quiet time. Included in the amenities are:

Use of glass. Seamless glass-enclosed showers provide a clean aesthetic and open environment to showcase decorative stone and tile, while a wide range of glass sinks showcase the interplay of light and water in any bath or powder room.

Performance showers. With digital controls and the touch of a button, you can customize your bathing experience to suit your mood. Add music or ambient lighting and change your options from an invigorating massage to relaxing steam.

The vanity, redefined. Rich woods with moisture-resistant finishes are the new "green" materials of choice, transforming the vanity into a piece of fine furniture.

Sleek hardware. Heated towel bars are adding a new Euro dimension to today's bathrooms. In cabinet knobs and drawer pulls, the softer tone of brushed nickel is the metal of choice.

Soft textures. Whether the look is traditional or ultramodern, it's important to provide plush, absorbent towels, rugs and accessories that suit the style and make a statement.

The Abbey Hill collection's signature bath assortment can enhance a spa bath. With a choice of two types of absorbent, all-cotton towels (starting at $2.99 each for wash to $14.99 each for bath), available in 16 soft pastels to vibrant shades, and a host of soft coordinates from rugs ($7.99 to $18.99) to shower curtains ($24.99), all that's needed to complete a warm, classic look are a selection of coordinating accessories like wastebaskets, lotion soap bottles and tissue boxes.

Information courtesy Kmart