Designer Amy Troute on Home Trends Shaping Up at Caldera Springs This Year

Amy Troute, a trusted designer for numerous homeowners at Caldera Springs, is deeply attuned to the latest trends in residential design. Nestled across 1000+ acres of forests, lakes, trails, and streams, our premier Pacific Northwest community provides an ideal backdrop for exploring styles that seamlessly integrate indoor and outdoor living. We had the pleasure of sitting down with Amy to discuss the latest design trends emerging at Caldera Springs this year. From low-maintenance outdoor furnishings to the use of sustainable materials, Amy shares her insights on creating stylish yet relaxing spaces that blend with our picturesque natural surroundings — all below.

What are some key trends you’re seeing in home design for 2024, particularly at Caldera Springs?

Easy outdoor living is a hot topic for our clients as we head into summer. Caldera Springs invites you outdoors year-round so we always recommend cushionless outdoor furniture for low-maintenance, brush-off, easy-dry seating. That’s why we source furnishings with sling or woven technologies that are sleek, comfortable, and ready to host outdoor occasions any time of year.

Can you share any specific projects you’re working on at Caldera Springs that exemplify these trends?

We just finished a beautiful vacation home on Sunstone Loop that shows off easy-care outdoor furnishings. We placed black composite Adirondack chairs around a roaring fire pit, and added a uniquely sculptural (and oh-so-comfortable) outdoor sofa, padded sling chaise lounges, and an aluminum dining table with woven chairs. 

How important is it to balance these trendy elements with timeless design principles in a place like Caldera Springs?

I think the “trend” is more about easy living than a particular style. Our focus is on beautiful, low maintenance pieces that function well regardless of the season.

Photo courtesy of Kayla McKenzie Photography

Are there any challenges or unique considerations you face when designing for a community like Caldera Springs, with its natural surroundings and amenities?

Such great care goes into the exteriors of the homes in the community, and we try to impart 

the same sensitivity in the furnishings and surfaces throughout. Many of the homes in Caldera Springs are vacation homes or rentals, so we pay special attention to form and function that ensures easy arrival and departure, allowing guests to focus on fun while they’re here! Flooring that stands up to wear and tear, upholstery that is stain resistant, well-appointed mud rooms, and plenty of outdoor seating allow homeowners and guests to simply relax and enjoy their down time.

What advice would you give to homeowners looking to incorporate these trends into their own homes, particularly in a way that feels authentic to the Caldera Springs aesthetic?

We recommend homeowners incorporate colors that complement the neutral and natural palette of the area. Views are found out every window in Caldera Springs, and black or darker tones in outdoor furnishings won’t interrupt the scenery like brighter colors can.

Are there any other trends or design elements you’re particularly excited about exploring in your work at Caldera Springs this year?

The “mountain modern” aesthetic continues to be featured prominently in Caldera Springs, and our clients are enjoying natural stone surfaces like quartzite, lighter rift white oak cabinetry, and a raw, unfinished aesthetic in structural beams and siding. We’re immersed in all shades of green, from upholstery to wall color, and excited about the “green” PET technology of hard-wearing, cozy area rugs made from recycled plastic bottles.  

What are the top five design trends you think will never go out of style?

1. Natural elements and texture (real stone, real wood, and loads of natural light)
2. Wallpaper – from rich texture to bold pattern and everything in between
3. Biophilic design that highlights natural elements and brings the outdoors inside
4. Thoughtful and sustainable design, from incorporating recycled materials and vintage elements to investing in furnishings made to last
5. Mom was right – thoughtful storage encourages calm spaces; “A place for everything and everything in its place.”

Photo courtesy of Chris Murray Productions

Rapid Fire Recommendations

Best piece to invest in: The things you frequently touch (faucets, cabinet hardware, lamps, bedding, towels)

Best piece to buy vintage: Case goods (dressers, accent tables, trunks)

Best wall color right now: Sherwin-Williams 6208 Pewter Green or Benjamin Moore Hot Chocolate CC-484

Best coffee table accent: A low plant beside a stack of uncovered coffee table books

Best place to find design inspiration: Smith Rock

 

Interested in building at Caldera Springs and enlisting Amy Troute’s expertise? Get in touch with our real estate team at sales@calderasprings.com or 541.593.3000 today.