As interior designers, we spend a lot of time talking about design styles. While we can appreciate good design in just about any style, we definitely have our favorites.
Because here’s the thing: being a designer doesn’t mean we love everything. We have opinions. Strong ones, occasionally. And after years of designing homes, sourcing materials, navigating trends, and seeing what actually stands the test of time, we’ve learned a thing or two about what we love to bring into a home, and what we could happily leave behind.
So, in the spirit of being honest, here’s our very unofficial PbyP list of the design styles, details, and industry trends we’re here for… and the ones we could do without.
The Design Styles We’ll Always Love
Organic Modern
If there’s one design style that consistently speaks to us, it’s organic modern. Natural materials. Warm wood tones. Stone. Linen. Textural fabrics. Subtle imperfections. Earthy colors. A little greenery. Nothing overly precious.
We love the way organic modern design creates a sense of calm without feeling boring or sterile. It brings the outdoors in, adds visual interest through texture rather than excessive ornamentation, and creates spaces that feel elevated while still being incredibly livable. And perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t rely on a trend to make it beautiful.
Warm Minimalism
We love a space that knows when to stop. Warm minimalism isn’t about emptiness. It’s thoughtful, intentional, and uncluttered without feeling cold. Instead of filling a room simply because there’s space to fill, every piece has a purpose.
The key word here is warm. We’re not talking about stark white walls, one lonely chair, and a room that looks like no one is allowed to breathe in it. We’re talking about restrained design layered with natural materials, soft textures, beautiful lighting, and pieces that bring warmth and personality to the space. Minimal doesn’t have to mean minimal personality.
Modern Mediterranean & California-Inspired Design
Give us texture, natural stone, warm woods, soft plaster, beautiful architectural details, and a color palette that feels like it belongs in the landscape.
We love these styles because they strike that sweet spot between relaxed and refined. They can feel luxurious without feeling formal, and casual without feeling careless. They’re also a great reminder that luxury doesn’t have to mean shiny, overly ornate, or excessive.
Collected, Personal Interiors
This one may not technically be a “style,” but it’s one of our favorite ways to approach design, because we love homes that feel like they have evolved over time.
A vintage piece next to something contemporary. Art that actually means something to the homeowner. A chair that was inherited. Objects collected while traveling. Materials that develop character as they age. The goal isn’t to make everything match. It’s to make everything belong.
The best homes don’t feel like they were purchased from one showroom in one afternoon. They feel personal, layered, and reflective of the people who live there.
The Design Styles We Could Do Without
We’re not here to declare that certain design choices are “wrong.” Design is subjective, and ultimately, your home should make you happy. But there are a few industry habits and trends we wouldn’t mind seeing less of.
Designing for the Photo Instead of the Person
We love an Instagramable moment, but a home is not a photo studio. If a room looks incredible in a photograph but is uncomfortable to sit in, impossible to maintain, or completely disconnected from the people who live there, we’ve missed the point.
Good design needs to function in real life. Your coffee table should be usable. Your sofa should be comfortable. Your kitchen should work for the way you actually cook. And your home should support your everyday life, not just look good on Instagram.
The “Everything Beige” Approach
We love neutrals. We live in Arizona after all. But neutral doesn’t have to mean devoid of personality. There is a huge difference between a sophisticated, layered neutral palette and a room where every surface is some variation of beige because beige is “safe.”
Color doesn’t have to mean bright or overwhelming. Sometimes it’s a deep green cabinet, a warm terracotta accent, a piece of art, or a beautiful wood tone. A home can be calm and have character.
Copy-and-Paste Luxury
Luxury design should feel personal. So when every high-end home starts featuring the same boucle chair, the same oversized pendant, the same marble, the same neutral palette, and the same perfectly styled coffee table… we’re going to have a few questions.
Luxury isn’t about owning the things everyone else owns. It’s about quality, craftsmanship, intention, and creating an environment that feels uniquely yours. We’d rather design something that feels unmistakably you than something that could be photographed in a showroom and mistaken for someone else’s home.
Trends for the Sake of Trends
Trends aren’t inherently bad. In fact, they can be fun. They can inspire creativity, introduce new materials, and give a space a fresh perspective. But following a trend simply because it’s trending? That’s where we lose interest.
We always encourage our clients to ask: Do I actually love this, or do I just keep seeing it everywhere? Because there is a big difference.
If you genuinely love something, by all means, let’s use it. But if you’re choosing it because the internet told you it’s currently “in,” there’s a good chance you’ll feel differently about it a few years from now.
The PbyP Perspective
At the end of the day, we don’t believe there is one perfect design style. We don’t believe every home needs to be organic modern. And we certainly don’t believe your home needs to look like a picture you’ve saved on Pinterest.
We believe your home should reflect you. Your lifestyle. Your personality. Your priorities. Your memories. The way you entertain. The way you relax. The way your family moves through the space every single day.
Our job isn’t to put you into a design-style box. Our job is to take what you love, understand what you need, challenge you when necessary, and turn it into a cohesive, elevated space that feels like home. Because trends will come and go and styles will evolve. But thoughtful design with good materials, good proportions, good function, and a strong understanding of the people who live there? That never goes out of style.
Not sure what your design style is, or how to translate all those saved Pinterest images into a cohesive home? That’s where we come in. Let’s create a space that feels like you, not a trend.