Fashion in the House

Want to know the hottest trends in design? Look to the runways.

Interior designers obsessed with outfitting clients' homes with up-to-the-minute interiors have a secret: Study last year's fashion shows. The looks paraded down runways in Paris, Milan, and New York generally take a year to crop up in mainstream home decor, but we've already spotted home items inspired by spring 2009 looks (seen on runways last fall) in showrooms at the Boston Design Center and at upscale shops. Keep an eye out: Soon these trends -- mixing black and white, decorating with rocks and minerals, and embracing metallic golds -- will trickle into less expensive retailers near you.

Marni Elyse Katz is a writer in Boston. Send comments to designing@globe.com.

BLACK AND WHITE

Fashion designers showed an abundance of black and white for spring, including pieces in zany patterns, like this look from Moschino. Interior designers are celebrating stark black and white palettes, too, for just about every room in the house. This combination is most often seen in sharp silhouettes, be they dining chairs, dressers, or in the graphic patterns of upholstery and pillows.

Passion chair designed by Philippe Starck for Cassina, $1,322 each;

Montage, 75 Arlington Street, Boston, 617-451-9400, montageweb.com

Best in Show flocked wallpaper by Osborne & Little, $344 per roll;

Osborne & Little, Boston Design Center, 617-737-2927, osborneandlittle.com

Planum Furniture six-drawer white-lacquer dresser with black-lacquer base, $8,789; Robert Allen, Boston Design Center, 617-482-6600, robertallendesign.com

ROCK ON

Just as designers like Marc Jacobs and Donna Karan (Karan's look at left) adorned the slender necks of runway models with necklaces fashioned from raw minerals, interior designers are using earthy items to accessorize abodes. We're seeing rock-crystal lamps and sconces, cool coasters, and some highly texturized "granite" wallcoverings.

Brazilian agate coasters, $12.50 each;

Acquire, 61 Salem Street, Boston, 857-362-7380, acquireboutique.com

Loomis Zaffiro sconce, $4,000;

the Bright Group, Boston Design Center, 617-345-8017, thebrightgroup.com

emperor beaded fringe Trim from the Dynasties Collection, by Samuel & Sons, price upon request;

the Martin Group, Boston Design Center, 617-951-2526, martingroupinc.com

GOLD MINE

Nugget knowledge shone brightly on many spring-collection runways, even from designers better known for restraint; this metallic ensemble is by Prada. Home designers play along, showcasing gold in all incarnations, from mirrored glass to silken threads, creating an effect that's glitzy but not gaudy. Used sparingly, a gold piece here or there provides punch to otherwise staid tableaus. We're particularly fond of these accessories.

Handmade clay vases (in silver and gold) designed by Paola Navone, $480;

JFS Design Studio, 450 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 617-292-6299, jfsdesigninc.com

Dibbern Gold Leaf dinnerware, $65 to $220 per piece;

Lekker Home, 1317 Washington Street, Boston, 617-542-6464, lekkerhome.com

Sreepech Tibetan rug, $75 per square foot;

Landry & Arcari, 333 Stuart Street, Boston, 617-399-6500, landryandarcari.com