This Is the New “It” Pattern of Small/Cool

While trends come and go, some things truly stand the test of time. But when a classic meets a trendy twist, that’s where the style magic really happens.

Take checkerboard, for example. The timeless pattern of contrasting squares has never really gone out of style (and everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent loves it). But as you can see from this year’s Small/Cool NYC, some fresh takes never hurt. Let’s take a look at how some of the talented designers updated this trend.

In Jenna Pilant’s “Walls That Wow” dining room, the green and white checkerboard plates have an easy, painterly quality that add some whimsy to the table. The pattern is even mimicked in the back wall of the space, where each of the cubes of the bookcase is painted a different bold color.

In Sourya Venumbaka’s “Bespoke Style” room, not only is the checkerboard wallpaper hand-stamped (yeah, that’s a DIY!), the mustard and cream checkerboard pillows from Revival Rugs pair wonderfully with the compact yellow loveseat.

The most classic of the Small/Cool takes on this trend, Jordan Ferney’s “Happy@Home” room puts the checkerboard on the floor, but with a soft, shaggy twist. No need to retile the floor when you can just roll out this rug from Urban Outfitters, especially when the color combo is so bold and, dare I say, happy.