Honeycomb ~ 2011's Pattern of the year

Big, bold patterns reigned in 2010. Everything from wallpaper to bedding to upholstery fabric got a dose of color and some large, graphic print, like my personal favorite, chevron. Among them, one pattern did stand out above the rest and staked its claim as 2010's most popular -- ikat.

The global-inspired pattern is still going strong -- Diane von Fursterburg's incorporated ikat into her new line of fabrics for the home while other designers are featuring it in their ready-to-wear resort collections. But we've been on the lookout for 2011's defining design, and we think another pattern is ready to take the top spot: honeycomb.

Photo: Vanderhurd

We've had enough honeycomb sightings in catalogs and magazine spreads in recent months to go out on a limb and deem this well-established pattern the one to watch in the new year.

We first spotted the pattern on Elle Decor's December 2010/January 2011 "What's Hot!" pages, which feature this hand embroidered Grand Prisme cushion by Vanderhurd. They liken it to the motifs prevalent during the Ottoman empire; we especially love the pink and lime version called Grand Prisme 6.

Photos: West Elm

The designers at West Elm must have been channeling their inner David Hicks when they created their spring 2011 collection. The octagonal pattern that the mid-century designer is known for shows up on a number of new wares, including these Honeycomb napkins, left, and hand-painted Hive vases, right.

Photo: Heath Ceramics

Although it's a match made in 2010, the work of Heath Ceramics and Dwell magazine is pressing on into the new year. Their entire collection of architectural tile features geometric shapes reminiscent of a bee hive, but it's the pattern called Honeycomb, above, that most favors the real thing.

Photo: PSFK.com

Elle Decor's "it" list for 2011 also includes a visit to the Soho Beach House in Miami, a newly-opened private members club, hotel and spa whose bathrooms feature a honeycomb motif on the walls and floors, above.

Photo: CB2

Perhaps it was a predictor of things to come when this bookshelf won the Coup de Coeur award at the 2009 Maison & Objet show in Paris and hit CB2 catalogs in 2010. The Hive Storage Unit let's you build your nest from the floor up with its three honeycomb-shaped shelves that stack on top of one another and stretch as wide as you see fit.