JoAnn Guidry

Here’s a look at some of the emerging trends in 2025 to help you create the home of your dreams. HYGGE & WABI-SABI = JAPANDI Combine Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian hygge, toss in some wabi-sabi and you end up with Japandi. Sleek, functional and elegant, Japanese design apparently pairs well with Scandinavian hygge, the practice of finding comfort and coziness in friendship and in the simplest things.

Not even being attacked by a pack of captive coyotes could diminish Aspen Olmstead’s love of animals. Instead, she responded by creating the Ocala-based Quality of Life Rehab & Foster Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. “I grew up with dogs, cats, rabbits and reptiles. When I was a kid, my favorite place to visit was Sarasota Jungle Gardens,” says Olmstead, 48, who moved from Sarasota to Ocala when she was 12. “I worked with animals from an early age in various capacities.

Charlita Rae Whitehead’s abstract fiber artwork is a revelation in yarn. A prime example is the aptly named Bliss, a 3-by-3-foot visual delight of color, texture, unintentional heart shapes and even a little sparkle. Varying shades of purple, red, teal, brown and hot pink get your attention from across the room. Up close, the different types of yarn, including wool, cotton and acrylic, intricately woven together in different pile heights, create mesmerizing topographies.