Stephen Thompson, a designer in Mississippi in the southern United States, has put together a fascinating forecast of design trends for 2009. His conclusion: “If there is one overall theme coming for 2009, it might best be called SlowTec - a simple back-to-basics style that is all about less speed for better living - and a focus on quality craftsmanship and eco consciousness.”

Underneath this lovely slow umbrella, Thompson predicts lots of global influences, patchwork, rich color, wood, vintage items, and snowflakes, among other trends.  And though Thompson doesn’t talk about scale, maybe Sarah Susanka’s dream of the Not-So-Big-House will finally take hold, making all those mega-mansions suddenly appear as ridiculous and embarassing as we always suspected they were. Most of these design trends will fit perfectly in a human-scaled, size-appropriate dwelling.