Domestic Shows

Up-Scale Design

December 8, 2011 By Michelle Lamb

For the past several seasons, the words tiny and small have been the best options for describing designs and fabric. But introductions at the High Point furniture market indicated that this is all about to change. In a striking reversal, the newest size was large, bold and more motif-focused than pattern based. Moreover, all design categories seemed equally interested in exploring the potential of a countertrend in scale. Even though produce-sack fabrics had less exposure, vintage accessories Continue reading...

Filed Under: Current, Domestic Shows, Featured, High Point Furniture Mkt

Keeping It Simple

October 14, 2011 By Michelle Lamb

Those of us who track trends keep our eyes open to new colors, patterns and materials at trade shows. We also take notice of words that are repeated in our conversations there. When product concepts and words converge, the message is even more powerful. At the Gift Fair in New York, simplicity came through both design and strategy in a message that was loud and clear. On the product front, a two-color trend was afoot. It included everything from Lawrence McRae’s grillwork-patterned lamp bases Continue reading...

Filed Under: Current, Featured, NY Int'l Gift

Tribal Overtones in High Point

April 21, 2010 By Michelle Lamb

At Maison & Objet in Paris this January, I saw a fabric collection that I loved at Andrew Martin. The look was tribal, yet also whimsical. Icons included naively formed animals, birds and people, abstracted geometrics and American and British flags. They coordinated with thin stripes in ticking personalities (also on-trend), animal skins and worn-look plains. Those fabrics were everywhere from the high end to medium-high price points this week at the High Point furniture market. Hickory Continue reading...

Filed Under: Current, Domestic Shows, High Point Furniture Mkt

Innovations at Coverings

May 25, 2009 By Michelle Lamb

For more than 20 years, Coverings has been the predominant event for the ceramic tile and natural stone industry in the Western Hemisphere. Jennifer Pinto, Editorial Correspondent for The Trend Curve, was in Chicago for the 2009 event, and has written extensively about it for the June issue. She also contributed these observations for Connecting The Dots: Innovation had a starring role at Coverings 2009. Especially noteworthy was the introduction of 3 and 4 mm pressed porcelain tiles Continue reading...

Filed Under: Domestic Shows

Great Looking Neutrals

April 23, 2009 By Michelle Lamb

Pearson did some amazing thing with neutrals at the High Point Furniture Market. That’s where I am today. I arrived about 3 in the afternoon and spent the next four hours visiting showrooms—including the 8th-floor Pearson location. By using metallic highlights, subtle contrast and chameleon personalities (The Trend Curve created a forecast of 20 Chameleon Neutrals that you can buy in the Trend Store), Jennifer McConnell, Pearson's top creative, once again made Pearson’s showroom Continue reading...

Filed Under: Domestic Shows

Big Design Week 2009

April 3, 2009 By Michelle Lamb

It was only upon returning from giving seminars in Quebec City on Friday night that I finally realized that I must be over the jet lag I ended up with from the week before. I got it by going back and forth to Bangkok to give a lecture about U.S. color and design trends during the Big Design Week 2009 event. I was one of six speakers from around the globe who was hired to talk to Thai companies about color and design trends. The others hailed from Russia, Japan, UAE, Latin America and Continue reading...

Filed Under: Domestic Shows

Tony Duquette Collection Debuts At Baker

October 25, 2008 By Michelle Lamb

Looking back on the High Point Furniture Market that I attended earlier this week, one of my favorite stops was at Baker. That’s because I met a charming man named Hutton Wilkinson who showed me a collection that I fell for at first sight. Wilkinson spent an important part of his career working for and collaborating with the late design icon Tony Duquette, culminating in a business partnership in 1994. That relationship included purchasing part of Duquette’s business, along with the Continue reading...

Filed Under: High Point Furniture Mkt

So Many Things to Love in High Point!

October 20, 2008 By Michelle Lamb

My second day in the High Point Furniture Market included a mixed schedule. It began with the Press Breakfast. The panel discussion was “The Rise of the Interior Designer.” This is a timely topic given the fact that interior designers are making their biggest impact every in home décor sales. I do believe that the potential for professional designers has never been better than it is today. I also saw companies from mid-tier to high end. Sometimes I am asked why I spend any time at all Continue reading...

Filed Under: High Point Furniture Mkt

Century Furniture Goes Green

October 20, 2008 By Michelle Lamb

If anyone was worried that the soft economy meant a full-stop mentality for the furniture market, they can put those thoughts to rest. There are as many new introductions here as there have even been, and maybe a few more. On my third day in the High Point Furniture Market I saw several that were noteworthy, but the one I want to tell you about came from Century. Century is one of my favorite stops every market. This company always has well-design, well-colored and well thought-out products Continue reading...

Filed Under: High Point Furniture Mkt

Housewares With Style

June 2, 2008 By Michelle Lamb

For years, there has been a perception that Housewares products were relegated to last-place status in the world of trend. While this may have been true a decade or so ago, it is far from so now. I thought about this when I was in London last week and saw the fabulous egg separator from Typhoon (see post on May 30). Then I reflected back to the Housewares Show, where Editorial Correspondent Chandra Palermo found so many interesting and unique items (you can read about the most Continue reading...

Filed Under: Domestic Shows, Housewares Show