the international authority on color and design trends in home furnishings
Vigor and optimism pervade the 4 key trends for the 2012 Ambiente International Trade Fair. They will have instant appeal and be socially and ecologically correct. ELECTRIC ROMANCE If a downturned economy has led to the fiscal and ecological wisdom of “fix it yourself,” the contrasting and coordinating colors of this self-confident trend has put “mix it yourself” in the forefront. Sturdy and dependable shades of brown and gray are … [Read more...]
Everyone wants familiar icons to feel new. Michel Taillis Creation updated the Christmas tree with animated bears. Fun—and a bit creepy. (Michelle Lamb is at Christmasworld in Frankfurt Germany and will have much to report in our upcoming Trend Album™ Christmasworld 2011 out in just a few weeks. This afternoon she sent the staff this video shot for us to post). … [Read more...]
The Outdoor_Indoor show-within-a-show at Maison & Objet is all about the furniture, lighting, pots and dividers consumers use to create outdoor environments. This year, many assortments exuded a sense of maturity and you can read all about this event in Trend Album™ What’s In Outdoors for 2012™. Forms were more practical and less experimental. Features expanded to meet the needs of consumers who are accustomed to the same comforts … [Read more...]
The addition of yet another building in the Maison & Objet trade fair allowed the integration of Meuble Paris, a furniture-based show that has run concurrently with Maison & Objet for years. So, while Maison & Objet was already considered one of the world’s premier trade fairs for home décor, it is even larger now. The result of this integration was a new rhythm to parts of the show that helped even ongoing products look fresh. There was … [Read more...]
The William Yeoward stand at Maison & Objet was filled with delicious crystal accessories in an extensive range of colors. But among all the options, Mr. Yeoward sees three as most directional. He shared his trend-forward list with me on the trade-fair floor yesterday. The first color of note is slate, a mid-tone gray that Mr. Yeoward says is replacing chocolate. Next comes Tea, a rose-infused hue with enough sophistication to make it feel … [Read more...]
One of the most interesting aspects of the Tendence trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany is the number of artist-produced products that use everyday materials in unexpected ways. Pictured is one of my favorites from a company called Filo-Design that I visited in Hall 11. These bags are made of Astroturf. Fun! … [Read more...]
While perusing the gifts and consumer goods at Messe Frankfurt’s upcoming Tendence trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany, don’t miss the opportunity to check out the new talent in the Loft section. This special area showcases up-and-coming home-décor designers who have translated their youthful energy into exciting products. These students and graduates are guaranteed to delight and surprise you with their new slants on style and function. Of … [Read more...]
Tabletop products take up a lot of the visual field at Ambiente in Frankfurt, Germany. But there are lots of other products, too. For example, pots and pans make up an important category that is in transition. One major shift, of course, is the eco trend. Makers are offering everything from water-based ceramic coatings to layered-mineral coatings that require very little energy in production. Color is also changing the look. Pots and pans … [Read more...]
I love clever new product responses to simple needs. Like using loose tea leaves. My favorite tea infuser right now is called The Teastick, from Gamila Company. They designed the most elegant solution for loose tea that I have ever seen. And it’s made of BPA free material. I use a Blue version from the Gems collection at home, but I gave both Blue and Red versions to every one of my sisters for Christmas (all 6 of them are also tea … [Read more...]
I love having kids that are a bit older (mine are 15 and 21 years old), but every now and then I see an item that makes me wish they were little again. At Ambiente, the world’s largest trade fair for consumer goods in Frankfurt, Germany, the Cupcake Corer & Decorating Set from Cuisipro got me wishing that the kids and I still baked treats together. They would both have loved this as kids! Admittedly, this product could have a name … [Read more...]
