Trend Flash is exclusively for subscribers to The Trend Curve™ newsletter (i.e., Members) with immediate updates from each market and trade show we cover worldwide. Patty Bouley, Editorial Correspondent for The Trend Curve, is in Milan for this important trade-only event. Her top trends are below. For even more from Milan, read the next issue of The Trend Curve. Notable trends:
COLOR
– Caramel, wheat and natural grain colors continued to flourish
– Citrus yellow, grapefruit, and lime led a new tropical mix
– Cantaloupe in soft, warm shades replaced pink
– Watermelon enlivened the brights category
– Green emerged from the rain forest with bark and leaf tints
– While cerulean was the hot blue, water-inspired hues also bubbled up
– Yellow-cast red gained momentum
MATERIALS & TEXTURES
– Light to mid-tone oak strengthened
– Perforated steel made great new tabletops
– Quilting and needlework decorated upholstery arms and cushions
– Leather and fur draped softly over structured chair frames
– Suede returned in a big way for upholstery
– Rag rugs made a comeback
SHAPE & MOTIFS
– Curves, circles, balls, and oval shapes dominated the landscape
– Shaker-inspired simplicity impacted shelving and storage
– The trend toward overlapping pattern touched glass tabletops
– Tropical flowers mixed with linear stripes and plaids
– Photographic-collage patchworks began to appear