ICFF: day one

Finally. I don't heart technology today.  Especially when it outwits me.

I'm in NYC for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). I've been coming for the last five years. But this my first visit since the start of my blogging life. And sure as the rain we've had here in the Big Apple, I was cursing my computer, my camera, my image editing software, and my own thickheadedness as I tried desperately to make my first post from the show. I was thwarted but survived.

So, I've vented. That's done. Now on with the show. It opened on Saturday to, from what I can tell, a good sized first day audience. Day One is usually a media frenzy. The interior design and product design glitterati walk the aisles as cameras flash. The first hour or so, I'm completely overwhelmed. For the uninformed, I get overwhelmed at Home Depot. But I do here what I do at any big name grocery store or home improvement center, I start at the far right side and walk every aisle in a calm and orderly fashion. By lunchtime I have my bearings.

The big trend this year still seems to be eco-friendly furniture, fixtures, and accessories. Also popular this year are screens, room dividers, and free-standing fireplaces. Rugs, wallpaper, and lighting are still hot, lo these many years. And though my photos might not illustrate it, it's obvious many manufactures and designers are still creating ultra-modern items with fat price tags. In turn, the trickle-down from this elite list provides inspiration to those in the trade and the upstart product designers, as well as an encouraging wink to resellers that perhaps the economy isn't irretrievably in the can.

If you've managed to stay entertained this long (for lack of any other stimulus), allow me to briefly hit the highlights of what I thought were good looking new furnishings suitable for the store and design clients.

These ceramic garden stools were perfectly scaled and glazed. Designed by Tucker Robbins of New York.  I stopped short of ordering them for the store (though I might look for something similar), as the retail price would have been over $900.00. Nevertheless, a stunning adaptation of an Asian garden stool, appropriately priced for higher-end clients.

The lights by London-based Tay Lighting are not entirely new. I saw some of them last year, but they still amaze me. Each are produced by hand with exsquite craftsmanship. These I would consider selling at the store; prices start at roughly $350.00 for the tube shape.

Large scale furniture is not something we can handle in our little store, but small pieces do exceptionally well. These petite painted metal stools/tables (I love convertible or multi-functional furniture) were a big find. They easily hit that scandinasian chord I often refer to. German firm Vitra, a major player in contemporary furniture production, working with every rockstar designer and architect in the last fifty years still has sass and class. The poor twenty-something girl in the booth did not have a price, but I'll be digging deeper for details. They are also available in a weird, prune color. I'm not sure if it was bad can of powder-coat paint on the samples or what, but that was a miss for me.

Also from Vitra, were these little dim-sums cum pouffes. A little savory and a little sweet, constructed with multi-media approach to home fashion. Homey without feeling too church bazaar. 

The MYTO chair is a small miracle in design collaboration. Chemical company BASF (Germany) first commissioned KGID to design an application for their Ultradur® High Speed material. A virtually indestructible material used in the auto industry. Konstantin Grcic heads his team along with Italian furniture company PLANK to build a plastic cantilevered, highly-engineered, indoor/outdoor, physics-defying chair. Not only is it strong, comfortable, and available in several colors, it's production is safer for the environment than traditional methods of manufacturing. The MYTO chair would retail for about $375.00.

Comments

[Wexfordgirl]

Wow, I adore those little dim sum poof things. I can't wait to see what you pick for the store.

[my love for you.]

i too love the dim sum pof thingys! adorable. love that you catologued your trip. where has blogging been w/out you?

[Outdoor Garden Furniture]

Awesome decor.. I really like all the pics and I wish I could have the same at my house.. I was looking for such unique decor.. I am glad I visited here and come to know about it..