2011 ICFF Trend Report

Contributed by Lori Dolnick

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York draws more than 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries and showcases the best in contemporary design. It’s a high-energy show that’s well attended by the design community from students to celebrity designers – all on the prowl for the latest new products, colors and concepts. Here’s what we saw:

High Style, Recycled

IceStone is known for their green, durable surfaces - made from 100% recycled glass and cement and certified at the Gold level of Cradle to Cradle™.

Sail Away in Comfort

With its sail-like shape, the Spinnaker chair simulates the feeling of floating on a cloud. And you can customize it to fit your décor — they will even use your old sails for added saltiness.

Iconic Chef Style, Redefined

BLANCO’s CULINA faucet offers a refined chef’s style with an innovative magnetic hook up feature. It’s easier to clean and fits beautifully into today’s more sophisticated transitional kitchen styles.

Tools at Schools

Tools at Schools is a learning partnership program between Bernhardt Design, Aruliden and The School at Columbia University. The result is a series of school furniture designed by kids, for kids. www.tools-at-schools.com

Softlight Clouds

Molo’s award winning soft collection of flexible walls, building blocks, seating and lighting exemplifies their exploration of production processes and experiential space making.

Modern Outdoor Living

Herman Miller's Eames Aluminum Group returns to its roots by creating a new outdoor collection that received the ICFF Editors' Choice Award for Best Outdoor Furniture. www.hermanmiller.com

To Infinity and Beyond

A first of its kind, this new tile drain from Infinity Drain incorporates tile or natural surface material to make the grate literally disappear from view.

Sculpted Relaxation

Hand sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, the EAU Soaking Tub, by Stone Forest will make a stunning visual statement in any contemporary bathroom.

Functional Art

Lladró offers their new Metropolis collection that melds avant-garde building shapes with functional objects such as lamps, vases, mirrors and boxes.

Shapely Washbasin

Too pretty to be called a bath sink, the Laufen ILBAGNOALESSI One Tuna sink offers graceful curves in a white or warm grey finish. 

Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.

2011 ICFF Trend Report

Contributed by Lori Dolnick

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York draws more than 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries and showcases the best in contemporary design. It’s a high-energy show that’s well attended by the design community from students to celebrity designers – all on the prowl for the latest new products, colors and concepts. Here’s what we saw:

High Style, Recycled

IceStone is known for their green, durable surfaces - made from 100% recycled glass and cement and certified at the Gold level of Cradle to Cradle™.

Sail Away in Comfort

With its sail-like shape, the Spinnaker chair simulates the feeling of floating on a cloud. And you can customize it to fit your décor — they will even use your old sails for added saltiness.

Iconic Chef Style, Redefined

BLANCO’s CULINA faucet offers a refined chef’s style with an innovative magnetic hook up feature. It’s easier to clean and fits beautifully into today’s more sophisticated transitional kitchen styles.

Tools at Schools

Tools at Schools is a learning partnership program between Bernhardt Design, Aruliden and The School at Columbia University. The result is a series of school furniture designed by kids, for kids. www.tools-at-schools.com

Softlight Clouds

Molo’s award winning soft collection of flexible walls, building blocks, seating and lighting exemplifies their exploration of production processes and experiential space making.

Modern Outdoor Living

Herman Miller's Eames Aluminum Group returns to its roots by creating a new outdoor collection that received the ICFF Editors' Choice Award for Best Outdoor Furniture. www.hermanmiller.com

To Infinity and Beyond

A first of its kind, this new tile drain from Infinity Drain incorporates tile or natural surface material to make the grate literally disappear from view.

Sculpted Relaxation

Hand sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, the EAU Soaking Tub, by Stone Forest will make a stunning visual statement in any contemporary bathroom.

Functional Art

Lladró offers their new Metropolis collection that melds avant-garde building shapes with functional objects such as lamps, vases, mirrors and boxes.

Shapely Washbasin

Too pretty to be called a bath sink, the Laufen ILBAGNOALESSI One Tuna sink offers graceful curves in a white or warm grey finish. 

Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.

Five Trends to Watch at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

By Lori Dolnick

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, NV was a leaner exhibition – a reflection of the economy and home building sales no doubt. But traffic and designer interest was brisk for the exhibitors present – hopefully a positive sign for the future. KBIS is one of my favorite shows. Homeowners really invest in their kitchens and KBIS is the place to see what’s new, what’s trending and where the kitchen of the future is going. Here are some of the trends I saw and hot new products coming out this year.

1.    Transitional or New Traditional
Transitional or New Traditional is here to stay - a real style in its own right. From TOTO’s new Vivian faucet

to Hardware Resources’ Lyn Design Bath Vanities in Chocolate – what’s old is new again.

Today’s Traditional offers cleaner lines, less ornamentation and a more updated, sophisticated feel.


2.    Personal Style
We’re not designing for resale value. We’re designing for ourselves – for the long haul.

Top Knobs launched their unique new Passport Collection at KBIS – inspired by global landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, Victoria Falls, Sydney Opera House, Tower Bridge and the Great Wall of China. What could be more personal than decorating with a souvenir from somewhere special? It’s what we all do when we travel, but now you can get a free sample shipped to your home without going anywhere at all. Design meets destination.

Another example… someone at the show told me to visit the Scotsman Ice Systems booth because they love to chew ice. You can’t get more personal than that! Me – I like the big cubes in my water. But if someone needs them small and chewy – this would be the system for them. Personal taste is a trend that is hot right now.

3.    Personal Luxury

If KBIS is any indicator – toilets are the next hot new must-have gadget. INAX’s latest offering, for example, plays music, lights your way at night, heats the seat, offers a personal cleansing massage plus automatically opens and closes. Plasmacluster technology cleans the air with antibacterial ions. Never mind its advanced flushing technology, green features and sophisticated design. So when I was asked would I pay $4,800 for a luxury spa toilet, my answer was simple, “it shuts the seat?” Worth the price of admission for me!

My kids did ask if it knows to open for a boy or a girl. The INAX representative told me it opens the lid for girls. Sorry fellas, you’ll have to lift the seat on your own.


4.    Design Matters

From Michael Graves’ teapots to Poggenpohl’s Porsche kitchen, branded design partnerships are not new. Design and Designers matter to homeowners. And the elements do not have to be expensive to offer high performance or design. Dacor’s new Distinctive 36” cooktop was created in partnership with BMW Group Designworks USA and is a perfect example of an accessibly priced appliance that has name plate designer status attached.

5.    Green as a Greens Fee

OK, I’m a golfer. To me a “greens fee” means something you pay just to play. And in today’s marketplace, you need to be green to play. While it’s still not high on the consumer’s punch list, designers, architects and manufacturers recognize that they must be environmentally friendly. Products like LED lighting from Stone Lighting and

Samsung’s Radianz Quartz with recycled content, demonstrate that the building community has embraced green as a long-term necessity that won’t go away like gas rationing in the 70’s. Let’s applaud the design community for creatively leading us to be environmentally responsible instead of waiting for us to ask.


Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.


 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Five Trends to Watch at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

By Lori Dolnick

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, NV was a leaner exhibition – a reflection of the economy and home building sales no doubt. But traffic and designer interest was brisk for the exhibitors present – hopefully a positive sign for the future. KBIS is one of my favorite shows. Homeowners really invest in their kitchens and KBIS is the place to see what’s new, what’s trending and where the kitchen of the future is going. Here are some of the trends I saw and hot new products coming out this year.

1.    Transitional or New Traditional
Transitional or New Traditional is here to stay - a real style in its own right. From TOTO’s new Vivian faucet

to Hardware Resources’ Lyn Design Bath Vanities in Chocolate – what’s old is new again.

Today’s Traditional offers cleaner lines, less ornamentation and a more updated, sophisticated feel.


2.    Personal Style
We’re not designing for resale value. We’re designing for ourselves – for the long haul.

Top Knobs launched their unique new Passport Collection at KBIS – inspired by global landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, Victoria Falls, Sydney Opera House, Tower Bridge and the Great Wall of China. What could be more personal than decorating with a souvenir from somewhere special? It’s what we all do when we travel, but now you can get a free sample shipped to your home without going anywhere at all. Design meets destination.

Another example… someone at the show told me to visit the Scotsman Ice Systems booth because they love to chew ice. You can’t get more personal than that! Me – I like the big cubes in my water. But if someone needs them small and chewy – this would be the system for them. Personal taste is a trend that is hot right now.

3.    Personal Luxury

If KBIS is any indicator – toilets are the next hot new must-have gadget. INAX’s latest offering, for example, plays music, lights your way at night, heats the seat, offers a personal cleansing massage plus automatically opens and closes. Plasmacluster technology cleans the air with antibacterial ions. Never mind its advanced flushing technology, green features and sophisticated design. So when I was asked would I pay $4,800 for a luxury spa toilet, my answer was simple, “it shuts the seat?” Worth the price of admission for me!

My kids did ask if it knows to open for a boy or a girl. The INAX representative told me it opens the lid for girls. Sorry fellas, you’ll have to lift the seat on your own.


4.    Design Matters

From Michael Graves’ teapots to Poggenpohl’s Porsche kitchen, branded design partnerships are not new. Design and Designers matter to homeowners. And the elements do not have to be expensive to offer high performance or design. Dacor’s new Distinctive 36” cooktop was created in partnership with BMW Group Designworks USA and is a perfect example of an accessibly priced appliance that has name plate designer status attached.

5.    Green as a Greens Fee

OK, I’m a golfer. To me a “greens fee” means something you pay just to play. And in today’s marketplace, you need to be green to play. While it’s still not high on the consumer’s punch list, designers, architects and manufacturers recognize that they must be environmentally friendly. Products like LED lighting from Stone Lighting and

Samsung’s Radianz Quartz with recycled content, demonstrate that the building community has embraced green as a long-term necessity that won’t go away like gas rationing in the 70’s. Let’s applaud the design community for creatively leading us to be environmentally responsible instead of waiting for us to ask.


Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.


 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

An Outdoor Kitchen Goes Environmental and Edible!

Contributed by Lori Dolnick


What happens when 28 talented and creative high-end designers come together? A masterpiece is created. Plain and simple.

The Pasadena Showcase House, a non-profit organization based in California chooses a home for an indoor, and outdoor makeover every year and the results are well, pretty amazing. The transformation process from basic and plain interiors to an incredible & stylish home complete with a stunning outdoor garden area, takes about 8 months to plan and finish.  The process not only involves time, hard work and passion but also the creative talents of these selected designers who have a special insight into what will “click” with the kind of space and materials they have to work with.

This year the team turned a private home owned by the American Red Cross into a dream house capturing the attention of almost 40 thousand visitors who helped raised money through the entrance fee for The American Red Cross.

(before)

The brains behind the outdoor kitchen design is Jan Ledgard, certified kitchen designer, owner and designer of Yorkshire Kitchens, Inc.  who conceptualized and designed the entire outdoor kitchen space for The Pasadena Showcase Home.

LD: How did you get involved in the Showcase House this year?

JL: Well, I just happened to tag along with a couple of other designers this year for the Designers’ Peek Day and just casually mentioned to someone that I did outdoor kitchens and well, the rest I guess is history!! LOL!

What I really wanted to do was to create an area that could be used for weddings, parties, etc but at the same time create a space that virtually anyone could look at no matter what their budget or space is and say “I could do this in my yard!”

LD: Where did the inspiration for the design come from?

JL: The idea for the space was that it would be a complete outdoor kitchen and kitchen garden. Everything planted was either edible or medicinal with a just a few exceptions. All the products we used were either recycled or recyclable or at least environmentally friendly. Atlantis Outdoor Kitchens supplied the cabinetry and appliances and I used as many local products and suppliers as possible including local lumber yard, local garden nurseries, etc.

LD: What was the most challenging in terms of trying to create a fun but useful place?

JL: I wanted to create something that was fun and exciting, yet functional. Keeping in mind ways for families and friends to entertain and at the same time being able to enjoy some private time - which is why I added the Martini sink so you can just relax in your own yard sipping away on a Martini.

We build a deck for ultimate family dinners and a bar for those special social nights with friends or neighbors. It’s very cool because the deck is built over the roots of a Liquid Amber tree that adds a natural shade canopy. I also designed the retractable awning - each panel pulls on and off separately using a very low energy “pole” so you just hook the pole in a ring and pull!

I also finished off the space bringing all the elements of the wood and glass together using recycled glass as accents in all the candle holders, teak on the hand rail, natural stones and crystals (a passion of mine) were dotted around the entire space and a couple of whimsical elements, like the “moon gazing hares,” were also added.

LD: Sounds like you had the “Go Green” effect in mind when planning the space.

JL: I did actually. The planters are all edible, herbal or medicinal including tomatoes, grape vines, etc. We added small planters around the space to show people how they could have an herb garden in a small space – and it is visually appealing as well.

LD:  Well, you did an amazing job this year. Any idea of what visitors can expect next year?

JD: Not sure yet. We’re still trying to rest up from the last one!!

Photos courtesy Pasadena Showcase House 2010.



See all Lori's posts here.


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