Nancy Fire

High Point Market Happenings Day 7- These Sustainable Times! Part One

| Nancy Fire

Style Spotting for the High Point Fall Market was a bit different because of Covid, less attendees and exhibitors but designers and buyers who did attend were positive, upbeat and were serious about committing to product purchases! Exhibitors had more time to spend with customers and it was much easier to navigate market which is comprised of 10 million square feet, roughly 2000 exhibitors (pre-covid) and about 180 buildings! (This market about 70% of the showrooms were open)

The biggest change for me in this market was the presence of sustainable minded products and displays as well as a general focus on products that are more environmentally friendly. With my style spotter focus on sustainability this year I was more than pleased to see this trend more as a lifestyle. Moving forward we are going to see more forward thinking companies do what they can to offer designs that are mindful in their product processes, material choices and transportation footprint from sourcing to selling! Below are a few of my favorite finds that relate to a more sustainable mindset. Part Two will be posted tomorrow as I continue to share more mindful products!

Palecek, IHFC D202 Design Center Floor 2 is a company that is truly inspired by natural materials and has been for years. For them sustainability is not a trend, it’s truly a lifestyle. Pictured here Fritz Rope Side Chair and Bench. Kirk Nix Wisteria Oversized Pendant, Whitewashed. Broderick Dining Table.
Palecek-This oversized pole rattan mirror is hand wrapped in a beautiful gray finish. The texture and dimension of this sustainable piece is beautiful and will sit center stage in any room.
Palecek-Playa Wall Decor is created using cultured saddle oyster shells hand placed in a petal-like design.
Palecek- Lenox desk with rattan accent drawers and metal base, create the perfect work from home interior addition to any room.
Palecek-Live Edge Table.
Kirk Nix Collection By Palecek Bronson Sconce-Each glass globe is hand blown creating an artisan touch to each light fixture.
V Rugs and Home-These raffia accent pillows are a perfect way to bring natural accents into your home.
V Rugs and Home- Leather and fringe accent ottomans.
Beth Webb for Arterios-Sea Island Pendant in linen and rattan.
Arteriors-Uriah Sconce has a thick, seedy slumped glass in a smoke luster finish which cascades down the front of a clear seedy glass wall! Truly a refined organic vibe to any space.
The Lash Lounge Chair by Kara Mann for the McGuire Collection. Wrapped in leather cording with a loose seat cushion in a soft chenille fabric.
Selamat-These Sea Cliff Chairs combine substrates that create a unique and updated product by mixing rattan with lucite with an added dimensional addition of textured performance fabric.
Phillips Collection-Atlas Console Table made in Chamcha wood with a gray stone finish is one expressive accessory piece for your home! The metal figures act as the base of the console holding up the chamcha wood top.
Titan Rugs-This antique rug has been upcycled by over-dying it and removing some of the pile to recreate the color as well as the finish. The original rug was navy and rust.What a creative way to repurpose rugs and give them another life!
Universal-Seaton King Bed featuring two types of woven materials.

Sustain+ability in Products at NY Now

| Design Works International

Sustainability and Wellness in products seemed to be on the rise at this weeks NY Now Show at the Javitz Center. Many artisan inspired brands that are new to market were showcasing various beauty, wellness and food related products. Companies had to submit their brand statements and prove that their products were sustainable in order to showcase their brand at NY Now!

The passion behind these products and the artisan-ship in creating beautiful brand stories made my daily 10k steps worth every move! Oh…and the buddahbooth…quiet space for noisy places…was pretty cool cause you got to zone out most of the surrounding chaos!

Just a few products that sustained my attention…but honestly they all did. Happy to see a bigger shift towards companies caring about their carbon footprint and our planets future🌍

Jungle Jute Tote by America & Beyond

Bambooless Incense by Maroma

Herbal Healing

Wellness Displays Exfoliating Soaps

Therapy Dough

Sophie Ottaner Felt Pillow From Peru

Rescued Wine

Buddahabooth RELAX RESET RECHARGE

Color, Chaos & Creativity…India

| Design Works International

I had the pleasure of spending a week in India and my journey was really incredible. I was there on business and between our travels throughout New Delhi and Jaipur I was looking through my lens at this fascinating culture. Feeling blessed to travel for my job but even more blessed that I get to experience a country through color, food and the fabulous people I came in contact with.

Jaipur Market

Jaipur Roadside Flower Market

New Delhi Farmers Market

Photobombed by a Drongo while photographing New Delhi

Street Art New Delhi

Tricked Out Trucks..love all the decorative tassels and pom poms!

In preparation for Karma Chauth..celebrating health and happiness in honor of your spouse by fasting for an entire day.

An artists resides in all of us…Long Live Rembrandt according to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

| Design Works International

Imagine…seeing your art hung at one of the most prestigious museums in the world! I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to see the “Long Live Rembrandt” Show.

Not realizing that the show was a juried exhibition of 575 people who told stories about their relationship to Rembrandt and his art. Each contributor has his or her own view of the great master. Many painters feature Rembrandt as the main character in their narrative while others have shown him with other icons.

More than 8500 people from 95 countries sent in their work of art, young and old, professional and amateur! Side by side, these generations of artists pay tribute to Rembrandt. The youngest artist is three while the oldest artist is in her nineties.

What an awesome way to bring a bit of Rembrandt into all of our lives, the people looking at this unique collection to the 8500 participants that felt compelled to enter their work that was inspired by the greatest Dutch artist of all time.

Below are just a few pieces from the “Long Live Rembrandt” exhibition, showcasing various techniques from painting, torn paper, fabric manipulation, plaster and sculpture.

To quote Pieter Roelofs, chairman of the jury and head of the Rijksmuseum’s painting and sculpture department, “In Long Live Rembrandt we see the master through the eyes of the makers. The exhibition is not only about Rembrandt, but also about ourselves.”

Inspired!!!!!

I am going to get in touch with my Rembrandt in hopes that one day my artwork will inspire others like I was inspired by this creative and collaborative exhibition.

Lots of color, a bit of artistic chaos and a whole lot of creativity.

Leaving Amsterdam and heading to Paris hoping to seek out more creativity in the art world.

The Balance Of Black and White in Interiors-Paris

| Design Works International

As we see certain trends in color this season we are also experiencing graphic great trends in black and white that have been consistent with previous years statistics. This classic and sophisticated style adds dimension and drama to any interior space.

A favorite find at Pinto Paris today is this white chair accented with black piping and black metal arm detailing with accents of cork.Black based cocktail tables with marble tops by Sarah Lavoine Interiors. Importance here is the varied heights in the collection of tables that work as one style statement.

Textural black and white textiles at LE BVH in the Marais. It’s truly about the dimensional aspect of the weave this season in creating these updated graphic patterns.

Terrazzo Containers at LE BVH [trend watch 2018-19 products made with terrazzo]

Textured bathroom tile slabs in an updated chevron pattern in black, white , gray and taupe.

Retail Redo Overseas in Paris and London

| Design Works International

Why is it that you can go into any store anywhere in the world and find duplication in products. What happened to originality, newness and craftsmanship justifying an original idea at retail. Lifestyle trends translate down from macro trends so interpretation should be varied and unique, right? Well that theory was lost along the way and in order for brick and mortar to survive at any level, we need to bring back the newness which is lacking! We all need to take the blame, move on and make it right again.

Just returning from overseas this week I unfortunately had the same experience..do not get me wrong, walking the streets of Paris and London were awesome and the food incredible, that might be why many of my photos were food or street trends because they were inspiring in color, texture and dimension.

Walking into Conran’s both in Paris and London as well as Harvey Nichols, Miss Selfridges and sadly John Lewis…it was a wall of sameness.

Plant Wall ✅

Global Artisan Baskets ✅

Cute Cafe✅

Appliances in red, white and blank✅

Enlarged Candle Areas✅

Smaller Furniture Space✅

Growing up in a retail centric family, my parents were both retailers, stores looked unique. Produce space was allocated more towards the personality of the store, window displays were original and technology was pretty much non-existent…which is why I feel products had personality. No one needed to compare every little detail and stores were not all things to all people…I do not remember walking into a department store to buy ketchup?

Hoping we will see change in the coming year in retail, both on-line and at brick and mortar stores.

Take Merci in Paris, I know, I know it’s a “weird concept store”, my favorite for that very reason because it allows you to look at products in a more creative and non-conforming way! Yeah!! Oh and did I mention the line to buy items was literally out the door…guess you get my point…originally needs to return to retail!

Sharing some images that were unique in some form, either color, retail setting or just plain FUN!

Merci, Paris

Food Fav’s

Bold Color And Product Finishes.

I took 2K pictures last week so I will be posting many of them throughout the month of February. Published articles can be found at http://www.designworksintl.com under press or on my personal website http://www.nancyfire.com

Designers Dream de Gournay Paris

| Design Works International

Current Situation…meet my new friend Taylor [bucket list worthy] unrolling the archives for me this morning…could not be more thankful and appreciative of my VIP tour..so get this..I walk in, totally waited for Deco Off Paris to be over cause the crowds are crazy…and this awesome, yes awesome young lady opens the door and after hearing my American version of “Bon Jour” says welcome…this 24 year old superstar has been living in Paris and working there for 6 months before she heads back to nyc to work in the de Gournay Showroom in NYC..exciting Design events coming our way New York City.

As a designer with a BFA degree, the artisan techniques still used in the de Gournay wallpaper collection allows one to appreciate every detail. From tea stained paper to silk ombré subtleties their style is forever timeless. Here are just a few delightful images from my behind the scenes tour…thanks Taylor for making my trip to Paris a designers dream!

Flamingos Collection Eclectrique

Palms Collection Eclectrique Colors Gaugin

Temple Newsam Collection de Chinoiseries

Portobello Collection de Chinoiseries

Silk Tree Collection Japonaise + Coreenne Colors Blossom

Deco Monkeys Collection Of Panoramiques

Portobello Collection de Chinoiserios

Textile Treasures at ‘Paris Deco Off’

| Design Works International

What better way to add color and style to a rainy, cold and grey day in Paris…by visiting Deco Off, an international textile event that takes place once a year in the interior design district on the left bank of Paris.

Global, Graphic and Tropical inspired patterns were among the most popular in many of the textile showrooms. Most featured embroidered accents, appliqués and textured printing techniques.

More information regarding Paris Deco Off can be found at http://www.paris-deco-off.com/