Design Works International

High Point Market Highlights Day 2

| Nancy Fire

Texture, Trim and Tucked Up

Mask on with purell in hand [literally] I spent my first day at market ready for combat…creative combat that is…touring showrooms by appointment and getting versed on product details…which were all about texture, trim and tucked up…the art of bringing comfy and comfortable fabrics into your home!

Cozy Comfort at Nathan Anthony with this Vintage Vibe Fur Infused 70’s Chair
Seventies Inspired Fur Throw and Decorative Pillows Trending in a Beautiful Warm Tone Palette
Updated Fringe Detailing with Braided Interest by V Rugs and Home
Raffia Fringe Pillow Detailing at V Rugs and Home
Bloom Easy Armchair Swivel in Microfiber, with Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer and Steel Available in 8 Trendy Colors by Kenneth Cobonpue.
From Dovetail, Indigenous Baskets with a Focus on Mixed Materials, Chunky Weaves and Artisan Detailing
Handcrafted by Skilled Artisans this Eichholtz Ginkgo Coffee Table is Created in a Vintage Brass Finish with Black and Gold Legs. Love the Organic influence from Nature and the Graphic Interpretation of the Ginkgo Leaf! [Style Spotted by Me]
Merrick Textured Wood Round Dining Table from Dovetail [see next image for detail]

Detail of Merrick Textured Wood Table

Cozy Comfort from The Bold Monkey Furniture Collection of Seventies Inspired Furniture and Accent Pieces.
Sierra Bed with Perf Fabric Headboard with Textured Pillows and Throw from Dovetail.
Jada Cabinet in Amara Ebony Veneered Frame Sycamore Veneered Face with Offset Faceted Design by Theodore Alexander

Looks like I am tucked up from my first day at the High Point Market as a 2020 Style Spotter and look forward to my non-stop day tomorrow with appointments booked from 9am through 6pm. First stop…Global Views…with my mask on and purell in hand, literally!

Reboot/Rethink/Rediscover

| Nancy Fire

My self quarantine started 14 days ago when I flew back to NYC from the Netherlands Antilles, better known to most as St Maarten. My sunny sky and turquoise water memories seen like a distant dream already! Usually (nothing seems usual these days) when one returns from vacation within a few days your memories start to fade, you jump right back into your routine (nothing seems routine these days) and life goes on as expected (nothing seems expected these days)…but my return was far from usual, routine or expected, quite frankly it was scary.

I was actually on my original scheduled flight back to JFK one of the last flights out of St Maarten before the flight ban was enforced. I was one of the lucky ones who had a ticket and did not have to wait on standby to try and leave this beautiful island to return to the rumored chaos at JFK customs. Adorned with a face mask (I actually always travel with an emergency one that a friend gave me a year ago when I returned home sick from overseas…which was never used until 14 days ago) and plastic gloves that I picked up in a grocery store in St Maarten! I felt like an alien coming back to my own country! I left 10 days prior to my return and honestly I arrived on what seemed to be another planet!

Fast forward 14 days….where I have been self quarantined 60 miles outside of NYC in our home that I adore! A place usually where family & friends visit and enjoy cookouts, kayaks, beach adventures and more…but this visit was different, it was indefinite and not in a positive way..not in a vacation type of way and not in a “let’s have friends over way”! This was serious as I needed to sequester myself into my own room and bathroom, eat separately and maintain my distance from my husband and son (my daughter is sequestered in Holland due to her studies and could not get home in time before the chaos started) Our lives were not usual, routine or expected anymore!

Looking back during these past 14 days…and looking ahead to when life will return to a more usual, routine and expected way..I realized that I will not return to my usual, routine and expected life…the world has changed and so have I….here’s where the “Reboot, Rethink & Rediscover” awareness comes in…I keep asking myself what can we all learn from this, is this an opportunity to change our thinking…and I believe it is. I know that I feel I can live with less, make food last longer while not wasting any of it. I tried new recipes, read many books and cleaned my home like I never did before! I am teaching myself new computer programs and zooming with our designers all over the country and overseas! We are all nervous with the uncertainty that lies ahead but are up for the challenge of coming back wiser, stronger and more compassionate. I have to BELIEVE that my design team will return to our beautiful design studio in nyc where we can once again collaborate in person and learn from each other…but until that time I am rebooting, rethinking and rediscovering…My new attic office that I created today with items from other rooms in the farmhouse. I dreamt of doing this for years… I am so excited to work in this space tomorrow surrounded by many of my favorite things. This farm table was a find from the Brimfield antique market from 20+ years ago, our antique chair has been in the family for the past 30+ years and recently was reupholstered with my Studio NYC Design fabric and of course our rattan ottoman from Home Nature in Southampton that will serve as another work space for my desktop computer!

Prior to my attic office I was using our guest room as a work space before realizing that this quarantine will last many more weeks and I needed a larger space to work and create!

I do not see a Dead End…I see New Beginnings🙏🏻and I am grateful to the frontline heroes who are helping our country respond to this pandemic, every healthcare worker, EMT, police officer, firefighter, grocer, trucker, store clerk, mail carrier, hospital staff and nurses/doctors and countless others who have stepped up during these uncertain times.

Other imagery:

East Quogue Rainbow Chalk Drawing

Beach Wave Walk By Myself

Brimfield Desk Cleaning

Homemade Goat Cheese, Spinach, Leek and Mushroom Quiche

Social Distancing Seagulls

Remnants Of The Day Sandcastle

Nature Walk By Myself

New Beginnings

All Images Property of Color, Chaos & Creativity.

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

GREEN HOME

| Design Works International

Green Home, it’s NOT a trend, it should be our lifestyle regarding the future of our planet! Returning from an overseas business trip visiting 3 amazing cities, Oslo, Amsterdam and Paris..the message is clear-it’s the universal language among us all….SUSTAINABILITY

Interesting to see that the busiest stores at retail and booths at trade shows all had a clear and transparent message about their products-upcycled, recycled and organic(when possible) with a social message of giving back to the community that they are working with.

We all need to wake up and realize that consumers are buying less, being more cautious about what they are buying and where these products are produced. If we look inward and collaborate as a society we can all work towards our “Green Home”.

This image was taken at Merci in Paris: https://lnkd.in/eHtSNXF

a concept store shopping sensation, housed in an reconfigured 19th century three floor loft-like fabric factory selling furniture, jewelry, stationary, fashion and household products. This season their blatant message is “Green Home” selling mainly upcycled products, organic when possible. In a move that takes the trend for retailer responsibility to a new level, this general store gives all profits to charity🌎 #greenhome

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.

Color, Chaos & Creativity Returns👏

| Design Works International

It’s been a while since I posted but since my trip to Oslo has been so inspiring I had this awesome urge to share!

Invited by the Norwegian Consulate to attend the Fushion Show in Oslo (August 28-30) celebrating fashion, art and music by redefining the creative standards through innovative performances revolving around fashion.

Our first stop was at the LMN Gallery showcasing ESP/Morie Fashion paired with innovative artwork and interactive models in motion.

After taking the reins of a 60-year old outerwear factory at Økern in Oslo in 2015, designer and entrepreneur Elisabeth Stray Pedersen established her label ESP. Ever since, the brand continued to develop the factory’s signature style, which was iconic blanket coats in pure wool, besides creating new designs. ESP utilises the finest Norwegian lamb’s wool from freely walking crossbreed sheep in the highlands around Gol in Norway. The wool is Nordic Eco labelled and their fabrics are Woolmark certified.

Founded by Creative Director Charlotte Fische and Head of Design Linn Sannes Brevik-Ribeiro in 2016, Moiré is the offspring of Oslo based Moiré Fashion Agency.

The brand speaks to the modern minimalist who wants to embrace their inner maximalist – with a strong focus on keeping it elegantly feminine. Totally opposed to the use-and-discard mentality, the brand is built upon a mutual wish for more tailored clothing, one-of-a-kind details and high-quality textiles. 

Moiré loves storytelling and the design process is a significant part of the small but highly curated collections. Every season is a result of a creative development that often involves a range of different designers and artists.

Tonje Plur is a womenswear designer and artisan based in Oslo/Norway. She combines social and geographical references with a variety of craft work and designs, making her collections a visual reaction to the present time.

Avenue is a woman’s and menswear brand founded in Oslo, Norway by Ingvild Abrahamsen, Gustaf Gyllenhammar and Espen Follestad. They showed their first collection in 2015 for Autumn-Winter.  With a long background in music, design and textile production, they are creating clothes highly influenced by their music references. They specialise in high quality garments with natural fibres and make distinct design suitable for everyday comfort.

Established in 1997, Cathrine Hammel is an Oslo-based fashion brand, producing new collections based on a variety of themes each season. The team consists of designers, a garment specialist, tailors, a production manager and a creative director working closely together to create elegant clothes that are meant to be worn in the real world. The clothes are laboriously altered to fit a progressive lifestyle, whereas the boundaries between work and pleasure collide into one single entity. Each garment reflects a Scandinavian way of living and its democratic ideals: Gender equality, a sustainable approach to the environment, social cohesion and a balance between life and work. Cathrine Hammel is a modern wearable fashion brand, catering to open-minded people, who recognize quality and durability as the most sustainable approach to fashion.

Dining By Design DIFFA

| Design Works International

Spring is in the air…well maybe today it actually felt otherwise, [raining all day in nyc] but the Architectural Digest Show and DIFFA Show opened today so for us designers…it’s pure sunshine🌞

Honored to be a judge for the IFDA [International Furniture Design Association] naming AVO best in show for their textile collection at the Architectural Digest Show. Hand woven leather textiles, hand-painted techniques combined with textural leathers represented an true artisan vibe…congratulations to Brit Kleinmann, founder and creative director of AVO @_avoavo_

Verto Vero, the award winning glassblowing studio based in Pennsylvania was showcasing glass vessels in contemporary styles and colors. Always a favorite of mine at the Architectural Digest Show!

Jan Kath’s rug collection showed a bit of whimsy with a subtle skull design woven into her more traditional line of rugs.

Bringing the outdoors indoors continues among many home product categories especially within the kitchen industry. Signature Kitchen showcased a green inspired vibe with a variety of plants as the focal point of their products.

Speaking of green….Opiary incorporates natural elements into every piece created, bringing live greenery and organic shapes into sleek highly crafted furniture, planters and sculpture. Every piece is hand crafted from recyclable and natural materials by artists and craftspeople at their studio in East Williamsburg, NY.

London Basin Company is bringing back the beautiful basin offering so many creative basin options through color, pattern and texture.

A sunny shoutout to Hesten for making us all smile with their yellow appliances!

The AD Apartment is an awesome collaboration designed by Sasha Bikoff, presented by Gaggenau, featuring Ad Pro, Brizo, Calligaris, Dekton by Cosentino, Dyson, Emtek, Lenox, Livex Lighting, Lumber Liquidators, Mayflower Wallpaper, Reform, Shimmerscreen and Tuft & Needle.

Photos below: Living Room, Dinning Table, Bedroom, Sasha and I, Sasha, Gaggenau Master Baker Ingo Rasche.

Next Up….DIFFA

Lucinda Loya Interiors @lucindaloyainteriors

Studio TK + Tarkett + Huntsman @studiotksocial @tarkettofficial @huntsmanmag

Felderman Keatinge + Associates @feldermankeatinge

Black Artists + Designers Guild @badguild

Interior Design Magazine “Together In Unity”

Gensler+ Knoll + Evensonbest @gensler_design @knollinc @evensonbest

Walker Ridge Construction & Development & Madera Management @walkerridgeconstructionllc

Stacy Garcia Home X Crypton Home Fabric @stacygarciainc @cryptonfabric

David Scott Interiors For Roche Bobois @rochebobois @davidscottinteriors

Damour Drake Presents Kingston Design Connection @kingston.design.connection

Mckenzie Liautaud Robert Verdi @mckenzieliautaud @robertverdi

Herman Miller + Studios Architecture + WB Wood @hermanmiller @studiosarchitecture @wb_wood

Us Is More

Rockwell Group

IA Interior Architects Past + Present + Future @iaarchitects

Patrick Mele For Benjamin Moore @benjaminmoore @patrickmele

Pratt Institute Stronger Together Mentor Marks & Franz @prattinstitute

School Of Visual Arts Mentor Coffinier Ku @svanyc

Parsons School Of Design Mentor Kati Curtis Design @parsonschoolofdesign

New York School Of Interior Design Reshaping The Perception Of HIV/Aids Mentor Shaver/Melahn @nysid

Ultrafabrics Designed By Stonehill Taylor Journey @stonehilltaylor @ultrafabrics_inc

Roric Tobin For Modern Luxury A Night In Korakuen @manhattan_magazine @rorictobindesigns

Tito’s Handmade Vodka @titosvodka

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.