furniture

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.

High Point Market Highlights Day 3

| Nancy Fire
This is my sustainable smile because I found so many creative products at the High Point Market with a focus on mindful living and sustainable style!

Had such an aspirational day talking with manufacturers at the High Point Market who are inspired by using natural materials in their product development. Not all pieces are 100 percent sustainable but many companies are coming close while others are realizing the importance of creating sustainable products!

Oyster Shells From Local Restaurants Repurposed To Make Creative Lighting Fixtures at Made Good.
Inspired by Natural Materials, Palecek Hospitality and Residential Are One Of The Go To Companies When It Comes To Sourcing Sustainable Products.
Ro Sham Beaux On Main Street in High Point Always Showcases Sustainable Product Selections.
Love How Selamat Combines Mixed Substates To Create An Updated Vibe To The Sea Cliff Chair.
Another Palecek Sustainable Product,
The Wrapped Pole Rattan Mirror In Grey.
A White Quartz Credenza Front From The Baker Collection
Palecek Sustainable Vignette Highlighting This Credenza, Wall Art And Home Decor.
Kara Mann For The McGuire Collection Plush Chenille Fabric, Leather Cording and Rattan.
Raffia Sideboard From Bernhardt With Chrome And Glass.

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!

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

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

Graphic Greats…Black and White Prints and Patterns in Paris

| Design Works International

Bold bedding geometric inspired prints in black and white in BVH department store in the Marais section of Paris.

Gift set mug collections in black, white and gold featuring text graphics in various type fonts.

This teal color [on the blue side] is the second largest influential color behind black at retail in Paris.

Over scaled geometric prints lend a graphic vibe to any sofa, bed or chair.

At the Merci Concept Store in the Marais section of Paris, tabletop was truly a trend to be reckoned with adding mini dishes and plates to the mix.

This bed set at Conran’s on the left bank of Paris was just one of many graphic inspired beds throughout the city.

At Galleries Lafayette Maison, these graphic towels in black and ecru have a tribal vibe that coordinate well with the graphics aesthetic of the season.

At Le Compagnie Francaise, graphic one color ikat patterns compliment this mixed substrate chair of leather and vinyl cording.

This woven bench detail at BVH is not only trend right, it’s a practical solution for expanding seating in your home.

At Merci Concept Store, it’s all about the graphic and global mix, showcasing authentic woven baskets in black and white, mixed with rustic matte and glossy black ceramic vessels.

Perfect Pink in Paris [yes millennial]

| Design Works International

So it’s true..all this talk about pink…in fashion and home decor…it’s allover Paris in some creative and updated ways!

Mixing well with most colors, millennial pink is not only for the young at heart..dinnerware at Printemps in Paris💕

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nne de Solene mixed millennial pink solid pillowcases with pink/coral and gray watercolor flowers creating simple sophistication in bedding available at Printemps, Bon Marche and Maison Galleries Lafayette in Paris💕

Millennial Pink staircase at the Conran’s Shop in Paris. Talk about making a statement💕

Tom Ford 2018 Summer Runway Show cleverly mixes millennial pink with hot tonalities of hot pink adding that summer accent color pop💕

Cutest coffee and tea cups at Printemps in Paris..love the round shape product style as well💕

Here’s to pink 💕power! I will be posting from Paris this weekend before heading to Madrid and Lisbon..follow for updates daily!

💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

Surtex NYC Trend Updated From Color, Chaos and Creativity…Part 3

| Design Works International

Last month in NYC I spoke about print, pattern and color trends at Surtex NYC, representing our design studio, Design Works International, a lifestyle/product design firm specializing in the home, fashion and accessory industries.

Out Of This World…literally..we are talking Galaxy inspired prints, patterns, embroideries with an iridescent sensibility and style. Nocturnal tones of deep purple, indigo and magenta are part of the color plan to heighten the vibe of this celestial superstar.


Even after a year of playful pineapples…we are still craving for more…NEW this season…the use of millennial pink mixed with metallic and textural accents.


Somewhere Over….yes it’s all about iridescent finishes and rainbow colorways in fashion, home and decorative accessories. The more color…the better and these saturated shades are cross generational…NOT only for the millennial crowd.


Boho Style continues to increase as a lifestyle look and we are seeing the resurgence of Folk Florals..[did they ever go away] as wallpaper, clothing, home accessories and garden tools in Americana color combinations that coordinate beautifully with denim…another trend that has cross generational appeal.

This is the last of a 3 part series …so if you missed part 1 and 2 please take a peek either at Color, Chaos and Creativity or at Design Works International’s blog.

All prints and patterns designed by Design Works International are property of our studio until a purchase agreement is signed. If interested in purchasing prints, our website is Designworksintl.com or call our studio at 212-594-0777 ext 112.

Stay tuned for our next series on new color combinations…2018

Passion For Products-A Designer’s Life

| Design Works International

Thankful for this rainy Saturday so I can catch up on life….seems like the past 28 years of growing Design Works International, our NYC based design studio, has been a non-stop labor of love…and on Monday August 1st we are officially in our new location at 494 8th Ave. (entrance on 35th street on the 12th floor)…phone number remains the 212-594-0777.
This labor of love is proud to acknowledge our amazing team of sales consultants, textile and graphic designers, interior specialists as well as trend, color and fabric liaisons.




Our new location is a state of the art “play house” for us and we could not be happier in our new home…even though it will take us a few weeks to finish the design details within the studio!

When we started out 28 years ago our focus was mostly in the fashion arena and today we are truly a lifestyle studio working with top brands, retailers and celebrities in both the fashion and home sectors.

Kelly Ripa Home Fabric Collection at JoAnn Stores

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Most recently I have collaborated with CAA and Beanstalk on the Kelly Ripa Home Collection Exclusively at Macy’s in bedding, area rugs and furniture (upholstery and wood) with a collection of over the counter fabrics at JoAnn Stores.

Kelly Ripa Home Upholstered Furniture at Macy’s

Working along side Kelly on the KRH Collections Season 1

 

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HGTV Knoxville TN

Collaborating with the talented HGTV HOME team in Knoxville TN we created a licensed line of home decor products which we are thankful for winning the LIMA award for best corporate licensed program in 2015 and best paint program in 2016.

Trend Spotting at High Point Furniture Market for HGTV HOME

“Fire and Ice” at KBIS for HGTV

Filming at Design Works International for HGTV digital.

Filming at ABC Carpet and Home for HGTV Digital

John Gidding for HGTV HOME Outdoor Living at HSN

HGTV HOME Fabrics

LIMA Award 2015 and 2016

HGTV HOME Plant Collection

GAF Style Guide Refresh

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Everyday Design Works International has the design pleasure of working with companies like Kimberly Clark, GAF, HGTV, Kids 11 and Dollar Tree/Family Dollar on new design strategies and trend lifestyle updates!

Creating Shingle Color Palettes For GAF

Color Palettes for Roofing Shingles

KBIS 2016

Style Guide Trends GAF

Style Guide Trends GAF

Style Guide Trends GAF

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Our digital printing facility has allowed us to move forward on product based samples while working with some of the top talent from runway to retail! More to come on this in the coming months….introducing Studio NYC!

retreat-seat-front
Our textile collections are seen at Designer Show Houses as well as retail chains across the country…from tissue boxes, baby bouncers, fashion accessories, back to school supplies, wallpaper and the product list continues….

Our “passion for products” is never ending and we look forward to another “decade of design”.
We appreciate your support and design ❤️ over the years and look forward to seeing you at 494!