Fresh, exciting designs took center stage at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair last month in New York. Far from a stripped-bare modernist aesthetic, the assortment was punctuated with personality to spare.
Scandinavian design was in the spotlight in all forms, including the imported kind, which shone as a bright spot of the show. Many American designers, too, paid tribute to the Danes and Swedes as inspiration for their collections with an overall simplistic, sophisticated approach.
It's not just current-day Scandinavian design that's hot, but '60s and '70s designs also are enjoying a renaissance that feels ultimately modern. While these designs might have pushed the envelope toward futuristic then, now they've acquired a hip, funky and charmingly retro pedigree. White emerges as a key color, accented by gleaming chrome, while blond, or sun-bleached wood in abundance reinforces the notion of streamlined simplicity.
The 1970s, not just the Swedish sort, are shaping up to be the decade of the hour. Thankfully, the styles are refreshed, focusing more on the groovy, fun-loving side. An edgy color palette of burnt orange and pumpkin, acid lime, peacock and mocha brown pump up the retro flavor. Nostalgic references to the decade like shag, felt and homespun crochet translate smoothly into styles more hip than hippie.
Interestingly, new classic references spark this contemporary show, translating influences from way before the '70s in often witty, and highly elegant designs. The package is fresh and new, but there is no doubt as to the origin. Organic themes play a continuing role, softening the lines of modern design with natural materials or conversely, playing with nature in glass or metal.
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Crafts Collection 09, the newest annual collection of modern craft and design coordinated and marketed by Danish Crafts received the Editors Award for Craftsmanship. eLink 605 |
| Callisto, crafted of mahogany, stainless steel, aluminum, concrete and pencil from Lavassa, merges contradictory elements for a design that is both strong and fragile at once. eLink 601 |
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Futuristic in the '60s and '70s, re-released lighting designs from Verner Panton are enjoying a renaissance with all the hip, modish appeal of the first go-round. eLink 607 |
| Shag takes on an entirely new-and-improved connotation in ceramic, created as wall art installations by J Pritchard Design. eLink 609 |
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Acid hues lend an edgy twist to Nani Marquina's Juliette rug, a bold contemporary design that skillfully incorporates classic roots. eLink 599 |
| Streamlined and slicked up, Context gives a nod to 17th century design with the jauntily iconic William & Mary Collection. eLink 603 |
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Bleu Nature crafts the organic attraction of driftwood into a chicly widened, resolutely modern form. eLink 606 |
| Amenity debuts its first decorative pillow collection with arresting botanical motifs and a lush, saturated palette. eLink 600 |
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Art glass designs showcase Mother Nature in the abstract with high-style versions of the artichoke and a blade of grass from Esque. eLink 610 |
| Carl Hansen & Son relaunches the sleekly elegant Kastrup chair by Hans J. Wegner, designed in 1958 for the Copenhagen airport. eLink 608 |
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Designs from students at Art Center College of Design debuted at the ICFF from Bernhardt Design, who sponsored the studio course and worked directly with students to intersect the worlds of business and design education. eLink 602 |
| Sinuous curves inform the shapely chairs from Cedri/Martini. eLink 604 |
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