TENDENCE LIFESTYLE: Sustainable sophisticate

A rich, subdued palette of brown, black, ivory, gold and silver offered the perfect foil to the mood of subtle elegance apparent at Tendence Lifestyle in August. While all trends swirled around environmental issues, some of the standouts included a return to natural materials, craftsmanship and luxury.

Designed by Paola Navone for Reichenbach, the New Baroque Collection plays down Baroque influences with a modern silver glaze.	A palette of rich neutrals sets off sculptural sphere-based designs and salvaged wood accents at Brass & Boom.

Comunistar updates a traditional Slovakian chair design with a minimalist approach in the streamlined, silhouetted Granny's chair.	Zenza highlights the modern Moroccan trend with a graphic, laser-precise patterned pendant.

Quality, not quantity, is the key — equating to a less-is-more approach to design, as long as each individual component offers intrinsic value while still respecting the environment. Cheap, in other words, is not chic.

In that vein, a backlash of natural materials showed up at every possible venue. Accent furniture, lamps and textiles bore the stamp of real quality, endowed in plush leather and cashmere, wood and wool, stone and cotton. The use of resin and plastic, although minimal, was seen at a higher quality level. Additionally, salvaged materials were prevalent and put to new and different uses. Overall, higher quality materials contribute to a design that will stand the test of time.

Henry Dean displays organically influenced glass and textiles that are both elegant and functional.	Tribal motifs are recolored and reworked by Van Schijndel with luxurious appeal

Manufacturers are also reverting to traditional and often ancient craftsmanship techniques, resulting in authentic works of art. There is also a trend among designers toward manufacturing in their native countries, where quality can be strictly controlled. As may be expected, this type of workmanship (as well as the use of quality materials) commands a higher price tag with many products residing firmly in the luxury market. In the end, the consumer will decide the fate of these designs, but the designers get kudos for raising the awareness level in a world that places value on having a whole lot of stuff that's inexpensively priced as opposed to a few good things.

Other trends included an ongoing Baroque feeling that has softened over the past seasons. The overly exaggerated curves have morphed into a more casual look that brings out the inherent femininity of Baroque without overpowering the beholder.

5.5 Designers create two symmetrical "apartments," representing two fictive consumers who happen to be identical twins, linking the themes of inspiration and imitation in design. For instance, does an item only become desirable once it has been copied?	An explosion of crystals punctuate Anthologie Quartett's hanging fixture, spotlighting a contemporary viewpoint of the classic chandelier.

Tribal and Moroccan motifs give a nod to modernity with streamlined focus, while spheres and other related geometric shapes are on their way up. Earthy, sculptural art glass showcases the influence of nature.

A few bright splashes of color, like yellow, red and pink, complement the sophisticated lineup of neutrals used in combination in almost every showroom. The season's starring duos: chocolate and gold, black and pewter.