At the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, Boutique Design New York (BDNY) just wrapped up its ninth annual show. Around 8,000 attendees came from around the world to check out 750 manufacturers and representatives of furniture, lighting, wall coverings, fabric, carpet, flooring and more throughout the two-day event that took place November 11-12.
While walking through the booths strategically arranged throughout the center’s 135,000-square-foot space, several design trends were noticeable amongst the new collections and fresh releases. Some, like velvet, gave off nostalgic vibes of furniture- and fashion-past. While others, such as metallic accents, reimagine old materials in new designs and settings. Although many brands incorporated more than just one trend into their products, the following fit best in the categories below.
Velvet, specifically crushed velvet, was quite noticeable on furniture, fabrics, accessories and more at this year’s event. For example, almost all of Fabricut Contract’s BDNY display was made of the material that has lately made a resurgence in fashion and now interiors.
Inspired by minerals and their textures and tones, Fabricut Contract’s FR-One 2018 collection was on display in rich reds and dark blues. It includes eight drapery and upholstery collections, each paying homage to mineral’s attributes. The fabrics can be luminous, transparent, matte, cloudy, opaque, polished and brushed. Plus, the collection meets the most demanding fire standards worldwide – the FR-One label certifies that a fabric is inherently and permanently fire resistant.
Style Library’s fabrics at BDNY could probably fit under all of our trend categories, but velvet was the most prominent feature amongst its many collections. Style Library is the official home for six British brands, including Anthology whose Azuri line is comprised of a sumptuous, yet practical range of velvets. Available in eight shades and extremely durable, Azuri velvets are suitable for contract and domestic drapes and upholstery.
Innovations also debuted a sneak peek of its newest collection, which will be released in spring 2019. This velvet material featured an alluring navy color that incorporated a crushed circular pattern, giving off fun, galactic vibes.
Wolf Gordon took the meaning of jewel tones to a whole new level – the concept of the brand’s booth at BDNY was that of a jewelry box. Large jewels hung from above, while attendees browsed products through a jewelry case by Me and General and Mae Engelgeer, as well as Wolf Gordon’s latest wallcoverings, wall protection and upholstery textiles in neutrals and jewel tones.
The Ouroboros lounge also featured rich jewel tones, including emerald green, turquoise and various shades of pink. Attendees could choose to enter through a tunnel, which provided an immersive, storm-like experience before entering the jungle-themed lounge, which featured fun carpet from Royal Thai’s Re/Form collection.
There’s something luxurious about combing the softness of blush pink with velvet, a trend that many manufacturers incorporated into their BDNY displays. Brentano, for example, has a variety of soft pinks in its upcoming spring 2019 collection, Sovereign. The brand’s sneak peek of textiles that were featured during the show embody livable luxury with their rich colors and ornate, contemporary patterns.
Concertex had a variety of textiles on display, including a new collaboration with Sunbrella. Called Blocks and Deco, these new patterns incorporate bright color and bold design for a look that would be great in a children’s healthcare or educational setting.
Shaw Hospitality also incorporated bold geometric patterns in its Forum carpet collection, which includes off-shaped rugs that are great for large, open hospitality-centric areas. Forum’s designs feature lines that merge and overlap, bold curves and strong graphical elements in various neutral tones.
Metallic Accents
Samuelson Furniture, a family-owned furniture company since 1935, displayed an arrangement of its latest collection that incorporates both nature and technology. Our favorites were the wooden casegoods and matching end tables that infused gold leaf into the wood’s uneven grain, providing a striking metallic look to traditional pieces.
Architectural Systems, Inc. also displayed a variety of metallic finishes amongst its various Fusión Wood Panels. The ASI team wove a variety of different panels together to create a display that shows off each product’s details. The sustainable collection is a mix of natural and reclaimed materials including wine barrels, steel and siding that give it a textural and dimensional effect as well.
