LAS VEGAS: World Market

This week my wife and I embarked to Las Vegas to attend the annual World Market for furniture/home decor/gifts (Jan. 18-22) along with clients from Michigan to select furniture for their new house we are designing.

"Retailers and designers can shop a broad assortment of product from thousands of manufacturers of furniture, gift, lighting, decorative accessories, floor coverings, home textiles, tabletop, lifestyle products, mattress and more – delivering a complete, cross-category market experience." - Market Web Site

Designer markets happen throughout the country for those in the design and retail trade (usually in Jan & Feb) to showcase "the look" for that year.

Thousands of furniture, home décor and gift professionals descend

upon Las Vegas Market during this time to "stay ahead of the trends" as well as select/order items for design projects and for retail space, networking and fostering new relationships, sharing ideas and engaging with top taste-makers. It's an event and a city to find design inspiration.

There are some ON TREND items that I will be looking/expecting to see this year within the showrooms and vendor offerings:

* MARSALA/2015 Color of the Year

In furniture, textiles, accessories (see previous 3 blogs)

"In home furnishings, look for Marsala in monochromatic mixes of peachy pinks and ivory. It suits warmer metals and finishes, namely antique gold, bronze and copper." - Laurie Pressman (Vice President at Pantone Color Institute)

* PASTELS (no longer considered baby colors)

"Gray, beige and white will be replaced with softer yellows, melons, blues and mint greens and soft pink." - Carleton Varney (President, Dorothy Draper & Co./2015 Las Vegas Market Design Icon recipient)

* GOLD/Wamer Metals

After a few decades of silver, pewter, white gold tones being the exclusive usable metals, we have been seeing the warmer metals return (bronze, copper) and are seeing a return of the gold appeal we remember from the 80's trend for luxury.

Check out my blog on this trend.

* EQUESTRIAN STYLE

I've noticed a buzz of activity on Pinterest regarding interiors with horse riding themed spaces. A return of the Ralph Lauren equestrian lifestyle, which includes horse motifs and accessories, leather stripping, plaids and houndstooth.

* ASIAN INFLUENCE

Still a strong style and place from which to draw inspiration.

* INSTANT HEIRLOOM & CURATED COLLECTIONS

A desire for possessing things that look like they have been handed down from generation to generation as well as complete collections of curiosities to showcase as trophies.

* DARK BLUES

We have been enjoying GRAYS as the new beige craze over the past seasons, and will continue to see that, but we should be moving into more uses of deep blues (slate blues, indigo, inky-black blues). We've seen denim return to fashion recently as well, and will see more uses of it as a textile in interior deisgn. Check out my blog on this trend.

* MID-CENTURY MODERN/70s MOD

Since the success of "Mad Men" on television we have fallen in love with all things mid-century (fashion, graphic design, furniture). After buying up all we could find from the era, manufacturers are remaking, reproducing pieces either from that era's original designs or putting a modern spin on it. I anticipate seeing this evolving into another era, the MOD period from the late 60/early 70s

* PAST RECLAIMED

This has been a trend for awhile with repurposing and reusing items from the past (or at least newly made things that look like they are from the past). I am anticipating we'll see trends involving new interests, such as creating items with bicycle parts.

* NEW TECHNOLOGY

I anticipate seeing the use of new technology in design, specifically the use of products made by 3D printing. Also new uses for old materials. What else can be done with concrete or how can it evolve to do things it never could before?

*WHAT'S OUT?

Another category to note at market is what's missing compared to previous years? The lack of these items suggests they are on the way out and that designers, trend setters and even customers are growing weary of them. Such as: all things accent color on one wall, cream and beige, chevron pattern, birds motifs, animal heads, high gloss bright colors. We shall see.