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The 2007 International Contemporary Furniture Fair: Green and a Little Mean How green is my table? Rug? Chair? They're as green as they can get. Designers' messages for supporting the planet were loud and clear at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) held May 19-22, 2007. The words "organic," "recyclable" and "sustainable" appeared in designers' pitches and played an important part in their promotional materials. Installations such as the wall of flowers, shrubs and grasses created by Metropolis magazine, not only served as a reminder of the show's focus, but offered a way of continuing the growing cycle: each plant was removable so attendees could re-pot the bloom at home. Yet, as I walked the show, I noticed a dichotomy between all that was earth friendly and an undercurrent of something disturbing. Among all the pro-planet booths were some designers who worked with broken glass, crafted benches from coiled springs, and printed images of war on ornate chairs. It seems that beneath the veneer of good intentions exists a post 9/11, country-at-war angst that found expression, too. Naturally, children's furniture and bedding designers exhibited wares that kept the dark side of modern living at bay. In addition to sustainable goods the show featured an expanding market for older children. So move over babies. The once forgotten big sis or brother now has ultra-hip bedding and furniture of their own.
BEDDING AND FURNITURE AMENITY DESIGNERS: Kristina de Corpo and Nicole Chiala Homebase: Los Angeles, CA Wholesale prices: Approximately $26-$75 The facts: "Amenity is demonstrating that modern design and modern ethics can happily co-habitate," say the designers who launched the company in September 2006. Their blankets are made with 100 percent organic cotton woven with a rich 200-thread count. To keep the luxury going, the item reverses to soft cotton fleece. Pillows and wall art are organic hemp. Remember Vera Maxwell, the designer whose elegant floral and animal motifs revolutionized American textiles in the 60's? Amenity sports a similar clean lined, sophisticated aesthetic and vibrant color palette.
Favorites: The curving, organic lines of the deer and 60's style citrus and cocoa coloring bring the natural world into the nursery with style. Tel: 213-624-7309 E-mail: contact@amenityhome.com
BLAUEN LTD. DESIGNER: Margaret Scheffs Homebase: Long Island City, NY Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer The facts: Scheffs has been in the high-end, custom-made nursery bedding business for 23 years. It was refreshing to find Scheffs' traditional wares among the modernists at the exhibition.
Favorites: Scheffs' items feature clean lines, soft colors and luxurious hand - versatile enough to work in any style nursery. Tel: 718-729-3548 E-mail: info@blauenltd.com
BOODALEE DESIGNER: Jeanice Skvaril Homebase: Greenbrae, CA Retail prices: $110-$240 The facts: Bodalee - "Big designs for little dreamers" - launched at ICFF. Each twin-sized duvet cover, pillow sham, sheet and pillowcase is crafted from 250-thread count, 100 percent percale. "Enough with the crib bedding, big kids need great linens, too." That's what Skvaril thought when it was time to plan her son's room and the only hip sheet sets she found were for infants.
Favorites: The "Trees" collection. Skvaril captures the essence of bark in the sheet set and pairs it with the jazzy bird and foliage duvet cover. Her two other groups "Circus" and "City" have similar bright, linear motifs and are suitable for either sex. Tel: 888-864-7819 E-mails: Susannah@boodalee.com; jeanice@boodalee.com
DESIGNERS GO PLAYGROUND DESIGNERS: Sari Syvaluoma and Johan Orbeck Aase Homebase: Oslo, Norway Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer The facts: Both designers have exhibited extensively in Norway. ICFF is their introduction to the U.S. market as well as the collection's launch. Syvaluoma begins with computer-generated pixels, then weaves the designs into complex patterns suitable for covering the company's pillows, chairs and other "soft and firm elements." Any print or piece of furniture becomes a collaboration between the designers and the client.
Favorites: Playful shapes and colors take on a modern edge in the designers' hands. Tel: +47 - 93094515 or +47 - 41146906 E-mail: info@syvaluoma.com
DWELL BABY DESIGNER: Christiane Lemieux Homebase: New York City, NY Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer The facts: The company launched Dwellkids, a collection of twin and full size bedding at the show. They've added super soft organic linen, too.
Favorites: Even cowgirls get the blues, or pinks. Either colorway would suit gals just fine. Tel: 212-219-9343 E-mail: sales@dwellbrands.com
NURSERY WORKS FOUNDERS: Traci Fleming and Kaye Popofsky Kramer Homebase: Los Angeles, CA Wholesale prices: $252-$1645 What's new: The company has added a bunk bed designed by TRUCK Product Architecture to the collection. The designers who create products for Nursery Works produce cutting-edge, glamorous children's pieces for the marketplace. The TRUCK items feature low-VOC lacquer colors, as well as a zebra Mozambique finish.
Favorites: The Duet Bunk Bed. Not only does it look like something you'd find at New York's Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), the pieces that form the unit are practical. There are two cabinets, six open cubbies and three drawers under the bottom bed. The upper cabinet is accessible from the top bunk to store books and extra blankets. Pulled apart, the beds are sleek single pieces and the shelving can stand alone. The only thing missing is a nanny. Tel: (888) 508 9540 E-mail: sales@nurseryworks.net
JUST FURNITURE OEUF DESIGNERS: Sophie Demenge and Michael Ryan Homebase: Brooklyn, NY Wholesale prices: Sparrow collection: $270-$955 The facts: Oeuf launched "Sparrow" their new five-piece moderately priced furniture collection. The group includes a crib that transforms into a toddler bed. Like the bird that inspired the collection's name, the line is small, charming and subtle.
Favorites: The Twin Bed possesses a mid-century appeal with a touch of the Orient (notice the slight curve of the head and foot boards). Each piece is available in rose, gray or white. Tel: (800) 691-8810 / 845-229-0519 E-mail: celine@oeufnyc.com
OFFI & COMPANY DESIGNER: Offi Design Collective Homebase: Tiburon, CA Wholesale prices: Contact manufacturer What's new: The company launched several new products from a bassinet that Jean Arp might have designed, to "The Power Console," a sleek metal box to hold gadgets that Arp could never have dreamed of.
Favorites: The "Valet" desk is for the next Richard Meier wannabe. A sliding work surface reveals a rear storage space for all the chords and plugs that are part of today's kids' desktops. So much for yesteryear's pencil and sharpener. Tel: 415-435-2300 / 800-958-OFFI (6334) E-mail: info@offi.com
STORAGE UNITS MOBOS DESIGNER: M Studio Homebase: South Amboy, NJ Wholesale prices: $13.29-$450 What's new: Mobos modular storage system comes in eight shapes and 13 colors. The company utilizes Metalline, a steel product colored with nontoxic, eco-friendly enamel. The units fit onto mounted bars and function as storage in any room as well as outdoor flower boxes. It's a kid's job to be messy, and it's our job to find creative solutions for their clutter. Mobos' boxes offer a playful way to hide toys, gadgets, whatever.
Favorites: A flowering wall makes a cheery setting in a child's room. Tel: 732-721-0890 ext. 2 / 877-MY-MOBOS E-mail: info@ilovemobos.com
HIGH CHAIRS AGE DESIGN DESIGNERS: Patrice Guillemin and Genevieve Grenier Homebase: Montreal, Canada What's new: "Age Design is a company with the mission to provide simple, aesthetically pleasing contemporary solutions with intelligent design to children's products." Wholesale prices: $220
Favorites: When infants turn to toddlers, they still need chairs that hold them securely with a seat that can be raised to the height of the table. The designers answer the need by flipping the seat section of the high chair over to reveal a larger sized chair. No need to take anything apart. So simple and attractive, too. Tel: 514-933-2736 E-mail: info@agedesign.ca
RUGS CLASSIC RUG COLLECTION DESIGNER: Barbara Barran Homebase: New York City, NY Prices: 4' X 6' $1999, 6' X 9' retails for $4199; custom rugs are $85/sq.ft. What's new: Barran introduced her Rya Collection, a series of rugs featuring Scandinavian-style design. The hand-tufted carpets, made in the U.S. of 100 percent New Zealand wool, jute, and latex, all natural products, are completely biodegradable. The word "Rya" conjures up tasteful tones of white, beige and gray. This "Rya" is a whole different animal: Fuchsia, lime, red; the only thing missing in the booth was a black light.
Favorites: The "Circles" rug hits a bull's eye in a kid's room. Tel: 212 832-3338 E-mail: info@classicrug.com
WALLPAPER NAMA ROCOCO DESIGNER: Karen Combs Homebase: North Adams, MA Wholesale prices: $126 per sheet, some higher Combs and company produce wallpaper panels the old fashioned way: hand painted and hand printed. Their couture product may be aimed at a rarefied few, but the joyous spirit of the designs - like an artistic child prodigy run amuck - makes the paper suitable for a teen's room. Or, never mind the kids and shake up the dining room with a couple of the glorious sheets.
Favorites: Tokyo & Vine. Like poetry, the design tells a complex story with a few simple motifs. Tel: 513-721-6262 E-mail: april@namarococo.com
Originally published June 8, 2007
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