Today the Javits Center closed its doors on the 25th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair, which also marked the official end of NYCxDESIGN. Although new product introductions in modern furniture, surfacing and accessories are obviously the main draw, the often flamboyant nature of design (and designers!) always produce some interesting people-watching in the aisles of every show. Here are a few snapshots of people at ICFF that caught the eye of photographer Dilsad Aydemir.

The D&D Building is getting into the Design Week action with two-days of  fun and insightful events, presentations, book signings and open houses. Together with a keynote presentation by Ann Maine, Editor in Chief of Traditional Home, there are more than 30 showroom events design aficionados will welcome. Presentations are scheduled all day long – meet Thom Filicia in the Kravet Showroom for sweet treats and a book signing and wrap up the day with HC&G Holiday House Hampton’s Kick Off Party. Twenty-five of the most followed virtual voices in design will participate in Spring Market’s “Blogger Lounge” and will be posting live throughout the day and about their finds after market.

When: Today & Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 14 to May 15, 2013 at 9:30 AM

Where: D&D Building, 979 Third Avenue, Suite 414, New York City

This post is brought to you by our roving D-C blogger Coleen Cahill

A new design fair in NYC springs up to coincide with Frieze New York and the May auctions. Collective.1 presents a curated selection of contemporary design and historical pieces from around the world on Pier 57. The former Marine & Aviation pier has been transformed into a light-filled industrial space featuring galleries including R 20^th Century which presents notable designers such as Greta Magnusson Grossman and Joaquim Tenreiro alongside emerging talent. Two other exhibitors that we enjoyed on our visit: Ornamentum with its dynamic collection of contemporary jewelry and Kinder Modern showcasing vintage design for the younger set. The VIP Lounge by BDDW affords an unusual view of the Hudson from a comfortable and stylish repose.

Collective.1′s last day is tomorrow  11a,-5pm

Pier 57

West Side Highway at 15^th Street

New York, NY 10011

collectivedesignfair.com

R 20th Century represents a diverse program of international design from 1945 to the present.

A stunning collection from R 20th Century featuring work from David Wiseman and The Haas Brothers among others.

VIP Lounge by BDDW

Southern Guild shows “Welcome to My World” by Bronze Age

New York may be the epitome of individualism on a day-to-day basis, but if Hurricane Sandy has taught us anything, it’s that New Yorkers look out for each other in times of need. After the mega-storm wreaked havoc on the East Coast in October, writers Jennifer Krichels and Jean Lin quickly formed Reclaim NYC – a grassroots organization utilizing New York’s design community to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy. After a successful inaugural show in December, the girls are back with a new furniture exhibition and charity sale during New York’s upcoming Design Week. Reclaim x2 features the work of more than 25 design teams including design darlings Lindsey Adelman, Egg Collective and Jonah Takagi. All of the proceeds will benefit local relief through the Brooklyn Recovery Fund. The exhibition is open to the public May 15-17 but the most important part is the charity sale!

Thursday, May 16, 2013

7:00 – 11:00pm

446 Broadway, Floor 3

NYC

For more information, visit www.ReclaimNYC.com

Recycling chic: Lighting pendant by Souda x Sure We Can

Get ready to shop til you drop! Housing Works’ ninth annual Design on a Dime fundraising event starts tomorrow night at the Metropolitan Pavilion and features more than 50 vignettes with new merchandise. The donated products are sold for 50-70% off retail pricing with proceeds benefitting Housing Works Hull Street Residence that will house single, formerly homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS.

This year, Design on a Dime will feature an incredible group of Co-Chairs, including:

• Yetta Banks (Vice President of Design and Construction for Viacom)
• Genevieve Gorder (Spokesperson for Valspar Paint and HGTV Design Star judge)
• Evette Rios (Craft, design and entertaining expert)
• Sabrina Soto (HGTV Interior Designer, LEED AP, Target Style Expert & Author)
• Lara Spencer (“Good Morning America” Co-Anchor, author of “I Brake for Yard Sales,” and interior designer)

The opening night celebration gives guests the first look at the room vignettes, exclusive preview shopping, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. The public sale follows on Friday and Saturday.

We’ve been on many a design jaunt, but no festival has been as intense, rich and exciting as the Salone del Mobile and its citywide celebrations–a dizzying design whirlwind, Italian style. Last week, D-C jet-setted to Milan to join in on the fun. The influence and popularity of Milan’s Design Week and the #iSaloni was evident right upon arrival. Fortified by Alitalia lasagne and the ironic Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies the airline served for breakfast, we hopped into a cab. The driver’s first words were “You are here for Salone del Mobile?” We said we were. He was very knowledgeable, telling us all about the Fair, as well as about the #Fuorisalone (events outside the fair) and how everyone in town was buzzing about the Design Week. “The city really comes together,” he said. While one can draw comparisons to the design shows and festivals in U.S. cities, we realized there’s rarely the same enthusiasm from the general population as there is in Milan for this event.

Now, onto our design finds! We are lucky to have a friend who lives in Milan. She showed us the ropes and helped us navigate the city. For Part 1 we’ll focus on Fuorisalone fun. Here are some highlights:

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI MILANO

Coming to a Sephora near you? Thousands of colorful and shiny lipsticks make up this cheery entryway installation.

“Autoban” with Deborah Milano and Gruppo Pozzi. Lighting by iGuzzini.

In the courtyard of the university, the structure below is composed of natural fir beams and posts. The external bas reliefs show plaster faces, hands and noses of classical statues, as well as eyewear. Some of the eyeglasses let you peek inside, where mirrors reflect animated images. The videos, produced by Safilo with the filmmaker Mario Greco, “narrate the world of eyewear and technologies in an ironic, surprising way.”

“Sguardi Indiscreti” by Michele De Lucchi with Safilo and lighting by iGuzzini

MOST (MUSEO NAZIONALE DELLA SCIENZA & DELLA TECNOLOGIA)

We loved MOST, because, as with many venues in Milan, it showed the contrast between classical and modern design that makes the city so magic. The Museum is full of gorgeous old ships, trains and aircraft, as well as Leonardo Da Vinci’s flying machine. During design week, installations and pop up shops were also scattered throughout the building:

“My nose, My Stekkerdoos,’ by Lensvelt, Studio Job

One of several designers set up in the museum, Fatima Fazal is the creative force behind the “Heart Part Cutlery Kit,” a cool, reusable utensil, which can be used as a fork, spoon, and knife and is made in India of biodegradable polystyrene…

Raw-Edges’ BLOOM has been commissioned by the British Council to showcase the works of Granta‘s eighty Best Young British Novelists. A clever combination of room divider and book loom, it’s formed of a light wooden frame and string book supports.

The TEMPORARY MUESEUM FOR NEW DESIGN is a yellow splashed industrial compound of new products and interactive displays.

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Qui Est Paul?

Tagina. Dot-to-Dot. Ceramic Pixels for Architecture[...]

Now, to the TRIENNALE!

Massimo Iosa Ghini’s SPORE and ARIA Lights for Leucos

The Talented S. Iosa Ghini (far right) with Guests

After the Triennale, we headed to Effeti  for the latest in kitchens & custom bouquets on the fly.

Effeti’s Floral “DJ”

Then we popped over to Sicis‘ “Le Bois Vivant” Party with Vanity Fair & Architectural Digest

Finally, on our way to a delicious dinner in the Brera area, we took in the gorgeous sights at the ACCADEMIA DI BRERA

Architects lend an interesting sensibility to furniture design, applying their unique philosophies on the built environment to the world of products. This year, many of the industry’s brightest architecture stars launched new furniture collections at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan from April 9-14. Here’s a look at some of our favorites:

“Tools for Life” by OMA

Photo courtesy of OMA © Ilan Rubin

Joining the ranks of venerable design masters like Saarinen and Mies van der Rohe, Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas unveiled an 11-piece collection of kinetic furniture by his innovative firm, OMA, for Knoll. Approaching each piece like a high-performance instrument, the Tools for Life collection includes height-adjustable tables and chairs and a counter made of swiveling stacked blocks. According to Knoll, the collection “offers a contemporary interface between furniture and people, supporting the ebb and flow of work and social life, while adjusting to the different needs of both.”

“The Wing” by Studio Daniel Libeskind

Photo © FIAM

The Wing mirror collection, designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind for Fiam, features the architect’s signature style of fragmentation. Two parallel lines near the top and bottom of each mirror create a chasm in the flat surface, also causing a break in the viewer’s reflection. The mirrors are available in a multitude of shapes for horizontal, vertical and slanted hanging.

“Liquid Glacial Table” by Zaha Hadid Architects

Photo © Jacopo Spilimbergo

Much like the firm‘s buildings, the Liquid Glacial Table brings movement to a static object. Using clear polished plexiglass, the designers play with surface complexity and light refraction while demonstrating various forms of flowing water including ripples, waves, and whirlpools. The table is available in dining and coffee table versions through David Gill Galleries.

“Studio Seating” by UNStudio

Pictured: Studio Twin

No stranger to furniture design, Dutch architects UNStudio have created a new line of minimal, versatile seating for Swedish brand Offecct. Allowing the user to choose between open and private arrangements, the series includes Studio Easy Chair (a single seating element with a wing on its right or left side), Studio Twin Beam (a pair of seats linked by a small table) and Studio Twin (a pair of seats with a solid base that mirrors the backrest). The frame is made from laminated wood with upholstery in fabric or leather.

From Zona Tortona to the Brera Design District, our editors are on site and making the rounds, Fuorisalone. While it is nearly impossible to hit all the events in/around Milan this week, we’re up for the challenge. Here’s a few on our radar…

“Caution: Architects at Play” – a new board game for grownups, PLAY5 was conceived by architect Danilo Premoli. @ Refin Studio, Foro Buonaparte 68. Click for instructions and to register.

Leucos’ “LIGHT YOUR HEART” – renowned designers including Arik Levy, Karim Rashid, Massimo Iosa Ghini, Patrick Jouin and Roberto Paoli, to name a few, re-interpret THE GREAT JJ light to raise funds for Città della Speranza. @ Galvanotecnica Bugatti, Valextra, Bikkembergs, Tie-ups, Pescheria da Claudio, Sanmarcouno, Fabiana Filippi, Lovethesign and Cesare Paciotti, & more.

EDIT by DesignJunction – a major destination for contemporary interior design, creativity and culture featuring more than 30 leading international brands. @ La Pelota Via Palermo. Free entry.

Retro/Perspective: 10 Years Tuttobene - A platform showcasing 17 emerging Dutch design talents as well as 10 more established designers and Tuttobene alumni @Arsenale, Via Tortona 31

Next PechaKucha mini-event in 19 hours + 53 minutes (10 April @ 17:30PM)

MOST - Design destination founded by British designer Tom Dixon. A curated creative hub promoting forward-thinking culture, commerce and creativity against the extraordinary backdrop of historic exhibits based on technical innovation. Click to register @Milan Museum of Science and Technology, Via Olono 6B.

http://instagram.com/mostsalone/

Brera Design Night – Held on April 12, the sleepless night will feature showrooms & special events that will animate the streets, squares and institutional buildings.

 

 

(Photo by Jude Dornski)

Last week’s 12th annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show could not have been a bigger treat for designers and design enthusiasts alike (myself included)! The four-day event brought the best in home design from more than 500 premium brands to New York City’s Pier 94, drawing top professionals, discerning consumers, and  press from all over the Western Hemisphere.

We want to say we sauntered and skipped through aisles of beautiful colors and exquisite craftsmanship, but the truth is, we were stopping at every booth!—so there was little rushing about involved. And as difficult a task as it was, here are some our favorites:

Royal Botania x D’Apostrophe

The Royal Botania / D’Apostrophe booth was a favorite for people wanting to relax—and where better than on the NINIX Lounger?

NOA Living

Probably the most colorful booth at the entire show, NOA Living’s beautiful pieces in the Ethno-Modern style immediately caught the eye. 100% wool or wool/silk blend carpets, antiques, and the most comfortable and fluffy stools—the Fufu!

Palo Samko

This Brooklyn-based woodworker truly has a way with materials, seamlessly blending leather and wood—and he also is great at organizing things neatly.

Analog Modern

We also met Peter Buley of Analog Modern, who created this sculptural and functional coffee table. He never tries to find the perfect piece of wood for a particular project, instead letting whatever wood he has—discarded or otherwise—drive the design.

Moonish Co.

And while we’re on the subject of wood… Moonish Co’s magnetic wooden tiles are a great way to easily add color and style to a stark wall. Handmade in Brooklyn.

Catherine Latson

If your style is delicate, artist Catherine Latson creates sculptures and other art pieces by twisting, twining, and braiding nature.

IN.SEK DESIGN

Ashira Israel, one of the few female fabricators we saw at the show, made this awesome Musical Platform out of Concrete, Resin, Steel, Walnut Veneer, Ebony.

We then ventured to the show’s reFRESH pavilion…

Miele

Miele presented us with a sleek, clean, all-white-everything look—that is, until we opened their new refrigerators to find… food organized neatly!

EcoWalls

We thought it was impossible to have a fresh herb garden (or any thriving garden, period.) in New York City until we saw this:

Fulgor Milano

We thought these cooking ranges had a touch of Mondrian artistry in them… function doesn’t negate beauty!

Hansgrohe Axor x Oborain

Hnasgrohe and its designer brand, Axor, had paired up with Oborain at the show. Oborain’s Cove, a new outdoor shower design, featured Hansgrohe’s sustainably focused Croma Green Showerpipe. We also LOVED the Axor Urquiola Single Hole Faucet—those handles!

(Kiel is very popular.)

And finally, DIFFA! All of the vignettes in the Dining by Design space are luxurious and amazingly well-done, but “Midnight Garden” was one of our favorites. It had a fantastical nature at night theme featuring “Moon Blossom” from Beacon Hill‘s upcoming Midnight Garden collection.

We also couldn’t help but be attracted to the glittering arrangement by Michael Aram, whose handcrafted table and house wares have always been a big favorite of ours.

And after four days of design, it was time to relax on some Technogel, which is really, really amazingly comfortable.

Here’s hoping that Monday’s March snow marked the end to this long, cold and windy winter. We’re ready for spring! Next week, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House hosts its annual benefit at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The evening will honor Caroline and Thompson Dean, past Neighborhood House Board Chairs. It is sponsored by VERANDA Magazine and organized by Honorary Design Chairs Bunny Williams and John Rosselli with Design Chairs Dara Caponigro, David Duncan, Carolyn Englefield, Lindsey Harper and Christopher Sptizmiller.

Entitled “High Society,” the extraordinary event includes cocktails, a silent auction, dinner and dancing. The 45 tables, each decorated by a different, renowned designer, will follow the evening’s theme.   Individual tickets start at $1,000 and tables range from $10,000-$25,000, with proceeds benefitting the 119-year old settlement house, which provides an extensive array of effective and integrated human services to New Yorkers in need. Last year’s event raised over $1.3 million. Let’s aim for $2 million this year!

When: Wednesday, April 3. Cocktails & Silent Auction at 7PM, Dinner at 8:30PM followed by Dancing

Where: Cipriani 42nd St, NYC

Event Contact: Virginia Pitman, vpitman@lenoxhill.org