What’s new and next in luxury interiors. Cool products and design finds from the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York City.
Automotive Inspired Furniture:
Sleek, sexy yet masculine, the coveted Lamborghini sports car becomes the muse for a furniture collection by the lifestyle company Tonino Lamborghini. Arm chair drivers can immerse themselves in Lamborghini’s signature red and gray quilted leather patterned sofas and chairs.
Founded in Italy in 1981 by Tonino Lamborghini, heir of the Lamborghini family, the collection draws inspiration from his family heritage and experience in mechanical and automotive engineering that manifests in a range of luxury design products.
Kiel Arto Design transforms old autobody steel into alluring patinas that adorn the tabletops of its debut collection. Opened less than a year ago, the company envisions its tables being used by people who appreciate functional art and are sensitive to the environment. “There is much art that is viewed from a distance, our tables are art that should be used, touched, and be part of your daily routine,” says artist Kristaps Gulbis, who teases out the hidden beauty of painted auto body steel in a collection of tables, wall tiles, wall panels and counter-tops.
Using automobile rooftops and embracing the dents and scratches, he creates an urban patina by gradually removing the layers of paint, following the color patterns and combinations to create “a painting that becomes a functional, practical piece of art.”
“Automotive body panels are not plastic pretending to be wood – this is factory painted steel that deserves a second life. Saving this material from the crusher is good for the environment,” says Kalnins.
Knitted Up:
Knitted, knotted and crocheted patterns nod to handmade craft rendered in contemporary silhouettes. The Cabaret collection of sofas and chairs reminds me of an oversized knit sweater with its knotted and weaving technique. Designed by Kenneth Cobonpue, the Philippines based, award-winning designer brings a new face to modern design using natural fibers and materials.
The Kabuki Floor Lamp by Kartell creates its lace patterning via an injection moulded process that produces a perforated surface dispersing light in a gorgeous grid.
Memphis Group Tributes:
Several collections caught my eye for their playful nod to the no rules approach to The Memphis Group design movement. Le Point D, a french furniture company, debuted the Couchino sofa by Margaux Keller, who “plays with everyday rules to surprise people.”
Furniture designer Annie Evelyn appeals to my material fixation with a collection of chairs that invent new tactile experiences. At first glance, the orbs appear to be sculptures but upon closer inspection, they are soft seating that resemble bean bags. Evelyn crafted the Oshibana Chair out of handmade paper flowers, silk flowers, foam and wood.
The Scale Lounge, also by Annie Evelyn, takes shape from foam, fabric and nickel scales.
On The Fringe:
Design na Pele (DNP) champions Brazilian leather internationally and brought to ICFF a swing chair made of leather fringe by designer Marta Manente who says , “With these projects, we aim to amaze by the audacity of updating traditional techniques and applications of leather in furniture.”
The Right Angles:
Luxury design has all the right angles on beauty with current looks celebrating the sharp, angular forms of triangles, diamonds, trapezoids and more. StickBulb’s X Collection of lighting fixtures create graphic and structurally closed shapes inspired by hexagonal and tetrahedral forms in nature.
Ginger Brown is a French company that debuted a desk and table that was all angles. The table mimics the form of a gemstone and the asymmetrical desk defies the typical rectangular top.
Unusual Woodwork:
Wood takes on surprising forms such as bathtubs, bikes and light fixtures in some of the latest luxury products.
London based designer Donald Baugh, debuted his collection of wooden light pendants with each interior painted in a dense acrylic pigment for a visual surprise. Using a variety of wood species including walnut, oak and sapele, Baugh sculpts soft organic forms that glow within.
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