At High Point Market, Councill debuted smaller scale pieces, such as the Mason Tuxedo Sofa.
Buzz
Urban Living, from New York to North Carolina
Seattle designers pick up on the newest trends, the standout pieces and the impact of economy and environment on the design world



The Silhouettes Chair and Gentry Chair are pieces that can be customized in Hickory Chair’s new upholstery program



Calvin Klein’s walnut daybed adheres to a minimalist style with clean lines and an ebony finish.

 

The Calvin Klein canopy bed and armless occasional chair are two more examples of that minimalist style.



The slimly discreet Melli Compact Lounge from Urbancase borrows its name from the bar in Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport and is perfect for an impromptu happy hour.


3form Light Art creates sculptural light fixtures from an ecoresin material.

High Point Market

April 25–30, 2009
High Point, North Carolina

Thousands gathered in North Carolina to celebrate the centennial anniversary of High Point Market, the premier industry show for high-end home furnishings in the United States, now featuring more than 2,000 exhibitors.

Seattle-area attendees included Bob and Dave Masin of Masins Fine Furnishings & Interior Design. The father-and-son duo, who say twice-yearly High Point Market is the “hub of the furniture world,” use the show as their primary resource for merchandise.

This year, Bob and Dave both noticed the size, mood and focus of the market were affected by the economy. “It was by far the least attended market in the last 20 years,” Bob notes. He also noticed that the economic changes in the industry have led to a refocused agenda, “from creating new and different products to refining existing product lines.”

Still, a few new lines stood out, including furniture from Calvin Klein with a retro feel and clean lines. Bob noticed Hickory Chair’s new custom upholstery program, which can ship within 30 days. Dave observed a switch to small-scale furniture options, which he attributes to downsizing and migration into the urban market. Some of Dave’s favorite petite sofa options came from the furniture company Councill.

International Contemporary Furniture Fair

May 16–19, 2009
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City

Companies from 34 countries were present at the 21st annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair, which features the newest creations from the modern design world. The fair was open to the public for one of its four days.

Seattle-area exhibitors included Darin Montgomery, founder of Urbancase—a Seattle-based furniture design-build firm—and Ryan Grey Smith, president and artistic director of lighting company 3form Light Art, which received the Gold award for Best of NeoCon2009 for an 8-foot-tall chandelier.

Montgomery, a three-time attendee, unveiled new Urbancase products, including the Melli Compact Lounge, a wall-mounted bar storage unit that garnered much attention. Montgomery, who has a design sensibility that focuses on providing urban-living solutions, is a believer in creating the smallest environmental footprint possible, and he noticed a trend toward smaller spaces and urban living.

A five-time exhibitor, Smith enjoyed being immersed in the energy of the New York market. “It shows different and unique products with aesthetics closer to those seen at European design shows,” he says.


This article originally appeared in the September/October 2009 print issue of Seattle Homes & Lifestyles.