2011 ICFF Trend Report

Contributed by Lori Dolnick

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York draws more than 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries and showcases the best in contemporary design. It’s a high-energy show that’s well attended by the design community from students to celebrity designers – all on the prowl for the latest new products, colors and concepts. Here’s what we saw:

High Style, Recycled

IceStone is known for their green, durable surfaces - made from 100% recycled glass and cement and certified at the Gold level of Cradle to Cradle™.

Sail Away in Comfort

With its sail-like shape, the Spinnaker chair simulates the feeling of floating on a cloud. And you can customize it to fit your décor — they will even use your old sails for added saltiness.

Iconic Chef Style, Redefined

BLANCO’s CULINA faucet offers a refined chef’s style with an innovative magnetic hook up feature. It’s easier to clean and fits beautifully into today’s more sophisticated transitional kitchen styles.

Tools at Schools

Tools at Schools is a learning partnership program between Bernhardt Design, Aruliden and The School at Columbia University. The result is a series of school furniture designed by kids, for kids. www.tools-at-schools.com

Softlight Clouds

Molo’s award winning soft collection of flexible walls, building blocks, seating and lighting exemplifies their exploration of production processes and experiential space making.

Modern Outdoor Living

Herman Miller's Eames Aluminum Group returns to its roots by creating a new outdoor collection that received the ICFF Editors' Choice Award for Best Outdoor Furniture. www.hermanmiller.com

To Infinity and Beyond

A first of its kind, this new tile drain from Infinity Drain incorporates tile or natural surface material to make the grate literally disappear from view.

Sculpted Relaxation

Hand sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, the EAU Soaking Tub, by Stone Forest will make a stunning visual statement in any contemporary bathroom.

Functional Art

Lladró offers their new Metropolis collection that melds avant-garde building shapes with functional objects such as lamps, vases, mirrors and boxes.

Shapely Washbasin

Too pretty to be called a bath sink, the Laufen ILBAGNOALESSI One Tuna sink offers graceful curves in a white or warm grey finish. 

Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.

2011 ICFF Trend Report

Contributed by Lori Dolnick

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York draws more than 500 exhibitors from over 30 countries and showcases the best in contemporary design. It’s a high-energy show that’s well attended by the design community from students to celebrity designers – all on the prowl for the latest new products, colors and concepts. Here’s what we saw:

High Style, Recycled

IceStone is known for their green, durable surfaces - made from 100% recycled glass and cement and certified at the Gold level of Cradle to Cradle™.

Sail Away in Comfort

With its sail-like shape, the Spinnaker chair simulates the feeling of floating on a cloud. And you can customize it to fit your décor — they will even use your old sails for added saltiness.

Iconic Chef Style, Redefined

BLANCO’s CULINA faucet offers a refined chef’s style with an innovative magnetic hook up feature. It’s easier to clean and fits beautifully into today’s more sophisticated transitional kitchen styles.

Tools at Schools

Tools at Schools is a learning partnership program between Bernhardt Design, Aruliden and The School at Columbia University. The result is a series of school furniture designed by kids, for kids. www.tools-at-schools.com

Softlight Clouds

Molo’s award winning soft collection of flexible walls, building blocks, seating and lighting exemplifies their exploration of production processes and experiential space making.

Modern Outdoor Living

Herman Miller's Eames Aluminum Group returns to its roots by creating a new outdoor collection that received the ICFF Editors' Choice Award for Best Outdoor Furniture. www.hermanmiller.com

To Infinity and Beyond

A first of its kind, this new tile drain from Infinity Drain incorporates tile or natural surface material to make the grate literally disappear from view.

Sculpted Relaxation

Hand sculpted from a single block of Carrara marble, the EAU Soaking Tub, by Stone Forest will make a stunning visual statement in any contemporary bathroom.

Functional Art

Lladró offers their new Metropolis collection that melds avant-garde building shapes with functional objects such as lamps, vases, mirrors and boxes.

Shapely Washbasin

Too pretty to be called a bath sink, the Laufen ILBAGNOALESSI One Tuna sink offers graceful curves in a white or warm grey finish. 

Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.

Five Trends to Watch at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

By Lori Dolnick

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, NV was a leaner exhibition – a reflection of the economy and home building sales no doubt. But traffic and designer interest was brisk for the exhibitors present – hopefully a positive sign for the future. KBIS is one of my favorite shows. Homeowners really invest in their kitchens and KBIS is the place to see what’s new, what’s trending and where the kitchen of the future is going. Here are some of the trends I saw and hot new products coming out this year.

1.    Transitional or New Traditional
Transitional or New Traditional is here to stay - a real style in its own right. From TOTO’s new Vivian faucet

to Hardware Resources’ Lyn Design Bath Vanities in Chocolate – what’s old is new again.

Today’s Traditional offers cleaner lines, less ornamentation and a more updated, sophisticated feel.


2.    Personal Style
We’re not designing for resale value. We’re designing for ourselves – for the long haul.

Top Knobs launched their unique new Passport Collection at KBIS – inspired by global landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, Victoria Falls, Sydney Opera House, Tower Bridge and the Great Wall of China. What could be more personal than decorating with a souvenir from somewhere special? It’s what we all do when we travel, but now you can get a free sample shipped to your home without going anywhere at all. Design meets destination.

Another example… someone at the show told me to visit the Scotsman Ice Systems booth because they love to chew ice. You can’t get more personal than that! Me – I like the big cubes in my water. But if someone needs them small and chewy – this would be the system for them. Personal taste is a trend that is hot right now.

3.    Personal Luxury

If KBIS is any indicator – toilets are the next hot new must-have gadget. INAX’s latest offering, for example, plays music, lights your way at night, heats the seat, offers a personal cleansing massage plus automatically opens and closes. Plasmacluster technology cleans the air with antibacterial ions. Never mind its advanced flushing technology, green features and sophisticated design. So when I was asked would I pay $4,800 for a luxury spa toilet, my answer was simple, “it shuts the seat?” Worth the price of admission for me!

My kids did ask if it knows to open for a boy or a girl. The INAX representative told me it opens the lid for girls. Sorry fellas, you’ll have to lift the seat on your own.


4.    Design Matters

From Michael Graves’ teapots to Poggenpohl’s Porsche kitchen, branded design partnerships are not new. Design and Designers matter to homeowners. And the elements do not have to be expensive to offer high performance or design. Dacor’s new Distinctive 36” cooktop was created in partnership with BMW Group Designworks USA and is a perfect example of an accessibly priced appliance that has name plate designer status attached.

5.    Green as a Greens Fee

OK, I’m a golfer. To me a “greens fee” means something you pay just to play. And in today’s marketplace, you need to be green to play. While it’s still not high on the consumer’s punch list, designers, architects and manufacturers recognize that they must be environmentally friendly. Products like LED lighting from Stone Lighting and

Samsung’s Radianz Quartz with recycled content, demonstrate that the building community has embraced green as a long-term necessity that won’t go away like gas rationing in the 70’s. Let’s applaud the design community for creatively leading us to be environmentally responsible instead of waiting for us to ask.


Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.


 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::

Five Trends to Watch at the 2011 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS)

By Lori Dolnick

The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas, NV was a leaner exhibition – a reflection of the economy and home building sales no doubt. But traffic and designer interest was brisk for the exhibitors present – hopefully a positive sign for the future. KBIS is one of my favorite shows. Homeowners really invest in their kitchens and KBIS is the place to see what’s new, what’s trending and where the kitchen of the future is going. Here are some of the trends I saw and hot new products coming out this year.

1.    Transitional or New Traditional
Transitional or New Traditional is here to stay - a real style in its own right. From TOTO’s new Vivian faucet

to Hardware Resources’ Lyn Design Bath Vanities in Chocolate – what’s old is new again.

Today’s Traditional offers cleaner lines, less ornamentation and a more updated, sophisticated feel.


2.    Personal Style
We’re not designing for resale value. We’re designing for ourselves – for the long haul.

Top Knobs launched their unique new Passport Collection at KBIS – inspired by global landmarks such as the Trevi Fountain, Victoria Falls, Sydney Opera House, Tower Bridge and the Great Wall of China. What could be more personal than decorating with a souvenir from somewhere special? It’s what we all do when we travel, but now you can get a free sample shipped to your home without going anywhere at all. Design meets destination.

Another example… someone at the show told me to visit the Scotsman Ice Systems booth because they love to chew ice. You can’t get more personal than that! Me – I like the big cubes in my water. But if someone needs them small and chewy – this would be the system for them. Personal taste is a trend that is hot right now.

3.    Personal Luxury

If KBIS is any indicator – toilets are the next hot new must-have gadget. INAX’s latest offering, for example, plays music, lights your way at night, heats the seat, offers a personal cleansing massage plus automatically opens and closes. Plasmacluster technology cleans the air with antibacterial ions. Never mind its advanced flushing technology, green features and sophisticated design. So when I was asked would I pay $4,800 for a luxury spa toilet, my answer was simple, “it shuts the seat?” Worth the price of admission for me!

My kids did ask if it knows to open for a boy or a girl. The INAX representative told me it opens the lid for girls. Sorry fellas, you’ll have to lift the seat on your own.


4.    Design Matters

From Michael Graves’ teapots to Poggenpohl’s Porsche kitchen, branded design partnerships are not new. Design and Designers matter to homeowners. And the elements do not have to be expensive to offer high performance or design. Dacor’s new Distinctive 36” cooktop was created in partnership with BMW Group Designworks USA and is a perfect example of an accessibly priced appliance that has name plate designer status attached.

5.    Green as a Greens Fee

OK, I’m a golfer. To me a “greens fee” means something you pay just to play. And in today’s marketplace, you need to be green to play. While it’s still not high on the consumer’s punch list, designers, architects and manufacturers recognize that they must be environmentally friendly. Products like LED lighting from Stone Lighting and

Samsung’s Radianz Quartz with recycled content, demonstrate that the building community has embraced green as a long-term necessity that won’t go away like gas rationing in the 70’s. Let’s applaud the design community for creatively leading us to be environmentally responsible instead of waiting for us to ask.


Lori Dolnick is a regular contributor to ::Surroundings::


See all Lori's posts here.


 Subscribe to ::Surroundings::