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Our Unique Finds From ICFF

by Kayla Kitts May 31, 2012 8 Comments

So, last week most of the HGTV.com editorial team headed to NYC to soak up four days of contemporary and ultra-modern design at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). Liz, Briana, Camille, Farima and I all covered 145,000-square-feet of space and talked with hundreds of designers, retailers and manufacturers from all over the globe. It. Was. Exhausting. And so much fun! We met Jonathan Adler, bumped into our very own Jamie Durie (who turned us all into giggling fools) and picked up some incredible design trends that we can’t wait to share with you all. But with more than 500 exhibitors, we were bound to pass a few unique and odd pieces worth passing along, since we’re pretty sure you won’t be finding any of these in your local furniture shops. Of course we saw plenty of functional, innovative and clever furnishings, but these are purely design for design’s sake. Ready to see? Here we go!

icff 2012 carnegie fabrics parsons the new school for design canopy Carnegie Fabrics :: Parsons The New School for Design

A Structural Pavilion Created From Sustainable Fabric: I was completely and utterly mesmerized by this canopy that I noticed within the first few minutes of entering the conference on day one. Design students from Parsons The New School for Design took fabric off a chair and upcycled each piece to form this dreamy structure. Imagine installing this in your outdoor space and hiding from the sun with a good book. Sigh…

icff 2012 rachel o'neill velcro chandelier Rachel O’Neill

A Chandelier Made From Strands of Velcro: “Velcro: it’s not just for your KangaROOS shoes. It can also be your chandelier, and a beautiful one at that. These are custom made-to-order — the designer lives in Ireland but sells a lot in London and NYC, too.” — Liz Gray

icff 2012 tracy kennedy wallpaper fringe design Tracy Kennedy Wallpaper

Textured Wallpaper With Touchable Fringe: “When I first saw this wallpaper, I immediately thought of the flapper costume I wore a few years ago for Halloween. I can totally see it in a swanky bar in Las Vegas. Nevertheless, it was one of the most memorable pieces of the show for me.” — Farima Alavi

See a Mannequin Lamp, Zombie Chair + More

Spotlight On Our Feature Blogger Jeanine Hays of Aphrochic

by Anna Millman August 8, 2011 4 Comments

As if she wasn’t already incredibly busy, our feature blogger Jeanine Hays of Aphrochic co-designed a spread in the latest issue of Matchbook Magazine (A Rooftop Soiree on page 80)…AND is leaving for Paris in a few weeks to present her line at the Maison & Objet trade show. But the really big news is Jeanine just signed her first book deal! APHROCHIC: MODERN.SOULFUL.STYLE will be published by Clarkson Potter in fall of 2013. Soon after Jeanine returns from France, she’ll be zipping across the country, photographing homes that reflect the intersection of modern and global design. (And hopefully sharing some behind-the-scenes blog posts on Design Happens about what goes into publishing a design book.)
Congratulations Jeanine!

Answer to What the…? Under Pressure

by Hilary Johnson June 16, 2011 4 Comments

Jessica, I’m thinking you must be psychic. Without any hesitation Jessica replied, “It’s a bench.” Barbara followed with an even more descriptive answer that it’s an “outdoor sculptural bench.” (Stephen, you must be a comedian, because no matter how I look at it, I can’t seem to figure out how you see a “turkey baster”).

Extrusions Bench + Manufacturing Process

This intriguing single component creation is called an Extrusions bench and is the work of Heatherwick Studio. To produce it, they scaled up the aluminium extrusion process that is typically used to make small components for a car. “A large press capable of exerting up to ten thousand tons of pressure, shown above, creates the extruded sections by squeezing aluminium through its die (the opening that forms the shape of the profile to be created).” Extrusions is the work of Heatherwick Studio, the same designers who created the Spun Chair we featured a few weeks ago.

I can’t imagine what I’d think seeing this bench in a park: “Do I sit on it or is that artwork?” What would you do?

Tell us in the comments below.

Answer to “What the…?”

by Georgette April 7, 2011 4 Comments

Behold the Fusillo Bench by Italian designer Marco Goffi. This funky piece of furniture comfortably seats three. Christine was the first non-HGTV staff member to guess correctly this week! (Kelley, you’re a great boss, but stop. Stop playing. Really.)

Fusillo Bench

Goffi’s aim was to create a seating option that encourages social interaction due to its unusual design. So I ask…if you saw this bench in a public park, would you be more likely start a conversation with a stranger?