Viva World Market!

We are back from Las Vegas World Market and all abuzz at Design Alliance after five days of roaming the halls with a bag on wheels. We all hit the trail with one mission in mind—to find NEW, quality, versatile, forward-thinking vendors to bring home to our fabulous designers. It was my first time to the Las Vegas Market and for those of you who have never been, it is sensory overload! You are met by the stylish “A-B-C” buildings of the World Market Center. They circle around an outdoor gathering quad, dotted with seating areas, fire pits, an ice skating rink and a fully equipped stage, from which music fills the air all day long. It’s all very exciting. 

Once we narrowed our focus and mapped a course we spilt up to explore inside this “global” environment. There was a strong organic feeling across the board. The fabrics were natural and tactile—linens, burlap, leather, mohair, velvet—all in a subtle array of neutrals. Yet sprinkled across this quiet, muted ground were accents of bold, pure color—colors like all the hues of a peacock feather or every shade of orange and saffron yellow. Plus, as noted at the “First Look” seminar, navy and gold are back as a trend for 2014. Meanwhile, gold and warm silver-leaf finishes were found in lighting, accessories and metal-based case goods.

The shape of things was eclectically unique, fabrics were still strong with geometric and ethnic prints and rugs were everywhere in big, bold, colorful graphics that could steal a room. Twenties-era glamour was still an important reference point. For the average bear, vintage glamour, as in a mirrored chest or velvet lounge… but for the truly glamorous, see “Christopher Guy,” period. And of course the Mid-Century form. From a suggestion in a leg or silhouette, to a flat-out exact re-creation of the dresser in my bedroom in 1959, the modern mid-century design influenced collections throughout the market. Another strong modern inspiration was the classic Chesterfield, with its low profile and high sides, seen on sofas and chairs. Plus tufting was everywhere on everything—chairs, ottomans, sofas, benches and headboards—oh and nail heads, for an upholstery update, tuft and nail. 

Anything eco-friendly, recycled or sustainable, stuck on the face of a chest or as a table top was popular. The base of a dining table with weathered, turned legs or a raw, rough-cut pedestal base was seen with a top of distressed, unfinished wood or covered in a sheet of galvanized metal—sorta like if “Shabby Chic” and “vintage metal office furniture” had a child. This unique table would then be surrounded by metal industrial stools or a stylized, classic chair like the oval-back Louis XVI, with bleached wood frame and leather upholstery. For the 20- to 30-something urban dwellers, think vintage industrial. A metal, multi-drawer card file as an end table/chest, metal lockers for storage or any kind of steel or pot metal contraption as an accessory is very “now.”  Also seen more than once: the bicycle wheel—as a stool, lamp base, table base and chandelier—and, at the “Phillips Collection,” an entire wall of bicycle wheels created a charming, circle and spoke artwork. 

 

Speaking of artwork, paintings and graphics notwithstanding, wall space was being invaded by just about anything mounted in groups or waves or clusters or polka dots. Colorful blown glass bottles, balls, platters and bowls, mod ceramic flowers, balls of gold wire, random sticks of driftwood, coral and shells, baskets, woven paper… anything, artfully displayed and enhancing the surroundings became interesting and whimsical wall art.

For accessories, the old world artisans come to the city. Think hand crafted and global, nestled among bright, slick colorful ceramics.  A shiny orange vase complements a colorful hand woven Indian basket, or a 2-foot weathered wooden head of a Hindu God sits on a contemporary console in aqua blue lacquer.  It’s “One World” in the ultimate eclectic blend of esthetics. From China, Tibet, Peru, Brazil, India and Africa we see elegant, exotic, primitive works of art displayed with Vegas in the background. Amazing!

In lighting, the fixtures were like artwork suspended in air.  Metal hanging fixtures from clean machined geometrics to raw cut-outs on barrel shades, lights made of chains, random balled wire, hanging silver balls and lots of 60s inspired starbursts. Lest I forget the Christopher Guy blown glass explosion!   One great new style seen over and over were pendant clusters, groups of 3-4-5 same or very different pendant lights grouped over a surface, artfully spread out or falling from the ceiling—charming and fun.

Needless to say there is so much more to talk about, and I will in my next blog. I’ll also share the vendors we found at market and would like to partner with.  All of this will only happen with your buy-in. Look for a “Show n’ Tell” in early March of all the vendors under consideration. We want to know what you think, and we want to know what you want!

 Check the events calendar on our web site for the “Show n’ Tell” date and time. 

FINALLY, DON’T MISS OUR GRAND REOPENING EVENT FEBRUARY 13, FROM 11 AM TO 4 PM. Eight vendors to meet n’ greet, tasty food, and fabulous prizes—including an iPad Mini—with a drawing every hour! So please join us and come see our new look!