The 29th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) attracted over 33,000 interior designers, architects, retailers, representatives, distributers, facility managers and more to the four-day fair held at the Jacob K. Javits Center in conjunction with New York Design Week. From the over 750 exhibitors that displayed the latest in contemporary furniture, flooring, lighting and kitchen and bath designs for both residential and commercial interiors, the NKBA K+B Insiders’ narrowed it down to their top five picks. See below for a look at the top trends in K&B design as seen at this year’s show:
Less is More in Faucet Design
“After years of seeing updated takes on farmhouse, formal and shaker styles, minimalist faucets are making a comeback,” said NKBA K+B Insider Brian Patrick Flynn. “The Franz Viegener booth had its best in show on display with super simple faucets updated with sleeker-than-ever lines and a low-sitting, low-slung look. As vessel sinks continue to evolve, these fixtures, meant mostly for under mount sinks, help solidify the idea that the minimalist look is back and in full effect when it comes to bathroom design.”
Concrete for Residential Interiors
“Often seen as a product used in industrial interiors only, the use of concrete is becoming more popular in residential kitchen and bath design,” said NKBA K+B Insider Karl Champley. “A low maintenance, great-to-touch alternative, Walker Zanger showed off the new-to-market Kaza Collection, born from a collaboration with European tile studio Kaza. The collection is comprised of both stock products and bespoke items to allow for an endless number of geometric design and color combinations. Made with state-of-the-art technology, the collection is suitable for both indoor and outdoor application.”
Out of the Woods and Into the Home
“The trend toward raw material integration continued at ICFF with many exhibitors displaying furniture and cabinetry shown in their natural state,” said NKBA K+B Insider Patricia Davis Brown. “From Chef to Table, a manufacturer of wood tables and custom countertops, presented a beautiful live edge table created from a lightning struck tree in Bali. Out of the one fallen tree, the designer created three tables. Live edge, a style of furniture incorporating the natural edge of the wood, has become a popular request from my clients in recent years.”
Appliance Integration
“Another trend we noticed is the increased use of appliances that blend with the cabinetry,” said NKBA K+B Insider Alberto Villalobos. “Manufacturers are creating appliances with a larger number of finish options to allow homeowners to seamlessly blend appliances into the overall design of the kitchen. A great example is the Miele wall oven, a great option to customize a kitchen as well as make the space clean and functional. The appliance integration trend is also a great solution for both open and closed kitchen floor plans.”
Industrial is the New Modern
“Industrial style plumbing continues to make a splash in modern interiors,” said NKBA K+B Insider Young Huh. “The combination of matte brass industrial-style faucets with wood or stone sinks and vanities boasts a look that is both warm and fashion forward. Brizo’s Litze collection, born from the desire to reunite creativity and manufacturing, was a great example seen at this year’s show.”
To check out more trends from the NKBA K+B Insiders’ trip to New York City and ICFF, check out their #kbinsider posts on Instagram.
Throughout 2016, the NKBA K+B Insiders will report on the latest industry trends from across the globe, must-attend events and top industry trade shows. Next stop: Dwell on Design in Los Angeles. Stay up-to-date on the latest trends with #KBInsider on Twitter and Facebook, and through the K+B Insider’s guest blog posts on the NKBA blog.
