Home Decor Inspiration Aplenty Found at BDNY

While Homedit’s focus is always you and your home, we traveled to New York to visit the leading trade fair for the hospitality design industry. This is a fertile field for home decor inspiration and many of the products originally designed for high-end hotels or chic restaurants would be equally stunning in a home. This year’s edition of Boutique Design NY did not disappoint. We found many new ideas and products in lighting, furniture, wall coverings and a number of other categories.

Furniture

New designs for fun furnishings were plentiful and this chair was one of our favorites. It’s a little skewed in proportions, which makes it a conversation piece as well. Eclectic Contract Furniture Industries presented this chair from the LegArm collection, which was designed by Petu Kummala, a Finnish native and long time Miami Beach resident who runs an independent design firm and has designed pieces for the world’s leading cruise lines. We love the “off” lines that make it more than just a little different.

The company is known for contract furniture but also produces custom pieces for high-end homes.
The company is known for contract furniture but also produces custom pieces for high-end homes.

A modern and comfortable seating grouping was shown by the Gettys Group. Stretched across pale wood frames, the leather chairs have ample cushions, offering comfort as well as stability and style. Dual occasional tables are functional but also add a pop of color to the otherwise neutral setting. The pairing with a geometric rug also helps delineate the seating space with the darker sections under the chairs.

Add a furry round ottoman to insert playfulness into the setting.
Add a furry round ottoman to insert playfulness into the setting.

The Gimme Shelter sofa by Diesel for Moroso was designed to offer a private setting in a larger space, however we think it would be great as a seat for a kitchen nook or in a large, high-ceiling, open living space. The upholstery also comes in a print and the piece has a sturdy steel frame. The privacy afforded by the high-backed design creates a space perfect for reading, contemplation or just conversing. The lamp is by Diesel for Foscarini and is called the Metafisica for its mysterious appearance. The hand-blown glass appears to float inside the steel frame when it is lit, and looks like a modern sculpture when it is not.

A variety of upholstery choices are available for the Gimme Shelter sofa.
A variety of upholstery choices are available for the Gimme Shelter sofa.

Moroso also showed a number of pieces, including their popular chair, the Pipe, designed by Sebastian Herkner. The low chair is simple and light, and with the Anomaly stool upholstered in a furry fabric, makes a luxurious spot for lounging. A powder-painted aluminium tube sports the rounded chair back, which looks almost like an inflatable tube. It’s perfect for a casual setting as the upholstery and shape are luxe but not formal.

The colors are perfect for the millennial pink trend that seems to be invading all parts of the home.
The colors are perfect for the millennial pink trend that seems to be invading all parts of the home.

A luxurious chaise lounge gets extra drama from a tufted body that is accented with crystals. The dark and dramatic seat from Amtrend, a US-based manufacturer of contract furniture, is perfect for a bedroom, a reading room or a stylish living room. Paired with a modern side table, the addition of a jewel-toned wall covering adds to the drama. Here, Amtrend showed it with emerald green, a color they repeat through this collection of black furniture. All of the pieces featuring the color combination were stunning.

Leather furnishings are well paired with fluffy rugs for added luxury.
Leather furnishings are well paired with fluffy rugs for added luxury.

With velvet trending — and showing no signs of slowing down — we could not pass by this deep blue sofa from Quality and Company of Canada. The chubby round bolster arm at one end, along with the open section at the other, make this a very versatile seat. The spare metal legs pair well with the duo of tables that substitute for a traditional coffee table. Also in this set, the rounded lounge chairs feature a double back that not only adds padding, but another line of dimension to the seat.

This living room grouping has sophisticated lines and style.
This living room grouping has sophisticated lines and style.

Guadalajara’s Mexa Design has come up with a hanging chair design that is portable and perfect for inside or out. The red-coated metal frame and woven seat is paired with removable cushions. From an indoor garden room to an outdoor deck or patio, the piece is a comfortable as well as colorful addition. We love the ample seating area, making it cozy for reading or relaxing.

Removable cushions are very practical for outdoor use.
Removable cushions are very practical for outdoor use.

Speaking of the outdoors, this chaise from Ego Paris has everything you might want all in one piece. The comfortable Tandem lounge feature a sling style seat surrounded by slatted wood at the feet and along the side, which acts as a long space for drinks and poolside necessities. The attached canvas structure has a leaf shape and offers shade from the sun. The lounges can also be placed facing each other to facilitate conversation.

A litte shade and a lot of style all in one outdoor chaise longue design.
A litte shade and a lot of style all in one outdoor chaise longue design.

Wall Coverings

Wallpaper has entered a new era and wall coverings of all kinds are enjoying a moment in today’s decor spotlight. While large-scale wall images and murals are stunning additions to any home, we were pleased to find some new types of wall coverings and textures being show at BDNY. The first thing to catch our eye were these leather tiles from Barbarossa Leather. From embossed styles to smooth versions, the tiles come in different sizes and colors, with a wide range of options. Leather makes for durable wall coverings that can last a lifetime.

Small or extra-large tiles can be used to accent a wall or cover an entire space.
Small or extra-large tiles can be used to accent a wall or cover an entire space.

We fell for the unique wall textures that Novo Arts offers at a previous edition of BDNY and were looking forward to see what their new offerings are. The creative company consumes up textures of all kinds using unexpected materials, some left in their natural state as in this book assemblage, while others are sprayed in a single color. The best thing is how the arrangements and colors can transform mundane objects into novel, textural wall accents.

Carved, curled, trimmed and tucked, discarded books go into a fun texture-scape instead of the landfill.
Carved, curled, trimmed and tucked, discarded books go into a fun texture-scape instead of the landfill.

Another different material for the wall is Muratto’s Cork Blocks, which are a far cry from the cork tiles we all pinned notes to in school. These are crafted from the discarded cork materials of wine producers. The cork is ground up and combined with pigments and resins, allowing the cork’s structure to be visible. In addition, because any color is present throughout the material instead of just on top,  the cork can be cut without losing the hue. This is the organic blocks collection, which includes a variety of shapes and textures.

Plain or colored, the recycled cork material is a gorgeous textural option for walls.
Plain or colored, the recycled cork material is a gorgeous textural option for walls.

Of course, even traditional types of wall coverings like tile have new innovations. Tile Bar’s Stacy Garcia Collection offers geometric twists on a traditional tweed pattern. The gentle gray tweed pattern is highlighted by the faceted diamond shapes that form the geometric pattern in the tile. It is a modern take on a tradition pattern more associated with menswear than home decor.

The shadows in this pattern are far more modern than a straight diamond repeat.
The shadows in this pattern are far more modern than a straight diamond repeat.

Smith & Fong’s Plyboo Fractal™ wall panels are another great design option that offers plenty texture as well as pattern. Plyboo was the first company to bring bamboo plywood to the US market and now has developed a variety of awesome bamboo wall tiles. The panel series uses the isosceles triangle shape to create squares and nested geometric shapes. The resulting lines have shading, color and texture that really grab attention. Plyboo’s tiles are available in natural colors and a variety of oiled finishes.

Go with one of Plyboo's existing designs or create your own pattern on their website.
Go with one of Plyboo’s existing designs or create your own pattern on their website.

In the realm of wallpaper, things have changed dramatically in recent years. Gone are the cutesy borders that many feel gave wallpaper a bad name. Designers have now developed a wide range of styles that are more art than just a covering: Abstract, geometric, Art Deco or more like large scale murals. Lookwalls of Dallas, Texas, aims to create “designs that make you stop and stare,” and that we did. From their large-scale textured wall designs to the new Art Deco selections, the offerings are different and sophisticated enough for the best of living rooms.

Lookwalls Art Deco collection is dramatic and sophisticated.
Lookwalls Art Deco collection is dramatic and sophisticated.

Brenda Houston Designs, offers up a series of wall coverings and textiles based on minerals and gemstones, or even fossils. Textured wall coverings can match and coordinate with the upholstery or soft accessories in a room. Houston also creates accessories and furnishings out of minerals that she sources globally. All of the pieces are striking and when applied to a wall as a large-scale mural or in a repeat pattern, it creates a dramatic backdrop for a room.

Textiles are the latest addition to Houston's collections.
Textiles are the latest addition to Houston’s collections.

Lighting

We love lighting and there were plenty fun new fixtures at BDNY this year. This set of outdoor lights is the Cornet series from Bover Barcelona and it has plenty of flow and style. It features an organic form that has no straight lines, allowing it to blend in with a natural setting. Available in three heights, it’s ideal to light up a walkway or to use as accent lighting in gardens and grottoes. The natural shade of the material emphasizes the organic vibe.

These outdoor lights emit a very soft and gentle glow.
These outdoor lights emit a very soft and gentle glow.

The Martinique lamp from Contardi is part of the forties-inspired Calypso collection. The design is distinctive for the connection it makes between the tropical and south American realms. This fixture melds the geometric lines of European Deco style with the bright colors, patterns and fibers of Latin America. Versatile and sophisticated, yet the design is not at all serious. Put it in a living room or over your kitchen island — it’s playful enough to go anywhere in your home.

The frosted glass also echoes the characteristics of an Art Deco light fixture.
The frosted glass also echoes the characteristics of an Art Deco light fixture.

Chelsom Lighting of the UK is known for its custom and contract work for hotels and restaurants across the globe, but we were quite taken with little Winston. The one-off lamp was created in fun and would be a whimsical addition to the home of any anglophile.

Chelsom's piece is an example of how much fun a lamp can be.
Chelsom’s piece is an example of how much fun a lamp can be.

In an example of material reincarnation, CP Lighting of Philadelphia has a line of fixtures blown from existing liquor bottles. This interesting shade was a once Crown Royal bottle in its previous life. When using existing bottles, the glass blowing process presented new challenges because the make-up of the existing glass is a mystery, requiring trial and error before knowing how to handle certain brands of bottles. In any case, each one is slightly different and creates a stylish new use for something that already exists.

These glass shades are a fantastic example of how to recycle of a discarded item into a stylish new decor piece.
These glass shades are a fantastic example of how to recycle of a discarded item into a stylish new decor piece.

Designer Casa by Karim Abud included this pendant light fixture, which takes the stick light concept a step further. The company started with lighting and has now also launched a home collection line. This modern fixture is also available as a chandelier and is a modern construct of geometric forms that provides soft ambient light.

Using this type of light as a sconce is more novel than the typical sconce design.
Using this type of light as a sconce is more novel than the typical sconce design.

Where would lighting be without Swarovski ? It would certainly be a lot less glittery! These ring lights are part of Orion HD’s Glaciarium Collection by Frederikson Stallard, leaders in avant-garde lighting concepts. The designers’ knowledge of how crystal behaves in its raw state and of Swarovski’s crystal production techniques allowed them to create these magnificent ring chandeliers.

Swarovski crystals are set in a steel base in these glittering fixtures.
Swarovski crystals are set in a steel base in these glittering fixtures.

Less sparkly but perhaps more adaptable for today’s family homes, these are the Mitzi and Jasmine pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting of the Littman Group. Designed to be high on creativity and low on clutter, the metal fixtures put the focus on the attractive LED filament bulbs. Perfect over an island, dining table orin a family room, they are light and airy but substantial enough to make a contemporary statement.

The rosy gold finish is particularly attractive on this style of light fixture.
The rosy gold finish is particularly attractive on this style of light fixture.

This circular beauty is from Mario Contract Lighting and is fabricated from brushed copper finished with a black powder coat. The white acrylic shade sits in the center of the graduated circular design of the frame. It’s a striking fixture that is ideal for a living room or entryway — anywhere you want to draw attention.

The partial rings around the globe shade are an atypical construct for the fixture.
The partial rings around the globe shade are an atypical construct for the fixture.

Textiles

So we’ve lumped textiles and rugs together, mainly because we’re starting with a collection that can be both: The Bandas collection by Patricia Urquiola for Gan. Described as “modularity taken to the limit,” the system consists of strips of heavy textiles that can be attached to the furniture for decoration or to other strips as rugs and wall hangings. All the edges incorporate a velcro strip making it easy to disassemble the arrangement and to create a new one whenever you need or want. Genius!

Here the same pattern is shown on the seat as well as on the floor.
Here the same pattern is shown on the seat as well as on the floor.

This amazing ombre woven rug was actually created via a mathematical algorithm that directs the weaving to create something that has a pattern but yet does not. Part of the Nanimarquina Shade Collection by designer Begüm Cana Özgür, each rug features a vertical and a horizontal gradient, along with six transitional shades that converge. The design is at the same time simple as well as mesmerizing.

The simple appearance belies the complex weaving that creates the color gradients.
The simple appearance belies the complex weaving that creates the color gradients.

A lovely and luxuriously comfortable bedroom setting features all the different textiles from Mridul International. From small leather accessories to textured wall panels and a marvelous stitched and fringed pendant light, the textures and colors are modern. A muted palette makes the pieces perfectly relaxing for a bedroom, whether you choose the bedding or a few decor pieces. Natural fibers make the textiles even more appealing.

The eclectic collection is casual yet creates a luxe bedroom environment.
The eclectic collection is casual yet creates a luxe bedroom environment.

Fun and Unusual Finds

Some of the best stuff we discover doesn’t really fit a category. LDF Silk always has an eye-catching display and this one did not disappoint. The large wall of greenery in an endless number of textures creates the perfect foil for highlighting a white vase filled with bright fuschia-colored orchids. The addition of driftwood pieces to frame the display space is an added accent. The technology used to create quality silk arrangements has come so far that they are ever closer to real — and even further from the fake flowers at grandma’s house.

This is a wall full of life-like greenery with no maintenance required.
This is a wall full of life-like greenery with no maintenance required.

A striking piece of wall decor is composed of smaller panels that appear to be small dots of color, formed into one large design. On closer inspection, you see that each dot is actually a tiny ball, covered in a textile, and attached with hand stitching. LOCO Designs‘ wall panels are just part of their offerings, which include bespoke furniture, leather accessories and luxury bathroom fixtures. The India-based company is known not just for its unique pieces but for also for its impeccable workmanship.

Is it a mosaic? A painting? At a distance it is not easy to tell exactly what this is made from.
Is it a mosaic? A painting? At a distance it is not easy to tell exactly what this is made from.
Up close you can see each tiny, fabric-covered ball that is stitched into place.
Up close you can see each tiny, fabric-covered ball that is stitched into place.

Among the home accessories we saw, this one stands out for the irony of its design. Here, the latest in telephone technology is sitting on a holder based on a piece of out-dated tech: the old-fashioned radio microphone. The phone holder is from Pendulux, which creates home accessories that hark back to earlier time periods yet are functional for today’s modern world. From clocks to lamps and other bits that have origins in industrial, nautical and militaristic pieces, the collections are definitely masculine, but certainly have cross-gender appeal.

The microphone stand has an opening to run the charging cord up through the base.
The microphone stand has an opening to run the charging cord up through the base.

Bathrooms

Who doesnt’t love a great bathtub? We found some spectacular models at the show, including this round tub from MTI Baths. The deep round Halo soaking tub is freestanding, yet set into a corner in a space-saving design.The ledge around the back side offers space for placing toiletries and allows for a traditional tub faucet. This flat-rummer version of the tub comes in a variety of color finishes while the thinner-lipped model is available only in white.

The deep tub looks even better with the colored exterior finish.
The deep tub looks even better with the colored exterior finish.

This tub from Britain’s Victoria+Albert is deep and double-ended. The Vetralla offers a luxurious bathing experience in any bathroom, especially those that are a smaller size. The same style is also offered in a larger format and comes in seven different exterior colors in case you don’t want plain white.

Vintage yet modern hardware and a luxe wood tray complete this tub set.
Vintage yet modern hardware and a luxe wood tray complete this tub set.

For the truly discriminating individual who loves luxury, Villeroy & Boch has the bathroom set for you. A pedestal sink and free standing tub are finished in a velvety black and studded with Swarovski crystals. In fact, 5,000 crystals grace the sides of the deep soaking tub. Now that’s what we call bling!

Dark and dramatic doesn't begin to describe the impression that this luxe tub or sink will make.
Dark and dramatic doesn’t begin to describe the impression that this luxe tub or sink will make.

Whether you decide go for one of these products or just use them for inspiration in redecorating your own space, it’s a fresh crop of ideas for freshening up your home decor. And, the next time you admire the decor at a special hotel or hot new restaurant, there’s really no reason you can’t have the same thing — or something similar — of your own.