Trends from the Contemporary Furniture Fair

The 22nd annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair begins tomorrow at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. During the fair's four days, more than 500 exhibitors from 40 countries will showcase the latest in contemporary interior design.

This year, the fair is expected to see a crowd of more than 24,000 attendees, many of whom are architects, interior designers, retailers and press looking for the next big name or trend. Some will be scanning the fair's special exhibitions, such as the Materials Matter display, which features new and innovative materials and processes used in contemporary design. Still others will be looking at the prototype designs coming out of the world's most highly regarded schools.

But in a crowded field of products, a few major movements for 2010 are already taking shape.

One of the biggest ideas now is an emphasis on natural materials and nature-inspired designs, which is in keeping with the green movement and a renewed sense of getting closer to the environment. Raw, unfinished woods, floral motifs, tree and branch shapes and even the occasional bird pop up on everything from lamps to wallpaper, bringing a touch of the outdoors inside.

Moving in the opposite direction, some designers are bringing the comforts of indoor entertaining outside, in keeping with the economical idea that staying in can be as much fun (and much less expensive!) than painting the town. Look for outdoor furniture that mimics indoor decor, such as couches, lamps and even fireplaces made for those times when "going out" means stepping onto the patio.

"What's special about the ICFF is that it really shows what's best and what's next in design," says Phil Robinson, show director of ICFF since 1995. "It brings together established and up-and-coming companies on one level playing field. Visitors can get a preview of what will be in the marketplace for the next 12 to 24 months."

See these pages for a closer look at these trends and more, and then check out the fair in person when it opens to the public on May 18 (see details below).

OLD'S COOL

Even if you don't own that country estate you've been dreaming of, you can still have a library filled with floor-to-ceiling books. U.K. designer Deborah Bowness is launching her New Antique Books wallpaper this year, which plays nicely into the current rage for all things vintage-inspired. The designer, whose wallpapers have also adorned Anthropologie stores, took the photographs of the books at the Wren Library at Cambridge University in England, and the images were montaged together to create the wallpaper design. The trompe l'oeil result depicts shelves upon shelves of antique books, and each

roll is finished with hand painting (about $218 per roll, plus VAT, available by custom order through deborahbowness.com). The neo-antique trend, which has spawned all the taxidermy (and faux taxidermy) visible in some of New York City's hottest bars, such as Freemans, takes on a more playful tone this season, and Bowness' bespoke wall coverings are the ideal backdrop for that beaten leather club chair you've been eyeing.

MAKE IT YOURS

Multifunctional and self-customizable furniture and accessories allow consumers to create their own versions of an off-the-rack product without springing for a custom-designed piece. The Xarxa Multipurpose Sofa ($3,350, from ameico.com) by Danese Milano is a one-seater multipurpose piece designed to adapt to the changing moods of its owner. Designed by Catalan concept designer Martí Guixé, the Xarxa has cushions of different fabrics and textures that can be held upright, opened into various petal-like formations, and even spread onto the floor for more informal seating.

Guixé is part of a growing cadre of designers whose main goal is to approach problems of functionality in creative new ways, disregarding traditional ideas about form, and with an eye toward delighting the consumer. This new direction in design has opened up possibilities for furniture that can be deconstructed and reassembled in a variety of ways, and providing customers with pieces that serve more than one need.

NATURAL INSTINCTS

Nature, in its many incarnations, is a big inspiration for designers right now. Rough-hewn objects, lush patterns and reclaimed materials are both beautiful and gentle on the planet. Christopher Poehlmann's newGROWTH fixtures for CP lighting are a unique take on this trend. Each of the residential scale chandeliers ($3,000 to $4,500, available from cplighting.com) is custom-made from 100 percent post-consumer aluminum salvaged from a scrap yard. Resembling branches gathered from a forest floor, the 3- to 5-foot-long ceiling fixtures echo the current desire to bring the outdoors in while also adhering to the kind of responsible manufacturing practices that set many of today's most forward-thinking designers apart. The CP Lighting booth will also feature a one-of-a-kind large-scale version of the newGROWTH fixtures, which will measure about 10 feet tall, with branches that cantilever over the booth at 8 to 12 feet.

Another take on the nature-inspired theme comes from Marimekko, the Finnish lifestyle and design company. Its Unikko wallpaper ($149 per roll from kiitosmarimekko.com), distributed in North America exclusively through New Wall, features bright, bold blooms from the company's Heritage collection, bringing a breath of spring into any room.

CLEAN LINES

In direct contrast to the Old World aesthetic, full of glamorous excess, there is another school of design that's all about straight lines and an almost Puritanical neatness. For example, Blu Dot's Diplomat sofa ($1,799, from bludot.com and at the Blu Dot flagship store in Manhattan), offers a sophisticated alternative to standard sleeper sofas. A concealed hinge in the front of the sofa allows it to flip open into a queen-sized bed. Blu Dot designers added walnut legs to warm the couch's appearance, and it's available in four upholstery options.

Another example of the clean-lined look comes from Diesel, a company primarily known for its jeanswear. The brand's new Successful Living from Diesel with Moroso line features edgy, quirky designs such as the Total Flightcase storage cabinet ($3,750 for the two-door version and $5,560 for the three-door version, available through The Future Perfect). Modeled after touring musicians' instrument cases, the cabinet is just the thing for grown-up rockers who might be thinking about putting the band back together again.

GET THE GLOW

Some cutting-edge trend analysts say that staying in is the new going out. To that end, homeowners are looking for ways to furnish their entertaining spaces as elegantly and as fully as they furnish their private spaces. One of the niftiest accessories at the show for doing that is the Luminous Pot Collection from Offi and Company. Designed by Megasii, Ltd., the molded plastic pots are nontoxic and odorless, use a replaceable compact fluorescent bulb and are approved for indoor and outdoor use. The pots come in three sizes, from 22 inches to 35 inches high ($250 to $299, from offi.com).

Another way to enhance your entertaining abilities is with a portable rolling fireplace from Sieger Design for Conmoto. The Rollfire ($4,050, from ameico.com) is an indoor-outdoor ventless fireplace that burns bio-alcohol to create a clean flame without smoke, residue or odor, producing only water vapor and carbon dioxide. It makes use of ball bearings and gravity to keep the fuel tank level as the frame moves, allowing it to be rolled indoors or out as the party moves from one location to another.

DETAILS

WHAT Public Day at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair is a chance for the public to ogle all the stunning designs on display. Designers will be on hand all day to discuss their work, and while many of the items are not yet available for sale at the retail level, most designers will be happy to make arrangements for private commissions and identify which stores will be carrying certain items in the future.

WHERE|WHEN 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th St. at 11th Avenue

INFO Tickets for Public Day are available on site and cost $50; the convention center has coffee and food available for sale, as well as automated teller machines. There is no parking. Tickets are also available in advance online through icff.com; call 800-272-SHOW or e-mail info@icff.com for more details.