Trend: Making the New Look Old

Here are the Good Bones, Great Pieces top six sightings at this 2010 winter NYIGF. This year, old is in.

The mood at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) in New York City this week is refreshingly upbeat. One of the largest international trade shows in the world, the NYIGF features more than 2,700 exhibitors in 400 categories including home textiles, furniture, lighting, bedding accessories, candles, fragrances, stationery and more. The show takes place in two locations: the Jacob Javits center and the Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94. The show is open to the trade only, and frankly that's because only die hard industry people have the endurance to see it all in what is usually a 24 hour period. For designers, retailers and small business owners, it's an opportunity to catch up on the latest trends.

This year will not be a somber one in the design world. Color is definitely in for 2010. Gone are the sedate, refined collections of years past. New to this year's vibe is a distinct turn towards nostalgia. We saw many pieces of new furniture made to look old, many of them using organic materials. We're all for this, particularly if it is well made.


1. The hands-down best presentation of this updated nod to history, specifically American primitive and rural European furniture, was displayed by the Park Hill Collection. It's no surprise that one of the owners of this relatively new venture was a former successful floral designer, as his ability to accessorize with natural props was really astonishing. The company's combination of largely distressed painted reproduction pieces with mostly green plants in pots and containers was such a pleasure to look at and such an easy example to learn from. This business is located in Little Rock, Arkansas but many of their exclusive reproduction pieces (including some of these large lanterns) are sold at Pottery Barn, so look for their treasures at your local PB. Their reproduction birdcage is fabulous!

2. This pleasingly long settee form, updated with natural linen upholstery caught our eye. The colorful pillows trimmed with green velvet modernized the piece instantly. It's part of a collection from a relatively newcomer to the industry called Zentique, from Norcross, Georgia. Zentique furnishings are made in China, and shipped out of Atlanta, Georgia.

3. The most beautiful bedlinen collections were from Ankasa, the company owned and run by Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia, former fashion textile designers. Though their company is only four years old, their idea of fusing fashion and home is here to stay. They use many "couture" finishing techniques. You can see that their pillows are absolutely beautiful. The majority of the collection is embroidered by hand and the color palettes each season mirror what is presented on the runways. All of their products are made in India. Their latest invention is a "bed scarf," shown here. It's purely decorative, but it can take a kind of "blah" set of bed linens and make them look dressed up--not unlike the fashion version of same.

4. Blue Ocean Traders, from Louisville, Kentucky, has just introduced a new upholstery line. This sofa, covered in grain sack linen, attracted a lot of attention. Although its upholstery tells a story about farmers carrying grains from farm to home, it's form tells a modern story of the style sofa that works in today's chicest rooms. A very lovely collaboration. Blue Ocean Traders travel to destinations including India, China, Germany and Hungary in seach of one-of-a kind antiques and true-to-form reproductions. We wish we could tag along!

5. According to the three owners of OOMPH, their business plan evolved while at the beach on Harbour Island. There friends Amy Rice, Patty Hopple and architect Louise Brooks came up with the notion that three simple elements of great design can totally transform any room. In other words, beautifully made tables, chairs, and pillows can add "oomph" to any nest. We're not the only ones who agree with their idea. They've only been at this one year, and they've already got a considerable following. All of their products are made in USA--the coffee table collection is named after towns in Connecticut. They've just introduced these fabulous side tables (below). Perfect proportions for a bedside or next to a sofa. Their lacquer finish is nicely done and their colors are all really appealing. We think these adorable mini-tables are perfect for first time apartment dwellers.

6. We love a great wing back chair, but we're tough customers. This one is perfect in every way. It's not too big, but deep enough and comfortable enough to sink in to. Made in the UK by Julian Chichester, this "Kelso" Chair screams elegance, yet with its natural upholstery and colorful throw pillow, it epitomizes modernity.




















We hope that our favorites will inspire you, too. Happy February!