Category — Design Intell

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Matisse's MONDRIAN fabric - 100% cotton

Ptolemy Couch Interiors UK

Elitis fabric

Pierre Frey colorblocked linen draperies

La Fibule Refuge

Textile and leather suppliers showcased their newest looks in early December at Showtime in High Point. This show gives us a sneak peek of key looks we’ll see at the April High Point Market, with upholstery manufacturers shopping Showtime for fabrics.

Key looks and color trends at Showtime included:

1. Teal and burnt orange were strong color contenders, closely followed by apple green and bright lemon.

2. The neutral grays are morphing into driftwood or raffia.

 3.Botanicals are back, particularly in silhouetted prints of trees, ferns, or gingko leaves. Figurative florals are also key.

Pierre Frey + Deyrolle

4.Prevalent patterns included paisleys, cabana stripes, suzanis, toiles, lace, and Florentine tiles.

5. Menswear designs inspired leather looks, including a houndstooth pattern on a hair-on-hide.

Kyle Bunting Hair on Hide pillows

6.Crocodile featured strongly on fashion runways this fall, and it’s back in a very big way for leather suppliers.

7.Novelty patterns included folk-art birds, postcards, scientific equations( think Big Bang Theory), china plates, round chickens, and hamsa (a palm-shaped design).

8.In trims, look for tassels to start appearing again, particularly Deco-inspired designs that step away from the traditional shapes.

“Lace- the invention of a goddess and the occupation of a queen.”

Federico de Vinciolo

Lace is back.

As supported by the design studios like Indigo, lace is a popular design direction for the next couple of years.  But this isn’t Grandma’s lace doilies; look for lace rendered in fresh ways, unusual materials and in unique color and pattern combinations. Today’s lace is too fashion forward and created in many too forms and materiasl to be old fashioned. We love the dichotomy of lace- its charming innocence paired with mystery concealing as much as it reveals. Lace is can be sexy and sweet at the same time. It all adds up to an intriguing medium for interiors.

"Energy" laser lace by Creation Baumann

Customizable chain link fence through Droog USA

Another reason we love lace- the romantic softening of interiors as we move post recession. Lace adds personality because with visual and tactile layering.

Dareen Henault's Kips Bay Dressing Room

Metallic lace is one thing, but lace made of entwined human hair? It may sound revolting, but in fact, it is quite beautiful!  Kerry Howley took inspiration from the wallpaper patterns she discovered at the Museum of Domestic Design and Architecture and turned up the Victorian artwork a notch. Attraction/Aversion is Kerry’s award winning graduate collection.

Modern Lace by BandJ Fabrics

1000 gallon oil tank by Cal Lane for Lace in Translation

Cal Lane's Wheelbarrow

Concrete lace by Doreen Westphal and G.tecz

“Naïve & Romantic” by Milou Ket is based on a romantic attitude- innocent and naïve. It is dreamlike and full of illusions. The emphasis is on painterly flowers in different interpretations. The colors are fresh and romantic. We see yellow, pink, salmon, shrimp, light blue, light green, light lavender and sea green. Yellow in this palette tends to be a bit greenish, almost with a fluorescent effect.

Naïve and Romantic sees the application of soft pastel colors. Coral and salmon shades freshen up  simple patterns  such as polka dots and stripes. Turquoise and lilac are combined in hand drawn checks, and hand painted patterns. Text, postcards, stamp motifs evoke memories Trees and tree trunks are used as decoration.

Dreamlike florals and blossoms are the most important subjects, in all possible variations, but especially watercolor looks and hand painted florals. Old-fashioned roses and birds are applied in new ways with a touch of golden details. Flowers of importance are roses and orchids. Oriental influences are present in blossoms, birds and flower patterns Old cupboards recycled and decorated with Japanese blossoms and 3-D branches add for a fairytale effect. Florals  and botanical motifs can also take on a refined effect. We see huge wallpaper with a flower photo print. Flowers, birds, butterflies, branches and botanical subjects like mushrooms. We see a 3-D flower motifs for pillows.

Shine, metallics and a touch of silver and gold are indispensable. Glass tiles,  Swarovski crystal effect and materials with the iridescent effects are  found in small details. F homey atmosphere is evoked by recycling and patchwork effects in the carpet. Multicolor effects are visible in stripes, and the fresh retro inspired combinations of pink and turquoise. Colorful patterns are mixed freely for a bohemian effect . Also here gold is important. Home accessories are pleated and folded for 3-D effects. Different shades of blue  are combined. We see how handcrafted designs play an important role in the prints. We see blots, spots and stains, but also ikat prints. Ombres, degrade looks, chipped paint add to the romance.

Milou Ket – Trend Forecasts, Home Colors, Product Development

2012 can bring new opportunities to engage your customers. By looking ahead, you’ll be well-positioned to integrate marketing strategies and take advantage of technology to deliver your brand message. No matter how fashion forward your message is, how on target your products and services are; if you can’t reach the right client it doesn’t matter. Here’s a look at three marketing trends for 2012 to put on your radar screen.

 #1 Social Studies: Learning to be everywhere your customers and prospects are.

 When, where and how we communicate has changed dramatically in the last five years. Here are some stats I find incredible.  Five years ago, Facebook had 12 million users, Twitter was in its infancy and the first iPhone had yet to be unveiled. Today, there are 800 million Facebook users, nearly 200 million Twitter accounts and more than 10 billion Apple apps downloaded, and more  coming everyday. Mobile devices, new social networks, and check-in sites and location-based services are adding new wrinkles to the marketing communication mix. Silverpop refers to this convergence of mobile, social, local and email as “mocial.”  In a world gone mocial, we will change the way we interact with customers. To get your mocial mojo working in 2012.

• Grow your database through social and mobile. For example, you could add an email opt-in or lead-gen form on your company’s Facebook page, capture emails via SMS or app downloads, and/or use tablets to gather info.

• Design campaigns around the concept of sharing, delivering your strongest call to action at a time that makes sense rather than asking people to share something before they consume it. For example, instead of just including social-sharing icons in an email with a link to a white  also insert sharing links within the white paper  itself and send an automated follow-up email inviting downloaders to Tweet the best idea they got from your paper.

 #2 Actions Speak Loudest: Unlocking the power of behavior.

In the new era of marketing, companies must listen to, learn from and speak to customers and prospects on a one-to-one, personal basis. The focus will shift to widening the scope of information being collected to gain a better understanding of who the key influencers are.

• Sync up your platforms so you can pass data back and forth in both directions more efficiently, better optimize content, and improve communication between sales and marketing.

• Create scoring systems that take your customer and prospect behaviors into account—including social actions such as “liking” you on Facebook, sharing your content to a social network and commenting on Blogs.

#3 Personality Plus: Marketing content becomes more human.

Not so long ago, marketing was all about selling your products and services. Regardless of whether you were selling caviar or consultations; delivering your message in an impersonal voice was just fine. While delivering product news, sales and discounts is still important; expectations have  shifted.  These days, customers and prospects move  effortlessly between your company’s social presence and photos of their best friend’s recent vacation, so stiff corporate messaging that sounds like it was crafted  in legalese creates a disconnect. In 2012 the focus will change to delivering helpful, educational content with verve and personality: “Yes, we’ve got sizzling steaks, but here are our staff’s favorite wine pairings for that steak, our guest chef’s video tips for grilling it, and customer recommendations for the most mouth-watering sides to enjoy with it.” It’s time to get real, get human and add value.

• Spend less time talking at your customers and more time paying attention to their behaviors and listening to them via social networks, community forums and surveys. Talk to them the way you would talk to another human being, employing a voice that’s distinctive, engaging and yours.

• Include messages designed simply to inform, entertain, surprise and provide value rather than sell. For example, a packaged goods company might offer favorite recipes from the staff, a technology company could author a how-to white paper that doesn’t hype its own product, and a cruise operator can recommend travel, packing and on-shore dining tips.

• Introduce your self through words and pictures, including stories and anecdotes. Put simply, people like to do business with people.

via Silverpop

Marketing Profs