Every May, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, and the satellite interiors installations Wanted Design and Sight Unseen Offsite, deliver a crash course on where our homes are headed. They also offer a glimpse into the future at many Canadian studios, whose founders head south to unveil their latest wares to the critical mass of international design pros invading Manhattan (36,000 attend ICFF alone). Andrew Sardone breaks down the trends and brands that stood for 2018.
Read the full Style Advisor: September 2018 fall edition
HOT BOX
Xin Wang
Built-in fireboxes are often a dark void that suck all the personality out of a mantle, but HearthCabinet’s ventless units offer a more novel balance of warmth and style. The flame comes from single-use alcohol cartridges that burn for two hours, and the elevated look is created through geometric shapes and custom colours.
HearthCabinet custom trapezoidal fireplace, US$15,000 through hearthcabinet.com.
ROCK SHOW
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New parents desperate for a not-hideous glider to outfit their nursery already know the joy of discovering Canada’s Monte Design. Now, everyone can experience a bit of that enthusiasm as the company expands into furniture for the rest of the home, including contemporary side tables, sectionals and rockers.
Monte Design side table, $495, Joya lounge chair, from $1,345, ottoman, $365 through montedesign.ca.
INNER SPACE
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"The glowing globe is iconic in lighting," says Lukas Peet. So how do you creatively reinvent something that’s been reinvented ad nauseam? For Peet’s latest piece with his partners at Vancouver’s ANDLight, he suspended the orb within a wire cage that mimics planetary movements.
ANDLight Orbit pendant lamp, price on request through andlight.ca.
HIGH CAMP
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Whether you’re outfitting an outdoor space – or have high expectations of your campsite – portable furniture marker Helinox has arrived in North America. Look for lightweight chairs that pack into totes and collapsible cots that work as bench seating or alfresco guest accommodations.
Helinox Chair One Home, US$190 through helinoxstore.com.
FIRED UP
With the ever-growing popularity of houseplants, it’s not surprising that designers are keen to experiment with the texture and form of terracotta pottery. Brooklynbased Aaron Poritz creates his unique planters by pit firing the pieces in a cocoon of metal oxides, salts and sawdust.
Planters, US$2,500/set of three through poritzandstudio.com.
ON FLECK
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Edmonton-based Concrete Cat casts objects and furniture in multicoloured, marbleized composite material. The collective’s showstopper at the Wanted Design show was the Venus table, a made-to-order piece available in heights of 18 to 42 inches and custom patterns and hues.
Concrete Cat Venus Chaos table, from US$4,550 through concretecat.com.
DREAM WEAVE
Weft’s collaboration with Slow and Steady Wins the Race fashion designer Mary Ping was the standout booth at Sight Unseen Offsite, highlighting the ease and design potential of using its online interface to create customizable jacquard woven textiles.
For more information, visit weft.design.
WALL FEATURE
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Out of all the geographically focused installations at ICFF this year, a group of Transylvanian exhibitors stood out. The Romanian region was best represented by Mind The Gap, which debuted 100 new wallpaper motifs ranging from fine china collages to oversized botanical patterns.
For more information, visit mindtheg.com.
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