As usual, your friends at Cry If I Want To have been keeping busy. The last month or so we have been doing one of our favourite things (apart from partying) ... we've been shopping. Recently we've traveled to Montreal, NYC and we've been checking out the local scene for what's new and fabulous for your entertaining needs (Thanks Mom and Dad for looking after the store while we've been away!). You always need to check out the trade shows to see what's new and exciting on the market and we have a couple tricks up our sleeves to keep us current and ahead of the curve.
I'll give you a quick synopsis of what we found and saw:
Montreal: Our Quebecois friends are really into fine arts, we saw beautifully master pieced furniture. These pieces were not just functional but true pieces of art (usually with the price tag associated with it). What inspired us the most were the dining tables used as a canvas. Not only were the works of art on the tables beautiful but the handcraft tables were sinfully gorgeous. If you are ever in Montreal check out Interversion
http://www.interversion.com/, on Boulevard St. Laurent. The young ladies there were so hospitable and gracious in telling us about the Quebec artists who create everything in their store. Along St. Laurent and in the surrounding areas there is a Mecca of inspiration and beautiful furniture, home decor and gift stores.
Toronto: Two weekends ago, we had a chance to visit the Gift Show in Toronto. At this show, suppliers from all of Canada as well as international suppliers display there wares. While we were able to pick up a few items for our fall/winter line that we know that you'll love, we really had to search these out. Trends that we noted were borrowed from fashion - teal blues and purple. You'll find a bit of this trend in our store this fall along with a return to decadence (without the associated price tag - we believe in affordable luxury). We took these colours a bit deeper and played upon their royal and regal and jewel tones but more on this later.
NYC: Ok, I might seem a bit biased, but as much as I love our fair city of Toronto, I absolutely love New York. As I walk down the city street all of the I love New York songs run through my head and I have to be really careful not to let them slip out. (Sorry if that old I heart NYC commercial is running through your head now - or worse yet ...start spreading the news ....)
While we were in New York, we also had the chance to visit the gift show there. I hate to say it, but they really know how to do it right. Of course you find the usual everyday stuff, but there are several sections focused on original design. I saw salad bowls made out of old records - although I thought it was sacrilege to use a perfect good Roy Ayers record in this manner! Actually UMBRA (yeah Canada!) who displays at both the Toronto and NY shows
http://www.umbra.com/ had a great selection of items made out of old cassette tapes.
I think the love of all things "green" is pretty universal these days, and in NYC we saw some of the most beautiful examples of this concept in home decor. We also got a few lessons in "green". Many of you I'm sure have noticed the animal head on wall trend that's happening right now. Ever since Jeannette Ewen from City Line used that big ugly blue head in the space she designed for the spring home show I've had a strange attraction to faux animal heads (I'm sorry Jeannette but although I love the risk you took and the design concept that head was just ugly!). I'm a bit partial to white resin ones but I've seen them in every material from resins to woods to even cardboards. However the real animal heads and antlers make me a bit sad (and I'm not even an animal lover). Still I found out from a Canadian supplier that their antlers are from animals that are killed only to control herd populations and that all parts of the animal are used. So while still not a fan of real animal parts used as decor, I felt a bit better.
In New York we saw some great trends:
1) Oversized
This was my favourite trend. I love great big statement pieces. Actually, I first saw this trend in Montreal were I saw beautiful oversized table lamps from one of my favourite suppliers (unfortunately he brought in a tiny shipment and very quickly sold out!). These lamps were so big (over 5ft tall) that they were actually floor lamps. In Toronto, we've seen many oversized vases which I still think are beautiful. We saw many examples of this in New York, along with oversized cutlery (art for your kitchen), oversized fames, chairs and sofas, etc etc. These pieces seem obvious for large spaces but the right piece in a small space (especially the oversized table turned floor lamp) can be exquisite.
2) Organic Flow - this trend had been going on for a bit and not only relates to the beautiful organic materials that are all over the market right now, but also the beautiful organic shapes especially in white ceramic. If you are reading this within the next two weeks, take a look at our store window for an example.
3) Luxury - Traditional colours of luxury are purple and blue and we will see a lot of this, this fall. But who can think of luxury with out reference to the beautiful precious metals and jewels. Bling is still in big time, and it is especially beautiful in your dining room. This Christmas you will find lots and lots of crystal in various colours, my favourite will always be crystal clear!
4) Black and white - some people call this a trend, anyone who knows me and has seen my loft knows that for me black and white in home decor is a way of life. This fall/winter we will see lots of pattern, beautiful lines and probably more white than black. This ties in to the next trend which we love and will be featured in Cry If I Want To this September ...
5) Neo classical modern - think baroque in white and black done cleanly. I'm so excited about this look I don't know what to write, you'll just have to come and see for yourself.
In addition to the design trends and inspirations, we were able to sample gourmet items from all over. These little parties in a box and/or jar are great to have on hand in your homes for surprise guests or for those quick impromptu get togethers we love to have and I promise to write all about them in my next post.
