House & Home

For the last few years, I’ve celebrated Victoria Day by toasting today’s latest, coolest, most innovative designs. This means tromping the floor of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, the centerpiece of New York design week around which many parties, exhibitions, launches and air-kissing occurs. It's one of my favourite events: at this year's opening night party I got to ogle the designerati in MoMA’s sculpture garden, wine in hand. (I wonder who makes Karim Rashid’s pink suit? Wait, is that Michele De Lucchi behind the Giacometti?!)

Here’s my five favourite trends to emerge from this year’s show:

1. Trim dandy

Pretty scallops embellished Catherine Hammerton’s Scale wallpaper and Ochre’s supple leather daybed.

The effect is very soft. Very Chloe spring 09.

2. A golden moment

Warm gold finishes seem more on point right now than chilly chrome.

Kohler’s new brushed gold faucets looked beautiful paired with their new matte white sinks.

This coffee table from Edra also tapped the trend for pieces that look a bit broken.

3. Chic cords

There was lots of great lighting this year, but my favourite pieces had beautiful cloth-covered cords, usually in bright red, that were as integral to the design as a light bulb.

Blue Dot’s Stilt lamp will be available this fall in both a floor and table version.

This airy wire lamp from British newcomer Deadgood is perfect for any space — traditional or modern, grand or small.

4. Perfect pair

I can’t get enough of classic blue and white. Neither, it seems, can many contemporary designers.

I’m considering hanging Trove’s new Auva wallpaper in my hallway.

Judging from the little cardboard sign, I wasn’t the only one tempted to climb into textile designer Aboubakar Fofana’s display and imagine I was really in sunny Greece.

5. Modern art

Painterly slashes of colour evoked an abstract canvas.

Vancouver-based Martha Sturdy debuted new furniture that’s as artistic as her paintings — plus some pretty far out lighting.

New tabletop linens from Dwell Studio.

Photo credits:
1. Catherine Hammerton
2. Ochre
3. Chloe Spring 2009 collection
4. Kohler
5. Kimberley Brown
6. Blue Dot
7. Deadgood
8. Trove
9-11. Kimberley Brown