Design Industry Responds to New Consumer Demands

DESIGN INDUSTRY RESPONDS TO NEW CONSUMER DEMANDS

The design industry has been responding to the economy and changes in the marketplace in a number of ways. Industry professionals have seen clients become bolder and more adventurous when it comes to using color in their decor and more appreciative of quality and detail. According to a Sherwin Williams survey, 17% of the public expects designers to use "greener" or more environmentally sensitive products, 17% say they want higher quality and greater durability, and 19% want products to be more cost-effective. A whopping 42.5% stated that they wanted "all of the above"! In response, many fabric companies have partnered with renowned designers to create "signature" lines that are unique and available only through designers. The signature lines can be "all over the board", from the exuberant colors and West Palm Beach style of Lily Pulitzer to Kelly Wearstlers' "Groundworks," a collection of organic and textural designs. Lily Pulitzer’s West Palm Beach Style

Many companies have also introduced lines that are "green" to some degree, either using recycled materials, non-toxic dyes, or manufacturing processes that are more earth-friendly. Some lines are made exclusively in the United States; other companies have tried to embrace a global economy and source from developing countries while celebrating those cultures, and others have sought out "boutique" mills in an effort to preserve traditional European craftsmanship and businesses that are generations old. The range of colors, textures, and styles available has probably never been so "blown open". There is, quite literally, something for everyone. CELEBRATING COLOR AND TEXTURE

While gray is still the "new neutral", a full range of other neutral colors are still readily available. Many of them are multi-tonal and can be "tweaked" season by season by drawing upon the different underlying shades to accessorize. Gray lends itself to blending with acidic citrus colors which are still hot, from the "citrine" shown at left to tangerine and lime. The color blue is also back in a big way, in shades ranging from deep navy all the way to hot turquoise, which looks spectacular with pumpkins, tangerines, and accented with reds and deep pinks. The forecast for spring is for even more saturated colors, including a return to painted and lacquered furniture in colors like pistachio and Bahama blue. Notice that texture and creative weaving is becoming as powerful a design element as color in fabric selection.

The influence of "Madmen" is still rocking the design industry, in both clothing and home decor. We are seeing much squarer and streamlined furniture and tailored pillows and draperies. Decor fabrics have the soft hand of exquisite suiting material, and designers are using flannels, herringbones, and textural weaves on upholstered pieces. From RM Coco

As textured solids become a preference in seating, drapery options have become more bold and dramatic. Floor length panels are being designed using fabrics as diverse as embroidered sheer linen to classic silks; what sets them apart are embellishments that include luxurious trims, bindings, and tapes or sleek and beautiful metal and glass hardware. Coming from Europe, particularly Spain, are large scale patterns in beautiful vivid colors that complement the solid seating but draw the attention to the windows. PAYING ATTENTION TO DETAIL

Designers are using embellishment on pillows and draperies to help set their rooms apart. Stroheim has introduced "Bespoke", a book of trims that includes jewelry-grade beading and Indonesian native woods. They are also working with a French boutique mill that is still making trims and tapes on hand looms; called "A La Mode", this line includes unique wide tapes like "Words" that look stunning trimming out square pillows. Coordinated to the current books, the possibilities are endless and provide a big bang for a small investment.

The Finial Company has introduced a line of "jewelry" for drapes, ornaments, and pillows. Some of the designs are shown at left and can be applied on the ends of bolsters, centers of pillows, and to set off tie backs and cornice boxes on draperies. NEW FABRICS FROM STROHEIM AND ROMAN

Stroheim and Roman has introduced three new collections for fall: "Moonstone", "Spearmint" and "Pumpkin". The fabrics are milled in Europe, and all have been pre-treated with soil and stain repellant.

The fabrics at right reflect the market's continuing embrace of grays as the "new neutral." Grays range from silver gray to warm taupe/gray (greige). The emphasis continues to be on beautiful textures; all these fabrics are sumptuous to touch and have a wonderful depth of color achieved through the use of multi- tonal shading and combinations of fiber, particularly linen, viscose, rayon, and wool.

For fall, Stroheim has taken the bright tangerine seen this spring and moved it into "pumpkin" for fall. Many of the designs incorporate the grays, taupes, and spearmints from the other new books, creating a wealth of coordinates.