“With linens, the majority of people have moved on from 1990s-style fluffing in favor of cleaner lines and mix-and-match textures, such as our reversible Shantung linens.”
Barbara Ellis, BBJ Linens, Skokie, Illinois
“Lucite has been popular over the years. More recently, graphics on Lucite or plexiglass furniture allow for branding or a unique custom twist.”
Tricia Costello, Fresh Wata, Las Vegas
“All white furniture was popular in the early 2000s, but now clients are opting for metallics and color.”
Hayim Treitel, Luxe Event Rentals, Los Angeles and New York
Photo: Courtesy of Town & Country Event Rentals
Tabletop Trend of the Decade
“The days of matching five-piece place settings have gone. Now it is acceptable to mix patterns and shapes throughout the course of dinner. Traditional mixed with contemporary pieces is also an emerging trend, along with an introduction of color to dining plates.”
Mary Crothers, Chair-Man Mills, Toronto
(Pictured: An eclectic setting at Diffa’s Dining by Design in New York in March)
Mary Crothers, Chair-Man Mills, Toronto
(Pictured: An eclectic setting at Diffa’s Dining by Design in New York in March)
Photo: Emily Gilbert for BizBash
Chair of the Decade
“The Louis Ghost chair by Philippe Starck is a timeless icon. Introduced by Kartell in 2002, this modern reinterpretation of a classical shape continues to bring a fresh look to events in 2011 and beyond.”
Bobby Taylor, Taylor Creative Inc., New York
Bobby Taylor, Taylor Creative Inc., New York
Photo: Courtesy of Taylor Creative
Sofa of the Decade
“White leather never gets old, never goes out of demand. It works for every style and theme with some pillows, lighting, and accents as long as it has simple, clean lines.”
Lindsay Cosimi, AFR Event Furnishings, Orlando
Lindsay Cosimi, AFR Event Furnishings, Orlando
Photo: Courtesy of AFR Event Furnishings/RS Function Line
Design Trend of the Decade
“Far and away, the largest trend in design for events over the past ten years has been the lounge. While 10 years ago, sitting next to the same person for a four-hour event seemed to work, now people want to work the crowd and talk to everyone, which is why the lounge is so appealing.”
Christine Merser, Classic Party Rentals, New York
Christine Merser, Classic Party Rentals, New York
Photo: Courtesy of Classic Party Rentals/Line 8 Photography
Plate of the Decade
“Although round white china is still an industry staple, most high-end events now use square white plates for the cocktail hour and hors d’oeuvres. A six-inch square plate is perfect for the small plates trend that has swept through the catering industry.”
Nancy Brockway, Hall’s Rentals, Chicago
Nancy Brockway, Hall’s Rentals, Chicago
“We have seen the advent of lighted furnishings including tables, pedestals, columns, and bars. The soft glow created by LED lighted furnishings is now an integral part of most events that take place in the evening.” Kevin Dana, Cort Event Furnishings, San Francisco
Photo: Courtesy of Cort
“Bars have become a central, eye-catching focal point. As facades have become more decorative and design-driven over the years, they can be used as an amazing centerpiece for an event.” Brittany Lucas, Suite 206, Dallas(Pictured: A bar from Rentquest at the Whitney Museum’s Art Party in New York in 2007)
Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography for BizBash
“Chiavari chairs remain an event mainstay. We have a large selection of specialty colors from aubergine to shabby chic-distressed to try and shake things up a bit.” Richard LoGuercio, Town & Country Event Rentals, Van Nuys, California
Photo: Courtesy of Town & Country Event Rentals
“Customization is one of the biggest trends. Our most popular rental items in our inventory are the ones we create in our fabrication studio, working with materials including salvaged wood, acrylics, and metals. We find that clients want totally custom rentals, not pieces you can import from China that everyone else has.” Michael Nedeau, PBD Events, Boston(Pictured: AOL’s presence at South by Southwest in March, designed by Fresh Wata)
Photo: Brian Virgo
