"The significant level of experience and talent that is showcased during HD Boutique is staggering," says Rachel Long, special projects editor at Hospitality Design. "We have been able to create an interactive environment that involves peer-based learning, where you truly have an opportunity to network and learn from some of the most talented minds in the industry."
At the 2008 show, which took place September 17 and 18, three emerging trends stood out: the return of texture, geometric chandelier designs, and a new color combination.
Texture was visible throughout the convention center both in textiles-including upholstery, linens, flooring, and wall coverings-and furniture design. The emphasis on bold solid colors of past seasons has taken a backseat to fabrics with depth. The new products from designers such as Bliss Studio, David Francis Furniture, Ronald Redding Designs, and the Andrew Morgan Collection are patterned. Fabrics are showcasing multiple colors and incorporating two textures of a single color in one design, while chair backs and tabletops are now receiving more intricate looks.
With new chandeliers and lighting concepts on the market, hotel designers are using them in abundance to develop and renovate properties. The use of crystal balls in a myriad of configurations, asymmetrical designs, and LED lightbulbs has made the traditional chandelier more visually stimulating, keeping it the focal point of the space and eliminating the need for overdesigned and crowded walls, while also being functional.
And when it comes to color, chocolate brown-accented by turquoise, lime green, and orange-has been in the spotlight for many months in home decor and event design. However, exhibitors at the HD Boutique showcased the new color combination for 2009: yellow and black. Though it may evoke the image of bumblebees, furniture designers are welcoming the new palette and incorporating it into their products as accent colors and through bold, statement-making pieces.
