New York Design Week: WantedDesign and ICFF Highlights

So much amazing design, so little time! ICFF has morphed into a total city design diversion. There is no way you can see everything, but I managed to squeeze in a few days to view the latest offerings of the international design world. See my favorites below...

WantedDesign took over the Tunnel space. Modko, who make the best cat litter box presented their newest designs on lightboxes.

Quebec designer Tat Chao (left) super-glues glasses and pedestal bowls together to create one-of-a-kind table bases and candlestick holders.

The Effeti Showroom had me salivating over its streamlined space...the cabinetry and accoutrement were quite special. From left to right: The yellow inside the cabinets can be custom applied in any color; tools fit beautifully inside; architect Kelly Solon show us how the corner shelf pulls out. If you are doing your kitchen over, head to the showroom to see the indoor grill and wall of hideaway surprises.

My favorite countertop material, Caesarstone showed off its latest colors.

Raison Pure NYC presented a funky tea party diplay. GOLD tea cup by Will Kang.

Britto Charette Home’s animated porcelain vessels with GOLD interiors caught my eye.

GOLD edged porcelain dishes by Daniel Levy have a zen-like quality.

gt2p GOLD vases from Chile, the Royal Mahuida collection.

Tom Dixon’s Eclectic collection uses marble and brass elements.

Glamour exudes at THG Paris fixtures that pair with Christofle and Baccarat brands.

Raimond Puts’ magical lights at Moooi.

Garden without having to stoop! These planters from Hurbz would work well on a terrace or backyard. They can be anchored to a wall, and have a clever drainage system.

Oxidized maple creates an elegant sideboard. The wood is silky to the touch. Tod Von Mertens hand makes this and some lovely matching dining room tables.

Gorgeous gaming: love this white ping pong table from RS Barcelona.

Cowhide and leather make for an elegant backgammon board by Gilles Caffier. For serious players!

Tibetano creates beautiful carpets using cowhide assembled in classic patterns. Lovely to touch. I would like to see these as a table runner, perhaps under glass.

More cowhide, brightly colored from Britto Charette Home.

This was my absolute favorite item. From Wiener Silver Manufactur, this tray can switch out its center, depending on your mood. Designed by Marco Dessi.

Mihoko’s 21 Grams

A gorgeous blend of highly stylized Japanese and French elements work to deliver an evening of ultimate sensations. Mihoko’s 21 Grams, newly opened on 22nd street, is truly a unique and inspired restaurant, conceived by Japanese ballerina Mihoko. The visual feast begins as soon as you enter the restaurant, with a red carpet leading up to the front desk, aligned with beautiful objects for purchase. Designer Bruno Borrione decorated the large dining room with layers of overscaled French paintings, beautifully carved objects, decorative table surrounds, and Mihoko’s collections. Franco-Japanese cuisine dominates the menu, as well as an extensive sushi offering. Downstairs is a lounge, where cocktails by Raphael Reyes will be served with a bar menu. I was completely blown away by the design, service, and cuisine. Top photo shows the bar, which is in the center of the dining room, mirrors were once in Cartier’s mansion. See even more photos of our evening on my FB page.

 View from the bar.

 One of the amuses that arrived.

 Service comes in teams.

 A light dessert of passion fruit and coconut foam.

Petit fours with mini origami bird.

ICFF: Top Picks from the Show

In mid-May Manhattan got a dose of furniture and accessories design influx from around the globe. As usual, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair did not disappoint. View highlights below...

Salt and Pepper grinders from Nick Munro. Can be purchased through the website, or at Bloomingdales. He also has a wonderful smoked glass ice bucket to dress up the bar.

Puff Buff, designers from Poland, created this airy, bubble-like structure out of inflatable spheres with  LED light points inserted. I want one!

Be-jeweled sinks from Linkasink. The jeweled stopper can be attached to the top of existing drain pieces and removed and cleaned in a dishwasher. Novel!

Porcelain Dinnerware from Daniel Levy in soft pastels. I like the contrasting shapes.

Marc Trotereau, on the left, stands below his green light frame. He devised a way to weld 3 pieces of wire together, see his lights on the back wall, center photo. Also in this booth, Pierre Ospina created a sensual, organic pole lights, wrapped in silicon, with LED bulbs seen in close up on the right.

Trove Wallpaper features some very cool designs and some innovative manufacturing methods. The “paper” on the right is made from powdered marble and limestone, thus saving trees from being cut. Their eco-friendly process also uses no water (so no wastewater pollution). The surface is smooth, like suede, and cool to the touch.

Al-Hamad Design featured a super geometric parallelogram duet. I love the spirit of this.

The Luxury Planter Collection’s Sorbet Collection in gorgeous pastels. Planters are stainless steel coated in automotive paint.

Lightweight aluminum planters from Phase Design help to support and frame plantings.

Stickbulb lights by Rux Design take a single unit and position it in a variety of ways.

Dishes from Tse & Tse went from vintage to modern. From France.

Comical and colorful lamps from Ameico.

Glass-blower Tracy Glover poses beneath her dreamy light.

John Beck blasts his sheet of steel before forming it into the Beatty Light. The bullet holes create pretty pinlights for a subtle effect.

FFerone Glasses: The Revolution Collection

Place your beverages on a different kind of pedestal. The award-winning glasses and bowls from Felicia Ferrone’s Revolution Collection create perfect geometric worlds for wine, water, soup, or ice cream. Flip each one over to get a different capacity (one way to assert portion control!). The pieces are hand-blown borosillicate glass, made in the Czech Republic, a material which is oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe. Items can be purchased directly through the website, via an ultra cool interactive photo. Wine glasses, $84 for a pair, Champagne Flutes, $79 for a pair. Photo above shows part of the collection, photo below, Felicia Ferrone at the Gift Show standing before her design.

John Beck: American Attitude

I came across John Beck’s furniture line at the recent ICFF show, and was impressed by his individualistic style and amazing use of steel. Each piece exudes a straightforward, masculine swagger, a little bit rock-and-roll, along with a touch of humor. Take the Beatty Light, which starts with a sheet of steel, then is blasted with a shotgun—and ends up looking pretty amazing. I adore his series of limited edition tables, with weathered graphics, as seen in Table 2, which can be custom ordered. Thanks to Brian Cummings of RGG Photo for supplying the photos. At the show (top photos), I admired the steel sliding door, and AntiTrunk tables, with numbers or graphics, which can double as stools. You can see, and purchase, more pieces at Bobby Berk Home website.

eco Smart Fire: the instant fireplace

It’s the time of year when people long to sit gazing at a flickering fire. Eco Smart Fire has designed a line of freestanding fireplaces and grates that can be put inside a space without the need for ventilation or a gas connection. The steamlined models are fueled with eco-friendly bio ethanol, an alcohol made from sugarcane, potatoes, bananas, beetroot, and cereals. Check out their website to see a huge array of really sensational designs to make your space all warm and toasty.

Asellina: Intriguing and Sexy New Italian

Just opened in the Gansevoort Park Hotel, Asellina brings a sexy, sprawling bi-level restaurant and lounge to Park Avenue and 29th. I stopped by last Friday to see what it was all about. We parked ourselves in the lounge with comfortable oversized chairs and fireplace to sample a few of the cocktail offerings before dinner elsewhere. The drinks were great, but the most astounding taste we sampled was the bite that accompanied our sipping. The stuffed Cerignola olives with roasted veal parmigiano and semolina crust (photo) was over-the-top delicious. I will have to return for a proper dinner. See more photos of the space and cocktails here. The space is cordoned off into 5 distict areas, but each one is open to the other, giving the vast space order, yet maintaining peekaboo, people-watching opportunities.

A gift for the organizer: Stelton Paul Smith Collection

I fell in love with Paul Smith's Dot collection as soon as I laid eyes on it. I am definitely not alone, because since then I am seeing these colorful bowls all over the place. For instance, the kitchen at the Kips Bay Showhouse this year featured them along the fireplace mantel (photo). I can think of a ton of uses—on a desktop, a bathroom, dressing room, or in the kitchen. The exterior is made of brushed stainless steel, the interiors are enamel-like without the fragility. They range from $59 to $79. Buy it online at Unica Home. See more photos of my Kips Bay Showhouse’s favorite rooms here.

A gift for the retro-afficianado: Yubz Talk Cell Phone Handset

Anyone who misses the feeling of holding a substantial, durable receiver which transmits sound loud and clear should love getting this. The handset has a button to answer and hang up calls, volume control, and plugs right into the headphone jack. Check the Yubz Talk USA website to see compatible phones, and be dazzled by the color selections, and artist series. It also keeps the radiation from cell phones from being right next to your head (think about it!) This company also make a nice looking line of speakers for Ipods, a bluetooth portable speaker, and tiny lamps for use with your laptop. $45 in color, $65 for the gold.

A gift for the warm and fuzzy: Ewe Cuff Bracelet

This bee-ewe-tiful cuff cradles your wrist in 100% Merino wool felt, and is designed to be worn in a variety of ways. First, the cuff is reversible, from color to grey, and the die-cut shapes can be pushed in or out, depending on the mood of the day. Designer Brandon Perhacs, added strongly-attracting rare-earth magnets to the closure which snap together, adding to the joy of adornment. See Lichen’s website to find a store near you, or order online. Free shipping until Christmas. $44