ICFF 2012 report, New York
Falling just a month after the Salone del Mobile, New York City’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair is often victim to a few repeat performances from international players on the design circuit. Yet, the growing bastion of indigenous designer-makers, burgeoning independent companies and a few charmed collaborations (this time Raleigh Denim for Bernhardt Design, and Cranbrook Art Academy for Alessi) has kept us pleasantly surprised year after year.
As the country's design force descends on the Big Apple for four days, numerous fringe venues stake their claim over its different neighbourhoods. Closest to the fair’s Javits’ Centre nucleus is Wanted Design – a platform now in its second year that boasted over 50 exhibitors, including heavyweights such as Bernhardt design, Ligne Roset and Christofle – located in the dynamic Terminal Stores building, which our more colourful readers might remember as the infamous Tunnel nightclub.
Tucked way downtown in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge, the non-profit design and art organization, BOFFO, turned an unused building into a wonderous show house with work from furniture label ROLU, textile designer Stefan Hengst and architect/designer Jen Turner.
The most successful however, continues to be the Noho Design District, which has grown from strength to strength in its three years of being. Apart from the usual in-store showcases from The Future Perfect and Partners and Spade, the event floated over to The Standard, East Village hotel this year, with three exhibitors: Sonos sound gallery, Irish homegoods label Makers & Brothers, and curators, Sight Unseen pitching up temporary spaces within the swanky digs.
Our hands-down highlight of the week undeniably came from Matter – the contemporary design shop and manufacturer that has steadily brought some of the country’s brightest talents into its fold via its MatterMade collection. Choosing a crumbling retail space that was once a subway entrance, with Chinatown as a backdrop, the company presented exciting new pieces including a counterweight chandelier from Fort Standard, textiles from Meg Callahan and a new modular furniture system from its in-house team, among others.
'Range Life II' coffee table by Jonah Takagi for MatterMade
MatterMade’s modular storage system, designed in-house, also comes with console and chest of drawers components
Coffee table by Soren Rose, available at Matter
A selection of vases by Autobahn, available at Matter
Digitally printed and hand-stitched cotton quilts by Meg Callahan
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Shaker-style dining chairs by Paul Loebach for MatterMade
'Counterweight Pendant' chandelier by Fort Standard
NY Trash Series wallpaper by Stefan Hengst
NY Trash Series wallpaper by Stefan Hengst
Light installation at the Boffo Show House
Shelving unit by ROLU
More shelves by ROLU
'LMNOQ' wall sconces by Laz Ojalde
'Brooklyner' desk by Jen Turner
Dining table by Spacecutter, constructed from a single log of wood
Tom Dixon’s theatre-themed London Underground space in the Bleecker Street Theatre
'Etch' candle holders by Tom Dixon
Bathroom fixtures by fashion designer Jason Wu for Brizo
A svelte motion-sensor tap from the collaborative collection
Bookends made from porcelain by French designer Romain Lagrange for Portuguese tile manufacturer Vista Alegre
Tool-inspired door knobs and handles by Paul Luscombe
Industrial building blocks by Colin Wilson
Amish-inspired stools by Florida-based Christopher Roy, using fabrics by Maharam
Amish-inspired stools by Florida-based Christopher Roy, using fabrics by Maharam
Mini Vipp bins
Console unit by Blu Dot
A trio of coffee tables by Phase Design
Coffee table by the all-new, all-female design collective, Egg
Bent wire chair by Los Angeles-based Guarav Nanda
Bent wire chair by Los Angeles-based Guarav Nanda
A collection of bone china bowls by Max Lamb for the newly relaunched British company 1882 Ltd
Cask stools by Rich Brilliant Willing
The new Radient LED table lamp (left) by Rich Brilliant Willing
One of Roll & Hill’s new additions – The Silk Road range, by Jonah Takagi
‘Plank’ outdoor lounger for Council, designed by Eric Pfeffer
‘Twig’ chairs, inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, by Chad Wright for Council
Trio of tables by Jonah Takagi for Council
Vase by Cranbrook Art Academy for Alessi
'Banana tree' by Cranbrook Art Academy for Alessi
Chairs by Philippe Starck for Emeco
A men’s dresser by Studio Soren Rose, spotted at the De La Espada stand
Something for the ladies – a modern take on vintage dressing table lights by new design label Apparatus
Deconstructed pendant lights by Mary Wallis
Dining collection by Steve Oh
A collection of outdoor tables designed by Objeti’s Joseph Ribcic and Fiftytwothousand’s Mark Moskovitz – both based in Cleveland
A new side table by Seattle-based duo, Lacoli and McAllister
Newly designed sage burners, that would also suit tea-lights and candles, by Lacoli and McAllister
A pair of bowls - the first of a prospective accessory line by Studio Dunn
Chandelier by Lindsey Adelman
Lindsey Adelman’s makeshift workshop at the Javits Centre
An outdoor lounge chair by Sundays design
Todd Bracher’s hypnotic collaboration with 3M, made from reflective material and LEDs, at Wanted
Robotic lights from UM Project
Sculptural hand-carved mannequins by Jephson Robb for Raleigh Denim and Bernhardt Design
Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
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