Design & Living revamped juried exhibit showcases hot styles, trends

Despite the summer showers that grazed Las Vegas during the July Market, the temperature inside the show was still red hot. Design & Living — a new juried exhibit at Las Vegas Market which debuted at Sands Expo — unveiled the hottest styles and trends in home furnishings.

Against a pure white backdrop, Design & Living was a centerpiece pavilion that took Las Vegas Market attendees by storm. There was a sense of drama with top Italian producers showing alongside exquisite Japanese products and sizzling Mexican designs and there was an array of amazing sustainable furniture in Living Green.

Visitors appreciated the ease with which they could see at a glance the individual and distinct product areas, which were thoughtfully segmented. Tim Loveday of Channel Logic, who co-organized Living Green, the sustainable product pavilion, said: “Las Vegas Market is very well organized — that is what separates it from the other shows. There’s lots of synergy within each segment.”

Exhibitors were also very happy with the quality of buyers. Jim Dobry from IMG USA, based in Corona, Calif., said: “Every aspect of the experience is extremely well-organized. Everyone from the forklift driver to the registration staff is upbeat and positive.”

Visitors started pouring through the doors early in the morning opening day. Beth Weintraub of Weintraub Studios, an exhibitor in Design & Living, said: “The Design and Living section looks modern, high-end and very professional. The show marketing is great. The first thing I saw when I arrived at the airport were banners promoting the Market. By 10:30 a.m. on the first day of the Sands Expo opening, I had seen one of my best customers and covered the cost of my booth.”

Mexican company Millenio took the design concept for the hall interior to its own booth. Swatches of brightly colored fabric hung from the ceiling drew attention to Carlos De Anda’s innovative designs, combining marble, wood, acrylic, glass, copper, iron and fiberglass into individual pieces of functional art.

Italian stars like Sintesi, Montina, Cabas and BBB emmebonacina, White Orchid Living’s Eleganza and Rattan Wood and Bontempi all added European flavor to the area. Tim Hines of Bontempi said: “We’ve seen lots of designers who have been so interested in our contemporary furniture; this show has been a huge success for us.”

Jiti brought beautiful sumptuous silk bedding to the fore on its booth. White Moose is a Canadian company whose metal fretwork designs bring blocks of color to life in room dividers and lighting. Its Ranger seating set, KC occasional chair and Sprout walnut bookcases with angled aluminum shelves were particularly successful.

Each area of Design and Living had something fresh and enticing to the eye; none more enticing than BB Simon’s array of handmade crystal framed mirrors — big, beautiful works of art in themselves.

Scandinavian Collection surprised visitors with products as varied as wooden floorcoverings, door handles that lit up, and the Maxelle chair designed by Harald Belker, creator of the Batmobile. The pieces were all inspired by the Scandinavian design tradition with pure, clean lines.

The Fuchu Furniture Brands from Japan delighted buyers with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, utilizing furniture designed specifically for the tea room. This collection of companies exhibited bedroom and living dining room products with the clean sleek lines and exquisite attention to detail that are expected from Japanese designers.

Tim Branscome, vice president of international business development for World Market Center, said, “Design and Living is there to inspire and incorporates companies that offer something unique and new. Originality of design, materials and workmanship all make this space special.”