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Las Vegas Market Insider is a quarterly publication of World Market Center Las Vegas www.LasVegasMarket.com
| VOLUME 2, NUMBER 3 Fall 2008 |
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Michelle Lamb unveils trends for 2009 and beyond
 CBK |
“Color is always important and dominates any other factor, and now with the economy the way it is, there is no faster way to freshen an assortment of products than with color,” Lamb said. “If you can do nothing else, do color.”
Color
Renee Cazares
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Reformation
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“Laser Lime (yellow) paired with anything else is an instant update to color,” Lamb explained. “It will be the go-to color and it will be long-lasting.”
Michelle Lamb |
The kitchen
The kitchen is what Lamb calls “the heart of the home.” A variety of trends will continue to emerge, from the types of appliances gaining popularity, to the colors and textures of wood in the kitchen. She said just as wood dining and case pieces are adding distressed, even hacked-up textures, new characteristics for kitchen cabinets include highly visible knots that fit in with the eco trend. And, as with wood furnishings for other rooms of the home, painted wooden cabinets are becoming a hot item. In terms of appliances, professional-grade, stainless steel looks will continue to drive purchases, but there also will be a resurgence in black appliances. At the same time, the exposed seams and screws that made stainless-steel ranges so hot a few years ago are being replaced with more refined designer-professional looks: “Exposed seams will be considered too cold,” she explained.
Get out of here
Meanwhile, Lamb said a very visual trend emerging in the home is having items placed where consumers want them, not necessarily where they were intended to be used.
“TVs led the way by moving out of living rooms years ago,” said Lamb. “Now they are showing up everywhere from laundries to kids' rooms to the bath.”
Additionally, she said, mini-fridges and specialty coffee makers are being integrated into master bedroom settings and, thanks to wireless technology and laptop computers, huge executive desks are becoming a thing of the past while pullup furniture and tuck-away trays are making it possible to work from anywhere in the house. Also, chaise lounges have crept out of the bedroom and can be found in family rooms and living rooms.
A feeling for fabric
How much detail can be engineered into a single fabric? That's the question Lamb said many textile companies appear to be answering in recent introductions.
“Look for an elaborate weave effect and finely executed contrasts,” said Lamb. “It's all about contrasts.”
She said detail among top-selling pieces will be played up via two-beamed warps of different tensions, done overall or in targeted locations. Matte and shine, or levels of toned-down luster will continue to gain momentum. Lamb said linen will continue to be a top seller, as will velvet, though the first hints of a slowdown are beginning to emerge. Also, jacquards with lots of woven-in luster and detail will continue to grow.
Global evolutions
Haute House Home Furnishings
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“We will see Matroyska dolls [Russian Dolls] in everything from table settings to stationary to fabrics,” Lamb said.
What's in outdoors
According to Lamb, trends for outdoor rooms will parallel those for interiors, with instant kitchens, including stainless steel appliances, continuing to be a must-have. Zen looks are trend-forward for roof-top gardens, Moroccan looks are moving ahead in the outdoor setting, conservation continues to be “king” in the outdoor room and, in terms of color, white is the new black signifying purity and simplicity.
What's up with kids?
Levels of Discovery
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“Let's start out with words because our kids can't stop talking,” Lamb said. “Look for longer, more sophisticated words that will appear on designs for kids and tweens and graffiti for tweens.”
Also an emerging trend, Lamb said, is the use of anime and the Manga effect, as well as the use of abstract camouflage. Additionally, ruffles, ribbons and bows will feature new, updated placements, and kids' furniture in general will be cleaner and feature more sophisticated styling.