The NYNOW Trade Show in Manhattan (formerly known as the New York International Gift Fair) just ended.  Luckily I was able to sneak away from home staging NYC (it’s been so busy) for a few hours to see what new and exciting home accessory trends would be available to designers this fall.  The show requires 2 separate venues – the Javitz Center and Pier 92 – in order to accommodate all of its vendors.  I wore the wrong shoes, for sure, and forgot to bring a tote bag for all of the literature I picked up along the way.  But since I was mainly interested in home decor and accents, I was able to focus my time at the Javitz Center and take in quite a bit before I had to make like Cinderella at midnight.

For those who have an unbridled passion for home accessories and trends, here are the highlights of the 2013 NYNOW show:

VINTAGE

So vintage, industrial and weathered has been the rage for the past 2 years, and guess what? It still is! Vendors such as Made Goods, Go Home, Roost and DK Living prominently displayed a variety of items that fell into these categories. Rugs, decorative objects, furnishings, ottomans and benches, mirrors – if this style is your passion, the choices are endless.  A perfect compliment to an industrial and vintage decor is leather so these vendors also exhibited their cowhide upholstered ottomans, benches and chairs.

HIDES

And if hides are not enough to quench your animal thirst, you can still indulge in a mounted head or antlers or skulls or fossils, all presented in a variety of finishes.  Paper mâché. Resin. Lacquer.  Newspaper wrapped. Even bejeweled.

COLOR

For those who are looking for some color this year, you will not be disappointed. But be prepared for substantial pieces with thick bodies and shapes.  Chippendale Chairs, dressers, chests, and wall mirrors were energized by vivid colors and lacquered finishes.  Beware: these pieces are not meant for the meek and shy.  They scream to be the center of attention in a room.  A perfect accent or focal point! And how can I report on colorful home decor accessories without mentioning the infamous Jonathan Adler? Anchoring one of the aisles, his bold shapes, forms and colors always grab my attention.

 BLING

I am not certain if my next observation is a widespread trend or a nod to the the fact that the show draws a BIG crowd from the ‘burbs  but there were several vendors showcasing their “Bling”, especially on accent pillows.  Rhinestones and sequins galore! Not my taste, but thought it was worth mentioning.

MADE IN THE USA

On many vendor booths, “Made in the USA” was as important to the branding as the company’s name and logo. I am a very proud “aunt” of a  Corporal in the United States Marine Corp;  these vendors always receive a thumbs up and an “oorah” from me.

Let’s wrap it up Oprah-style . . . My Favorite Things.  Without a doubt it was Whitbead Wilkinson, created by 2 women in London who used their marketing and product experience to create a line of home accessories. Securing a license from Pantone Universe and from Eames Office, Whitbread Wilkinson launched lines of eye catching kitchenware that captures the identity of these 2 brands in items as simple as a coffee cup or a coaster!

That’s my sum and substance of the show. Coming soon: my Color Commentary for staging and design.