Last week I took the opportunity to attend the Las Vegas Market. I went because, over and over, I hear, ‘I want what is unlike what everyone else has.’ I saw some really amazing things. And spotted lots of trends. As a designer, I don’t put much thought into trends, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. There are design elements I kept seeing, some of which I have always had an affinity for: warm-toned metals (brushed and shiny brass), rose quartz colors everywhere (blush pink), horns are prolific (Montana’s contribution to style?), lots of African prints (seems like this is an every other year thing), high-gloss lacquered furniture seems to be taking the place of mirrored furniture, more tufted furniture than one can imagine, and raw wood case goods and accessories abound. I love looking at what’s new, hot, trending, for the same reasons I love Fashion Week. That said, I aspire to set trends versus follow them. The most exciting part of attending Market for me was thinking about what I wasn’t seeing. Gathering inspiration, especially where furniture is concerned.
I had a serendipitous moment, happening upon Design Icon, Thomas Pheasant. He spoke to our fairly small group about his plight, his talent (yes, he’s not ashamed to admit that he’s a supreme talent, and in the most endearing way), his career, and his process. I was thinking as he was talking, ‘I am exactly where I need to be’, which is something I questioned after 4 hour delays and three lay overs to get to a place I could drive to in a day. Thomas is an incredible interior designer who truly enhances the interior architectural environment. I’d say he’s modern neoclassical, but in the most approachable and modern, crisp, comfortable way. He’s the master of making neutrals divine, and even makes color a neutral beautifully. And he designs furniture. Really nice furniture, for Baker and McGuire, and his Studio collection makes my heart sing. Take a look: http://www.thomaspheasant.com/interiors/
He spoke heavily about finding your aesthetic, staying true to your creative self, and practice. He’s encouraged me to look elsewhere for custom or vintage sources and to regularly draw again. I have always felt particularly drawn to designing furniture, even before I could create an entire interior to house it. My Grandpa was a furniture maker and I was his shadow from a very young age, living right next door to his shop. It was impressed upon me in the best way. I made my first monstrosity of a piece, my own design, out of pine then stained my two least favorite colors now: golden, then red which turned it orange, in 1987, when I was 14 years old. I loved that thing, even though it was out of square in so many ways and a horrendous color.
I’ve had the incredible opportunity to be able to design furniture and have it made locally. We live among world-class artisans and being at Market reminded me to continue to use them. My collaborative efforts in designing and creating furniture will never bore me. I find a lot of joy in delivering something ‘unlike what everyone else has’. It’s been so fun for me to be inspired by what I’ve seen, yet reinterpret it, tailored to my client, influenced by what my head chews on.
Here are a couple of photos of some showroom eye candy. I LOVED Christopher Guy, in particular… Enjoy!
Some other random showroom shots-