Just last week, I had the good fortune to attend Blogfest 2011, a first-of-its-kind event for interior design bloggers. The three day event was sponsored by Kravet, and it was an amazing event! My hats goes off to the entire Kravet team, for being such great hosts!

Blogfest 2011 was held in NYC and started on a Monday, but I started my trip early! I arrived in NYC on Saturday, and first order of business was attending ICFF, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. This annual event brings innovators and manufacturers of modern and contemporary products and design, from ACROSS THE GLOBE and bring them to the ever lucrative US market.  Attendees are interior designers, retailers, store owners and magazine folks who are looking to showcase or sell various products in their channels. This is probably my 4 or 5th time attending – and enjoy it everytime.

Three products really stood out for me this year…

Grill...or planter? Both!!

First up was black+blum’s Hot Pot BBQ! Black +Blum is a UK design company with an innovative and creative product! The BBQ is charcoal and there is a grate and liner for charcoals and ashes for the working grill portion.  Then if you can easily camouflage the grill by placing the plant on top. the planter has a separate water ways for the water from the plant, so you don’t have to worry about the water messing up your charcoal! Very innovative and of course being the designer, i asked him if the planter comes in different colors. It doesn’t for now, but demand warrants it, it could be coming! Isn’t this just the coolest thing ever?  Perfect for balconies or small urban settings!

The next product is PERFECT for my home staging side of the business – that is Tempaper – which is self adhesive, removable, high quality temporary WALL PAPER!! I had heard/read interior designers tweeting about this so I was excited to see and touch and feel the product at hand.  This is perfect for use as a home stager, since I can use it to dress up bookcases, end tables and the occasional coffee tables, as well as being able to use it in a small area in a home. No mess no fuss, easy to apply and easy to remove. Actually, I can see some of my design clients being interested in this too – especially if they are afraid to commit to wall paper.  And for RENTERS – who want to add a little style to their place!  When its time to move, the paper just rolls off and away they go!

Last product I would sell if I had a retail store,  or if I managed events. These folding chairs are so much nicer and cooler than the typical metal folding chair!!  It is more of a flat pack chair and would replace the ubiquitous awkward folding chair.  It was introduced in Dutch furniture fair two years ago! The Flux chair by Flux is so cool.

Here it is as it starts…

And here is the chair once it is finally opened. NO, it doesn’t change color, I just took two pictures of two different chairs. For the amazing easy way to set it up and break it down, check out the Flux chair video from the company. Pretty cool eh?  Now, can’t you see this being easier to store and carry than those metal or plastic folding chairs?

I tried to visit Brooklyn Flea Market on Sunday – I have been aiming to get there since February but the rain totally washed out my visit. It was cold and rainy during my entire visit and lots of vendors didn’t show up for Sunday’s event in Williamburg. Or if they did go, it was after we left!  No worries – back into NYC to meet up with my roommates and get ready for Blogfest 2011!  Onward and upward!  More posts to come!

Tags: creative design, dc interior decorator, decor ideas, event decor, ICFF, interior designers, room decor, small house decorating

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Posted in color, decorating, furniture, small space decorating, weather by rrashfor | 1 Comment