Witnessing the evolution and integration of hospitality design across the A&D marketplace has been a fascinating experience over the years. At one point in the not-too-distant past, the shimmer and sparkle of hotel lobbies and guestrooms were rarely associated or mentioned alongside practical discussions about corporate interiors or healthcare facilities. Today, the confluence of materials, problem solving and designing for emotional experiences has made hospitality design not only relevant, but vital to contemporary workplace design thinking.
Now in its ninth year, Boutique Design New York(BDNY) is one of the leading trade fair and conferences for hospitality design professionals in North America. Presented annually by Boutique Designat New York City’s Javits Center, BDNY has been ranked among the fastest-growing trade fairs in the U.S. for the past five years. The 2018 BDNY attracted more than 8,000 design professionals and presented more than 750 booths featuring furniture, lighting, wall coverings, fabric, accessories, artwork, flooring, finish materials, bath and spa, and tabletop accessories all spread out over 135,000 square feet of exhibition space.
For this year in particular, it really felt like BDNY hit a stride of its own and has been able to differentiate itself from the International Contemporary Furniture Fair(ICFF), that takes place at the Javits Center earlier in the year and tends to host a number of similar manufacturers. This year’s event was peppered with plenty of design celebrities like Clodaghand Todd Bracherspeaking in curated panel discussions in meticulously designed spaces by Duncan Miller Ullmann, BAMO, and Marriott Global Design Americas, among others. The experience was unique; one minute we were taking a look at the latest COM tile patterns configured by Audrey Lane, while right across from that booth, there was a discussion on adaptive reuse in hospitality featuring the Kimpton Gray Hotel. For me, that allowed a strong connection between materiality and design intent. New attitudes in hospitality design are increasingly infused with place and meaning, and are no longer just a pretty finish on a wall, floor or ceiling.
One of my favorite vendors was Cutmaps, a company that produces laser cut maps of any location out of wood, metal or other materials and adds an air of local authenticity to virtually any space. So often now, even chain hotels are looking to embed themselves visually in the community in which they are located, and Cutmaps is a great and affordable way to do it.
There were also a lot of first-time exhibitors at BDNY this year; Craven Dunnill, a Yorkshire, England ceramic tile producer that was founded in 1872 made their debut. The glazed tiles, each of which appeared to feature unique gradations, were large, unconventional, and perfectly memorable for placemaking. This product is sure to be a favorite in New York.
Speaking of placemaking and the blurring of the lines between corporate interiors and hospitality, one company that seamlessly operates between the two design practices is Spanish manufacturer Kettal. Their cabana-like Pavilionsproduct is an open-ended structure that can exist either indoors or outdoors and features a number of shade and finish options, as well as the capability to integrate A/V for conferencing or beds for lounging. With such well-known designers such as Patricia Urquiolacreating products for them, it’s no wonder that Kettal’s presence in the marketplace is on the rise.
Another outstanding product that was new to me but familiar to others was Galanter & Jones, a California company that specializes in heated outdoor furniture. Sitting in one of their lounge chairs was an experience like relaxing in a hot tub without getting wet. Their drum stool gave a campfire-like feeling that was quite unique. With outdoor spaces on the rise, I can see this aspect of the market increasing.
Another great manufacturer on display that was literally a show-stopper was Umbrosa, showing off their Eclipsumproduct. Monumental in scale, yet sculptural in detail, this extremely easy to use sunshade was in continuous motion by the Umbrosa people, who were displaying its capabilities while also looking a bit like performance art. The great thing about Eclipsum though it that it does double duty; not only does it create shade in the daytime, it acts as a stunning architectural element at night in the proper setting.
As with many other well-known trade fairs, BDNY also had a competition highlighting some of the best items on display at the fair, picked by an anonymous jury of design professionals. In the category of architecture materials, Plyboo won for their FuturaSound product, a wonderful decorative and acoustic wall cladding that would fit well in any commercial space. It’s amazing to see that years after bamboo has fallen out of favor as a material in commercial design, Plyboo continues to reinvent the material and make it just as relevant today as when they first entered the space. In the Bath & Spa category, Kallista won for their physics-defying Grid Sink Faucet. This thing is beautiful, and probably just as practical as an Italian sports car. In the fabric category, Brentano won for their Samara fabric. “The textile mimics the way the light would hit the leaves on the tree,” noted Iris Wang, Brentano’s Design Director. “Samara’s pile is woven to move in three directions to create a beautiful shadow effect adding depth and dimension to the striking colors and richness of the velvet.” Samara’s beauty extends well beyond its abstract pattern, with over 75,000 double rubs and Brentano’s Tri-sistant finish, the densely woven textile features supreme durability to withstand high-traffic environments. In the increasingly popular outdoor furniture category, Walter’s Wicker won for their Arbor Collection, a lovely group of contemporary styled pieces featuring woven black rattan and wood highlights. In the seating category, Belgian solid wood manufacturer Ethicraft won for their Bok Chair, a carefully balanced design that playfully experiments with contrasts and would bring warmth to any dining environment or a guest room.
Awards always help to highlight some of the best and brightest in any show, but walking the aisles revealed several other inspiring manufacturers. Mirror Imagebrought Remitechnology onboard their product. This is one of the smartest mirrors in hospitality; built on the android 8 platform, Remi can serve up endless amenities, such as in-room dining, reservations, housekeeping and more through a decorative mirror, a tablet and/or a customized app. This new frontier of integrated technology is only just beginning.
On the other end, California manufacturer Stikwoodkeeps things as simple as possible. Their product is 1/8” thick real wood planks that use a self-adhesive back for easy installation. Avoiding costly z-clip installations with full size solid wood or engineered planks, Stikwood has the same look at a fraction of the price. Available in a range of finishes and patterns, this product is a no-brainer if you are looking to use wood on the walls.
Another great reinvention of an existing product is Tekstur. It’s no secret that most decorative panels have a limited life span due to their low durability. Depending on the material, most are subject to cracking, chipping or staining; Tekstur panels are a sustainable phenolic material, solid color throughout, and is both visual and tactile in experience. Not only do the patterned surfaces draw in the eye, but they invite the viewer to touch the material and engage with the design. This product is perfect for lobbies, elevator cabs, feature walls, backsplashes, exterior facades and much more.
This year, BDNY offered an experience that truly integrated the potential of design with the power of placemaking. It was inspirational, informative, and above all, really fun. It is events like this that show why what we all do in this industry continues to change but also continues to be relevant.