Continuing my Florida winter lecture tour on trends in design, I discovered the riches of Naples. With the second highest proportion of millionaires per capita in the US, there is strong support for a variety of interesting endeavors.
Downtown Naples is home to The Naples Players and the renonwed Florida Repertory Theater, as well as the 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South shopping districts, which feature a variety of antique shops. Gallery Row is a concentration among the numerous art galleries spread throughout the downtown area. The Village on Venetian Bay is an upscale open-air shopping district on the Gulf coast. Located directly off of Tamiami Trail are the Waterside Shops, an upscale open-air center. The Edison and Ford Winter Estates boast over 20 acres of botanical gardens, nine historic buildings, including Edison’s Botanic Research Lab, and the Edison Ford Museum. Also recommended is the Baker Museum/Artis-Naples center for performing arts.
One of the iconic hot-spots for design in the area is Robb & Stucky. Designers and design enthusiasts can find virtually everything they might need in its impressive 60,000-square-foot showroom in the heart of Naples.
The stylish crowds at these events – a champagne brunch and martini cocktail reception – were passionate and informed about the latest in design. There were lively discussions around trends I presented, especially “Metal Merge,” the mixing of metal finishes in design for a more sophisticated, less matchy-matchy eclectic elegance. It gives people license to let their hair down and mix it up.
THE INVITATION
CHAMPAGNE BRUNCH IN NAPLES
Event Photos: 1. Keith Gordon, Stan Witters (General Manager, Robb & Stucky), Barry Goralnick; 2. Keith Gordon, Barry Goralnick, and a guest; 3. Designers enjoying the extensive brunch; 4. Trend Lecture Audience at Naples Showroom; 5. Susan Heard, Lisa Bill, and Jessica Schneider, R&S Director of Business DevelopmentBrunch-goers; 6. Customers eyeing a display of Barry Goralnick Martini Tables; 7. Trend Lecture Audience at Naples Showroom; 8. Keith Gordon, Mark Stuart (Creative Director, Robb & Stucky), Barry Goralnick; 9. Brunch is served; 10. Harry Trachtenberg (Vanguard Furniture); 11. Harry Trachtenberg, Barry Goralnick, Danae Koerner (Vanguard Furniture).
MARTINI RECEPTION IN SARASOTA
Event Photos: 12. What to drink?!; 13. Barry Goralnick, J.P. McMenamy, and Janet Davidson (Interior Designers at R&S), Keith Gordon; 14. Keith Gordon, Barry Goralnick, Dawn Ewest (R&S), Marty McMahon (R&S); 15. Trend Lecture Audience at Sarasota Showroom. 16. Robin Azevedo (R&S Interior Designer), Cameron Cox from Cameron Cox Interiors; 17. Janet Davidsen (R&S) and a local designer; 18.Designers pose for the Robb & Stucky paparazzi; 19. Designers who participated in a lively discussion; 20. Post-lecture cocktails at Sarasota Showroom.
THE TREND: Metal Merge
Designers are no longer just choosing metals that match. A brief look at the recent metal evolution: The 70’s & 80’s were all about gold:
In the 90’s & 00’s. Everything from computers, faxes, pagers, and VCRs looked “cool” in cool tech-inspired tones.
The latest trend is the mix of metals, which we have termed “Metal Merge,” which we are seeing across design industries – fashion, appliances, jewelry and home furnishing is the mixing of metal.
Two Barry Goralnick pieces with the mix of metals are the Hedy and the Vittorio Martini tables.
Hedy Martini Table and the Vittorio Martini Table from Vanguard Furniture
Next up, Wilton Manors.