Blog

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.

I recently returned from a Trend Lecture tour in Florida, where I spoke at influential design resources to some extraordinary designers and leaders on the Florida design scene.

Beyond its welcome blast of winter sun, Sarasota is percolating with a variety of interesting offerings – from the Ringling Museum of Art to the Florida Studio Theatre.  The downtown area has many wonderful restaurants, including Selva, which is known for their delicious Nuevo Latino ceviches.

It is clear from the amount of construction, that Sarasota is hot. Designers are in high demand and busier than ever.  The key to-the-trade showroom is IDS (International Design Resource).  I was fortunate to be asked to speak at IDS in Sarasota and Naples.  Among the trends I discussed are “Mid-Century This Century” and “Ethnic Fusion.”

Below are some highlights of the IDS events:

THE INVITATION

THE EVENTS

Event Photos: 1. Barry Goralnick watches as Harry Trachtenberg warms up the crowd; 2. Nibbles in Naples; 3. Lora Brady, Linda Fenton, and Shirley Seidman serve up custom cocktails mixed by Emilio Sadez; 4. Trend Lecture Audience at IDS Naples; 5. Pear tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil skewers; 6. Barry Goralnick; 7. Trend Lecture Audience at IDS Sarasota; 8. IDS Sarasota featuring Barry Goralnick’s Veronica Sofa, Leda Chair & Ottoman, and various Martini Tables; 9. Emily Nelson, Jordan Sewell, Barry Goralnick, and Grace Wise. 10. The Norma Martini Table; 11. The Barry Goralnick bible; 12. Not an empty seat IDS Naples; 13. Designer Barbara Hyman of Barbara Hyman Interiors luxuriating on the Veronica Sofa by Barry Goralnick.

FEATURED DESIGN TREND: “Mid-Century This Century”
Mid-Century design has become a permanent part of the design vocabulary.  This century, its scale is reinterpreted for more comfort, without losing its clean ease and distinctive shapes. A few of my pieces for Vanguard Furniture personify this approach/trend:

One of my pieces that evokes the Mid-Century vibe is the Veronica sofa. The channel-back with single button is a nod to the Sixties.  But the scale, proportion are all very comfortable and modern. The low arm is great for resting an elbow while you are using your iPad or for resting your head for a quick nap – intentional or not.

I took at similar approach with the Leda chair and ottoman, which are featured at IDS. It’s a modern take on the venerable wing chair.  The ottoman can also be used as a stand-alone piece for extra seating or in a pair at the foot of the bed.

FEATURED DESIGN TREND: “Ethnic Fusion”
As the US becomes more ethnically diverse, design elements and motifs from around the globe are fusing together for fresh, new expressions in design.  US Census data shows that American Millennials are 49% non-Caucasian.  Plus, according the Secretary of Aviation and Internal Affairs, over 196 million passengers flew from the US to other parts of the world in one year (this is up 5% from the year before).

Below is the Norma Cocktail Table, honored with the Best of Year Award by Interior Design Magazine. It has the influence of brass, stone, and mosaics from Morocco.

THE NORMA COCKTAIL TABLE FROM VANGUARD

ABOUT IDS
The love of furniture and design is both a family affair and a personal passion for Emilio Sadez. Born into the family business of furniture retailing, it was only natural that he launch International Design Source in 1997.

International Design Source (IDS) is a to-the-trade showroom exclusively for interior design professionals with showrooms in Naples and Sarasota, Florida. With over 48,000 square foot of floor space, IDS houses an extremely large collection of ready-to-go items from fine furniture to accessories.

Emilio and Linda Sadez introduced us to one of our favorite spots in this trip, CK American Bistro.  But you’ll have to read more about Naples in my next post.