May 12, 2014

The 26^th-annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), held May 17-20 in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Center, is fast approaching. For the first three days the 165,000-sq.-ft. show floor will be open to trade only, with more than 29,000 interior designers, architects, retailers, distributors, facility managers, developers, manufacturers, store designers and visual merchandisers expected. On Tuesday, May 20, ICFF will open its doors to the general public as well.

More than 600 exhibitors from 30+ countries will be displaying contemporary furniture, seating, carpeting and flooring, lighting, outdoor furniture, wall coverings, textiles and kitchen and bath products for residential and commercial interiors. The following are some not-to-miss products at this year’s show. 

The Salinas kitchen from Boffi (pictured above) and designed by Patricia Urquiola consists of a tubular metal structure made of modules that can be matched together. It can be suspended or floor mounted for under-mounted appliances. The aluminum-framed doors feature PaperStone, wood and lacquer materials, the worktops are available in ceramic, decorated lava or Lasermat and are offered in a variety of colors. A gutter-shaped element provides storage for small accessories, and stone sink and solid wood peninsula tables complete the kitchen.

Watermark Designs’ new customizable Elan Vital collection features an industrial look with modern touches, including a 1.5 gpm aerator finished with knurled metal and the industry’s smallest thermostatic valve used for the shower. The ¼-turn washerless, ceramic disc, vaulted lever handles – reminiscent of ball valves – feature the words “hot” and “cold” in the brass, and the collection is available in 40 finishes and in 130 designs. Elan Vital is available as widespread; elevated widespread; single-handle, wall mount; widespread, wall mount; two-handle, wall mount; bridge wall mount; wall mount; deck mount; floor mount with hand shower; and thermostatic shower.

The KWC ONO tub filler is now available in the company’s Splendure stainless steel finish, and it is also equipped with a wand-style hand shower. The tub filler has a fixed 7-7/8-in. spout and a 71-in. hose, and the filler spout has a flow rate of 7.5 gpm at 60 pounds per square inch of pressure. (psi); the hand shower has a rate of 2.0 gpm at 80 psi. The ONO series also includes lavatory faucets, overhead showers, a hand shower on a sliding wall bar, shower trim kits for thermostatic or pressure-balance valve applications and a variety of rough-in components and accessories. The tub filler retails for $2,100 in chrome and $2,850 in stainless steel.

The ROHL Perrin & Rowe Transitional Wall Mount Tubular Spout Lavatory Faucet is available in polished chrome, polished nickel and satin nickel, and prices start at $895. The slim, tapered lever and cross handles pair with the curved spouts, and the collection was crafted in Great Britain. 

The Amiata Collection from Victoria + Albert and Meneghello Paoelli Associates features a high-fashion, elegant bathtub and basin with graceful curves. The pieces are made with the ENGLISHCAST composition – a naturally white material in volcanic limestone that is warm to the touch and hand finished to a glossy finish. The tub will not creak or flex, is durable and easy to clean and retails for $5,375. The Amiata 60 basin retails for $670.

Stone Forest’s Industrial Pedestal with Beveled Round Vessel Sink mixes well with the industrial design trend and features a cast-iron trestle leg with fine-tuning gears that support a handcrafted basin in stone or metal. The company’s New Haven Farmhouse Sink features a flowing water pattern and is carved in Carrara marble and honed basalt. 

The Tangent collection from Walker Zanger is available in 15 different mosaic patterns in marble of varying colors, veining and brightness. It is suitable for all interior surfaces, including bathroom walls and floors, shower walls and floors and kitchen backsplashes. Shown is Astral Night in Calacata, Ash Grey and Flannel colors in a honed finish.

Duravit has added versatile furniture to its Vero ceramic bathroom series, which features LED lighting, Bluetooth integration and front-facing towel racks and is offered in six finishes: White High Gloss, Mediterranean Oak, Ticino Cherry, Brushed Walnut, Brushed Dark Oak and Dark Chestnut. An open compartment on the console offers a storage solution, and a chrome frame acts as an integrated towel bar. Other features include vertical handles on the drawers, optional walnut or maple interior organization systems (shown) and integrated soft-close tracks.

Tangram, a marble line from Lithos Design, is part of the company’s Opus collection and was designed by Raffaello Galiotto. It is available in three color palettes – aloe, coffee and ginger – and is suitable for floors and claddings.

Tab Pulls from Atlas Homewares have been expanded to include Modern Square Tab Pulls with clean, sleek lines. The new design is available in 2-in. and 6.5-in. sizes in brushed nickel, polished chrome and white gloss finishes. 

The Connected system from LightArt, the lighting division of materials manufacturer 3form, allows designers to use Lego-like lighting pieces to connect and create custom light fixtures in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The oval-shaped, freestanding Parisian tub from MTI Baths is part of the company’s Designer Collection. The tub is also available as an air bath and can be ordered with such options as Radiance, a heating system that warms the interior bath surface, and underwater LED lighting. It can be ordered in two different sizes and is handcrafted in high-gloss Lucite cast acrylic.