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 by
Jacqueline Monahan
jaxn8r@msn.com
Photos by Jacqueline Monahan
Winter
2008 World Market in Las Vegas
The Winter 2008 World Market returned to Las Vegas for a five-day
convention full of furniture, and indoor/outdoor accessories. From
January 28 to February 1, Las Vegas hosted enough home furnishings
buyers and designers from around the world to rival current industry
leader, High Point, North Carolina. Las Vegas is rapidly becoming a
leader in the field of furniture design, textiles and home and garden
product trends.
This season’s finds are plentiful and disparate. From information on
sleep systems (you know them as beds) to portable fireplaces and cowhide
area rugs, if you want to lie on it, walk on it, sit on it or look at
it, you’ll find it at the World Market, which has over 3 million feet of
exhibits to peruse. Your humble correspondent did the walking for you
and offers the following companies and their standout products for your
consideration:
Alpine Corporation - Surround yourself with angels and waterfalls, ponds
and birdbaths. Populate your garden with elves and gazing globes,
elegant bistro sets and large pottery vases. Fountain varieties carry
such titles as Gemstone, Eternity, Zen, Victorian and Feng-Shui. Here
they sell magical-sounding accessories for outdoor ambiance, such as
pond foggers and floating lily pads. They have indoor accessories, too;
that is, if you ever want to leave your garden after Alpine visits.
http://www.alpine4u.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Asian Art Imports - More of an interior garden than a booth, this vendor
offers an evolving inventory of indoor/outdoor home décor. Eclectic
offerings in ceramics, Indian imports, recovered and sustainable rustic
furniture (one coffee table is made from many small tree trunks banded
together under a square glass table top) invite the visitor to stroll
through surroundings both natural and exotic (and eco-friendly as well).
They also do Western-style rustic furniture for those who like to stay
in this hemisphere.
http://www.asianartimports.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Inada - Part massage, part dance routine, these chairs mimic the
pounding and rubbing of skilled human hands. You’ll be cradled, cupped,
kneaded and caressed by this intelligent piece of furniture. Charismatic
company president Cliff Levin has created a product that invites the
consumer to de-stress with no part of the body going neglected. You
might have to tone down the powerful grip of some of the settings. From
scanning your spine to applying the right pressure, you’ll want this
miracle machine waiting for you when you get home from work.
http://www.inada-chair.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Infinity Instruments, Ltd. – Time is on this company’s side and they
have plenty of ways to keep track of it. Offering time pieces of mammoth
size and infinite style, you’ll find that a clock can be an art form.
Various shapes, faces and styles, from auto-tire sized spheres to tiny
alarm clocks to whimsical objects like the Eiffel Tower, a ship’s
propeller, and a surf board; Infinity Instruments sure picked its
company name carefully. Along with all manner of wall art, you’ll be
worn out trying to count all of the varied ways Infinity does time.
http://www.infinityinstruments.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Jo-Liza - Mirrors, lighting, accessories and furniture become works of
art in the home, resembling elegant sculptures which have actual
household uses. The mirrors, (especially the Marcelle) are stunning in
their composition; not just content to stay within a circle or square,
Jo-Liza mirrors reach beyond reflective surfaces to extend the art form
past the frame. For example, a mirror with a garden motif will be
surrounded by mirrored leaves. Jo-Liza also features lamps and
chandeliers (one is named Matilda) sconces, vanities, cosmetic trays and
furniture in mirrored glass, some accented with wrought iron. One vanity
is named Daphne; another is Alexa. If you think you’re charmed now, wait
until you see them “in the glass.”
http://www.joliza.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
K & K Tabletops - Bling inspired by the Indian subcontinent. This
company is to pillows what Infinity is to clocks. They also feature
handbags, tablecloths, runners, picture frames, lamps, curtains,
scarves, beaded stoles and glass jewelry. Colors are vibrant and
mirrored accents are commonplace. To come upon this booth is to
encounter a sparkling Nirvana accessory land that is hard to leave; that
is, unless you can take some of these treasures with you. Thanks to K
and K Tabletops, you can.
http://www.kandktabletops.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Legare’ Select - “You’ll spend more time unpacking it than putting it
together,” a friendly representative told me. Advertised as tool-free
and fun to assemble, pre-cut fiberboard pieces snap together to form
desks, stereo units, shelving and file carts. This company also had the
best press kit, tiny examples of their product. (a desk and a
“peninsula” extension workspace) that snap together in miniature form.
The sales representative also told me that women find this type of
furniture most appealing because they can do it themselves, quickly and
simply. Maybe they can change their pitch to Men Optional Furniture
Construction to widen the market even more. Worth looking into.
http://www.legarefurniture.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Ogallala Comfort Company - To quickly sum up this company, they are
champions of bedding and body lotion. With their patented Hypodown, four
parts white goose down, 1 part Syriaca clusters (fibers from the
milkweed plant) all air infused for maximum fluff, you can almost see
the comfort in their products. The skin care line utilizes ingredients
like olive oil, soy wax, turmeric and Dead Sea salt to make your skin
soft enough to appreciate this gentle feather nest. There are pillows in
down, feather, and wool to soothe any tired head. Ogallala believes that
“people find comfort in unlikely places.” With this innovative company
to its credit, the state of Nebraska must be one of them.
http://www.ogallalacomfortcompany.com
Oh My Buddha! - Just like Elvis, Buddha has many incarnations (the fat
one, the thin one, the young one, and the one in his gold lame’ period).
You will find him the way you like him here and be at peace doing it. He
can be standing, sitting, laughing, or smiling. He can be gold, pewter,
bronze, or brass. With one or both hands raised, he’s sure to bring
serenity and comfort to your surroundings. You’ll wonder how you ever
got along without him. Thanks to the good people of Oh My Buddha! no one
has to.
http://www.buddhaimports.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Planika – see Judy Thorburn’s article in this issue regarding the little
fireplace that’s setting the market on fire (with sales).
Saddleman’s of Santa Fe – What kind of rug goes perfectly with leather
furniture and hunting trophies? This hair-on cowhide in natural colors
offered by Saddleman’s gives years of service with minimal care. Not
everyone’s cup of tea, but might be just the thing for a library, den,
Texas ranch house, or cattle farm. You want cow hide? Look no further.
There are sewn rugs in geometrics and stripes, dyed in bright colors to
suit any décor. There’ll be no hiding that this is real hide.
http://www.saddlemansofsantafe.com
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Sleep Trends, Various Companies – What we used to call a bed is now
referred to as a sleep system. Our old rectangle mattresses would be
considered dumb by today’s standard of “smart bed” technology. These
sophisticated new products can monitor body movement and breathing
patterns (Starry Night Sleep Technology) alleviate pressure points and
the need to toss and turn (Sealy Posturepedic) and offer environmentally
friendly mattresses (Spaldin Sleep Systems). You can sleep on air (Aerobed)
with a massaging motion (Somaflex) or with a famous designer (Serta/Vera
Wang Collection). There are foam systems (Tempur-pedic), one-sided
innersprings (Europa collection of International Bedding) and soy-based
bio-foam (Springwall Sleep Products Eco Series).
Looking for a more portable, innovative alternative? A Chili/Pad
provides individual mattress temperature adjustment for two people in
the same bed. She can have sub-Saharan heat while he luxuriates in
Arctic bliss. Makes finding the equator fun, don’t you think?
http://www.mychilipad.com
Walking the World (Market)
Trying to cover such a huge area crammed with goods is a challenge. Two
special locations were set up to assist the weary visitor. One was The
Recharging Center – (see Judy Thorburn’s article in this issue regarding
the one place where people are encouraged to sleep on the job). The
other was a delightful Tea Garden in the middle of the MGM Pavilion
which was inviting enough to make me hope it wasn’t a mirage (wrong
hotel). With its tempting offering of organic teas (green, African
rooibos red and orange blossom yerba mate’, the Tea Garden even offered
cream to make the beverage British if one wished.
Photo credit: Judy Thorburn
Back at headquarters, Buildings A and B of the World Market Center,
water bottles and umbrellas are supplied to visitors on a daily basis.
Pedestrian traffic is congested and elevators are slow, overcrowded and
stop at every floor if they stop at all. Members of the media and buyers
were rewarded with logo-imprinted tote bags, complimentary food and
drink and on-the-spot interviews with representatives. Parking is almost
in another zip code, with shuttles transporting the masses into the
World Market Center like tourists through a wild game park.
Still, it was worth the effort to go on this sometimes wild furniture
safari. The world of stripes, spots, patterns and textures is
ever-changing and evolving. Stay tuned to this website for Summer 2008
World Market coverage and see for yourself.
For further information:
http://www.lasvegasmarket.com
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