Looks to Look for
Vendors pull out the stops with use of reds, cool designs and powerhouse flower motifs
Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 3/30/2001
There's no question about it, red is the fiery hot mama of the spring market.
Red solids, red jacs, red accents, red florals-everywhere you turn you'll find undaunted, unapologetic reds.
King Cotton's boudoir sham by Paule Marrot Editions of France puts an imperial stamp on red, with the richness of combed cotton sateen and a regal design motif. Tex-Style does a contemporary take on classic red velvet drapery with a thoroughly modern, quilted iridescent poly/rayon panel. Trendex ornaments the table with a sumptuous red-driven paisley. And Thomaston's Chimayo bed demonstrates that when it's used as a design flourish, red zests up the palette like nobody's business.
Counterbalancing all that sizzle, luminous looks dominate the cool side of design this market. In contrast to the hyperbolic beading, spangling and embellishing of markets past, spring's glimmering treatments are more elegantly nuanced. Shimmer presents a delicious paradox-serene enough to soothe, but too voluptuous to demur.
SCALA INTERNATIONAL'S new line of window coverings expresses the trend by alternating softly toned panels of Ramacraft sari fabrics from India. CUSTOM COMFORT'S Zepher bedding brings texture into the equation with a quilted poly/rayon blend. ZORLU'S polyester crushed sateen window curtain combines shimmer and a muted sparkle. SUSAN & SARAH'S ribbon pillow from the Kimono collection shows just how lively shimmer can get.
It's not all about temperature, though. On the print side of design, powerhouse flower motifs are revivifying floral looks.
Big, bold and beautiful, there's nothing precious about the new direction of florals. These are blossoms for the 21st century. Strong and sometimes stalky, they've got the moxie to crumple yesterday's delicate leaf patterns underfoot.
Speaking of what's down on ground level.flowers bring the accent to area rugs in the new Studio Design collection by BURLINGTON HOUSE FLOOR ACCENTS/CARPET ART DECO'S BACOVA DIVISION. JEFFREY FISHER HOME does a spring fling with its Blossoms silk pillow. LA VILLANELLA is introducing a host of floral table linens, including the vivid Ortensia.
There's more, of course. In animal, the style has shifted from animal prints to prints of animals. Misty lavenders and soft golds are making a good showing this season. Geometrics continue to bring forth fresh ideas.
Those looks and others are included in Home Textiles Today's annual guide to the market's new introductions, which begins on page 38. With more than 200 products presented across 25 pages, it's the most complete look anywhere at what's debuting at the market.
