Edgy and Functional: My Takeaways from Boutique Design New York
By Diana Mosher
The lines continue to blur between office, hotel and residential design. Multifamily folks, in particular, love talking about the amazing lobby, poolside furniture or operations at the hotels they visit.
Inspiration is all around (see mine on Instagram @dianaw_mosher), but it especially loves to hang out at hotels.
When it comes to design, the hospitality industry is frequently a few steps ahead of other sectors. That’s why I never miss Boutique Design New York. Last November the show returned to Javits Convention Center. Due to Covid rescheduling issues, BDNY 2021 was co-located with the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and Wanted Design. In 2022 ICFF and Wanted Design returned in the spring. BDNY will be held again this fall.
Currently, hospitality designers are paying special attention to creating outdoor environments that can be used in flexible ways. Outdoor spaces need to adapt to different weather conditions so they can be used as much as possible.
Also, the trend of hotel guests wanting to work in social settings for long periods of time continues to grow. And, similarly to the apartment industry, the design of “food-to-go” pick up areas has become more important. These accommodate all the food delivery companies without interrupting other hotel restaurant functions.
Having local artists paint large-scale wall murals—either interior or exterior—is the trend right now at hotels and can lead to an Instagram or TikTok moment for the property. Hospitality designers are also incorporating kinetic artwork that can move or react to the atmosphere or to people moving around it.
Modular construction techniques will become more widely adopted to increase efficiency, help overcome labor shortages and lack of skilled trades while also allowing more sustainable practices.
My BDNY/ICFF/WantedDesign 2021 photo gallery features cork furniture, dramatic lighting fixtures, colorful outdoor shower fixtures and sinks, bold wall coverings and more. If you’re working on an interior design project and would like more information about any of these products, contact diana@dianamosher.com and if you’d like stay in touch with regular market updates, sign up for my interior design tips here!
