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International Furniture Fair Singapore: Trendspotting With Designers
Design and styling firms Design Intervention and Arete Culture kept an eye out for the next big thing in interiors
Chiquit Brammall
26 March 2019
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
The International Furniture Fair Singapore (IFFS) 2019 was held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands from March 9 to 12 — a departure from its decades-long showing at the Singapore Expo in Changi — with the theme solutions for urban living. Houzz asked interior design and decoration experts Wendy Smith of Design Intervention and Caroline Chin-Geyler of Arete Culture to see how spot-on the exhibit was for their residential design needs.
Image from DesignSingapore Council
Slim is still in
At last year’s fair, slim silhouettes were offered as a solution for small spaces, and they’re even more present this year. This was also evident in furniture legs and surfaces.
Slim is still in
At last year’s fair, slim silhouettes were offered as a solution for small spaces, and they’re even more present this year. This was also evident in furniture legs and surfaces.
Image from Design Intervention
“Thin was definitely in,” Smith says. “Thin Slate, Quartzite and Stone veneers were on show from Decor Slim Stone. I also saw ‘Flexible’ 2-millimetre stone veneers that can be moulded around curves for both indoor and outdoor use. And [there were] ultra-slim 0.8-millimetre natural stone [veneers] reinforced onto fabric, to allow you to upholster any furniture piece with that stone look but with total flexibility,” she says.
“Thin was definitely in,” Smith says. “Thin Slate, Quartzite and Stone veneers were on show from Decor Slim Stone. I also saw ‘Flexible’ 2-millimetre stone veneers that can be moulded around curves for both indoor and outdoor use. And [there were] ultra-slim 0.8-millimetre natural stone [veneers] reinforced onto fabric, to allow you to upholster any furniture piece with that stone look but with total flexibility,” she says.
Image from Arete Culture
Chin-Geyler even bought one of the consoles from local manufacturer Ipse Ipsa Ipsum’s slim-lined collection for her own home.
Chin-Geyler even bought one of the consoles from local manufacturer Ipse Ipsa Ipsum’s slim-lined collection for her own home.
Image from DesignSingapore Council
Indoor-outdoor living is the way to go
“We were really inspired by how the outdoor living scene has changed,” Chin-Geyler says. “Given that Singapore is a tropical country, we always think it’s remiss for homes to not use their outdoor spaces as an extended living space, and the range and products we saw at IFFS definitely showed a shift towards embracing outdoor living as a way of Singapore life.”
Indoor-outdoor living is the way to go
“We were really inspired by how the outdoor living scene has changed,” Chin-Geyler says. “Given that Singapore is a tropical country, we always think it’s remiss for homes to not use their outdoor spaces as an extended living space, and the range and products we saw at IFFS definitely showed a shift towards embracing outdoor living as a way of Singapore life.”
Image from DesignSingapore Council
The rise of rattan and cane
With this indoor-outdoor theme, rattan and cane are in the spotlight.
The rise of rattan and cane
With this indoor-outdoor theme, rattan and cane are in the spotlight.
Image from Design Intervention
“Rattan and cane hold strong as a trend, consistently displayed throughout both halls and made the ‘hero’ by the designers who obviously favour this strong, resilient material,” Smith says. “The designs varied in weave and spacing, [and] styling was either clean and sculptural or showed a distinct, Modern Deco vibe.”
“Rattan and cane hold strong as a trend, consistently displayed throughout both halls and made the ‘hero’ by the designers who obviously favour this strong, resilient material,” Smith says. “The designs varied in weave and spacing, [and] styling was either clean and sculptural or showed a distinct, Modern Deco vibe.”
Image from DesignSingapore Council
Modern marquetry
Patterns made their way onto beautiful wood surfaces with high-tech marquetry, Smith notes. “Marquetry arose somewhat from the ashes for this season’s show,” she says.
“Normally associated with antique furniture styles like Louis XVI or Art Nouveau, new technology is reinventing this artisanal technique, allowing complex patterns to be inexpensively formed in unlimited varieties of pattern and inlays. Applications can be applied to plywoods of all sizes and even calcium silicate and other fire-retardant boards,” Smith says.
Modern marquetry
Patterns made their way onto beautiful wood surfaces with high-tech marquetry, Smith notes. “Marquetry arose somewhat from the ashes for this season’s show,” she says.
“Normally associated with antique furniture styles like Louis XVI or Art Nouveau, new technology is reinventing this artisanal technique, allowing complex patterns to be inexpensively formed in unlimited varieties of pattern and inlays. Applications can be applied to plywoods of all sizes and even calcium silicate and other fire-retardant boards,” Smith says.
Image from Arete Culture
The intricacy and craftsmanship of these wooden pieces stood out to Chin-Geyler as well. “We liked how the construction combines different materials,” she says.
The intricacy and craftsmanship of these wooden pieces stood out to Chin-Geyler as well. “We liked how the construction combines different materials,” she says.
Image from DesignSingapore Council
Art Deco’s revival
As in Maison & Objet earlier this year, Art Deco was a big presence at IFFS. “Art Deco was also a strong, re-occurring theme visible to a degree across many of the stands,” Smith says. “Brass and rose gold were favoured over cooler metals, jewel tones presided over neutrals and bold curves over straight lines. Unmistakable Deco motifs were prevalent in wallpapers, fabrics and furniture silhouettes. Materials and textures were successfully entwined and layered to evoke a strong mood of Maximalism.”
Maison & Objet: Look for Art Deco and French Design in 2019
Art Deco’s revival
As in Maison & Objet earlier this year, Art Deco was a big presence at IFFS. “Art Deco was also a strong, re-occurring theme visible to a degree across many of the stands,” Smith says. “Brass and rose gold were favoured over cooler metals, jewel tones presided over neutrals and bold curves over straight lines. Unmistakable Deco motifs were prevalent in wallpapers, fabrics and furniture silhouettes. Materials and textures were successfully entwined and layered to evoke a strong mood of Maximalism.”
Maison & Objet: Look for Art Deco and French Design in 2019
Image from DesignSingapore Council
Botanicals are blooming
Plants, flowers, foliage and trees were represented over and over again on wallpaper, fabric, rugs and lights, Smith notes.
She says: “There seems to be a great need to represent the outdoors; apart from the ever-popular living walls and faux plants, you can now go overboard and cover an entire home with them, every surface and corner. Big and bold is the way to go, maximalist all the way without fear of clashing colours and textures.”
Botanicals are blooming
Plants, flowers, foliage and trees were represented over and over again on wallpaper, fabric, rugs and lights, Smith notes.
She says: “There seems to be a great need to represent the outdoors; apart from the ever-popular living walls and faux plants, you can now go overboard and cover an entire home with them, every surface and corner. Big and bold is the way to go, maximalist all the way without fear of clashing colours and textures.”
Image from Design Intervention
Takeaways and looking forward
One of these botanical features was a fair highlight for Smith. “Contemplating my IFFS visit, there is one item that I coveted, a new and unexpected discovery. Go Green Indoors delighted me with their revolutionary 100% natural, biodegradable preservation process,” she says. “Large floral displays, living walls and even miniature bonsai trees were treated to preserve them in the moment. This can be achieved without affecting the feel of the flower or foliage: A bunch of roses in one arrangement still retained their soft petals and fragrant bouquet. Maintenance-free and seemingly without affecting any of their natural beauty, your weekly floral arrangement or interior living wall can now be preserved to last for months, if not years. Environmental benefits in tandem with saving time and money — [it’s] something I would be keen to experiment with.”
Takeaways and looking forward
One of these botanical features was a fair highlight for Smith. “Contemplating my IFFS visit, there is one item that I coveted, a new and unexpected discovery. Go Green Indoors delighted me with their revolutionary 100% natural, biodegradable preservation process,” she says. “Large floral displays, living walls and even miniature bonsai trees were treated to preserve them in the moment. This can be achieved without affecting the feel of the flower or foliage: A bunch of roses in one arrangement still retained their soft petals and fragrant bouquet. Maintenance-free and seemingly without affecting any of their natural beauty, your weekly floral arrangement or interior living wall can now be preserved to last for months, if not years. Environmental benefits in tandem with saving time and money — [it’s] something I would be keen to experiment with.”
Image from Singapore Furniture Industries Council
As for Chin-Geyler, she enjoyed the fair’s local appeal. “We like how Singapore brands work hard to incorporate motifs and features that are representative of our multicultural background. The designs are also catered to Singapore city living.”
Her wish list for the future? “We’d like to see more furniture for kids or furniture that’s kid-friendly!”
Tell us
What trends would you like to adopt for your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
As for Chin-Geyler, she enjoyed the fair’s local appeal. “We like how Singapore brands work hard to incorporate motifs and features that are representative of our multicultural background. The designs are also catered to Singapore city living.”
Her wish list for the future? “We’d like to see more furniture for kids or furniture that’s kid-friendly!”
Tell us
What trends would you like to adopt for your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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