Ten of Our Favorite Products from ICFF 2015

This year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York takes place May 16 through 19. Nearly double the size it was last year, the event showcases the work of some 700 exhibitors from the U.S. and abroad. After scouring the vast spread of products—from lighting to wall panels and to indoor/outdoor furniture—on display, we recap our top finds.

Deep 3D, Twenty2
Twenty2’s Deep 3D wallpaper originated in a graduate seminar taught by Pratt Institute visiting associate professor Sarah Strauss, AIA, who professes a lifelong interest in pattern and ornament. Each year, her students design 3D wallpaper as a way to bring interactivity to an otherwise passive surface. With the help of 3D glasses, the surface “engages the body” and allows for a feeling of uncertainty among passers-by, Strauss says. At ICFF, Twenty2 displayed five patterns (Falls, shown), each designed by a Pratt student and digitally printed with water-based inks.

Button, Estiluz
Button, by Spanish lighting manufacturer Estiluz, puts a decorative twist on tracklighting by incorporating the track system into its design. Available in black or white lacquer satin, mink, and gray limestone, the suspended fixture is fitted with three 10W LED trackheads that individually dim with the push of a button and slide for re-positioning. According to Estiluz executive vice president Albert Grabulosa, junctions that will allow the fixtures to be connected in multiple shapes are in the works. Button is also offered as a pendant and as a surface-mounted fixture.

Holyfield, Khouri Guzman Bunce Lininger
Founded four years ago by three designers who met on a 20,000-square-foot residential project, New York–based Khouri Guzman Bunce Lininger creates contemporary furniture using Old World–methods and rare materials, such as borosilicate glass and 22-karat gold hardware, says principal Ford Lininger. The company’s latest is the Holyfield side table, whose straw marquetry veneer harks back to the technique—in which thin strips of wood or straw are applied to a surface—thought to have originated in Asia and was first used in Europe in the 17th century. The 24”-by-18”-by-24” table is supported by a silicon bronze base.

Tulip, Anne Kyyrö Quinn
London-based designer Anne Kyyrö Quinn makes custom acoustic 3D wall coverings from wool felt by hand. Inspired by organic shapes, she creates felt sculptural patterns that are ISO-classified as Class D absorbers and are effective at controlling noise with frequencies exceeding 1 kilohertz. The addition of an acoustic panel with 50-mm-thick foam filling further absorbs sound. A range of patterns and colors are available with the designer showcasing her Tulip pattern (above) in leather at this year’s event.

Helios, Galanter & Jones
First-time exhibitor Galanter & Jones designs and manufactures heated outdoor furniture made of ¾”-thick cast stone. Miranda Jones, who owns the San Francisco–based company with her brother, Aaron, chose cast stone for its durability and versatility. The chairs and lounges, which feature adjustable heating, are plug-in ready and come in two collections, Evia and Helios (shown). The latter offers an elongated, kidney-shaped form for ergonomic comfort. The surface and base of both models can be specified in a variety of colors.

Infinito, QisDesign
Taiwanese lighting manufacturer QisDesign’s Infinito LED pendant plays on the twist in the infinity symbol to incorporate separate lighting elements for day and night. Warm-white LEDs provide direct illumination on one end of the fixture while color-changing RGB LEDs illuminate the other. Motion sensors allow users to transition among three settings (all white, white and color-changing, and color) with a wave of their hand, says Vincent Lin, the company’s sales director. Keeping one’s hand still under the fixture activates dimming. The aluminum alloy pendant measures approximately 59″ long.

Wave, Wetstyle
Wetstyle’s W2 series comes in at a modest price point compared to the bath-products manufacturer’s standard wares. A highlight of the collection is the freestanding soaking tubs. Wave (shown) and Straight measure 59” by 28” by either 58” or 26 ¼”, respectively—fitting a standard 60”-by-30” alcove and filling a gap in the market for streamlined bathtubs for tight spaces, says Mark Wollinsky, president of the Montreal-based firm. A third model, Cloud, measures 62” by 30”.

Métamorphose, THG Paris
Designed by Olivia Putman for THG Paris, the Métamorphose faucet takes its name from the altering forms of the faucet’s body and knobs, says Pedro Uranga, the company’s North American director. Both shift fluidly from round to square and back to round for a clean, contemporary profile. The faucet can also be specified with lever handles accented with a brass or ceramic insert, or with a carbon fiber–weave inlay. The faucet stands 9 ½” tall and joins a larger collection, which includes tub and shower fixtures.

Luna Light, Rawstudio
Rawstudio showed several pieces by its founder and principal Nick Rawcliffe. His Luna Light (shown) uses flexible LEDs to illuminate a paper drum that was handmade by artisans in the Philippines. The light accentuates the texture of the paper, creating the appearance of lunar craters, Rawcliffe says. The wall sconce is framed in spun aluminum and comes in either a 24” or 37” diameter with an 80”-long cable. Rawstudio also showcased Hive, a suspended seat that can be used indoors and outdoors. Made of sustainably sourced hardwood plywood, it measures 48” square with an optional steel frame.

Fri, Fritz Hansen
Spanish designer Jaime Hayón created Fri, a new armchair for Fritz Hansen. While Ro, one of Hayón’s previous collections for the Danish manufacturer, was designed for quiet reflection, Fri’s open form encourages interaction with the environment. The chair’s durable shell is made of polyurethane foam and glass fiber with foam cushions. Available in a variety of fabrics, it measures 35 3/5” tall, 34 3/5” deep, and 31 ½” wide.