Highlights from the International Contemporary Furniture Fair

Every year, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair shows off the stunning designs for living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, outdoor patios and more. Find out what were huge hits at the 2009 ICFF. Each May, New York City hosts hundreds of exhibitors displaying progressive innovations for interior design junkies. This year, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair wrapped up on May 19 and showcased works from 34 countries. More than 23,000 people attended this buffet of design, giving hope that the contemporary furniture industry is alive and well despite the economic downturn. Bright colours were prominently displayed everywhere at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. The aluminum-framed benches and stools from Desiron are accented with vivid reds and blues and light yellows, and it follows a minimal aesthetic that works for indoor or outdoor settings. Also following the rainbow-esque idea is Kartel US with their multi-hued Cindy lamps. The teardrop bases are coloured with some unique shades, such as flamingo, tangerine and violet. And you thought lamps had to be boring.

Courtesy ICFF

Lighting fixtures from Graypants

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Still in the lighting category, the ICFF displayed cardboard-encased pendant lighting, courtesy of Seattle-based Graypants. They gave off a relaxed DIY feel, but they didn't look cheaply made. No word yet on availability. Design Glut, the Brooklyn-based collective led by Kegan Fisher and Liz Kinnmark, introduced attendees to the Candlestrip, a candelabra that resembles a power strip, with the candles supported on plug-shaped bases. Seating got some serious love at the ICFF. Funky designs were prominently displayed, from Itoki Design's "ecological" chairs to the steel-enforced Pipe from Jasper Morrison. The bucket seat got the chic treatment thanks to Verner Panton's C1 swivel chair, a retro piece fitted with a generous amount of polyurethane foam upholstery for comfort. The ICFF gave design fans a wide array of quirky new creations to obsess over. A sassy shoe rack from San Francisco-based designer Fernando A Robert uses a wall-mounted fixture to hold your prized sneakers or loafers. In a very real way, the Shrine Shoe Rack does indeed make a shrine for your footwear, mounting them like art pieces on your wall.

Courtesy ICFF

The Shrine Shoe Rack

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Let's say you want an exotic room divider, perhaps in a large living room space or loft. The Phenomena Room Divider uses a curvy design to bring some sexiness into what could otherwise be a drab product. Designer Sang Hoon Kim said about the look:

To make one feel the movement of light, I divided the wavy sides into many layers so that they receive light from different angles and reflect it at different angles. As a result, the fixed mass feels like it is changing and moving according to the position from which the viewer sees it.

Courtesy ICFF

This curvy room divider is ideal for lofts or large spaces

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No matter what you think about interior design and contemporary furniture, realize the designers are always thinking ahead. They want to create sleek and usable objects, stuff that is reusable and powerful, sometimes subtle and thoughtful. The ICFF is a great place to see what's on the horizon in interior design, and to glimpse the products that surpass anything crowding a big-box store.