There’s a reason interior design fans eagerly await the annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair. It is quite simply THE quintessential design event of the year – an iconic showcase that presents the latest modern furnishings and interiors in a whirlwind four-day event in the heart of New York City. This year marked the 30th anniversary of ICFF, and the show more than lived up to this milestone with an extraordinary gathering of 900 exhibitors from around the world. It was a glorious opportunity to meet top design professionals, experience the most venerated brands in the industry, and admire the newest innovations the design world has to offer. Here’s a brief recap of some of our favorite booths, although it’s difficult to narrow the list to just a few.

 British brand Victoria + Albert British chose the ICFF venue to unveil their newest freestanding bath called Pembroke. Designed in partnership with Italian design house Meneghello Paolelli Associati, this transitional tub offers a clever blend of gentle curves and crisp lines. Its sleek silhouette lightens towards the base and offers a pleasing roundness along with a dual-ended design that is roomy enough for two bathers. Like all Victoria + Albert tubs, the Pembroke is crafted from ENGLISHCAST^®, the company’s proprietary composite of Volcanic Limestone™ and high-performance resins that is extremely durable and easy to maintain. 

 The Dornbracht LifeSpa booth caused quite a stir at ICFF with its incredible Rainmoon. More than just a shower head, Rainmoon is a multi-sensory water experience that creates the illusion of showering by moonlight in the rain. A central dome is seamlessly integrated into the ceiling with specialized sprayers and a hidden light strip. Users may choose from the Aqua Circle sprayer with adjustable water flow that ranges from powerful streams to a gentle rain curtain, or the Tempest sprayer which replicates the experience of showering in a heavy storm. The innovative Rainmoon concept is part of Dornbracht’s ongoing commitment to “healthfulness” and the positive benefits of combining water and light to create relaxation and refreshment.

The Chambord Company brought their signature French flair to ICFF with the debut of their Clotaire IV farmhouse kitchen sink. Known for their luxurious materials and time-honored craftsmanship, Chambord offered a beautiful booth that reflected their historical heritage and a product line inspired by French kings. The Clotaire is a single bowl sink with generous proportions and an elegant apron-front design. It is crafted of beautiful white Granite with a durable and easy-to-clean finish. Chambord sources its granite from the finest quarries and uses a formulation that is 85% quartz, giving their sinks an authentic aspect that is as strong as natural stone and highly resistant to scratches and high temperatures. 

Gessi revealed the results of its collaboration with famed architect David Rockwell by introducing the extraordinary Inciso Collection at ICFF. Embodying the best of Italian design and American style, this contemporary faucet collection is striking in its simplicity and elegance. Sculpted contours combine with smooth surfaces and raised patterns to create a remarkable series of architectural fixtures with a vintage-yet-industrial feel. The collection is made of solid brass and offers a variety of different finishes, including black, nickel and bronze. Inciso fixtures can be customized by mixing different texture inserts and finishes, providing even greater design flexibility to suit any bath environment.

Another Gessi innovation that captured attention during the show was their iconic Rettangolo tap ware. This sculptural collection transforms a simple rectangular shape into works of art. First introduced in 2002, Rettangolo has evolved into a complete line of taps – including wall-mounted, floor standing, and ceiling mounted – as well as complimentary basins, ceramics and tubs all featuring that signature streamlined look. With their recent refresh of the Rettangolo range, Gessi has elevated its style with a renewed emphasis on modern elegance, simplicity and the beauty of design purity. Look for Rettangolo fixtures in a range of stunning finishes, including copper, chrome and mirrored steel. 

The Furniture Guild mixed styles and mediums to produce a stunning new bathroom vanity to display at the show. Their Henley freestanding vanity combines a modern sensibility and traditional vibe to create a stand-out presence in the bathroom. Metal accents in brass or polished nickel add interest and glam around the doors, base and on the optional square cap feet. Three full-height doors give the piece a clean, minimalist look while cleverly concealing drawer pullouts for easy access to ample storage. Like other Furniture Guild designs, the Henley is available in multiple configurations and sizes, six different metal finishes and more than 50 panel finishes. 

ICFF 2018 was an incredible event that fueled the imagination with new possibilities for interior design. As always, it was a wonderful opportunity to see the best of the global design industry up close and definitely a source for future inspiration. Here’s to another successful show and to the next 30 years!