Redefine Design by Koroseal

The Koroseal Design team was energized during their participation in this year’s Boutique Design New York, commonly known as BDNY. As shared in the Design Report: Inside BDNY, one of the trends our designers loved was the unique applications of woods, metals, and tactile finishes.

Connecting to Nature Through Woods, Metals, and Tactile Finishes

The materials and finishes found at BDNY elicited a sense of wonder; featuring textures, sheens, and materials that had an organic appeal and connection to nature. We saw unique applications of yarn, pile, clay, polish, and dimension throughout the show. Below are a few examples.

Basket weaves in wood and soft leather created multi-dimensional and modern looks for furniture pieces. Most products featured the grain of wood as a backdrop, and artistic examples of wood integrations included a combination of wood and tile.

In another display, the perfectly imperfect, organic form of thrown clay was featured in an orbit of dishware, providing a sense of ethereal connection. The creator’s glossy color transition within a tile was irregular, and made each individual piece unique. This uniqueness, combined with the contrast we saw between the tiles’ reflective shine and the dinnerware’s absorption of light from its matte finish, was strikingly beautiful. Through the use of serpentine scales, featuring a mix of different sheen levels, the creator was able to embody the splendor of the in-between.

Other examples of leveraging the duality of contrast were seen in executions of raw string being used as a print medium, coupled with the soft cozy feeling of yarn. Soft tactile touches added a warm sense of comfort to the displays. Boucle fabrics in light neutrals absorbed the smokey tint of modeled glass tables, offering a subtle transition that evoked warmth in an easy living space. Smaller accent tables added contrast with their honed surfaces. Designs also displayed a pop of color from the mix of lush velvets, often shown in combination with the twist of nubby natural yarns. These natural yarns mix well with flashes of gold metal, appearing as artwork and creating an updated, modernist style.

Traditional solid satin-coated finishes and frosted glass continue to be leveraged in moderation, offering classical beauty. They were seen in sculpted tambours, contained by burnished warm metals, and grounded within the grain of a wood background. Marble, especially in white with grey veining, carried over from previous years, and remains strong in both matte and polished top finish techniques. Designer’s also often selected both black and off-black in gloss and honed dull tones within the same product. Another trend we enjoyed, and will continue to look for, is utilizing a subtle kiss of foil as a metal undercurrent.

This year’s show illuminated the fine artisan details of our craft and provided an intentional ambiance grounded in modern values. The materials were adaptive and inviting to the touch, supporting designs founded in nature, but with luxurious twists. In 2025, continue to look for these unique contrasts of materials and finishes, as well as designs that evoke a deeper meaning. You can read more about this year’s focus on authentic design styles in our Design Report: BDNY Deep Dive into Design Style.

Feeling Inspired?

View all of the Koroseal and Arte products featured at BDNY 2024, as well as a highlight video of the show!

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