Spring
Mixer:
New York
Tabletop
Servers … or beginner’s chopsticks? Design House Stockholm said it was
up to us to determine the use for this multiuse gadget. The company
recreated several of its products in bamboo, a less expensive, but
strong and sturdy material. The material is laminated and impact-resistant. Pick Up, intended for eating, serving and cooking, is
designed by Stig Ahlström, and held together by a magnet
for a satisfying grip. Three sizes available.
MSRP: $9.95-$19.95
Market
Heralds
a More
Playful
Mood
In the words of Christina Miranda, a
media representative for Robinson
Home Products, “We’re seeing a return
to decoration and pattern,” as manufacturers steer away from “plain and austere” as a result of the mood caused by
the global economic downturn. “There’s
more color, and a desire to make things
pretty,” she said.
Case in point was an emphasis on
pretty things just for one. Individual
serveware is an affordable luxury
that’s hard to resist. Oneida offered
new miniatures in several collections,
including cupcake stands in its Pastel
Meadow line, painted like flowers and
an appropriate ode to spring.
Two colorways in particular popped up
around showrooms again and again,
and looked especially appealing. Beachy
shades of blue and azure, seen in Zak!
Designs drinkware, and Denby’s Dine
collection in turquoise felt fresh and
breezy. Purple shades, which have
showed up in spring fashion introductions, had an air of sophistication in
It’s never a good idea to trust a trade
show report that focuses solely on
the weather but trust us when we
say freshness was in bloom at The
New York Tabletop Market last month.
Summer-like weather and flowers
planted around 41 Madison buoyed
the mood outside the show. And inside
the showrooms, there was a return
to playfulness not seen in recent
shows, according to manufacturers.
tabletop collections. A new dinnerware
and serveware collection from Sophie
Conran for Portmeirion, in a shade
called mulberry, showed off the versatility of this hue, by turns casual and
elegant.
Green is a buzzword making its way
in tabletop, like the new gadget line
from Design House Stockholm made
from bamboo, a sustainable material.
In other showrooms, products that are
durable (like the Adele line of drinkware
from Zak!), have a sleek design (the
Pure Black Santoku Knife by Stelton)
and used texture to great effect (the
Cable Knit collection by Vietri) also hit
high notes. Here is a sample of what
was on offer at the show. 22
Dine
by Denby
800-DENBY-4U
www.denbyusa.com
Denby recently added new dinnerware in colors that complement its oven-to-tabletop cast
iron cookware. New colors are blue, jet, cherry
and turquoise in a subtle ombré treatment. The
turquoise color gets a strong reaction in coastal
areas, while the heartland consumer favors the
blue and cherry tones, according to the company.
The four-piece place setting includes dinner and
salad plates, a bowl, and a mug.
