NY NOW is a massive home, lifestyle and handmade trade show in NYC with over 2,300 exhibitors and tens of thousands of products, all under one roof. When you walk through the doors and see floor after floor of beautiful home decor from all around the world, it’s hard not to squeal with delight. There is just SO much inspiration, and your mind races with all these new ideas on how to take these design gems and wow your clients. (I would be lying if I told you I didn’t first picture each and every item I loved in my house as well.)

So consider this blog post my postmortem on my design show adventure. I’ll give you a sneak peek into my favorite brands, incredible items and random stuff that just made me laugh. Okay, here goes...

Ahhhh...Azulina Home. I actually loved these products so much I came back to the exhibit to get another look. I’ve never seen cooler baskets in my life. Each woven design more beautiful then the next. The blankets...buttery soft, and the perfect companion for these deep baskets. Everything is handmade by local artisans in South America. Gorgeous.

Azulina Home Cuatro Tetas Basket in Natural

Azulina Home Cuatro Tetas Basket in Espresso

Next up, Charlie Sprout. Love the name. Not sure if it’s because it’s so darn cute, or because my dog’s name is Charlie. Either way, this exhibit just made me happy. The color combinations were magnetic and the artwork and details could be found in each of their decor items. The pink and red combination is killer, and what caught my eye first. You could literally pick any item from this brand and it would be the perfect purchase. You can’t go wrong. And to top it off, the founder/owner was there and she couldn’t have been more welcoming and kind.

Charlie Sprout Spring '18 Imibala Collection

I followed the incredible delicate scent of incense burning, and came across Bunakara. I had never heard of them before, but between the smell and scattered rose petals, I certainly wanted to check them out. Bunakara is the creation of European designer, Joana Aranha. Her rich textiles and exquisite details on even the smallest pillow is what caught my eye. For instance, stacked high in a grand armoire were pillows, blankets and quilts, and hanging on their zippers were these beaded ribbons (a signature Bunakara touch). One of the pillow covers was slightly unzipped and peering out was a little saying. Pulling the zipper open revealed the words, “not be found” in the most delicate font. Another Bunakara signature touch. Needless to say, I wandered this booth for a while and fell madly, madly in love.

I could go on and on about the other brands that caught my eye, but honestly - it’s these three that stick in my mind the most. If you want to be inspired daily, follow their social media feeds and check out their websites. I promise you their design aesthetic will feed your creative soul.

I will end this blog post with a “funny.” We came across this big purple wall with framed prints showcasing the alphabet. So colorful and bright. Before I started really reading the prints, I said to my friend, “these would be adorable in a kids’ playroom.” Well, boy did I eat my words. Check out these depictions of the alphabet...we laughed hysterically and read every one.

NYC Design Show Inspo

What? Wallpaper is back?