Downtown Design keeps getting better and I’m excited to share my top 10 picks for this year’s edition.
As Design Manager for a local developer, my FF&E and Joinery eye is in hot pursuit of trends and innovations for the modern home. With intriguing items like those coming to Downtown Design, any design aficionado can make their home a functional and chic palace. I am glad to see a diverse list of exhibitors from the UAE, MENA and international with products across the Interior Design Spectrum.
1.Arclinea – When nature and technology collide the synergies are electric. The new Arclinea kitchen has wood and metal juxtaposed in methodical aligned forms to present a warm sterile environment; fitting of the freshest produce for a perfectionist chef. A dream for any farm to table foodie. Showcasing the beauty, refinement and sophistication of mother nature with plenty of display space and everything in its place.
2.Chabros – OK, they have been in vogue for a while now, but I still can’t get over a good live edge slab. Chabros has a great selection of various species to add earthy drama to a dining table, conference table or even headboard.
3.Coalesse Massaud Lounge chair - The perfect sophisticated chair for a modern lifestyle. Office work doesn’t need to be deskbound anymore when you can cozy up in an armchair with all the functions of your desktop. Sophisticated finishes and sleek lines bring the comforts of home in your office. For more information see here.
4. A special feature from Barcelona design week is this elegant and different Apparatu Zero light by Xavier Manosa from Barcelona Design Week, featured this year at Downtown Design. There is something about this piece that is awkward yet sophisticated beyond its years – I would love to see this beauty in a café or boutique.
5. From Beirut Design Week. Tamara Barrage stool - With its flesh-tone, smooth surface and pulled shape I can’t stop staring and am dying to take a seat! It looks like a perfect conversation starter for the show.
6. Ege Industrial Landscape by Tom Dixon - Perfectly fit for the Dubai scene, this abstract sand dune carpet by legendary designer Tom Dixon celebrates the unique fingerprint and depth of the dunes. I would love to see this collection in a boutique hotel or office, perhaps the next Rove hotel?
7. Elica – Nikola Tesla –For being a master of dramatic chandelier quality hoods, Elica has gone with the trend and created a portfolio of understated but equally show stopping concealed counter mount ventilation systems like the Pandora and See You models. The Elica Nikola Tesla model is a techie’s dream for a hoodless cooktop vent. With the power you would expect from a name like Tesla, I am excited to see this integrated range/exhaust in action!
8.EscapefromSofa – Their name says it all, Escapefromsofa. This elegant piece is anything but ordinary. Well crafted, its structure is both playful and shows its construction – an on-trend showstopper!
9.1085 Kristalia Chair – There is something about exposed construction and fasteners that fascinates me. The clean lines and simplicity of this piece along with its soft color are beautiful. I’m looking forward to taking a seat.
10.Zip tap – Pure Magic; instant boiling, cold, and sparkling filtered water. I have been following the progress of this latest innovation and have to say the new Zip tap is the sleekest on the market. Once you have a piece like this it’s impossible to live without, just like the Garburator it’s the biggest new appliance for the kitchen. I can’t wait to ditch my water jugs and kettle with this sleek edition.
See these 10 brands and over 100 more at this year's Downtown Design. Click to register.
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