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Tuesday
Sep062011

Trends - Our Favorite Trends of 2011

Lee Industries Luxury Outdoor Living Trends 2011 at Home Infatuation BlogDecor Pad - Lee Industries Slip-Covered Sofa and Upholsterd Ottomans

The Casul Living Show is next week so we are thinking a lot about the outdoor living trends over the last year and speculating about what we might see and hope to see at this year's show.  This week I thought it would be fun to revisit my and Mike's favorite trends from last year and our wish list for 2012 and compare that to what we see at the show next week.

Last year I was really taken by a handful of products and trends that I expect to see more of this year.

#5 - The Trend: High-Design Eco-Friendly Products; The Manufacturer: Edwin Blue

Edwin Blue Luxury Outdoor Living Trends for 2011 at Home Infatuation BlogEdwin Blue Recycled Cypress Dining Chairs

Before I found out about their environmental friendly materials and manufacturing processes, Edwin Blue passed my touch and sit test.  We see a lot of really beautiful furniture at the Casual Show and sadly not all of it passes the sit test.  With no exaggeration I can say that Edwin Blue's furniture was easily the most comfortable of the products that I sat and laid down on to test at the show.  On top of good designs and comfort Edwin Blue is committed to sourcing and using environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes as well as being dedicated to the Made in USA artisan movement.  All around this is what I called the "feel good product" of the show.

 

#4 - The Trend: Ceramic Furniture; The Manufacturer: Seasonal Living

Seasonal Living Luxury Outdoor Living Trends for 2011 at Home Infatuation BlogSeasonal Living Ceramics I always know I'm in love with a product when all I want to do is touch it.  Perhaps that is a Freudian act to fill the need to own it.  The touch factor was how I knew I was in love with Seasonal Livings ceramic furniture.  The line is full of sensual shapes, touchable finishes and gorgeous colors and is on the top of my buy list for my someday outdoor space.   We walked by their booth several times over two days and I oohed and aahed every time.  This product passed my touch test and the manufacturer met Mike's good guy test so we were good to go.  We are pleased to have Seasonal Living's ceramics and several of their other lines (including their fabulous outdoor lights) from their extensive collection at HomeInfatuation.com 

 

#3 - The Trend: Slip-Cover Outdoor Furniture; The Manufacturer: Lee Industries

Lee Industries Luxury Living Trends for 2011 at Home Infatuation BlogLee Industries Uncovered Collection Since starting HomeInfatuation.com in 2003 we have been witness to the unbelievable metamorphosis of the outdoor furniture industry.  Lee Industries' entrance into the outdoor living market with a line of furniture that is easily mistaken for indoor furnishings further illustrated this metamorphosis.  Their slip-covered furnishings and upholstered ottomans allow you to create a softness in an outdoor space like never before.  Sadly for we dot-commers we aren't always able to carry all manufacturers as they do not want to disturb their brick-and-mortar network.  We were disappointed that we were unable to carry Lee Industries' new line of outdoor furnishings but that just means that slip-cover outdoor furniture is definitely on our wish list for 2012.

 

 

#2 - The Trend: Vintage Furniture Designs; The Manufacturer: Various

Saccaro Luxury Outdoor Living Trends for 2011 at Home Infatuation BlogSaccaro Linha Gênova Vintage Styled Outdoor Chair I'm a vintage furniture junkie so I was giddy to see that several outdoor furniture manufacturers are taking their design cues from some classic vintage furniture design styles.  I'm all about refinishing vintage furniture to give it a second life and because the quality of indoor vintage furniture is often better than what you can get in stores these days.  In regards to outdoor furnishings however, the materials and manufacturing processes for outdoor furnishings have improved so significantly over the last few years that modern versions of the vintage pieces are often better than the vintage version.  Not to mention that manufacturers are bringing indoor vintage furniture designs to the outdoor market.

 

#1 - The Trend: Small Scale Furnishings; The Manufacturer: Steve&James

Steve and James Luxury Outdoor Living Trends for 2011 at Home Infatuation BlogSteve&James Dorothy Collection We saw a lot of small scale furnishings at the show last year.  A trend we believe to be a direct result of the increase in balcony living.  One of the manufacturers who did small scale furnishing the best, in my opinion, was Steve&James.  I was really taken by their design aesthetic and the petite and feminine nature of their furnishings.  When I get an outdoor space of my own, these designers are at the top of my buy list.  As is typical of our father/daughter work relationship, Mike was slow to warm to my buy recommendation.  I eventually won him over and we're pleased to have Steve&James as part of the HomeInfatuation.com line-up of designers.  Like any good team of designers, Steve&James have been hard at work re-evaluating their line of furnishings.   They've gone back to the drawing board to improve their current line and to add some new colors and overall improvements to a top notch product.  We're anxious to see what this talented team comes up with next.

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