Bridge For Design Spring 2014 Bridge For Design Spring 2014 Issue | Page 48

DESIGN TRENDS | view point

THRILLING ME SOFTLY
Tina Nicole understands why furniture is becoming more relaxed and ‘pillowy’

F

or me, merchandising upholstered furnishings is
like going to a party with all my friends. I have fun
with them as a group, and I appreciate each one for
their individuality. And, if I’m lucky after the many
toasts and shared conversations, one lays claim to the title of
‘bestie’.
As the lead designer and co-founder of Nathan Anthony
Furniture, my current ‘bestie’ in upholstered seating goes by
the name Soft Modern.
Observing trend in the contemporary furniture category,
I see that the clean lines are continuing to evolve towards
rounded silhouettes and more relaxed looks, taking on
noticeably sensual characteristics.
Design clients are moving away from choosing hard-edged
frames that stand to attention in favour of softer, pillowy
shapes.
Soft fills like down and trillium are being used to pad
perimeters in seating areas, tops of arms and backs, as well as
for the front apron and outside backs.
Wrinkles and puckers are intentionally added by loosening
the upholstery application, or under-filling pillows to achieve
the desired effect.
We punch and chop seating and pillows – it’s a cathartic
experience – to relax the filling. The objective is to attain a
sophisticated degree of lived-in cosiness.
The modern idea for more spacious environments will
no longer be expressed in square footage, but through
intentional decisions about décor and the careful selection of
objects of desire. It’s minimalism with benefits, you might
say.
In this scenario, furnishing items are treated like
sculptural elements that are intended to stand alone and
speak for themselves.
‘The emphasis on sensuality is seen in both the shapes and

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Bridge for Design Spring 2014

materials used. Incorporating soft wood tones and unfinished
metals help to complete the expression of this trend’, suggests
Neil Kelly, of Neil Kelly Company.
There’s a rich selection of trending fabrics used as
upholstery covers now. Expect to see muted floral-inspired
patterns, but much less bold than in the recent past, they put
me in mind of the glorious watercolour pastels in my grand
mother’s Sweet Pea garden.
‘Even popular geometric looks are softened by increasingly
tranquil colourways grounded in white, taupe and grey. Pops
of colour like yellow walk the line between light and bright
and should wake up the senses when combined with patterns
that intentionally clash’, says trend source Laura Bielecki, of
Luxury Interior Design Journal.
The hipster homesteading movement, with its focus on
handcrafting, embroidery and homemade goods, is having
an influence in the area of heavier cable knits and quilted
fabrics available in the marketplace.
We selected the upholstery covers ‘Cozy’, ‘Desdemona’
and ‘Lightning’ in response to this trend and covered our
down-filled Bounce and Boxx ottomans, with a nod to the
influence of Patricia Urquiola and her unique cover choices
for seating.
As you can see, it’s a lovely cast of characters indeed. All
that’s left is to pour the wine and find a comfy seat. Cheers! B

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Tina Nicole is lead designer Nathan Anthony Furniture
4940 District Blvd., Vernon, CA 90058
T:+001 323 584 1315 | www.nathananthonyfurniture.com