THE ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST DESIGN SHOW DELIVERS A SENSATIONAL SHOW FOR THE 17TH YEAR IN A ROW
March 22–25, Piers 92 and 94, NYC
New York, April 2018 — The Architectural Digest Design Show concludes another successful edition at Piers 92 and 94 in New York City, continuing its reputation as the essential showcase for luxury design. The 17th annual exhibition drew more than 38,000 designers and design aficionados and boasted over 400 of the world’s leading brands. A place for discovery and inspiration, the four day event featured close to 100 new exhibitors, as well as new introductions in furniture, accessories, lighting, art, kitchen, bath, and building projects from independent makers and established manufacturers. A powerful program of special events and design seminars—led by today's top talent—added to the comprehensive and rich design experience.
According to Susan McCullough, Senior Vice President, theMart | A Vornado Property, “The AD Design Show is synonymous with high end design. Trade professionals and homeowners have come to recognize it as a must attend event each year. Not only will attendees discover the best of the best, they are treated to an insider sneak peek of what’s to come in the interior design world.”
Jeff Petersen, Director of Sales continued, “We constantly look for new ways to engage our audience. This year we launched a special section called Designer Focus, which gave the participating designers space to present original vignettes, and attendees could discuss ideas and inspirations with established professionals. We also brought in ASSOCIATIVE DESIGN, a beautiful new exhibition of Portuguese furniture manufacturers. Our four cornerstone sections — REFRESH, FURNISH, MADE, and SHOPS featured both first time exhibitors and new product launches from returning ones.”
A wide mix of both international and national companies, the FURNISH section hosted an array of contemporary and classic furniture, lighting, carpets and rugs, decorative accessories, textiles, and art. FURNISH finds included key returnees like Benjamin Moore, Hubbardton Forge, Jan Kath Design, KGBL, Sony Life Space UX, Sossego, and The New Traditionalists, to name a few. These were complemented by new exhibitors including: Atelier de Troupe, KingsHaven, Mylands Paint, Nested NY, Perigold, Scout Design Studio, and more.
There was no shortage of innovative kitchen, bath, luxury appliances, and premium building products in the REFRESH section. On that list includes:Franke making its REFRESH debut with Chef Center--an entirely new concept that transforms the sink into the heart of the kitchen, and the kitchen into the heart of the home, Baldwin’s Hollywood Hills by Erinn V. collection, Gaggenau’s 400 series refrigeration column, THG Paris’s new line designed by Gilles & Boissier, Sub-Zero/Wolf’s introduction of Cove (a new dishwasher brand), and many more.
MADE, the nation’s largest dedicated showcase of independent art and design, welcomed close to 80 new artisans and brands from all over the U.S. From funky pastel patterned wallpapers to sharp geometric furniture, makers showed off their wares in all shapes, sizes, colors and materials. Consort Design, Wallpaper Projects, Kin and Company, Debra Folz Design,and Brook Landscape were just a few of the fresh faces at the show this year.
The SHOPS section offered discerning design enthusiasts an option to purchase their favorite items right on the spot. The retail boutique element of the show featured a highly curated selection of décor, gifts, tabletop accessories, objets d'art, and more. The 2018 lineup featured 12 newcomers including: ArianaOst, Marigold Style, Saved NY, and Richard Clarkson Studio.
Design inspiration continued in the Dacor Theater, the official show theater, which hosted exclusive seminars with more than 30 of the industry’s top visionaries. The topics covered everything from classic color palettes to contemporary trends. For the second consecutive year, Editor-in-Chief of Architectural Digest, Amy Astley, took the show stage to moderate a special keynote conversation with the most prominent families of design: Aerin Lauder,Alexa Hampton, and India Hicks. The programming also featured leading interior designers and industry insiders: Joe Nahem, Jason Oliver Nixon, John Loecke, Genevieve Gorder, Charles Pavarini III, BjörnBjörnsson, Jill Cohen, Fern Mallis, and Lori Weitzner, to name a few.
Alexa Hampton, famed interior designer on Amy Astley’s moderated panel, “The Royal Families of Design,” remarked, “The AD Design Show never fails to live up to the high standards it has set year after year—it keeps raising the bar. It has been an honor to sit on panels over the years as the quality of the audience is as impressive as the roster of manufacturers who show. I never leave without a thorough walk through the aisles and, I’m not ashamed to say, some inspiration to take home with me.”
Jason Oliver Nixon, part of the duo behind international interior design firm, Madcap Cottage, and panelist on “Daring Design Details: Cold Colors, Patterns, and Finishes,” commented, “John (Loecke) and I loved being part of a panel discussion at the AD Show, such a terrific, engaged audience with wonderful questions. And then to wander the show after and discover new vendors who will certainly become part of our design little black book. A beautifully produced and holistic show.”
Attendees found a place to sit and soak in the show between visiting booths in the Naula Lounge and the Benjamin Moore Café. Across from the café, the AD Apartment provided a sophisticated, yet playful space, depicting an alluring design for the modern apartment dweller. This year’s room, presented byMonogram, was envisioned by the celebrated AD100 design firm Drake/Anderson.
Caleb Anderson, partner, Drake/Anderson, remarked, "Working on the design of the AD Apartment was a unique and exciting experience, one that was filled with creative energy and truly lent itself to 'clever' design. It provided us the opportunity to focus on appealing to a broad audience rather than a single client as well as incorporate beautiful product from select vendors–all while done through theDrake/Anderson lens. It was a fun and rewarding challenge and we were thrilled to partner with great sponsors."
Adding to the excitement, New York’s most anticipated display of design brilliance in dining environments, the DINING BY DESIGN exhibit, was another big draw. Benefiting DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, the co-located event featured creative dining environments from the country’s leading designers and companies, and raised over $700,000 for the cause this year.
The Architectural Digest Design Show will return next year to Piers 92 & 94 on March 21-24, 2019.
For additional updates, visitADDesignShow.com or follow the Architectural Digest Design Show onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram, andYouTube.
Media can visit the show’s online press room atADDesignShow.com to download press releases and announcements. The site features a comprehensive list of exhibitor profiles, complete with images and product details.
About the Architectural Digest Design Show
The 17th annual Architectural Digest Design Show, held from March 22–25 at Piers 92 & 94 in New York City, showcases the best in the design and luxury market. The four-day fair features more than 400 premium brands and covers a range of categories, including: accessories, appliances, art, beds, building products, carpets & rugs, children’s furniture, closet systems, connected home, design services, electronics, fireplaces, flooring, furniture, hardware, lighting, metalwork & stairs, outdoor furnishings, paint, prefab homes, safes, spas, stone & tile, table top, wall coverings, windows & doors, and window treatments. From product launches to special events to panel discussions with top design leaders on a variety of topics, the show is a must-attend for the industry’s professionals and discerning consumers. The Architectural Digest Design Show is produced by The Mart, a Vornado Property and hosted by Architectural Digest. For more about the show, visitADDesignShow.com.
About Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest (AD) is the international authority on design and architecture. AD provides exclusive access to the world’s most beautiful homes and the fascinating people who live in them, bringing its audience a wealth of information on architecture and interior design, art and antiques, travel destinations, and extraordinary products; its AD100 list of top architects and designers is one of the industry’s most relied-upon indexes of talent. AD's recently launched digital channel,AD PRO, features authoritative, opinionated coverage and breaking news for design-world insiders, and new verticalClever, takes on the unique challenges of designing a smaller space; offering design advice for real life. Every day AD inspires millions of affluent readers to redesign and refresh their lives through a multiplatform presence that includes print and digital editions, social media, signature events, and the brand’s website,archdigest.com.
About DIFFA
DIFFA Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS raises awareness and grants funds to organizations that fight HIV/AIDS by providing treatment and direct-care services for people living with or impacted by the disease, offering preventative education programs targeted to populations at risk of infection, or supporting public policy initiatives. DIFFA is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S., mobilizing the immense resources and creativity of the design community. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has emerged from a grassroots organization into a national foundation based in New York City with chapters and community partners across the country that working together provided more than $42 million to hundreds of HIV/AIDS organizations nationwide. To learn more, visit diffa.org.
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