The major trend theme was nature. Natural-looking and natural materials exude a sense of honesty and authenticity. Solid wood and veneer furniture is just as popular as parquet flooring. We saw many examples of oak with a slightly white washed finish that included saw marks kriss crossing the wood. This gave the wood an interesting textured feel

Lots of natural covering material was also in evidence with real leather, knitted wool and felt wool on display. Ligne Roset new sofa range The Elysee covered in range of wool colours was a good example of this trend.

The other trend we observed is the fact that furniture is getting smaller. A growing number of single people are living in smaller spaces and need small and multifunctional furniture. As various areas of the home merge, furniture has to be light and flexible because it is used wherever it happens to be needed at any given time rather than remaining in the same place for years on end. This not only includes smaller upholstered furniture, but small desks and bureaus as well, because the communication technology we use is also getting smaller.

Ligne Roset Ursuline desk sums up this trend with its sleek, slim appearance

Wall units are becoming ever more compact and slender. The large and chunky TV is increasingly being replaced by an elegant flat screen model, and thanks to digitized information, contemporary customers no longer need so much storage space. LED lighting technology has arrived in the furniture and interior design sector where, besides providing energy-saving lighting, it is being used to create lots of colourful atmosphere as well.

Brinkmann Moebel gave a perfect example of this

Colour trends were mid-century blue, shadow grey and  industrial pinks

The new Living room range was Neo available in a stunning range of matt or high glossy lacquers with the possibility of combining these with walnut wood

A fantastic new media panel was introduced as part of the Neo range. This has integrated speakers & an optional Ipod/phone drawer that allows the user to play videos or music direct from ipod/phone through the TV. There is also an optional blue tooth function for further flexibility in terms of playing movies & music directly through the media panel.

Unique bottle storage adding another dimension to this impressive range

The classic bedroom range Venero was given a new lease of life with the addition of light brown ash as a wood finish

New clever under bed storage has been added

Lastly a new bed in the venero 11 range was added with additional height more akin to divan bed height

The Hulsta Multiforma wardrobe range was given an overhaul with some highly stylish new designs & features

Multiforma 11 wardrobes offer a new higher height & square corner solution

Also the introduction of a new-made to measure walk in wardrobe system in Multiforma 11 caught the eye

With the current tough economic climate this years fair was more reactionary than revolutionary. There was not a great deal of new products but instead the focus was directed to updating existing products by  adding  new colours & finishes. Colours were easy on the eye with grown up neutrals high on the agenda, the emergence  of varying shades of taupes was livened up with splashes of sulphate blues, blush reds & perky yellows.

In terms of new design Orbital, the extending table designed by Pininfarina in collaboration with the Calligaris technical team who invented the ingenious opening mechanism stood out. The black or white coated rigid polyurethane column provides high stability while the dramatic aperture in the middle gives this table a streamlined look. The new extra-clear glass top reveals the ingenious opening mechanism with its stylish metal arms supporting two glass extension leaves that simultaneously lift-up from under the top with a fluid, circular movement. When extended, it can seat up to ten. All exposed metal elements are available in the stylish new Matt Silver finish.

There was a definite tilt towards casual & informal living evident on most stands. The new Rolf Benz Mio sofa collection demonstrated this perfectly with its laid back styling coupled with its flange stitching detail the emphasise on comfort.

Colour was much more evident this year featuring a lot of glass wares in vibrant blues, purples and pinks.

Some of these exciting products are beginning to arrive in our showroom including some unique iridescent aluminium pictures that change colour as you pass by including pictures with swarovski crystals. We know you won’t be disappointed when you visit our showroom looking for that unusual gift.

Below is a selection of images showing off the completed apartment

IMM Koln is held every year in the middle of January and showcases the home interiors of the future,  the biggest furniture  suppliers from all over the world present their latest products here. We made our yearly pilgrimage to this exciting show and made some exciting buying decisions that will shape our Spring collection here at Beadle ~ Crome Interiors.

On the whole the aesthetics of the furniture we saw were defined by angular & folded structures. The dominant colour was cold grey, accompanied by ash grey & black and brightened up with vibrant dashes of citrus yellow, mandarin orange, lagoon blue, lip stick red & olive green. A light taupe mediates between grey and white and adds a little softness to the colour scale.
The most exciting new product we added to our collection was the ploum sofa designed by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for Ligne Roset. Ploum is a vast shape on which the whole body rests on a soft, welcoming surface. Its seat is low & the whole sofa offers an organic feel. The use of a stretchy fabric is like a symbolic parallel to a contemporary lifestyle, in which flexibility of use and comfort seem to us to be essential. The Ploum is like a ripe, voluptuous piece of fruit.

Another exciting Ligne Roset product we added to our collection was the Ruche Bed designed by Inga Sempe for Ligne Roset. Last year Inga Sempe had designed the Ruche Sofa for Ligne Roset. This year she had transformed the same design concept into a bed. A thick duvet with unique stiching detailing lies across Ruche’s slim,elegant frame.

Perhaps the most exciting stand we visted was designed by Dutch manufacturers Leolux who created an under water garden themed stand to exibit their fantastic new Sella armchair designed by Patrick Belli

All in all we had a very exciting visit to IMM Koln 2011 & have a lot more to talk about in our forthcoming blogs

Hope to see you in our showroom in the near future

Howard Olley

As you examine your Natural Leather furniture you will notice the variation of the surface, divergencies in the colour and markings such as scars, patches, scratches, small holes and wide-textured areas (these are dung marks). These variations and irregularities, together with the creases, markings and insect bites, are the signs which discerning owners cherish in fine leather. They are not flaws, but genuine signs of an animals skin.

None of the aforementioned features have a weakening effect on the hide. Therefore, those characteristics caused by nature are not a justified complaint.

Fillings for cushions and arms are much softer and luxurious, departing from the older packed materials. The combination of these two factors means that during the first few weeks of use creasing and wrinkles will form naturally in the leather. They are designed into the furniture and give it that soft, inviting look which is an inherent quality of the best leather upholstery.

Nothing is proof against everyday wear and tear, so inevitably in the course of time leather upholstery changes its look and feel. However, certain guidelines may be followed which allow the natural leather to age gracefully.

To keep your leather in good condition it is essential that the surface is cleaned regularly and kept free of dust and dirt. This is best achieved by daily wiping over with a clean, dry, soft cloth, and every week washing completely with a damp, clean, soft cloth, paying particular attention to where the head rests, and arms, hands and legs are in regular contact with the upholstery. A mild soap may be used in conjunction with the damp cloth. Care should be taken not to flood the surface of the leather with too much water.

This regular treatment will help to prevent surplus dirt or grease building up on the surface. If this treatment is not followed the surface of the leather becomes clogged with layers of built-up grime, which will have an abrasive, damaging effect on the surface.

Some hairdressings have an adverse effect on the surface of the leather and care should be taken to protect the hide when such preparations are used. Do not use any of the usual hide products, such as saddle soaps, unspecified polishes, creams, detergents or varnishes, or any other form of treatment. They may have a damaging effect on the surface of the leather.

We can accept no responsibility for the use of these or any other unspecified remedies. After about a year certain leathers can benefit from the occasional application of our hide food.

Please do not hesitate to consult us for further details regarding your particular leather upholstery.