The countdown to New York Design Center’s What’s New, What’s Next event is well into single digits. This year’s schedule is jam-packed with editor-led panels and engaging designer presentations—not to mention 17 new or newly expanded showrooms. Here are the meetings worth highlighting at the design innovations event, which arrives this Thursday.
Showroom Debuts
Like the first day of school, this year’s WNWN event presents a new class of NYDC showrooms awaiting introductions. Fresh faces debuting this market include sleep-sofa aficionado Avery Boardman, custom bench-made furniture maker Verellen, decorative lighting distributor Circa Lighting, and Fermob, a French outdoor furniture manufacturer that has outfitted city staples like Times Square and Bryant Park.
Meet & Greets
Take a break from the bustle of WNWN panels by dropping into the showroom Meet & Greets, open all day. A few events for the must-hit list: DucDuc Grows Up!, where a dessert bar will satisfy a sweet tooth and having a good time will be child’s play. The eco-friendly children’s brand will debut its “grown-up” furniture designs for teens, while also sharing the space with Sissy+Marley for its new playroom introductions.
Design collaborators Tilton Fenwick, Thomas Paul, Laura Kirar and Michael Berman will take turns giving hourly previews of their custom upholstery creations and Duralee fabrics inside the newly renovated Theodore Alexander showroom. Traditional Home’s Tori Mellott will also be on hand to unveil the new showroom live on social media, as well to provide personal tours of the space with Alan Rohwer.
Star-Studded Discussions
House Beautiful editor Sophie Donelson will take a cross-country survey of homegrown trends with designers Anthony Baratta, Barbara Westbrook and Max Humphrey for an afternoon discussion in the Century Furniture showroom.
Then join Tom Delavan, design editor at T: The New York Times Style Magazine, as he hosts Literary Hour in the Baker Furniture showroom, gathering designers and authors Marshall Watson, Tom Stringer, Darryl Carter and architects M. Brian Tichenor and Raun Thorp to discuss the design book’s place in a digital world.
Get the insider’s guide to digital savviness with Nylon Consulting’s Laura Bindloss and design digital influencers Susannah Charbin, Josh Greene, Naomi Mdudu and Keith Pollock, who will present the evening event in the McGuire showroom.
Designers Thomas O’Brien and Dan Fink join Architectural Digest editor Amy Astley to talk contemporary craft with artisans Carol Leskanic and Warner Walcott in the AERO showroom, which will display handmade works by AERO’s artisan collaborators.
Take notes on how to nail a licensing deal and preview the Les Ensembliers and Brunschwig & Fils collaborative collection at the event with Business of Home contributing editor Mieke ten Have, Richard Ouellette of Les Ensembliers and Danielle St. George of Brunschwig & Fils inside the Kravet showroom.
NKBA K+B Insiders Karl Champley, Alberto Villalobos and Elle H-Millard will join moderator Steve McKenzie for a discussion of the industry’s latest kitchen design innovations. Michelin Star–rated chef Abram Bissell will also have the test kitchen heated up in the Grange Furniture and Viking Range showroom.
Hit the streets of Brooklyn, virtually, with NYC&G (New York Cottages & Gardens) and Cliff Young during an afternoon panel focused on the borough's growth with panelists including Marianne Howatson, Thom Filicia, Eric Chang and more.
Sit in on an insider’s report of the new Kips Bay Palm Beach showhouse, featuring designers Susan Zises Green, Roric Tobin and designer-author Steven Stolman at the Profiles showroom.
Before the day’s over, join Global Views in toasting new Elle Decor editor Whitney Robinson and celebrating the hot-off-the-press October issue.
Registration for What’s New, What’s Next is now open. RSVP HERE.
