“Design Miami/ 2013 was very strong, with an impressive amount of brand-new work not seen before such as R 20th Century and Victor Hunt's selections married with the breathtaking Jean Prouvé masterpieces at Patrick Seguin,” said Caroline Baumann, director of the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. “It is great to have Rossana Orlandi join the mix this year, as well as other newbies like Elisabetta Cipriani with Carlos Cruz Diez's fantastic jewelry.”

2013 entrance to Design Miami/

Some 32,000 art and design enthusiasts attended the show’s ninth edition including international architects Sir Norman Foster and Jean Nouvel; collectors Peter Brant, Maja Hoffmann, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Pharrell Williams and Micky Wolfson, and directors from the major design museums: Cooper-Hewitt, Guggenheim, Vitra Design Museum, Walker Art Center, Whitney, Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) and Denver Museum of Art.

An animated discussion by Martha Stewart in conversation with Stefano Tonchi, editor-in-chief of W Magazine, was the best attended in the series of Design Talks, which also featured Richard Meier, Muriel Brandolini and Margaret Russell among others.

Margaret Russell hosting a Design Talk

Around the city, the industry was abuzz as interior designers Jennifer Post, Alexandra Champalimaud, Alison Spear and Joao Aremntano announced their collaboration with developer R. Donahue Peebles on the creation of his newest Miami venture, The Bath Club Estates, on the oceanfront of Miami Beach. To announce the project, Peebles hosted a preview dinner where he unveiled the project’s details to a select and intimate industry audience.

Over 300 guests came out to support ELLE DÉCOR’s Modern Life House Concept including David Bromstad, Iran Issa-Khan, Criselda Breene, Suzy Buckley Woodward, Barbara Becker and Nancy and Jon Batchelor.

Michael Boodro and Barbara Friedmann

The guests gathered at the private $16.5 million waterfront home to celebrate with ELLE DECOR editor-in-chief, Michael Boodro, VP and brand publisher Barbara Friedmann and the ELLE DECOR Modern Life Concept House roster of designers: Brad Huntzinger and Kate McIntyre, Daniele Busca, Fernando Wong, Sam Robin, Samuel Amoia, Sofia Joelsson, Wade Hallock and Iris Wilson.

Wade Hallock in his Modern Life House Concept dining room

The evening offered guests an exclusive first look as they enjoyed passed bites and cocktails at the indoor/outdoor setting. All proceeds from the show house benefitted the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

Emerging trends at the fair included a renewed emphasis on glamorous Parisian mid-century apartment living as noted by invited blogger, Pilar Viladas, former design editor at T Magazine.

The New York Times’ blog also noticed a craze for upholstered sheepskin chairs, ceramics by the Haas Brothers at R 20th Century and Nucleo’s resin pieces at the ammann //gallery.

FENDI Casa VIP party

Also, at its Miami showroom, Luxury Living debuted special works by Maria Pergay for FENDI Casa during a VIP party, which saw the likes of Alberto Vignatelli, Vladimir Kagan, Michael Goldstein, Mathew Burke, Tiziano Lamberti and Alessandro Cremona, attend.

Alberto Vignatelli and Vladimir Kagan

In 2014, Design Miami/ will return for its ninth edition in Basel, Switzerland, from June 17-22.