As I explored aisle after aisle at NY Now (the new name for the New York Gift Show), I was thinking about what stylistic directions I was seeing. When it comes to trends, there are mini trendlets bubbling up, but very few major stylistic shifts are emerging as strong front runners. Ikat and chevron patterns were few and far between,  yet their replacements have not risen to the top yet. There was less furniture, more decorative accessories. Finding  specific trends to spotlight was a bit of a challenge this show. Perhaps less new intros are reflective of an economy in flux, or companies are giving older designs a chance to take root. What I did see was a plethora of natural wood cutting boards,  crisp linear modern furnishings, lucite, and irregular shaped white unglazed plates that seemed to be everywhere I turned.  For a show that was supposed to provide reams of inspiration for holiday, that category was fairly low key. A few key indicators point to the thematic trends explored below.  All in all, the "mini movements" I have seen are: The Stone Age, Brights, Surrealism, Tribal/Nomadic Globalism, Natural Materials, Living Things. 

THE NEW STONE AGE CONTINUES...

 Photo courtesy of  Atipico

A reflective surface that resembles a giant cut gemstone from Italian high design company Atipico was incredibly chic. It would work wonders in a sleek modern interior.

Made Goods boxes covered in woven raffia with semi-precious agate closures

 Small malachite boxes with gold edging from Rablabs

 Photos courtesy of Rablabs

Known for their sumptuous decorative objects like coasters made of geodes edged in gold, New York-based Rablabs gives crystals and semi-precious stones the glamour treatment.  In their newest additions, the  Illumina Collection pairs the stones with brass and wood, creating functional decorative items that have a Mid Century Modern feel. Crafted by artisans in New York City as well as Brazil, the Illumina Amethyst box with sphere accent  is an elegant statement accessory.

Paired with Crystal, the tailored box is monochromatic

A dash of pale pink from Rose Quartz for a feminine edge

For a masculine take, Tiger's Eye

When it comes to lighting a dining room or adding some shimmer to a mantel, nothing can compare to the glow beautiful candlesticks provide. Their brand new coordinating Illumina Candlesticks are just gorgeous. Paired with Amethyst orbs, the linear design is not over wrought, it is just enough semi precious stone.

Illumina with spheres of Crystal that look make it look as though the column of brass is floating

Illumina with Moss Agate spheres work with a host of colors

 Launched at tabletop market, Mottahedeh's Tony Duquette blue lapis china pattern 

BRIGHTS:

 Bungalow 5's Aurora lamp looks like stacked spools, the shape of the column makes it a fun Americana-inspired piece

Decoupage glass trays in bright stripes at John Derian

Brightly striped vases from Richard Mishaan and Frederic de Luca for Tozai

A curvy settee with Mid Century influence from Julian Chichester

Going bold, a classic Chichester serpentine front chest in high gloss purple paint

 Inventive storage shelves in a Chichester piece, lined in hot pink suede

The Harper, a  sweet little upholstered chair from Jonathan Adler, done up in orange felt with navy piping. My kind of color!

A cross between a baseball mitt and a vintage find, Jonathan Adler's cool seat

SURREALISM:

Italian company Seletti taps innovative designers to create the unexpected. Mutidish, Maxime Ansaiu's reinvention of blue and white china with a conjoined row of plates is amazing. Depicting Dutch classic landscapes, the repetitive nature of the design is mesmerizing.

Additional porcelain designs from the Multidish collection

I can't get enough of Seletti's china that is half and half, fusing traditional patterns that are divided down the center of the plates.

 Beloved Magritte designs captured on melamine from Art Editions

Maison Martin Margiella

Feather clock with arms made from pheasant feathers and a Cabinet of Curiosities orb design

TRIBAL NOMADIC:

Zen Zulu's telephone wire baskets in graphic combinations. What a wonderfully clean design from African artisans

Zen Zulu's beaded pieces mounted on stands

Beautiful and useful, Design Afrika's woven baskets are works of art

A larger of variety every shape and size

WOODS OF ALL VARIETIES:

 A new wood desk from Dunes and Duchess featuring their stacked sphere detailing

 A minimalist picnic table and benches of reclaimed wood from warm modern company, Lostine

Cut out shapes of plaques and blue ribbons give new company Sir/Madam's wooden cutting boards a cheeky sense of style

Substantial chunky cutting boards with painted edges from Canvas

LIVING THINGS AND THE NATURAL WORLD:

Squash crafted from gilded metal framed in plexi shadowboxes created by Tommy Mitchell

A plexi framed deer print from Grace and Blake, using recolored antique prints reinvents the past

Natural Curiosities framed pieces included palm fronds sprayed in monochromatic black or white

Shell intaglios captured in glass paperweights designed by shell purveyor,  Karen Robertson

 I had seen these plates in Europe and am taken with their intricately detailed sealife designs. I was thrilled to spot them making their foray into the American market. Lifelike fish and lobsters from their Fruits de Mer collection cover the surface of Jersey Pottery's china, and feature each crustacean's details along the rim of the plate.