Bold and colorful furniture, textiles, and flooring products lined the crowded halls of Chicago's historic Merchandise Mart for the annual NeoCon tradeshow last week as designers, journalists, and buyers scouted the latest contract interiors products. Below are a few of ARCHITECT's favorite products from the show, chosen for their versatility and on-trend aesthetics.
Hack, Vitra
Munich-based designer Konstantin Grcic created this versatile desking system for Vitra that is chameleon-like in use. The table surface can be folded up for storage, or converted into seating for a couch. Hack's surface is manually adjustable at 11.8" and 49.2" in height, the former of which effectively turns the piece into seating. Made of locally sourced wood panels, this system accommodates workspaces requiring a degree of adaptability from their furniture. vitra.com
Honest Square, HBF Textiles
The raised square embroidery on this upholstery makes a bold visual statement and improves acoustics, according to the company. Composed of 48% polyester, 33% cotton, 14% wool, and 5% nylon face, Honest Square can withstand up to 52,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs. The fabric is available in seven colors including lemon, lagoon, bittersweet, and smoke. hbftextiles.com
Onyx, Durkan
Designed for the Mohawk Group's hospitality brand, Durkan, the Onyx carpet was inspired by the soft and fluid lines of natural landscapes. The broadloom collection is available in 12 colors in Definity (the company's precision-sculpted technology) and its Precision Dye Injected constructions, and six colors in its Computer Yarn Placement construction. mohawkgroup.com
Plex, Herman Miller
Conceived by designers Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of London-based studio Industrial Facility, this modular workplace lounge system can be transformed into armchairs, sofas, ottomans, and benches for individual or group settings. Integrated power ports, available as standard outlets or in combination with a USB port, provide charging stations for phones and computers. Plex is suitable for office and education applications. hermanmiller.com
Riot Flora, Tarkett
Created for flooring company Tarkett's "Collections Infinies" designer, luxury, vinyl tile series, Riot Static, Riot Flora, and Riot Transition replicate an image of flowers in digitally printed pixels. In the image shown above taken from the manufacturer's display at NeoCon, the pixelated image and the flowers on which it is based blend together to show the detail possible in Tarkett's digital-printing process. collectionsinfinies.tarkettna.com
Telo Lounge, Cappellini
The trapezoidal Afrikaan lodge chair–inspired Telo Lounge was created by German designer Sebastian Herkner for Italian furniture manufacturer Cappellini. Its stainless steel tube base supports a grosgrain seat, with the option for an attached table or tray. Its base comes in matte finishes of white, anthracite, terracotta (shown), and mustard. cappellini.it
Bassline Tables, Turnstone
This collection of tables for Turnstone, a Steelcase brand targeting emerging companies, comes in various shapes and sizes. Standard tops and bases are provided, but customers are encouraged to personalize the pieces with different materials and finishes, such as wood, marble, and steel. myturnstone.com
