Finding Inspiration in New and Interesting Ways

Hello, my fabulous, Fabulistas!

Can you believe that it's already the end of October? For me, Autumn has always been my favorite time of the year. From the change of the seasons...to watching NYC's Fall leaves go from green to yellow to red...to finding inspiration in new and interesting ways. This time of year is also very special to interior and product designers, like me - whose Fall trips to design fairs and markets mean debuting new collections, finding new vendors, touring showrooms, and participating in speaking engagements. These are all ways in which we enjoy gathering and finding inspiration. Unfortunately this year, for me - like for many of you - it isn't about traveling. It's more about focusing on how we adapt to the changes in our lives and how we balance home + work. I have been taking advantage of this time at home on pivoting and expanding my business. While I can't reveal it all to you now...please stay tuned! Exciting announcements are coming soon about RobinBaronDesign.com.

Top Secret Business Plans?

While I was working on my top-secret business plan, I realized that a trip to the recent High Point Market was not in the cards for me this year. I began to reminisce about each of my many previous trips and how the industry has changed. This market, October 2020, is the first time in more years than I can count, that I have not attended High Point. I began asking myself; What do markets look like in the age of covid? How is our industry evolving? And what changes to consumer buying and trade sourcing are propelling us into a larger digital age? All of this leads me to the evolution of my big business announcement...but I digress.

Virtual Market Sourcing - Mission Accomplished!

I started to wonder about how I am going to cover this market - if I am not attending? Luckily, my friend and colleague Serena Martin saved the day! She was planning to attend High Point and agreed to be my covert eyes and ears for market week. We even managed to do an IG Live and a couple of FaceTime sessions so that I could virtually experience the showrooms while we shopped for my design clients and looked for emerging trends. As I began to pore over her cache of photos, as much as I saw fabulous products, I found that the imagery that I was most drawn to was more about the art and the settings of the products than anything else. Talk about finding inspiration in new places and in interesting ways! Here are some of my favorite finds from Serena's scouting mission.

Art & Innovation:

Currey & Company pairs modern accents with unique artisan pieces. These sculptural installations at Cisco Brothers, and The Phillips Collection's Geisha wire sculptures, blend art & innovation adding, unique artisan elements to each brands curated space. Universal Furniture * set the stage for unique textures, mixed media and unusual visual design statements.

Iconic + Modern:

Harp & Finial and ZUO Modern vignettes lend themselves to contrasting black and white graphic patterns and modern iconic imagery. Like Harp & Finial - Roberta Schilling's modern and sophisticated designs were both inspirational and unique, delivering high fashion with a brand statement that I found totally on point!

The Sign of the Times:

Howard Elliott Collection* is decidedly more than just exquisite mirrors. They deliver an eclectic mix of furniture, lighting, home accents and accessories, all with tremendous curb appeal. Adding a sign of the times, they also create a functional art display to showcase their fashionable and functional face masks. Nathan Anthony's * pastel color palette and organic shapes offered a breath of fresh air to Interhall's mix of exhibitors. We found more creative inspiration at Global Views *, falling in love with their abstract pillow collection and elegant multi-strand LED chandelier. These feature unexpected ways of bringing an artistic aesthetic into your home. SIDENOTE * denotes the luxury brand sponsors for the upcoming Seasonal Living Magazine's Virtual Designer Showhouse. LEARN more about the showhouse here. JOIN me in registering for Seasonal Living Magazine's Virtual Designer Showhouse FREE VIP Virtual Launch Event Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 6 pm ET. Register online: http://bit.ly/DesignerShowhouse and follow along with the official hashtag #SLDS21. WATCH a Sneak Peek of Seasonal Living Magazines Virtual Luxury Designer Showhouse Youtube video: here STAY tuned for more insider sneak peeks and behind the scenes insights into this inaugural showhouse experience. Simplifying Fabulous Celebrity Interior Designer, Robin Baron shares her tips for living fabulously at home on her blog, Simplifying Fabulous. Her love of shopping and scouring the global design market for one-of-a-kind items makes her aesthetic highly personal. Through Simplifying Fabulous, readers will get a peek into Robin's world to enjoy her expert design tips and a curated selection of products to introduce into their own homes.

Oct 29, 2020