More than 7,200 brands in all categories of gifts, home décor and furniture showcased breaking trends for 2017 at AmericasMart January 9-16. In addition to experiencing the newest lines for the year ahead at Atlanta Market, guests had the opportunity to attend design seminars and other exciting events.
One of the highlights of Atlanta Market was the design panel celebrating 30 years of Veranda magazine that included Interiors Editor and moderator Carolyn Englefield with designers Suzanne Kasler, Susan Ferrier, Bill Peace and John Oetgen. A celebration immediately followed in the Gabby showroom where the panel mingled with guests and talked with us about design trends they’ve seen over the years, as well as perused some of Gabby’s newest product releases.
The panel discussion covered a variety of topics, starting with memorable rooms. “The key to making a room special is layering,” says Suzanne Kasler. “You want to see something different that resonates with you each time you look at a room.” When it comes to what influences her designs, Suzanne suggests that it’s about making a room livable and comfortable. She encourages her clients to build their own collections. And she likes her designs to reflect their personalities––whether they are traveling or shopping, she encourages them to bring home pieces for their interiors to make it more personal.
John Oetgen feels that for a room to be memorable that it must have whimsy and a sense of humor that exudes a happy feeling. He’s loved watching the evolution of Veranda over the years, and recalls that he first made the cover of the magazine in 1995. When it comes to design over the past 30 years, John feels like people are hungry for quality more these days and they like to add a point of history or perspective to their interiors.
“I like the personality of my clients to come through in my rooms,” says Bill Peace. “It’s nice when you can tell that a room is lived in and enjoyed.” Bill lets the outside influence a lot of his design work. He designs a good number of homes in the west, and loves to incorporate great windows and views into his interiors.
Susan Ferrier says for a room to be memorable that it needs to be interesting. “A room needs to make you feel something that you weren’t thinking when you walked into the room,” she says. When Susan works with a client, she always encourages them to think about the life they live today and who they are today. That’s how they need to design their rooms––to let go of who they were in the past.
The designers were drawn to the classic elegance of the showroom and the beautiful way that it was accessorized. Designers also noted the unique mix of styles and textures in the showroom and the innovation in the chandelier and end table designs. Some of the popular new pieces this market were the Carlyle Side Table, Genevieve Table Lamp, Ray Chair and the Baldwin Swivel.
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