26 Delightful Discoveries From NYCxDESIGN Week

My first encounter, and a highlight of WantedDesign, was meeting these M.F.A. product-design students from the School of Visual Arts (from left: Louise-Anne van’t Riet, Isioma Iyamah, Chelsea Stewart, and Leila Santiago), who told me all about “Engender,” a roving interactive exhibition that explores the role of design in the construction of gender identities. I came away with face stencils and a printed tattoo, which has me seriously thinking of getting a real tattoo. Photo: Wendy Goodman

I also loved these Italic-lace place mats and coasters from Driade at WantedDesign, designed by Galante & Lancman. They are patterned after antique lace and come in a variety of colors. Photo: Wendy Goodman

I ran over to the Kips Bay Decorator Show House, where every year I am always amazed by how designers miraculously transform empty spaces into full-blown dream rooms. I loved Alessandra Branca’s sitting room filled with wonderful art. Pictured here is a Robert Polidori photograph of a room in Versailles with a painting of Marie Antoinette on the wall. I wanted to take it home. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Another favorite at the Kips Bay Decorator Show House was Alan Tanksley’s room with a mural painted by Matt Austin. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Suzana Monacella of McMillen designed this guest bedroom. A low four-poster custom-made bed centers the Rio Room, inspired by the designer’s native Brazil. The ceiling has a trompe l’oeil straw-work pattern conceived by James Alan Smith and executed by Paulina Trojnar; the pattern is picked up on the bedcover by Pierre Frey. The PP Bananier Chocolate 04 wallpaper behind the bookshelves is by Pierre Frey. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Philip Mitchell did the installation on this staircase wall at Kips Bay, and it looked great. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Time to tackle the Javits Center, home of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, where I met up with Jerry Helling, the president and creative director of Bernhardt Design. Jerry searches the globe for new talent and showcases prized designs at the fair. Here he is with Ignacia Murtagh and her new wood tables for Bernhardt. Photo: Wendy Goodman

We continue to be in the midst of a wallpaper renaissance, and Timorous Beasties never fails to delight. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Bernhardt Design has been sponsoring the ICFF Studio for the last ten years. Up to 12 young designers are picked from a juried competition to showcase their work at the ICFF Studio at the Javits, and it’s become a spot to find some of the best designs at the fair. I loved the elegance of Funi Ding’s Flow Tables. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Hines Fischer was also featured at the ICFF Studio with his beautiful wood stools. Photo: Wendy Goodman

There are a lot of soft baby colors around this season, and I thought this ice-blue chair by GamFratesi at Suite New York was very pretty. It’s also very comfortable. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Over at the Sight Unseen fair, Fort Makers showed this gorgeous collection of new sculptural lighting; LEDs are embedded in the wood. Photo: Wendy Goodman

I also met Chris Wolston, pictured here, at Sight Unseen, and I loved his collection of sand-cast and neon sconces. Very Tony Duquette meets Gaudí. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Sight Unseen also featured new rugs by Cold Picnic, shown here with Cold Picnic co-founder Peter Buer. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Alex P. White showed his new collection, and I zeroed in on his armchairs covered in spray-dyed velvet. He calls them the Creatures. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Ceramist Julianne Ahn displayed her new pieces at Sight Unseen. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Now, this is a love story! Nick and Martha Desbiens, pictured here in front of their new line of Fahz vases, met in third grade. Fast-forward to two children later and one Mother’s Day. Nick didn’t have a gift for Martha, so, long story short: He ended up taking photos of his kids to a 3-D printer who made a vase with outlines of each of their profiles. The couple loved them so much they thought they should sell them to others. A Kickstarter campaign raised funds to launch their new company, Fahz. They had a 3-D printer on-site at Brooklyn Designs, and you could order your own customized in-your-face Fahz vase. Photo: Wendy Goodman

At BKLYN DESIGNS, Evan Z. Crane went a little wild with his new line of heirloom furniture. The lamps on the Evan Z. Crane credenza are by Pletz. Photo: Wendy Goodman

I caught designer Douglas Fanning in front of his now-classic Light Staff that’s leaning against the wall and was thrilled to see his latest light designs, which are magnetically attached to that metal shelf! Photo: Wendy Goodman

Collective Design Fair was filled with exciting new designers and installations. Among them was Doug Johnston’s collection of woven objects and baskets. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Kinder Modern showed Material Lust’s children’s line of Fictional Furniture. I loved the Crawl Chair. Photo: Wendy Goodman

Back at the Javits, designer Todd St. John showed selections from his furniture line, including this beautiful walnut hand-cut-and-fitted Relief Credenza, which features two doors and concealed pulls. I also loved the models of his designs shown on the shelf above. Photo: Wendy Goodman