9 Main Trends from the Design Miami / Basel Forum – 2017

The global design forum takes place twice a year – in December in Miami and in June in Basel – bringing together under one roof various galleries and exhibitions specializing in furniture, lighting, and art objects of the XX and XXI centuries.

In 2017, the exhibition curator was New York fashion designer Tom Brown. At the entrance, visitors were greeted by a textile forest in gray tones from his 2014 show – all inhabitants and landscape were made of various types of costume fabric. The subject stylist and set designer Dasha Soboleva attended the exhibition and compiled a top list of main seasonal trends.

Dasha Soboleva, Set Designer
Dasha Soboleva worked for a long time in fashion retail and was involved in window displays for such brands as TsUM, "Kuznetsky Most 20", "Butterfly", Bosco Di Ciliegi. She currently works as an interior stylist and set designer. The wall carpet is a new black
The main legacy of the past, "hello from the USSR" – wall carpet – triumphantly returns to fashion. Literally on every exhibition stand at Design Miami / Basel, this decorative element was used. But don't rush to fetch Persian carpets from the attic! For wall decor, geometric pattern carpets, tapestries, floral patterns, or abstract designs are a good alternative to paintings. 

Weaving and Grids
Times when woven furniture was used only for decorating terraces and verandas of country homes have long passed. The variety of forms, sizes, and complex patterns make woven furniture an accessible treasure. If you're not yet ready to incorporate a rattan chair into your interior, we recommend looking at accessories with woven elements.

Botanical Lessons
A commode decorated with a herbarium and a metal coat hanger in the form of a stylized willow branch by designer Jean Royere, presented by gallery Jacques Lacoste, are elegant and attractive. Other variations on the botanical theme were shown by Swiss artist and jeweler David Blander (gallery Ornamentum), who created a bouquet of roses from ceramic plates – perhaps it's time to store dishes in such a way and not let them gather dust in cupboards? 

Plant motifs, wheat ears, braided around mirrors and tables were featured in the retrospective of artist and designer Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent Robert Gousse. A whole greenhouse that doesn't need watering!

Chairs and Poufs with Fur Upholstery
It may seem like fur is only appropriate for winter. But considering the weather this summer, it's the perfect time to reupholster your favorite chair with fur and curl up in a blanket reading a book in your cozy plushie. There are options for every taste: graphic pony fur, sheep wool, or textured and structured material. 

African Motifs
Africa and ethnic styles, which embody the national color of distant corners of the world, become especially attractive: rich colors, vibrant patterns, and ornaments in textiles, statues, handcrafted ceramics, and rough-form furniture. Authentic decor can bring life to even the most conservative living room. Africa is hot and restless, with a yellow sky where light bounces like a secret pulse. 

Lighting as Art Objects
Unusual-shaped lights can become the dominant element in an interior. My favorite – giant diamonds on chains by designer Frida Fehlman, an elegant girl's accessory. Gallery Mobelkunst, specializing in Scandinavian design, presented a chandelier made of cascading golden snowflakes by Paavo Tinnell. Wood with a canopy made from grids, a table lamp with one bulb – it seems like this is not collectible lighting but installations from the adjacent Art Basel pavilion.

Natural Stone
Wide variety of furniture and interior elements made from natural stone. Durability, decorative appeal, wide range of processing options, and variety of color palettes and textures – these are just some of the advantages of stone-made items. A striking combination of several types of marble in different shades within a single object is particularly effective. 

Pairing Chairs
It's simple: one designer chair is good, but two are even better. Mid-century furniture in pairs looks solid. We recommend paying attention to French modernist Jacques Dumont's pieces presented by gallery Demisch Danant. Elegant proportions, color palette, and experimental materials are distinctive features of Dumont's work. 

Experiments with Metal
Metals have been popular among furniture makers since ancient times. In the 20th century, designers began creating new types of metal furniture and experimenting with processing techniques. Flowing gold console tables and a chair resembling a natural stone boulder appeared. The emphasis is placed on texture.