Furniture

Trend 1: Wood, nature and warm shades



"Tepee Culture", the first established interior trend of 2009, is named after the tents of the North American Indians and is considered the strongest design current for the coming season. It includes furniture made of unprocessed or recycled materials that are often inspired by natural forms: stools of papier mâché, chunky shelves made of solid wood with natural grains and, as in Art Nouveau, tables with feet from which claws or leaves grow. Dominant shades are reds, greens and browns. "I find these furnishing elements very familiar," says Alexander Friedl, marketing director and an interior design consultant of many years' standing at Uhl Schöner Leben. That comes as no surprise since the designs are rediscoveries and regroupings of natural and genuine elements that have been around for some time. The powerful shades used for "Tepee Culture" can be found mainly in occasional furniture and accessories according to Friedl, for example in a tastefully upholstered grey sofa with dark red, green and blueberry-coloured cushions.




Trend 2: Plastics, traditional elements and blue green




The "Extra Much" trend is characterised by stark contrasts and a certain superfluity. Sacred Indian symbols are applied to simply constructed cots, magnified printed grains to cupboards, and huge patchwork seats accompany mass-produced stacking chairs made of technical plastics - all of them in unconventionally bright shades of blue green, May green, lavender, orange, copper and gold. "Customers are becoming more courageous," vouches Friedl. "We recently combined a black sofa with a grass green spaghetti rug made of synthetic fibres - a super and dramatic effect."




Trend 3: Old favourites in beige and brown



Traditional forms are also on the up, although in the light and modified guise of the next trend: "Re-Run Time": A white cubic sofa has surprisingly asymmetric proportions, whilst a traditionally modelled wooden chair provides exciting variety in combination with plastic. The new form of purism entered the world of trendsetter Uhl some time back: "Ninety per cent of the kitchens we are currently planning are absolutely linear and black and white," says Friedl. "We achieve interesting optics by combining various surfaces" - white fronts in a high-gloss finish with dark glazed granite work surfaces and glass backsplashes with added colour. "These ideas can be similarly applied to living spaces," says Friedl. "Natural leather sofas can also be used to create subtle effects." The prediction is that the new "Re-Run Time" trend as defined by the designers will also feature more refined contrasts than black and white. These include grey/beige in partnership with red and dark brown shades.



Trend 4: Nature lends a hand



The fourth trend, named "Near and Far", refers to processing techniques above all, with nature lending a hand to contemporary furniture designers. These include room partitions constructed from flower pots and hanging plants and solid wooden chair frames combined with high-tech netting.
It all sounds fascinating and provides plenty of scope for designing your own living space. Make your way to imm cologne for its public open days on 24 and 25 January. The design city of Cologne awaits you!