2011-2012 Home And Textile Directions

Value and craftsmanship reign in textile trends in 2011, 2012

From High Point Furniture Market - Fall 2011 Preview:

This January, the Trend Pavilion featured four themes in home and contracted textiles as forecasted for the next two years, compiled by the Future Laboratory, a London-based trend-forecasting agency. Tying the trends together was the show's title, "Reconnect," which was based on current trends that look toward both the past and future, connecting cultural traditions, nature and classic design with new technologies.

A return to the essential and traditional
The first of the four trends, titled "Sobriety," is characterized by quality, longevity, sustainability and significance. "In this new context, a new generation of designers are researching forgotten skills and traditional craftsmanship is making a comeback," according to the Future Laboratory.

Classically styled decorative accessories will dominate this theme, as textiles will be available in pure, clean, timeless designs. Many designs also will reinterpret the classic designs of the 1950s. A soft palette of pastels finishes this trend, with lavender, gold, rose and mint complements grey-tinted white and black.

High-tech blends with craftsmanship
What's old is new. What once clashed now co-exists. The trend "Mix Mash" is all about experimental aesthetics. Innovation and cultural tradition are combined. Think unconventional brushstrokes, chaotic designs and artistic graphics that generate energy. The Mix Mash palette, not surprisingly, incorporates vivid hues. Lively orange is featured extensively; accented by turquoise, lime green, bright violet and indigo.

Celebration of the pure, modest and unadorned
Like "Sobriety," the third theme, "Utility," stands for simplicity and accessibility. "Designed for everyday use, Utility products give greater meaning to their relationship with the user and suggest a longer lifespan," according to the trend report. Well-made, long-lasting materials resemble industrial yet refined styling.

Utility's palette combines shaded hues, such as hunter green, navy and dark gray, with bright colors, such as tomato red and gold. Gray and peach finish off the palette.

Getting back to nature
The final trend is "Wilderness." Some consumers are tired of the high-tech, high-consumption world, and are breaking free of their life in a radical way, says Future Laboratory. "A new organic look is being created, which captures nature in all its forms, characteristics and materials."

Crafts from the past, such as milling, braiding and wicker-weaving, are making a comeback. Products feature materials in a raw, untreated state. You'll see wool, straw, cork and other natural materials. Wilderness swatches include dark greens, grays and black, in addition to toned hues, such as cream, camel, terra cotta and green-tinted gray

The Ultimate Serta Mattress

Recently we had the opportunity to visit the Serta headquarters in Toronto to view the latest mattress design - IComfort. To say this could be a revolutionary redesign for the way you sleep might be just a tad over the top ... but it's pretty close!

These new Serta mattresses feature a Cool Action Gel Memory Foam. Basically Serta has injected a gel into the memory foam which offers superior pressure relief and more support where you need it. The biggest plus is the memory foam is cool. If you think about it, do you find your bed gets warmer as you sleep during the night? That's due to the traditional memory foam. Injecting the special gel keeps the bed cooler and more comfortable for sleeping.

In addition, Serta has rolled out their own version of the adjustable bed in conjunction with the IComfort mattresses. Offering multiple control and massage, it's cool and priced well below those TV advertorial motion bed companies - plus Serta is a name you know and trust.

                                (Scan the QR code above with your Smart Phone for full specs)


These new IComfort will have limited distribution and Almira is proud to be one of the retailers showcasing this new product in Canada. We invite you to stop by for a demonstration.