The 2023 Boutique Design New York (BDNY) trade show, held at the Javits Center, showcased the creativity and innovation of the hospitality design industry. Over 8,000 attendees including designers, architects, and hoteliers explored new trends and products for the industry like those on display within the fair’s “Designed Spaces” exhibit, which showcased the creativity of top design teams like Rockwell Group, Simeone Deary Design Group, and 1 Hotels.
Over 650 exhibitors presented at the show. Below are seven of the new products we found most interesting.
1. Bau Chair by Inspec
The Bau chair by InSpec won the Best in Show Award at the Best of BDNY Product Design Competition.
The Bau chair, designed by NOTE for InSpec, won the Best in Show award at BDNY. This modular seating series crafted in Lammhult, Sweden showcases a blend of bold curves and invitingly soft lines. Bau can function both as a solitary easy chair and as part of a playful variety of seating configurations. The collection includes a linking table, which adds a geometrical edge contrasting with the chair’s laid-back personality. Bau’s design is softer and lower than typical modular systems, especially in workplaces and public spaces, making it a unique addition to any setting.
2. Trendsetting textiles from Momentum
The Kaali pattern from Momentum incorporates organic patterns to create a soothing effect.
In its 2024 Hospitality Trends Report, Momentum Textiles & Wallcovering explores four emerging trends reshaping the hospitality industry. Quiet Luxury focuses on understated elegance in muted tones, like the taupes of Tapa wallcoverings or the dark hues of Belgian Bold’s Merino. Biophilic Elements encapsulates design full of organic patterns—Momentum’s Kaali pattern reflects this trend, integrating hints of plants and sunlight for a soothing effect. Designing for Small Spaces addresses the challenge of shrinking hotel rooms by focusing on maximizing space through vertical motifs to create an illusion of more space, and Designing for Mixed-Use Spaces caters to the evolving needs of ‘bleisure’ travelers.
3. The Futurismo kitchen collection by GRAFF
The GRAFF Futurismo kitchen faucet is inspired by architectural futurism.
GRAFF showcased new and expanded kitchen and bath collections featuring artistic designs and advanced technology, including the Harley and Segovia kitchen collections and the Cameo and MOD+ bath collections, along with a wide range of customizable finishes.
The Futurismo kitchen collection blends futuristic design with functionality for commercial and residential kitchens. GRAFF’s CEO Ziggy Kulig emphasized the collection’s foundation in craftsmanship, design excellence, and precision engineering, ensuring its versatility and durability in the culinary space.
4. Porto Sólido by Maya Romanoff
Maya Romanoff released Porto Sólido, a collaborative collection with architect David Rockwell.
Maya Romanoff’s booth featured a tribute to the iconic art installation Bess’ Sunrise, originally displayed on the Chicago Sun-Times Building in 1988. The booth was adorned with the original paneling from Bess’ Sunrise, a hand-dyed work of art comprising twenty-eight vibrant canvas strips, creating the effect of a sunrise as they fluttered in the wind by the Chicago River.
The brand also released Porto Sólido, a collaborative collection with architect David Rockwell. This collection features sustainably harvested cork, colored and hand-inlaid onto metallic foil, offering a unique texture and visual appeal. It is available in ten colorways, such as Alsace Almond and Rosé Reserve, with metallic elements subtly visible through the cork’s organic texture. Maya Romanoff has a history of over 50 years in the industry and is known for incorporating materials like glass beads, gold leaf, and seashells into its products.
5. Bond collection by Waterworks
The Bond Collection by Waterworks; design by Swoon The Studio. Photo by Max Kutz, P S Swoon.
The new Bond collection by Waterworks, created in partnership with Gachot Studios, is a modern bath design series that draws inspiration from the Aesthetic Movement of the late 19th century, rare vintage lighters, and modern industrial design. The collection features the unique application of guilloche, a rare engraving technique. The collection represents a blend of old-world craftsmanship and modern design, offering versatile, investment-worthy pieces for modern spaces.
6. KIDA by Dedon
The KIDA collection by DEDON
The brainchild of Stephen Burks, the KIDA chair, previously released at Salone del Mobile, uses an innovative material called DEDON Fiber.”KIDA is about expressiveness and innovation,” Stephen explains. “The use of wrapped fiber to ‘paint’ the collection graphically makes it distinctly attractive and distinctly DEDON.” The chair’s design features an elliptical structure, wrapped in DEDON Fiber, offering a playful yet sophisticated silhouette.
7. Between Rivers by Arte
Between Rivers by Arte Walls, part of the Babylon collection, is a new wallcovering that won the BDNY Product Award.
Between Rivers by Arte Walls, part of their Babylon collection, is a new wallcovering that won the BDNY Product Award. The panoramic design showcases a mythical scene set in the lush environment of Babylonia, between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers complete with elephants, gazelles, date palms, and remnants of ancient temples. The design is inspired by the ancient art of cuneiform script, where people carved and drew on clay tablets and rock walls.
