Trending: Highlights from the Atlanta Gift Show

Last weekend I carved out some time to attend the Atlanta Gift and Home Furnishings market which was taking place here in Atlanta.  I’ve written several post about the market before and based on the feedback from you all, you love to hear about market and see some of the new products and styles that being introduced.  So today’s post is sharing some of the highlights from the show.

For those of you that aren’t familiar with the market, let me give you a brief overview.

The market buildings are officially called AmericasMart Atlanta and the show is one of the largest wholesale buying shows in the country.  The mart is open to-the-trade only which means only individuals and retail businesses that are reselling the products can place orders.  In order to place orders you need to register with a business license and resale certificate as well as meet some of the other requirements that are outlined on the Americasmart.com website.

The mart is open weekdays with extended days and hours during the market shows.  There are two main shows each year, January and July and several ‘mini’ shows throughout the year including apparel and wedding shows.

There are three buildings (and lots of floors) that make up AmericasMart and each building features a mix of different items.

The Gift Mart (Bldg. 2–18 floors) is where most of the gift lines are represented.  You’ll find product like candles, decorative accessories, books, personal accessories, bath/body etc.

The Merchandise Mart (Bldg. 1–20 floors) is where the larger furniture companies and many of the lighting manufacturers show their products.  You’ll also find lots of artwork in this building along with many of the seasonal lines (Fall, Halloween, Christmas).

 The Apparel Mart (Bldg. 3–15 floors) is where higher end clothing lines and accessory lines are.  The apparel mart is also where many of the cash and carry vendors set up during the shows.

Whew!  That’s gives you a highlight of what AmericasMart is all about. You can find more details about the mart on their website.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff.

The January market is when most manufacturers introduce new items for the year as well as Christmas and seasonal items.  I love going to this market to see what the trends are as well what all  the designers are introducing in their product lines.

There were a lot of things that caught my attention at this market but a few statements that I saw over and over again which made an impact on me.

Blue and White-If you love blue and white decor, you’re in luck.  This color combo is definitely going to be a major statement for Spring and Summer.  Expect to see lots of blue and white pillows, rugs, bedding and textiles along with decorative accessories and lighting.

Chrome–Even though gold and brass are dominating right now, polished chrome is being introduced in a big way for Spring 2015.  You’ll see the finish on furniture, lighting and entertaining pieces.

Mixed Materials–I saw lots of mixed materials at the show.  Leather is being used as an accent on metal and wood furniture which results in a refined rugged feel.

Here’s another furniture piece featuring mixed materials.  I love the combo of burl wood and brass.

Bone Mirrors–Another big statement I saw at the show was shaped mirrors in bone.  They were everywhere.

There were mirrors in a single color bone and also mixed colors.

Marble–Marble has and will continue to be a design classic.  It’s being used in more creative ways which give it a whole new appeal.  This waterfall coffee table was just stunning and is a design that would work with just about any design style.

Small side tables in marble are also a trending statement. The shaped and design of this table is really great.

Agate–This is a material that have been popular for a couple of years now.  What started as coasters is now moving into other decorative looks like these napkin rings.

Brass–I love that brass is still a hot look in home decor.  Here’s a collection of items I saw at market that represent this trend.  Those flower shaped mirrors are on my list to purchase.

Shaped Ottomans–Ottomans have moved beyond a simple cube into shaped and sculpted styles.  I fell in love with the vignette and love the idea of placing a grouping of ottomans around a table.  This would be a great look in a foyer or even a breakfast area.

Chair Details–The club chair is becoming more stylish because of unique design details that are being built into the design.  The arms and the tufting detail on the back gave this chair added style.

Hollywood Regency–Glam furniture is definitely trending so look for lots of styles like this hitting furniture and retail stores.

Color–Color is a typical spring season design statement but the more saturated colors are dominating.  Look for lots of pink, teal and jewel tones.

Statement Lighting–It’s so exciting to see so many amazing light fixtures on the market.  Overall, lighting is larger and details and classic.

And finally, there was a big introduction of abstract, muted color artwork at this market.  A lot of the patterns had a batik inspired theme which makes them great to decorating any area of the home.

As you can image, with over 40 floors of product and 1000’s of manufacturers, this is just a teeny tiny glimpse into the what you’ll start seeing on store shelves and in magazines and catalogs in the coming months.  There is so much to be excited about in the home decor industry for 2015.

Come back tomorrow when I’ll be sharing some of the top design books being introduced in 2015!