Last month we made the annual trek to NeoCon, otherwise known as a three-day feast of all things A&D. As usual, we enthusiastically grazed the endless buffet of booths, 
gorged on top-notch products, and left quite satisfied (if not a little over-served). As usual, there were too many treats and not enough time to savor them. So if you couldn’t be there in the flesh to experience the banquet, then listen to our podcast and peruse our links. It’ll be just like being there, but without the blisters and empty wallet.
CLICK HERE to be taken directly to LIBSYS.com to listen in on our informative banter about our favorite new products. (When you get there, click on the podcast title or the "pod" icon to the left of the title to play the podcast.) FYI: The podcast is much more dense with data than the blurbs below.
Furniture
Kimball
Xsite panels that we were excited about: Laser Cut Metal (amazing detail); Ceelite (translucent, lit form within); Petra (3D sculptural); Painted Suede (great tactile quality); New Wood (wood with a patterned overlay). They also had great comment kiosks where you could provide instant feedback.
Cube In A Box
Debuted at NeoCon and people went crazy over it. Flat-packed “Ready-to-Work” cubicles shipped right to your home for the small business or home office. As more and more companies are having employees office at home, these babies will probably fly off the shelf (when they find a shelf).
Lighting
Glass+Glass
Elegant, whimsical Murano chandeliers in gorgeously rich colors. Also had a table-top fixture called MUVIS that won a Best of NeoCon® SILVER in Lighting. It’s programmable, extensively directional, dimmable, and can be controlled with a remote.
Fabric
Momentum
A) Children’s cubicle curtain series called “When I Grow Up” that won a Best of NeoCon® GOLD in Healthcare: Textiles. A percentage of sales goes to pediatrics cancer research centers and promotional materials included a coloring book with box of crayons.
B) For fabric line titled “L.A. On A Tank of Gas” they won a Best of NeoCon® EDITORS’ CHOICE in Textiles: Upholstery. Great marketing campaign that included a fun pack of postcards and the most coveted take-away bag of the conference.
Floors & Walls
Crossville
A) Color Blox Too Porcelain Stone: series of beautifully tailored, masculine tiles in a soft color palette of solids and stripes.
B) Brand new tile series from the Robert A.M. Stern Collection: Greek key, botanical, modern urban design (mid-Century retro look). Ties in directly with other products from other manufacturers from his collection.
Laminam
Italian company featuring LAM’Slab, a versatile material used for flooring, wall cladding, millwork countertops, etc. Very beautiful European color palette.
Second-Look
Recycled vinyl wallcovering – 20% recycled content and a minimum of 10% post-consumer material. Designers can also reclaim used vinyl wallcovering from their renovation projects and send it in for recycling.
Technology
Eubiq
One of our favorite products of the entire show. The most versatile, cross-application, sleek power/data system we’ve ever seen. It won a Best of NeoCon® GOLD in Technology Support, as it should have!
OFS / Häfele
High-tech, pricy electronic locking application designed by Häfele that’s currently available on OFS Brands casegoods. Perfect for elevated security areas, such as the offices of the CIA (that’s Central Intelligence Agency, not Culinary Institute of America).
Accessories
Anji Mountain Bamboo Rug Co.
Two kinds of bamboo chair mats: one that is flexible and rolls up and one that is rigid and folds. Both are environmentally friendly, durable, and easy to ship. A great alternative to the standard unattractive clear plastic chair mat.
Webble
So new that it’s not yet for sale. Made by BrightObjects, the Webble is a skateboard- / surfboard-like mobile footrest that comes in a solid plastic version, as well as a sporty mesh edition. Amy’s favorite product of the show.
Other
Dream Rooms
A series of luxury living vignettes sponsored by the Merchandise Mart. Some of the participating designers included Holly Hunt, Nancy Corzine, Oscar de la Renta, and Barbara Barry.
But Wait – There’s More!
Join us next month for even more delectable offerings from around the globe: Dutch-designed office furniture, Venezuelan-designed light fixtures, Japanese-designed fabrics, and lots and lots of American inspirations.
