Most Likely To Succeed

Karen D. Singh -- Interior Design, 10/31/2006 12:00:00 AM

There's something about fall that sends some of us back to high school, at least in our minds. Your own mental images may be of hay rides or pumpkin carving. Mine include a packed girls' bathroom with stratus clouds of Aqua Net and cigarette smoke hanging over the "in" crowd of Desperately Seeking Susans holding a Marlboro Light in one hand and expertly applying liquid Wet 'N'Wild eyeliner with the other. Meanwhile, I'm trying to slip in unnoticed before an eagerly anticipated humanities class on the epic of Gilgamesh.

In our first feature, "Cliques that Click" (page 94), products that naturally hang together pose for group shots—with the exception of a solo chair. In the second, "In Your Face" (page 191), photographer Ted Morrison's lens zooms in to capture some favorite fall textures, like the knitted paper yarn from Woodnotes Oy.

Which items truly stole the hearts of the Fall Market Tabloid staff? Those who crave order but still want it to look unlabored are longing for the Random bookcase by ddc. Others may be chasing in their 401(k)s for Wang Jinsheng's more-art-than-seat Moon Jelly chair, while Wagner Archela's Pazetto chair has already emptied the pockets of one staff member. Softline's Luisa side table and Moroso's T-Ukiyo tables are coveted by those who like a shot of color and happiness in their products. Fans of warm and woodsy forms keep eyeing the Bottega Montana kitchen stool and the plywood Petal chair by Stew Designs. And who isn't pining for the Esque earth-friendly Dust Catchers?

So, put out that cigarette, unhand the Aqua Net, leave your glory days behind, and start shopping. While you're flipping through the 312 pages of products featured here, do you mind if I borrow that eyeliner?