Gift Wrap II: Avant-Naturalism

Natural and modern proclivities join forces at the summer edition of the New York International Gift Fair.

Mark McMenamin -- Interior Design, 9/17/2007 12:00:00 AM

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There was another standoff on the Hudson last month, but this one didn't involve rail yards or redevelopment. It was unapologetic ultramodern sparring with avant-naturalism, as the summer edition of the biannual New York International Gift Fair commandeered the Javits Center and Passenger Ship Terminals 88 and 94. The tussle was most conspicuous at Accent on Design, the juried division of all things cutting edge, where the gleaming abstractions of Arik Levy shared the floor with the forward-thinking forestry of Angela Adams. Overall, smaller-scale goods stole focus from furniture and statement accessories, and eco-centricity was ubiquitous.

In the second installment of our two-part report from the show floor—Avant-Naturalism—we celebrate the interplay between natural and modern proclivities. Natural materials, organic forms and nature-inspired imagery are just a few of the elements helping to bridge the gap between the outdoors and the studio. For a glimpse of what we found, click the slide show above to begin the tour.

Gift Wrap II Sources

Artecnica, 508 S. San Vicente Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048; 323-655-6551; artecnicainc.com.

Angela Adams, 273 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101; 207-774-3523; angelaadams.com.

DBO Home, 25 Millerton Road, Sharon, CT 06069; 860-364-6008; dbohome.com.

FTF, 423 West 14th Street, 3R, New York, NY 10014; 212-925-0847; ftfdesignstudio.com.

Jamie Young, 215 N. Cedar Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301; 888-671-5883; jamieyoung.com.

Caleb Siemon, 3501 W. Segerstrom Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92704; 888-578-5094.

The Raintree Collection, 120 B Calle Iglesia; San Clemente, CA 92672; 800-272-2797; raintreecollection.com.

Areaware, 95 Spring Street, Second Floor, New York, NY 10012; 212-226-5155; areaware.com.