imm cologne

After seven intense days, the imm cologne closed its doors on Sunday with good to very good results. 1,250 companies from more than 50 countries showcased the latest trends for the coming year and – including estimates for the last day of the fair – attracted 142,000 visitors to Cologne.

This year, there was a 13 percent rise in the internationality of the visitor structure – a significant increase. The international furnishing fair was able to report particularly positive growth in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe and Asia that are so important for the sector. “This result is a great signal for the imm cologne and confirmation of a performance befitting a leading international fair,” said a visibly satisfied Gerald Böse, CEO of Koelnmesse. “With this trade fair duo, we have written the next chapter in the success story of the imm cologne and LivingKitchen. Cologne is the absolute focal point of the furniture and kitchen industry – especially when it comes to business,” continues the trade fair corporation’s chief executive officer.

Dirk-Uwe Klaas, Chief Executive of the Association of the German Furniture Industry (Verband der Deutschen Möbelindustrie), came to a similarly positive conclusion: “The imm cologne 2013 was an outstanding trade fair – the German furniture industry is more than satisfied. Despite the wintery weather, visitors flocked to the exhibition centre in droves. We are delighted to report numerous new contacts and customers as well as a pleasing amount of ordering activity. The marked increase in the number of foreign trade visitors is another important component for the fair’s enduring and sustainable success.”

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It doesn’t get any better than this: full halls, the most important players from Germany and abroad and a cornucopia of ideas across all the different segments for furniture buyers from all over the world to pick and choose from – that’s the imm cologne. Some of the more than 1,000 exhibitors are already speaking very openly about their expectations of the international furniture and interior design event in January 2013, as well as about the new products they will be showing there for the first time.

Koelnmesse is looking forward to a very successful imm cologne 2013: a total of 1,050 exhibitors from more than 50 countries have confirmed their attendance, 625 of them from abroad. Together with the international kitchen event LivingKitchen, the trade fair will be filling the 280,000 square metres of gross floor space in halls 1 to 11 to capacity.

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What do you need to create a proper feel-good oasis in your own four walls? Are laminate flooring, woodchip wallpaper and white half-curtains really the answer? Or are soft furnishings with different fabrics the solution, as seen in countries like England or France? This is the question Barbara Friedrich, editor-in-chief of  Architektur & Wohnen magazine, asks herself in her new special on textile furnishings. “Could it be,” she speculates, “that our idea of modern living has always favoured practical aspects over decorative considerations – and that we are unconsciously continuing this ‘tradition’?” And yet just three or four decades ago, thick carpets, roomy sectional sofas with fabric covers and heavy curtains were still the epitome of German Gemütlichkeit. weiterlesen…

Uncompromising minimalism and modularity – these are the principles Axor has committed itself to with its Starck ShowerCollection. The idea: a simple system of sprays, mixers and accessories intended to turn the shower area into an individually designed spa. The square modules measure 12 cm x 12 cm and are complemented by a ShowerHeaven with three spray patterns. Now Axor and Philippe Starck, the “enfant terrible” of the international design world, are extending their joint collection with new products for the shower and bathtub area. weiterlesen…

In addition to a large screen, many home cinema enthusiasts also prefer proper seating as found in a lounge. This is made possible by the individually-customisable Catena range. With its new collection, TV furniture producer Spectral cleverly combines viewing and sitting.

The cabinets that serve as the basic components can be used both as a bench and an elegant storage solution. Innovative ideas for the integration of technical components and bothersome cables – such as a projector drawer and integrated sound systems – are intended to provide an uncluttered home cinema experience. weiterlesen…

Consciously less and therefore better – in these few words, the furniture company Zeitraum defines luxury for itself. In personal terms this definition of luxury means a free and independent feeling: Luxury as an aspirational concept. In society this is the driving force behind all acquisition of knowledge, further development and innovation and as such is a guarantee for the sustainability of intrinsic value – or in other words, of cultural assets. And it is the basis for the new Zeitraum collection 1.3 by Kihyun Kim.

The ensemble comprises chair, stool and bar stool. The most outstanding feature of this delicate, light 1.3 Chair is the wafer-thin impression made by the fine contours of seat and back. The seat looks if it is floating on air. Chair, stool and bar stool also have the visual softness of “Pad” optic.

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“We feel very much at home!” could easily be the title of a recent study conducted by Emnid on behalf of interlübke. Leo Lübke, managing director of the renowned producer of top-quality furniture made in Germany, can certainly feel vindicated as far as his corporate philosophy is concerned – especially when it comes to issues like the living room as the focal point of life, quality, the design and functionality of the company’s furniture or even its distribution system.

The representative opinion survey interlübke commissioned to mark its 75^th anniversary – “Germany in private – Germans’ homes and lives in 2012” – revealed that Germans like to live in light, upscale surroundings and – besides their partners – consider brochures and a personal sales consultation at the furniture store the best sources of advice. They also set great store by enduring furniture and are not particularly keen on change.

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One area of imm cologne that stands for inspiration en masse is the Pure Village. Its architecture is what makes it so special: it has an open structure like that of a piazza. Although its exhibitors concentrate on just a few products, they are presented as if they were in an art gallery. The result is a living symphony of brands and product that invites visitors to explore. In the run-up to imm cologne, a number of Pure Village exhibitors have spoken about what they intend to exhibit in January.

For imm cologne Thonet has interesting new products on offer including the “580″ chair by Claudio Bellini, the “130″ chair and “1130/1131″ table by Naoto Fukasawa and the “7000″ shelf system by f/p design. The Frankenberg-based company sees “natural materials” and “sustainability” as the current top trends.

Finite Elements’ launch of its Mirror 62 sound mirror is certain to be a highlight during the week-long trade fair. The topic of “sound integration” runs right through the product range of the Brilon-based company, for example its “Hohrizontal 51″ sound shelf augmented by the “Solo 51″ shelf system or “Hohrizontal 51 Plus”, the long version of the brilliant iPod dock with additional subwoofer output. Bernd Brockhoff, Managing Director of Finite Elements, sees the integration of music in furniture as a future trend in the industry, with plenty of potential still untapped. weiterlesen…

Retro is a trend – there’s nothing new about that. For some years now, the aesthetics of fashion, design and architecture have been turning to the shapes and styles of past eras. Even so, new variations on this trend are evolving all the time: wallpaper manufacturers have realised the appeal of retro motifs and are integrating them into their collections.

Big lines and circles in loud colours are typical of retro wallpapers. Several vibrant shades are often used together in one motif to create striking colour combinations. But there are also wallpapers on the market for amateur decorators who are less keen to experiment. Single-colour motifs on a light background, for instance, are a good start for retro novices. weiterlesen…

Escaping from the hectic pace of everyday life, shifting down a gear and enjoying the evenings and weekends in your very own green oasis: for a growing number of people, the garden, patio or balcony is their favourite place for getting away from it all for a while. And that means having a comfy place to sit too.

The Nordic maritime look with its clear but cosy shapes is particularly popular for outdoor furniture right now. And in view of Scandinavia’s coastal climate, it’s perfectly acceptable for the tables and chairs to look a little rough. When it comes to patterns, stripes and various shades of blue are popular. At the same time, romanticism is experiencing a renaissance: a growing number of manufacturers are going for a dreamy look. The trend is dominated by playful creations and gently flowing forms, along with combinations of charming details, floral designs and old-style patterns. The City Style is also featuring on the outdoor stage as a countertrend to the romantic look and favours flamboyant, design-oriented shapes. Loungers and couches are characterised by a puristic straightforwardness and elegance and many of the material combinations include stainless steel. When it comes to colours, white, sand and brown shades will continue to dominate in 2011/12. And green is a must. The trend colour of the last fashion season is now conquering balconies and patios too, with manufacturers banking on bright shades like lime and apple green. weiterlesen…