Part of the job...
I view covering the marketplace to be part of my job. Not just knowing what’s out there in terms of traditional garden products ie. plants and building materials, but also furniture and fabrics. I help my clients furnish their outdoor spaces as part of my practice.
Because I do this, I go to events and trade shows not aimed at the landsape industry. I look for new and exciting products in the same way many designers look for new plant introductions—although I do that also.
Recently I went to the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York (ICFF) and found some great outdoor furniture as well as a real indicator that bright fun furniture and fabric for outdoor pieces is a now a full blown trend.
One of the most interesting products I saw were the glazed ceramic tiles (for outdoors or in) from Italian company 14Oraitaliana that were inspired by Andy Warhol’s screen prints. I can easily see this used in many applications where decking or pavers would normally be the solution or on a wall that might otherwise be painted or covered in stone veneer.
