We made our second annual visit to the Chicago International Home and Housewares Show. The McCormick Center is an enormous space, however, the show felt a lot more compact than the Frankfurt show and altogether less daunting. It may be the layout, with high-end and mass-market tableware not separated by floor. In fact, the tableware section of the show exhibited kitchen gadgets and cutting boards in booths right next to tableware. This presented us with the opportunity to meet Chef Ming Tsai as he happened to be promoting Totally Bamboo cutting boards right down the way from a booth where we had an upcoming appointment and half an hour to kill.

Corelle had an impressive theatrical booth with models acting as mannequins in green dresses slowly and robotically showing off World Kitchens latest collections. The Oneida stand was also impressive displaying their latest flatware and dinnerware designs.

With the show being so close to Frankfurt there wasn’t much of a visible shift in trends. There is still an industry emphasis on florals, damasks, and monochromes. One style that did stand out, although, more of an emphasis of the US market then a trend, is folk design. The US has had a long-standing love affair with the country kitchen style of roosters and gingham. In a similar vein seaside scenes of lighthouses and beaches are much more popular in the US market and thus more prevalent at this show.

Styles are often born in France or the UK and make their way later to popularity in the US market. In fashion and technology often making a longer journey from Japan, to Europe, and onto the US. Predicting which styles catch on, and the timeline of those styles is key. And then there are the roosters that grow up in the middle of the US and seem to stick around for eternity.

Statement Colours -> Neons & Brights
This season’s kaleidoscopic colours make bold statements. From electric blues, acid yellows, hot pinks, emerald greens, to the leader of the pack: neon orange. These hues work best in block colours, standing out against blacks or paired with subtle neutrals such as greys and beiges.

Artistic Brush Strokes
The Jackson Pollock inspired paint splatters seen on the catwalk cross over effortlessly to interiors. Expressive splashes and dribbles are a great fit for the table.

Florals
From soft seventies meadow flowers to bold expressive botanicals, florals are still proving to be a fashion staple. This style will continue to strengthen developing more edgy blooms and exaggerated silhouettes.

Geometrics
Geometrics will take the form of ethnic patterns and abstracted African prints in this season’s neons developing from the Eighties Rubik’s Cube style angular graphics.

Figurative Graphics -> Comic Book Chic
Comic book colours, cartoon figures, surreal decorative icons, and punk graphic scenes. Inspired by the emergence of urban art and graffiti in mainstream popular culture.