1970's Influence on US Home furnishing

The 1970s influence has been emerging in the home-furnishings market for the past two years - hello, bright orange accent pieces - which Contant thinks is a mild reaction against years of mid-century domination in American living rooms. While it's the '70s look that's filtering into the BDC for 2009, there are also indicators that another decade may be on its way back - the 1980s. One of the color trends Contant is seeing is a category she's calling "porcelain pales." She stops short of calling the shades pastel, but these tiles, fabrics, and wallcoverings in pale pink and blue from names such as Barbara Barry and Farrow & Ball are just an early-bird special away from "Golden Girls" territory.

The high-end furniture and textiles now arriving at the Boston Design Center are comparable to the runway fashions seen in New York and Paris. These looks will eventually trickle down to less expensive knock-offs for mass market consumption. But the question remains: Are homeowners fond enough of the 1970s to put turquoise wall tile in their bathrooms? Here are a few of the trends that Contant is tracking:

Open weave: Furniture and textile manufacturers such as Brentano and Janus et Cie are going beyond retro rattan to create functional sculptural art from material such as leather, wicker, and metal.

Graphic arts: Bold architectural lines and nature-inspired patterns are showing up in pieces such as the Holly Hunt cocktail table, and Jasmine's patterned floor lights.

White-on-white: Harking back to the 1970s fascination with monochromic interiors, interior designers have created an onslaught of all-white furnishings. Hastings's white lacquered nightstand brings the look into the bedroom, while Bernhardt's Remy chair is a more formal take on all-white.

Juicy berries: Mirroring the current movement in fashion, showrooms at the Boston Design Center are filling with products sporting deep shades of magenta and eggplant, such as Harlequin's pink and red paisley wallpaper and Malabar's Timba collection of cushions in rich variations of red and purple.

Cool neutrals: Pale frosted pink, blue, and soft grays are adding a moody look to textiles and tiles in kitchens and bathrooms. Porcelanosa's porcelain tile collection is a spa-inspired oasis of faded grays, while Alno is using gray for high-gloss cabinetry.

Bohemian flower power: The Brunschwig & Fils mushroom wallpaper joins another 1970s staple: floral patterns. New products for 2009 include Thomas Paul's daisy fabric, and Marvic's Santara fabric, which lovingly recall the bohemian, natural side of the 1970s