ICFF 2012 report, New York

Falling just a month after the Salone del Mobile, New York City’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair is often victim to a few repeat performances from international players on the design circuit. Yet, the growing bastion of indigenous designer-makers, burgeoning independent companies and a few charmed collaborations (this time Raleigh Denim for Bernhardt Design, and Cranbrook Art Academy for Alessi) has kept us pleasantly surprised year after year.

As the country's design force descends on the Big Apple for four days, numerous fringe venues stake their claim over its different neighbourhoods. Closest to the fair’s Javits’ Centre nucleus is Wanted Design – a platform now in its second year that boasted over 50 exhibitors, including heavyweights such as Bernhardt design, Ligne Roset and Christofle – located in the dynamic Terminal Stores building, which our more colourful readers might remember as the infamous Tunnel nightclub.

Tucked way downtown in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge, the non-profit design and art organization, BOFFO, turned an unused building into a wonderous show house with work from furniture label ROLU, textile designer Stefan Hengst and architect/designer Jen Turner.

The most successful however, continues to be the Noho Design District, which has grown from strength to strength in its three years of being. Apart from the usual in-store showcases from The Future Perfect and Partners and Spade, the event floated over to The Standard, East Village hotel this year, with three exhibitors: Sonos sound gallery, Irish homegoods label Makers & Brothers, and curators, Sight Unseen pitching up temporary spaces within the swanky digs.

Our hands-down highlight of the week undeniably came from Matter – the contemporary design shop and manufacturer that has steadily brought some of the country’s brightest talents into its fold via its MatterMade collection. Choosing a crumbling retail space that was once a subway entrance, with Chinatown as a backdrop, the company presented exciting new pieces including a counterweight chandelier from Fort Standard, textiles from Meg Callahan and a new modular furniture system from its in-house team, among others.

'Range Life II' coffee table by Jonah Takagi for MatterMade

MatterMade’s modular storage system, designed in-house, also comes with console and chest of drawers components

Coffee table by Soren Rose, available at Matter

A selection of vases by Autobahn, available at Matter

Digitally printed and hand-stitched cotton quilts by Meg Callahan

Shaker-style dining chairs by Paul Loebach for MatterMade

'Counterweight Pendant' chandelier by Fort Standard

NY Trash Series wallpaper by Stefan Hengst

NY Trash Series wallpaper by Stefan Hengst

Light installation at the Boffo Show House

Shelving unit by ROLU

More shelves by ROLU

'LMNOQ' wall sconces by Laz Ojalde

'Brooklyner' desk by Jen Turner

Dining table by Spacecutter, constructed from a single log of wood

Tom Dixon’s theatre-themed London Underground space in the Bleecker Street Theatre

'Etch' candle holders by Tom Dixon

Bathroom fixtures by fashion designer Jason Wu for Brizo

A svelte motion-sensor tap from the collaborative collection

Bookends made from porcelain by French designer Romain Lagrange for Portuguese tile manufacturer Vista Alegre

Tool-inspired door knobs and handles by Paul Luscombe

Industrial building blocks by Colin Wilson

Amish-inspired stools by Florida-based Christopher Roy, using fabrics by Maharam

Amish-inspired stools by Florida-based Christopher Roy, using fabrics by Maharam

Mini Vipp bins

Console unit by Blu Dot

A trio of coffee tables by Phase Design

Coffee table by the all-new, all-female design collective, Egg

Bent wire chair by Los Angeles-based Guarav Nanda

Bent wire chair by Los Angeles-based Guarav Nanda

A collection of bone china bowls by Max Lamb for the newly relaunched British company 1882 Ltd

Cask stools by Rich Brilliant Willing

The new Radient LED table lamp (left) by Rich Brilliant Willing

One of Roll & Hill’s new additions – The Silk Road range, by Jonah Takagi

‘Plank’ outdoor lounger for Council, designed by Eric Pfeffer

‘Twig’ chairs, inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, by Chad Wright for Council

Trio of tables by Jonah Takagi for Council

Vase by Cranbrook Art Academy for Alessi

'Banana tree' by Cranbrook Art Academy for Alessi

Chairs by Philippe Starck for Emeco

A men’s dresser by Studio Soren Rose, spotted at the De La Espada stand

Something for the ladies – a modern take on vintage dressing table lights by new design label Apparatus

Deconstructed pendant lights by Mary Wallis

Dining collection by Steve Oh

A collection of outdoor tables designed by Objeti’s Joseph Ribcic and Fiftytwothousand’s Mark Moskovitz – both based in Cleveland

A new side table by Seattle-based duo, Lacoli and McAllister

Newly designed sage burners, that would also suit tea-lights and candles, by Lacoli and McAllister

A pair of bowls - the first of a prospective accessory line by Studio Dunn

Chandelier by Lindsey Adelman

Lindsey Adelman’s makeshift workshop at the Javits Centre

An outdoor lounge chair by Sundays design

Todd Bracher’s hypnotic collaboration with 3M, made from reflective material and LEDs, at Wanted

Robotic lights from UM Project

Sculptural hand-carved mannequins by Jephson Robb for Raleigh Denim and Bernhardt Design