A detailed photo essay of this global design event

Photos Posted: Cologne International Furniture Fair

A nautical theme kitchen concept from Alno

IMM Cologne is arguably the most important residential furniture fair in the world, and a venue where the most influential designers and furniture producers set the tone for the future of the global furniture industry. Each year the event explores emerging themes and trends. Click here to get right to the images.

January 25, 2010

Cologne's major furniture exhibition (IMM, International Möbel Messe) ended last weekend, and we've just posted our photographic tour!

As always, the IMM is an overwhelming playground for design inspiration and materials use. Some quick observations:

  • The dominance of all-white environments has eased from recent years.
  • Several manufacturers were showing white HPL tops with very silky, smooth finishes - not unlike solid surface, but warmer to the touch.
  • High gloss continues to grow, in both laminates (3DL and acrylic) and lacquer finishes
  • Back-painted glass is also less prevalent.
  • Warm browns and taupe are on the rise.
  • Strong heartwood veneer cuts and laminate designs were EVERYWHERE.
  • Lightweight panels are finding their way into more applications, and are being fitted with integral cable management systems and other functionalities.
  • Push-to-open and soft-close hardware is finding its way into lower-priced furniture.
  • LED accent lighting is quite the rage, perhaps overly so at the moment.

Stay tuned for more thorough coverage of these trends, and profiles on some of the designs and designers Material Intelligence encountered at IMM.

And make plans to visit the world's largest materials show, hosted also in Cologne: Interzum!