Discoveries from the first day at the Atlanta Market

ATLANTA — After a slight flight delay in New York Wednesday morning, editor Allison Zisko arrived in Atlanta and got to work right away. Here are some observations—field notes—from her first half-day at the market:

Accent Décor continues to add to its line of fruity decor, following a fruity trend seen in clothing that has slowly spread to decor. Its new collection of figurative ceramic vases, boxes and other pieces are shaped like bananas, strawberries and other fruits. The company is also moving more toward everyday tableware, with organic shapes and colors, and highlighting “defining moments” with serving pieces and other decorative objects that play with scale and use hand-finished elements.

LR Home filled its showroom with textiles at the market, including several new cushion lines (its Rococo indoor/outdoor collection made in India is a standout). And several people came into the showroom just to see the new embroidered Matilda chair, which is green and covered in flowers, according to Silvia Esteban, senior account manager.

Creative Co-Op continues to expand its Kantha line of upcycled vintage fabrics into everything from blazers to rugs to cushions to chairs. Its one-of-a-kind chair, in which the vintage fabric is wrapped around a wicker frame and visibly stitched, has earned the piece a HAT label at the market.

Toronto-based Chive, known for its planters and other plant-related pieces (particularly its sculpted ceramic flowers), has branched out into some exciting new categories to offer at the market: puzzles, candles and plant seeds, which come in beautifully illustrated packages by Japanese designers.

Napa Home & Garden has added more woven hanging baskets and long-stemmed artificial plants to its lighting and artificial plant lines, respectively, and is planning an entirely new category for a January launch: portable cordless lights and solar lanterns.

Tableware maker Portmeirion has been highlighting its William Morris tableware and serveware, which isn’t brand new but fits squarely into the maximalist movement (the English designer’s 150-year-old prints have been featured on a range of new products recently). “It’s a pattern on a pattern, on a pattern. I think in the US there’s a push away from minimalism and a push towards maximalism, and that’s what it’s all about. I think it’s going to be huge,” said Elyse Gabel, wholesale account manager.

Finally, a big thank you to Madeline Stewart for taking over our Instagram account yesterday for the day! It was wonderful to see Atlanta Market through the eyes of a woman who is part interior designer, part retailer, and part Mrs. North Carolina American.