The Chicest Designers in New York All Seemed to Agree on These 4 Trends at NYCxDESIGN 2026
Shapeshifting furniture, art-kid ceramics, and emotionally in-tune lighting point toward a future where the home finally feels like it gets you back.
(Image credit: Invisible Collection)
Since its inception in 2012, NYCxDESIGN has evolved into a borough-hopping extravaganza of trade shows, summits, panels, cocktail parties, open studios, award ceremonies, and exhibitions that make the supposed ‘week’ feel closer to a month.
As a massively centralized cultural event in what is arguably the most culturally overstimulating city on the planet, there’s perhaps nowhere I look more closely for what’s next than right outside my apartment door.
From the WSA Building downtown to the gigantic six-block juggernaut that is the Javits Center, this year’s half-month blur of tote bags digging into shoulders, frantic cross-borough commutes, and heel-blistering power walks past Pleats Please-clad people felt more justified than usual. Mostly because these interior design trends actually looked new.
Not ‘new’ in the AI-smooth sense where everything is really an anemic sequel of something else, but a potential renaissance of capital ‘D’ Design, packed with soon-to-be-everywhere oddities that might actually make your life easier, prettier, or at the very least, more interesting.
Without further ado, a glimpse into where homes are headed for 2027.
1. Avant-Garde Antiques
Before landing at STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN in New York City, Francesco Balzano’s Tessuto chair debuted at Rome’s Villa Medici, whose theatrical architecture and botanical gardens inspired its jacquard toile and sculptural forms – part of a broader Design Week return to historical grandeur seen everywhere from Sarah Sherman Samuel’s marble Pop Pop tables to Puiforcat’s opulent tableware revivals.
(Image credit: Adel Fecih. Design: Francesco Balzano. Scenography: Nacho Polo & Robert Onuska; Sarah Sherman Samuel; APPARATUS)
New pieces with a clear reverence for antiquity, rendered with varying degrees of subversion, emerged as one of the fair’s more interesting status symbols in an era where everyone has already caught onto vintage.
Seated inside one of the ten iconic Jetsons-esque EPISODE chairs at APPARATUS’s immersive PEEPSHOW exhibition, created in partnership with heritage silversmithing house Puiforcat, I found myself repeatedly pressing tiny buttons for fleeting flashes of bijoux antique tableware reimagined in jewelry-grade materials. A lion-head soup tureen from 1772. An Anne d’Autriche tumbler from 1945. Sterling silver, gold gilt, black onyx, and craftsmanship reportedly clocking upwards of 1,200 hours for certain pieces.
Further downtown at STUDIOTWENTYSEVEN – the sprawling Neo-Renaissance Tribeca gallery that remains inspiring whether Design Week is happening or not – Francesco Balzano’s TESSUTO became a kind of ping-pong dialogue between French and Italian, old and new.
Francesco, a French-born designer with an Italian father, developed the collection after a month-long residency at Rome’s historic Villa Medici, where the stately architecture proved just as influential as the idyllic gardens overlooking the city below. That story carried throughout the furniture-focused solo debut – including a daybed, stool, sideboard, pedestal, and table wrapped in a custom jacquard landscape that, historically, might have taken the form of a Toile de Jouy. And, in a way, it did.
The fabric itself felt French in spirit, given its close-up renderings of trees and foliage woven in dusty greens, faded pinks, and warm yellows mirroring the villa’s sunbaked walls – but, completing the conversation, was produced by Italian (ding, ding, ding) textile house Rubelli. From afar, the pattern dissolved into abstraction; only while approaching did branches, leaves, and fragments of landscape crystallize into view.
A similar appetite for old surfaced across town at Colony, where Sarah Sherman Samuel’s first-ever solo debut, Weight & Wonder, included sleek-lined Pop Pop tables in deliciously veiny two-toned marble that recalled the status shorthand of ancient Greece, softened by the cleaner silhouettes of today. Legacy, permanence, and prestige echoed just the same.
A little much? Maybe so. But then again, when everyone suddenly has an honorary B.A. in secondhand sourcing courtesy of Facebook Marketplace, even extraordinary vintage references begin losing some of their exclusivity. The answer, then, appears to be a return to good old-fashioned opulence, newly difficult to replicate.
We’re inspired by diverse design perspectives, innovation, technology, art, and the world around us. We live for the chance to create and disperse powerful, genuine messages that resonate.
Tessa graduated from Fordham University in New York with a dual bachelor's degree in Communications and Political Science. During her time at Fordham, she worked for an interior designer and at NBC News where she developed her love for both design and communications. After graduating, Tessa managed marketing at 3form, a pioneer in the sustainable building products industry. During her tenure, 3form was repeatedly named one of the most recognized manufacturers in the design industry among architects and designers, and the company won multiple awards for its innovative product launches. After 3form, Tessa consulted on marketing efforts with leading product manufacturers in architecture and design before starting Paxson Fay with Amy.
Originally from Seattle, Amy left her home in the Pacific Northwest to attend Fordham University, fulfilling her dream of living in New York City. After graduating with a BS in business administration, specializing in marketing and minoring in economics, Amy began her career in advertising sales at CNN and the Hallmark Channel in New York and LA. However, Amy’s love of writing, design, and connection with people ultimately led her to PR. While finishing her MBA back home at Seattle University, in 2015, Amy cofounded Paxson Fay with her friend and business partner, Tessa, driven by a shared vision to build a PR agency that reflected their values and passions. At Paxson Fay, Amy thrives in media relations and pitch development, enjoying the process of diving deep into each client’s story to craft compelling narratives that resonate with editors and journalists. Amy has a particular passion for architecture-focused projects, and securing SHED’s feature in The New York Times was an especially rewarding moment, as they were her first client. Another major career milestone was helping build out Paxson Fay’s talented team, fostering an environment where young professionals can grow their skills and pursue their passions. Outside of work, Amy loves spending time with her family, chasing after her two little boys, exploring Seattle’s restaurant scene, traveling with friends, and reading.
After graduating from Fordham University in New York City with a major in Communications and Media Studies and a handful of marketing and PR internships, Colby moved to Boston to manage marketing for a small, women-owned, creative consulting agency. While in that role, Colby managed public relations and marketing efforts for some of Boston's most prominent events and public art initiatives, including the Boston Pickle Fair and The Bulfinch Crossing Projections in downtown Boston. Colby gained experience crafting brand stories and identities through social media marketing and creative copywriting, seen through the successful launch of a premier Massachusetts adult-use dispensary and the revamp of her agency's own website. After two years, Colby decided it was time to figure out what the West Coast was all about. Looking to blend her marketing experience with her passion for design and architecture, Colby found Paxson Fay, where she focuses on social media strategy and management and public relations.
As a child, Paige wanted to be an architect; but after falling in love with storytelling, the power of words, and yes, the show West Wing, she decided to pursue journalism at The George Washington University in the nation’s capital. Following graduation, Paige crafted communications for the beauty and banking industries. Craving space for creativity, she joined the small team that would reopen the congressionally designated National Children’s Museum. There, she played an integral role in establishing the museum’s brand, bringing it to life across digital channels, including social media, email, and advertising. After nearly eight years in DC, she decided it was time for a change of scenery. Having grown fond of the title Washingtonian, she made the cross-country move to Washington State. She landed in Seattle at Paxson Fay, where in true full circle fashion she is the architect of social media and public relations strategies for our architecture and design clients.
Martina joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern when she was a senior at the University of Washington. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Interest Communications, Martina is now continuing with the team as a Communications Assistant. During her time at UW, Martina worked as the Special Sections Editor at the university’s newspapers where she won multiple awards for her front page spreads. Looking to blend her minors in real estate and environmental science with her focus in communications, Martina is passionate and excited to join the Paxson Fay team.
With roots in Napa and Denver, Tara ventured to the Pacific Northwest to pursue her academic journey at the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education. Tara's love for writing began when she delved into songwriting, building on her pre-existing passion for singing and playing the piano. Following her undergraduate years, she returned to Paxson Fay, where she had previously interned, transitioning into the role of Communications Assistant. With a keen interest in PR and social media, Tara seamlessly integrates her creative flair into the professional realm. Outside of work, you'll find Tara passionately supporting the Kraken, embodying her love for both storytelling and sports.
Growing up in the Bay Area, Jamie made her way to the Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Washington, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communications and Psychology. Jamie first joined the Paxson Fay team as an intern during her senior year at the University of Washington and is excited to continue her journey with the team as a Communications Assistant. With a passion for writing and social media, Jamie is excited to bring her creativity and unique perspective to the role. Outside of work, you can find Jamie exploring local restaurants or picking up a good book.
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