# Self-Conscious Contemporary Furniture Art Director Anna Karlin Creates Subtly Bold Decor By Meghan Young | Published 2012-10-19 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anna-karlin References: [coolhunting](http://www.coolhunting.com/design/anna-karlin.php) & [furniture.annakarlin](http://furniture.annakarlin.com/) It might be strange to accuse furniture of being self-conscious, they are inanimate objects after all, but Anna Karlin's designs are just that. Modern and loud in a subtle manner, her creations will not alienate admirers and yet still appeal to those that appreciate [bold contemporary pieces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/orbit-and-axis). From [oddly shaped glass containers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glass-collection) to [expanding vanities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/metamorphosis-collection-2), Anna Karlin has made quite the collection. First and foremost an art director, London native Anna Karlin decided to venture into designing furniture and fine objects. Moving to New York in 2010, her elegant creations recently made their debut at the beautiful abandoned hotel 5 Beekman Street. In regards to her direction, Anna Karlin says, "My brief to myself became, 'Would I want it in my house?' And if I didn't want it in my house, then why am I making it?" ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 66% | Activity: 41% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Subtly Bold Furniture Designs:** The rise of subtly bold furniture designs that appeal to both traditional and contemporary consumers, particularly in the luxury home decor industry. - **Art Directors as Furniture Designers:** A trend of art directors moving into the furniture design industry, bringing a fresh perspective and unique vision to high-end home decor. - **Expansion of Home Decor Collections:** A trend of home decor designers expanding their collections to include furniture, offering consumers a cohesive and curated design aesthetic. ### Where This Applies - **Luxury Home Decor:** The luxury home decor industry has an opportunity to capitalize on the trend of subtly bold furniture designs that appeal to both traditional and contemporary consumers. - **Art and Design:** The art and design industry has an opportunity to embrace the trend of art directors moving into furniture design, bringing a fresh perspective to the world of luxury home decor. - **Furniture and Home Decor Retail:** Furniture and home decor retailers have an opportunity to offer consumers a curated and cohesive design aesthetic by expanding their collections to include both home decor and furniture. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Chic Norm-Challenging Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wiggle-collection.md) - [Contemporary Collaborative Luxe Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ann-demeulemeesterserax.md) - [Gendered Concept-Exploring Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-casa-dentro.md) - [Conscious Experimental Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/experimental-furniture-design.md) - [Stone Vein-Inspired Seating](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ana-chair.md) - [Mesmerizing Bright Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/draga-aurel1.md) - [Jewelry-Inspired Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/through-chrome-reflections.md) - [Expressive Well Balanced Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hmli.md) - [Metal-Centric Playful Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sight-unseen-1.md)