Beyond the Box: the story behind the booth

The concept for our booth this year evolved from the idea of: Think Outside the Box, a theme that became more relevant the deeper we got into the planning process. BDNY is an incredible show, but it all starts with a blank square on the exhibitor map – essentially an empty box.  Between the LED panels, carpet tiles, over thirty crates, and a rectangular booth structure, there  were a lot of boxes involved. Reminding us that even within the constraints of a space, we all have the opportunity to think outside the box and create something distinctive and engaging – an experience that goes far beyond the physical space itself.

Design, whether it’s starting with a blank sheet of paper or a vacant hotel room, starts with a box, but it’s the imagination and creativity that transform it into something that resonates emotionally. There are many aspects that dictate the feelings that a space can emit including the colors, textures, and how the overall aesthetic comes together to create a vibe. Tradeshows offer a unique opportunity to play within these elements and further experiment with new techniques, styles, and finishes without material limitations or specific guidelines.Everything we create is custom, but it’s hard to truly grasp the possibilities without seeing them in action. By showcasing innovative approaches in our booth that could also be applied to hotel projects, we aimed to introduce designers to fresh ideas. We want our clients to feel that they never need to compromise on their vision as there are always plenty of options. Sometimes, it just takes a bit of thinking outside the box.

Shaping the Aesthetic: how the theme came to be

Over the years, we’ve designed striking BERMANFALK booths showcasing our products and featuring statement attractions like visual artists, coloring walls, and a room of mirrors. As our audience has shifted to long-standing partners and friends, we wanted to reimagine the space as a place to relax and recharge during BDNY, not as a pitch for our brand. Our goal was to create an inspiring, professional, and comfortable environment, true to our motto of making our clients’ lives easier – reducing stress and offering a winter mule or two in the process (we heard they were a hit this year!).

Each year, we kick off the planning process by brainstorming potential themes for the booth. This year, we started with a concept we called “Safari Vintage” – inspired by the lush, eclectic aesthetic of a jungle and Tarzan, blending natural luxury with a collection of vintage treasures. It took some time to get the executive team on board, but as the vision evolved, so did the theme. We decided to highlight our manufacturing capabilities, focusing on the details of the pieces rather than overwhelming the space with accessories. We kept elements of the original theme without overdoing it, like the bar shelf filled with handpicked decor from local thrift stores. 

The booth featured earthy tones of warm walnut finishes, bronze metal accents, and plenty of green, from the honeydew green sofas to the marble-inspired immersion-printed c-tables. To bring even more life to the booth, we incorporated many monstera and palm plants provided by Artiplanto and a dark palm tree wallpaper provided by belarteSTUDIO, adding a refreshing touch of nature and vibrancy to the overall design while complimenting our branding. We also introduced movement through the design of the wooden pieces, while warm LED lighting enhanced the atmosphere, giving the booth a cohesive, inviting feel. Together, these elements stayed true to the vision, creating a space that was both engaging and comfortable.

Finding Variety: insight into the furniture  

As a custom manufacturer, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. We always tell our clients, “we’ll bring your vision to life”, and with our talented team, we make it happen. Tradeshows offer the ideal platform to showcase something new like ideas and creations that clients may not have realized were an option to execute. Here are some of the standout pieces from this year’s booth:

Immersion Printed C-Table

The immersion-printed c-table certainly drew attention. Was it stone, painted, or printed? How did we achieve the offset between the top and base? We were excited to showcase this piece, as it demonstrated innovative, cost-efficient techniques that haven’t been widely used in many projects yet. Designed to appear as two stones with rounded edges balanced atop each other, stability was our primary focus. With an intricate piece like this, we used a metal rod running through the center to ensure stability while minimizing the connection point. Our rule: always assume someone might sit on it.

For the finish, our Director of Manufacturing and Quality Assurance suggested immersion printing, similar to water marbling in nail art. The design is floated on water, then the piece is dunked into the design, transferring the image onto the surface. Clients can provide a high-res image or have us create one, with endless sheen options to achieve the perfect look.  Our team has perfected this process, ensuring the seam of the image blends together seamlessly.

At the show, the green immersion-printed table definitely took center stage, but for the keen-eyed, there was also an alternative version of the c-table created using a white painted finish. Both designs offer something unique. It’s always nice to have options.

Floor Mirror

Yes, we do mirrors! Many of the larger casegood pieces we design for hotel projects, such as millwork and closets, feature mirrors as part of the design. A great example is the bar shelf we created for BDNY, where we used a mirror as a backdrop with a warm LED backlight to achieve a luxurious, high-end feel. What some may not realize, though, is that we also offer standalone mirrors. At BDNY, we showcased a 6-foot floor mirror in the center of our booth to reflect the lounge space. While mirrors aren’t casegoods or seating, if you’re incorporating them into your projects, keep us in mind. Design is about balancing simplicity and detail, and we love exploring both.

Swivel Chair

It’s been exciting to see more seating projects come to light over the last few years. We love any chance to highlight the “seating” part of our slogan – BERMANFALK is a custom casegoods and seating manufacturer for the hospitality industry. When it comes to seating, comfort is always our top priority, and our quality control team ensures that. Beyond fabric and design, function also plays a key part in making a piece stand out.

At BDNY this year, we showcased a swivel chair – but not the kind you’re used to at your 9-to-5. Swivel chairs aren’t just for offices anymore; they’re a stylish option for lounge seating too. People loved the design, but the real excitement kicked in when they realized it actually moved. If you’re anything like us and have a hard time sitting still, a swivel chair is the perfect remedy. The chair had a smooth glide and was designed to return to its original position, with all the mechanics cleverly hidden underneath. Unless you sat in it, you wouldn’t even know what it could do. It was a fun surprise – and the best part? It made rotating between different conversations effortless.

Solid Wood Joints

The other lounge chair we displayed featured a lot of curvy wood details. It definitely had people guessing – some thought it was metal, others weren’t sure it was even wood at all. Well, let’s set the record straight: it’s solid wood. The curves were carefully sectioned and carved before being assembled. If you looked closely, you’d spot the wood joints where the pieces came together – subtle, but barely noticeable unless you were really looking for them. Normally, we’d recommend a darker finish to hide them even more, but the medium tone worked beautifully and didn’t break up the design’s fluidity.

Metal Detailing

At BERMANFALK, we’ve found that incorporating metal into a design really elevates the “luxury” feel – especially when it’s in that rich, gold-brassy range. We love playing with the details and finding unique ways to highlight metal beyond the usual spots like legs or pulls. For example, the main structure of our bar shelf this year featured a brassy metal mesh on all sides, adding texture and creating an eye-catching shine from the warm LED lighting behind the mirror. In contrast, the bar itself had minimal metal accents, but for an unexpected touch, we plated the sink in the gold brass to match. On both the bar and bar shelf, we designed custom pulls as well – a trend we’re seeing more and more in boutique hotels. 

For the charging desk, we added thin metal strips to the front to break up the changing direction of the wood tambour. It was a small detail, but it made the piece stand out in a big way. We also incorporated fun metal detailing on the back of the sofas. Normally, the back of a sofa is pretty plain, sitting against a wall, but for an island booth with no walls, we wanted to make the back of the piece just as engaging, tying into the other metal accents throughout the booth.

While brassy finishes are definitely trending, we didn’t shy away from incorporating a powder-coated metal finish into the coffee tables. Powder-coated metal still achieves a sleek look and is a great option if clients are looking for a more cost-effective solution.

Stone

On hotel projects, we usually recommend quartz because it’s less prone to staining or breaking and offers a consistent design – whereas with marble, every slab is unique. It creates a stunning look but is a material that requires extra care. That’s why we love the opportunity to work with beautiful marble pieces at BDNY. When cut and installed properly, marble truly makes a statement. The way the design flows and the richness of the colors are always a pleasure to work with. The marble on the bar was particularly striking this year and definitely turned some heads.

Standard Finishes

This year’s BDNY marked the one-year anniversary of our Standard Finishes site launch, and we couldn’t be more excited to see how it’s been making an impact. The idea behind the Standard Finishes was simple: to make life easier for our clients by offering a curated selection of finishes that we’ve seen work well across all projects. Clients can quickly choose from these finishes without needing to source something new or request a custom sample, which helps speed up the approval process and keeps things moving forward smoothly.

What many may not realize is that choosing a standard finish is also a more sustainable option when it comes to shipping. With our process, clients select their finish online and we ship a sample for their records directly to them. The alternative? Clients send us a sample, we send it to our factory, then the factory sends it back to us, and finally, we ship that sample to the client. If the finish isn’t approved, the cycle starts all over again. By choosing from our Standard Finishes, clients not only speed up the timeline but also make the process more efficient and eco-friendly.

For BDNY, we wanted to showcase these finishes in action, so we incorporated them into actual pieces for attendees to see firsthand. Here’s a list of the Standard Finishes we featured: BF-40 Makore Pomele, BF-46 Toasted Walnut, BF-26 Ebonized Ash, BF MT-2 (opt 1) Brushed Brass, and BF MT-5 (opt 2) Dark Bronze: Powder Coated.

Honorable Mentions: the companies and people that made it possible

Our booth wouldn’t have come together the way it did without the incredible support and contributions of several amazing companies. From start to finish, working with them was a true pleasure. Each partner brought something unique to the table – efficient communication, high-quality services and products, exceptional customer support, and inspiring resources, including impressive websites and catalogs that helped us bring our vision to life. We’d like to take a moment to give them a well-deserved shoutout.

As well, a huge shoutout to our team – they’re the heart of what makes working at BERMANFALK so rewarding. We may be a little biased, but we truly have an incredibly talented group. It’s because of them that we’re so proud of the work we create and get to have so much fun along the way.

Those that attended BDNY:

  • Aaron Berman – President
  • Daniel Berman – Executive Vice President
  • Shellie Cohen – Vice President, Business Operations
  • Dan Ryan – Business Development Executive
  • Tiffany Sha – Sales Manager
  • Emily Coquin – Manager, Projects
  • Jasmine Ram – Marketing Coordinator
  • Nadia Kushniryk – Marketing Manager 
  • Mike Muscarella – Senior Field Technician

Others we also couldn’t have done this show without:

  • Harpreet Bahga – Senior Coordinator, Technical
  • Gislani Silva – Senior Project Coordinator
  • Patrick Gardiner – Logistics Specialist
  • Vicky Dong – Senior Accounting Manager, Team Lead
  • Valentina Koncarevic – Staff Accountant
  • Sonny Marshall – Director, Manufacturing & Quality Assurance 

Cheers to BDNY 2024: thank you

The energy at the booth this year was everything we hoped for and more. The lounge area felt warm and inviting and was buzzing with activity – industry friends sinking into the seats, catching a break, sharing laughs, and diving into business discussions. The Winter Mule quickly became the drink of choice, and the polaroid camera was in constant use, capturing memories. From there, the fun flowed into dinners and after parties, never a dull moment in NYC!

It’s impossible to put into words how rewarding it was to be at the center of it all. To share that space with all of you, and to see you enjoying it truly meant the world. We can imagine for a designer, there’s nothing quite like seeing your work come to life and become an experience for someone else. We understand it takes a lot of hard work and heart, and we are so grateful to continue being trusted with your vision.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by. We hope 2025 is off to a fantastic start for you. We can’t wait to share what we have in store for this year! If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our team.