LIVE from NEW YORK!

That's right - the Antiques on Cannon crew was LIVE in NEW YORK at last weekend's famous Piers Antiques Show - a stunning event featuring hundreds of dealers - some the very top of the top and others offering a wide representation of items sought by the general collector.

Whatever the price range, the Piers Show is the trendsetter for fashion and furnishings - if you want to see what to get RIGHT NOW, you will see it at the Piers. And BOOM, you will see it in the magazines and all the hot spots.

So, what did we see? Our team fanned out to cover the most ground. Without a doubt, we saw one of everything imaginable - from oversized termite sculptures (we are hoping they were used for display in an exterminator's office!), to the most spectacular furniture and silver you could imagine. For those of us who love antiques, it was like being let loose in the candy shop!

And then we got together on the radio - "Emerging" sponsored by Antiques on Cannon on Fridays at 10 on AM 1530 WCTR - and compared notes. Here's our top picks for 2008 trends:

LUCITE! Wherever we turned there was lucite - lamps, tables, accessories, ice buckets & serveware. Lucite is back in vogue everywhere imaginable.

TECHNO/INDUSTRIAL: The look is sleek, cool and steel! From vibrantly painted machine molds fitted out with mirrors, to steel carts and bins and lockers and grids turned into wall art, this is the urban loft look meets the rest of the world! Our personal read was that this craze is inspired by the popularity of stainless steel kitchen fixtures, but whatever the reason, we love it!

FORM AS ART: Interesting lines, objects that were once functional take on new life as art. Glove forms, clock faces, robins eggs under a glass dome - there is an appreciation for the aesthetic of the form that catapults it into a class of "art" that is truly hip.

MID CENTURY MODERN (RETRO): It's back with a vengeance! And what a look! From the '50s space age through the postmodernism of the '70s - WOW! We were inspired by the adaptability of these pieces! Mid century low profile consoles and cabinets are the perfect pieces for big screen televisions. Teak nested tables with the minimalist lines that are re-emerging now. The technology that inspired the mid-century designers is the hallmark of the 21st century as well!

MIX IT UP: To sum it up - there are no rules! Painted cupboards, industrial steel, mid-century modern furniture, Italian tole painted accessories and lucite lamps - all shown together in vignettes that actually work! Collecting and collectors are no longer categorized by style or period, it's about what you love, put together to become YOUR look.

We at Antiques on Cannon let inspiration run wild! You'll see evidence of all these trends in our shop, with more coming in all the time! Who needs shopping malls and catalogs when we've got everything you need for fun living right here?!

Happy shopping!
marilyn