Fun in Hotlanta!

If the summer wasn't hot enough, we decided a trip to Hotlanta in July for the Gift Show was necessary.  Thank God the buildings are air conditioned because the three block walk from the hotel was enough heat to last us the rest of the summer.  The other upside?  The overabundance of eye candy.  From luxe home furnishings to arrayed jewelry offerings to the gourmet foods section with samplings of homemade salsas and peppermint hot chocolate, we didn't know where to look first.

Our first stop took us to the Christian Mosso and Associates showroom to see our clients Arte Italica, maker of fine dinnerware and home decor, and Christy, the venerable home linens brand from England.  Arte Italica had so many of their new collections on display and while it's hard to pick a favorite, we took special notice of the Murano chandeliers that lit so many of their tablescapes.  We also loved Christy's selections of fresh bedding designs, lush towels, cozy robes and bold beach towel offerings.

From Christy, we were intrigued by the design stylings of Artmax, a home furnishings store with showrooms in Chicago and High Point.

We loved this contemporary metallic wall hanging which worked well with the comparable sconces to the left.

Next, we popped into Zentique.  They exhibited an interesting cross section of classic styles with a slight contemporary twist.  We really loved the unique chandeliers and lighting fixtures.

These "burlap" fixtures had a truly natural feel, but didn't feel completely casual.  It reminded us of a well-appointed beach house; we could almost hear the waves crashing on the shore and smell the salty sea air.

All together, it was a great trip.  From Foxy's Gourmet to Heart Gems to 3 Sisters, we left exposed to many new brands, and a great deal of inspiration.  Next stop the New York International Gift Show!