The key trends for everything to do with living, giving, cooking and indulgence are "feel grace," "enjoy calm," "stay essential" and "think romantic." These trends will be on show at Ambiente, the top international fair for consumer goods, in Frankfurt am Main, from Feb. 13-17, 2009. These four themes represent a new equilibrium between speed and continuity, authenticity and playful ease.

Stylists bora.herke will be identifying and presenting the new styles on behalf of Messe Frankfurt. For this, the international, sector-overarching design team take their inspiration from major architectural, design and fashion trends as well as European cityscapes.

Modern in the Here and Now
The 2009 trends clearly reflect a shift away from the fast-paced illusion of recent years. Detail-happy creativity, playful individualism, high-statement materials and a mix of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology symbolize coolness, ease and responsibility. Fast, first impressions are out, an eagerness to take a second look is in. The focus is on collectors' and cherished items.

Feel Grace
"Feel grace" is the diva of the trends: graceful, faux-couture, feminine, the distinctive feature being luxurious chic, surprising material mixes and casual, self-evident classicism. The key shades prescribed for 2009 are pale colors. Pale gray, white and cream pair with pastel lilac and sea green. Seductive materials like gold, porcelain and crystal are accompanied by mother-of-pearl, silver, precious stones and high-grade wood with flawless surface finishes. High-sheen textiles, satin and velvet among them, flow like elegant evening dresses, emphasizing the modern touch. The decorative elements and ornamentation, which is even more refined than last year, let a hint of art deco and art nouveau style shine through.

Stay Essential
Minimalist design, ornamental modernity and a combination of functionalism and decoration are the hallmark of this complex, high-statement trend. The functional design language, which is pared down to the essential, is expressed in clear, strong lines. Organic silhouettes, fluid optics and decorative elements lend a feminine touch. High standards of material, workmanship and finish are characteristic of "stay essential." Roughened, lace, high-contrast matte-gloss effects on textiles, leather, paper and porcelain underscore the extreme preoccupation with production and materials. Artificially aged metal and distinctive stone surfaces break up the functional perfectionism. In terms of color, the determining optical feature is understatement: the iridescent, milky cream color palette metamorphoses from gray to natural shades in cool to warm tones. More than anything else, a rich black sets impressive accents on creamy berry shades.

Enjoy Calm
"Enjoy calm" is synonymous with a solidarity with nature, creativity and uncomplicated authenticity. The desire for simplicity and individual styling is expressed in an uninhibited approach featuring the most varied of materials: wood, paper, feathers, ceramics, plastic and jute. Anything goes and is combined randomly. Whimsically combining old and new produces a totally new kind of vintage. In addition to bringing values like sustainability and ecological soundness into the consumer environment, the joy of life explodes in an energy-charged color palette: orange and the primary colors red and blue invade this nature-based style, which -- with its stripes, lines, checks and flowers, illustrative artwork, manual craftsmanship and multicolored effects -- is younger and more carefree in appearance than ever before.

Think Romantic
Informal joie de vivre and romanticism dance alongside floral interpretations and contemporarily interpreted souvenirs from the '50s and '60s. In this fanciful trend, everything is subtle, delicate and fresh in accentuation. Flowers and blossoms provide a source of inspiration, the materials are multilayered and the standards of workmanship high. Subtle drawings and graphics on engraved glass, porcelain and materials symbolize a love of detail when it comes to design. Punched patterns, lace and insect motifs combined with enamel, paste and glass beading are extremely whimsical and feminine in effect, for both jewellery and home accessories. The colors are fresh, floral and pastel.

For more information, visit www.ambiente.messefrankfurt.com.