The Future Perfect presents OUTLINES, an interiors exhibition curated by FOR REFERENCE, the design studio led by principal Leilani Zahn. On view during New York Design Week at The Future Perfect’s new private office, OUTLINES showcases never-before-seen De La Espada furniture pieces alongside debut FOR REFERENCE lighting and soft goods and new sculptural pieces by Karl Zahn, created exclusively for The Future Perfect.
An exploration of the interplay of textures, shapes, and lines, OUTLINES transforms The Future Perfect’s new private space into a richly layered yet minimalist gallery setting punctuated by bold, dramatic touches. FOR REFERENCE designed the space in varying shades of pale pink and white, mixed with sculptural elements and floating mobiles by Karl Zahn in a range of bronze and polished metal finishes.
New De La Espada furniture pieces – launching globally at The Future Perfect – serve as focal points that define the vignettes throughout the space. For the first time, De La Espada presents their full range of brands in one setting, including designs by Neri&Hu, Matthew Hilton, Luca Nichetto, and Studioilse. FOR REFERENCE unites the designs into a cohesive story through a selection of materials in pale cream, white, and light ash.
OUTLINES also marks the debut of a new lighting system and series of decorative pillows created by FOR REFERENCE exclusively for The Future Perfect. Inspired by architectural details such as barrel vaults, cloister vaults, and archways, the new lighting system uses LED technology to elegantly illuminate the space and create the illusion of depth and architectural details in an otherwise square room.
New sculptures and large-scale mobiles by Karl Zahn bring a sense of movement and dimension to the design scheme, punctuating the pale hues with bold geometric forms and rich metallic finishes. The abstract sculptures and swaying mobiles are inspired by plant-life and organic qualities found in nature, as interpreted through Zahn’s signature pared-down aesthetic. Created exclusively for The Future Perfect, the pieces were designed with a mischievous quality, which Zahn describes as “an attempt to capture a visceral sensation in a way that maintains the emotion and playfulness of the moment.”
