"You know that I'm no good," purrs ultra cool British singer Amy Winehouse. I love the way the raven-haired siren takes her old school R&B vocals and surrounds them with hip-hop and sampling. It reminds me of what some of the best new designers are doing. I saw it in action at this year's ICFF in New York City.

At the annual Furniture Fair retro-futro is being taken to a whole new level. For the first time at a high-end design show, I saw designers showing pieces that were more than just inspired by the past; they used the actual antiques themselves in a great way. It's a lot like pop and hip-hop artists using old songs to make new music.

I saw a Victorian chair dipped in lime green rubber like a giant piece of candy-coated furniture. I also saw filigree picture frames painted white with lighting embedded along the interior edges to make a mind blowing and moody standing lamp. The work was fun, funky and even a little provocative. I think it's all good-natured. The designers seem to be saying, "Come on, stuffy old antique. Let’s have some fun." There's a simplification and fantasy-like quality to the work that's almost childlike or Disneyesque.

Many of the designs are simplified to a monochrome or two-tone finish in the same way that Cinderella's castle or ball-gown is super-simplified. I couldn't help but notice the similarities during my last visit to “The Happiest Place on Earth” over the Memorial Day weekend.

Call it neo post-modern optimism; or call it a lack of new ideas. I call it fun. Just like Songbird Vixen Amy is “good” and "no good" at the same time the old-new mash-up is a very good trend I hope to see more of. I can't wait to see where designers take it to next.