Interior designers are always on the lookout for new ideas. For the latest American west-style furniture and accessories, designers turn to the Santa Fe Furniture Expo, which features a wide variety of artists, manufacturers and designers of Indian, Spanish and cowboy-style home furnishings. Both trade professionals and retail customers are welcome at annual shows in Phoenix, Albuquerque and Santa Fe. The Spanish influence in the Southwestern United States began in the late 14th century, when Spain began sending soldiers and priests to the area known as New Mexico. The old-world carving and construction skills of the carpenters who came along with them are evident today in beautifully simple wooden furniture (figure A). Native American images and patterns are incorporated into colorful textiles and rugs (figure B), which complement the rugged Spanish-influenced furnishings.
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