Business of Home

Starting next spring, Furniture Brands International (FBI) will have the international license to manufacture home furniture and distribute the Isaac Mizrahi Home label.
Mizrahi has been a leader in the fashion industry for almost 30 years, and has dabbled in the home furnishings industry with a textiles line for S. Harris and a tabletop line at major retailers including Macy’s. And his latest furniture line will be available in 100 Thomasville stores and at better department stores.

“We are so excited about the collaboration between Isaac Mizrahi and Thomasville,” said Kathy Veltri, president of Thomasville Furniture. “Our design team is hard at work now designing a full line of products for introduction in spring 2014. We cannot wait to share the collection when it is complete."
Xcel Brands, which engages in the acquisition, design, licensing and marketing of consumer brands, acquired designer apparel brand Isaac Mizrahi New York in 2011, quickly expanding into 100+ categories for the Isaac Mizrahi brand.
FBI markets through a wide range of channels, including company owned Thomasville retail stores and through interior designers, multi-line/independent retailers and mass merchant stores. FBI brands include: Thomasville, Broyhill, Lane, Drexel Heritage, Henredon, Pearson, Hickory Chair, Lane Venture, Maitland-Smith and LaBarge.

According to estimates released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, sales of new single-family houses in June 2013 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 497,000, representing the highest level of sales in over five years.
The number is 8.3% above the revised May rate of 459,000 and 38% above the June 2012 estimate of 360,000.
The highest concentrated area of sales is occurring in the Northeast and the Confidence Interval reached 90%.
The median sales price of new houses sold in June 2013 was $249,700 and the average sales price was $295,000.
The Commerce Department also announced that orders for durable goods increased 4.2% last month. The number is higher than forecasted and follows a 5.2% gain in May, which was revised higher.
Additional statistics can be found here, and new residential sales data will be released on Friday, August 23 to recall the July 2013 sales.

For the seventh-annual Hearst Designer Visions, the Hearst Design Group—ELLE DECOR,House Beautiful and VERANDA—is set to collaborate with acclaimed interior designers to create three apartments at Chelsea’s Walker Tower (212 West 18th Street) in New York City this fall. Each of the magazines has partnered with a top interior designer who will design an apartment in the luxury building reflecting the magazine's unique style and point of view.

Alessandra Branca for ELLE DÉCOR
Rome-born designer Alessandra Branca learned at an early age that classical beauty was meant to be intermingled with everyday life, and that the well-lived life takes place not in stiff and serious surroundings, but in artful structures graced with a comfortable elegance and wit. Her honors include ELLE DECOR’s 2011, 2012, and 2013 A List and House Beautiful’s Master Class.
Branca launches her first fabric collection this September as well as a collection of home and fashion accessories in an exclusive debut at Bergdorf Goodman. With wide-ranging interiors and product development projects for a global clientele, she divides her time between New York, Rome, Harbour Island and Chicago, where she founded her design firm, Branca, in 1981.

Jamie Drake for House Beautiful
Jamie Drake, New York-based designer and owner of Drake Design Associates, is renowned for his exuberant color sense, his eye for the unique and telling detail, his practical approach to planning, and his equal facility in traditional and modern styles. Drake creates inviting, delightful, and resolutely livable environments, and has designed spaces for numerous celebrity clients and notables, including multiple projects for his longtime client, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Drake's industry honors include being named a House Beautiful Master Class designer in 2012, his 2011 induction into the ASID College of Fellows as well as being named to Interior Design magazine's Interior Design Hall of Fame, the IFDA New York Circle of Excellence for Interior Design, and the Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year. Drake is an active member of the New York Chapter of ASID and recipient of its Presidential Citation and Platinum Award. He has long been deeply involved in good causes. He currently serves as the Chair of The Alpha Workshops, where he has been a board member for more than a decade.

Carlos Aparicio for VERANDA
Designer Carlos Aparicio is principal and founder of Aparicio + Associates, a full-service architectural firm that focuses on elegant residential and commercial projects. A+A works in a boutique fashion with clients to create considered and sophisticated environments that maintain the highest standards of execution. Born in Cuba, Aparicio has a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design and a master’s degree in architecture from Harvard University. He is also owner of Gallery BAC, which he founded in 2001, offering a curated selection of 20th century European antiques.

Chelsea’s Walker Tower at 212 West 18th Street
A date for the gala opening will be announced in the coming weeks. Following the opening, the Designer Visions residences will host a series of exclusive events through the end of the year. Also, each apartment will be featured editorially in its respective magazine in fall or winter issues. A virtual tour and behind-the-scenes video, as well as feature interviews with the editors and designers, sponsor information and resources will be available online this fall.
Hearst Magazines is showcasing the event in collaboration with presenting sponsors Property Markets Group, JDS Development Group, Benjamin Moore and premier sponsor California Closets.

Design blog Core77 and its official retail partner, Portland-based Hand-Eye Supply, are launching a pop-up shop and series of educational happenings in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, next week through Sunday, September 15. Their goal is to encourage people from all backgrounds, ages and interests to learn about and get involved with the processes of design, making and manufacturing.
The month-long celebration will open with a party on August 16, to kick off pop-up shopping, learning, problem-solving, making and hanging-out. This multi-faceted extravaganza of design, D.I.Y. and craft, is in collaboration with Space 15 Twenty, a retail space run by Urban Outfitters, and includes a performance space, pop-up, gallery, book shop and restaurant.
Hand-Eye will be engaging the Los Angeles public and maker communities with special programming that includes workshops, demos, a film series, music by DJ Neil Schield from Origami Vinyl, a live letterpress demo by Tabletop Made and other fun from contributors including Design east of La Brea, Craft in America, Offerman Woodshop and more.
The full schedule of events is still in progress, but can be viewed here.
Core77 and Hand-Eye Supply have a mutual goals for the Pop-up Institute for Craft & Ingenuity, which is outlined in its manifesto:
- To find and empower the raw maker spirit. To help turn those who would make into those who do.
- To demystify the creative process. Our contributors come from a variety of fields to share ideas, concepts, plans and techniques, and allow us initial access to their craft.
- To unify the disciplines in a space where makers, crafters, doers and DIYers of all kinds can gather to learn with and from each other.
- To provide a venue for play. Doing it all wrong, playing and experimenting is how we (eventually) get it right.

With a major new vision for the flash sale business model, Nordstrom has relaunched the home section of its flash sale web site, HauteLook.
With the new flight of home products posted, they are kept live and available for seven days, a departure from the more conventional flash model where product is posted daily and disappears in a few days or even a few hours. Each week, on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. PST, brand-new selections of shopping “events” are available.

"Home is a little more of a considered purchase than apparel," said Kecia Hielscher, vice president of Hautelook.com's home division. "So, we feel having our home product available for a full week gives people more chance to study their purchase and discuss it."
The site is now posting 16-23 events a week, covering every major home classification.

Categories live this week include: Guy Fieri Cookware, Hot Summer Rugs Blowout, Street Art Featuring Banksy, Mid Century Classics From Control Brand, Zwilling J.A. Henckels, Easy Update With Color, Retro Movie Posters & Propoganda Art, All About Down Bedding, Vintage Sheets and Linen Bedding, Gallery Chandeliers, Fine Art: Limited Edition Animation, Cowhide Rugs, Furniture and More, Entertaining Essentials, Outdoor Patio Furniture Blowout, Tommy Hilfiger and City Scene and finally, Outdoor Accessories $20 & Under.
HauteLook originally launched home in April 2009.

Already available in European markets, H&M Home will be available for the first time in the United States online this fall. The company will offer evolving seasonal selections, including a wide range of interior textiles and décor at affordable prices.
“The H&M Home category will deliver a wide variety of choices for the home at the best possible prices, similar to H&M’s fashion collection,” said Daniel Kulle, U.S. president for H&M. “Our introduction with H&M Home to the American market is exciting and we’re looking forward to offering these items season after season.”

Each season will include a range of textiles such as pillows, throws, comforters, bed linens and towels. The collection also includes decorative accents such as glass vases, wooden trays and bowls, pottery and cake stands that add personal flair and create a more unique space.
This fall, H&M’s Home collection showcases drama and individuality inspired by vintage Bohemia, but modernized with new Baroque prints on cushions, linens and bathrobes. Digital prints emphasize modern design along with clean lines evoked from 21st century minimalist patterns and materials. Floral, botanical and animal prints capture the beauty of nature on curtains, tea towels and table runners. Sweet floral sheets and vivid lace shower curtains and towels add color and fun, rounding out the season’s collection.

“I love the diversity and drama of H&M Home this fall,” said Evelina Kravaev Soderberg, H&M Home’s Head of Design. “There are so many ways to reflect your own personal style from Baroque Bohemia to clean minimalism and the fun of hearts and flowers. Our growing range of decorative items such as vases and cups makes it even easier to create great style in your home.”
Since 2009, H&M Home has offered a variety of decorative items in addition to a full collection for kids, and since 2012, an organic line for newborns.

Late last month, the who's who of Los Angeles' art and design community gathered for a summer soiree at the Beverly Hills Estate of Liv Ballard, celebrating the upcoming Los Angeles Antiques, Art + Design Show (LAAADS) taking place this October.
The event was held to honor the recipients of LACMA's Decorative Arts and Design Council prestigious Design Leadership Award, which will be presented to husband and wife team Annie Kelly and Tim Street-Porter at the annual LAAADS Opening Night Party on October 9 at 3Labs Studio in Culver City.

Tim Street-Porter and Annie Kelly
Guests included leading tastemakers in the worlds of art and design including: Oliver M. Furth, Cynthia Frank, Madeline Sutart, Mallery Roberts Morgan, Charles Shyer, Beth Rudin DeWoody, David Philip and Jade Chang.

Cynthia Frank, Firooz Zahedi and Beth Rudin DeWoody

Madeline Stuart and David Serrano

Oliver M. Furth speaking with guests of the party

Joseph Marek
The LAAADS will showcase over 50 national and international exhibitors of antique decorative and fine arts, in addition to contemporary art and design and additional programming devoted to design, the arts, and philanthropy.
Returning premier sponsor 1stdibs will host its annual Design LA lecture and reception on Friday, October 11. Donghia will be a first-time sponsor.

Lana Lawrence, Vice-President of Anthony Lawrence-Belfair (ALB) and founder of the women’s networking group, Bring it To The Table (BitTT), tragically lost her battle with lung cancer on Sunday, August 11. She was 51.

According to a statement put out by BitTT, Lawrence was surrounded by her loved ones at home in Greenwich, CT, when she passed. “She was a loving mother and touched the hearts of not only her family, but her friends and colleagues. We will miss her kind heart and desire to give back to others which she made possible through BiTTT,” it read.
Lawrence started the BItTT networking group in 2010 and recruited Sherri Skov to be co-founder. The group was organized specifically for women in the interior design industry, and most of the members are self-employed, high-end residential designers and their meetings bring them together to support each other, share ideas and network.

Lawrence and Skov at a 2011 fundraiser for BitTT
For ALB, Lawrence oversaw the prestigious Belfair Draperies division and she also initiated and was responsible for the ALB International Fabrics line. The company is a family owned and operated business specializing in custom furniture and high-end fabrics.
“Lana was not just an asset to the Anthony Lawrence Belfair Company, but to the whole design community in general,” shared an ALB representative. “She will be sorely missed.”
Lawrence touched the lives of many in the design industry, including designer Charles Pavarini III, who worked alongside her and BitTT to put on the annual Kips Bay Summer Cruise, which was set to honor Lawrence and ALB this year.
“I have known Lana Lawrence since I first began my career in interior design,” said Pavarini. “She was one of my very first sources, and it was immediately apparent that she and her family produced the very best work within our industry with an unrivaled spirit, kindness and impeccable attention to detail.”

Pavarini and Lawrence at the 2012 Holiday House opening party
“Lana’s work was carried-out through her loving friendship,” he continued. “Her light and energy will continue to live in all who worked with her and in all who ultimately fell in love with her. May her soul ascend to a higher plane of existence. Lana, I will continue my love for you until I see you again.”
"Lana was an exceptional friend and woman," said Iris Dankner, interior designer and founder of Holiday House, which Lawrence worked diligently on. " Her enthusiastic spirit and love of life was contagious! Lana led with her heart. Her love for her boys, friends and colleagues was always apparent. I am lucky to have gotten to work with Lana, and most importantly call her my friend. I will miss her greatly."

Dankner with Lawrence at the 2012 Holiday House opening party
“Her full commitment to Holiday House with this amazing organization (BiTTT), her sweet energy and joyful personality was always a pleasure," said interior designer Vicente Wolf. "She will be greatly missed."
“Everyone who knew Lana was touched by her laughter and fun personality," said Barbara Viteri, owner of Viteri Style Managment, blogger and BiTTT supporter. "I was one lucky girl to experience her genuine kindness first hand. To attend design events and be handheld to meet and great with her peers, friends and confidants showed how much she cared about the people who shared her world. Lana was gracious and beautiful and taken too soon. I will always remember her generosity and my deepest heartfelt thoughts are with her family and friends during this difficult time. I will miss her.”

Lawrence with interior designers Felicia Zwebner and Sarah Sarna at the 2012 BitTT Holiday Party
"Lana had a rare blend of attributes," said interior designer and great friend of Lawrence's, Alexa Hampton. "She was an artist and a people person. She had a sparkling personality, but didn't seek to be the center of attention. She was generous and giving but had a raucous sense of humor and endless wit. She was beautiful but wore it with ease, like it was an afterthought. Her friendship was rock solid. As much as she was a trail blazer and a mentor in our industry, she was also a role model in this lifetime role she offered to so many of us."
"She was also incredibly brave as she faced her death," Hampton added. "She was upbeat and determined to be positive, though none of us would have minded were she angry and sad; heaven knows, we all were. But Lana was just like that—a happy person who liked to spread love and support. She seemed to worry about how her cherished colleagues, friends and family were dealing with her sickness more than worrying about what that sickness was doing to her. She was mostly just happy to have any extra time to enjoy her gorgeous, devoted sons, who were by her side, brimming with love and pride for her. That I have ever known anybody like this has been an honor and a joy."
A wake for Lawrence will take place on Wednesday, August 14 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the Bosak Funeral Home, 453 Shippan Avenue, Stamford, CT.
A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, August 15 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church, 566 Elm Street, Stamford, CT. Followed by the burial at Ferncliff Cemetery 280-24 Secor Road in Hartsdale, NY.
Floral arrangements can be made with Arcadia Floral Company by calling (914) 777-2800.
In honor of Lawrence, the ninth annual Kips Bay Summer Cruise takes place on Thursday, September 12 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.

NY NOW, formerly the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), opens next week August 17 to 21 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94 with 2,800 exhibitors showcasing 100,000 lines in four categories: Home, Lifestyle, Handmade and New!

Artisan Resource is back this year in a new location (Pier 94) with extended show hours, and features artisanal craft producers from around the globe. The “show within a show” connects US-based importers with international producers and exporters. Exhibitors have experience in meeting export demands and are selected by their commitment to design innovation, cultural preservation, social enterprise and sustainability.
Another popular exhibition, “Open House,” features more than 100 home and lifestyle products that are most representative of four key 2013-2014 design trends—Monochromatic, Neo-Traditional, Vintage with a Twist and Well Cultured.
As an extension of the physical display at NY NOW, select products from participants will be sold online at One Kings Lane for three days during NY NOW, with proceeds benefitting Gift For Life, the home, gift and stationery industries’ sole charity partner.
The Emerging Designer Maker Platform in the NY NOW HANDMADE Collection will provide the opportunity for three young design companies to participate in their first wholesale market; and two design collectives—JOIN Design Seattle and The American Design Club—will showcase more than 30 independent designers within Accent on Design.

Exhibitiors and buyers at the 2012 NYIGF
New developments have also been announced in two “green” initiatives produced by NY NOW, to recognize exemplary eco-friendly and socially-responsible products. Six products in the summer 2013 SustainAbility: design for a better world exhibit have achieved NY NOW’s highest “Degrees of SustainAbility” status. Additionally, online balloting, with 30 products vying for top honors in three categories, opened on July 15 for the semi-annual Eco Choice Awards.
More than 40 educational seminars, author appearances, book-signings, and product innovation awards will take place over the five days of the show. Seminars will cover everything from social media strategies to color theory presentations and trend discussions. Attendees are invited to start each day with a “Fresh Start Breakfast” and attend happy hours throughout the afternoon.
New this year are three unique “Only In New York” experiences—specially priced tickets to the Tony-Award winning musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, a guided walking-tour of the High Line Park and free admission to the Museum of the City of New York.

Four exclusive collection sectors debuting at the 2013 fair
Key exhibitors across the categories include Ameico, Jonathan Adler, black + blum, Cisco Brothers,John Robshaw Textiles & Home, Matouk, Michael Aram, Vagabond House, Aid to Artisans, Thibaut, and Hudson Beach Glass.
Exhibitors new to the show this year include: Bronte by Moon, Classic Concepts, Evitavonni, Faribault Mills, Frette, Henry Handwork, Kiska Textiles, Linum AB, LUK + K LLC, Makie, PillowHeaven Ltd, Sara Bengur Shop, Shanghai Autex Company Limited, Silk Story LLC, Simple Things Ltd., Vestiges and Zyle Heirloom.
A full schedule of programming and events can be found here.

Michael Rothbard, president of Sleep Studio, is a third generation home furnishings entrepreneur. He founded his first specialty sleep company, Comfort Sleeper, at the age of 25. From that point on, he has dedicated most of his 25-year career as an entrepreneur to offering the true luxury of better sleep.

Interior of the new Sleep Studio showroom in Soho
A few months ago, Rothbard, along with co-founder Chris Ann Ernst and creative director Susan Burks, opened the first-ever Sleep Studio showroom—a 3700 s.f. flagship in New York’s Soho neighborhood—offering beds, bedding, loungewear and accessories.
This reporter caught up with Rothbard about the business of sleep, how it’s evolving, and his vision for the company.

Michael Rothbard
How has the "sleep" business evolved over time?
The sleep business in the US is slowly becoming more like the sleep business in most of Europe. What I mean by that is that people are becoming more interested in the science of sleep and the performance of their bedding. As a result, the specialty sleep category has been the fastest growing category and the luxury end of the market has shown steady growth while the lower priced categories have fallen flat.
How have consumers' perspective of sleep changed?
There is growing awareness of the importance of sleep and the many benefits that better sleep can offer. As a result people are more interested in learning about the latest technologies and how they can benefit from them.
What's your vision for the new store?
We say “sleep beautifully” on the front door, and it’s our vision to help everybody who walks through those doors to sleep beautifully in every sense of the word. This can mean anything from a beautiful bedroom, fabulous sleepwear and relaxing bath and body products to the finest sleep systems, cashmere throws and Siberian goose down.
How have you at Sleep Studio addressed the changing needs of the market?
The Sleep Studio concept was born from the need to create a more enjoyable shopping experience for the bedroom. We decided to offer a comprehensive assortment of beautiful, high quality products for the bedroom in an environment that is relaxed, luxurious and educational. Our approach to sleep is to offer a highly personalized experience. The best example of this is our bespoke bed, rather than confuse consumers with too many options we feel the best bed is one made just for them.
What are the key components of getting a good night's rest?
A good night’s rest means different things for different people. Some people need more sleep than others. However, a good average is eight hours a night. The key components to a good night’s rest are the right environment and the right bed. This means a cool, dark, quiet space and a bed that offers the right comfort and support as well as good air circulation. Then a person needs to address sleep as an important part of the day and not just a speed bump. This means taking time to wind down, physically and mentally preparing for sleep.
To you personally, what does it mean to get a good night's sleep? Do you have any tricks?
I have three kids including twins who just turned one, so sleep has been in short supply the last year. I need eight hours, but am happy to get six these days. I have no problem falling asleep at night, but then often find myself up in the middle of the night with my mind buzzing. My trick is to not panic, but focus on clearing my head by imagining a blank screen in a movie theater. If that doesn’t work, I get up and have a banana. For some reason that always does it for me.
How do you do your market research, do you do sleep studies?
We do behavioral sleep studies as well as physiological sleep studies. We’ve even tested our sleep materials for heat retention at a university using what is called a “sweaty mannequin.”
Where are the products made and how are the tested?
Our bedding and furniture is made mostly in Italy. Our sleep systems are made here and in Germany, where our unique foundation is manufactured.
What's your most popular/best selling item(s)?
We just opened a month ago so it is way too early to tell, but visitors to our store have purchased everything from sleepwear to furniture. We have a beautiful assortment of very light cashmere/silk blend throws that have been very popular even on the hot summer days.
Who is the main buyer—designers, consumers?
We believe our offering of bedding and furniture will be most popular with the designer community. Meanwhile, our sleepwear, bath and body products and sleep systems will be very popular with consumers.
Are you looking at new markets/new showrooms—where?
Yes, we have plans to expand to similar markets in the near future. Potential locations are being considered in Miami and West Hollywood.
Any Sleep Studio products in hotels?
Yes, we are in the process of creating dream suites in a new luxury hotel being constructed in Midtown. In the near future, we will be looking to expand our relationship with the design community and luxury hotels.

After a year-long search for a new home, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the Washington Design Center (WDC). The showrooms, currently at 300 D Street SW, will relocate to Franklin Court at 1099 14th Street NW at 14th St and L in Spring 2014.

Exterior of the Fraklin Court building
According to the WDC’s temporary website, the showroom staff agrees “this gives us the best opportunity to stay together as a design community, which was the highest priority that everyone (our clients included) asked us to consider in this search.”
“Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman looks forward to our new showroom in the Washington Design Center’s new home for three basic reasons—location, location and location,” said Crans Baldwin, president of EF+LM. “Easy access, easy parking, plenty of space and light, good restaurants and hotels nearby, and an improvement over the previous design center in all respects. Lots of credit goes to Lisa Kravet for leading ‘a herd of cats’ to the best building of the many we considered.”

"Bare Bones" Tour of the interior of the Franklin Court location
The marketing department has encouraged the showrooms to continue with business as usual, introducing new product and creating beautiful interiors for clients as they prepare for the move.
“I have been reflecting on my first visit as a young designer in 1983 when the building opened,” said Wayne Breeden, showroom manager of Kravet’s WDC location. “The excitement of moving to our new location is similar to the excitement a designer feels about having a new project transform from concept to reality. As in the 30 years previous, the Design Center will continue to grow and offer the finest and most varied home furnishings under one roof in the Washington Metropolitan area.”

Showroom representatives toast to the new location
A sneak peek of the space is available on the WDC’s Facebook page and announcements will continue to be made about the move throughout the next few months.

Late last month in Las Vegas for the summer market, the annual Ahead of the Curve panel took place featuring designers Windsor Smith, Ron Woodson and Alexa Hampton. The three embarked on what moderator Susanna Salk described as a “non-stop design fest,” scouring the market in search of their favorite design finds to share with market goers.

The group sets off to search the market high and low for the Ahead of the Curve panel
After tackling the best design showrooms, they pulled 20 to 30 of their favorite pieces—many fun, punchy, colorful items—and presented them in detail, along with the current design trends and themes that they are seeing now.

From left: Salk, Woodson, Hampton, Robert Maricich (owner of World Market Center) and Smith before the panel
Here’s a look at some of the pieces they chose and why:
Chair from Global Views

Hampton and Woodson both loved the blonde leather chair described as humble but sleek.
Indoor/outdoor "Sargasso I" rug from Feizy

The rug, which is made from recycled bottle caps, Hampton described as the perfect size at a good price point.

Smith shares her Ahead of the Curve market finds
Lucite Maison Coffee Table from Tara Shaw

The entire group agreed that Lucite has joined the pantheon of classic design. It’s no longer a passing trend, but has strong legs in design and is here to stay.
Chair from Kravet’s Alexa Hampton Collection

Hampton described her own fabric design (for Kravet) applied to an armchair as a way to use animal print in a softer way. “Women have a love affair with animal print,” she said. “But, put it in a neutral color and it defuses it, so it can speak to a different audience.”

Hampton shares her Ahead of the Curve market finds
Dresser from Global Views

Smith described the dresser as a versatile piece, which could be used in a foyer or bedroom. “It’s got it all,” she said. “Versatile pieces that can be used in more than one setting are a great investment.”
Lamp from the Mary McDonald Collection

Smith loved the “Hollywood Glamour” of this lamp. She described the black shade as sleek and sophisticated and the form of the base would bring structure to a room.
Chair from Jonathan Adler

“Gold is the new silver,” said Smith. “It’s warm and sexy, and it’s a really sexy time for interiors.” Hampton particularly loved the back of the chair, which allows it to float in the room.

Woodson shares his Ahead of the Curve market finds
Some other key takeaways from the panel included:
-    Furniture is coming back to a human size and is scaled properly.
-    Multi-functional pieces are the best bang for your buck and value is the new luxury, according to Smith.
-    The economy is bouncing back, and this is allowing designers and clients to have fun.
-    Take advantage of markets like the Las Vegas Market, where you can get take the time to get out and really shop, touch and see the products in person. According to the panelists, it beats shopping online.

The design industry is full of new and changing faces. Editor at Large is tracking who's coming and who's going. Below are a few changes of note.

Luxe Interiors + Design welcomes Mimi Faucett to the editorial team as Market Editor, effective this week. New York-based Faucett will report on market trends and oversee social media strategy for the powerhouse shelter brand. Prior to joining Luxe, Faucett was the Market Assistant at Traditional Home, where she scouted, edited and reported content for both print and digital platforms. She had also been a Freelance Market Editor at Better Homes & Gardens magazine and a Freelance Style Assistant at HGTV magazine.
Tori Jones, formerly the Associate Decoration Editor and VERANDA, is heading to Schumacher to be Marketing Manager there. Her primary responsibilities focused on social media and public relations.
SANDOW is building out its corporate team with the promotion of two internal staffers, Pamela S. McNally and Rachel Long, to the newly created positions of Executive Director, Digital and Executive Director, Events, respectively. In addition, Shawn Larson recently joined SANDOW as Vice President, Production, another newly created position at the company. The news was announced today by Peter Fain, SANDOW’s Chief Operating Officer. These moves are part of an overall goal to foster more collaboration and cross-pollination amongst SANDOW’s brands, which include Interior Design Media, Worth, NewBeauty, Luxe Interiors + Design, Culture + Commerce,Material ConneXion and Fred Segal, and to increase efficiency and revenue growth across the company.
Cristofle named Liz Nightingale to the position of Executive Director of Marketing. Nightingale has previously served as Director of Marketing & Communication at Schumacher and Patterson, Flynn and Martin; Director of Promotion at VERANDA; and Senior Director Global Marketing Services at MasterCard.
Company C has named Christine Parish director of marketing, a new position for the furniture and textiles resource. Parish has assumed charge of managing the Company C brand and oversees all strategic, creative, public-relations and paid media efforts. She reports directly to Chris Chapin, the company’s co-founder and owner. Before joining Company C, Parish held marketing posts with Williams-Sonoma, Restoration Hardware and Duckhorn Wine Co., among other firms.
Safavieh has promoted Carol Tisch to vice president of marketing and branding strategy. Tisch joined Safavieh in 2005 as director of marketing when the wholesale operation was exclusively focused on area rugs. Prior to joining Safavieh, Tisch spent a number of years in publishing and was a marketing consultant for Mohawk Industries' consumer broadloom, area rug and commercial patterned carpet divisions. She was president of Tisch Communications in New York for 15 years, and has developed major marketing initiatives for clients such as Tufenkian Tibetan Carpets, ICI Fibres' Tactesse nylon and Springs Industries.
After many years at HBF & HBF Textiles,Sarah Nielsen has taken a position as Global Communications Manager with 3M Architectural Markets in Minnesota.
Arte Italica has hired Tania Perez-Nieves as its new inside sales support manager, a new position created to improve the overall customer service. Perez-Nieves will be responsible for Arte Italica customer outreach, sales, service and sales force support. Prior to this appointment, Perez-Nieves served in various sales and sales support roles in the industry, including 11 years with Silvestri, four years with Aldik and most recently with Euro Ceramica. Perez-Nieves also worked with Collins while at permanent showroom building 7W New York assisting in the launching of trade shows and in a customer and sales support role.
GLM has announced the promotion of Michelle Karol to the position of sales manager for NY NOW HANDMADE, one of four product collections to debut at the summer edition of NY NOW (formerly NYIGF®). Karol, a five-year veteran of New York’s HANDMADE sales team, will report directly to NY NOW director Christian Falkenberg.
Tony Guasco joined the integrated marketing and communications company White Good as its Art Director. He has a Bachelor of Arts with a Concentration in Graphic Design from Millersville University.
Scott Arthur Yerkey, ASID, has joined the Susan Fredman Design Group as a senior designer. Yerkley will be responsible for the design, space planning and project managment of interior projects on behalf of Susan Fredman Design Group clientele. He has applied his own artistic and casually elegant aesthetic to his projects for more than fifteen years as president of his own firm, Scott Arthur Yerkey Design, and holds a bachelor of fine arts in interior design from the Illinois Institute of Art.
Comings and goings we missed? Drop us a line at ssnowden@editoratlarge.com and let us know!

New York City is home to many of design’s most cutting-edge and celebrated creative minds—and each year, the Decoration and Design Building (DDB) recognizes distinguished professionals across all disciplines of art and design who are highly regarded for their significant achievements and contributions to the industry, with the Stars of Design and Stars on the Rise awards at its Fall Market event, taking place October 1 and 2.
The 7th annual Stars of Design winners are as follows:

Lifetime Achievement: Bunny Williams

Interior Design: Jamie Drake

Architecture: John Ike, Thomas A. Kilgerman and Joel Barkley of Ike Kilgerman Barkley Architects

Landscape Design: Edwina von Gal

Graphic Design: Hjalti Karlsson and Jan Wilker of Karlssonwilker, Inc.

Industrial/Product Design: Ayse Birsel

Photography: Oberto Gili

Art: Pat Steir
The Stars on the Rise category originated in 2012 and honors five architects and/or designers who represent the new guard of design—individuals who have come into their own and contributed new ideas and sensibilities to the New York design community and beyond.
The Stars on the Rise are as follows:

Ben Bischoff

Brooke Gomez

Garrow Kedigian

Shawn Henderson

Tori Golub
On the evening of October 1, after a full day of Fall Market events, the DDB will shine the spotlight on the honorees as part of an invitation-only black tie dinner and awards ceremony at the Astra Café.

To stay ahead of the curve in the design world these days, a beautiful and functional website is an absolute must. Over the past few weeks, several brands have redesigned and relaunched their websites with new features, larger photographs, and easier navigation.
Earlier this month, Fortuny presented its new website designed with Pentagram and executed by Rounded Corners. For the first time ever, Fortuny’s entire fabric collection is online. Designers can search by keyword or by color palette—selecting up to 15 hues. They also will be able to create a trade account and purchase online.

“We are excited to debut our new website which honors Mariano Fortuny’s legacy of marrying design and technology,” said Maury Riad, CEO of Fortuny. “We strived to develop a site that presents our product in a format that is aesthetically pleasing and is also highly functional.”
After seven years in business as a brick and mortar furniture showroom, SUITE NY has launched a new e-commerce website, SUITENY.COM, allowing designers to purchase the bestselling products without a lead-time.

Here’s a break down of what else the new site offers: Newsletters—three times a month, subscribers will receive a blend of product news, design trends and showroom events, stylishly composed like editorial in a brand new format; Blog—will cover product launches, inspiring installations, Q&As with important industry figures and other exciting design news; and Projects—a means to showcase images of the most prestigious collaborations. A tool for clients to “get the look,” each image contains featured products available for purchase at SUITENY.COM.
Ironware International, whose products are forged in France and hand finished in Nashville, TN, recently announced the launch of its new website, where guests no longer have to register to view any of the collections.

A few new features include: the list price being included in the item details, net pricing now available to the trade, a brand-new gallery of photos and a cleaner presentation with easier navigation.
Finally, The Future Perfect described its new website launch as “more perfect than ever,” and includes easier navigation and a plethora of new products for visitors to view, with much larger photos.

Groups of students enrolled in design programs around the globe were awarded 5,000 Euros in prize money for their fresh, exciting ideas and concepts centering on the topic of “showering.”
Here’s a look at the winning projects, selected from over 100 entries:
Air-Bar Massage Chair by Fangtian Ying, Ye Tao, Guanyun Wang, Jiang Wu and Yijun Zhao of the Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China

The Air-Bar is a semi-enclosed seat to provide a massage and sauna after cleaning the body. It gives a pleasant and relaxed experience comparable to a shower or bath while time and water consumption are significantly reduced. Covering the full body, air massage units provide a gentle but firm kneading massage by the air stream. The active location and strength mode can be controlled by a cell phone app.
Water-Stored Shower by Wen Chen of the Jiangnan University in WUXI, China

Before taking a shower or bath, people usually let the cold water run off before it heats up. This phenomenon is a waste of water, and this kind of showerhead is designed to save the cold water inside before any water comes out. Once you turn it on, the showerhead will store the cold water for you while mixing it with hot water and when the temperature meets the requirements of the human body, the water will spray down.
Shine Shower by Christoph Tullius of the Hochschule Pforzheim University in Pforzheim, Germany

The Shine Shower consists of a round light source with a water supply in its center, a water bowl made of glass with small openings and four stainless steel rods that connect the glass bowl with ceiling. A remote control with a touchpad operates light, color and water temperature and can be stored wherever a magnet is attached to the wall. The light shining on water generates an optical “underwater" illusion in the shower area creating different moods depending on the color of the light.
The Great Wall Bathroom by Yuan Cao and Shengli Lai of the Zhejiang A&F University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

The purpose of "THE GREAT WALL" design is to collect and recycle the water splashing on the wall while bathing to make full use of water. It uses a wall curtain in the bathroom and forms a water channel by means of water impulsion and a metallic support tilted to collect the water into a barrel and prevent water from flowing away.
Storm Shower by Niko Mergenthaler and Michael Spiel from the Hochschule Pforzheim University in Pforzheim, Germany

The Storm Shower combines different shower processes (soap, wash, dry) in one single workflow, reducing the amount of time showering while being efficient and hygienic. This is possible due to a new combination of nozzles, air jets and suctions. There are no more curtains, drains or even towels needed. It's only about the pure appearance of Storm. In inactive mode, it doesn't need any space or you could make other use of it. Storm is a smart solution for limited living areas, such as mini-apartments or trailers.
Watertube Shower by Mergenthaler and Spiel

The Watertube Shower merges with the natural force of water, the alternative concept to taking a shower, offers a unique experience for mind and body. The blast pipe ring embedded in the ground creates a cone-shaped tube of water by which the body is embraced completely within a few seconds without producing any splashing water. The splash is stopped inside of the water wall and drains off in the circular drainage. The operation mode is controlled by both temperature and a foot-controlled touch-sensitive control panel cased in the blast pipe ring.
Tank Sustainable Shower Monitor by Charles Skender from the RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia

The Tank collects and processes user information with which it is able to set specific targets to help users achieve conservation goals in the shower. Users can view liters used, average consumption and quantity of water saved on a live LCD screen. When combined with social media and a game, fish tank, Tank creates a competitive and addictive edge to water conservation.
The winning entries from China, Australia and Germany were officially honored together with the winners of the 2013 iF concept design awards in Hamburg.

In celebration of Graphic Design USA’s (GDSUSA) 50th anniversary this year, it has conducted a multitude of surveys on the state of design—across the disciplines. Most recently, editors asked their readers about the most influential design schools over the past 10 years, and the responses are as follows:
1.    Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
2.    School of Visual Arts (SVA)
3.    Yale School of Art
4.    Art Center College of Design
5.    Pratt Institute
6.    Cranbrook Academy of Art
7.    Parsons the New School for Design
8.    Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)
9.    The Cooper Union
10. Carnegie Mellon University
Then, readers were asked to think about the most influential design schools in current day, and the responses are as follows:
1.    RISD
2.    SVA
3.    Art Center College of Design
4.    Parsons the New School for Design
5.    Pratt Institute
6.    MICA
7.    California Institute of the Arts
8.    Yale School of Art
9.    California College of the Arts
10. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
11. Carnegie Mellon University
12. School of Art and Design in Chicago (SAIC)
13. Minnesota College of Art and Design (MCAD)
14. Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)
15. The Cooper Union
16. Cranbrook Academy
17. Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI)
18. Tyler School of Art
19. Academy of Art University
20. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
21. University of the Arts
22. Otis College of Art and Design
23. The Art Institutes
24. Cleveland Institute of Arts (CIA)
25. Full Sail University
26. College for Creative Studies
27. Corcoran College of Art + Design
28. University of Delaware
29. Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, Drexel University
30. Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD)
The magazine also conducted surveys on the most influential design firms, corporate design departments, favorite design projects, favorite logos and most influential graphic designers, and those can be viewed here.

The 2nd London Design Festival’s Global Design Forum, taking place September 16 and 17, is a platform for designers and industry professionals to explore and debate the issues facing design in the modern world.
Each year, the event brings together some of the most revered names in the worlds of design, business, branding and innovation to explore how design can make the world a better place. Comprising keynote speeches, panel discussions, fast-paced presentations and Q&A sessions, the forum creates a rich platform for open discussion and debate.
Some of the key speakers attending the event this year include Peter Saville, Brent Hoberman, Jamie Hayon, Ilse Crawford, Ross Lovegrove, Sir John Hegarty and Michael Young.

Panelists of the 2013 Global Design Forum
“In the year since our first Global Design Forum in London, we have taken key discussion points to other cities in the world to garner thoughts and feedback from other cultural perspectives,” said Max Fraser, deputy director of the London Design Festival. “We’re excited to bring the conversation full circle and wrap these international ideas into our main annual event.”
Over the past year Global Design Summit conversations have taken place throughout the year in Hong Kong, Taipei and Seoul. This rolling international conversation moves from city to city, culminating in the main Global Design Forum each September in London.

Daniel Charny in conversation with Thomas Heatherwick at the 2012 forum
The forum’s 2012 inaugural edition opened the debate on the future of design and the changes and challenges facing it. In 2013, the forum digs deep into four key areas where only design thinking can accommodate the impact of digital technologies, ‘big data’ and universal connectivity. This edition also rings the changes with new session formats which bring the “Big Issues” right in front of the everyday working designer.
On Monday, September 16, the forum kicks off with an evening head-to-head conversation at the V&A museum between leading critic and commentator Paul Morley, and legendary designer and thinker Peter Saville, whose graphic output has created a host of cultural markers over the last generation.
On Tuesday, September 17, at the Purcell Room in the Southbank Centre, the full day program offers an international exploration of the complex interaction between technology, demand and consumer behavior, an inquiry into how “creative cities” define and rank themselves via differing conditions and inputs, and a panel debate with senior industry figures pinning down the shifting definitions of “designer” and “brand.”
Also, the “Five Ideas to Shake the World” session of five 5-minute pitches in front of an array of distinguished judges, in which audience members themselves can vote, and regular video interventions of influential innovators from round the world, takes place at this year’s forum.
The Global Design Forum headline sponsor is BMW Group and Coutts is a major sponsor. The Forum is also supported by UK Trade & Investment. Dezeen and Wallpaper* are Media Partners.
Tickets are available on the website, as is the full list of programming. Stay tuned for a complete round up of London Design Week highlights.

“Matched by Design," which airs tomorrow on the Style Network, follows interior design matchmaking agent Lloyd Princeton as he pairs clients with interior designers—and then lets the competition begin.
“I’m thrilled for this show because it highlights the best of our industry in a realistic way,” said Princeton. “The talent represented are creative, hard working, and most importantly, passionate about the craft.”

Lloyd Princeton
During the premier episode, Princeton pairs Grammy-winning producer Tricky Stewart and his wife with three interior designers who then compete to make over their guest bedroom and bathroom.
Designers Charles Neal, Julia Wong and Jessica Bennett present their concepts to the homeowners who decide which designer best articulates their aesthetics and personalities.
“Matched by Design is the only show on TV based on the matchmaking service iMatchDesigners, which actually tailors introductions based on scope of services, budget, timeline, aesthetic and most importantly, temperament,” Princeton added. “In an era of online access, this is the personal touch many consumers still crave.”

Kristin Banta and Kevin Lee
Premiering next week is "Keep the Party Moving," which features event planner extraordinaires Kristin Banta and Kevin Lee. The show pits neighbor against neighbor in the trendy scene of progressive dinner parties, where each course of the meal is prepared and served at a different person's home.
Banta and Lee judge this competitive special as four neighbors, who are each assigned a course and theme, must execute the perfect event. In addition to creating exceptional food and beverage options, the neighbors must also pay special attention to ambient details, including tablescape, décor and entertainment.
The shows will air on Tuesday, August 20 and Tuesday, August 27 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT respectively.

The design industry is teeming with competitions and contests as various companies call for entries for the best of everything from lighting vignettes to rug designs to a social media battle. Below is a look at some ongoing contests into which you may want to throw your hat.

Last contest winner Bronwyn Poole, Touch Interiors
Schumacher invites designers to submit their favorite projects featuring Schumacher wallcoverings for a chance to receive a $500 credit on their next order. The Show Off Your Schumacher Wallcoverings contest winner as well as three top finalists will be featured on the Schumacher blog. To enter, email images of your installation (no larger than 5MB total), a brief description of your project, inspiration behind your Schumacher selection, your contact information and a recent headshot. The deadline for submission is October 1.
The Design Exchange (DX) launched a national initiative that seeks to provide a platform for up-and-coming Canadian designers. The inaugural Emerging Designer Competition is open to all Canadian designers of all disciplines (interior design, architecture, industrial design, fashion, digital media, interactive design and more) who have worked a maximum of five years. The winning designer will receive a monetary prize of $10,000, and an exclusive opportunity to exhibit their work in an exhibition at the Design Exchange in January 2014. The deadline for submissions is September 30.

Last week's winner, Christian Soria
Pantone's summer-long “Capsure Your Inspiration” contest invites creatives and color lovers to capture their color inspiration in smartphone photos and share them on Instagram and Twitter. Each Monday on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, Pantone will announce the beginning of a new contest. All you have to do to enter is—1. Snap a smartphone photo of something that inspires you; 2. Tag your photo #ColorInspires; 3. Call out the color you love, either by matching it to a Pantone Color (e.g., "PANTONE 136C") or simply by stating a color you love in the photo (e.g., "Yellow makes me happy!"); 4. Upload your photo and text to Instagram or Twitter. Everyone who shares will be eligible to win valuable Pantone merchandise, including two Capsure Bluetooth color capture and matching devices.
Alessi is calling for submissions for Alessi in Love, a metaproject in search of new inspirations, new directions, and new ways of interacting with a love gift, given to celebrate a special moment or to declare your feelings to a loved one. The creative process will involve designers and emergent talents from all over the world through the online contest. Projects will be selected and evaluated by a jury headed by Alberto Alessi. The winners will attend an exclusive three-day workshop, led by Laura Polinoro, to get involved in the development of a new Alessi collection, supported by a team of experts and using the latest technologies of real time prototyping. The deadline for entries is October 7.
The Design Council launched a national early years Challenge, offering people grants of up to 180,000 Euros to turn their bright ideas into reality. The aim of this challenge is to kick-start new products, services or environments that will radically improve the health and wellbeing of young children living in Southwark and Lambeth. The search for ideas, called the Knee High Design Challenge, is run by Design Council in collaboration with Guy's and St Thomas' Charity, who are the sole funder of the program, and the London Boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth. The closing date for entries is September 30 with shortlisted entries to be notified by October 10.

Entry: Stereoscopic City by John Fox
MINI space has launched a photography and design competition, looking for fiery creative spirits who see the world in its most full-spectrum glory. Capture the vibrancy of your city's brightest nighttime neon, a radiant tangle of low-hanging bulbs, or a glowing streak of cars driving by. Go natural and catch the brilliance of an early morning sunrise. Or find illumination in the bright lustre of downtown lights. The deadline for submissions is October 14.
Feizy Rugs has kicked off its second annual "DIY—Design It Yourself" contest allowing designers and creative thinkers to imagine and design a rug that's all their own. Contestants may submit a maximum of two entries per person. Feizy will post the submissions to the company's Facebook and Pinterest pages and will consider fan favorites when choosing winners. Contestants can register via the Feizy Rugs Facebook page and submit their entries via email. Entries will be accepted through noon on September 2. The first prize is $1,000; second is $500 and third is $250. Winners will be announced on Feizy's Facebook and Twitter pages Sept. 6.
The Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) committee of the AIA New York Chapter announces its sixth biennial ideas competition, “Queensway Connection: Elevating the Public Realm.” This competition seeks to supplement the ongoing feasibility study for the railway’s transformation by proposing ways the future park can be activated in addition to recreation and leisure. With emphasis on the park’s access points the competition brief provides an opportunity to speculate about programming and design to extend street activity onto the railway. Prizes include: ENYA Prize - $5,000; 2nd Prize - $2,500; 3rd Prize -$1,000; and Student Prize - $1,000. All those interested are invited to attend the competition launch party on August 22 at 6:30 p.m., at the Center for Architecture, with comments by Adrian Benepe (Senior Vice President of The Trust for Public Land) and Frank Lupo, FAIA (Steering Committee Member, Friends of the QueensWay).

Isaac Mizrahi to introduce furniture with Thomasville

Housing market sees highest level of sales in 5 years

Branca, Drake and Aparicio selected for Hearst Designer Visions

Pop-up Institute for Craft & Ingenuity to launch in L.A.

Nordstrom relaunches home section of HauteLook

H&M to launch home line in the U.S. this fall

L.A. party honors Annie Kelly, Tim Street-Porter

Industry leader Lana Lawrence passes away at 51

The “new” NY NOW opens next week

Michael Rothbard refines the business of sleep

Washington Design Center zeroes in on new location

Designers scout the Las Vegas Market for top trends

Comings & Goings: Design professionals on the move

DDB to honor Stars of Design and Stars on the Rise

New website relaunches to note

Seven student shower designs win Hansgrohe Prize

What are the 10 most influential design schools?

London gets set for second annual Global Design Forum

Two new Style Network shows feature competitive design

Eight competitions and contests to note this fall