Poltrona Frau acquisition is good news for the sector

February 10, 2014, 5:38 am

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Michigan-based furniture manufacturer Haworth has acquired a 58.6% stake in the Poltrona Frau Group—an Italian company they have been in partnership with since 2011. As part of the transaction, Haworth will also acquire a 98% stake in the company that owns the Italian factories for $2.59 million.
The Poltrona Frau Group has also been building up its umbrella of brands. In July 2013, it announced the acquisition of the Simon brand, in its quest to acquire classic Italian design brands that “express and disseminate Italian excellence and culture across the world,” according to Dario Rinero, CEO of the Poltrona Frau Group, which includes Poltrona Frau, Cassina and Cappellini.

Haworth office furniture
In 2013, Haworth recorded $1.4 billion in revenue (an increase of 7.3% from 2012), and has approximately 6,000 employees and over 600 dealers worldwide. Founded in 1948 by the same family that owns it today, Haworth creates and manufactures flexible and sustainable workspace furniture with product lines that include movable walls, systems, chairs, floating floors and communication technologies.
“This is for me the realization of a big dream, the creation of the most important global operator in the industry of luxury furnishing that will bring great benefits to the international development of the Group and the consequent growth of our factories and manufacturing sites,” said Franco Moschini, president of Poltrona Frau and controlling shareholder of Moschini S.r.l.“This is the crowning achievement of this extraordinary year in which I conclude my first 50 years as president by signing an agreement with another great family of entrepreneurs, in respect of those founding principles that have always characterized our great Company.”

Poltrona Frau showroom
“Our family is very excited about this opportunity,” said Matthew Haworth, chairman of Haworth. “This transaction is not only inspired by the strong performance of the Poltrona Frau Group and what we believe to be highly complementary strategies, but even more importantly, by the great alignment of the values shared by both our families.”
“I think this is good news for the sector and for the country’s economy, because it shows that solid, well-managed leading companies are capable of developing synergies at global level and attracting useful foreign capital for further growth strategies,” said Claudio Luti, president of the Salone del Mobile where the companies will be showcasing new product in April. “It sends an important signal of confidence in the development of our specialist manufacturing skills. It is crucial both that production should remain in Italy and that the consistently high quality of our products be maintained."

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How are ‘Millennials’ designing their homes?

February 11, 2014, 3:39 am

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“Millennials are swarming into the home marketplace armed with information, ideas and a passionate desire for personalization,” said Jill Waage, editorial director for home content for Better Homes and Gardens. “Home builders, designers and remodelers should know that this generation expects you to work with them as collaborators not just contractors. We have seen an explosion on our social media outlets of Millennials exchanging everything from swatch styles for wallpaper to outdoor decorating designs. This generation wants homes that reflect their individuality and their sheer size will reshape the home market for decades to come.”
U.S. Millennials account for an estimated $1.3 trillion in direct annual spending and in the next 15 years, Millennials will outnumber Baby Boomers 78 million to 56 million, according to a recent report from the Boston Consulting Group.
Better Homes and Gardens released a survey on the attitude and spending trends of “Millennial” generation, asking more than 3,200 prospective home buyers to share their thoughts on home improvement spending, personalization and technology.

Here’s the inside scoop from the survey:
On renovations/projects…Workspaces in the home continue to gain importance. Out of those surveyed, 26% of Millennials said they are building or planning to build a home office, work space or family computing center. However, these spaces aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. A reported 41% felt a combined office-hobby-crafts-art room was ideal.
On future projects...Casual entertaining is very popular. 35% reported wanting to work on outdoor living or entertaining areas. 42% desire adding exterior upgrades like a deck, porch or patio. The respondents also see value in curb appeal. 52% report they will add/replace plantings, shrubs and trees. Furthermore, 40% of millennial respondents want to make their home more energy efficient.
On personalization…Millennials want a home with personalization and seek out creative ways to improve the look and feel of their home. 34% plan to change the function of a room, such as a nursery, office or craft/hobby space. Examples of personalization and home individualization include chalkboards, under stair storage, and adding bins and buckets to maximize shelving. Other personalization trends include choosing industrial and vintage elements in the bathroom, sliding barn doors and considering children as part of décor choices.
On mobile access…Nearly 6 in 10 respondents report using a smartphone or tablet to access home-related information. They are primarily using their mobile device to find decorating ideas or shop for items for their home.
On buying a home…Millennials value home ownership, and like previous generations, 77% believe owning a home is still a good investment. However, many are challenged to qualify for it and 35% said a lack of down payment was the greatest obstacle to making the dream a reality. One-quarter of respondents would be willing to take out a loan to take advantage of the current market.
On buying new vs. fixing up…18% expect their next home to be newly built while 23% said their home will most likely be a house they can fix up. Among those planning a home improvement project in the next 12 months, nearly 35% highly agree that “now is the right time to spend” on home improvements. 45% said they are in the process of planning or doing a major home improvement or decorating project. And, 75% of this group report decorating with furniture and accessories.
The online survey was held October 24 through November 7, 2013 among a random sample of Better Homes and Gardens reader panelists. Additionally, the survey was deployed to a sample of Parents and FamilyFun reader panelists who indicated readership of Better Homes and Gardens. A total of 3,284 completed the survey, of whom 1,374 (48%) were self-reported prospective home buyers and were administered questions related to their next home. Among the remaining non-prospective home buyers, 1,172 (41%) report anticipating a major home improvement in the next 12 months—these respondents were administered questions related to their home improvement projects. The sampling error on the total sample is +/- 2%.

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Comings & Goings: Design professionals on the move

February 11, 2014, 8:23 am

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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.
In the retail sector...
Christiane Lemieux, the founder of DwellStudio, was named Executive Creative Director of Wayfair. In her new role, Lemieux plans to roll out a number of new lifestyle brands in 2014 and 2015. Wayfair acquired Dwellstudio in August of 2013.
Design Within Reach appointed David Kennedy to VP, Contract Sales. Kennedy joins DWR after serving as the regional director of North America and the Caribbean at DEDON. Kennedy also served as VP of sales at Brown Jordan, where he directed all showroom, residential and contract sales teams.
One Kings Lane announced that e-commerce veteran Arun Rajan has joined the company as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He spent more than four years as CTO of Zappos leading all aspects of technology for the company. In his new role, Rajan will lead end-to-end technology delivery, data infrastructure and site operations to support the growth and evolution of One Kings Lane, overseeing its rapidly expanding technology teams based in San Francisco. Rajan joins alongside Chief Product Officer David Yu.
Dr. Christian Schwarz will lead all domestic marketing initiatives as Vice President of Marketing for Miele USA. He will report directly to Nick Ord, President of Miele, USA, and will be based out of the company’s Princeton, NJ headquarters. During his 20 years with the company, Dr. Schwarz was responsible for increasing the company’s presence on social media, developing a consumer loyalty program and creating marketing campaigns which resulted in market shares above 20%.
Kathy Veltri, the former president of Thomasville Furniture who was recently renamed senior vice president of retail under Heritage Home Group's senior management restructuring, has left the company. Details here.
In the media world...
Cottages & Gardens has added a number of new staff to its publications NYC&G, HC&G, CTC&G and SFC&G.
Paige Alexus has joined as the new associate editor, principally covering the market for both NYC&G and HC&G. She previously worked at Martha Stewart Living as both an intern and an editorial assistant in the Home & Decorating and Style departments and was most recently the assistant market editor at Country Living.
Cindi Cooke is the new features editor for NYC&G and HC&G. She has a background editing and writing for several lifestyle and interiors publications including Hamptons, Avenue, and Hampton Style.
Kelly Velocci, the NY-based intern, was hired fulltime as editorial assistant. She will be the NY office point person and will occasionally help the marketing department with C&G events in the city.
At CTC&G, Michelle Manger is the executive administrator/ office manager. Ann Marie Scala has been named director digital content. Christina Bachmann is production Manager, replacing Kerri Fice. Annie Loynd who is the new Assistant Editor.
At SFC&G, Lisa Mackie has been named Senior Account Manager and Nikki Glazer is Account Manager.
Stacey Piano is VERANDA's new Lifestyle Account Director. She will be handling kitchen and bath, paint, auto, travel and finance. With more than 20 plus years of experience at Hearst, Piano joins VERANDA from Latina, and prior to that she held positions at Town & Country, Smart Money, and other magazines.
Ashley Boyle has rejoined the New York offfice of Camron PR as Senior Account Director where she will work on Artemide, Bernhardt Design, Bisazza, Restoration Hardware, and Tai Ping Carpets. Previously, she oversaw PR and events for luxury carpet and textile designer Madeline Weinrib.
Interior designers and firms...
Robin Baron, interior designer and lifestyle expert, has been named 2015 President Elect of the ASID NY Chapter.
Kimball Office named Joe Pace as its new Southeast Region Manager, covering North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Pace will provide direction, support, and motivation to sales associates and dealers in an effort to grow and facilitate brand awareness with influencers in unique and innovative ways.
Patti Guthrie has returned to Marc-Michaels as its Director of Model Merchandising. She will provide client service, design leadership and direction, and will serve as a liaison between Marc-Michaels and the building community. She plans to continue to be heavily involved with the National Association of Home Builders and The Florida Home Builders Association.
Gensler announced the promotions of Sonya Dufner and Molly Murphy to Principals in its New York office and Dana Nalbantian to Principal in its Morristown office. Dufner is the Director of Workplace Strategy in Gensler’s New York office and a regional client relationship leader and works with national and global clients to rethink their use of technology and process and its influence on company culture, productivity, and attracting the best talent. Murphy contributes to the GenslerOn blog, where she shares insights on brand and retail design. Nalbantian is a Studio Director in Gensler’s Morristown office and a Firmwide Project Management Leader.
Faulkner Design Group has added Project Manager Vidya Samanth to its team. A 20-year veteran of the architectural and design industry, Samanth is a LEED certified professional and worked at SHW Group–Plano where she specialized in designing schools and educational facilities. She also spent a few years as a self-employed designer, focusing on interiors and residential projects in India and in Dallas.
In showrooms and design centers...
Mr. Joseph Leven is the new owner of Sonia’s Place, the 50-year-old wallcovering and fabric company in the D&D Building. He aquired the business from Joy and Michael Lurie.
Merchandise Mart Properties announced changes to its management team and reaffirmed its commitment to producing the International Casual Furniture and Accessories Market in partnership with the International Casual Furnishings Association. Myron Maurer, a 27-year veteran of MMPI, has assumed the role of managing the Chicago team. John Brennen III had announced last month that his responsibilities would be transitioned to other executives at the end of 2013 as he ended his 26 years with MMPI. Susan McCullough, Senior Vice President who has been with MMPI for more than 25 years and oversees MMPI's Trade Show division, will now oversee the International Casual Furnishings and Accessories Market and Preview Show. Madeleine Tullier, director of sales for Casual Markets over the past seven years, will continue to head those sales efforts. She will become a valuable member of McCullough's tradeshow team. Byron Morton, a 10-year MMPI veteran, will continue as VP of Leasing, managing Casual Market and NeoCon leasing efforts at the Mart. Katherine Flaherty, VP of Leasing for LuxeHome who is responsible for launching the kitchen and bath retail concept in Chicago and New York, will now oversee residential home furnishings leasing at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Julia Chappell will continue to lead the Mart's residential home furnishings marketing efforts.
In design fairs...
Marianne Goebl, the director of Design Miami/ for the past three years, will step down in order to pursue other interests. She will continue her relationship with the fair as a member of the Design Miami/ board. The fair's owners, MCH Group and Dacra, have tapped Rodman Primack to fill the role of Executive Director, effective March 1. Primack is well-known through his work as Chairman of Phillips de Pury & Company in London, a director of the Gagosian Gallery in Los Angeles, the Director of Auctions at the online platform Paddle8, and through his consulting practice, RP Miller.
Collective Design Fair appointed Jillian Choi to Fair Manager.
Comings and goings we missed? Drop us a line at ssnowden@editoratlarge.com and let us know!

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Multidisciplinary designer to receive Titan Award

February 11, 2014, 11:13 am

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“Michael Vanderbyl, through his multidisciplinary approach and commitment to design, has forged a career path that is nothing short of extraordinary,” said International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Executive VP and CEO Cheryl Durst, who will present the award at the IIDA annual meeting on June 8 as part of NeoCon in Chicago.

Michael Vanderbyl
Vanderbyl’s body of work encompasses graphic design, furniture and product design, showrooms and retail spaces. His expressed goal through his 40 years of work has been to merge forms of design that traditionally exist separately; to create new and distinctively fused works of art.
His vision and work ethic positioned him as one of the designers who ushered in the San Francisco Bay Area’s prominence as a center of the postmodern movement in graphic design during the 1980s.
His clients include AmericanOne, Baker Furniture, Bernhardt Furniture, The Blackstone Group, Bolier & Company, Boyd Lighting, Esprit, HBF, IBM, Luna Textiles, McGuire Furniture, Robert Talbott, Teknion and The Walt Disney Company. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Denver Art Museum; Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum; and the Library of Congress. He currently serves as Dean of Design at California College of the Arts (CCA), where he has taught design for more than 30 years. In 2012, Vanderbyl was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame.
“His innovative contributions to numerous design disciplines as well as his more than 30 years of design teaching have made him a vital force in the international design community, and we are exceedingly proud to acknowledge him as the recipient of this year’s IIDA Titan Award,” said Durst.

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L.A. welcomes the Architecture & Design Film festival

February 12, 2014, 3:33 am

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After its fifth edition in New York City’s Tribeca, the Architecture & Design Film Festival (ADFF) is heading west March 12-16, debuting at the Los Angeles Theatre Center. It will showcase 30 feature-length and short films that explore issues of design, urbanism and the human condition.
Films about design icons such as Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Tadao Ando, Paul Smith and Paolo Soleri, as well as the world premiere of a film on the futuristic work of maverick architect Eugene Tssui, will debut during the week.

Massimo and Lella Vignelli who are the subjects of "Design is One"
Curated by festival directors Kyle Bergman and Laura Cardello, the festival includes films with both an international and local perspective as well as director Q&As, panel discussions, a pop-up shop and other special events and receptions.
"Los Angeles' blend of architecture and passion for film make it a natural fit for the Architecture & Design Film Festival,” said Bergman. “There is no other city in the world with this rich combination. Our plan is to make L.A. a permanent part of the festival circuit that now includes New York and Chicago, expanding our scope from coast to coast.”

Scene from "If You Build It"
The ADFF will kick off with the screening of If You Build It by Patrick Creadon, the director of WORDPLAY and I.O.U.S.A. The film offers a look at a radically innovative approach to education, following designer-activists Emily Pilloton and Matt Miller as they lead a group of high school students in rural Bertie County, North Carolina, through a yearlong design-build project that challenges the students to not only reinvent their town, but their own sense of what is possible. If You Build It is about the power of design, but it is also about empowering youth.

Scene from "The Human Scale"
Urbanism is one of the year’s main themes, with films such as: The Human Scale, a Danish film based on the work of revolutionary city planner Jan Gehl; My Brooklyn, which explores the pros and cons of gentrification; 16 Acres, an in-depth look at the rebuilding of Ground Zero with an architectural, political and emotional perspective; and Lost Rivers, a Canadian film that visits cities around the world, retracing the history of their lost urban rivers and meeting visionary urban thinkers, activists and artists along the way.
In honor of its new host city, ADFF will also feature films that pay homage to Southern California and its rich and oftentimes complex architectural and design heritage, including:
The Oyler House: Richard Neutra’s Desert Retreat, which tells the story behind the house and the unlikely pairing of a working-class government employee and world-famous architect Richard Neutra through interviews with Richard Oyler, actress Kelly Lynch (who currently owns the house), Neutra’s two sons, and well-known L.A. real estate agent Crosby Doe.
Coast Modern, an independent film that takes viewers on a classic journey up the Northwest Coastline, making stops at some of the most inspired and legendary dwellings of West Coast Modernism from L.A. to Vancouver.
Levitated Mass, a tale about the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s permanent installation “Levitated Mass,” a two-story, 340-ton granite boulder that was moved from a quarry in Riverside, California, to the museum site on a 105-mile journey that spanned 10 nights and crawled through 22 cities and four counties on a football field-long transport vehicle.
Tickets for the ADFF can be purchased at The Los Angeles Theatre Center Box Office (514 S. Spring Street) and online. General Admission is $14; AIA members are $11; and students are $9 with valid ID.

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Korea’s top designers presented in NYC exhibition

February 12, 2014, 3:34 am

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Kang Myung Sun, Bae Se Hwa, Bahk Jong Sun and Lee Hun Chung are among the talent featured in a new exhibition of objects and furniture at the Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art (ETNFA) gallery running February 26 – April 4. The designers incorporate tradition, craft and a reverence for raw materials in their works.
According to ETNFA, the appetite for Korean contemporary design has expanded globally in the last five years, with celebrated collectors of both design and modern and contemporary art embracing the movement. Sculptural, graceful and functional, the works in this exhibition would be home in a range of environments, from traditional to contemporary.
The designers create works that feature cutting edge contemporary design while embracing the cultural traditions of Korea. They draw enormous inspiration from nature, which is reflected in the forms and textures of their work, many of which emulate figures or landscapes or suggest the colors of a particular season.
Here’s a closer look at the designers and their styles:

Myung Sun's "From the Glitter" chair
Myung Sun combines age-old techniques and unique materials to create practical objects that address modern concerns. By revitalizing traditional craftsmanship, such as 2,000-year-old lacquering methods paired with inlaid mother-of-pearl, Myung Sun creates elegant and visually dynamic functional works, including seating, tables and shelving that suggest landscapes of shimmering waves.

Se Hwa's "Steam" chair
Se Hwa’s use of wood relates directly to the influence of nature in his work. He is inspired by the traditional Korean interpretation of beauty as the harmony of nature, and seeks to convey a sense of calmness and peace through his designs. His furniture resembles the Korean landscape and mountains through their organic shapes and curved wood, reinforcing his desire to create a conversation between man and nature, inside and outside. He has refined and perfected a steam-bending technique that allows him to create works of exceptional scale, including two large benches that will be featured in this show.

Jong Sun's "Trans" desk
The thoughtful and transformative use of natural materials play a crucial role in conveying the history and philosophy of traditional and contemporary Korean design. The works of Jong Sun, created in woods such as cherry, beech and oak, often resemble whimsical structures or otherworldly creatures that emanate light from their spider-like frames. His limited edition desk and wall-mounted shelving have minimal, elegantly architectural forms that reveal traditional lacquer work and the rich graining of the wood.

Hun Chung's "Mushroom" stool
Devoted to Korean ceramic design techniques, Hun Chung strives to find a balance of tradition and modernity in his works. Using a kiln technique dating back hundreds of years, Hun Chung seeks to keep his work honest, as well as show respect for traditional processes and craftsmanship. Mirroring the colors and forms of nature, the seemingly chaotic patterns of his work contradict his careful, painterly control of palette that can be seen on closer observation. In Hun Chung’s hands, the solid ceramics, as well as other materials, take on a soft, almost cloud-like character. In addition to ceramics, Hun Chung incorporates cement to create structural works such as benches, tables, and functional installations. His most recent cement works are combined with ceramic, wood and corroded steel to show the extension of their function and usage in architectural terms.
The ETNFA gallery will host an opening night reception honoring the designers on Wednesday, February 26, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

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Young collectors of NYC support the Winter Antiques Show

February 13, 2014, 5:56 am

≫ Next: More than 30 new design stores and showrooms to note

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More than 800 new collectors, emerging philanthropists, interior designers and enthusiasts flocked to the Park Avenue Armory for the annual Young Collectors Night at the Winter Antiques Show late last month.
The evening was co-chaired by Emily Israel Pluhar, Stephanie Clark and Courtney Booth and included a high-profile Interior Design Committee led by Chairwoman Wendy Goodman, design editor of New York Magazine, and more than 80 of the country’s top interior designers. They included Nate Berkus, Celerie Kemble, Alexa Hampton, Darren Henault, Lauren Rottet and Miles Redd.

Emily Israel Pluhar, Wendy Goodman, Isaac Mizrahi, Courtney Booth, Stephanie Clark

Katerina Plath, Amanda Church, Shawn Henderson, Annelise Taft

Whitney Wolfe, Louise Armstrong, Alexandra Pappas
Other notable guests included Isaac Mizrahi, Charles Rockefeller, Linda Fargo, Juan Montoya, Geoffrey Bradfield, Lacary Sharpe, Lisa Yom, Lucinda Ballard, Shawn Henderson, Tony Ingrao, Roric Tobin, Clay Floren, Georgina Schaeffer, Arthur Wayne, Catherine Sweeney Singer& William Singer, Claudio Del Vecchio& Debra Del Vecchio, Caroline Pastel, Dana Schiller, Miller Gaffney, Jon Call, Amy Fine Collins, James Andrew, Amy Hoadley, Lydia Tower, Lacary Sharpe, Sam Dangremond and Jesse Carrier.

Joe Lucas, Zak Profera, Alexa Hampton

Clare McKeon, Georgina Schaeffer, Jon Call, Sam Allen
Guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a private viewing of the art and antiques displays with all proceeds benefitting the East Side House Settlement’s college preparation programs, which promote education and employment for the residents of the South Bronx and surrounding communities.

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More than 30 new design stores and showrooms to note

February 13, 2014, 5:57 am

≫ Next: The best of the best from this winter’s NY NOW

≪ Previous: Young collectors of NYC support the Winter Antiques Show

It’s been a busy new year for more than 30 companies who have opened new retail stores and trade showrooms across the country and abroad over the past few months. This list is part of an ongoing series of showroom openings highlighting many new resources available by region to designers.
New York City

CF Modern in the New York Design Center
The New York Design Center has kicked off the new year with the addition of eleven new showrooms. From textiles and lighting to furniture and accessories, each brings something different to the building. New showrooms include Bakes & Company, Suite 430; BOLIER, Suite 804; CF Modern, Suite 419; Currey & Company, Suite 506; Dorothy Draper & Co., Suite 510; Harbour Outdoor Australia, Suite 1301; JAMIE HERZLINGER, Suite 425; La Bastille, Suite 1305; New Traditionalists, Suite 701; Tectonic Flooring, Suite 1320; and Ted Boerner, Suite 903. (Some of these showrooms are still in the process of opening. Check with the New York Design Center for more information).

Chesney's in the D&D Building
Chesney’s in the D&D Building moved into a larger space on the 11th floor with a completely new design. The new space also features the new Soane and Lutyens collections.

Michael Dawkins Home
Interior designer Michael Dawkins has brought his first multi-level showroom to the Fine Arts Building (232 East 59th Street) in New York City. The showroom, Michael Dawkins Home, will double as a working design studio for Dawkins’ private clients and also serves retail customers by showcasing private label products and collectible art.
Ralph M. Chait Galleries, specialists in fine antique Chinese porcelain and works of art and export silver, have moved to a new showroom location in The Crown Building (730 Fifth Avenue). The Stylander Design Group was commissioned to design the new 4,000-square-foot-space, which consists of several connecting galleries and a library, housing an extensive collection of over 5,000 volumes.

Sambonet's showroom space
Sambonet, Rosenthal and Paderno, famous for porcelain dinnerware, have opened their first US showroom in Brooklyn (235 Grand Street). It offers unique accessories such as Japanese knives, design oriented fine china made in Germany, a wide selection of serving items and a bar and wine section.
Sferra has moved to a new showroom (230 Fifth Ave, Suite 1912), which opened in conjunction with NY NOW last week.

Munder-Skiles showroom
The Hudson Valley-based outdoor furniture and garden company Munder-Skiles has moved to a more “open air” showroom (1180 Route 9D, Garrison) in order to showcase its outdoor product in a better light.
Zak + Fox is opening a new NYC studio and showroom next month located at 611 Broadway on the 5th floor. More details to come.
Los Angeles

McKinnon and Harris outdoor furniture
Outdoor furniture company McKinnon and Harris has found a new home in the La Cienega Design Quarter (915 N. La Cienega Blvd.) The new showroom caters to both designers and retail customers and offers high-performance aluminum furniture that can withstand the L.A. sun and temperatures.
Heart Italia has opened a showroom in the Pacific Design Center (Suite B408) and showcases its hand-made collections of lighting, accessories and artwork—all one-of-a-kind pieces made in Italy.

Arteriors West Hollywood showroom
Arteriors has opened a 1,800-square-foot retail store in the West Hollywood Design District (corner of Melrose Avenue and Huntley Drive). The space boasts large windows with 12 ft. high ceilings creating a light-filled space. The new store will service both design professionals and consumers and will showcase a curated collection of more than 400 pieces of lighting, furniture and accessories including new introductions.
San Francisco

Casa Acanto showroom in San Francisco
Jeffry Weisman and Andrew Fisher of Fisher Weisman have opened “Casa Acanto” (North Beach at 1706 Stockton Street) in order to showcase the new Casa Acanto collection. A range of furniture by Fisher, including a secretary and chair, a set of four dining chairs, chandeliers and outdoor seating are available in the showroom. It also features accessories and the signature Casa Acanto candle collection. The pair also opened an identical showroom in San Miguel (San Miguel de Allende outpost is at Sollano 16).
Chicago
Luxury appliance manufacturer Miele is set to open a 5,500-square-foot showroom in the “LuxeHome” section of the Chicago Merchandise Mart this spring. The showroom will be located in Suite 133 and will showcase a wide range of Miele’s appliances arranged in vignette settings. It will also feature a live kitchen, which will be used for cooking classes, special events and training sessions.
Miami

Ann Sacks showroom
Ann Sacks (61 N.E. 40th Street) has joined the Miami Design District with the opening of its latest showroom a 1,844-square-foot-space of luxury tile, stone and plumbing products. It brings a range of styles and international influences to consumers, architects, builders and design professionals.
Holland & Sherry (4040 NE 2nd Ave) is also calling the Miami Design District home with a new space that features its cashmere, silk velvets, natural linens and fine wool textiles as well as rugs and wallcoverings from other popular companies including David Sutherland and Suzanne Tucker Home.
Atlanta
Paul+ has moved to a new location in ADAC (Space 121) and features collections of textiles, furniture, lighting and floor coverings from A. Rudin, Stone Yard, Mokum, Creation Baumann and more. Texas

Legrand showroom at the Dallas Market Center
As part of the International Lighting Market last month, Legrand opened a new permanent showroom in the Dallas Market Center (Space 4727). The space presents year-round access to the company’s collection of lighting solutions including light switches, dimmers, outlets and wall plates.

Creston's "Experience Center"
Crestron has opened an “Experience Center” in Flower Mound, Texas. The 3,000-square-foot facility offers visitors an up close and personal behind-the-scenes look at home control technology solutions.
Indiana
Rouge Décor Co. is set to open next month in the Indiana Design Center, and specializes in custom, repurposed furniture and lighting created by owner Adam Graef. Along with the one-of-a-kind pieces, Rouge Décor Co. also carries furniture, antiques, home accessories, architectural salvage, gifts and custom upholstered furniture.
Paris

Welton London boutique
London-based interior designer John-Paul Welton chose “the capital city of luxury” for the opening of his newest showroom, the Welton London boutique (2013 48 rue de Grenelle, 75007). It displays collections of eau de toilette, scented candles, fragrance diffusers as well as collections of scents launched by the houses of Christian Lacroix, Courrèges, Karl Lagerfeld and Kelly Hoppen.

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The best of the best from this winter’s NY NOW

February 14, 2014, 5:56 am

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Editors, retailers and designers spent days at New York City’s semi-annual gift and home show scouring every corner to find the best new products and makers, many of whom were making their debut. Below is a sampling of what a few of them found and loved from the winter edition of NY NOW.

“I discovered Zoe Bois Creative this market and they're such a great resource for beautiful accessible art. Based out of LA, they produce much of their art in house as well as represent a handful of other talented artists from photographers to painters and mixed media artists. I loved Oomph’s new table lighting introductions as well as a new étagère they just launched all seen in the (photo above). I also fell in love with Dunes & Duchess’ Captain's table, which can be customized in a variety of colors and sizes. I am redecorating and ordered a dining table version in white lacquer for myself!”—Nicole Gibbons, interior designer.

“I love the double duty iPad/phone holder from black + blum, the natural wood is a nice counterpoint to electronics and I can see using it in the kitchen to follow a recipe online. The extra wide washi tape from Mt Casa is something of a revelation! Why didn't I think of that? And, this chair with paper upholstery from essenti'ial was not only totally unexpected but it also seems pretty durable.”—Jennifer Hunter, editor of Apartment Therapy.

“Waffle towels—I love that they're clean and simple, but provide texture, and the oversized waffle is a design element that takes a very usable, ordinary thing to a new place. Michele Quan—an example of taking something that could be ordinary and elevating it because of stunning craftsmanship and taste. I'm a sucker for anything that points toward spring right now. I'm dreaming about a few of these hanging from the trees in my back yard in Brooklyn. Zoe Bios—I always fall in love with something in this booth. Last time I bought two oversized pieces that haven't made it on the walls yet in my apartment, but soon! This one has such an invigorating, livable version of some color in your home.”—Day Kornbluth, One Kings Lane VP of merchandising.

Pablo lighting
“Among the superlative companies participating in NY NOW this winter, these seven deserve special recognition,” said Susan Anthony, president of the ASID NY Metro chapter. "Imaginative Product Presentation: Garden; Innovative Product Design: NEO; Social Responsibility/Ecological Sensitivity: Pivot; Lighting: Pablo; Accessories: Rablabs; Textiles: Jo-Liza International; and Wall Art: Long Street Collection."
Two companies received Accent on Design awards in the home sector. “These talented Accent on Design participants have introduced a higher level of functionality and aesthetics within the home and lifestyle categories worthy of this special recognition,” said Jaime Sikorjak, Accent on Design sales manager.

Tom Dixon gold form bowl set
Excellence in Product Design: Tom Dixon, for its entire collection of extraordinary accessories, gifts and design objects formed from resilient and heavyweight materials including copper, marble, cast iron, brass and wood. 

Finell table accessories
Best New Collection: Finell, for its collection of neo luxe housewares and accessories. Offering new functionality and progressive design, the products are made from a fun mix of luxury materials. 
Six “Bloggers’ Choice Awards” for exemplary product design were presented to Accent on Design exhibitors as well, with three landing in the home category. Top style and design bloggers chose products that featured “urgent, odd and delightful design,” from among Accent on Design’s 150+ exhibitors.

BOWER Tipsy paper weights
American Design Club for BOWER's Tipsy: "I was immediately drawn to a playful collection of brightly colored paper weights by Brooklyn-based designer's Danny Giannella and Tammer Hijazi of BOWER that look like little bauhaus-inspired garden gnome heads. Cleverly named 'Tipsy'—the wooden cone hats sit on a solid brass spherical base (the head) and rock around like a floating buoy when touched. As a cluster they magically move synchronously—almost like coral swaying underwater – inviting more interaction and immediate joy!"’—Glenn Jackson Taylor, Core77.

Finell's Hex three-piece baking dish set
Finell for its Hex three-piece baking dish set: “It had me thinking these were regular serving trays, but they are oven-safe, food-grade coated pieces meant to go from oven to table. With sleek and modern lines in a crisp white ceramic coating, the cast aluminum trays fit together to create a wonderful origami-like, angular serving piece, with trays that slide from side to side. With no crevices, their infinite presentation possibilities elevate serve ware to a beautiful functional object." Marisa Marcantonio, Stylebeat.

Neo-utility for its Boskke Cube. "Finally—a clear solution to keeping houseplants alive! Designer Patrick Morris deconstructed the traditional plant pot and added an ingenious irrigation system to create this transparent planter, which acts as a reservoir for a month’s supply of water."—Stephanie Murg, UnBeige.

Savora Colander
Finally, one product took the cake for overall “Best of HOME,” voted on by market goers. The winner chosen was Lifetime Brands, Inc. for its Savora Colander, a stainless steel colander with a premium, baked-on finish and drainage holes, designed in a vortex pattern.

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Young architect granted an installation at MoMA PS1

February 14, 2014, 5:56 am

≫ Next: Luxe mag names Chicago designer of the year

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David Benjamin, architect at the New York-based firm The Living, has been selected as the winner of this year’s Young Architects Program (YAP) by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) for his project “Hy-Fi,” which will open at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City this June.
Now in its 15th edition, YAP at MoMA and MoMA PS1 challenges architects to develop creative designs for a temporary, outdoor installation at MoMA PS1 that provides shade, seating and water. They must also work within guidelines that address environmental issues, including sustainability and recycling.

The Living, drawn from among five finalists, will design a temporary urban landscape for the “2014 Warm Up” summer music series in MoMA PS1’s outdoor courtyard. Using biological technologies combined with cutting-edge computation and engineering to create new building materials, it will use a new method of bio-design, resulting in a structure that is 100% organic material.
The structure temporarily diverts the natural carbon cycle to produce a building that grows out of nothing but earth and returns to nothing but earth—with almost no waste, no energy needs and no carbon emissions. This approach offers a new vision for society’s approach to physical objects and the built environment. It also offers a new definition of local materials, and a direct relationship to New York state agriculture and innovation culture, New York City artists and non-profits, and Queens community gardens.

Hy-Fi is a circular tower of organic and reflective bricks, which were designed to combine the unique properties of two new materials. The organic bricks are produced through an innovative combination of corn stalks (that otherwise have no value) and specially developed living root structures, a process that was invented by Ecovative, a company that The Living is collaborating with.
Overall, the structure offers shade, color, light, views and a future-oriented experience that is designed to be refreshing, thought provoking, and full of wonder and optimism.

Previous winners of YAP are SHoP/Sharples Holden Pasquarelli (2000), ROY (2001), William E. Massie (2002), Tom Wiscombe / EMERGENT (2003), nARCHITECTS (2004), Xefirotarch (2005), OBRA (2006), Ball-Nogues (2007), WORKac (2008), MOS (2009), Solid Objectives – Idenburg Liu (2010), Interboro Partners (2011), HWKN (2012), and CODA (2013).
Photos: Renderings of The Living’s Hy-Fi. Images courtesy of The Living.

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Luxe mag names Chicago designer of the year

February 18, 2014, 5:46 am

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The mononymous designer Richar of Richar Interiors was bestowed the title of Chicago Interior Designer of the Year by the Design Center at the Merchandise Mart and Luxe Interiors + Design magazine at a reception earlier this month.
"Chicago has a rich history in architecture and interior design with a vast array of design talent," said Julia Chappell, managing director of marketing for the Design Center. "We started the Interior Designer of the Year Awards to fill a void in the industry that lacked such an honor for those who have contributed to Chicago's interior design, civic and overall community well-being.”

Richar accepting his award at the gala
This year’s nominees included ten of Chicago’s most recognized design firms who have made an impact on the city’s design community including Richar, Susan Fredman of Susan Fredman Design Group, Jessica Lagrange of Jessica Lagrange Interiors LLC, Gary Lee of Gary Lee Partners, Carlos Martinez of Gensler, Frank Ponterio of Frank Ponterio Interior Design, Arlene Semel and Brian Snow of Semel Snow Interior Design, Inc., Janet Shiff of Blutter Shiff Design Associates, Eva Quateman of Eva Quateman Interiors, and Stephanie Wohlner of Stephanie Wohlner Design.
“What a thrill it was to be included in such a group of talented nominees,” said Richar. ”I would like to thank The Merchandise Mart and Luxe Interiors + Design magazine for sponsoring this annual event. Also big hugs and sincere thanks for all those who supported me. Definitely a memorable evening in my career.”

Cary Frank (2013 winner), Julia Chappell, Richar and John Cannon (2013 winner)
“We saw a record number of votes this year, almost tripling last year’s votes, which shows us the incredible success of this type of awards program in the Chicago design community,” said Chappell. “Our goal with the Chicago Interior Designer of the Year Award is to bring recognition to the vast array of design talent in the Chicago-area. I am happy to celebrate this win with Richar.”
Richar is French Canadian from Ottawa, Ontario. He started his own firm in 1982 after serving an apprenticeship with James Callahan Interiors of Palm Springs, then worked for several years as an assistant to Bruce Gregga of Bruce Gregga Interiors.
Richar’s current work, represented in the homes and offices of clients around the country, encompasses a full spectrum of periods and styles from classical and traditional to transitional and contemporary. His firm is in the process of completing projects in Big Sur, California; Carmel, California; a ski chalet in Park City, Utah; and a number of long jobs in Chicago and its suburbs.

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Six British architects who’ve transformed the modern world

February 18, 2014, 5:48 am

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Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, Nicholas Grimshaw, Michael and Patty Hopkins and Terry Farrell have designed some of the most iconic buildings around the world, from the Reichstag in Berlin to the Pompidou Centre in Paris and The Peak in Hong Kong—and they are now the subject of a new exhibition “The Brits Who Built the Modern World.”
The inaugural exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects’ (RIBA) brand new gallery in central London, it will tell the story of how a single generation of the above exceptional architects—born within five years of each other in the 1930s—gave 21st Century British architecture an unrivalled reputation around the world.

The Reichstag by Norman Foster
What unites these six architects is that they left European modernism behind and became protagonists of the next movement in architecture, known as “high-tech” or “industrial style.” Their inspiration came from cars, Meccano and engineers. They replaced typically modernist concrete with steel skeletons and lightweight, “clip on,” prefabricated materials. It was a style that each of them developed individually, but which they all successfully exported, turning it and them into a global commodity.
Through drawings, photographs, models and film—many from the RIBA’s world-renowned collections—the exhibition charts the rise of these prolific architects, and of the changing world that they were designing for. It gives context to their work, including their influences, contemporaries and the technological discoveries that made ever more dazzling structures possible.

The Pompidou Centre c. 1977 by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers
The exhibition also explores the changing identity of cities internationally. Landmark buildings were increasingly commissioned to “brand” or regenerate a city and few architects were more popular for the role than the six featured in the exhibition.
The exhibition is part of a season of exhibitions and events inspired by the BBC TV series “The Brits Who Built the Modern World,” which will be broadcast in a three-part series this spring.

Rendering for Delhi station by Terry Farrell
A series of talks and events at RIBA including a live Q&A with all five architects and a “High Tech” Last Tuesday evening will be a part of the programming, as well as two other accompanying exhibitions:
New British Voices Today and Tomorrow features new and soon-to-be completed international projects by 17 British based practices. It looks at what UK architecture looks like around the world today and tomorrow with guest contributions from a range of experts and commentators and explores what lies behind the strength of the UK design industries today. The exhibition is open from February 13 through May 27.
Empire Builders: British Architects Abroad 1750 – 1950 draws largely on the extensive collections of the RIBA’s Library and archives and showcases the variety of international buildings by British architects over two centuries. From a 19th Century cast iron market in Chile to an art deco church in Delhi exquisite drawings, watercolors, photographs and models, show where, why and how British architects built abroad, both inside and outside the Empire. This exhibition is open until June 15 at the V&A + RIBA Architecture Gallery at the V&A Museum.

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Nine new collaborations to look out for this season

February 19, 2014, 3:35 am

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Many manufacturers turn to interior designers and artists for their creativity, experience, and brand appeal for product development needs, which often culminate in collaborative collections of furniture, fabrics, accessories, tabletop and more. This season, Michael Divine, Nina Campbell, Libby Langdon, Felicia Bishop, Rachel Doriss, Stephanie Housley, Sarah Lavoine, Isabelle de Borchgrave, Arlene Angard and Kelly Wearstler will be debuting a variety of new collections.

Interior designer Michael Devine has collaborated with French designer Marie Daage, who is known for exquisite hand-painted designs on Limoges porcelain. Their initial offering, "Thomas," is a collection of dinnerware based on Devine's most recent hand-printed textile by the same name. Marie Daage showcased the "Thomas" collection during Maison&Objet including the newest pattern called "Charlotte," based on Devine's romantic floral pattern by the same name. The U.S. debut will take place during the Spring 2014 New York Tabletop Market at Forty-One Madison.

London-based interior designer Nina Campbell will launch Nina Home for Stein Mart. The range, which debuted last week at 200 Stein Mart locations and SteinMart.com, features bedding, bath linens and home accessories. "We are thrilled to offer the stylish and timeless Nina Home by Nina Campbell collection in stores and online," said Jay Stein, Stein Mart's chairman of the board and CEO. "Her impeccable taste and precision to detail make every piece in the collection not only desirable, but affordable, and we look forward to adding this exclusive line to our selection of home fashion."

Lighting design firm Crystorama has announced a licensing partnership with interior designer Libby Langdon that will include multiple collections of hanging chandeliers, wall sconces and ceiling mount fixtures debuting in showrooms across the country this spring. “One of the most important elements I use in creating a warm and inviting environment is lighting, so I’m thrilled to be designing a collection of lighting fixtures for Crystorama,” said Langdon. “I use insights I gather from working one-on-one with my clients and will plug that information into creating a lighting collection I know will resonate with consumers and will embody my easy, elegant, everyday style.”

Oomph launched a collection of ceramic table lamps, made exclusively for the brand by Hwang Bishop, at the NY NOW show earlier this month. Oomph, a brand which describes itself as offering American-made, brightly lacquered furniture, enlisted the artistic talents of Felicia Bishop of Hwang Bishop Designs in Rhode Island, to bring its ideas to life. The collection includes three exclusive and original styles designed by oomph, and will be offered in seven high gloss colors.

Rachel Doriss, design director at Pollack, and Stephanie Housley, founder of fabric company Coral & Tusk joined forces to create three new textile designs part of Pollack’s spring introductions. The design duo—friends since meeting in the ‘90s at the Rhode Island School of Interior Design—created Circus Toile, Circus Stripe and Quill together, merging the imagery Coral & Tusk is known for with Pollack’s fabric expertise.

French interior designer Sarah Lavoine has turned her hand to the “art de la table” and designed a collection of tableware exclusively for porcelain manufacturer Bernardaud. “Aboro” was inspired by the mesmerizing geometric patterns of Aboriginal art. The collection combines Lavoine’s passions for art and nature with a touch of festive elegance.

Belgian artist and sculptor, Isabelle de Borchgrave, has collaborated with Fabricut to debut her fabrics and trimmings collection. Inspired by her love of textiles, history and fashion, de Borchgrave and Fabricut transformed her dramatic paper dresses and original art into an eclectic offering of prints, wovens, embroideries and trimmings arranged into three color palettes—Canyon, Mulberry and Ocean. The collection focuses primarily on the global nature of her work from the Kaftan and Kimono series with a sprinkling of patterns that are inspired by the Fortuny collection, including patterns with reference to the textiles of Italy, Japan, Uzbekistan and Egypt. Her expressive worldview, bold sense of color and intuitive painterly hand is seen in each fabric and trimming.

Interior designer Arlene Angard launched a collection of beach-inspired wool and silk rugs manufactured by Stark Carpets. The “Think about beach without the water” collection features five designs ranging from a Hamptons-inspired design to a Hawaiian beach and a Bermuda sunset.

For Valentine’s Day, interior designer Kelly Wearstler designed a collection of cards, marble letters and lips for Paperless Post. The collection showcased her unexpected, bold Maximalist aesthetic, and her love of metallic patterns and vibrant hues.

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Stores move in, scene heats up at South Florida Design Park

February 19, 2014, 3:38 am

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No longer a new kid on the block, the South Florida Design Park will be hosting its second annual Winter Market on Thursday, February 20, with new stores to show off and a magazine sponsor to boot.
"The South Florida residential luxury market is booming right now and consumers are hungry for high-end home furnishings,” said Pamela Jaccarino, VP and editor-in-chief of Luxe Interiors + Design. “Luxe is delighted to sponsor the Winter Market as it's a wonderful resource for local designers involved in luxury residential design. Leading showrooms like Stark, Jerry Pair,Judith Norman and Snaidero provide tremendous offerings for the South Florida market."

“As The Park continues to grow in the coming months and years, we are energized and excited about the growth we’ve seen in our business since moving here,” said Jill Sauer, Jerry Pair showroom manager. “Not only have we been exposed to a whole new group of clientele, but we have had more frequent visits from our long-time clients that enjoy coming to our new location. We also have seen many more designers bringing their clients to shop with them. It has been very rewarding to have the support from the design community and from the manufacturers we all represent.”
Four showrooms have signed leases since the park opened in April of 2012. They include Florida Blinds & Drapery, Grange (located within Scalamandre), Judith Norman and Stephen Turner. Founding showrooms include J Nelson, Jerry Pair, Robert Allen, Scalamandre and Snaidero.
Here’s a look at the schedule of events for Winter Market:
At 9:00 a.m., the day kicks off at the Stark showroom for breakfast and refreshments with Houles.
From 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Judith Norman will be hosting "The Thayer Coggin & Milo Baughman Road Show" featuring 20 of the iconic Baughmans original designs. Royale Coggin Wiggin, president of Thayer Coggin, Inc. will be there celebrating the 60th anniversary of the collaboration.
Luxe Interiors + Design editors will be at the Jerry Pair showroom at 10:00 a.m. to review designer work and offer suggestions and guidance for a stronger portfolio.

Crans Baldwin
Also at 10:00 a.m. Jerry Pair welcomes CEO of Edward Ferrell + Lewis Mittman Crans Baldwin as he reviews ideas for designers to increase their business by reaching the next generation of clients. He will also provide an overview of the design industry and its trends and opportunities in 2014. CEU credit is available for attending this discussion.
Design business consultant Lloyd Princeton will lead an interactive program on the best ways to evolve a design practice and explain how to work with consumers who are flooded with the "do it yourself" messages and images at 11:00 a.m. at J Nelson.
Snaidero hosts a lunch in its state-of–the-art kitchen at 12:00 p.m.
At 1:00 p.m., Albert Sardelli, design director for Scalamandre, will present the company’s largest collection to date: a bountiful group of vibrant prints, wovens and wallpapers designed with the Florida market in mind. Steven Stolman, president of Scalamandre, will give a special introduction.
Stop by the Stephen Turner showroom at 1:00 p.m. to see some of its latest interiors and newest pieces from Myran Allan Chandeliers, acrylic items from Allan Knight, Interior Crafts upholstery and the Caperton Collection. Sweets and champagne will be served.

Mario Buatta and Geoffrey Bradfield
At 2:00 p.m., J Nelson presents an intimate afternoon with two design industries greats, Mario Buatta and Geoffrey Bradfield. After a light lunch, enjoy a lecture and lively conversation moderated by Princeton, and learn some of the trade secrets of these two design legends. They will also sign and remark copies of their publications Mario Buatta: Fifty years of Interior Design and Geoffrey Bradfield: Artistic License.
At 3:00 p.m., the Stark showroom invites designers to sip cocktails and view the new Missoni collection.
Stop by the Scalamandre showroom at 3:30 p.m. for a “Parisian Review of Maison & Objet.” The company will recap the January 2014 show, highlighting what's trending in color and design. Champagne and French delights will be served to celebrate the new representation of Grange at Scalamandre.
At 4:00 p.m. Jerry Pair launches its new furniture galleries from Rose Tarlow and J Robert Scott. View the latest pieces and meet their respective CEO's, Jobi Blachy of Rose Tarlow, and Richard Chilcott from J Robert Scott. Attendees can also stop by the showroom anytime between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to preview the Hermes fabric collection now available in the showroom.
Wrap up market day at 5:00 p.m. by welcoming Judith Norman to the South Florida Design Park. The grand-opening party is sponsored by Luxe.

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Jean Paul Gaultier for Roche Bobois on display in Brooklyn

February 20, 2014, 5:39 am

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Fashion, interior design and art converge at the Brooklyn Museum with the landmark exhibition, the Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier. The showcase illuminates significant moments within the designer’s career, including his furniture collection with Roche Bobois, who is a sponsor of the exhibition.

The first international exhibit dedicated to the French designer, it centers around seven themes of Gaultier’s top inspirations and features 140 haute couture pieces.

The Jean Paul Gaultier for Roche Bobois collection originated in 2010 and features upbeat, unique home furnishings including the bust lamp, the Mah Jong sofa in Couture Fabric, the Armoire Paravent, two limited-edition storage chests, a Dunkque India Rug, and the Ben Hur Chair.

The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier was created by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in collaboration with Maison Jean Paul Gaultier in Paris. Following its New York presentation at the Brooklyn Museum (open through February 23), the exhibition’s next stop is London in April.
Roche Bobois will continue its collaboration with Gaultier this spring, presenting new pieces of furniture upholstered in couture fabrics.

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San Francisco shelter magazine ceases publication

February 20, 2014, 7:01 am

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As of yesterday, California Home+Design magazine has suspended its operations—ceasing publication of its quarterly print magazine, its digital platform, californiahomedesign.com and discontinuing its series of statewide design events indefinitely.
For nearly two decades, the magazine has been a resource for the San Francisco design community, and over the past few years its readership soared with an expansion of its online presence and increased circulation throughout the state of California.

"California Home + Design was an important, inspiring resource," said Sam Lubell, West Coast editor of The Architect's Newspaper. "Its closing is a real loss for our community."
Despite the growth, California Home+Design’s parent company, McEvoy Group—which owns Chronicle Books, becker&mayer, Galison/Mudpuppy and Princeton Architectural Press—remains in talks with potential buyers for the title, but has decided to discontinue publication and release all staffers at this time.
"We're grateful for the hard working dedicated staff who were so passionate about California Home + Design and so well regarded in the design community," said Tom Fernald, chief operating officer of the McEvoy Group. "And also to the many advertisers that supported the publication and website for the 10 years under McEvoy Group's ownership. We are hopeful the brand will find a new home among one the companies that have expressed interest."
The magazine's editor-in-chief and managing editor sent out email messages yesterday annoucing the news to their contributors, designers, collaborators and friends of the publication.

Erin Feher and Sarah Virginia White
"I have personally had my dream job for the last seven years, and have you to thank," wrote Erin Feher, editor-in-chief. "I really hope we are able to work together again in the future."
"It's been an amazing year and a half with California Home+Design (thanks to all of you), so I want to personally share the news of our magazine's closure, effective today," wrote Sarah Virginia White, managing editor. "The vibrant design community in California has inspired me on a daily basis, and I expect that your audacious creativity will only continue to grow—the sadness I feel at the closure of our publication is merely that there is one fewer outlet available to celebrate your work."
The news comes just months after two regional publications—LUXE Interiors + Design and Cottages & Gardens—announced plans to launch branches in San Francisco this year.

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Nominations in for the best designs across the globe

February 21, 2014, 5:56 am

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A floating school in a Nigerian lagoon, friendly lamp posts, and a historic library chair are some of the 76 nominations for Designs of the Year 2014 just announced by the Design Museum in London.
Designs of the Year gathers together a year of cutting-edge innovation and original talent showcasing the very best in global architecture, digital, fashion, furniture, graphic, product and transport design.

Pro Chair Family, designed by Konstantin Grcic
This year’s nominees include international design stars Zaha Hadid, John Pawson, Stephen Jones, David Chipperfield and Miuccia Prada, alongside crowd-funded startups and student projects.
The broad reach of the competition allows for an overview of emerging trends and common themes from across different design disciplines. More than ever, designers are seeking to blur boundaries between the digital and physical worlds with new ideas, according to the Museum.

Iro furniture designed by Nagasaka for Established and Sons
Nominees in the furniture category are: the Bodleian Library Chair, designed by Barber & Osgerby; Iro, designed by Nagasaka for Established and Sons; the interior of the North Delegates’ lounge at the United Nations, designed by Hella Jongerius with Rem Koolhaas, Irma Boom, Gabriel Lester and Louise Schouwenberg; the Pro Chair Family, designed by Konstantin Grcic; Ripple, an ultra light timber table, designed by Benjamin Hubert; and the Simple exhibition at the ProjectB Gallery in Milan, designed by Phillippe Malouin.

Frac Centre designed by Jakob + MacFarlane
Nominees in the architecture category are: the Child Chemo House in Osaka, designed by Tezuka Architects; the Façade for Paul Smith in London, designed by 6a Architects; the Frac Centre in France, designed by Jakob + MacFarlane; the Frac Nord-Pas De Calais in France, designed by Anne Lacaton and Jean Phillipe Vassal; the Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan, designed by Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher; La Tallera Siquerios in Mexico, designed by Frida Escobedo; the Makoko Floating School in Nigeria, designed by NLE; Mont de Marsan Mediatheque, designed by archi5; Museo Jumex in Mexico City, designed by David Chipperfield; Newhall Be in Essex, designed by Alison Brooks Architects; Praca Das Artes Performing Arts Centre in Brazil, designed by Brasil Arquitetura; St Moritz Church in Germany, designed by John Pawson; The New Crematorium in Stockholm, designed by Johan Celsing; and the Wa Shan Guesthouse in China, designed by Wang Shu.

The Makoko Floating School designed by NLE
All of the nominated designs go on display at the Design Museum in an exhibition open from March 26 through August 25. A distinguished panel of experts will choose a winner from each category and one overall winner, to be announced later in the year.
After the success of its first outing in 2013, the Visitor Vote will return, allowing visitors to the Design Museum to pick their favorite design from the exhibition as well.
New for 2014 is the Social Vote, which sees two nominations fight it out each day through the exhibition’s online Social Vote platform. Broadcast to over one million of the Design Museum’s Twitter and Facebook followers, the Social Vote allows people from all over the world to participate and crown a winner. Follow along with the #designsoftheyear hash tag.

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ASID Chicago summit focuses on networking, technology

February 21, 2014, 5:57 am

≫ Next: L.A. design stars to be honored at West Week

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The robust program line-up set for the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)Illinois Chapter’s annual Design Summit on Thursday, February 27, at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, will focus on networking and technology during a day of career building and education designed to enhance professional skills and present new resources to designers.
Gail Doby, chief vision officer and co-founder of Design Success University, is the summit’s keynote speaker and will present “How to Avoid Fee Fiascos and Attract Your Ideal Client.” Her address offers attendees two CEUs through a two-part presentation.

Gail Doby
Guests will also have the choice to attend two of four seminars before and after the keynote presentations. They include:
Christopher Frederick and Stephanie Bryant from Organic Looms will discuss hand-knotted, hand-tufted and machine made area rugs in their presentation, Hand-Knotted Area Rugs, Hand-Tufted Area Rugs and Machine Made Area Rugs: The Good, Bad and the Ugly. The talk outlines area rug history and origins, construction methods along with advantages and disadvantages of each variety.
The Art of Hiding Technology reviews the three-pronged approach to hiding technology—advance planning, design philosophy and product selection—and minimizing the visual impact of electronics without compromising performance. Specific challenges and recommendations related to hiding video displays, projectors, speakers, controls, cameras and equipment racks will be addressed.
In World Tour: The Hottest Designs from the World’s Top Markets, guests will see the latest new product introductions, color and material trends from some of the world’s leading design shows through both photos and actual sampling. This whirlwind tour brings the latest design themes to attendees, outlining how certain products and style references develop from one show to the next. Reviews will focus on Cologne, Paris, Milan, Frankfurt and London, as well as some of the top US markets.
20th and 21st Century Handcrafted Wallcovering will provide an overview of 20th & 21st century wallcoverings, illustrating the canon of work, trends and usage. From block printing to hand painting to inlaid materials to natural fibers to fine art and more, it will explore the world of handcrafted wall coverings and reveal how they have evolved. The course will also explore how best to use wallcoverings in design and examine the various methods of manufacturing. The course will end with a live wallpaper making demonstration by Maya Romanoff artisans.
This year’s Design Summit will also feature a scavenger hunt where attendees can win a variety of design prizes. Winners will be announced during the after-party, which will be hosted at Carlisle Wide Plank Floors showroom on the first floor of The Merchandise Mart.
The ASID-IL Design Summit is open to designers, students, educators and design industry professionals. Registration is required. Paid admission grants attendees the opportunity to attend two CEU seminars, the keynote address (two CEUs), lunch and access to the Expo Trade Show.
The summit takes place on the 14th floor of the Merchandise Mart from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Twitter users are also encouraged to live-tweet from the event using the hash tag #ASIDIllinois.

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L.A. design stars to be honored at West Week

February 23, 2014, 6:29 pm

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Los Angeles is home to many of the design industry’s most celebrated creative minds, and each year the Pacific Design Center (PDC) recognizes a select group of distinguished professionals across all disciplines of art and design with the Stars of Design and Stars on the Rise awards at a private dinner to be held Wednesday, March 19.

The 2014 winners are (from left): Timothy Corrigan for Interior Design; Hagy Belzberg for Architecture; and Robert Truskowski for Landscape Design; Alison Berger for Product Design;Doug Aitken for Art; Art Gray for Photography; and Agustin Garza for Graphic Design.

The 2014 Stars on the Rise winners are (from left): Tamara Kaye-Honey; Joseph Dangaran; Tyler Dawson; and Brett Woods.
The Stars on the Rise category originated in 2012 and honors a small group of 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 Los Angeles design community and beyond.

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East Coast museum celebrates California Modernism

February 23, 2014, 6:29 pm

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More than 250 mid-century modern design objects ranging from furniture and textiles to fashion and classic vehicles will be on view in Salem, Massachusetts, as part of the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM)’s California Design, 1930–1965: Living in a Modern Way exhibition.
The work of designers Charles and Ray Eames, Richard Neutra and R.M. Schindler, along with previously unheralded figures, is contextualized within the creative climate of California and the social and cultural conditions of the time.

The exhibition shows how California became mid-century America’s most important source of progressive architecture and furnishings and explores the state’s influence on the nation’s material culture. Four thematic sections—Shaping, Making, Living and Selling—tell the origins of modern California design, its materials and makers, and the dissemination of a California look and modern lifestyle worldwide.
“The goal was to provide well-designed, accessible and affordable modern homes and furnishings to millions of Californians and those around the country who craved them,” said Austen Barron Bailly, PEM's George Putnam Curator of American Art, formerly of LACMA. “The designers who embraced California modern ideals wanted to make everyday life beautiful and comfortable. They responded to California’s environment and pioneered new ways to meld craft production with industrial manufacturing.”

Working with a spirit of modernism and experimentation, California designers adopted new materials and production methods leading to innovations in form and function for objects and architecture. A tremendous synergy arose between local designers and émigrés who brought European modernism and advanced professional training in art, architecture, craft and design to the Golden State.
Opportunities created by housing and population booms, as well as the burgeoning motion picture industry, propelled this culture of innovation and experimentation. The phenomenon accelerated when California took the lead in aerospace and defense manufacturing during World War II. Creative peacetime applications of wartime technologies and materials such as plywood, fiberglass and steel furthered exploration.

The accompanying 360-page catalogue, edited by Wendy Kaplan, is co-published by LACMA and MIT Press, and features essays by Kaplan and Bobbye Tigerman, along with other leading architecture and design historians.
The exhibition’s second publication, A Handbook of California Design, 1930-1965: Craftspeople, Designers, Manufacturers, edited by Tigerman, documents the lives and work of more than 140 significant mid-twentieth century figures in California design and was created by the internationally renowned graphic designer Irma Boom.
Various public programs will also accompany the exhibition inclduing:
Opening Day Celebration: Saturday, March 29, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The museum will host gallery talks including a lecture by California Design curator Wendy Kaplan followed by Q&A with her and PEM’s coordinating curator Austen Barron Bailly.
Engage with an Elephant: Select Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Guests will be able to view the toy elephant that husband-and-wife designers Charles and Ray Eames made. The couple invented a way of molding plywood that they used in many of their designs. Join a museum educator in the California Design exhibition to explore this piece and other examples of creative innovation.
Members-Only Gallery Talks: Wednesday, April 16, and Friday, April 25, at 9:00 a.m. Bailly will lead the first talk, followed by Gavin Andrews, assistant director for family, student and teacher programs and interpretive liaison for the exhibition. Tours are held exclusively for members before the museum opens.
Evening Party: Thursday, April 17, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy standup comedy and improvisational performances, see demos of '50s and '60s hairstyling, test their listening skills in the 'name that theme song' contest and much more. Guests are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite '60s sitcom character.
The Hot Seat: Explore form and function in innovative chair design Wednesdays, May 7 and 14, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays, May 10 and 17, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. With inspiration from the exhibition, students will learn to use traditional and nontraditional materials to transform chair design. The course is led by instructor Jeff Elsbecker, a sculptor, designer and professor of fine art. The cost is $220 for members and $260 for non-members.
Organized by the LACMA, this exhibition is the first major study of modern California design and PEM’s presentation is the exhibition’s only East Coast venue—on view from March 29 to July 6.
Photo Credits: Items part of the California Design, 1930–1965: Living in a Modern Way exhibition. Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum.

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