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Designers optimistic about economic future

February 25, 2014, 3:24 am
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According to the latest survey conducted by the AIGA, designer’s confidence in the strength of the economy increased to 101.26 in the fourth quarter of 2013, up from the previous quarter’s 95.4.
The index also showed that design leaders seem generally optimistic about the overall economy, although they don't expect dramatic growth. Only 6% believed the economy was worse today than it had been six months ago and 96.2% believed the economy would be the same or better six months into the future.
Nearly half of the designers polled said that their current business state was better than it was six months ago and 43.2% considered it the same. Nearly 60% looked forward to better business over the next six months, with only 4.7% percent projecting business will be worse.
In terms of hiring, 41% felt the chances of hiring additional staff was better today than it had been last October, 47.8% thought it was about the same and only 11.2% thought it was worse.
Finally, more than 90% believed their chances of purchasing additional hardware and software was the same or better than the previous quarter.
The AIGA is a global community of design advocates and practitioners whose mission is to advance design as a professional craft, strategic advantage and vital cultural force.
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Westchester Home magazine spotlights top talent

February 25, 2014, 3:25 am
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The winners of the third annual Westchester Home Magazine Design Awards have been chosen from among nearly 200 submissions, and will be honored at the CV Rich Mansion in White Plains, New York, on Thursday.
The winners are as follows:

Architecture: Daniel Contelmo Architects

Renovation: Murphy Brothers Contracting

Traditional Kitchens: Sleepy Hollow Custom Kitchens

Contemporary Kitchens: Choura Architecture




Master Suite, Dining Room, Bathroom and Casual Living Room: Claire Paquin of Clean Design


Children’s Room and Formal Living Room: Ariana Villalta and Alison Vanderpool of The Elegant Abode
The honorees, along with their projects, are showcased in the current Winter 2014 issue of Westchester Home. A select panel of judges from the New York School of Interior Design—Veronica Whitlock, Pedro Lima, Margaret Minz, Don Kossar and John Buscarello—chose the winners.
Receiving Honorable Mentions were: Alisberg Parker Architects for Renovation; Martin Tratt at Georgio Home for Kitchens; Veronica Campbell at Deane Inc. for Kitchens; Laura Tutun Interiors for Master Suite; Murphy Brothers Contracting for Bathrooms; and Daniel Contelmo Architects for Bathrooms.
Tickets to the cocktail awards reception are $25 and can be purchased online. The mansion is located at 305 Ridgeway, White Plains, New York, and the party will begin at 6:00 p.m.
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Meet the new marketing directors of the PDC and DDB

February 26, 2014, 5:52 am
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Two of the largest design centers in the country, the Pacific Design Center (PDC) in Los Angeles and the Decoration and Design Building (DDB) in New York, have new leaders at their helms—Jeff Sampson and Jodi Imburgia respectively. Both bring deep backgrounds in design to their new roles, and big ambitions to boot.
Sampson was most recently the VP of marketing for the L.A. Mart Design Center. Imburgia grew her career as the Director, National Design Awards, at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. This reporter spoke with them about their backgrounds and what lies ahead.
  
Jeff Sampson and Jodi Imburgia
Why do you love working in the design industry?
Sampson: I am constantly inspired by the creative process and the extraordinary vision that distinguishes great design. The idea of home is very meaningful to me. I am obsessed with the concept of creating space that is a reflection of personality and interest, a place that is comfortable, stylish and inviting, where one can spend time relaxing alone or entertaining friends. This fascination for imagining extraordinary environments has fueled my love of interior design and my admiration for the exceptional talent that our industry represents. I feel so very fortunate through my career that I have collaborated with an amazing cross-section of creative leaders who are brilliant designers who are also genuine, generous individuals.
Imburgia: My parents were always remodeling something, they were very DIY. At one point they added on this huge game room fit out with a sunken bar and they wanted these chairs that were made from old wine casks and they could not find them, so they ordered the barrels and made them! Remember hi-lo shag carpeting? Well I think we may have been the first to have it on my block. My education is in design and I have always loved architecture and the creativity of this community. I admire the community for its innovation, generosity and its courage to take risks.
What made you interested in working at a Cohen Design Center?
Sampson: The PDC is such an iconic, international landmark and the pinnacle of design for the West Coast. Over the course of my 20+ years in the design industry, I have had the pleasure of partnering with the PDC and developing many relationships with the showrooms. When I was asked to take the role, the opportunity to lead the marketing effort and create my imprint as part of the PDC team was both an irresistible offer and the next step forward in my career progression.
Imburgia: Being in a design environment is essential to not only my career, but my soul. Watching design evolve and seeing first-hand what is new is what interests me and there could not be a better building to experience that in.
What are you most excited to learn and work on?
Sampson: I think becoming immersed in the community and culture of the PDC and understanding the needs of our showrooms is my first priority. I am beginning my tenure at a pivotal moment as we ramp up towards our WESTWEEK Spring Market. It's been a fast and furious, hit-the-ground-running experience but it has also given me great insights into the working dynamics of the current marketing effort. I feel most proud that within my first few months we have built a robust 2014 market featuring some of the industry's most prolific talents complemented by more than 100 programs, events and product introductions.
Imburgia: I am most excited to get to know each of the showrooms intimately and figure out how the marketing department can best market for them. Also, I am looking forward to our Spring Market, which is just around the corner, Thursday, May 15.
What can dedicated shoppers and designers expect from you and the marketing department in the future?
Sampson: We definitely want to up our game, deliver the best celebrated design talent to inform and educate, expand our calendar of lecture programming across the year to include CEU credits, introduce new marketing and communications programs that spotlight our product offerings, enhance current partnerships while building new relationships with vested constituents, and build a greater level of community to best serve our design customers and their clientele.
Imburgia: What’s happening in design education? What is the future of product design?  How is sustainability affecting the market? I hope to be able to provide robust information to the clientele of the D&D Building through seminars, education and special events.
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Product introductions abound at London Design Week

February 26, 2014, 6:01 am
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The Design Centre at Chelsea Harbour is gearing up for its semi-annual London Design Week, where designers near and far will converge for four days of events and product previews March 9 – 13.
“London Design Week is a fantastic show—for many in the design industry it heralds the arrival of spring,” said the show’s managing director Claire German. “It has gathered a great deal of momentum, and now offers more design diversity than ever before. With an emphasis on style, imagination and directional design, it’s the place to discover world-class talent, connect with like-minded designers and get the inside track at events and talks.”
  
Creation Baumann and Edelman Leather collections
With the coming of spring, the Design Centre has identified botanicals and nature as the trend this season. Examples that highlight the trend include Creation Baumann’s photo-realistic butterflies, birds and flowers digitally printed on fabrics and wallcoverings; Edelman Leather’s Woodland Leather inspired by tree growth; and the Woodville collection by Zoffany featuring florals painstakingly recreated by skilled artists.

J Robert Scott's Steel fabric collection
Other introductions include Stark Carpet’s celebration of its 75th anniversary with the new brand “Dorjee” carpets and rugs; SA Baxter’s launch of “On the Rocks,” a new collaboration with interior designer Tony Ingrao; and Richard Chilcott of J. Robert Scott will present “Steel” the fabric collection as well as furniture by Allan Knight.

Jessica Zoob's collection for Romo
Rubelli will also celebrate its 125-year anniversary with “A Stiller Life,” where traditional materials are reinvented with contemporary components; David Hicks’ son Ashley will introduce his new line of fabrics and wallpapers for GP&J Baker; and British artist Jessica Zoob has collaborated with Romo to produce an adventurous collection of fabrics, wallcoverings and cushions.

New Baker furniture
Overall, more than 500 brands at 99 Design Centre showrooms (as well as outside participants in Chelsea) are set to debut their new ranges throughout the week at showrooms including Armani Casa, Baker, Brunschwig & Fils, Schumacher, Osborne & Little, Pierre Frey and Dedar.
  
Jay Jeffers and Marytn Lawrence Bullard
A number of lectures, panel discussions and design talks will be spread throughout the four-days. On Sunday, March 9, San Francisco-based designer Jay Jeffers will discuss his latest book Collected Cool and touch on his traditional redefined style. On Tuesday, March 11, LA-based designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard will talk about how he turned his brand into a global empire in conversation with editor Susan Crewe, followed by tea in the Ann Sacks showroom.
The program line-up includes talks by designers Sophie Conran, Emma Bridgewater, Judith Wilson, Daniel Hopwood, Rory Dobner, Ptolemy Mann and Bunny Turner.
Attendees will be able to dig into social media with “Designing Your Social Media Around You.” The discussion will be led by social and digital marketing specialist Eva Keogan as she shares effective ways to make the best of this new world of conversation, community and connection.
The market will be open exclusively to the trade from Sunday, March 9, through Tuesday, March 11, and it will be open to the public from Wednesday, March 12, to Friday, March 13.
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Are advertisers falling back in love with print?

February 26, 2014, 9:24 am
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It’s no secret that content presented on a digital platform offers tremendous advantages, but some believe it still leaves something to be desired—something that can only be achieved through the printed page. 
“The intangibles that come along with the print medium include the lean-back experience and pleasure of turning (and tearing out) thick, glossy, paper pages,” said domino Chief Revenue Officer Beth Brenner.

Sneak peek from the spring issue of domino. Photo by Brittany Ambridge.
The new issue of domino magazine hits newsstands March 5, and after selling 36 pages of advertising to brands like Hunter Douglas, Benjamin Moore, Kohler, Apple, Duralee, Sunbrella and Laura Ashley, Brenner believes the industry is falling back in love with print.
“We still feel that our target consumer loves the printed magazine experience,” said Gina Wicker, Design & Creative Director for Sunbrella. “She may be digital in many areas of her life, and she may consume magazines on her tablet, but we don’t believe that replaces the experience of really relaxing with a beautifully produced magazine.” 
Wicker herself spends a lot more time with a magazine in print because she finds it more enjoyable and relaxing. “The page size and tactile experience can’t be duplicated digitally. There’s nothing like enjoying beautiful photography and interesting editorial content printed on high quality paper.”
The domino team posits that print is one of the few mediums to offer a completely obsessed, style and design-minded audience, which they feel is the real value to advertisers.  “Print is the first point of inspiration, and advertisers want to be part of that,” said Brenner.
“Our own research has shown us that customers go to the Internet first for information about a product, yet they continue to request catalogs,” said Hope Gough, Marketing Manager for Laura Ashley. “We believe that digital media is an integral part of engaging with our customers, but we continue to find success with print advertising as we track sales. As a brand known for print and textiles, we understand peoples’ desire to touch and feel things, especially when it’s colorful and inviting."
Publishing companies have created a standard of selling print magazine subscriptions at rock-bottom prices to build audience and charge higher rates back to advertisers. But according to Brenner, advertisers don't have print budgets like they used to.
domino readers pay $11.99 for a single issue and $48 for a year's subscription. “Consumers today, while increasingly frugal, will pay for something they truly want,” she said.
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NYSID introduces budding Brooklyn designers

February 26, 2014, 5:39 pm
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“These are revolutionary, old ideas,” said NYSID president David Sprouls, describing New York City’s bourgeoning design and manufacturing renaissance in the opening remarks for the college’s Made In New York lecture on February 12.
     

  
From top: Anne Hellman, Michael Arnaud, Katie Deedy, Mary Wallis, Takeshi Miyakawa and Jason Miller
The event featured Design Brooklyn authors Anne Hellman and Michel Arnaud as moderators leading a discussion of what it means to be a designer and maker in New York City today—specifically in Brooklyn. The four panelists included Katie Deedy, a wallpaper designer from Grow House Grow; Jason Miller, an interior designer from Jason Miller Studio and Roll & Hill; Takeshi Miyakawa, an interior and product designer from Takeshi Miyakawa Design; and Mary Wallis, a lighting designer from Mary Wallis Studio.
The designers spoke about how they got their start, how the city supports and influences their work, and the challenges and triumphs they have faced in making, marketing and distributing their work.
Deedy spoke first about her business, Grow House Grow, known for its narrative-inspired wallpapers, fabrics, and tiles.
"When I make simple designs, I get excited, I think it's going to sell well,” said Deedy of creating product for the NYC market. “Invariably, people always want my more intricate patterns with lots of story behind them."

Wallpaper by Katie Deedy
As an illustrator, the idea for a wallpaper business came to her one day as a move that felt right, although she knew nothing about the wallpaper industry. Influenced by her mother, who is a professional storyteller, Deedy’s designs are based on stories about places, people, nature and more, giving depth to each design.
“The designs created a niche market based on the young, design-savvy urban market of Brooklyn and spread out from there,” she added.

Designed by Jason Miller
“A strong community and the market is centered here,” said Miller, of his decision to be based in NYC. Miller draws on everyday aspects of contemporary American culture to create furniture, tableware and other accessories that are sometimes as much conceptual art as they are contemporary design. His strategy includes both online sales of items such as plates and larger commissions through showrooms to grow his business.

Lighting by Takeshi Miyakawa
Miyakawa, who lives and works in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, creates photography, enigmatic furniture, installation and sculpture. "Brooklyn is such a big brand,” he said. “Everybody wants Brooklyn." He is also known for his urban interventions, one of which involved hanging “I love NY” bags off lampposts during the ICFF fair.

Lighting by Mary Wallis
Wallis earned a PhD in genetics before deciding to become a lighting designer. She said her creativity and craft has benefitted from the co-op artists space she shares with other artists/designers in Brooklyn.
"Do what you're really good at,” said Wallis of collaborating with other designers. “People will want to help you."
By collaborating and sharing space, the designers and artists are also able to share tools, ideas and collaborate on projects. Fabricating both custom and production work, her futuristic, hand-worked neon and glass lights are informed by the vital, creative Brooklyn community she is part of.
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Wallpaper* honors people, places, pieces and phenomena

February 27, 2014, 9:41 am
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The 10th-annual Wallpaper* Design Awards recognize those who have raised pulses, created trends and stuck over the past year.
This year’s judges include fashion designer Victoria Beckham, restaurateur Michael Chow, designer Ron Gilad, film maker Spike Jonze, architect Thom Mayne, gallerist Thaddaeus Ropac, and the Wallpaper* team. Together with the magazine’s international network of contributors, the judges selected 70 winners in 11 categories.
Here’s a look at a few who have been lauded.
  


Designers of the year (joint winner): Neri & Hu(top—desk design) and Philippe Nigro(bottom—collection designed for Hermes)

Best new private house:Geneses House by Isay Weinfeld

Best domestic design: “Terra.Cotto” pots by Stefania Vasquez forSambonet

Best bed:“Bumper Bed,” by Marc Newson for Domeau & Pérès

Best folk:Sebastian Herkner’s solid wood chair with a woven backrest, BarberOsgerby’s hand-blown Murano glass lamp, Simon Hasan’s marquetry, Stephen Burks’ recycled planters and Nanimarquina’s natural fiber rugs

Best line work:Paul Smith’s hand-knotted Tibetan wool rug for The Rug Company

Best lounger: “Orson” sun lounger, by Gordon Guillaumier for Roda

Best pixilation: Cristian Zuzunaga’s‘Deep Grid’ rug, for UK manufacturer Brintons, and Italian furnisher Emmemobili's ‘Seneca’ cabinet
Photos courtesy of Wallpaper*
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How to run a long-lasting design business

February 28, 2014, 3:55 am
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Not many firms can boast that 18 designers have spent over a decade working for them. Cullman & Kravis can. In business for over 30 years, the firm’s fearless leader, Ellie Cullman, shared her secrets to success in a panel discussion at the Decoration and Design Building earlier this week.
Cullman and two of her design associates, Claire Ratliff and Allison Davis, sat down with lifestyle blogger Stacy Bewkes of Quintessence to dissect how the team works together, how it’s lasted all these years and what truly makes the business thrive.

From left: Stacy Bewkes, Ellie Cullman, Claire Ratliff, Allison Davis
“Ellie treats everyone like they are her equal,” said Ratliff. “And she gives credit where credit is due.”
The business is run in a collaborative way. They have lunch together, they go out at night together, and it’s more like a family than a work environment.
“With our younger associates, we can usually tell within three months if they are going to be a good fit or not,” said Cullman.
The firm works on a “divide and conquer” basis. The office is broken up into three teams, each of which has senior designers, junior designers and assistants. “Everyone gets a hand in the job,” said Davis.
With multiple large projects going on in the firm, the key to completing them and completing them on time is organization within each of the design teams. The designers walked the audience through what they call their “cut sheets,” which meticulously list each and every item that will be purchased, how much it costs and where it will go.
“We take [clients] shopping with us,” said Ratliff. “It’s so important to stay organized and know where each little piece is since there are so many moving parts to a design process.”

Cullman explained that since she’s worked through two recessions she’s learned that being fiscally responsible is key. Every piece that is purchased for each project is always accounted for. When doing a budget, the design team will give a low price point, an estimate, a high price point and then will leave a space for the actual price to be filled in.
As they progress through the sourcing process, they are filling in prices and they know what range in which they have to stay. “We’ve never gone over budget unless the client requests something new,” said Cullman.
The budget sheets also highlight antiques and art purchased for the house with the final price for the client’s insurance purposes. “We really think about the clients needs,” said Cullman.
At Cullman and Kravis, there are no accountants or finance people who work on budgeting. Each design team is responsible for their own projects from start to finish. “That way we know nothing gets missed,” said Davis.

Cullman & Kravis design
Cullman also allows the younger designers to be hands-on when it comes to projects. “We do projects for repeat clients all the time who just want one room, or their children want a small space done,” said Cullman. “We don’t turn those away. By taking these on we can have a more junior designer complete the project and it's a great learning experience. You have to know how to do a project from start to finish.”
Aside from treating her employees well, Cullman also shared tips about treating clients well. “When we take on a new client, we need to figure out their ‘zip code,’” she said. “We take them to art shows and antique shows and shopping with us so we can get to know what they like. Once we have a sense, then we can do the rest.”
Davis explained that they also do what they call a “love it or hate it meeting,” where they show photos of things quickly and have the client declare whether they love or hate it.

Cullman & Kravis design
When it comes to buying the products, Cullman has a strict policy that she must see it first. “Never by from just looking at photographs,” she said. “You always have to see it first.”
Cullman said that she does shop online at places like 1stdibs but she still orders it and looks at it in person before she decides to use it.
“We need to see the scale and how it will work with other pieces,” said Cullman. “You just can’t see that online.”
Another thing that is extremely important to Cullman and her designers is completion. “Every single tabletop must be thought out and beautiful, book shelves must have real books and items on them and there must be art on the walls and flowers in the vases,” she said.
The design teams always leave an extremely healthy budget for accessories, because they are often forgotten about — and she feels they make the rooms complete. “You can’t have a beautiful shell with nothing in it,” said Cullman.
When it comes to installing the house, the Cullman & Kravis team asks that the family doesn’t come by the house at all for at least two weeks.

Cullman & Kravis' 2013 Holiday House room celebrating 30 years in business
“We need that element of surprise,” said Ratliff. “There’s nothing like the big reveal. We cry and they cry.”
Before the installation is complete Cullman and her team want the house to be absolutely livable. “We bring toilet paper, candy bowls, fresh flowers and dove soap,” said Ratliff. “We want it finished from top to bottom. The client can take a shower when they walk in the door. This makes them extremely happy.”
Cullman attributes her success to her ability to retain employees, stay organized, and make the clients happy. Her design motto is “good, better, best.” “Every room should have something that is best,” she said. Since the teams are organized and the budget is strict there is always a price point, but over the years they’ve learned how to deal with that.
“You can use things that are good, things that are better and one thing that is best,” said Davis. “The art of mixing is really key.”
“Save the best items for the public rooms, that’s how you get the biggest bang for your buck,” said Cullman. “We cut corners in ways that no client would ever be able to see. If you use just one best piece in a room, it will truly elevate the entire space.”
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Photo Tour: Palm Beach Hope Designer Showcase

February 28, 2014, 3:55 am
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Those in the creative community have a significantly higher incidence of depression, according to research done by the Hope For Depression Research Foundation (HDRF). With this in mind, Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show President Scott Diament partnered with the organization to present the Hope Designer Showcase, which supports the HDRF and serves as a platform to raise awareness of depression and its related mood disorders.
Now celebrating its third year, the showcase invited six top interior designers and two event designers to create a group of room settings featured at the entrance to the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show, which opened to the public earlier this month.

Vignette designed by Scott Snyder

Vignette designed by Bruce Bierman
Jim Aman, John Meek, Bruce Bierman, Campion Platt, Jennifer Post and Scott Snyder carefully selected art and antiques from the 180 international exhibitors of the show to create the vignettes, from a vast range of antiquities to the mid-20th century modern. The designer’s goals were to create individual room settings that showed guests how the products and creativity could enhance their environments and their lives.

Vignette designed by Jim Aman and John Meeks

Vignette designed by Campion Platt
The Hope Designer Showcase was previewed at the show’s Opening Night Preview Party and all guests were able to mingle with the designers and have a sneak peek at the show’s offerings.
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West Week to focus on geographic spectrum of design

March 3, 2014, 2:20 am
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Mario Buatta, Alexa Hampton, Suzanne Tucker, Timothy Corrigan and James Magni are a few of the interior designers you can expect to see at the Pacific Design Center March 19 and 20. The two days of events will cover global and local design with keynotes topics that include American Classics, Global Views, and Transcending Borders.
  
Mario Buatta and Alexa Hampton
On Wednesday morning, contributing editor for T Magazine David Netto will moderate a panel on American design with Thomas Beeton, Hampton and Tucker. In the afternoon, Buatta will discuss his book Mario Buatta: Fifty Years of American Decoration. On Thursday morning, moderator Michael Wollaeger of Interiors Magazine will host “Global Views” featuring Corrigan, Andrea Rubelli, Andrew Skurman and Roger Thomas; on Thursday afternoon Samantha Brooks of the Robb Report will talk about California design with Juin Ho, Richard Landry and Magni.
  
James Magni and Timothy Corrigan
Aside from the keynotes, each day of market will be packed with product introductions, book signings and other panel discussions. Here’s a sneak peek at the line-up:
Wednesday, March 19
11:00 a.m.
Sarah Richardson, designer and star of HGTV’s Sarah’s House, Sarah 101 and Real Potential, will introduce her latest collection of fabrics for Kravet (Suite B624). Attendees will get an in-depth look at the development of Sarah’s new collection, and hear first-hand what inspires her.
Designer Ken Fulk will discuss his unique thoughts about design, tradition, art and fashion in the changing landscape of contemporary life at the Michael Taylor Designs showroom (Suite B542).
11:30 a.m.
Hampton will sign copies of her new book Decorating in Detail at the WITFORD showroom (Suite B517). Wine and light fare will be served.
12:00 p.m.
Maya Romanoff’s CEO Joyce Romanoff along with Wollaeger will present the new book Multifarious: Maya Romanoff’s Grand Canvas, the unique story of Maya Romanoff’s life, the biography of a man and an idea, at the Donghia showroom (Suite G196).
1:00 p.m.
Interior designer Kerry Joyce will share stories from his career, and discuss his “8-step program” for successful design and the creative process of interior, architecture and product design in the Blue Conference Center.
1:30 p.m.
Soolip (Suite G154) founder Wanda Wen will share her insights about the importance of paper messaging in business and show options to use paper to move your business forward. RSVP for this event.
2:00 p.m.
Guests are invited to celebrate Crestron’s (Suite G288) integrated technology as seen in the Palm Springs Modernism Week Show house. Appetizers and refreshments will be served.
Stark (Suite B617) will present the new 2014 Missoni Home Collection with Chris Phillips and light refreshments will be served.
British designer Kit Kemp and Wollaeger will discuss her design vision and new fabric collection for Christopher Farr Cloth, which brings her modern British style to the U.S. The Thomas Lavin showroom (Suite B310) will also serve afternoon tea and guests can pick up a signed copy of Kemp’s A Living Space.
3:00 p.m.
Steven Cooper of Cooper Pacific Kitchens (Suite G273) will lead a discussion on some of the latest trends in kitchen designs and finishes, and how to utilize them in ways to make projects unique.
The Hokanson Carpet showroom (Suite B611/B613) will be debuting the new Shadow Collection of silk and wool carpets, and will host a fortuneteller for guests to peek into their futures.
4:00 p.m.
Robert Allen|Beacon Hill (Suite B499) will host Liz Hausman of Houzz along with L.A. interior designers Kenneth Brown, Mark Cutler and Lori Dennis. The panel will discuss how to use Houzz to market your business, gain more clients and attract attention from the press. RSVP for this event.
Laura Kirar will celebrate her new collection with McGuire Furniture at the Baker, Knapp & Tubbs showroom (Suite B525).
Summit (Suite B135) President Jane Sieberts and one of Summit’s distinguished designers will toast to 35 years in the business.
Stephen F. Elton, chief brand officer of Brown Jordan (Suite B114), and Edie Cohen, deputy editor of Interior Design Magazine, will co-host an exclusive cocktail reception to celebrate the launch of the new Oculus Collection of estate furniture designed by Michael Berman. RSVP for this event.
Bausman & Company (Suite B355) is celebrating the re-opening of its Los Angeles showroom at its new PDC location. Stop by for the Grand Opening festivities. RSVP for this event.
The first day of market will conclude with the annual presentation of the Stars of Design and Stars on the Rise awards during a private dinner and reception.
Thursday, March 20
11:00 a.m.
Corrigan will host a brunch reception and book signing to celebrate the launch of his debut collection of fabrics, furnishings and rugs exclusively for Schumacher and Patterson Flynn Martin (Suite B489).
Fabrice Gouffran, head of Armani/Casa (Suite G170), will provide an intimate look at the overlapping worlds of fashion and furniture design and the common inspirations from which both collections spring. The program will focus on Georgio Armani’s creative process in the development of seasonal clothing lines and the influence that fashion brings to his design of Armani/Casa products. RSVP for this event.
L.A. interior designers Lori Dennis and Kelli Ellis will be in the Thomas Lavin showroom (Suite B310) to host a 2-hour mini design camp. A social media contest will occur simultaneously and winners will receive a free ticket to the July 2014 Design Camp in Las Vegas.
12:00 p.m.
Andrea Rubelli, president and CEO of Donghia (Suite G196), Carolyn Reed, VP of sales and Christoph Haeussler, president of SAHCO will host a lunch to introduce the new Spring 2014 collections from Donghia, Rubelli and SAHCO.
2:00 p.m.
Kneedler|Fauchère (Suite B600) is now representing Therien & Co and Quatraine. Guests are invited to toast the additions to the showroom.
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Designer tables ‘wow’ at Veranda’s Orchid Dinner

March 3, 2014, 7:26 am
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Although it was chilly outside, the mood was warm and spring-like inside the Mandarin Oriental in New York City last Monday as supporters of the New York Botanical Garden gathered for the annual Orchid Dinner sponsored by Veranda magazine.

Susanna Salk, David Scott, Sherrill Canet and Doug Roach

Danielle Rollins and Clinton Smith
  
Alison Spear and Phillip Gorrivan

Kevin Sharkey and Martha Stewart
The dinner featured 25 tables settings designed by New York’s leading architects, interior designers and horticulture experts based on the theme, “Key West Contemporary.”
Designers included Carlos Aparico, Baccarat, Laura Blanco, Bowman & Dahl Floral and Event Design, Sherrill Canet, Cullman & Kravis, Marc Charbonnet, David Easton, David M. Handy Events, Stephen Elrod for Brunschwig & Fils, FlowerSchool New York, Mauro Gomes for MagnaFlora Design Events, Phillip Gorrivan, Carolyn Gregg and Steven De La Torre, Meredith Hutchison, Hilary Pereira, Danielle Rollins, David Salvatore, Shawn Henderson, Alison Spear, Stephen Sills Associates, Thomas Burak Interiors, Michael Devine, Roric Tobin for Geoffrey Bradfield Inc., Trish O’Sullivan and Aamir Khandwala for Robert Couturier.

Design by Shawn Henderson
“When I heard what this year’s theme was, I immediately thought of Paul Rudolph and the Florida homes he did,” said Henderson. “I thought it was the perfect inspiration for this centerpiece. I think that the structure within a structure was super successful. I love how grand in scale the centerpiece was—yet you could see right through, which is important for a centerpiece. Plus, we were able to create a beautiful dialogue with the centerpiece by using the Calvin Klein tableware, stemware and flatware.”

Design by Aamir Khandwala
“My design started with a circle,” said Khandwala. “I thought to myself, ‘We always think of a centerpiece [sitting] on a table but why not think of a hanging centerpiece?’ I wanted something suspended from the very beginning. It developed first from an umbrella of flowers, to then a simple circular shape, and finally a ring that is entirely covered with flowers.”
  
Design by Cullman & Kravis
“The secret element was ‘dressing’ the chairs in the shutters and painting them coral, in this way adding a whimsical touch to our table,” said Cullman. “All the elements on the table related to each other: with a profusion of colorful orchids, a vibrant palette of coral, turquoise and lime green, beach umbrella, towels and shutters. As we always say, god is in the details!”
All proceeds from the Orchid Dinner underwrite the development of the Garden’s orchid research collection, which helps maintain the highest horticultural standards of orchid conservation. Over the weekend, the Garden opened its annual Orchid Show, which will remain open through April 20, and it features the same Key West theme.
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Hot off the press: Nine new design books kick off the season

March 3, 2014, 8:47 pm
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Designers and publishers have been busy producing record numbers of design books—nearly 50 hit shelves last fall, and a similar number can be expected again this year.
"I cannot speak for the other publishers but our fall list is about the same this year as last year," said Jessica Napp, associate director of publicity for Rizzoli. "We have always had a strong interior design publishing program; this fall we are publishing 15 interior design books across all of our imprints. Our interiors list has grown some in recent years, perhaps as a response to the growing interest in the home design market, and continues to be one of our top and strongest categories."
Editor at Large will be highlighting select books coming out each month, from now through the fall. Here's a look at nine making their debut in March.

In her new book, British interior designer Kelly Hoppen offers a wealth of experience and advice on creating a signature style. Kelly Hoppen: How to Achieve the Home of Your Dreams (Rizzoli) reveals the author’s own trade secrets and expert knowledge for running a project smoothly, staying within budget and achieving the look you want. The book’s first section, “The Groundwork,” advises on basics such as setting out the design process, weighing the choices, analyzing space, and working out what to do to improve the ergonomics of a home. “Getting Started” looks at each room or key area in the home in detail, offering advice and ideas, highlighting the key issues and fundamental design principles applicable to each space, and providing helpful hints and guidelines on all aspects of decorating and furnishing that room. The book comes to an end with some of Hoppen's favorite sources, and includes space for the reader to add his or her own contacts and recommendations.

In Jay Jeffers’ first book, Collected Cool: The Art of Bold, Stylish Interiors (Rizzoli), the interior designer delves into the spirit of his work and takes readers through his projects. He divided his work into four groups: Collected Cool, captivating rooms that are thoughtfully layered, revealing themselves over time through myriad details; Bold Bespoke, interiors viewed through a sartorial lens with custom elements essential to their unique style; Unabashed Glamour, rooms that make an instant impression with their luxe finishes, sumptuous materials, and sparkle; and Casual Chic, comfortable but stylish spaces with a sense of ease. In each section, Jeffers shares his process and gives guidance for re-creating the look at home. Interior designer Jamie Drake wrote the foreword for the book.

An intimate insight into the homes of some of the world's most interesting people, Behind Closed Doors (Hardie Grant Books) by Rob Meyers is a unique collection of interior photographs. Meyers sent a batch of disposable cameras out to friends in the magazine and art worlds, asking them to photograph their favorite parts of their homes. To his surprise, many sent back a full camera. The book takes readers through the homes of Courtney Love, Martha Stewart, Jeremy Scott, Oliver Theyskens and Tavi Gevinson.

Inspired Home: Nest of Creatives (Rizzoli) by Kim Ficaro and Todd Nickey celebrates the personal styles of dynamic creatives, revealing how inspirations translate to the home. The book opens the doors to masterful spaces of celebrated musicians, stylists, writers, producers, designers and tastemakers. With styles that vary from bohemian modern to beach chic, each space reflects how to live well among one's passions and histories.

One of the world’s preeminent hospitality designers and an early pioneer of the restaurant design profession, Adam D. Tihany shares his story and most spectacular projects in Tihany: Iconic Hotel and Restaurant Interiors (Rizzoli). This book offers an in-depth tour of some of the designer’s most defining projects including the restaurants Per Se and Daniel in New York, Apsley’s in London, as well as the Westin Chosun in Seoul and the One&Only resort in Cape Town.

Dreaming Small: Intimate Interiors (Rizzoli) by Douglas Woods is a celebration of jewel-box homes, each marked by a sense of style that marries eclecticism, practicality, beauty and livability. The book explores through photography the possibilities that exist in these mostly unpublished gems by architects Irving Gill, Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler and Paul R. Williams, among others.

The architects Cross & Cross shaped the streetscape and skyline of New York City in the 1920s and 1930s with Upper East Side townhouses and apartment buildings, the RCA Victor Building and Tiffany’s flagship store on 57th Street. In this first book to collect the achievements of the firm, New York Transformed: The Architecture of Cross & Cross (The Monacelli Press) by Peter Pennoyer and Anne Walker, readers are presented with a comprehensive monograph of the firm’s work, with more than 300 illustrations both historic and new and a catalogue raisonné of their projects.

Small enough to fit in a pocket yet serious enough to provide real answers, How to Read Houses: A Crash Course in Domestic Architecture (Rizzoli) by Will Jones is an illustrated field guide to domestic architecture. This sixth entry in the How to Read series is a one-stop guide to understanding house styles. The book explains the aesthetics of house forms ranging from elaborately decorated Arts & Crafts architecture to the purity of modernist homes.

Tailored Retail (Jeffery Hutchinson & Associates, LLC) is designer Jeffery Hutchison’s debut monograph, a photographic tome celebrating his 25 years in the industry, designing retail concepts for some of the most iconic names in the fashion industry—Barneys New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Narcisco Rodriguez and Ralph Lauren. Readers will travel around the world and take a peek into some of the most aspirational and groundbreaking stores, and learn where the future of retail design is headed.
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Home furnishings product sales reach $46 billion

March 3, 2014, 8:47 pm
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“Consumers are spending more on their homes, from adding items to spruce up the appearance, to upgrading with better quality, performance, or convenience in mind,” said Debra Mednick, executive director and home industry analyst, The NPD Group, Inc.
The Group released a new study showing that U.S. sales of home-related products including home fashions and textiles, non-electric housewares and small appliances reached $46 billion in 2013, a 3% percent increase from the previous year.

The bed segment drove home fashions and textiles sales by 2% since 2012, accounting for almost 60% of industry dollars. However, it wasn’t only the average home fashions spend that increased in 2013, but the number of items purchased.
There was a noticeable shift in channel share as online sales grew a dramatic 24% at the expense of brick and mortar retailers, which experienced a sales decline. Despite the increase, online sales of home fashions were just 14% of total dollars in 2013.
“As more alternative, flash site type sellers expand their presence in home fashions, I expect online to continue its upward trajectory,” said Mednick. “However, with the current focus on accessorizing and the absence of newness, the overall industry is likely to expand just modestly. Whether it is new, innovative, or touches on some other sweet spot, communicating the end benefit to the consumer is more important than ever before in the home products industry.”
The star of non-electric housewares products in 2013 was cookware, which saw sales increase 3% to $2.1 billion. However, the tabletop spotlight was on dinnerware, as the average spend has increased over last two years. Overall, online sales brought in 17% of non-electric housewares dollars in 2013, and grew 16% from the previous year.

The majority of growth however came within the small appliance sector. All three major segments within the small appliance industry experienced dollar growth in 2013. Blender/mixer/chopper systems, specialty stylers, juice extractors, espresso makers and bare floor cleaners are among the strongest performing categories.
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Hotel guests challenged to design ice suites

March 5, 2014, 3:51 am
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Located just miles north of the Arctic Circle, the ICEHOTEL in Sweden has invited guests to co-design their own haute couture suites during their stay, with one caveat—the rooms are made of ice.
“We want to create a forum in which guests can express their own design ideas and experiment with ice as an art material,” said Arne Bergh, creative director of ICEHOTEL. “The beauty of ice is that it only exists briefly and then goes away, it unleashes an incredible creativity in people.”

The suites, like ICEHOTEL itself, are made of the exclusive natural ice from the river Torne and all the artwork inside is original and handmade. Torne is one of the last untouched rivers of Europe and is completely free of pollutants, giving it a premium quality and such clarity that the one meter thick blocks, which are harvested from the river, are completely transparent and without air bubbles.

Each suite, which will be made exclusively for the client, will cost $231,000, making it one of the most expensive hotels in the world, and after departure, it will be left to return to the river as the springtime sun returns.

Once it is gone, clients will be given a bottle containing some of the melted water, along with the sketches and blueprints for the design and photographs of the suite.
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to environmental initiatives in the Baltic Sea, where the river Torne runs into the ocean. The package includes a face-to-face consultation in the client’s hometown, as well as a complimentary stay at ICEHOTEL during the creation of the suite which can take up to two weeks.
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Five new online designer resources decoded

March 5, 2014, 7:13 am
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The interiors landscape is teeming with online resources for buying and selling antiques and designer furnishings. A few of the newcomers (one-year-old or younger) include The HighBoy, LOFTY, Viyet, Chairish and Hunter’s Alley. Here’s a rundown on who’s doing what and how designers can benefit from using them.     
1. The HighBoy (thehighboy.com)
Age: One month
Number of items: 1,600
Type of items: Antiques, Decorative Arts, Fine Arts
Who can sell: Vetted dealers

Sample product selection
“There are several players in this market with whom we overlap, but we feel that each has a unique point of view,” said Olga Granda-Scott, a second-generation dealer who founded The HighBoy with her husband, Douglas Scott. “We are coming in with our own mission, our own aesthetic, and our own team. We want to speak to clients looking for an inspiring experience, seamless shopping and perhaps an interesting tidbit they didn’t know previously. But most importantly, we’re here to get people as excited about antiques, art, culture and history as we are.”
Designers may take advantage of automated trade pricing, the ability to hold items for 72 hours, a dedicated customer service expert, early product previews, and access to special events. “Designers will quickly know what their final price is, and how much it will cost to deliver it,” said Granda-Scott.
Partnerships and collaborations with designers are in the works and will be announced in the coming months.
2. LOFTY (lofty.com)
Age: One year
Number of Items: A few hundred
Types of Items: Fine Art, Antiques, Collectibles
Who can sell: Anyone
     
Sample product selection
LOFTY founder Mark Lurie, a 28-year-old Harvard Business School graduate, created the site to help collectors and interior designers buy and sell items worth $500 to $50,000 with more confidence, less hassle and at a lower commission than any of the existing options.
“LOFTY makes it really easy for designers to sell items in storage or help their clients sell items,” said Lurie. “All it takes is snapping 10 iPhone photos and then uploading or emailing them to LOFTY. We'll do the rest. We are best for items that are too special for eBay but aren't worth the complexity and high commissions of Sotheby's or Christies.”
LOFTY charges a 10% Seller's Fee as well as a Buyer's Premium of 15%. The site also offers designers a trade discount of 5%.
“Most other websites only let dealers sell items, which means prices are very high and most collectors and designers aren't allowed to sell,” he said. “LOFTY allows anyone to buy and sell at fair prices because we evaluate each item. Unlike other online auction sites and marketplaces like eBay, LOFTY’s skilled experts evaluate each piece and guarantee authenticity.”
LOFTY is backed by venture capitalists and angel investors including Founders Fund Angel and entrepreneur Fabrice Grinda. They have raised $3 million to date.
3. Viyet (viyet.com)
Age: 11 months  
Number of items: 100 items per week
Type of items: Consignment furniture and accessories
Who can sell: Designers
       
Sample product selection
“Viyet serves the top echelon of the furniture consignment market by only selecting and featuring a highly-curated selection of merchandise as well as providing unparalleled white glove service every step of the way—from listing to photography, selling and delivery,” said Jennifer Koen, VP of marketing and PR for Viyet. “Our focus on building relationships in the design community makes us different—offering discounts and services that meet the specific needs of the interior design community.”
With sales tripling every three months, Viyet focuses on designer and brand name furniture that is in good condition or that can be easily brought to life again with design direction and a little love.
“Designers are our biggest and best customer group as they are constantly looking for products and view Viyet as their new secret weapon to buy design finds at great prices, without a wait, that they can customize for their clients,” said Koen. “They also consign merchandise they have left over from show houses, clients and their own personal items.”
The site is preparing to launch a designer trade program that will offer designers a discount, and services to help them deliver product to clients.
“If a designer consigns, we offer a traditional consignment model of 50% for them and 50% to Viyet,” added Koen. “We offer a white glove service where once we get the call from a designer that wants to consign, Viyet sends a curator to the site and then photographs, details dimensions, conditions and gathers information on selling features so that Viyet can market and sell the items. Once sold, Viyet arranges white glove pick up and delivery and then sends the designer a check.”
Viyet is privately funded but plans to start a round of funding this fall.
4. Chairish (chairish.com)
Age: One year 
Number of items: 5,000
Type of items: Pre-owned furniture, lighting, décor 
Who can sell: Anyone
           
Sample product selection
“There is space in this market for many players such as eBay, Craigslist, 1stDibs, One Kings Lane,” said Charish co-founder and chief curator Anna Brockway. “We strive to offer the most product in a curated space with key differentiators like: mobile selling and buying, verified price negotiation, shipping services and local pick-up options. We also offer best-in-class search capabilities to allow for efficient shopping by style, furniture type and location.”
Chairish is built for bargaining, she explained. The site enables sellers to negotiate price through an automated ‘make an offer’ feature, and it offers special pricing and services for selected designers.
For an item submitted through the iPhone app or online, Chairish takes a 20% commission once the item is sold. Listing is free and the buyer pays for shipping. If a seller wants help with product photography or for Chairish to store an item(s) before it sells, the commission rate increases a bit.
The criteria for selling items on Chairish are style, condition, brand and price. Interior designers can also have their own “store front” with multiple items for sale.
Chairish is backed by venture capital partners including O'Reilly Alpha Tech Ventures (OATV) and Azure Capital.
5. Hunter’s Alley (huntersalley.com)
Age: 10 months
Number of items: Hundreds added daily 
Type of items: Pre-owned furniture, lighting, décor, artwork, rugs
Who can sell: Anyone

Sample product selection
“Hunters Alley provides a curated experience with many ways to shop and discover, including themed sales,” said co-founder Alison Pincus, who is also the co-founder of One Kings Lane. “Our team lightly vets all submitted product, so shoppers see the most interesting pieces. Hunters Alley is also a community-centric space for design lovers to interact. Because of our social offering, buyers and sellers get to know each other, interested shoppers can comment on merchandise and individuals can follow each other.”
Pincus described Hunters Alley as a design democracy. “Enthusiasts, hunters and designers have an equal shot at finding something fabulous,” she said. “From a listing and selling perspective, the process is the same for everyone. In certain instances, we shine a spotlight on designers by featuring their products in special sales events that appear on our homepage. We call these ‘Former Loves.’
Hunters Alley takes a 25% commission and the buyer covers the shipping fee.
“We believe we’re sitting in a very unique place,” said Pincus. “Our offering is different from anything else out there right now.”
Hunter’s Alley is funded and owned by e-commerce site One Kings Lane.
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Design auction, gala benefits orphans of Nepal

March 6, 2014, 5:37 am
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Kids of Kathmandu, a New York-based non-profit supporting the orphaned and marginalized children of Nepal, will host its third-annual design fundraiser and online auction, which culminates with a gala on March 13 in New York City and raises funds for food and nutrition programs in Nepal.
This year’s theme, the Dining Project, invites top designers to donate components of a dining room for auction. The first year of the program, designers created or donated desks for the Desk Project and the second year, custom lights for the enLIGHTen project.
  
Items up for auction
Designers and companies who have donated items to the cause include BDDW, David Byrne, Bec Brittain, Lindsey Adelman, Ted Muehling, David Weeks, Amy Helfand, Eric Manigian, Chen Williams, Chris Lehrecke and Palo Samko.
“We are incredibly humbled by the level of designers who have donated their work to us,” said Andrew Raible, co-founder of Kids of Kathmandu. “The fact that the designers and our donors put their trust in us to help the kids in Nepal motivates us to continue to explore innovative ways in which to help these kids become healthy and independent adults.”
  
Items up for auction
Nearly half of all children in Nepal under 5 years of age are developmentally stunted and one-third are underweight. As education is a top priority for Kids of Kathmandu, supporting children’s development with proper nutrition is crucial.
“We fell in love with Nepal, and its’ children four years ago,” said Raible. “Since then, our commitment to them has continued to grow as we have learned the many obstacles that these kids face and will continue to deal with as they grow and struggle to find their footing in an already difficult scenario.”
The online auction is now live and items up for bid include a chandelier, chairs, tables and tabletop accessories. All proceeds from the auction as well as tickets to the gala on March 13 will aim to provide 4,500 meals per month and new kitchens in the orphanages of Nepal.
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PDC to honor Timothy Corrigan for interior design

March 6, 2014, 5:39 am
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Next week, the Pacific Design Center will host its annual dinner and awards ceremony celebrating the “Stars of Design” and “Stars on the Rise” in multiple categories from interior design to architecture, landscape design and photography.
Among the honorees is industry veteran Timothy Corrigan, who will receive the Star of Design distinction for interior design. This reporter chatted with him, and learned about his decade-spanning career and the advice he has for newbies.

How does it feel to be known a “star” of design?
I am thrilled because I would never have been able to do all of the projects without the incredible range of terrific resources that are found under one roof at the PDC.
What are you most inspired by as a designer and how has that changed over the years?
Probably the single driving force in my life is to always feel that I am continuing to grow and learn. I love that incredible feeling that you get when you take in new information that, whether you like it or not, forces you to re-assess how you see the world around you. As a person (and as a designer) I hope to continually evolve and change. Some of my favorite projects are those that pushed me out of my comfort zone in terms of design style, architectural limitations, or logistical challenges.
What is something you are always trying to improve?
I feel that I have been incredibly blessed in my life and one of the things that I continually try to practice is gratitude. The interesting thing about gratitude is, the more you express it, the more you have for which to be grateful!
What are you most proud of?
I am tremendously proud of having had the courage to leave a very successful career in advertising and to follow my heart by embarking on a new career in interior design. The fact that I have achieved any degree of success in my second career is a testament that we all must follow the path that beckons us; I strongly believe that when we are on the right course, the universe will support and nurture us.
Do you have a favorite project that you've ever done?
I have loved the development of my new line of fabrics and furniture for Schumacher as well as carpets for Patterson, Flynn & Martin—all of which are debuting this March. The whole process forced me to really look at what I admire in design. I had to look at what shapes and colors I love and then figure out how to whittle them all down into cohesive collections that reflect the changing taste and styles of today.
What is a piece of advice you have for young designers just starting out?
I have two pieces of advice to young designers:
1) It is important to study the history of architecture and design because even the most contemporary design has its roots in the past. All of design operates on a pendulum shifting from one end to the other—from rococo to neo-classicism, from art nouveau to art deco, from the clean lines of modernism that we have experienced for the last ten years to the more layered and textured look that we are evolving to today. By understanding the history of design one is able to re-create from the past in wonderful, fresh new ways.
2) Design is all about trust between you and your clients and you and your suppliers. You must establish that sense of mutual trust and continue to reinforce it all along the way. While this is a field filled with creativity it is also a business in which our clients are entrusting us with their hard-earned money and it is important to handle a client’s money as prudently as if it were your own!
If you hadn't gone into interior design, what would you be doing?
I would love to be a landscape architect. What a joy it must be to integrate architecture (space, shape and form) with the most wonderful of all materials: trees, shrubs and flowers. I continue to be in awe of everything in nature as it progresses through the four seasons and over time. Nothing ever stays the same in a garden. One of the reasons that I bought the Château du Grand-Lucé in France was to get to play with gardens on a large scale.
What are you working on now?
We have some amazing projects underway. We are working on two historically important Mediterranean houses in Beverly Hills, a Georgian house in London, a penthouse in a glass box skyscraper in Chicago, a full floor on New York’s Fifth Avenue overlooking Central Park, a spectacular beach front property in La Jolla and a 65,000-square-foot house in Bel-Air are some of our current projects.
We are also working on a second tabletop collection for Royal Limoges, a wallpaper collection for Schumacher and a collection of plumbing fixtures for French manufacturer THG. You see, I do have a lot for which to be grateful!
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Material Connexion library moves, expands offering

March 7, 2014, 5:44 am
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Tile made of snail excrement, thermochromic leather, shredded and compressed counterfeit dollars and fabric woven of peacock feathers are a few of the obscure yet practical resources that can be found within the aisles of Material Connexion. In its new location at the Sandow headquarters in New York City, the library has expanded its offering by 30% to include more than 7,000 material samples.

“Each month, we add materials to the library, open more locations around the world and sign on new Fortune 500 companies to use our consulting services,” said Michele Caniato, president of Material Connexion.
Since its acquisition by Sandow in 2011, the company has opened locations in Beijing, Shanghai, Istanbul, Skövde and Tokyo. It also launched a consulting arm, ThinkLab, which offers customized design solutions to clients.
 The library is accessible to the 12,000 current members who work in product design, packaging, fashion design, interior design, architecture and art.

“It serves a wide range of designers which allows someone who deals with space to tap into the world of materials used in fields that he or she would not have access otherwise,” said architect and designer Peter Pawlak, who is a member of the library. “Fabrics used in fashion or car design can find a way into architecture which makes a space more versatile and allows different creative fields to merge ideas and provide a wide range of design opportunities.”
The criterion for a product to be accepted into the library comes with a rigorous judging process. “We add about 50 to 60 materials every month,” said Dr. Andrew H. Dent, VP of library research. "We probably review 200 before we get to that 50 to 60, and we have a jury review them every month to assess their innovative properties. The jury is a mix of people from different fields, so there’s a different point of view to analyze and look at the materials.”

From there, it’s a six-week process after the material is accepted into the library. Staffers write a description about the material, add it to the online database and translate it into five languages.
Finally, when the new materials are added, the same number must be bumped—usually based on popularity and age. That is the role of the library staff.
“We have 2,500 materials out on display, and that’s five years worth of materials,” said Dent. “What we thought was interesting and innovative five years ago, we may come to realize it didn’t quite work. Maybe the market isn’t interested, so it’s no longer commercially viable."

Materials that resonate most are gels and packaging materials—anything that will reduce shipping and overhead costs.
“Ecovative is a company that produces packaging molds and panels by using mushrooms which are bio gradable and environmentally friendly,” said Pawlak. “At the moment we are exploring a possibility of using its panels as acoustical material in a new restaurant we are working on. In the past, I have used metal meshes from the conveyer belts as a wall material.”
The products never totally disappear; archived materials are kept in a large vault on the premise and are recorded in the online database.
“Members can look up the materials online and they can create a folder and say, ‘I want to come in and see these 30 materials,’ and we can get them set up for them,” said Dent.
Interior design community members include Glenraven, Maya Romanoff and Knoll.
"Material Connexion is the embodiment of its name; the materials themselves are at the heart and they act as connective tissue between those who make the material and those who use them," said Laura Romanoff, Senior VP of sales and marketing for Maya Romanoff. "I love their library because the way the materials are displayed removes any preconceptions about how they ultimately can be utilized. If I show you glass beads adhered to a non-woven backing, you will see it as a wallcovering. If Material Connexion shows it to you, it could be a rug or a vanity or a restaurant menu. It's incredibly freeing."
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BlogTour NYC adds classes to its itinerary

March 7, 2014, 5:44 am
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New York, New Orleans, London, Cologne, Los Angeles and Las Vegas are a few of the destinations Modenus’ BlogTours have covered in the past few years. Now, for the third year, a hand-selected group of 12 bloggers are headed to New York City, where it all began, to spend four days reporting on new trends and products at the AD Home Design Show (March 19 – 22) and various locations around the city.
“We are excited to be headed back to New York City for AD Home Design Show, where we will, once again, be co-hosting the annual Marys & Mimosas kick off event before touring the show to share our favorite design finds live via our social media platforms and after the show via our blogs,” said Veronika Miller, CEO of Modenus.
       
     
        
The participating bloggers include (pictured from left to right above)Alison Habermehl, owner and principal of hdSTYLESTUDIO (a division of Habermehl Design Group Inc.); Jeffrey Johnson of Jeffrey Design LLC; Deborah Main of Deborah Main Designs; color expert Faith Sheridan; Typhanie Peterson, home décor contributor to Think Crafts Blog; product photographer and blogger Paola Thomas; Marc Abelman, CFO and director of marketing for Inside Style; interior designer Maureen Coates of MODECOR; Marcy Michaud of Stylesson; Vicki Gladle Bolick, principal designer of Bolick Interiors LLC; Jeanne Chung of Cozy•Stylish•Chic; and Jill Abelman, owner of Inside Style.
The bloggers will spend one full day at the AD Home Design Show and two days at classes that include styling, photography, floral arranging and mixology.
“This tour is different from anything we've done before. In addition to our trade show coverage, we will focus on enriching our team's experience by providing a number of hands-on learning sessions that will hopefully allow them to take away new skills or hone a skill they already have,” said Miller.
Designers can keep up with BlogTour New York City by following the Twitter hash tag #BlogTourNYC and by viewing the latest posts on Modenus.com and Blogtour.co.
Bloggers apply to be part of each new tour and are accepted based on their design business and social media savvy. Additional destinations for 2014 BlogTours are Milan in April, New York again in May and Paris in September.
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Design Days Dubai to join with Art Dubai Fair

March 10, 2014, 5:29 am
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Two years ago Design Days Dubai presented the area’s first high-end home design show. This year, the fair is set to present its third edition in conjunction with the Art Dubai Fair, creating “Art Week,” which will feature the best of art and design both regionally and internationally to collectors and a wide audience of design enthusiasts, March 17-21.
The show will present galleries from South America to the Far East that have not previously exhibited to an international audience, along with a series of public talks, workshops, mentor sessions and live design performances.
This year’s galleries include Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Croft, Crafts Council, Nakkash Gallery, J+A Gallery, FN Designs, NextLevel Galerie, ShowMe Design & Art Gallery, VCUQatar, Victor Hunt Designart Dealer and Sabrina Landini Atelier & Gallery.
Harper’s Bazzar Interiors Editor Rue Kothari selected and shared her five favorite pieces from the galleries, which include the following:

Industry Gallery, Tom Price: Cherry Trees

Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery, Studio Job: Monkey Business

Carwan Gallery, Karim Chaya: Slingshots

Coalesce Design Studio, Mustafa Mehdi: Dhaaryo

Victor Hunt DesignArt Dealer, Julien Carretero: Contrast Series
Talks will take place throughout the week including The Future of Design in Dubai with Rima Alsammarae, editor of Commercial Interior Design Magazine; My Life in Design with Paris-based designer India Mahdavi; The Role and Value of Bespoke Furniture in Interior Design with Andy Martin from Giles Miller Capsule Arts; and a talk exploring the connection between the realms of art, design, fashion and photography led by Michele Lamy.

India Mahdavi
Attendees may also participate in various workshops and learn how to work with materials such as terracotta and experience the art of mock-up making. Guided tours of the show will be available daily, led by industry experts.
Design Days Dubai takes place at the Downtown Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, and the hours are 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Monday, March 17, through Thursday, March 20, and 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 21.
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