Precedent Furniture and DwellStudio Partner to Bring a New Era of Furniture for the Modern Family

Christiane Lemieux, DwellStudio's founder and creative director

Precedent, a division of Sherrill Furniture, is excited to announce today that they are partnering with DwellStudio, the New York City-based lifestyle brand, to debut their first furniture collection in April 2011 at the High Point Furniture Market. Bringing their signature eclectic modern look to furniture, DwellStudio has designed a complete collection of upholstered and occasional pieces that will be manufactured by Precedent and other Sherrill Furniture divisions.

Precedent CEO, Woody Williams says; "We are thrilled to partner with DwellStudio because their impressive track record for innovative design in home furnishings.  We know that their uniquely modern sense of design in textiles resonates with today's style-aware 25 – 45 year old consumer, who many of our furniture retailer partners have found elusive.  We are excited to translate that same design sense into furniture."

Aesthetically, the line has an elegant European mid-century feel to it, but updated with DwellStudio's signature stamp of mixing old and new styles, adding bold color and pattern. For the upholstery collection, fabric sourcing will be a blend of Precedent's current vendors and DwellStudio's collection of residential fabrics with Robert Allen. Sofas from the collection will retail from $1400 - $1800 with occasional tables starting at $600.

Christiane Lemieux, DwellStudio's founder and creative director, explains; "We are thrilled to work with Precedent, a company that is known for transitional/modern design. They provide the experience that is essential to executing our styles with a quality level and price point that will our customers have come to expect."  Lemieux goes on; "We see that there is a growing population of design-minded, new economy consumers who want something unique, eclectic, and well designed at a great price.  We wanted to create a meaningful, hand-crafted collection of furniture with multiple fabric options to speak directly to the DwellStudio customer.  We knew that Precedent was the perfect partner to help us achieve that goal."

Target retail channels include specialty retailers, furniture stores and interior designers.  The collection will also be sold through DwellStudio's store-in-store at ABC Carpet and Home in New York City.

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Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

If you were in Las Vegas at World Market recently, you probably drove past this building. We all marveled at its design and heard it was some kind of doctor's office specializing in the brain. We recommend you read Contract magazine's article, Splashy and Sustainable: Gehry Partners design a medical research facility in Las Vegas.

Larry Ruvo, a Nevada entrepreneur who lost his father to Alzheimer’s, formed an alliance with a major medical institution and founded the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. He then persuaded Frank Gehry, who had previously refused to build in Las Vegas, to design a facility that would create a sense of place and purpose. “I wanted to use his celebrity to help find a cure for a disease while generating a sense of excitement,” says Ruvo.

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Do You Consult Your Neighbors Before Painting Your House?

STIR, the regular Sherwin-Williams magazine has an article about a homeowners in Piedmont, California who painted their house brilliant shades of orange with violet and fuchsia accents.  The article asks of choosing paint colors for a house, in a community that doesn't regulate colors:

Where do the rights of private property owners end and those of the neighborhood begin?

Recently we changed the color of our house from a pale yellow with white trim to something reminiscent of our travels to Mexico. As in Piedmont, in our Portland, Oregon neighborhood "you’d be hard-pressed to find hues more vibrant than grays, blues and earth tones." 

We chose Marigold for the main color and gray for the trim.  The trim looks great with the roof.  Mike said the color initially reminded him of the yellow line on the highway. Amazingly, most of the neighbors love the color.  Only our parents wouldn't have chosen such a bold yellow. Mom almost drove up on the curve when she saw our house for the first time.

We felt no obligation to check with our neighbors before painting.  I would think they are happy that we keep our house looking good. We love it the color.  When we're standing in the brick-red colored kitchen looking outside, we see the Marigold and it does remind us of Mazatlan in Mexico.

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Landfair Furniture Adds Fabricut

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery has some major news!  We are adding Fabricut to our line of fabrics. Fabricut is one of the largest, most progressive distributors of decorative fabrics in the world offering over 58,000 choices in fabrics and trimmings.  A look at the Fabricut website reveals their mission:

Our devotion to supplying exquisite fabrics and trimmings is over 50 years strong and continues with a daily commitment to develop exclusive products for our customers. With an array of traditional, transitional and contemporary styles, patterns and palettes available, Fabricut is the designer’s preference for fabrics and trimmings. Our extensive line of in-stock fabrics, extraordinary customer service and a knowledgeable, worldwide sales force is unmatched.

The Design Center at Fabricut as many of you know allows you o create and maintain virtual design boards for your clients. You can add fabrics and trimmings to your design boards as you browse Fabricut's  inventory. In addition, you can also include a personalized comment with each item to help your clients capture your vision.

Landfair Furniture will be adding additional lighting in our showroom to ensure that you can see the true colors of this fabulous line.  We will be dropping the Duralee Fabric line, but will continue supporting high quality and extremely customizable Duralee Furniture.

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Surya Thrives!

Rug and decorative accessories supplier Surya celebrates a tenfold increase in business since 2004, with double-digit growth each year. For 2010, company sales dollars are up 52 percent.

“Our customers have made us the company we are today," said Satya Tiwari, Surya president. “The best ideas and practices we have implemented have come directly from listening to our customers and trying to solve their needs.

Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery can help you with rug designs from Surya.

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Are Shocking Price Increases Coming?

We listened to a King World News interview of Rick Santelli this weekend and thought the information was extremely informative.  Santelli, btw, is credited with starting the Tea Party movement with his rant on CNBC about big government and spending money we don't have.  You can hear that interview here.

I was shocked when I heard these statistics from the interviewer:

Agricultural Raw Materials +24% since this time last year
Imdustrial Materials Index +25%
Metals Price Index +26%
Coffee +45%
Barley +32%
Oranges +35%
Pork +68%
Cotton +40%
Rubber +62%
Iron Ore +103%

Every time you read that the government is doing "Quantitative Easing" substitute the words printing dollars and understand that when there are more dollars, the dollars we have in our pockets or bank accounts are worth less.  Every time you see the price of gold go up think that's one more vote for a loss of faith in the U.S. dollar.

It wouldn't surprise us to see prices of everything we consume move up and up and everything we own with debt go down in price.

Manufacturers of furniture and accessories have outsourced production to Asian markets to keep prices reasonable, however with raw materials soaring, we wouldn't be surprised to see finished goods no matter where produced go up in price.

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New Duralee Video

Duralee has a new video on their website that shows their customizing capabilities in Duralee Furniture and Owner's Select. The video also includes a look at new introductions at High Point using fashion forward colors, the new Benjamin Moore lacquer application and information about the making of their quality furniture.

Take a moment to appreciate the style of Duralee.

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Head Off Furniture Buyer's Remorse

Right after you buy a new car, you start noticing how many other people drive a car just like the one you bought. That awareness is a way you avoid buyer's remorse. You think to yourself it must be a good car. Look at how many people made the same decision. How do you avoid buyer's remorse when you buy furniture? Mary Madden who owns Madden-McFarland in Kansas City has some ideas in "Head off furniture buyer's remorse."

1. Establish your budget and priorities. The sofa or chair may be your most important piece of furniture in a room (and the most costly) so buy quality, the best you can afford.  We certainly agree.  We sell a lot of high quality sofas and chairs, upholstered and leather. Madden writes:
   
   
   

   Good-quality furniture will be more comfortable, look better, feel better and last longer. In the case of your sofa, buy one with solid hardwood frames. The cushions, whether you desire the softness of down or the firmness of a solid foam core, should be well-constructed.

   One way you stretch your budget is by buying better quality for rooms that get the most use.
   
2. Decide between reupholstering and purchasing.
   
   
   

   Before reupholstering, consider the item’s condition and value. If it is in excellent condition other than a worn, stained or dated fabric cover, reupholstering may be a good option, especially if you’ve spotted a fabric that would be perfect with your decor.

   At Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery you can come in and compare prices of new versus reuphostering.
3. Shop carefully.
   
   
   

   The three most important things to remember: scale, scale and scale! Consider the height, width and depth as they relate to both the size of the room and the size of the people using the piece.

   Remember, to sit on various pieces of furniture. There are many cushion types and it must be comfortable. Also be sure that the seat depth and the distance off the floor is right for you.
4. Consider how you live. Is the furniture to be used in a formal or comfortable setting?  You certainly wouldn't want to use a formal chair for reading a good book.
5. Don’t settle."Not satisfied with the finish or size you see in a furniture showroom? Just say so." Almost everything is customizable.  The piece you order can be made so you will never see another like it.
6. Consider An Interior Designer. An interor designer can help you with buyer's remorse by saving you time and money.

Bev & Mike
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News From TODL

TODL has announced the upcoming November launch of the Trade Only Design Library Generation 6.0 after 18 months of development. TODL is an exclusive online research library where 51,728 trade members and manufacturers meet to share information and do business. The 6.0 release is the most significant launch in the company's 13-year history, utilizing new technology that will transition the industry's most comprehensive product research library into a fully integrated vertical market platform offering more functionality and new services.

TODL 6.0 is the result of more than a decade of market research, interaction, and service to design and architectural professionals, and the manufacturers and service providers that market to them. "It is incredibly exciting to watch TODL 6.0 come to fruition," says Stacey Tiveron, Trade Only Design Library founder and CEO. "6.0 not only advances product research and specification to an entirely new level, it facilitates business interaction and connection at all levels and between all players in our industry."

TODL's membership of design and architecture professionals can look forward to all new designs and navigation, more intuitive product organization, advanced project management tools, regional event alerts, industry networking, RFI tracking, and more.

In addition to TODL's current product galleries of residential, contract/commercial, hospitality, and green, members will have access to new galleries including luxury, healthcare, education, retail, architecture/building, and art. Content partnerships with leading publications and associations will bring TODL members exciting project and industry news specific to the type of project they are specifying. Meanwhile, Trade Only Design Library 6.0 listed manufacturers will have access to in-depth activity and flow-through analytics, superior lead generation tools, and advanced marketing options enabling manufacturers to specify the exact segment of the professional market they want to reach.

JAB Anstoetz Grandezza collection

JAB Anstoetz is introducing its 2010 European fabric offerings to the North American marketplace. Inspired by couture fashion in metropolitan cities, the Grandezza collection features modern designs in 15 patterns and 95 colorways. Designs range from jacquards and animal prints to metallics, velvets, and sheers, all exuding a feel of sophistication. The umbrella company of the JAB Anstoetz, Soleil Bleu, and Chivasso brands, JAB recently purchased the Stroheim brand by Fabricut and will continue offering Stroheim’s decorative hardware in addition to its own textile and wallcovering lines.

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Palecek Acquires PierceMartin

Palecek, a designer and manufacturer of handcrafted furniture, accessories, and lighting, has acquired PierceMartin, a designer resource for classic woven furniture and accessories. Palecek will launch a new corporate division and product line exclusively serving the design trade community. Details related to showroom locations and the product launch for PierceMartin by Palecek, slated for the first quarter of 2011, will be announced over the next few weeks.

Bridget Otto Thursday

Bridget A. Otto

Yesterday, at Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery, Cary Taylor, Allison Smith and Bev Landfair hosted an event for area interior designers that covered "what's new and unique in the world of furnishings, color and rugs."  Bridget Otto was there and files a report today about the content of the meeting in Portland designers gather and learn about custom creations. 

Although I've never met Bridget Otto, Bev tells me she looked stunning with her blonde hair. Thank you everyone for attending.

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Should We Add Pet Products?

At the August Retailer Roundtable hosted by Home Accents Today in Las Vegas as part of World Market, we were surprised that several retailers were complementing their home decor sales with gourmet food, apparel, jewelry and handbags as a way to increase traffic to their stores.  I learned today that there's another area of retail sales that hasn't suffered despite the shattered economy: Pet Sales.  Maybe, we should add that category to our sales mix.  In fact according to the American Pet Products Association all pet sales have doubled in ten years.  The APPA estimates that sales this year will reach $47.7 billion up from $23 billion in 1998.

A radio report today sparked my interest in pet sales.  New technology is out that may propel sales in the future because it allows our pets to network with us and other pets and even give us a photo record of their day while we are away.  For instance, Mattel has come out with a toy named "Puppy Tweets."

The toy has two parts, a plastic collar tag that contains a sound andmotion sensor and a USB receiver that you plug into your computer. The tag comes with pre-written, prerecorded tweets that are activated by your dog's activity. So if she's sleeping, the tag may automatically send the tweet, "Somedays it feels like my paw is permanently on the snooze button!" If she's woofing, the tweet may say, "YAHOOOOOOO! Somedays you just gotta get your bark on."

Then there's Sniftag which combines a hi-tech tag with an online social media site. Equipped with an accelerometer and motion analysis software, you can check in with the dog at a web site to see what your dog is up to.

It also uses a wireless protocol to communicate with other Sniftags nearby dogs may be wearing. The tags automatically swap unique identifying codes and relay the encounter to the server when the dogs return to the SNIF Base Station at their home.

A Japanese company offers  a gizmo that translates a pet's barks and purrs into intelligible sentences.  Don't you wish you could decipher those looks that your dog gives you?  Another company offers a camera attached to the pet's collar that takes photos at timed intervals.  When you get home you can see pictures of what your pet was doing.  Imagine your dog could no longer get away with saying, "It wasn't me." when you come home to find a vase tipped over.  My pet would probably give me countless photos of our bedroom wall where he sleeps all day.

There is Zen Dog, for those who think therapy and relaxation through calming music and massage might be good for your dog; HydroSurge Rapid Bath Dog Bathing System, an "all-in-one" wet, wash and rinse device that resembles a garden hose with a spray-nozzle comb head; and GoDogGo, a fetch machine for dogs that automatically shoots out tennis balls at timed intervals.  Does it say "good dog" when the ball is brought back? I don't think so.



Forbes alerts us to a product we may see in the near future.

If you're allergic to animals or can't have one where you live, check out The Haptic Creature, a robot designed to recreate the touch-based communication between pet and owner. The creature resembles a small rabbit with long "ears" and fur. When petted, it responds with breathing, ear movements and purring vibrations.

I think I'm on to something here.  You may see Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery change its name to include Pet Products.  That would make us LF+DG+PP.  Does that sound  wrong?

Bev & Mike
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What's New In Custom Iron Doors

We love front doors! When on vacation what draws the eye of the photographer?  It's the doors in the walls where you can only imagine what life is like beyond the address on the gate.

That's why our interest was peaked when we read the following about custom iron doors:

Redesigning the exterior of your home says a lot about your own personal tastes. The doorway is the entry point and the point of focus for any outdoor façade, so making a stunning and lasting impression with your home can not only increase the value, but also your own enjoyment of your home. A popular choice for entry doors on the market today are custom iron doors because of the unique factor they bring to a home.

Two companies are mentioned, Imperial Doors (below)  and Baltic Iron Doors (above).

The article states that the exterior of your home dictates the color of your custom iron work.

If you have a brick home, darker finished doors tend to accent this better than lighter doors, depending on the color of the brick. For white to cream colored bricks, black to dark green is a good finish, since it highlights the entryway. Darker colored bricks benefit more from having a cream-colored finish in order to highlight the entry point.

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The Business of Interior Design

There is a BIG party happening in our industry!  Have you heard the buzz?

In honor and celebration of a brand new marketing book for designers, they are throwing a great party.  And you are invited!

(in a hurry?  Get your VIP Access Details here http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?af=1230983)

The party line-up is amazing:

• 15 Expert interviews on what to do to “Set Yourself Up for Success” in Fall 2010
• raffles and give-aways
• free ‘nuggets of wisdom’ from the book
  

It’s FREE!
It’s Virtual!
And it’s happening on Tuesday, 8/31

The book is called The Business of Interior Design:  Proven Marketing Secrets to Attract More Clients, Make More Money, Have More Freedom, and Love Being a Designer!  It’s a comprehensive resource on the best marketing practices - written FOR designers.

Reserve your spot today!  http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?af=1230983

Mike signed up to see what's new.  


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Decorating With Gray

Check out Better Homes & Gardens!  They have an online article titled Decorating with Gray

A mix between black and white, gray is gaining popularity as the new neutral. From light dove to dark charcoal, this color looks great on everything from home accents to walls.

There are 18 slides showing the use of gray in home decorating.  If you are a designer, you should know that there's a  process the public can use to get interior design help.  Are you on the list?  It's powered by Servicemagic.com

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It's Bridget Otto Thursday

Today in the Oregonian's Homes & Gardens of the Northwest Bridget A Otto introduces us to history buff Richard Botteri.  Botteri had a problem.  His office was in one of the four bedrooms on one floor in his home, yet he needed more room for research and room to showcase his historical collectibles.

Enter acquaintance Maggy Henry of Maggy Henry Interior Design who he had met years ago when their daughters attended school together.  Together Botteri and Henry decided to expand his office by combining two of the bedrooms to create an office with the space that Botteri always wanted.  Henry coordinated the construction, furniture acquisition and lighting.

Maggy Henry is a professional and a friend and she offers tips in the article on how to display your collections.

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Landfair Furniture Adds Elaine Smith

Instead of taking pictures when she travels, Elaine Smith is inspired to weave all those memories into a line of decorative pillows that like the best of world travelers would be comfortable going inside or out.  Here's why:

INDOOR LUXURY, OUTDOOR SAFE – You may not want to leave them outside, but you can.

SOFT AND LUXURIOUS – The unique yarn properties and finishes make our fabrics feel touchably soft.

WATER RESISTANT – Water repels easily off these fabrics and after a down pour, they dry quickly.

FADE RESISTANT – The sun does not easily fade these fabrics offering strong, lasting, vivid color.

STAIN RESISTANT – Stains clean easily from our fabrics leaving them looking clean and new again.

MILDEW RESISTANT – fabrics are created and treated to resist mildew, allowing you to enjoy life outdoors.

 Beverly bought some of the pillows in Las Vegas and would love to show you the catalog of all Elaine Smith's offerings

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Homesource Bedding Added

Landfair Furniture has added a sustainable bedding line to our showroom. How can bedding be sustainable? The sheets and bedding are made from 100% bamboo fiber.

Naturally silky soft and exceptionally comfortable, bamboo sheets and bedding are also antibacterial and eco-friendly. The structure of bamboo provides superior ventilation and wicking that keeps the user cool and comfortable when hot and warm when cold. 250 count construction gives bamboo sheets unique high comfort and performance not found in higher count sheets. Top hems and pillowcase cuffs are sewn with a sherry stitch. Coverlet and shams have a brick quilt pattern with 2 ounce polyester fill. Sheets and bedding are oversized to fit high loft mattresses.

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DIY? Not likely if you're under 35.

The Daily Mail in the UK headlines DIY? Not likely if you're under 35.

Around 50 per cent of people aged under 35 admitted they did not know how to rewire a plug, while 54 per cent did not know how to bleed a radiator and 63 per cent said they would not attempt to put up wallpaper, according to Halifax Home Insurance.

Other basic jobs, such as putting up shelves, were beyond 45 per cent of those questioned, while 36 per cent said they would not even attempt to do gardening themselves.

Instead 42 per cent would pay a professional to do the work.

The study also found that when the under-35s do attempt to do a job themselves and it goes wrong, it costs nearly three times as much to fix as problems caused by other age groups.

Does the same age group in America have such a low skill level? If so, even with all the free Home Depot classes, then this should be boom times for any professional who is involved with home maintenance or home decor.

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Lorts Signs Christy Dillard For Furniture Collection

Lorts Manufacturing, an upscale wood furniture manufacturer known for its customized finishes, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with acclaimed Atlanta Interior Designer Christy Dillard. Dillard will work with Lorts to develop a furniture collection to be released in early 2011.

The Christy Dillard collection will build on the strengths of the Lorts brand and incorporate signatures of her style: classic silhouettes with unexpected detailing, bold color and styling selections, and an energized, contemporary perspective. Says Dillard, “I am very excited about this new venture and partnership with Lorts. I am so happy to be associated with a company that makes quality products. Lorts being in business for 45 years says a great deal to me...tried and true.”

“My design aesthetic pulls from many influences, ranging from traditional to contemporary, and I will be bringing that to Lorts with this new collection,” she continues. “A mixture of materials is used to bring a unique flair to collection...appealing to many different clients. The look is fresh but will have a timeless quality that I like to use for all projects.”

“We are eager to have Christy bring her fresh point of view and distinctive aesthetic to the marketplace through a new and proprietary collection of furniture for Lorts,” said Ty Lorts, President of Lorts Manufacturing. “We are confident that a recognized and successful Interior Designer like Christy will be an inspiration to designers that love our line, and that the collaboration will complement and add depth to Lorts’ strong existing line.”

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Emily Henderson Wins Design Star

Oregon native Emily Henderson, who grew up in Coos Bay before finishing high school in Portland, won Design Star an interior design reality competition yesterday on HGTV. 

Bridget Otto has an interview with Henderson here before the result show on Sunday.

It's Bridget Otto Friday

Keep on eye on this Bridget's blog for a peek into a interior design presentation in September tailored for those in what the design industry simply calls "The Trade."

Three veterans of interior design will host a presentation showing off all that is new in custom rugs, wall decor, paint, furnishings, texture and more.

Bev Landfair of Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery, Allison Smith of Allison Smith Design and Allison Smith Color Seasons, and Cary Taylor, territory sales manager for Fabrica Fine Carpet & Rugs, are planning a not-to-miss

Since the event is not open to the public, I will be there, bringing all the news back to you.

Stay tuned. I think you'll enjoy reading what these talented gurus of design have to offer those in the trade.

Bev & Mike
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The 2011 ARTS Awards Finalists Have Been Announced

Retailer ARTS Awards finalists include the following:

International Retail Store: Design Lighting, Surrey, British Columbia; Prima Lighting Inc., Vaughan, Ontario; and Union Lighting & Furnishings, Toronto.

Rising Star Retailer: BellaLu Home & Design, Englewood, Colo.; Colorado Villa DeCor, Palmer Lake, Colo.; and Room 22, Oklahoma City.

Furniture Store (East/Atlantic): Albert's Interiors, Newtown Square, Pa.; and Castleberry's Fine Furniture, Chamblee, Pa.

Furniture Store (Midwest/Southwest): American Country Collection, Santa Fe, N.M.; Dream Interiors, Downers Grove, Ill.; and The Arrangement, Dallas, Texas.

Furniture Store (West): Bravado Home & Design, Portland, Ore.; Interior Illusions, West Hollywood, Calif.; and Seaside Home, Coronado, Calif.

Home Accent Store (East/Atlantic): At Home Furnishings, Birmingham, Ala.; Red Barn Mercantile, Alexandria, Va.; and Retropolitan, Nashville, Tenn.

Home Accent Store (Midwest/Southwest): AREA, Houston, Texas; Leon & Lulu, Clawson, Mich.; and The Garden Gates, Metairie, La.

Home Accent Store (West): Bella Casa, Portland, Ore.; Birdcage Fine French Country Furnishings, Solana Beach, Calif.; and The Picket Fence, Ketchum, Idaho,

Lighting Showroom (East/Atlantic):
Capitol Lighting, Boca Raton, Fla.; Cleveland Lighting, Lyndhurst, Ohio; and LUMEN Lamps, Nashville, Tenn.

Lighting Showroom (Midwest/Southwest): Light by Design, San Antonio, Texas; Metro Lighting, Brentwood, Mo.; and Passion Lighting, Grapevine, Texas.

Lighting Showroom (West): Black Whale Lighting, Encinitas, Calif.; Kilohana Lighting Inc., Lihue, Hawaii; and Phillips Lighting & Home, Modesto, Calif. 

As a finalist ourselves in 2009, we know what an honor it is to be nominated and then to be selected as a finalist. We will be rooting for two of Portland's furniture and accessory stores, both in the Pearl.

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The Retailer Roundtable

While in Las Vegas, Mike Landfair participated in the Retailer Roundtable hosted by Home Accents Today.  On the panel beside Mike were Christi Tullis, Ambiance Interiors, Suwanee, Ga.;  Maria Benson, Nyla Simone Home, Tempe Ariz.; Brad Clifford, Bravado Home, Portland, Ore.; and Dann Foley, Dann Foley Design, Palm Springs, Calif.  It was a group that realizes about 34% of total sales in home accents and most average about $100 per square foot in total sales, although Mike did not reveal that number.

Some of the sales mix was surprising.  Several retailers were complementing their home decor sales with gourmet food, apparel, jewelry and handbags as a way to increase traffic to their stores. 

Two trends were evident.  Print advertising had taken a back seat to social media marketing with one retailer hiring a social media coach.  None of the retailers on the panel had an online store. 

Dan Foley echoed the message of this blog to interior designers for years:

"I absolutely cannot imagine a retailer or designer operating today without a website.

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10 iPhone Applications for Your Home Needs.

We will be buying an iPhone or Droid from Verizon this year or as soon as our bookkeeper gives us the go-ahead.  She thinks before yearend we may get a BOGO offer.  In the meantime we think this article from Change of Address.org will be of interest to you: Top 10 iPhone Applications for Your Home Needs.

1. Moving Van by Glimmer Design Limited allows you to easily keep track of the contents of every box right from the palm of your hand. 
2. Home Interior Layout Designer by M.O.C. Interior Designer, LLC is a really cool app that will help you as you struggle with redecorating your home. 
3. iHandy Carpenter by iHandySoft, Inc. is a great tool for amateur carpenter work and includes a great level which you can actually use for hanging pictures straight and other things.
4. HomeRoutines by Wunderbear is a to do utility for household chores.
5. paintingWalls by Enginy Studios is really a cool application where you take a picture of any room in your home and then you can use their custom painting tools to paint it any color you want and then swap colors until you find one that is perfect for that room. 
6. Home Remedies by Feather & Moor, Ltd. Is an application with over 100 home remedies.
7. Home Inventory by Gotta Have It! Software, Inc. is a great way to keep track of all of your belongings for insurance purposes and even warranty or other uses.
8. HomeMeter by osXwerk.de offers something unique in that it gives you a place to track your usage of natural gas, electricity, and other utilities by allowing you to easily keep track of your meters.
9. Mobiscope: Home Surveillance by SHAPE Services is a must have application for those that are concerned about the security of their home or job site.
10. X10 Commander by Melloware is an X10 Controller Client for the iPhone that will allow you to control all kinds of devices in your home from lights to your garage door.

While you are at Change of Address.org check out:

• Top 10 TV Shows About Cleaning and Organizing Your Home
• 10 Reasons People Can’t Remember Your Name 
  

Bev & Mike
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Bev Buys Dovetail

My Design Secrets has a post today about Decorating with Worn and Washed Woods. The author Lorrie Brown of Lorrie Brown Interiors asks if "...you remember a couple of years ago when dark woods were all the rage? Whether they called it “Java” or “Wenge”, it seemed that they just could not make the finishes dark enough." What we are seeing now are "...worn and washed woods popping up all over the place. Worn finishes have a nice earthy matte look that is soft to the touch and easy on the eyes."

One of the hottest stops in Las Vegas was Dovetail, maker of furniture from reclaimed wood and the prices have that worn and washed look that Brown refers to. In fact we liked the furniture so much that we added Dovetail to our lines. Here's a video of Beverly showing me her selections:



Can you tell she's excited?

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Aiming At Affluence

Mike attended a very valuable seminar at World Market Center presented by Lorts Manufacturing. Steve Nobel explored the state of the market for interior designers and looked at the efforts underway to promote value of design to the affluent population. Nobel "...has specialized in the markets for luxury at home, assisting his clients to build home furnishings brands, and advance the market for interior design and decoration."

Nobel told us that the affluent suffered like the rest of us and worked to preserve what they owned. They did not trade down, they just bought less. Now, except for the recent Chelsea Clinton wedding, the affluent are passionate about what they spend money on, but they are into inconspicuous consumption except on their homes.

Who are the affluent? Eighty percent of the wealth is first generation money; they made it themselves. The idea of using an interior designer is new to them, because most came from households where using an interior designer was uncommon. About half of the affluent know they need a guide for their homes. Are unfamiliar with how the wealthy live and really need an advisor or advocate on their behalf.

Interior designers have a real opportunity with the affluent. They need your services and they don't have the time to do it on their own and they don't have the confidence. However, you may have to change your business model for delivering services. The affluent are smart and want the service you provide to be fair and transparent and understandable. That means the hourly way of charging or the hourly plus markups is not transparent, but fee based is. Steve Nobel advocates charging for your services the same way at attorney or architect or contractor bills for services.

You can learn more about Steve Nobel at www.nobelinks.com.

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We Have A Freeway Crash In Las Vegas

In Tales From The Yellow Bus, Mike writes about our freeway crash in Las Vegas while on the shuttle on the first day of Market and how he almost missed the Retailer Roundtable.

12 Reasons To Like Entertainment Centers From Dinec

Listen closely and you'll hear at least 12 reasons why we like Dinec Entertainment Centers:



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A Look Inside The Lorts Showroom

We had a great time at Market in Las Vegas and have come home exhausted, but excited by some new purchases for the showroom.  We spent considerable time in the Lorts showroom where Jessica Youde gave us a tour of the showroom showing us new products and new finishes. 



Here are some closeups of three pieces in the video which can be ordered through Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery:









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Introducing Florica

Clarke & Clarke has wowed us again with the introduction of the Florica collection.

Printed on a heavy weight slubby cotton ground, the five patterns in the Florica Collection were inspired by Romany folklore and are available in the fashionable colorways of chocolate/aqua, sky/rouge, chocolate/raspberry, charcoal and citrus.

The interesting scales of the designs are perfectly complimented by a chenille boucle semi plain, which is available in 25 colors and can be used for both drapes and upholstery.

Take a look:

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NANO-TEX + DURABLOCK = EXTREME PROTECTION

It is rare that fine design is equally matched by durability. Duralee Contract has now married the two ideas with NANO-TEX + DURABLOCK = EXTREME PROTECTION. A 2-book color set, this collection blends beauty and performance with sophisticated appeal.

Brightly colored and easy to use, these fabrics combine Nano-Tex and DuraBlock technology to form a barrier that is virtually impermeable to stains. While Nano-Tex builds revolutionary spill resistance into the fibers of the fabrics, DuraBlock enhances the stain resistance with a durable liquid barrier that is laminated to the textile. Fabrics treated with Nano-Tex and DuraBlock technology meet ASTM F1670 standards for resistance to penetration by blood, ASTM F1671 standards for resistance to penetration by blood borne pathogens (virus and bacteria) and block the passage of dust mites and microscopic allergenic matter, making this versatile collection perfect for any healthcare, contract and hospitality application.

NANO-TEX + DURABLOCK = EXTREME PROTECTION offers a fresh perspective on contract design. These simple, colorful fabrics feature playful, expressive motifs with an edge, adding a touch of personality to any setting. Soft medallions, rich scrollwork and tailored chevron patterns mingle with a multitude of stripes and solids for a comprehensive offering. The Aquamarine/Leaf/Walnut color book is arranged to flow from cool tones of bright teal and variations of blue into fresh greens, culminating with an anchor of warm browns. Sangria/Plum/Gold is an ensemble of fruity tones of reds, featuring pinks and lavender, plum and berry. It graduates to spice, mango, orange and finally a hint of gold.

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View and download photos of Nano-Tex + DuraBlock = Extreme Protection, please click on the link below:
Nano-Tex + DuraBlock = Extreme Protection

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Take A Look At Seattle's modularArts,

Dune™

We've taken some time to post about some of the new look wallpapers that add interest and texture to a room. Now take a look at a Seattle company, modularArts, that creates relief (or bas relief) carving and molded wall surfaces in modular panels that align in horizontal and vertical repetitions on any interior wall for a continuous sculpted surface:

Stream™

Burle™

The panels generally are 32 inches by 32 inches.

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Raindrops In Zen Wallpaper

As an Oregon resident, we have maybe as many names for rain as Eskimos have for snow.  That idea was reinforced when I glanced at the new email from "Contract," the magazine "at the hub of commercial interior design and architecture." There's this photo and a blurb about some new contract wallpaper designs from Bolta:





It's called showers featuring gently cascading raindrops.





The wallpaper comes in 18 colors and look at the names:



Click to enlarge

Sheets, Droplet, Drip Drop, Drizzle, Mist, Pitter, Downpour, Sprinkle, Buckets, Cascade, Thunder, Spray, Drenched, Patter, Deluge, Cats & Dogs, Torrential, and Cloudburst.







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Bridget Otto Thursday

We've had a long-running fascination with wallpaper.  You can see our many posts here.  Today, it appears that Bridget A Otto succumbed and mentioned three interior designers who are friends of ours in Hang it up: Take a fresh look at wallpaper:

• Diane Keaton, of Diane Keaton Interiors - "Keaton says she sees grass cloth coming back in a big way -- but with a fresh look to the old standby. Some have painted designs; others have metal woven through, adding a sheen."
•  Joelle Nesen, owner of Maison Inc.- "...uses grass cloth "a ton." She loves the light refraction off it and says her clients are quick to see its beauty compared with a solid painted room." 
• JJ De Sousa of Digs Inside & Out -"...used a textured, silver granite wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries that looked and felt like sparkling pebbles. That splashy design touch jazzed up an ordinary entry. 

Wallpaper is a wonderful way to get away from  flat painted walls and add texture.  You'll also notice that many fabric vendors have wallpaper to match.

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From the Retail Floor: Home Accents Today Retailer Roundtable

Gift + Home:

From the Retail Floor: Home Accents Today Retailer Roundtable

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Building C-428

Join Jenny Heinzen York, editor in chief of Home Accents Today, as she takes an in-depth look at new data fresh from the retail floor. This exclusive research about store operations will come to life with the help of a panel of retailers who will weigh in on what’s happening on their own sales floors.

I've been asked to participate in the panel discussion in Las Vegas at World Market by Jenny Heinzen York, editor in chief of Home Accents Today.  If you are in the city, join us at 11:00 AM on August 2nd.

New From Duralee: Greenwich

For your oohing and aahing pleasure, Duralee introduces Highland Court Traditional Collection - Greenwich:

Click for larger view

A six-color book set, Greenwich begins with Sand, a versatile selection of both warm and cool neutrals ranging from natural to taupe to charcoal.  Clover features clean, mid-tone greens for a pop of color.  Daffodil offers saturated hues of cheerful yellows mixed with softer, creamy shades.  Blue Opal highlights popular Aqua tones with coordinates such as light green, taupe and daffodil, while Indigo features beautiful rich shades of blue that are reminiscent of fine Chinese porcelain and exotic batiks.  The warm and inviting tomato reds and deep ruby jewel tones of Poppy round out the collection.

Clean, clear colors, ample coordinates and rich textures make the Greenwich Collection easy to shop, while remaining a sophisticated addition to the designer's library.

To view images of the Greenwich Collection, please click on the link below:

Highland Court Greenwich Collection

Take A New Look At Hekman

We posted earlier this week that AF Lighting was a 2010 finalist in the The American Society of Furniture Designers  Pinnacle Awards for outstanding home furnishings. One finalist and vendor for Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery that surprised us was Hekman.  Known for classic American traditional casegoods, Hekman frankly, seemed pretty staid and conservative year after year. Not only was Hekman a finalist, but a finalist in two categories:

• Casual Dining - Havana, Phyllis Bridgeman for Hekman Furniture.
• Formal Dining - European Legacy, Chris Bergelin ASFD for Hekman Furniture.

Our rep Tim DeLauder tells us the new Havana Collection is just coming off the press. Havana will be featured in the Summer and Fall up coming markets. Here's a peak:



Havana Pub Table

 

Same Havana style, the Hekman Dining Table

In the European Legacy collection is this beautiful table and sideboard.

 We are excited to see these two collections at World Market in Las Vegas.

One note, Traditional is not for every one, nor is stripped down contemporary. It's all in your taste, desire for comfort, and the mood or ambiance you're trying to create in your home. That's why Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery in the Pearl carries such an array of styles, all well made and having various price points to fit your budget.

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The Tacked On Look

In Portland we see a lot of contemporary or cubist architecture where boxes seem to be attached to the sides, I suspect, to provide balconies:

Designed by Holst Architecture

Now, Architectural Record has an example of a 12 story square building with local architecture (s)tacked on.

WAM Architecten's hotel in Zaandam, the Netherlands's revitalized center incorporates the iconic wooden houses of the region. Photo: © Roel Backaert

What do you think?

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AF Lighting And Phillips Finalists

The American Society of Furniture Designers has announced finalists for the 2010 Pinnacle Awards for outstanding home furnishings.

In the Lighting division two of our vendors are finalists:

Antasia, David Kitts ASFD, David Martin ASFD and George Chandler ASFD for Hubbardton Forge.
Arieal lamp, Catherine Smoak ASFD for AF Lighting.
Up lamps, Nakarin Kamseela for The Phillips Collection.

Here we have the Ariel Lamp:
The aerial view of America's farmlands as seen from an airplane window provides a unique interpretation in the aerial lamp, whose base of mixed metallic finishes celebrates the textures, colors & symmetry that is the beauty of this lamp, Gray Poly-Silk Fabric Hard-Back Shade.


(Click image to enlarge)

The lamp is 31 inches high and uses a 3-way bulb.

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What Is Sensuede By Duralee?

Did you know that Duralee has an upholstery fabric called Sensuede that is eco-friendly? Eco what?

Sensuede is a luxury faux suede entirely made from high-purity recycled polyester (from PET bottles, fabric and apparel). The production process is eco-efficient too. “Given the concern with conserving natural resources and reducing the burden on the environment, it makes sense to be Green” explains the company.

Both sides of the fabric are properly finished “for a smooth drape and easy ability to contour to any shape and style of furniture”: wall-coverings, drapery, bedding, pillows, sofas, loveseats, dining chairs, recliners, handbags, picture frames, etc. From aircraft, cruise ships, yachts and RVs to corporate and executive interiors, restaurants hotels, home theater seating and bar stools.

If you have a dog like we do, you know dogs love to get up on the dofa and you can't always keep their paws clean, It's a dog! With Sensuede from Duralee you can toss the cushion covers in the wash and they're as good as new. Another point to mention, it is generally cheaper by the yard than its competitors.



You can see all the colors at Sensuede Eco Suedes Volume 1 book # 2716

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Apartment Therapy Discusses Water Features

Apartment Therapy (AT) posts today about water fountains:

A few years ago I was in California and blown away by all the beautiful garden fountains that I saw. So I put together a little roundup post of all the places I could find that I could dream about going to one day to buy a fountain for our own home. Two years later, I still don't have one, but I'm getting closer and my shopper's eye has grown sharper. Here's my latest update with rich collection of sources. Enjoy!

We two have looked longingly at water features for our backyard and checked prices and the sounds they make. We didn't want something too romantic looking with cherubs and it had to be a little rustic to fit with our home. Glancing through the pictures at AT, I noticed that I could be green and have a water feature. Someone has married solar energy to water fountains!

Silicon Solar Inc. has a number of examples:


Hartford Solar Cascading Fountain


Solar Tri-cycle Fountain

And our favorite, but it's only 14 inches high:


4 Tier Granite Solar Fountain

Who do you know in Portland has water features and can they be solar powered?

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The Portland Clicker

Here's a new website to promote your business, events, restaurants, etc. called Portland Clicker and it's free. The people behind it say it's Portland in a nut shell:

Portland Clicker is an easy-to-use website that puts everything you want, need, or wish to know about in Portland, OR within a few clicks of the mouse (clicks... clicker... get it?!)

It's basically everything that Portland has to offer in a nutshell, except we've cracked it open for you. Whether you're a resident, visitor or tourist, we've done the heavy lifting and left it for you to do the clicking!

We added Landfair Furniture + Design Gallery and through the "Photos" I found colorist Debra Wade's Creative Interiors on the site.

There is an upgrade option for $148 lifetime, which allows you to search for keywords, use coupons to promote your business, automatically promote your business on Facebook and Twitter. Go to their website for more features.

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Learn About Blogging from decor8 Founder

When you compile a list of the Top 25 Home Decor blogs, one name is always on such a list, small "d", decor8. ProBlogger interviewed decor8 blogger Holly Becker who gets 35,000 readers a day. Listen to the podcast at Problogger to hear her talk about:

• shares the story behind starting decor8
• gives insight into how she keeps coming up with fresh content ideas
• shares what type of posts work best at drawing in readers to comment
• talks about her decision to bring on a regular columnist
• reflects on dealing with negative comments
• answers the question of ‘what is a conversion’ for you when a reader hits your blog
• share how she’s built her readership
• reveals how she makes a full time living from her blog
• talks about her other ventures, including her ‘blogging your way’ e-course and up coming book

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Facebook Marketing

Mark at Mark Flavin's Blog, dedicated to internet marketing, is seeing a lot of businesses starting to use Facebook or are thinking about it. They probably have a lot of questions and don't want to make mistakes that would reflect badly on their businesses.

Questions like:

- Facebook etiquette: how often should we be replying to fans?

- Does using images prove to be more effective than just words on Facebook pages?

- How often should you post your website content on your Facebook page?

- Is there any value to creating and using Facebook groups?

Mark let us know that there’s a really good post over at Hubspot that answers these questions and a whole lot more.

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A Theory About How Women Buy, Part 2

We received a very nice email from Joe Capillo (who said we could share it) who wrote the article A Theory About How Women Buy in "Furniture World." Joe writes of our post:

Nice to see someone actually reads this stuff. I read your article carefully to see where I connected and where I missed. If you think I'm "worried" about the 40% of shoppers who don't buy, I am in this respect. I spend most of my time on the floor in furntiure stores observing behavior of salespeople, customers, and alleged sales managers, so my observations are not pulled out of the air. My concerns about those "non-buyers" isn't that I believe they should have, or could have been sold. Rather, it's that in virtually all stores, for nearly all salespeople, when those customers leave the building they adopt a "They're dead to me!" attitude, and no further effort is made to cultivate those potential buyers.

This is so true and even we are guilty of dropping the ball on people who stop in and then leave. We have four sources of leads for new business: obviously walk-ins, buyer inquiries from our web site, telephone calls and emails requesting information. We do a real good job of staying in touch with those who come in, outline projects and request pricing. Those are like grapes to Bev, just waiting to drop into her hand. From this group she can look plan ahead to potential business. We do not do a good job of keeping in touch with buyer inquiries and calls and emails.

Good follow up, I've found, demands some type of CRM or customer relationship software or at least some way to keep track of the conversations. When I was just a young stockbroker, I used five by three cards. Each had the prospect's name, the date and what we discussed and a time to follow up with another "touch."

Joe continues:

My point is that there is a tremendous potential for new business in the 60%, 70%, or 80% of shoppers who don't buy, and that most companies have no strategy to deal with those non-buyers.

Yet, we know that many home furnishings purchase decisions take along time to make, and if you can connect to the person, and the project, during those early visits, and gain permission to stay in touch until the time for action has arrived, you stand a better chance of making the sale in the future. There are some simple truths that my three-decade mission in this business has proven: first, in the area of fashion, say, upholstery purchases, first-time shoppers (in a store) make their buying decision that day less than 20% of the time, but on their second visit, they make their purchase 60% of the time. Weaker salespeople don't connect and therefore don't get that second visit. Stronger salespeople do.

In every retail furniture company I've ever worked with the variance in results from the top performing salesperson to the lowest, when measuring ROI, is greater than 40% and often nearer to 50%. So something ain't right.

Joe Capillo is right and these points weren't emphasized in his article. However through this conversation with Joe Capillo, we recognized a flaw in our treatment of new leads which will soon be corrected. I hope you will look at your business and see how you are doing with CRM. It's much cheaper to convert a walk in or call in to a customer than find a totally new person to call or walk in!

BTW, this works for interior designers, too. How many of you keep tickler files with the names of your clients and people who ask about your business? How often do you send them a newsletter or place a phone call? How many of you have a file of potential customers who say to you that someday they are going to remodel their kitchen or get rid of that old sofa? You know what I hated the most? I would hate to hear a potential customer say, Oh I did that last month and kick myself because I hadn't called back or kept in touch. I had missed the time when the cold lead went from warm to HOT!

BTW, did we mention Joe Capillo's new book?



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Wayne Martin Inc. To Close

This is sad news related in John Thompson Designer's blog:

...It is with much sadness that after 40 years of serving the interior design community, Wayne Martin Inc. will be closing on July 31, 2010. ...The economy has put a strain on our resources and as a consequence we can no longer continue business.

Wayne Martin Inc. has showrooms in Portland and Seattle and carries high quality lines in

• Fabric Collections
• Trimming Collections
• Wall Covering
• Leather
• Furniture/Accessories
• Outdoor Furniture / Fabric
• Lighting
• Drapery Hardware
• Floor Covering

It's a sad day to lose a great competitor. We value all the hard work and devotion to customers that has gone into 40 years of business. We would love to hear that a way was found to save this Portland institution.

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KUBOAA?

In April we posted about the creative and contemporary wallpapers of Wallpaper Collective. Big Apple dweller Cindy Weil founded Wallpaper Collective. She and her employees have been on a constant quest for the most interesting, clever, hip and beautiful wallpapers they can find.

Now Cindy Weil is back with KUBOAA,

a word invented by the great modern Norwegian novelist Knut Hamsun, and put into the mouth of the starving hero of his masterwork, "Hunger." For Hamsun's delirious hero, the word was a pure sound, something outside, even above, the realm of signifying language. Always aware of the absurd, and with a longing after purity that led him into some dark corners of the psyche, Hamsun meant for his "kuboaa" to be a word free from reference. Kuboaa was the word of the modern primitive, the word of regrounding, of beginning again, outside existing language and away from the freight of civilization.

SO WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH WALLPAPER???



Artist and designer Andrew Hardiman is clearly inspired by the rich tradition of classical design in his native country, however he has managed to step outside these strict parameters and create fresh, edgy, ironic designs, in bold graphics and colors – with hidden messages and inside jokes. Look closely and you will see in his trellis design, a suited wage-man riding the escalator up. A commentary on our sisyphean existence or a beautiful wallcovering for a sunroom? The thinking man’s (woman's) wallpaper.

Another example of Kuboaa is this Sequoia wallpaper. If you look close, you'll see a stag in the background.



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Duralee Teams With Clarke & Clarke

Duralee has really generated buzz this year so far. In February following the success of his first print collection for Duralee, Thomas Paul expanded his offerings of iconic patterns with Thomas Paul 2. You can see some of his samples in our blog post New From Duralee Fabrics or better yet, come into our showroom.

In April we asked the question What is Ikat? and showed that Duralee is well represented in ikat this design trend.

In June we brought to your attention that the Big Kahuna of Fabric Design, Alfred Shaheen, was coming to Duralee. Alfred Shaheen is the big Kahuna designer of the postwar Hawaiian clothing movement.

We also shared with you that Duralee has just introduced a fantastic new fabric group, "The Wainwright Collection". This is a traditional collection of fabrics with more exciting and up to date colorways.

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Drum roll please!

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Now we learn from Fabrics & Furnishings Int. that Clarke & Clarke, the U.K.-based fabric and wallcoverings editor has announced that Duralee, one of the U.S.’s largest textile companies, will be the exclusive distributor for its products in the United States.


Florica - printed on a heavy weight slubby cotton ground, inspired by Romany folklore

Emphasizing a modern flair, Clarke & Clarke is a leader in the realm of home fashion and will now be distributed through Duralee’s sales representatives, showrooms and agent showrooms throughout the U.S.


Manilla- chunky, yet soft semi plain fabric

"Clarke & Clarke is known for high-quality and cutting edge design which has already generated a loyal worldwide customer base,” said Duncan Clarke, Head of U.S. Operations, Clarke & Clarke.


Venetian Silks - Made from Silk and Cotton, ooze luxury

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