Textillery Weavers (IHFC D408) is debuting Stone Belt Mixed Media Mosaics this market, the result of a partnership with Stone Belt Arc, a nonprofit organization providing education and support to more than 2,000 clients in south central Indiana. The framed designs are created by the Art & Craft division of Stone Belt Arc using recycled Textillery yarns and all are designed, packaged and distributed by persons with disabilities.
Revenue from Art & Craft projects helps support clients living independently in the community. "We're especially excited about this project," said Judith Rose, head designer for Textillery Weavers. "In addition to using recycled materials, the project utilizes the abilities of disabled persons in a workshop setting to create satisfying job opportunities and a new income stream for the agency."
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Lane Home Furnishings (IHFC C800) is introducing a new accent collection inspired by the photographs of North Carolina designer Christy Clark. Famous for her coastal images of North Carolina's Outer Banks, Clark's photographic work has expanded to include florals, nature scenes, animals, landscapes, the wild ponies of Corolla, architectural vignettes and studies in black and white.
Transitional in style, the collection offers design versatility with interchangeable panel insets of the photographer/designer's landscapes and natural images in mahogany-finished pieces exclusively designed by Clark for Lane. The collection includes occasional pieces and furniture with suggested retail of $199-$999 and will be available through Lane dealers nationwide beginning in October 2007.
Born and raised in Fayetteville, N.C., Clark studied marketing and management at Appalachian State University and studied international business and marketing in England. Christy Clark Inc. was founded in 2001 when the artist began selling copies of her work, later expanding into the design of furniture, canvas rugs, leather gifts, tile and accessories.
Here is an update on some of the new products on display at the High Point furniture show in North Carolina.
Classic American designs take center stage
* Inspired by the era of George Washington, early American design star-crosses the forefront of fashion.
* Blackened finishes, sophisticated shapes and traditional motifs lend the requisite elegant air
* Contemporary accents and dark, moody hues render the look relevant in any century>
Continue reading "Current Trends: Furniture from 2007 High Point" »
The Smithsonian Institution is a powerful brand recognized by 94 percent of adult Americans, according to recent surveys. That's what brought a design team from Bernhardt Furniture to Washington for a treasure hunt through the museum's displays and storerooms looking for historical pieces to adapt for a licensed collection to begin in September.
Licensing has been lucrative for Bernhardt, makers of the Martha Stewart line. In signing with the Smithsonian, the North Carolina company is looking for yet another hook to entice mid- to high-end customers in a market increasingly laced with designer names.
"The Smithsonian consumer is typically very well educated, they spend a lot on their home, and they like the prestige associated with the brand," says Heather Bloom, Bernhardt's director of brand development. The first collection of 50 pieces includes bedroom and dining room pieces and home entertainment units. Most are drawn from 19th century designs.
One of the signature items is the Keeper's Bookcase ($2,000), inspired by an American Empire Revival piece in a curator's office at the Smithsonian Castle. Check www.bernhardt.com for availability this summer.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Nowadays, buying antiques can cost you an arm and a leg. This is because, apart from being considered as one of the best ways to decorate your home, buying antiques have also become an investment option for some people. Unfortunately, this newfound use for antiques has resulted to some of the highest prices for antiques, which have made them very unaffordable for most people. This is very true for antique furniture because in some cases even the simplest piece of antique furniture can cost several thousand dollars.
However, furniture manufacturers have found a way to make people who cannot afford antique furniture enjoy the charm that antique furniture can bring to a home through antique reproductions. Unfortunately, this innovation has also encouraged some unscrupulous people to fool people out of their money by making them believe that they are buying original antique items. Given this, consumers need to be able to distinguish reproductions from the real thing.
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